Geared to Go
Pack light and smart for river trips. On overnight trips, most
outfitters provide each passenger with a river bag for clothing,
personal items, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. Thats about the same
amount of gear that would fit in two bushel baskets (a total of 20 to 30
pounds). Tents are usually stowed separately. Most sporting goods stores
with camping and hiking departments carry a variety of items recommended
for river running. Your outfitter will send you a gear list, but here
are some guidelines:
On the River
- T-shirts for warm-weather trips
- shorts for warm-weather trips (nylon dries quickly; many shorts have
stitched-in underwear and can be quickly rinsed and reworn)
- bathing suit for warm-weather trips (women might prefer a two-piece
suit)
- lightweight long pants, such as wind pants or shell pants (in case
you get too much sun; also useful in hot, buggy areas)
- loose-fitting, long-sleeved cotton shirt (for sun protection)
- wool shirt for cool-weather trips
- underwear
- old tennis shoes, but river sandals or river shoes without socks are
better (wet socks will keep your feet damp and clammy all day)
- wet-suit booties with hard soles (can be comfortable for walking on
rocks if its cold)
- wet suit or dry suit if the water is very cold, especially early in
the season (usually available for rent from your outfitter)
- good-quality rain gear (dont skimp on this; keep it handy on the
raft even if it looks sunny and clear in the morning)
- baseball cap (wear it under your rain hood to keep it from drooping
in front of your eyes)
- snug-fitting, broad-brimmed hat (to keep the sun off your face and
neck)
- a string hung off your hat and clipped to your collar (to keep your
hat from blowing into the river)
- good-quality sunglasses (with a cord or shoelace to keep them from
flying into the water)
- spare pair of eyeglasses, contact lenses, and/or sunglasses
- light gloves (to protect your hands from too much sun and to warm
them on a cool day)
- fleece pullover or nylon windbreaker (keep it handy on the raft in
case the temperature drops or the wind kicks up)
- ammo can or small personal bag (most outfitters will give you one to
store sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses, binoculars, and other things
youll need on the river, but if you bring your own, make sure its
waterproof and large enough for your needs)
- waterproof sunscreen (at least SPF 30and plenty of it)
- lip balm with sunscreen
- water bottle (fill it up in the morning before leaving camp and
fasten it onto your ammo can or the raft; youll need to drink a lot of
water, especially in hot climates)
- camera (if youre worried about your camera, bring your own
waterproof container to be sure its safe)
- film (bring more than you think youll need)
- small, lightweight binoculars
In Camp
- small, self-standing, waterproof backpacking-type tent (usually
available for rent from your outfitter; if you bring your own, be sure
you have all the poles, and bring extra tent stakes)
- sleeping bag (waterproof stuff-bag type, not the large roll-up type;
usually available for rent from your outfitter)
- foam pad or air mattress (usually available for rent from your
outfitter)
- warm long pants of wool, pile, or a synthetic material such as
polypropylene (jeans may look nice, but once theyre wet, they take
hours to dry)
- long underwear (doesnt take up much space and can feel snug when the
evening chill sets in)
- comfortable walking shoes that can double as hiking boots (huge,
thick-soled waffle stompers can do real damage to a trail)
- comfortable socks (your feet, wet all day from the river, will
appreciate them)
- flashlight with fresh batteries and some spares (set it out or carry
it with you so you can find your way back to your tent after sunset;
headlamp-type flashlights allow you to have light but still keep your
hands free for chores)
- body lotion
- small towel and washcloth
- solar shower (if you set it out on a sunny day, the water will be the
right temperature for an evening shower; some outfitters provide one)
- a minimum of toilet articles (in containers that wont leak or break)
- special medications you may need
- nonaerosol insect repellent
- fishing gear (some outfitters provide or rent it)
- waterproof notebook (to record your experiences)
- resealable plastic bags (for wet items and your notebook)
- book for bedtime reading (or read one of the books about the area
that outfitters often bring along in a waterproof box)
- small portable tape player with headphones (if you like your wild
rivers with Bach or the Beatles, in addition to the music of the
wilderness)
- leave your watch home, and follow the rhythms of the river
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