What you bring on, say, a week-long kayak trip varies from paddler to paddler, from place to place and from season to season. As so often, there is no absolute right or wrong. I have my way of paddling and can tell you roughly how I do it, even though I know others prioritise very differently. Not even safety is something everyone agrees on – and even less what tastes best on a skerry.

Pack smart

Most paddlers agree on a few things. Pack smart. That doesn’t necessarily mean light – you are not hiking in the mountains, just carrying things from the kayak to camp. But keep it compact, with heavy items as central as possible, close to the cockpit. Use many small dry bags rather than a few big ones, and squeeze out the air so they stow easily. Take the tent out of its stuff sack (leave the sack at home) and push it into the bow, with a corner reachable from the hatch so you can pull it out easily.

Water

A wine maker whose bag-in-box leaks in transport won’t last long in the business, so the bags and taps are usually excellent – perfect as water bags in a kayak. A bit fiddly to fill, but you save buying expensive water bags. I use a hydration bladder made for skiing: I fill it with water, freeze it and use it as an ice pack for fresh food for the first three or four days, then as a cool drinking water reserve. Plan for about 3 litres of water per person per day.

Gear that does two jobs

As someone said: if every item has two uses, you only need half as much luggage. Someone in the group probably has a tow line – great for pitching a tent or tarp, or as a washing line for wet clothes. An inflatable paddle float can, depending on its design, double as a pillow. Hard rock? Sit on your life jacket. Hard-boil your eggs at home to save fuel. And if a drink belongs to your evening at camp, whisky takes up less space than wine or beer – lukewarm beer isn’t great anyway.

Tent and sleeping gear

A dome tent needs no pegs – secure it on the rock with stones in the corners. Ticks don’t thrive on bare rock, and modern inflatable sleeping mats are fantastic (says someone who paddled in the seventies). Many recommend a moderately warm synthetic sleeping bag that copes with damp. I feel the cold and choose down – I crawl in when it is cold and use it as a quilt when it is warm.

Clothes and sun protection

I have fair, sensitive skin, so high-factor sunscreen, long sleeves and a hat are a must. My hat has a wide brim and a chin strap. Wool on the upper body stays warm when damp and doesn’t smell after two days. A piece of sleeping mat under your heels in the kayak makes paddling more comfortable.

Safety gear

Safety gear matters, of course, but the list can be endless. An American blogger was asked what safety gear he kept in his life jacket. When he had listed it all, my first thought was: does your life jacket still float?

I use a moderate amount of safety gear. I know that is controversial. But rather than filling the kayak with the latest gadgets, I think you should be mentally prepared and practised in using the gear you have. Nothing against new technology – GPS has done wonders – but it must be very simple to use. When you are in the water, you can’t read the manual.

In a group of six or seven paddlers, there should be at least one tow line, one pump, one paddle float and one or two spare paddles. Besides my life jacket, I carry a phone in a waterproof case, a simple compass, a knife, a lighter, a light, some plasters and a roll of duct tape. You can add more: a torch, a paddle leash, a personal locator beacon, a whistle, flares and a VHF radio. Read more about kayak rescue techniques and navigation for kayakers.

Packing list at a glance

• Dry bags in different sizes
• Dome tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag
• Camping stove, fuel, lighter and food
• Water, about 3 litres per person per day
• Wool layers, rain gear, hat and sun protection
• Life jacket, pump, paddle float, tow line and spare paddle
• Phone in a waterproof case, compass, chart, knife, light and first-aid kit

Paddle your way

We all paddle differently. Some have protein powder for breakfast and cover the longest distance in the shortest time. Others, like my friend Johan, think a three-course dinner on an outer skerry is the highlight of life – he often brings the barbecue (his kayak is bigger than mine). Where you paddle matters too. Two friends of mine filled their kayaks with food for a trip along the Norwegian coast, then discovered that Norwegian towns sit out by the sea rather than deep in the bays as in Sweden. The next food shop was never far away.

And who says kayakers must live like monks? Bring that little extra if it makes life better: a chocolate cake, an espresso maker or a paperback of Tomas Tranströmer’s poems.

Visiting Stockholm and want a taste of the archipelago first? Rent a kayak on Långholmen or join a guided kayak tour in English. Need a kayak with plenty of storage? See our sea kayaks.