The Yukon 1000 isn’t just another endurance race—it’s 1,000 miles of paddling for 18 hours a day through one of the most remote places on the planet. Every piece of gear has to earn its place because the race is completely self-supported. There are no gear drops, no resupply points, and what you start with is what you finish with. In short, everything you bring has to work—and it has to work every single day, as there are also no discipline changes.
After nearly a week of paddling, sleeping on gravel bars, dealing with Alaska’s endless daylight, and covering 1,000 miles by kayak, these were the products that truly stood out.
Ultralight, surprisingly comfortable, and warm enough for cool Yukon nights. After 18-hour paddle days, getting quality sleep on a comfortable pad made a huge difference in our recovery.
Lightweight, incredible coverage, crystal-clear optics, and protected my eyes from the endless daylight and glare reflecting off the Yukon River.
Fueling the Impossible: 4 Hour Fuel
Nutrition is one of the biggest reasons races like this are won or lost.
For the Yukon 1000, we relied almost entirely on the full 4 Hour Fuel lineup, and honestly, I couldn’t imagine doing this race any other way. Each product is designed to give your body everything it needs while digesting quickly and efficiently. It’s especially great for ultra-endurance paddling because we didn’t have to spend time unwrapping food or chewing.
We literally paddled with the 4 Hour Fuel tube on one side of our mouths and our hydration tube on the other, so we never had to miss a paddle stroke.
The flagship product, 4 Hour Fuel, fueled roughly 15 hours of each 18-hour day.
Every morning we’d mix a hydration bladder with two servings (about eight hours of fuel), then mix two more bottles later in the day. It blended easily in both bottles and bladders, tasted great even after days on the river, and delivered steady energy without upsetting our stomachs.
When you’re paddling 18-20 hours a day and maxing out your core, shoulders, and back, the last thing you want is nutrition that feels like work. This was simple, consistent, and exactly what we needed.
Morning on the Yukon came fast—mostly because it never really got dark and we only really slept a couple hours a night.
Each night we’d mix our Ultra Coffee Smoothies so they were ready to chug as soon as we woke up. The combination of caffeine, carbohydrates, fat, and protein was exactly what our bodies needed to get up and out of the tent.
I started calling it our “morning rocket fuel.” It helped us bolt up and got us into our kayak without worrying about getting enough calories before another massive day on the river.
Most people think hot meals are mandatory during expedition races. Not us. Not even a little bit. Our mandatory stove and fuel never saw the outside of the kayak.
We ate Expedition Mash cold, straight from the bag after adding water. Thirty seconds later it was ready—and honestly, it was incredibly delicious.
It saved fuel, saved time, and gave us something substantial to look forward to every evening. It had everything our bodies were craving after a massive day: carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, salt, and a ton of calories. Our bellies were happy, and so were our minds knowing we’d given our bodies exactly what they needed to recover.
This was probably our favorite moment every single day.
About an hour before our nightly six-hour rest, we’d mix and chug a Rapid Recovery Smoothie. It became the signal to our bodies that the work was done and recovery had begun. With 40 grams of protein, BCAAs, carbohydrates, healthy fats, and incredible flavor, it felt like the perfect reward after another huge day on the water.
The Best Tent We’ve Ever Used
One of the biggest challenges in Alaska and the Yukon during the summer isn’t always the weather, it’s the daylight. Even for people like me who grew up there. It’s just really hard to turn off your brain, no matter how exhausted you are.
The Quechua 2 Second Easy Fresh & Black Waterproof Pop-Up Tent became one of our favorite pieces of gear for two simple reasons: it sets up in about 30 seconds, and it’s so dark inside that we actually needed headlamps to get situated. It never stopped feeling surreal to step inside at 11 p.m., when it was broad daylight outside, and suddenly be in complete darkness.
We consistently slept 3½ to 4 hours incredibly well, and after paddling all day, quality sleep is priceless.
Yes, it’s heavier than our ultralight race tents (4.7 kg), but it was worth every ounce. The integrated rainfly and vestibules were another bonus, especially after testing them on a previous rainy trip where they kept us completely dry.
After paddling for 18 hours a day, there wasn’t a single part of my body that wasn’t ready to lie down.
When you only have about 3-4 hours of actual sleep each night, your sleeping setup isn’t just about comfort—it’s about recovery.
The Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated sleeping pad turned out to be the perfect balance of comfort, warmth, and weight. At just 14 ounces (for the regular size), it packs incredibly small while still offering 3.5 inches of cushioning and an R-value of 4.3, making it ideal for three-season adventures like the Yukon 1000. The oversized outer rails helped keep us centered on the pad, and after spending all day sitting in a kayak, that extra comfort was something my hips and shoulders looked forward to every night.
One thing I’ve learned over years of expedition racing is that you don’t get stronger while you’re moving—you get stronger while you’re recovering. Even though we only had a few hours each night, I wanted every one of those hours to count.
Between the blackout Quechua tent, our sleeping bags, and the Zoom UL sleeping pad, we had one of the best recovery setups I’ve ever had in a multi-day race. We woke up each morning feeling as refreshed as you possibly can after sleeping only a few hours before climbing back into a kayak for another 18-hour day.
Most of my races don’t allow GPS navigation, but the Yukon 1000 actually requires competitors to carry two GPS units. There are no checkpoints, but there are definitely faster routes. The Yukon River is enormous, highly braided, and constantly changing, so following a planned line saved us both time and energy. We chose the Garmin GPSMAP H1i Plus as our primary navigation unit while our Garmin Enduro watches served as backups. The Hi Plus was easy to use thanks to it’s big buttons and extremely easy to see thanks to it’s big screen. I didn’t spend as much time using it as my teammate Dan did, as he was the primary navigator and programed it so that he could easily use it. Here are his thoughts on it below:
“The H1 was overall awesome. I rigged it with a suction cup and waterproof external battery, and I was blown away by the battery life. Even with the maps running constantly, the internal battery lasted an entire 18-hour paddle day, and one external battery could have lasted the whole trip.
The screen was easy to read in almost every lighting condition, and once we loaded our target line, it was incredibly easy to follow. Turning off the touchscreen was a must because of water droplets, and the button controls worked perfectly.
The only downside was accidentally turning on the flashlight a few times with my paddle, which drained one battery pack, and it took a little work to customize the display exactly how I wanted. Otherwise, it was fantastic.”
Keeping Everything Charged
Even in the wilderness, electronics are essential. We used the BioLite Charge 100 Max to power our satellite trackers, watches, speakers, and other electronics throughout the race. I kept expecting it to run out of power, but it never did. We actually crossed the finish line with battery still remaining, which says a lot considering everything it powered during the week.
It’s become one of those pieces of gear that’s just as useful on everyday adventures as it is on big expeditions.
We also packed the BioLite SolarPanel 5+ as a backup charging option. Thankfully we never needed it, but I loved how lightweight it was and how easily it attached to the kayak incase we did need to charge it up.
The One piece of Gear I was Most Surprised by
The Stio Women’s Hylas Tunic may have been one of the biggest surprises of the race for me. Never once had I considered racing in a dress. But when you have to pee every two or three hours without pulling over, you start thinking differently.
By the end of Day 2, I had the whole routine down: pop the spray skirt, pull down the underwear, pee in a bottle, pull everything back up, and keep paddling—all in about three minutes.
I know that sounds ridiculous, but I actually practiced before the race, and I’m so glad I did. The dress made the whole process dramatically easier. Beyond that, it dried incredibly quickly, breathed well during long hot paddle days, and the hood helped protect my neck and ears from the relentless sun.
It has officially become one of my favorite summer adventure pieces, and who knows, maybe it will make a debut in an expedition race sometime soon!
Merino That Never Quit
I’m incredibly picky about underwear for long races, and while I’ve mentioned these in several other posts, I just can’t help myself.
The Paradis Sports Merino Wool Underwear were outstanding. Comfortable, breathable, odor resistant—which is saying a lot after spending 18 hours a day sitting in a kayak cockpit. They’re officially part of my expedition racing kit from now on. As always- put Chelsey20 in the code box at check out and get 20% off!
Our Paddle of Choice
The Stellar Kayaks Small Wing Paddle was, quite literally, our engine. It’s incredibly lightweight, easy to adjust on the fly, and slices cleanly through the water in every condition we encountered.
We estimated we took roughly 480,000 paddle strokes during the race. When you’re repeating the same movement nearly half a million times, every ounce matters. This paddle feels fast, efficient, and effortless and has been our weapon of choice for the past 10 years.
Taking Care of Our Skin
Long days on the Yukon mean constant exposure to the elements, and your hands take an incredible beating. Eighteen hours a day they’re gripping the paddle, and without the right care, blisters are almost inevitable.
We relied on Angelina Organic Skin Care’s Skin Doctor throughout the race. Every couple of hours we’d apply it to our hands, sometimes covering them with gloves and sometimes letting them breathe. And we finished with zero blisters. I’ll say that one more time… NO BLISTERS!
We also used it for hot spots and chafing on our feet, backs, and yes…butts. When you’re constantly twisting, driving your legs, and sitting in one position for days, rubbing is also very unavoidable. However, after just one or two applications during the day, we finished with very happy skin.
When you’re outside nearly 24 hours a day, healthy skin isn’t just about comfort, it can sometimes actually be the difference between finishing or not. Infections in the middle of the wilderness is a serious thing. We now think of Skin Doctor as part of our ultra mandatory kit. It’s always accessible and we always have back up tins.
With Alaska’s nearly 24-hour daylight, sun protection wasn’t optional. We spent long days completely exposed on the river, so having a hat that covered my face, ears, and neck made a huge difference.
It was lightweight, breathable, dried quickly after splashes, and the chin cord kept it securely in place whenever the wind picked up. It quickly became one less thing I had to think about while focusing on paddling.
Sunglasses That Protected My Eyes
If there was one thing I learned during the Yukon 1000, it’s that your eyes get just as tired as the rest of your body.
With nearly 24 hours of daylight, the sun reflecting off the water, and mile after mile of staring downstream looking for the fastest current, quality sunglasses weren’t just a comfort—they were essential.
The Smith Wildcatsunglasses were my go-to for the entire race.
I loved the large lens coverage, which kept the wind and glare out of my eyes while giving me a huge field of vision. The ChromaPop™ lenses made it easier to read the water, pick out current lines, and spot sweepers and gravel bars ahead without constantly squinting. They stayed comfortable all day, never bounced around while paddling, and the lightweight frame meant I almost forgot I was wearing them.
When you’re spending 18 hours a day on the water, reducing eye fatigue becomes just as important as taking care of your hands or shoulders. These quickly became one of those pieces of gear I simply never took off.
Other Gear That Deserves a Mention
Not everything fit into its own section, but these items absolutely earned their place in our boats.
Paddling Gloves: Both Dan and I rotated through two or three different pairs depending on how our hands were feeling, and about half the time we paddled without gloves altogether. I loved my Outdoor Research ActiveIce Chroma Sun Gloves and an old pair of discontinued NRS gloves. My advice? Try several pairs and buy one size larger than you think—you’ll be glad you did once your hands start swelling.
Waterproof Speakers: Music became surprisingly important. It kept us on pace, helped us stay awake, and gave us something besides conversation after hours and hours on the water. We brought three small waterproof speakers and rotated them throughout the race.
Front “Diddy Bag”: Having a waterproof bag directly in front of us that we could reach without stopping was invaluable. Whether it’s an Alpacka bag or another system, easy access is key.
Hydration Bladders: We both used HydraPak bladders. They’re durable, easy to clean, and the best solution we’ve found for staying hydrated during ultra-distance paddling. Use Chelsey10 at checkout for a little % off.
Final Thoughts
The coolest thing about the Yukon 1000 is that you can repeat it year after year. You could even do the whole thing not as a race, but as self supported trip. The river is always there, and while its channels and general shape of it does change depending on the water levels – its still the same river. So, next time we want to do this, we can go back to this same list and look at what we loved.
This journey was one of those where the right gear absolutely made it for us. From the tent to the 4 Hour Fuel, our sleep and our nutrition was on point and for that I am so grateful.
Every item we packed had to justify its weight, and every product on this list earned its place. Some made us faster, some made us more comfortable, some helped us recover and some simply made life in one of the most remote races on Earth a little bit easier.
When you’re paddling 1,000 miles through the Alaskan wilderness, those little things quickly become the big things.
Want to ask me questions about it? Or do you have your own favorite must have item that you love? I want to hear about it, drop me a comment!
