We’re going to talk about what you might want to bring to make your time on the island more enjoyable. Before we do, we need to review a few guidelines. Take notes.

You are crossing by boat with others, some of whom may also be camping. Space on the boat is limited.

Each of you can bring up to 60 pounds of gear. This does not include water.

No single item can exceed 45 pounds. If you bring an ice chest or a really big tent, for example, you must keep this weight in mind. Also, your ice chest cannot exceed 60 quarts.

Fuel and water, including hydration bladders, must be packed separately from the rest of your gear.

When you are packing, do not strap things to the outside of your pack.

Do not carry your items in a single-use plastic bag or a Styrofoam container. Use a back pack, duffel bag, or similar (you can certainly use a plastic bag for items that are in your pack).

Do not bring plants, flowers, cardboard boxes, or unfinished walking sticks. All of these things can harbor non-native critters that can wreak havoc on a fragile island ecosystem.

So what should you bring? Let’s start with personal gear. These are the items I would want you to have in the event that you were separated from your group.

A pack

It doesn’t have to be fancy. It just needs to hold your stuff. I like backpacks because they leave my hands free. Maybe you don’t like free hands. You do you.

Sleeping bag and a sleeping pad

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Forget about why the tent and her guy are way over there and she’s out in the cold. Sometimes things come up between people. It’s none of your business

What is your business is all the things she’s doing right to stay warm. A good sleeping bag helps. But you need to insulate yourself from the ground, or else the earth will suck the heat right out of you. It’s physics. That’s why you need a sleeping pad. Her hat is also a super good idea, and we’ll talk about that again in another post about clothing.

Light

I like headlamps for the same reason I like backpacks: they leave my hands free. They do look a little goofy and I’m forever blinding the person I’m trying to have a conversation with, but maybe that’s the point. A flashlight, lantern, or glow stick will also work fine. You can also plan an island rave with the latter.

A knife

A good knife is your best friend in the bush. You can use it to hack away at overgrowth. You can use it for digging, or for cutting branches to build a shelter or a fire. You can use it for self-defense. You can use it to whittle other tools as needed like stakes or hooks. There are lots of knives out there, but it’s hard to beat Sweden’s Morakniv for overall value.

A water container

Any container is fine. It can be metal, plastic, glass- anything non-porous will do. Or, if you’ve opted for a backpack with room for a hydration bladder, you can do that. I like that. Keeps my hands free.

Portable fire

My dad liked Zippo lighters, God rest his soul. I can still smell the lighter fuel he would use to refill his. Any lighter will do, though. I usually carry a couple of disposable butane lighters. You can bring weather-proof matches. Just something to get a fire going in a pinch. It will cheer you up, help you stay warm, and maybe even cook that mouse you skewered with your brand new knife.

The stuff that follows is less essential and in many cases more communal in nature. In other words, it’s not necessary that everybody have these things, but as long as someone does, others may benefit.

A tent

A good tent can keep you out of the wind and rain. Sharing a tent with friends is cozy and fun. But mind what you eat for dinner and make those who snore stay up late so the quiet sleepers can get a head start.

A stove

You’re not backpacking, so while you can restrict yourself to a teeny pocket stove, you don’t have to. You can get crazy with multiple burners. Just mind the gear restrictions outlined in the beginning of this post. If you bring a stove, don’t forget to pack the appropriate fuel type.

A pot

If you’re going to bring a stove, you’ll want something to hold the food or fluid you’re trying to heat up.

There’s lots of other gear to consider. I’ll end with my personal packing list that I use as a template for trips like this. It includes the items we’ve discussed and a few other odds and ends. Feel free to modify as necessary.

backpack
tent
sleeping bag
sleeping pad
single-burner camp stove
fuel canister
lighter
cooking mug
spork
head lamp
first-aid kit
50’ paracord
phone
canteen (or bladder or both)
knife
compass
toilet kit (trowel, toilet paper, soap, washcloth, glasses, tooth brush/paste, floss, deodorant, contact lens storage/solution, eyeglasses, medications, brush/comb)
Zip-Loc gallon bag
garbage bag

That should be enough to get you started. God willing, we’ll talk about clothing next time.

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