After you have your basic raft setup—boat, frame, oars—it’s time to start collecting the ingenious add-ons that dial up your comfort and enjoyment on the river. Here’s a guide to our favorite rafting gear items that you can collect over time or give as gifts to your favorite river friends.
Many of these finds were invented by boaters looking to solve the gear conundrums they encountered—making life better for all of us river runners. Got some rafting gear genius to recommend? Let us know in the comments below or send us a note and we’ll include it in future roundups.
Rapid Rung raft swim ladder
The Rapid Rung ladder is a breakthrough in helping people get back in the boat—whether they’ve been going for an intentional float or they inadvertently found themselves in the water. Rapid Rung is a retractable ladder that’s been tested on swimmers up to 300 pounds and is easy for kids (8 and up) to use, too, freeing parents from constantly pulling their offspring into the boat. If you or others you boat with would appreciate an easier way to board the raft, check out the Rapid Rung swim ladder designed by Zach Baird, who also runs RaftFix, an inflatables repair shop in Salida, CO.
Fireside Outdoor Pop-up Pit
It’s been so long since we’ve been on a river that didn’t have a fire ban going on, it’s hard to get excited about a firepan setup. But we are tired of dragging our old heavy pan around, so we recently bought the Fireside Outdoor Pop-up Fire Pit before heading out to the Rogue River. The Pop-up Pit is significantly lighter than our old steel firepan, so it checks the box for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service river equipment requirements without weighing the raft down. It comes with a heat shield blanket, collapses down to a slim bag, and weighs less than 8 pounds. Deal!
Good Vibes cam straps in cool colors and patterns
Tired of cam strap attrition? Cam straps tend to disappear before, during, and after river trips in the frenzy of loading and unloading boats. Cam straps in loud colors, wild patterns, or with personalization will help you retain your cam strap collection. Check out Good Vibes River Gear’s groovy cam strap patterns.
Down River captain’s bag
One of our go-to gifts for beginning and experienced rafters, the Down River captain’s bag has become indispensable on our boats. It’s like a glove box for your raft, tucking in right next to the rower so you can toss in all manner of flotsam, including sunscreen, frequently used raft frame tools, maps, and more. Big plus: The zipper is easy to undo with one hand.
Z-Drag crib card
A terrific stocking stuffer, this waterproof fold-out booklet helps you recall the essential Z-drag rescue moves, including instructions on tying various knots to execute the plan. Written by Sue Schaeffer, often included as a recommended resource in swiftwater rescue courses, and less than $12, the Z-Drag Crib Card is a must-have for every rafter. (And if they don’t yet have a Z-Drag setup, that would be another welcome gift.)
NRS Canyon dry box
I’ve loved my NRS Boulder dry box since first acquiring it more than decade ago, and it’s stood the test of time. With a capacity of 1.6 cubic feet, it’s served as the main “snack box” for food that we want to keep easily accessible on the river. But after struggling to fit all our river camp gear into our main aluminum dry box, we doubled down and got the NRS Canyon box.
At 3.6 cubic-feet capacity, this plastic dry box neatly corrals all the stuff that we can’t get into the aluminum dry box, including our hand-wash station, propane, camp lights, and more. It drops neatly into a frame bay with tabs to hold it in place, leaving plenty of room on either side for water jugs or other gear. If you find yourself wishing you had just a little more dry box space, get the NRS Canyon Dry Box.
Over It raft cover
No garage, or no space left in the garage for your raft? You can keep UV rays from damaging your significant investment with the Over It raft cover, which limits UV exposure yet is permeable so water doesn’t collect. The cover is intended to accommodate a rigged boat so you can leave your frame, oar towers, and even the bimini frame on. Extend the life of your raft with the Over It raft cover, invented by boaters Aaron Derwingson and Kevin Kabler in Salida, CO.
Drop Everything cargo bag
No piece of gear has engendered as much envy in our crowd as the Drop Everything bag by Tuff River Stuff out of Salida, CO. Leave that pesky orange cargo net behind: The Drop Everything accommodates a massive number of dry bags, fire pan, chairs, and other essential gear behind the rowing seat. Affectionately known by us as the “Santa bag,” the Drop Everything saves significant time in rigging. Custom-fit to the raft, the Drop Everything cargo bag is a significant gift for your favorite rafter, one that will be cherished for years to come.
Canyon River Instruction safety course
What rafter couldn’t use a river safety and rescue course—or a refresher if they’ve done one before? Or how about a rowing clinic? Canyon River Instruction offers American Canoe Association (ACA) certified river safety courses throughout the season, including women-specific courses and private instruction. Aside from safety courses, they also offer skills courses for rafters, kayakers, and canoeists.
Have other gifts you’d recommend for rafters? Drop your tips in the comments. Looking for other gifts for river runners? Check out 5 Essential Accessories for Your Stand-Up Paddleboard and 11 Essential Inflatable Kayak Accessories.
