Compiling river gear is a lifelong pursuit: Every year, more innovations in boats, safety gear, and camping gear emerge. And then are some pieces of classic river gear that have never been dethroned.
In this section, we talk about river gear we’ve used and share tips on how to use it, how to pack it, and other pointers that cut down on the time you spend fussing with gear and more time enjoying the river.
As we share here, sometimes the latest, greatest stuff is a game changer. Sometimes it’s not. Some of our picks are controversial, even among our own crew (the collapsible bucket vs. chicky pail debate rages on).
Got recommendations for gear you love? Drop us a comment. We still don’t have all the gear we need, so we’re open to suggestions.
Latest posts about river gear
- Best Coffee Presses for River Camping
Sipping a well-brewed cup of java while the sun rises over the canyon on a river trip is a singular pleasure. That experience requires that … Read more - 17 Essential Personal Hygiene Tips for River CampingPart of the joy of being on a multi-day river trip and camping out every night is leaving fussy things like bubble baths and wardrobe … Read more
- What to Wear Kayaking: Guide to All-Season River PaddlingThe perfect whitewater kayaking apparel for paddling rivers will give you the optimal mix of mobility, safety, and comfort. When you’re paddling in a jacket … Read more
- Best River Maps, Guidebooks, and Apps for Rafters and PaddlersAs any grade schooler can tell you, nearly any decently detailed map will show you the rivers—skinny blue threads for the little creeks, big snaking … Read more
- Essential River Camp Cooking GearAccumulating river camp kitchen gear that you love to use is a long process of trial and error over the course of many river trips. … Read more
- Tips for Staying Warm on Cold-Weather River TripsRunning a multi-day river trip in the early spring or late fall seems obvious if you want to extend the paddling season or experience a … Read more
- 5 Essential Accessories for Your Stand-Up PaddleboardWhen you first inflate your new paddleboard, you’ll quickly realize that you need some accessories before you get on the water. For starters, most boards … Read more
- Best Gifts for PaddlersMost river runners we know are inveterate gear freaks, so gift-giving is easy and fun for paddling friends and family. Here’s a roundup of paddling … Read more
- Aire Tributary Spud Is a Heap of Whitewater FunThe Aire Tributary Spud is a little powerhouse of an inflatable kayak that is intended for kids. But it has been embraced by the big … Read more
- STAR Viper Inflatable Kayak Delivers Performance and ConvenienceAlthough I wasn’t in the market for a new inflatable kayak, I’ve been intrigued by the STAR Viper, which is representative of a newer class … Read more
- Where to Find Discount Paddling GearNo question, paddling gear is expensive. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by lists of must-have gear and to feel that everything must be new. However, … Read more
- 14 Tips for Choosing an Inflatable Kayak for Whitewater River TripsWhen inflatable kayaks first came on the whitewater river-running scene, they were often derided by hard-core paddlers as toy boats or duckies (but not play … Read more
- Best Sun Showers for River TripsSome river runners don’t put much stock in personal hygiene on a multi-day river trip. (Pre-teen boys come to mind.) Admittedly, a sun shower on … Read more
- Best Sun-Protection Clothing for River TripsOn our first trips on the Green River through Desolation Canyon—which is a notoriously hot trip in the summer—we slathered ourselves with sunscreen throughout the … Read more
- 3 Essential Water Filters for River Trips (and Other Clean Water Supply Tips)Keeping water-borne illnesses at bay on a river trip involves various sorts of water filters—in addition to bringing reliably clean drinking water with you. Each … Read more
- Game-Changing River Camp Kitchen GearNote: This post was updated on April 13, 2022, to include new items and new categories of camp kitchen gear. We spend an inordinate amount … Read more
- Picking the Best River ToiletThis post was updated on April 5, 2022, to include groover setup tips and updated product and pricing information. If you’re just getting in to … Read more
- Best Camp Chairs for River TripsChoosing a camp chair for your river trip is an important consideration. One of the best parts of a multi-day river trip is settling into … Read more
- DIY Whitewater Raft Repair: Step-by-Step GuideHave some wear and tear on your whitewater raft or inflatable kayak? Here are tips we can sharing from recently taking the DIY approach in … Read more
- 3 Ways to Light Your River CampWhat’s the best lighting for your river camp? We’ve found that it depends entirely on when you roll into camp. The earlier you land, the … Read more
- 11 Tips for Paddlers Getting Started with GoPro CamerasAfter spending years trying different equipment and tactics for taking decent photos on river trips—with varying success—I finally got a GoPro Hero8 Black last summer. … Read more
- Five Books I’m Bringing on the Grand CanyonAs I’m preparing for our Grand Canyon trip, I’ve been thinking about what books to bring on the trip. Obviously, space is limited and you … Read more
- Paddling Clothes for Every Kind of WeatherWhen talking about paddling, you’ll often hear the phrase, “rig to flip, dress to swim.” What this means is that you should be prepared for … Read more
- 11 Essential Inflatable Kayak AccessoriesAn inflatable kayak is one of the most versatile, practical, and joy-inspiring river boats you can acquire. But the boat is just the start. You … Read more
- 10 Easy Last-Minute Gifts for River RunnersStill scrambling to find holiday gifts for the river runners on your list? Here’s our list of gear that any river runners would appreciate—all of … Read more
