After years of “camping” (in a tent or hammock about 20′ from my friends family lake house with running water, a toilet, and an occasionally working stove), I was taking the plunge, I was going to the boundary waters where everything I would need I would have to put into a canoe and then carry through the portages (for those of you who don’t live anywhere near multiple lakes, portages is the hike between lakes where you carry all your gear and for an added bonus, the canoe!).

The night before we took off for the great beyond we (my cousins and myself) packed all of gear in our rented bags.  This wasn’t as as simple as I thought it would be.  When you have limited space and know you need to carry on your back at some point, everything starts to look big and heavy!  All the very cool equipment I saw and though would be perfect, I suddenly couldn’t fit into the bags.  The extra pillow, the “perfect” jacket (not too hot, not too cold, when it’s slightly windy but not raining), the third pair of shoes…

Once I got home and unpacked everything I realized I had bought $100+ of useless stuff that I never even made it onto the lake, I left a couple of things I realized I should have brought and brought some things I never used.

This blog is about it all… The things I should have brought, the things I should’t have bought, but most important, the things that were completely useful and I was very happy I brought with me.

I hope some of this information helps!