White water rafting offers one of the most fun and exhilarating outdoor experiences available anywhere, but proper preparation for a multi-day rafting trip is absolutely essential. Forgetting even a few basic supplies could cost you valuable time by forcing you to go to the nearest town to purchase what you need.
Even worse, forgetting first aid and repair supplies could pose a serious threat to your health as well as the health of others on your trip.
Before you set out on your rafting trip, make a checklist of what you need to bring and cross items off as you pack them. Here are a just a few of the absolute essentials:
First Aid Supplies
First aid supplies are perhaps the most important things you’ll need to pack for a long rafting trip. After all, accidents can happen and it’s a necessity to be prepared when they do if you aren’t near a hospital. Bandages, gauze, sterile pads and first aid tape are most important because the most common type of injury experienced while rafting is a cut or puncture from sharp, jagged rocks.
You should also pack a pair of tweezers, a snake bit kit and an over-the-counter pain reliever like Advil or Tylenol along with any medications you take regularly. If you aren’t familiar with basic first-aid practices, a first aid book will be helpful.
Clothes
A multi-day rafting trip taken in cool weather will require more clothes than one in the summer, but there are some necessities you will need year round. Make sure you’re prepared by packing two full outfits per day of your rafting trip. If you’re going in the fall, you’ll want long sleeve shirts and pants. In the summer, you may be able to get away with t-shirts and shorts the whole trip.
Pack several jackets and light sweaters as well – this will allow you to layer your clothes to stay warm if necessary. Packing at least two pair of socks and underwear on at least per day is a necessity. Swim booties will help to keep you safe, and a wetsuit may make your experience more enjoyable depending on the water temperature.
Personal Effects
Many of the personal effects you’ll need for a multi-day rafting trip are the same as any long camping trip. Matches, a flashlight with extra batteries, a lantern or candles, a sleeping bag, eating utensils, sunblock, insect repellent and extra water are essential. If you’re going to be sleeping outside, you’ll probably want a tent, though some people do prefer to sleep under the stars when the weather permits. A waterproof bag, sunglasses and fishing equipment can also be useful on a rafting trip.
Cooking Equipment
If you’re going to be doing your own food preparation for yourself or a group you will need to bring appropriate cooking equipment. A frying pan or Dutch oven, a large metal or wooden spoon and knife, a cutting board, a can opener, a sponge and dish soap and charcoal are the most basic tools you will need. However, some people choose to bring a charcoal or propane grill with a small tank if they have the space to pack and store them when they aren’t at their campsite. Paper towels, extra spices and extra cups and plates can be helpful as well.
Safety Equipment
Safety equipment can make the difference between an enjoyable rafting trip and a potentially tragic one. You’ll need a life jacket for every person going on your rafting trip, and it’s a good idea to have one or two extra life jackets just in case. Some states even require you to have an extra one in your raft at all times. Carabineers, a signal mirror, a sharp knife and a throw rope are also necessary pieces of safety equipment for water-related activities.
Repair Kit
Accidents don’t just happen to people on rafting trips – they can happen to your rafting equipment too. Pack duct tape, material appropriate glue, rags, a one-inch paint brush for glue application, scissors and C-clamps so you can make any necessary repairs to your rafting equipment instead of going to the nearest town to buy new supplies.
If you aren’t sure of how to make certain repairs, brush up before your trip or avoid making them. Improper repairs could make your rafting equipment unsafe for use.
About the author: Pete Wise is a rafting enthusiast and works with Wilderness Aware Rafting doing Inbound Marketing. Wilderness Aware is the leader in Colorado White Water Rafting and employs the most extensively-trained guides in the USA. If you liked the article, check out Pete’s site for Denver SEO: PeteWiseSEO.com
Photo credit: Fernando Weberich