Stereotypically, the difference in packing for a water based expedition over a land based expedition, is thought to be pretty mega. However, other than having to wear a wetsuit and booties, rather than your best Bear Grylls cargo pants with your never-been-used walking boots, packing is really not that dissimilar!
Obviously, one does still need all the camping and cooking gear to accommodate all those ‘glamping’ needs, but I guess what we’re getting at here is, what’s important is the way we pack it. On any DofE SUP expedition, all the gear sits on the nose of your board (dry bags compulsory!), rather than in a bag on your back. “Thank the lord” I hear you cry!
So, first things first… Plonk all your kit out on the floor of your bedroom, in a Tetris style pattern. Secondly, make sure you take a ‘birds eye view’ picture (just like the one above), for all your Instagram and Facebook fans out there.
Once that’s all covered, we need to start packing. Just like any normal Tom, Dick or Harry, you don’t put your spare socks in your pots ‘n’ pans, next to the tent pegs rolled up in that extra base layer your mum made you pack. Make sure you pack your stuff in groups, and like I’ve mentioned, in dry bags. Although this may not be everyone’s method, and note that I’ve not included a kit list, ‘ave a gander below for some of my suggestions of what to pack, in what bag:
Drybag # 1 – Clothes. Hopefully these are kept nice and dry for when you arrive in camp and there’s nothing better than putting on a nice pair of insulate trousers.
Drybag # 2 – Food. Your lunch, your evening boil-in-a-bag meal, maybe some hot chocolate sachets? Oh, and don’t forget your emergency rations!
Drybag # 3 – Bits bag. A bag for all those annoying bits and bobs. Camera + batteries, toothbrush, baby wipes, spare paracord (makes a good washing line), board/wetsuit repair kit, first aid kit etc.
Drybag # 4 – Cooker ‘n’ pots. Pop all those pans, cooker bits, bowls and forks in here. If you’re posh, it will all fit nicely into the big pot.
Drybag # 5 – Sleeping bag. If you’ve spent a bit of wonga on your sleeping bag and tent, likelihood is they pack down small and you could even combine the two into one drybag.
Drybag # 6 – Tent.
So, there’s a few ideas for you; now for putting it all on the board. We’re not looking to dangle them off the side in the hope that a nice tasty Mackerel fancies a bite; this will only slow you down. Instead, we want a nice neat pile of drybags. Use the gear loops on the nose of the board to tie it all down, and you’re ready. Grab your paddle, don the wetsuit and let’s go!