Emily Prymula/Huckberry
Audio By Carbonatix
If you’re reading this, it means that my wife and I survived our four-day, 45-mile sea kayaking and camping trek through the Apostle Islands off the coast of northern Wisconsin in Lake Superior. However, “survive” is not necessarily the word I would attach to this trip. We thrived.
Sure, I’m still a little sore a week later, have weird bruises all over my body, and carry the marks of an all-you-can-eat buffet that mosquitoes made on my ankles, but it was one of the most fun and rewarding experiences of my entire life. If you’re up for it, DO IT. Of course, you’ll need to be properly geared up before you head out on the water, so I’ve got a few personal recommendations from my personal packing list.
Water-friendly footwear from KEEN
Obviously, if you’re going from kayak to shoreline over and again for days, you’re going to spend a great deal of time with your feet in the water. And in the Apostle Islands, the shore terrain can vary from island to island, from soft sand to rocks to full sandstone shelves. Not once did I ever feel unsteady thanks to my KEEN shoes, which provided traction, durability, and breathability for four days straight.
SHOP KEEN FOOTWEAR @ HUCKBERRY
Sun shirts
This was a new development for my outdoor wardrobe. I previously believed that sun shirts weren’t for me because I always thought I would overheat from the long sleeves. As it turned out, I didn’t. Plus, I managed to make it through the entire trip without getting sunburnt. These are also great because you can plan on only needing one shirt for roughly every 2 days that you’re out in the wild.
Sturdy sunglasses
Huckberry
One day into the trek and my one pair of sunglasses broke. To be fair, I packed the most banged-up pair I owned, so it was no great loss. However, you’d be better off investing in a durable pair of polarized sunglasses that can withstand the wear and tear of camping.
A bucket hat!
Breaking my sunglasses ultimately didn’t matter because I had just purchased a bucket hat for the trip. Not the kind of trendy bucket hat beloved by TikTok influencers. This was a real bucket hat that protected my face from the sun and I could dunk it in the water to keep myself cool during long rowing sessions between islands.
Durable water bottles
Surprise, surprise: you need to drink a lot of water to survive 45 miles of sea kayaking. Leave your cute water bottles at home and make sure you have at least two durable bottles that will easily strap to your backpack or the top of your kayak. I’d recommend designating one for just water and the other for mixing in electrolyte packets.