Preparing for your first rafting adventure? Knowing what to pack in advance will help you have a more enjoyable time out there. And the first thing that you need to know is that you are definitely going to get wet when riding the rapids. Most adventure companies that offer white water rafting trips do them come rain or shine, don’t think that a little rain will cancel they day’s activities.
If you are not out rafting on your own with a group of buddies, then the adventure company that schedules your excursion will give you a helmet and personal floatation device. So, all you need to worry about is what you’re wearing.
White Water Rafting Clothing Checklist
The most important thing to remember when deciding that you will wear on your rafting trip is that you’re going to get wet. So, you must keep that in mind when selecting your attire for the excursion.
Bathing suit – You will definitely want to put on a swim suit under your clothing. For the women, stick with a two-piece suit instead of a one-piece. Why? Because it will be much easier for your bathroom breaks when you only have to pull down your swim suit bottoms instead of take off your entire bathing suit!
Quick dry shirt and shorts – Since you are definitely going to get wet, it makes sense to wear shorts instead of pants. If possible, go for a some quick dry fabrics instead of cotton, which is stay wet longer and cling to your body uncomfortably. It’s even better if you can look for water resistant and quick dry clothing at a local outdoor outfitter. You should also bring a waterproof jacket in case it gets chilly on the raft.
Shoes – Water shoes are a great choice for a rafting trip, but you don’t have to rush out to buy a pair if you don’t already own some. A pair of old sneakers works just fine since they will stay on your feet and you likely won’t mind if they get too wet. But be sure to avoid Crocs, flip flops and other types of shoes that can easily fall of your feet if you end up in the water. I have a friend who actually lost both of her shoes on a white water rafting trip because she was wearing sandals without an ankle strap.
You’ll want to resist the urge to bring towels in the raft with you since they’ll just get wet like you. Instead, put the towels in your car or camp site so that you can use them to dry off once you’re done rafting for the day.
A change of clothes is also a good thing to keep in your car or the camp site. Just remember that the weather can change at any time, so pack some layers so that you can stay warm if its cold and peel off layers if it gets too warm.
Leave a Reply