My Paddling Gear List for 2026

I’m putting together my gear list for the summer, and much of the list is the same as last year’s list. But, I changed up some big items, such as my tent and sleeping bag and stove. The goal for this year’s gear was to simplify and lighten up.

This year has been a struggle with getting outside. Being self-employed, I have some flexibility in my schedule and biased my workload to the spring. Then the spring filled in with 1:1 photo workshops and a few unexpected projects. That meant that there was a lot of time working and very little time in the outdoors. Now, I’m finally gearing up for a trip if I can get everything in order in the office. If not, I’ll have to postpone it.

This current list comes in at just under 10 pounds, which is a good thing because the trip involves carrying a packraft and a bike. I’m not including my biking gear in this list.

Tent and Shelter Gear

My biggest recent upgrade happened last year, and it was switching to the single-wall DCF tent. My expectations with the tent was that it would lighten my load. The reason that I finally switched is because the Pivot Solo offers a two pole setup that raises the foot of the tent. This help avoid rubbing up against the single wall. All tents suffer from condensation, but in single wall tents you’re more likely to brush against the wall and get your sleeping bag wet. The raised foot area and large interior of this tent helps prevent that.

Item Type	Item Name	Weight (ounces)
Tent	Zpack Pivot Solo	13.2
Poles	Zpack Carbon Tent Poles	3.8
Stakes	MSR Ground Hogs x 6 & Ground Hog Mini x2	3.9
Stuff Sack	Zpack Medium for tent	.3
Stuff Sack	Zpack Tent Pole Sack	.2
Stuff Sack	Hilltop Packs Vampire Killing Kit Stake Bag	.3
Stake Accessory	Bottle cap to push stakes into ground	.1
		1.36 pounds

Pack

This stayed the same. I’m not 100% sold on using the Zerk 40 as a portage pack, but there aren’t any options for portage packs in this weight range other than the Cooke Custom Sewing Jr. Adventurer Pack. Back when Dan was alive, we talked and corresponded about a custom version of this pack that would be designed to fit me. But, I never made it happen.

If I’m sea kayaking, which is rarer and rarer these days, or on a bikerafting trip then this gets replaces with other packing gear. For sea kayaking, it’s drybags. For bikerafting, it’s drybags and bikepacking bags.

Item Type	Item Name	Weight (ounces)
Pack	Mountainsmith Zerk 40	25
Pack Liner	Nyoflume	.9
		1.62 pounds

Sleeping Bag and Pad

The biggest change was getting a new sleeping bag. It was an adventure in itself. After my struggle with a Cumulus sleeping bag, I ended up with a Western Mountaineering FlyLite Sleeping Bag. It came at the end of last season, and the spring has been busy and cold and that kept it on the shelf. I’m looking forward to using it this summer. I’ll probably switch to a waterproof drybag to carry the bag in.

Item Type	Item Name	Weight (ounces)
Sleeping Bag	Western Mountaineering FlyLite Sleeping Bag	14.7
Sleeping Pad	Nemo Tensor Trail Ultralight	13.9
Pillow	Zpacks Comfy Camp Pillow	2.3
Sleeping Pad Inflator	Nemo Pump Bag	2.2
Sleeping Bag Stuff Sack	Western Mountaineering XXXS	.7
Stuff Sack	Nemo Sleeping Pad Stuff Sack	.5
		1.62 pounds

Water and Treatment

No big changes here except I switched to the Igneous NOBO to avoid disposable bottles. It was slightly heavier, but it’s a nice bottle.

Item Type	Item Name	Weight (ounces)
Filter	Sawyer Mini, Dual Threaded w/ flip cap and end cap	1.6
Filter Accessory	Sawyer Squeeze Coupling	.2
Filter Accessory	Sawyer Gasket, extra	.1
Filter Bag	CNOC Outdoors 2L Vecto Water Container 28mm, Orange	2.8
Carabiner	Small Carabiner Clip and cord to hang	.3
Water bottle	Igneous NOBO	2.4
		0.46 pounds

Cook Kit

The big news here is that I’m trying out an alcohol stove (again). I covered it in a previous article (see Lightweight Alcohol Stove Kit for Paddling) I’ll also be using my trust MSR Pocket Rocket 2 for trips.

Item Type	Item Name	Weight (ounces)
Cookpot	Vargo 750ml w/ lid	3.8
Stove	Toaks Titanium Siphon Alcohol Stove	.71
Pot Stand	Evernew TI Stove Stand	.6
Windscreen	Toaks Titanium Windscreen	.46
Fuel	Vargo Alcohol Fuel Bottle	.99
Stuff Sack	Cross Bands by Grifiti 6″ for Vargo 750ml	.28
Spoon	Birch spoon coated with walnut oil, DIY	.3
Knife	SOG CE1002-CP Centi	.4
Bear Bag	Hilltop Packs Dyneema – Large	1.2
Rope	Hilltop Packs Dyneema Rock Throw Sack, Rope, Cord Winder	1.4
		0.63 pounds

Cleaning and Personal Care

Nothing changed expect switching to a Swedish dishcloth which can better clean the condensation off of the walls of the tent. It’s really absorbent.

I also wear contacts, so I’m leaving off the details of what I bring unless someone wants me to detail it out by weight.

Item Type	Item Name	Weight (ounces)
Soap Container	GGG Dropper Bottle	.2
Towel	Lightload towel	.7
Wash Rag	Swedish dishcloth	.3
Toothbrush	GUM Travel Toothbrush	.8
Toothpaste	Small container for toothpaste tabs	.3
Lip Balm	Lip Naturals	.33
Stuff Sack	Borah Gear DCF 4″ x 8″	.1
Hygiene	Sea to Summit Wilderness Wipes, Compact, 12 pack	consumable
TP	TP	consumable
Eyewear	Glasses, contacts, cases, spare contacts, solution bottle	0.33 pounds
		0.5 pounds

Electronics not including camera gear

No changes here, although if I expect heavy power needs, then the FLEXTAIL Zero Power Bank will come along. I just replaced the battery on my Pixel 6, so I’ll be using it for another year. The battery life is good again, but it isn’t waterproof anymore. I wish there was a lighter Pixel with better battery life.

My camera gear changes based on the trip, so it isn’t easy to post what I’m going to bring. Camera gear puts me over the 10 pounds base weight, but so it goes.

Item Type	Item Name	Weight (ounces)
Flashlight	Nitecore NU25 MCT	1.1
Emergency	InReach SE	Not currently using due to new subscription plans.
Powerbank	Nitecore 10K w/usb cord & USB c to mini converter	5.9
Phone	Google Pixel 6	7.3
		0.89 pounds

Navigation

I switched compasses from my kid’s TruArc 5 to a TruArc 3 that he bought me for my birthday. On some trips, I’d likely carry a better map case than a freezer bag. It depends on the map and the trip.

Item Type	Item Name	Weight (ounces)
Map	Varies – Likely custom made by me	.4
Stuff Sack	Zip Lock Freezer Bag, gallon size for map	.5
Compass	Brunton TruArc 3	1.1
		.13 pounds

Show Me Your Papers, Please

Same as always. There’s a way that I can leave the keys with the car and set up a code to enter instead of carrying the keys. I’m considering this for the future, but it’s two ounces so I probably don’t care that much.

Item Type	Item Name	Weight (ounces)
Wallet	Seattle Sports Dry Doc ID	.3
ID & Cash	ID, CC, cash	.4
Key	Car key electronic	2
		0.17 pounds

Journaling

I’m going to try journaling again even though I gave it up. I’m not sure that I’ll actually do it. It’s probably better to stick with watercolor journaling. My keys and stuff also go into the Trail Pouch.

Item Type	Item Name	Weight (ounces)
Journal B	Moleskine Cashier	1.4
Pen	G2 Pen Refill with tape tab for grip	.2
Zipper Pouch	Trail Pouch by Hartford Gear Co. Large: 8.25″ W x 5.25″ T	.4
		0.13 pounds

Clothing

My clothing worn needs to change because the pants that I’ve been wearing for years have holes in the pockets and are wearing out. I’m not sure what pants I’m going to change to, but I have multiple options. No changes to my clothing carried, although I much prefer a Patagonia R1 Air over the Alpha Direct 90 piece. The R1 Air is heavier and bulkier, but I like it better. This is going to be a tough call, but the Patagonia will likely win. It’s also more versatile. I also picked up a Patagonia Houdini, which I’m tempted to add. It’s would work well with the Alpha Direct piece to provide great warmth. I’d probably drop the vest if I did this. The vest or Alpha Direct piece combines with my pillow for extra thickness if needed.

Clothing worn isn’t considered “base weight” or pack weight. I’ll list the weight but only clothing carried will be in the final weight.

Item Type	Item Name	Weight (ounces)
Worn Pants or shorts	Need to decide on which pants/shorts to bring	???
Worn Underwear	Outdoor Research Men’s Echo Boxer Briefs	2
Worn Socks	Darn Tough Lightweight Crew	1.7
Worn Shirt	Patagonia Capilene Shirt	5.6
Worn Shoes	NNormal Tomir 02 Green or sandals	19.2
Worn Hat	Outdoor Research Swift Cap	2.2
Rain Jacket	Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket	6.8
Rain Pants	Montbell Versalite Pants	3.4
Insulation	Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer Vest	5.4
Midlayer	Senchi Designs Lark Hoodie – Alpha Direct 90	5.7
Spare Socks	Darn Tough Lightweight Crew	1.7
Spare Underweater	Outdoor Research Men’s Echo Boxer Briefs	2
Neck Gaiter	Buff	1.3
Head Net	Sea to Summit Mosquito Head Net	.8
		1.69 pounds

Emergency – Repair and First Aid

This kit is just first aid and repair gear to fix the stuff in this list. I’ll bring additional repair gear based on the boat that I’m using.

Item Type	Item Name	Weight (ounces)
First Aid	Homemade first aid and repair kit includes lighter	5
		.31 pounds

Paddling Gear

I haven’t had a chance to weigh everything, but I picked up a packraft this year to use while bikerafting. I also picked up a four-piece Aquabound Whiskey carbon paddle, and a new NRS Ion life vest. I need to weigh this new gear.

I wish that I could get an adapter that went from the raft inflator to my sleeping pad. That would save a little weight, but because the raft inflator bag is so big, it would probably only take one or two squeezes to fill the sleeping pad.

Item Type	Item Name	Weight (ounces)
Packraft	Alpacka Caribou (custom)	6 pounds-ish
Paddle	Aquabound Whiskey carbon paddle	25 ounces
Life Vest	NRS Ion
Repair Kit	Raft repair gear
Inflator	Raft inflator

Final Thoughts

That’s the current list. As always, the most recent list is on LighterPack. My bike specific gear list can also be found there. I feel like my bike repair list is a mess and that there should be a way to simplify that, but that’s a whole over can of worms.