---
title: Ready Set Pack!
description: What made the backpack cut in our journey down the Mississippi River.
image: http://www.notquitelc.com/hubfs/IMG_0018.jpg
---

![Trip w o banner no back 2.jpg](https://www.notquitelc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Not%20Quite%20Lewis%20and%20Clark/Trip%20w%20o%20banner%20no%20back%202.jpg?width=2774&name=Trip%20w%20o%20banner%20no%20back%202.jpg "Trip w o banner no back 2.jpg")

# Not Quite Lewis and Clark

June 18, 2017

# Ready Set Pack!

![authorIcon](http://www.sparkreaction.com/hubfs/Oceania%20Theme%202016/Images/authorIcon.png) By [Austin Fontanella](https://www.notquitelc.com/author/austin-fontanella)

When one plans to canoe the entire Mississippi River the question of what to bring has to be at the top of the list (or at least that's what I've been told). For us our goal was to pack everything we needed (including food) into four bags. Our vessels were two hiking backpacks, and a pair of 35 liter dry bags. Here's what made the cut for my (Austin aka Lewis’s) bags, and because I care about the reader’s experience I even broke it down into categories.

What's in the Backpack?  
**Sleeping Gear**

- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Pillow
- Fan (spoiled I know)
- Tent (with poles)

**Clothing**

- 3x Shirts
- Shorts
- 3x Socks
- 3x Boxers
- Sweatpants
- Jeans
- Zip pants (pants that can become shorts)
- Pocket Shirt (for those classy river occasions)
- Rain jacket
- Sweatshirt (which is really a glorified long sleeve shirt)
- Fleece
- Water socks
- Buff
- Bandana
- Paddle Gloves

**Footwear**

- Crocks
- Hiking boots
- Shoes
- Camp Supplies
- Head lamp
- Note pad (I'm a sensitive sole who has to write)
- 2x pens
- Book (dealer’s choice on this one)
- Compression towel
- Life straw set
- Stove (with fuel)
- Spork
- Lighter

**Miscellaneous**

- Duck tape
- Knife
- 2x glasses
- Sunglasses
- Rope
- 2x Nalgene bottle
- Maps
- Bear mace
- Charger (plus a portable charger)
- Business cards
- Marker
- iPad
- Phone

**First Aid/Toiletries**

- Contacts
- Advil
- Neosporin
- Allergy medicine
- Lip balm
- Water purifying pills
- Toothbrush
- Soap
- Deodorant
- Floss
- Alcohol prep pads
- Gauze
- Emergency fire starter
- Tums
- Toilet paper

**Roaming Free Range in the Canoe**

- Pump
- Throw bag
- Life jacket
- Whistle
- 3x Paddles (if we loose one we're screwed)
- Canoe lock

If this list sound extensive to you let me just say I couldn't hear you way up there on your high horse. Strap in folks. It's a two and a half month trip (give or take) and things are about to get interesting

Here are the before and after packing shots. I trust you can figure out which is which.

![IMG_0015.jpg](https://www.notquitelc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_0015.jpg?width=498&height=372&name=IMG_0015.jpg)

![IMG_0018.jpg](http://www.notquitelc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_0018.jpg?width=498&height=372&name=IMG_0018.jpg)

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[NEXT POST **](https://www.notquitelc.com/15.6-thoughts-from-day-one-on-the-river)

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