Gear recommendations for river running, including rafts, inflatable kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, portable toilet systems (groovers), and kitchen camp gear.
Running 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 permitted river without winning a lottery slot. But those shoulder-season trips can be frigid, especially in the Rocky Mountain West. After running a couple of notably cold river trips—the whitewater-rich … Read more
When 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 don’t come with paddles. There’s a lot of other gear you can use to make your time on the water more comfortable and fun. (Note: This post includes affiliate links, … Read more
Most 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 gear we’ll be giving our fellow rafters, kayakers, and paddleboarders this season. (Some of these are affiliate links, meaning that we might make a small commission if you buy something.) … Read more
The Aire Tributary Spud is a little powerhouse of an inflatable kayak that is intended for kids. But it has been embraced by the big kids, too. When our friend Patty paddled past us in a Spud on a recent Gunnison Gorge trip, she looked like she had just discovered fun for the first time. … Read more
Although 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 of high-performance inflatable kayaks. Intended for running nearly any level of whitewater that you’d paddle in a hard boat, the STAR Viper is billed on the NRS site as delivering … Read more