Staying dry

“I've been roped into a conoeing trip around the first weekend of March.

Looking forward to the trip, but never canoed in cold weather. Any tips on staying dry, especially feet, and keeping gear dry.

You can leave off don't tip the canoe. That one's obvious.”

“You could canoe the stikmon way, in a dry river...”

“don't listen to anything Stikmon tells you. He has tipped and dragged his canoe over all of Arkansas :)”

“I've canoed the Quetico and managed to keep fairly dry, except for the one time it poured for half a day and we had to canoe out. Had to stop and drain the canoe of the several inches of water in the bottom.

Not sure about keeping feet dry. To keep gear dry, we lined our packs with heavy duty plastic bags. Bought 'em through mail order from a n outfitter in Ely, MN. Worked great and can use them for many years.

Someone in another canoe loaded lots of gear into a 'dry bag.' Heavy "rubberized" bag, in several sizes, that seals. Think they got it at REI.

Lots of luck!”

“Stay home and go bowling.

j/k”

“Thank treabeard, I'll try to remember that when I'm huddled by the fire trying to dry out my wet gear.”

“forget about staying dry...staying dry while canoeing is a myth. Give into the fact that you WILL get wet, and you will have a better time. Its no big deal...its only water...just be able to get dry, after you get wet and all will be ok.

Sheesh...my reputation is assured...I'm a legend...cool.”

“if you know how to treat a canoe, your feet will get wet. of course you could ram into shore at a high velocity to avoid this situation, the bottom of the canoe only touches water, air, your thighs, and occaisonally pizza dough. So besides getting your feet wet, you should be able to avoid anything else, accept for maybe your hands if you tend to dip them in the water while paddling, or if you're in experienced, or have a hole in your canoe, the bottom of the canoe will slowly fill with water, which will eventually pour all over you when you throw it up for the next portage. as for staying dry, it's not that difficult if that's what your focus is - usually i don't worry too much about it, 'cept when it's real cold, then when you run whitewater, it's kind of hard to avoid.”

“You can keep you feet and hands dry with Sealskinz. I recommend wearing polypro liners, though. Dry bags for your gear, bungee cords to hold the beer and you're all set.”

“I used Sealskinz socks this weekend and was very disappointed.”

“i wouldn't trust the socks unless you know how to use them - they do provide some added warmpth, but don't necessarily keep your feet dry when they come fully submirsed for any period of time... but i have used them, for 36 days straight in the canadian tundra, my feet were always wet, it's just part of canoeing.”

“Thank eveyone. I'm pretty sure I can keep my gear dry. I suppose my biggest fear is having soaking wet feet from getting in and out of the canoe and then being miserable if it's really cold.”

“i suggest putting a small drain hole in the bottom of the canoe...when you notice water sloshing in the bottom...just POP the drain plug and all your problems will be solved!! *grins*...boy wouldn't it be awesome if i could get someone to believe this”

“If you're going to follow Opie's advice, I 'd recommend bringing along a battery operated bilge pump”

“drybag dry clothes in 3-4 trashbags so youll at least have dry clothes in camp”

“Drybags and neoprene boots.”

“Indiana John, I bought some decent neoprene gloves at wallmart, of all places. $7.99 in the hunting section. They've held up pretty well and keep your hands toasty, while wet. They have great grip too.”

“don't forget your TerraQuest!!!!”