Super Good Camping Podcast

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A carbon fibre canoe paddle can sound like something meant for elite racers, but Chris from Ripple FX Paddles makes a convincing case that the right design is actually about making paddling simpler, smoother, and less punishing on your body. We’re live at the Hamilton Adventure Expo as he shares what it’s like to bring a new gear business into the real world, talk face-to-face with trippers, and watch people’s reactions when they pick up an eight-ounce paddle for the first time. 

We get into the story behind Ripple FX, starting with an intense Muskoka River race that turned discomfort into obsession, friendships, and a desire to go faster and farther. When Chris’s first carbon paddle arrived broken, he used it as a blueprint and taught himself composite building through trial, error, and relentless iteration. Along the way, he learned how bent shaft ergonomics can keep your top hand lower, reduce shoulder strain, and support sit-and-switch efficiency for long-distance canoe tripping and marathon-style paddling. 

Durability also gets a deep dive, especially for shallow-water routes where bottom strikes can chip blades and lead to delamination. Chris explains a replaceable fiberglass wear sleeve that can be epoxied on, worn down, and swapped out later, plus the kinds of strength tests he runs in the shop and the few things you simply shouldn’t do with a lightweight composite paddle. If you care about canoe camping gear, backcountry performance, and smart design that’s easy to live with, you’ll get a lot from this conversation. Subscribe, share the episode with a paddling buddy, and leave a review. What’s the one piece of canoe gear you’d never head out without?
www.ripplefxpaddles.com
https://www.instagram.com/ripplefxpaddles/
https://www.facebook.com/ripplefxpaddles
https://www.youtube.com/@ripplefxpaddles
https://www.hamiltonadventureexpo.com/
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CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

Support the podcast & buy super cool SWAG: https://store.skgroupinc.com/super_good_camping/shop/home

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.com

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFDJbFJyJ5Y-NHhFseENsQ

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/super_good_camping/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SuperGoodCampin

FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SuperGoodCamping/

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@supergoodcamping
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Your meals can make or break a camping trip and most problems start before you even leave the driveway. We walk through the no-drama way we plan and prep food so we can spend more time hiking, paddling, swimming, and hanging out with the kids, and less time digging through a soggy cooler. Tim shares his old-school grid method for mapping breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks by day, plus how that single sheet of paper prevents overpacking, forgotten ingredients, and last-minute “what’s for dinner” stress.

We get practical about the difference between car camping and backcountry camping meals, including how long fresh food can realistically last and how to stretch it with smarter ingredients like smoked meats, smoked cheese, tortillas, and hardy produce. We also dig into cooler strategy: layering food by day, choosing a quality cooler, using a dedicated drinks cooler, and why block ice outlasts cubes. If you want a lightweight hack for backcountry trips, we explain how freezing water bags can keep food cold early on and then get dumped as they melt to reduce pack weight.

From foil-packet dinners and make-ahead chili to pancake mix shortcuts, trail snacks, and classic campfire desserts, we keep the focus on simple camping recipes that match your cooking gear and your weather. If you like practical camping tips, meal prep tricks, and real-world advice for family camping, subscribe, share this with a camping buddy, and leave a review so more people can find the show.
Support the show
CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

Support the podcast & buy super cool SWAG: https://store.skgroupinc.com/super_good_camping/shop/home

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.com

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFDJbFJyJ5Y-NHhFseENsQ

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/super_good_camping/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SuperGoodCampin

FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SuperGoodCamping/

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@supergoodcamping
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A long haul trip can hand you the best view of your life, then toss you onto an overnight bus that makes you question every choice you’ve ever made. We sit down with Toronto author and Fly Travel Radio host Melissa Rodway to talk about the kind of travel stories that don’t fit on a postcard: chaos in Southeast Asia, the strange kindness of strangers, and the moments that turn into the memories you keep for decades.

We also get practical. Melissa shares how she builds meaningful adventure into a regular working life, including taking time off without pretending you need to “quit everything” to travel. We dig into budget travel strategies like self guided planning, finding local operators, house sitting, and volunteering, plus how the internet makes research easier while still requiring smart screening. If you’ve ever searched for affordable travel tips, solo travel confidence, or how to plan a trip without feeling like an imposter, you’ll feel seen here.

Closer to home, we celebrate Canada as a top tier outdoor travel destination, from Ontario canoe country to the culture and winter energy of Québec City and the pull of PEI. Along the way, Melissa challenges influencer perfection and the myth that experienced travellers always have it together. We love this conversation because it’s human, funny, and grounded, and it’ll leave you with a clearer sense of what adventure can look like at any age.

Subscribe for more camping and travel conversations, share this with a friend who needs a nudge to get outside, and leave a review to help more Canadians find the show.
https://flyrodway.com/
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/fly-travel-radio-with-melissa-rodway/id1435744884
https://www.instagram.com/fly_travel_media/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn-CjX6LEiiXHTiTxjlgMTQ
Support the show
CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

Support the podcast & buy super cool SWAG: https://store.skgroupinc.com/super_good_camping/shop/home

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.com

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFDJbFJyJ5Y-NHhFseENsQ

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/super_good_camping/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SuperGoodCampin

FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SuperGoodCamping/

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@supergoodcamping
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Ontario camping can be magical right up until the black flies find you. We get honest about what really happens from May to mid-July and beyond, then lay out a simple, workable bug plan you can actually use on your next canoe trip, backcountry route, or family car-camping weekend.

We start with a few shout outs from the broader camping community, including a lightweight carbon fibre paddle we’re excited to test on an upcoming Spanish River trip, and an epic Canada By Canoe challenge aiming to break the world record for the longest single-season canoe trip while raising money for True North Aid. We also recap a presentation-heavy backcountry canoe symposium at the Canadian Canoe Museum and a Camp Kitchen gathering where food, gear, and good people all collide in the best way.

Then we dig into Ontario bug season survival: when black flies, mosquitoes, deer flies, horseflies, ticks, and midges tend to peak, what attracts them, and what helps most. We talk DEET vs icaridin (picaridin), why physical barriers like bug shirts, head nets, and screened shelters often beat gimmicks, and why dense fabric, tight cuffs, and even pants tucked into socks can save your sanity. We also share campsite selection lessons, from avoiding calm water and deep shade to understanding why that “perfect” empty site might be empty for a reason. We even explore a curious idea about why some people seem to attract more bites than others.

If you’ve ever planned a trip around bugs or had them wreck a campsite, you’ll feel seen and you’ll leave with a clearer strategy. Subscribe, share this with your favourite camping partner, leave a review, and tell us what bug is your personal nemesis.
www.ripplefxpaddles.com
www.canadabycanoe.com
www.traversing.ca
www,canoemuseum.ca
www.campkitchenstore.ca
Support the show
CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

Support the podcast & buy super cool SWAG: https://store.skgroupinc.com/super_good_camping/shop/home

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.com

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFDJbFJyJ5Y-NHhFseENsQ

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/super_good_camping/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SuperGoodCampin

FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SuperGoodCamping/

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@supergoodcamping
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A good wilderness trip can change your mood in a single day, but planning one can feel like a puzzle: where do you go, what’s realistic with kids, and how remote is too remote? From the floor of the Hamilton Adventure Expo, I’m flying solo while Pamela rides out a storm at home, and I sit down with Robin Sutherland of Northern Skies Resort to talk through a northern Ontario getaway that blends real backcountry energy with practical comfort.

Robin walks me through Northern Skies Resort in Algoma Country, set on spring-fed Chub Lake and surrounded by crown land, rivers, and the kind of quiet that makes you breathe slower. We get into what guests actually do when they arrive: cabin life, lake days, paddling, fishing, and that easy “step outside and you’re in it” feeling that’s hard to find in busier cottage country.

Then we head deeper into the story: their hike-and-paddle backcountry cabin in an unserviced provincial park, accessed by a 7.5 km route with two lake crossings and staged canoes so you don’t have to portage. Robin explains how a wood stove, propane cooktop, and sauna create a rare mix of rugged and cozy, and why that matters for families, first-timers, and anyone who wants the backcountry without the full ordeal. We also talk about taking over a family-run resort during COVID, how Ontario tourism shifted, and what it means to be the fourth generation caring for a place built in the 1940s.

If you’re searching for a cottage resort in Northern Ontario, a backcountry cabin near Algoma, or fresh camping inspiration, this chat is for you. Subscribe, share the episode with a camping buddy, and leave a review telling us your ideal level of “comfort in the wild.”
https://www.northernskiesresort.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Northernskiesresort
https://www.instagram.com/northernskiesresort
Support the show
CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

Support the podcast & buy super cool SWAG: https://store.skgroupinc.com/super_good_camping/shop/home

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.com

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFDJbFJyJ5Y-NHhFseENsQ

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/super_good_camping/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SuperGoodCampin

FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SuperGoodCamping/

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@supergoodcamping
Support the show