Rafting Gear Checklist for Multi-day River Trips

This comprehensive rafting gear checklist for private boaters covers every category of gear you’ll need for a multi-day river trip, including raft gear, kitchen camp gear, river toilet gear, and personal gear. You’ll find recommendations for specific gear and links to resources with more details.

In collaboration with friends and family (which includes plenty of former river guides), I’ve been organizing multi-day river trips for more than three decades. Primarily focused on intermediate whitewater trips in the western US, we have encountered nearly every weather event, animal situation, and gear breakdown you can imagine. 

Here’s a roundup of gear we consider essential for a multi-day rafting trip, with additional notes about non-essential but nice-to-have extra gear. 

Raft gear

Rafts are the chief workhorses of most river trips (unless you’re doing a stripped-down kayak or canoe trip). As such, every raft needs its basic components and enough rigging to carry the group’s camp gear and personal gear. If you transport your raft inflated on a trailer, you can likely rig it with the frame, dry boxes, and coolers secured for travel. But if you carry your raft rolled up, you’ll need to make sure you have all the core frame components.  

Critical elements in the raft setup include: 

• Raft
• Frame (if you’re shopping for a frame, check out 7 Tips for Buying a Raft Frame) 
• Oars (and spare oar)
• Oar blades: Often removed before lashing the oars to a truck topper, oar blades are easy to leave behind.
• Cam straps for affixing the frame to the raft (you can never have enough cam straps, and they make great gifts for fellow boaters)
• Raft repair kit, including tools for adjusting frame sections as needed, tightening components such as seats, and patch material and glue for fixing leaks (check out our DIY raft repair post for minor fixes)
• Drop bags and slings used to suspend dry boxes, coolers, and dry bags off the floor
• Rowing seat, if it’s not integrated into the frame
• Any other components that attach to the frame, such as fishing seats or biminis (sun shades)
• More cam straps for securing all gear to the frame (you’ll typically need at least a dozen or two straps of varying sizes from 2 feet to 12 feet)

River camp gear

Dry boxes

Dry boxes are the best containers for most camp gear. We use two types of dry boxes on our rafts:

• Large metal dry box that fits into one of the raft frame bays (most raft frames have 2 to 3 bays)  and is primarily used for essential cooking gear
• Medium plastic dry box like this NRS Canyon that can sit in various places on the raft and is used for non-kitchen gear such as the hand-wash station, kitchen floor mat, and camp lights
• Small dry box like the NRS Boulder for carrying non-perishable food such as crackers, peanut butter, canned foods, and uncooked rice

Coolers

One large cooler can fit in one of the raft bays, and we typically bring a second smaller cooler for overflow items, such as canned drinks and large uncut fruit such as watermelons. 

River toilet (groover) and supplies

Every multi-day river trip requires a river toilet (also known as a groover) for packing out human waste. Some river management entities have specific requirements for river toilets, so carefully check your permit regulations. For a detailed roundup of river toilets that are approved for multi-day river trips, check out Picking the Best River Toilet (the short version is for the best quality at the most reasonable price, get the Selway Fabrication River Bank II toilet).

In addition to the toilet itself, you’ll need supplies. Here’s the complete list of essential items for a complete river toilet setup:

• River toilet with straps for affixing it to the raft
• Hand-wash station with hand soap and anti-bacterial hand sanitizer 
• RV toilet paper, which breaks down more easily than regular toilet paper
• Disinfecting wipes for wiping off toilet surfaces each morning before packing it on the raft
• Enzymes for breaking down waste (this is the same stuff that people use in RV toilets)
• Trash bag for holding used wipes and other trash
• Insect repellent
• OPTIONAL: Privacy shelter for rivers where you might have to set up the toilet on a wide-open beach. We use a repurposed beach cabana, but tall privacy shelters such as this Kelty H2GO are now available that can also be used for showers.

The post about picking the best river toilet mentioned above includes a detailed explanation of how to set up a groover. 

Kitchen camp gear

It’s hard not to take a maximalist approach to kitchen camp gear because so many convenient inventions are available that make river camp more pleasant. Let’s discuss the essential gear first, then some optional gear that makes river life better. (For more details about kitchen gear, see Game-Changing River Camp Kitchen Gear and Essential River Camp Kitchen Gear.)

Essential kitchen gear

• Campstove: A classic two-burner campstove like this Coleman Cascade is fine for river trips of nearly any size of group. 
• Campstove fuel
• Tables: We bring at least two tables on any multi-day river trip. I prefer a sturdy counter-height table such as the Down River Equipment standard table as it withstands wind gusts and sets up quickly. But the familiar CampTime blue roll-up table is also useful, especially for lunch stops. 
• Kitchen floor: A mesh floor for catching spills and crumbs might seem like a nice-to-have, but we’ve found that it’s essential for following leave-no-trace best practices. Our favorite is the CGear Sand Mat.
• Water: The water in many western rivers is too silty to be filtered with standard camping water filters. It’s best to bring fresh water in large plastic containers. Check out this post for more details about how to carry water on river trips, including recommended containers. 
• Cooking utensils: I’ve found that it’s far easier to have a separate set of cooking utensils for river trips that can stay packed in the dry box. These items are easy to pick up at Goodwill or tag sales. Look for the sturdiest versions you can find and they will last for years. I like to carry all the cooking utensils in one flat container that includes:
  • Metal spatula
  • Large soup ladle
  • Push-button lighter for the stove (and two to three backup lighters)
  • 4-5 large serving spoons
  • Salad tongs
  • Can opener 
  • Wine bottle opener
  • Waterproof matches (I like this UCO Titan Stormproof Match Kit because it comes in a waterproof case)
• Coffee pot or press: We have used this GSI Outdoors stove-top percolator for years: It’s huge, with a 36-cup capacity, and extremely sturdy. Check out our post Best Coffee Makers for River Camping for a detailed roundup of coffee presses and pots.

• Cookware: Although lightweight camping cookware is available these days, I have collected some good, heavy cookware that has lasted for years and stays in the dry box between river trips. The pieces we always use on a river trip include:
  • Large stock pot 
  • Medium saucepan
  • Large, deep skillet with lid 
• Knife set: I love this GSI Outdoors Santoku knife set, which includes a neat, zippable case and a tiny cutting board
• Serving bowls for salads, chips, etc.
• Plastic cutting board
• Pot holders and silicone “hot hands”: These Ove gloves protect your entire hand
• Anti-bacterial hand sanitizer 
• Hand-wash station with hand soap: You can make a hand-wash station yourself, or check out the Down River Equipment Hand Wash Station, which is compact and sturdy.
• Camp lantern (this Nite Ize Radiant 400 is my favorite) in case you end up cooking or doing dishes after dark, and solar lanterns to light the way to the groover and for general use in camp (see Best Camp Lights for River Trips for specific recommendations)
• Anti-bacterial wipes for disinfecting the tables before you start cooking
• Paper towels: We try to use cloth kitchen towels as much as possible, but having paper towels as a backup is smart.
• Plates, bowls, spoons, forks, and knives for the group (unless you ask each river runner to bring their own): Thin and stackable BPA-free dishes like this Homienly plate set are a good call.
• Fire pan with grate and heat blanket (a fire pan is required on most multi-day river trips, even if it’s too hot to use it or a fire ban is in effect). The NRS Firepan, which I have used for years, is classic and bombproof but extremely heavy. We now use the Fireside Outdoor Pop-up Pit because it’s much lighter.
• Small shovel for scooping ashes out of the fire pan 
• Dead blow hammer (sand mallet) to drive stakes deep, essential for tying off boats on sandy beaches with no solid trees or right-sized boulders
• Heavy-duty trash bags and container to carry trash on the raft: We use a large, old dry bag to carry trash, and we use contractor-grade trash bags to help prevent leaks and spillage. 

Optional kitchen gear

These items aren’t necessary but add to the trip’s comfort and joy:

• Additional “blaster” stove that can be dedicated to brewing coffee
• Dutch oven for ambitious cook crews (check out our Dutch oven cooking tips)
• Fun solar-powered string lights 
• Cups: We typically have each river runner bring their own insulated coffee mug and water bottles, but if you’re serving a signature cocktail or a fancy soup taster, you might want to throw in small cups like these 6-ounce metal stacking cups.
• Collapsible mesh laundry basket to hold the trash bag in camp (this cuts down on trash spilling out of plastic bags into the sand) 
• Small, low table for serving apps in the camp chair circle (or for playing cribbage): We love this GSI Outdoors Micro Table.
• Sun/rain shelter that’s big enough for the group (optional as people can head to their individual tents in inclement weather): You can rig up a big tarp for this purpose, use a purpose-built rain fly that comes with anchors like this REI Half Dome Tarp, or get a walled screen tent similar to this Big Agnes Sage Canyon Shelter (similar to one we have and love).  

Kitchen staples

In a smaller plastic dry box (we use the NRS Boulder), we carry most of our non-perishable food (crackers, chips, canned goods, nuts). We also include the kitchen staples that will be needed for most meals, including:

• Ground coffee: For a typical 16-person group, we plan on using at least a half-pound of coffee per day.
• Olive oil
• Vinegar
• Salt
• Pepper
• Other spices as desired: I typically bring a jar of Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel spice for general purposes. 
• Sugar 
• Coffee creamer in individual pods or containers of NutPods or other cream alternatives

Dish-washing gear

Washing dishes on a river trip is more fun than washing them at home. Check out How to Wash Dishes in River Camp for details. Essential dish-washing items: 

• 3 metal pails or collapsible buckets (I prefer metal buckets as they fit inside the dry box and last for years): We picked up buckets like these Behrens pails at a hardware store about 30 years ago, and they are still going strong.
• Rubber gloves (2 pairs)
• Biodegradable dish soap (4 ounces is plenty for most multi-day trips)
• Bleach (4 ounces is plenty)
• Dish scrubbers and sponges
• 1-2 kitchen towels: Bring regular, super-absorbable cotton towels and hang them to dry overnight.
• Optional (but awesome): Down River Equipment’s hanging dish drying rack, which frees up space on the tables

Safety equipment

Some river management organizations will have specific recommendations or requirements for safety equipment for a multi-day river trip. Here’s what we always carry:

• Major first-aid kit for the trip: Adventure Medical Kits’ Mountain Series Guide kit contains enough supplies for about 7 people
• Smaller first-aid kit for reach raft
• Throw bags for every raft
• Throw bags for kayakers and other paddlers who have experience using them
• NRS Z-Drag Kit to help pry rafts off rocks (and check out this handy Z-Drag Crib Sheet for tips on how to use one) 
• Life jacket (personal flotation devices, or PFDs) for each person, plus a spare for each boat
• Satellite communication device for emergencies (or you can use satellite messaging with Apple Phone 14 or later when skies are clear): My family uses the Garmin inReach Mini.
• Bear fence if recommended (as for the Rogue River and the Smith River in Montana)

If you have questions about river safety or want to increase your skills, look into a swiftwater rescue course and a wilderness first-aid course. 

Personal gear 

In addition to the group gear (which should be divvied and assigned to various people to avoid duplication), each river runner will bring their own personal gear packed in a dry bag, including:

• River clothes: Splash gear or dry suit, river shoes, river shorts, hat, sunglasses, paddling gloves, and fast-drying underwear 
• Toiletries: Biodegradable toothpaste is best, and unscented lotions to avoid attracting critters, especially bears. For a detailed list of toiletries with specific recommendations, see 17 Top Toiletry Tips for River Camping.
• Camp clothes: Pants/shorts, underwear, shirts, fleece jacket or light down coat for cold nights, wool hat, ball cap, socks, hiking boots or running shoes
• Paddling equipment: PFD and boat-specific gear such as kayak spray skirt, paddles, throw bags, dry bags, and helmets. See our posts on essential kayak gear and stand-up paddleboard gear for detailed gear recommendations, and our recommendations for what to wear kayaking. 
• Tent, sleeping bag, pad (I prefer the Paco pad as it’s thick and sturdy), and pillow 
• Headlamp with extra batteries
• Sunglasses (bring an extra pair)
• Sleeping clothes
• Cameras, batteries, data cards, and solar-powered battery chargers
• Quick-drying camp towel
• Sun shower (here’s a round up of best sun showers for river trips)
• Camp chair: Check out our river camp chair recommendations
• Water bottle with carabiner to affix to the raft, kayak, or SUP
• Insulated coffee mug
• Plate/bowl/utensils if the trip leader doesn’t provide those

If you’re looking for specific recommendations for paddling clothes and camp clothes, check out these posts:

• 4 Types of River Shoes Every Paddler Needs
• Kids’ Rafting and Paddling Clothes
• What to Wear Kayaking
• Tips for Staying Warm on Cold-Weather River Trips
• Best Sun-Protection Clothing for River Trips

Collect your gear over time

If you’re just starting to assemble your river trip gear, this list might seem daunting. Start with the essentials for making your raft river-worthy, take a minimalist approach to camp cooking, then add nice-to-have items over time. Also check out outdoor gear consignment shops like GearTrade, which has a vast array of gently used camping and boating gear.

Want to dive deeper? Check out these posts for more details about gear we have used and favorite items that have lasted for decades. Got a favorite piece of gear that we haven’t mentioned or think we forgot something? Drop it in the comments below.

More resources

• Picking the Best River Toilet
• 7 Tips for Buying a Raft Frame
• Best Dry Bags for River Trips
• Best River Camp Chairs