Dressing For Your River Trip

 Warm or Hot Day

Shorts and a t-shirt. Simple enough? On river, we recommend you wear a lightweight pair of river shorts with a liner. These will dry quickly after they get wet -- and they will get wet! A simple cotton t-shirt works well for protection from the sun as well as making your PFD (lifejacket) more comfortable. Remember, if the sun dips behind some clouds you might consider peeling off that cotton t-shirt and adding a light or mid-weight fleece layer.

 IMPORTANT EXTRAS:There are three important extras to consider for your hot summer day on the river: 1. Sunglasses and a leash; 2. A hat for sun protection (If you will be wearing a helmet, you will want a snug-fitting ball cap or visor)  3. A pair of river sandals. Sandals will allow your feet to dry quickly and will be the most comfortable footwear. Sneakers also work fine.

A Little Chilly

Sometimes the water is just a bit too cold to be comfortable in just a t-shirt and shorts. On these days consider dressing in two light layers. Light or mid-weight fleece as layer 1, and a rainsuit or paddling jacket for your "barrier layer."

Colder and Raining

If the weather is going to be cold and rainy we suggest dressing in layers of synthetic fabrics. The layer next to your skin should be close-fitting.  A snug-fitting underwear or mid-weight fleece layer made of synthetic fibers works best. As the weather gets colder you simply add additional layers. You do not want to wear cotton on the river. The evaporation of water from a wet cotton layer will actually make you colder! Synthetic fibers maintain insulative properties when wet and "wick" moisture away from your skin. 

 The outer layer is what is known as the "barrier" layer. This layer should be waterproof (or water resistant) and loose-fitting enough to give you good range of motion. The idea of this layer is to seal out water, and seal in the warmth generated by your body and insulated by layer 1. A good rainsuit can do the job, or a good paddling jacket and pants.

EXTRA STUFF: You're not done yet! You can lose a tremendous amount of body heat via your head, so a warm hat is a must on those cold days. Your feet WILL get wet, so a pair of neoprene or synthetic fiber socks to wear with your river sandals or shoes will help keep you warm. If you are the type that gets cold hands you can also find gloves made of neoprene and/or synthetics.