outdoor gear I use as a sea kayaking guide & outdoor photographer

October 2, 2023

After six years as a sea kayaking guide & photographer, I’ve got some outdoor gear opinions! Here is the gear I use regularly, why I like it, and who I would and wouldn’t recommend it for:

Note: This article contains affiliate links! This means if you make a purchase based on my recommendation, I make a small kickback at no additional cost to you.

My gear recommendations:

This is pretty much all the gear that appears regularly on my Instagram! If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, feel free to shoot me an email at hello [at] madelinemarquardt.com.

MSR Expedition Tent, Jetboil, Oboz Bridger Mids, Arc’teryx atom hoodie

Hiking gear:

Oboz Bridger Mid Hiking Boots: I’ve had these boots for three years and they appear in a lot of my hiking boots. Great for difficult hikes with tricky footing, water proof and warm. Will be replacing with same pair when they finally go.
Darn Tough Vermont Socks: The best wool socks on the market. A fresh pair of these is the most exciting gift in the world and that is true.
Kuhl Freeflex hiking pant: gifted, truly the only pants that don’t make me hate myself. I’ve used them both sea kayak guiding overnight trips and just around town and they’re actually the smartest pants on the market. They are quick dry and cool, and don’t really show dirt, and in a pinch can look dressy enough to pull off while travelling. 10 million stars!
Athleta Salutation leggings: There is only one best pair of leggings and it’s this one. I don’t even try new styles anymore I just have four of these.
Wool Sweaters, Handmade by me or purchased on Etsy
Smartwool Baselayers: Have had really good luck with the longevity of Smartwool specifically compared to other baselayers
Icebreaker Baselayers
Helly Hansen Lifaloft Puffy: I have this puffy in white, which is a little silly, but it’s a great jacket. It’s warm and packs down small, and I just generally really like Helly Hansen products. I think they do a really great job.
Arc’teryx Atom Hoody: purchased at a thrift store for $17!
Helly Hansen Raincoat: both a heavier raincoat and a lighter one. The lighter version that I have has armpit zippers as well; the one I’ve linked does not. The heavier coat (Moss) is probably the right raincoat for just about everything but hiking serious miles in the rain. It’s very good and heavy duty, but not super breathable.
Black Diamond Trekking Poles: Trekking poles make such a huge difference and if you experience any pain while hiking or running I highly recommend giving these a try.
Granite Gear Perimeter 35L (daypack/ UL backpacking bag): I take this on every winter hike and fill it with a first aid kit, extra layers, water, snacks, and an emergency bivy sack and sometimes even a sleeping pad to sit on. Granite Gear is based in Northern Minnesota and recently was 2023 Editor’s Choice as the best backpacking bag of the year at GearLab. I’m a huge fan and if I didn’t already own several backpacking bags I would probably get a Crown 60.
Bedrock Sandals
Garmin InReach Mini: Really important for solo hiking, or any hiking in the backcountry
NOCS Field Issue: binoculars

read about the best women’s hiking pants (that AREN’T leggings!)

MSR Remote 3, Icebreaker Baselayers, Nemo Tempo Sleeping bag, Big Agnes Sleeping Pad, Astral PFD, Granite Gear Perimeter Pack, Oboz Bridger mid hiking boots

Camping & Backpacking:

Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL 2 (love, has lasted six years of guiding!)
MSR Remote 3: expedition/winter tent. This is a great tent, but it is absolutely overkill for anything but expedition trips, winter camping, and mountaineering. This is a silly tent to bring summer backpacking.
Eureka Midori 3: car camping/loaner tent
~~Big Agnes Aircore Sleeping Pad~~ update: swapped for Nemo Tensor. It’s a little more expensive but much lighter and packs smaller. The Big Agnes was still a great pad that I had for three years (replaced once with another Big Agnes). Heavy sea kayak exped use lead to the insulation separating on the inside and mold on the bottom side both times. I don’t think that’s a defect, I just think that’s what happens when you sea kayak camp for that long.
Nemo Disco Sleeping Bag: Down sleeping bag best for backpacking in cooler weather. I used this sea kayak guiding this summer (I do not recommend bringing a down bag sea kayaking! Water can really damage these!) and I cannot explain how great it was to finish an 18 hour shift and crawl into this.
Jetboil: Good for backpacking, smaller paddling trips
MSR Whisperlite: better for cooking with groups of 3 or more than Jetboil
Sea to Summit X-set collapsable pots
Osprey Aura 65 L pack: winter camping/longer backpacking. Osprey makes probably the best packs for women with smaller frames. This pack has a lot of padding and is designed to carry a lot of stuff for a long time. Definitely not an ultralight bag.
Sea to Summit Evac Drybags: These are great for paddling, backpacking, or even just compressing stuff for travel in your suitcase. I own a 20L for my sleeping bag and a smaller for clothes. Great system, can’t recommend enough.
The Patagonia 40L Black Hole Bag: Fits under an airplane seat, only bag I use for travel. Also use when car camping. I’ve had this bag since pre-Peace Corps days. It’s awesome.
Petzel Headlamp

read the best camping tents for beginners to help find the best possible tent for your needs and budget

A backpacker in front of an overlook of Rose Lake at peak fall color on the Border Route Trail

Helly Hansen Odin Shell jacket, Osprey Aura 65, Arc’teryx Atom Hoodie (I actually found used for $17, no I did not spend hundreds of dollars on a jacket)

Sea Kayaking:

same as above EXCEPT swap for Nemo Tempo Sleeping Bag, synthetic (synthetic bags dry more quickly)
Kokatat Woolcore top for under drysuit
Patagonia yulex wetsuit: I wear a wetsuit like this one for most summer paddling, no matter the air temperature, when paddling in northern places including the Great Lakes and Washington State.
Immersion Research Drysuit: I use a drysuit anytime I am likely to get wet, expedition paddling, or any time of the year it isn’t summer. For overnight paddling, the ability to stay dry the entire time is a huge game changer.
NRS sprayskirt: Excellent entry level- intermediate spray skirt. For pricier options, see Andy’s recommendations below.
Werner Cyprus paddle (size will depend on your wingspan and kayak beam.)
Astral Bluejacket PFD: Low profile, excellent pockets
NRS Ninja PFD (loaner): Cheaper option, pockets okay.
the wooden paddle on the bow of my kayak in some of my older photos is a Bending Branches paddle that I believe they do not make anymore which is for the best because it basically paddled like the trunk of a tree.
Valley Sea Kayaks Avocet LV (don’t just buy this kayak based on my recommendation this is definitely not a boat for just anyone looking to kayak. Always test paddle multiple boats before you commit to one. Boats are like pants and one size does not fit all).
Wilderness Systems Tempest 165 (beginner friendly sea kayak choice; 165 is the small size, they also make a 170 and 175)
Garmin InReach
Map Case
WRSI helmet for rock gardening/ whitewater

Looking for more specifics on sea kayaking gear? Check out 15 Kayak Camping Tips for Beginners & What to Wear for Winter Kayaking

NRS Ninja PFD, Dry Map Case (I do not have an opinion on which map case is superior), Werner Cyprus Paddle, Gregory Day Pack, Bedrock Sandals

XC skiing and hygge vibes in Northern Minnesota

Winter Hiking & XC-Ski Gear:

I knit a lot of my own gear out of Icelandic or Norwegian wool including coat-weight sweaters, mittens, neck gaiters, and hats. You can check my knitting shop to see what I have in stock here.
Patagonia DAS parka: My warmest, walking in the park in the winter, snowstorm-ready jacket
Helly Hansen Lifaloft Puffy: Great insulation for winter hiking and paddling. Flattering cut. I also like to just wear this around town.
Fjallraven Keb Curved Trousers: heavier outer layer for winter hiking and camping. I throw these on over a pair of leggings or on colder trips, wool long underwear.
Wool Baselayers: Smartwool long underwear and thermal tops.
Patagonia Synchilla Fleece: I actually stole this from my sister a few years ago and when she came to visit she said “oh I have one just like that”. Lol.
Stanley Thermos: Great for winter day hiking
Granite Gear Perimeter 35L (daypack): I take this on every winter hike and fill it with a first aid kit, extra layers, water, snacks, and an emergency bivy sack and sometimes even a sleeping pad to sit on. Granite Gear is based in Northern Minnesota and recently was 2023 Editor’s Choice as the best backpacking bag of the year at GearLab. I’m a huge fan and if I didn’t already own several backpacking bags I would probably get a Crown 60.
Stio Pinion Pullover: I was gifted this pullover three years ago now and it’s still one of my favorite layers. It’s come winter camping, backcountry skiing, kayak camping, and around town. Truly one of my favorites.
Microspikes
Rossignol OT Cross Country Skis
Oboz winter hiking boots: great budget-friendly all around winter hiker. Warm, good traction, decent longevity. I have yet to find a winter hiker that leaves me totally satisfied (My Danner’s fell apart after just one season), and these still leave a little to be desired in construction and had a tear after a season of hard use.
Steger mukluks: Mukluks are great for winter camping in snowy places, extremely cold weather, mushing, and snowshoeing. They are not good for walking around town, ice hiking, ect. Salted roads will absolutely destroy these shoes, as will walking on pavement; they are made specifically for Arctic travel.

Andy’s gear recommendations:

Andy, my paddling partner and reluctant hiking buddy, appears all over my Instagram as well. He’s got several years in the outdoor industry under him, including sea kayak guiding, surfing, backcountry ski guiding, and working hands on in management in outdoor retail stores. Here are his favorite gear picks: