SELF SUPPORT KAYAK ADVENTURE

KAYAK-Gear list

Most rivers on our 'Nepal Self Support Kayak Trips' are warm water and the sun is very hot during the day, rain and wind although unlikely are possible.

PADDLE GEAR

Kayak, NOT playboat
PFD, we suggest one with a pocket
Paddle
Spare paddle/take apart paddle?
Paddle Jacket l/s s/s
Thermal top/s
Throw line / Rescue gear
Spray Skirt
Helmet
Wetsuit/Board shorts/Thermal bottoms?
Dry bags /and/or/ Air bags / Various sizes
River shoes

CAMP, GROUP AND TRAVEL GEAR

Personal Medication/First Aid
Knife?
Duct Tape
Rope/Kayak Straps
Wash Kit inc wet wipes/cutica solution, Paclite Towel
Large Mug or Wide mouth water bottle, Spoon/Spork/lhoon (option)
Sun glasses and strap, Sun Block, Sun Hat
Wool Hat?
Flash light/head torch
Pen, Book/Note Book?
Spare Clothes, inc warm top (such as a fleece or sweat top), trousers/skirt/shorts, socks, (T)shirt(s), thermal
top/bottoms? Underwear, Sport sandals/trainers? Flip-flops? Trek shoes?
Sleeping mat, Sleeping bag, 2/3 season, Bivvy bag?
Camera
mp3?
batteries?
Money/ATM card/Credit Card
Passport, visa info, copy of passport and air ticket info, passport size photographs x4
Day pack/dry pack/bum bag for city use?
Water bottle/bladder system,** note all group water is filtered with iodine or via a Katadyn filter**.
Sense of adventure

PURE LAND EXPEDITIONS-Tested Products/Suppliers

During all our years in the Himalaya on expedition trips, we have come to trust the products we use, from solo descents to large all inclusive trips.

Below is a list of the products that have been proven in the field not just by Daz but also by all our guides.

TEVA

For the last 8 years Daz has been wearing Teva footwear on all the Rivers in both Nepal
and India. Raft guides on both the Sun Kosi and Zanskar also wear TEVA out of choice.
They work well for both treks and river days. At the moment our choice is the Karnali or
Sun Kosi product, although we are aware other products are on the market. The Chaco
version is also praised on rivers around the globe.

PFD

Due to the nature of the rivers in Asia a PFD does not need to have a rescue harness since
its use is minimal. Pockets are important for storage of food etc. We suggest the Astral
Tempo due to its none restrictive design although some of our guides wear the Langer
AKC due to its large 'passport' pocket.

DRY BAGS

Dry bags need to be both strong and light, they need to fit well in the stern of the kayak
and be able to hold your gear. All PURE LAND EXPEDITIONS staff use HF, Watershed and
ALPKIT products when possible. The Watershed products with the padded liner are great
for fragile items like cameras, we use one for our laptop whilst in transit! ALPKIT do
drybags that pack small and are suitable as day packs but also for putting in the stern of
the kayak. The 20ltr Goudon is used daily. For stern kayak gear we use 12/20ltr HF sacks.

PADDLES

Paddles that break in the wilderness can cause major problems. Daz has used Werner
paddles off and on since 1995 and has never broken a set. Werner is also the paddle of
choice for all our kayak team. It is also suggested that the spare/take apart paddles are of
the same standard as your regular paddles. We use Werner take apart paddles and can
also hire high quality take apart paddles to the group. It is suggested that the group has a
spare set of paddles between every four members. Although your guide will also carry a
set.

CAMP GEAR

A self inflating mat is a great way to settle for the night, we use the THERMAREST,ALPKIT
or EXPED range depending upon trip length. We are very wary of down filled sleeping bags
as they are damaged when wet, we use synthetic products with Gore-Tex or Pertex outer
when possible. Our down bags are only used in Alaska and North India. During the spring
Nepal season one of our guides sleeps in his thermals and no sleeping bag! Tarps make
nice shelters but take up alot of space. They can be nice and cheap or expensive with all
bells and whistles, bivvy bags are suitable for this type of trip.