Items to Leave at Home when Planning your next Rafting Trip

Get excited – you are about to embark on one of the most exciting vacations of your summer! The Arkansas, Blue, Clear Creek, and Colorado Rivers are home to some of the best rafting and beautiful views. Packing for a vacation can be a bit overwhelming. Below is a list of items you can be sure to leave behind when organizing your gear for your next rafting adventure in Colorado.

Your Cell Phone
Don’t bother searching for cell service. Every provider, yes I said every, is powerless in the depths of the Rocky Mountains. Relax and enjoy your vacation; phone calls to the office can and will wait until your vacation is over.

Anything Cotton
No matter how much you love your favorite cotton tee-shirt or comfy cotton socks, I can promise you they will NOT keep you warm and dry on the water. Feel free to bring one change of cotton clothing for the campsite if you are doing an overnight trip, but make sure they are safely packed away in a dry bag. Old tennis shoes are the footwear of choice when rafting. Most people tend to wear them without socks, however, if you prefer socks, we ask you pack ones that are either wool or synthetic. Your feet will thank you!

Cheap Flip Flops
Your $3 flip flops were $3 for a reason. Rafting and camping can be very harsh on footwear, not to mention both activities require a great deal of walking and transporting gear. The best footwear for your trip will be old tennis shoes or close-toed water shoes (this does not include Crocs!)

Glass Bottles
Nothing is worse than broken glass – especially on a whitewater raft. Glass is not only a hazard to the physical raft, it can ruin your trip if it somehow comes into contact with your skin. If you wish to bring liquor or wine, please only do so in an aluminum or plastic bottle.

Naked Sunglasses
Croakie-free glasses are the kiss of death on a rafting trip. Without a proper anchor point, your eyeglasses or sunglasses will go flying to the bottom of the river the moment a strong rapid catches wind of your boat. Don’t be the person who loses their beloved glasses to the cold waters of the Rocky Mountains.

 

Now that you know what you don’t need, check out all the available rentals from Colorado River Rentals to get everything you do need.