A canoe trip means leaving behind all the ills of civilization. There are no roads or buildings. No city lights or sounds. No electricity or plumbing. With most of the lakes designated as paddle only, there are no motorized boats and no planes flying overhead. It’s just you and the natural wilderness. Which means you need to have the right gear. Below are the seven key items we recommend for your packing list to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Granite Gear Quetico Portage Pack

The Granite Gear Quetico, like most portage packs (properly pronounced, “por-tahhhhhgg”), is shaped and designed to fit superbly in the bottom of a canoe to maximize space. It holds 82 liters of gear in a single compartment and is made with a beefy 420 denier Cordura Ripstop Nylon fabric. But its supreme advantage over other portage packs (e.g. the other Minnesota-based brand) is its harness system. Specifically, it has the exact same harness system that Granite Gear puts on their higher-end multi-day backpacks: padded back panel, contoured shoulder straps and a comfortable interchangeable waist belt to help balance the load when portaging between lakes. $220 | granitegear.com

ENO Doublenest Hammock with Atlas Suspension System

If you think hauling and ENO Doublenest Hammock with Atlas Suspension System into the Boundary Waters in a canoe is an extravagant item that adds unnecessary weight in a portage pack, you’d be absolutely right. Still, there’s a concept in the Boundary Waters called, “Boundary Waters Time.” It means no cell phone service. No schedules. No motorized boats or vehicles. Remote campsites. Crystal clear water lapping on the shore. Loons calling. Wolves howling. Leaves rustling in the breeze. The sound of a crackling campfire at night. Maybe even a show of Northern Lights if I’m really lucky. I want to be swinging in a hammock taking this all in. Hence the reason I’m bringing the extravagant ENO Doublenest Hammock with Atlas Suspension System. $70/$30 | eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com

Royal Robbins Bug Barrier Tech Travel Long Sleeve

There are many reasons I like the Royal Robbins Bug Barrier Tech Travel Long Sleeve—great fit for layering, long length that doesn’t bunch up under backpack waist belts, decent body temperature regulation. But the biggest and most important is that the fabric is made with InsectSheild bug barrier protection. Mosquitoes are everywhere in Minnesota in the summer but it’s the ticks I fear the most. Crawling on the ground on which I set my pack. Lurking on the bush during a bio break. Waiting in the tree branches to launch themselves onto me so they can burrow into my skin until they’re bloated and happy from the feast of my blood. InsectShield fuses and binds a formula of permethrin into fabric fibers that repels mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, and midges. Per InsectShield, the repellency is “EPA-registered to last through 70 launderings—the expected lifetime of a garment.” $60 | royalrobbins.com

GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Bacpacker Stove Set

The GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Backpacker ($95) is an integrated kit comprised of a two-liter pot and strainer lid, skillet, two 14-ounce insulated mugs, two 14-ounce bowls and a wash basin to feed two campers. While this stove takes up a bit more space in a pack than other backpacking stove kits, it’s ideal for the BWCA for two reasons: 1) When traveling by canoe I have the luxury of traveling for miles without having to actually carry it on my back. Yes, I will be portaging between lakes but my longest portage will be 180 rods (roughly half a mile). And 2) the skillet will be critical to cooking the fresh Walleye I hope to catch. Altogether, the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Backpacker provides the opportunity to eat more than ramen noodles and instant oatmeal for eight days. And the bag that doubles as a wash basin? How did I ever live without one? Not only is it priceless for cleaning up dishes, it’s good for general basic bathing, washing one’s face or a good deep-clean of a newly-acquired wound before applying ointment and a bandage. $100 | GSI Outdoors

Teva Original Universal Sandals

A summer BWCA canoe trip destination requires a pair of Teva Original Universal sandals. Who wants to step out a canoe into lake water to pull it onto the shore while wearing hiking boots? And who wants to wade into the lake to swim and touch the slimy, muddy bottom? Not too much has changed from the original-original Teva sandal of 35 years ago (that’s a good thing) beyond new colors and designs. But it’s the straps that are a big stand out. Teva has made a substantial and impressive commitment to sustainability to reduce its environmental impact. As of 2020, 100 percent of Teva’s iconic straps are now made from traceable, verifiable, plastic using REPREVE® yarn, which is made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles and other recycled content. Either way, they’re a fantastic amphibious shoe to wear in and out of the canoe and into the lakes when swimming. $50 | teva.com

Natrapel Insect Repellent

Because the Royal Robbins Bug Barrier Tech Travel Long Sleeve can only cover so much skin and the mosquitoes and ticks are hungry and waiting to latch onto any body part that isn’t covered by cloth. Enter Natrapel Tick and Insect Repellent to keep me free from bug bites all day. Picaridin, a synthetic ingredient that “mimics” piperine (a compound found in black pepper) is the key ingredient. I’ve been using this brand for about five years and it’s the only one I will use. It is DEET-free, non-greasy, sprays on easy, dries fast, does not leave a sticky film on my skin and doesn’t smell like the Union Carbide Bhopal disaster. $7 | natrapel.com

Icemule Drybag Cooler

I’ll be in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for seven days and the IceMule Classic Cooler will break up the monotony of a week consuming non-perishable instant oatmeal, tuna fish, ramen noodles and mac n cheese every day. When I used this cooler on a sea kayaking trip to Lake Superior’s Apostle Islands, I added brats, fresh eggs, a wedge of Gouda cheese and a bag of shredded cheddar cheese to the menu. Why? Because this portable, soft-sided cooler holds ice for two days and fit into the dry hatch of my sea kayak. I’ll be in a canoe this trip, but I still need to pack light as I’ll be doing a number of portages. Bonus that this comes with a shoulder strap. $70 | icemule.com

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Long Caye, an island off the coast of Belize on Glover’s Reef, checks off everything on my Gilligan’s Island wish list: Accommodations in a rustic, private thatch-roofed beach hut with ocean views. Rainwater collection system for drinking water and showers. No electricity, cell service or internet. Endless supply of coconut water for drinking. But with the luxuries of scuba diving, sea kayaking, surfing, paddle boarding and morning yoga.

Teva Original Universal Sandals

A warm-weather bucket list destination requires a pair of Teva Original Universal sandals on the Long Caye packing list. Not too much has changed from the original-original Teva sandal of 35 years ago (that’s a good thing) beyond new colors and designs. But it’s the straps that are a big stand out. Teva has made a substantial and impressive commitment to sustainability to reduce its environmental impact. In our current era of climate change, sustainability is somewhat of a pipe dream still for many companies. Teva, however, is walking the walk by embedding sustainability into its organizational culture. This goes a lot further for the environment than evolving colors and new designs. As of 2020, 100 percent of Teva’s iconic straps are now made from traceable, verifiable, plastic using REPREVE® yarn, which is made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles and other recycled content. This keeps plastic out of landfills, lakes, rivers and oceans while offsetting the use of petroleum and reducing greenhouse gasses. | teva.com

Royal Robbins Bug Barrier Tech Travel Long Sleeve Shirt

It’s not COVID-19 that keeps me up at night about traveling to Belize. Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, common sense and a little bit of Howard-Hughes’ishness will mitigate my risk. It’s the fauna. Specifically, the eight-legged variety. I Googled “Bugs of Belize” just to see what I was getting myself into. While I was disappointed that the Royal Robbins Bug Barrier Tech Travel Long Sleeve Shirt will not likely fend off the Jumping spider—of which there are over 5,000 species and can jump more than 50 times their own body length–it’s still on the Long Caye, Belize packing list. If any little mosquito bugger comes lands anywhere on my shirt, the Insect Shield® will politely repel them. But it also repels ticks, which are rampant in Minnesota in the spring. What makes it ideal for Belize is that TempraTech body temp activated thermoregulation technology will keep me comfortable on the warm days, it’s easy to hand-wash and it dries quickly. | royalrobbins.com

Helle Mândra Knife

I signed up to review the Helle Mândra Knife for its size, versatility and cutting power as a critical packing list item for backpacking and sea kayaking. I now realize its potential to be on the Long Caye, Belize packing list. The Mandra knife was designed in cooperation with Les Stroud (aka Survivorman). It is a full tang knife with a petite but menacing 2.7-inch blade, making it excellent for slicing and—if it comes to it— fending off large hairy spiders with eight eyes who can jump up to fifty times their body length. Oh who am I kidding? If I encounter one of those things, I’ll run shrieking in terror the other way. I like that the knife comes with a hand-sewn leather sheath that can be hung from a neck lanyard. | helle.com

Julbo Spark Sunglasses

The sun shines a lot on Long Caye, Belize and the Julbo Spark made the packing list. These full-coverage sunglass are made with REACTIVE All Around 2-3 Photochromic lenses. This means that the lens gets darker or lighter as light conditions change. When I’m indoors, or outside when it’s cloudy, they look like they’re just normal tinted eye glasses. But when outside in the blazing sun, the lenses transform into full-on, sun-protection sunglasses. Clarity of the lenses is very crisp. | julbo.com

DESO Fontanillis Hoodie 

The textile industry is the second greatest polluter of local freshwater in the world. Add in unethical labor practices and unsustainable production and suddenly you may vow to never shop again. DESO Apparel was a brand that stood out for me at the 2020 Outdoor Retailer Winter Show. They make all make all their garments in the heart of San Francisco, California, in small batches by experienced tailors, who are paid a livable wage. In addition, DESO aims to source all materials and manufacturing withing a 30-mile radius to reduce their carbon footprint and are working on knitting their own fabrics. To me, that is the breed-standard of a sustainable brand. Since Long Caye is an eco-island, the snuggly eco-friendly DESO Fontanillis hoodie made the packing list. The soft stretchy Polyester and Spandex blend will be perfect for wearing on the plane, on the boat to Long Caye and for island nights when the cool breeze blows off the ocean and for morning yoga classes on the beach. | desosupply.com

Title Nine Namaka High Neck Bikini Top and Holy Grail Bikini Bottom 2.0

No matter your age or size, you can and should wear bikinis because your body is beautiful and you should be proud. I don’t have the body that I had when I was twenty-five and living in Southern California. These days I have the body of a fif—woman of a certain age—and I’m proud of it, even if the six-pack I had in my twenties is hidden under a case of beer and my once-chiseled thighs are lined with a thin layer of cellulite that seems to get thicker each year. I’m one COVID-19 case from my ideal weight for Belize! That’s why I love the Title Nine Namaka High Neck Bikini Top and Holy Grail Bikini Bottom 2.0. The Holy Grail 2.0 bottoms provide better coverage in the front and the rear, meaning that when I’m soaking up the sun on a beach chair my bits and body parts will remain left to the imagination rather than in your face ala Jennifer-Lopez-Hustlers-style. They also won’t feel bunchy under my wetsuit when I’m surfing or scuba diving. The Namaka High Neck Bikini Top is a halter-style top that will keep the blazing Long Caye sun from scorching the delicate epidermis of my pasty-white Minnesotan.  décolletage. I think the crochet’d racerback is a fun touch. | titlenine.com

Title Nine Paddle Board Swim Skirt

To be clear, the Title Nine Paddle Board Swim Skirt is not the swim skirt my grandmother sported in family photos circa 1920. It offers a nice amount of coverage while not completely covering me up. It has an integrated bikini brief so it’s meant to be worn as a swimsuit bottom. Some “swim skirts” are intended to be pulled over bikini bottoms. These really aren’t but I did test this method of cover-up and it worked. Kind of. I’ll use this for paddle boarding (as per the name) and for when I want to walk about the beach or travel from beach chair to cabana on Long Caye. | titlenine.com

Title Nine Double Dare Dress

If it seems like I’m Title Nine-heavy on this trip, it’s because Grit and Gear is a women-centric organization that promotes and elevates the accomplishments of women in the outdoor industry. Title Nine is one of my favorite women-founded, women-led companies. The Title Nine Double Dare Dress is a snappy little frock for dinner and cocktails in the communal palapa. But the real reason I’m packing it because of its SwiftSnap snap at the hem. With just a snap, it converts to a baggy romper that resists blowing wind. Or, if I was traveling someplace where I needed to jump on a scooter or bike I’m “covered”. It’s made from a soft, wrinkle-free fabric which makes it ideal for travel and it dries quickly on its own if it needs to be handwashed in a hotel bathroom sink. Its semi-fitted so I can also use it as a beach cover-up. | titlenine.com

Osprey Tempest 40

The journey to Belize from Minneapolis requires a connection of about 45 minutes in Atlanta. The flight arrives in Belize around noon on Friday. Delta Airlines only has one flight per day. The boat from Belize City to Long Caye departs around 7am on Saturday. The boat only goes out to the island once per week. Lots of variables that equal a heightened risk for lost luggage that likely won’t catch up to me. So I’m carrying all my clothes and necessities with me in an Osprey Tempest 40. Forty liters is ideal because its large enough to carry everything I need but small enough to fit in the airplane’s overhead bin. Note: I’m carrying the Helle Mândra Knife in a Deuter Helion 80, is a cavernous, big-gear hauling wheeled Sherpa for travel on land, air and sea—that was sadly discontinued. | ospreypacks.com

Slickrock Adventures

The outfit that is making it all happen. So, really, Slickrock Adventures counts as a Long Caye, Belize packing list item. I have always shied away from any kind of guided travel because I like to get away from crowds. They own Long Caye on Glover’s Reef and are committed to maintaining it as an eco-friendly island. Their communication updates have been top-notch and timely, they arrange for transport from the Belize City airport, a get-to-know-your-fellow-islander-for-six-days happy hour at the hotel in Belize City, and provide transport to and from Long Caye. On the island they offer every activity I love to do in warm-weather destinations but they don’t force you to do any of it. Their role is to put it out there. If I want to partake, I can. If I want to hang out in my thatched-roof hut all day with a book, I can. Full disclosure: I paid for this trip out of my own pocket. No media discounts, no kick-backs, nothing. Bonus points that beer is included in the price. | slickrock.com

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