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River rafting in Colorado and especially on Clear Creek can be a fun and exciting adventure as long as you fully prepare yourself before the trip. In addition to gathering the proper safety gear and memorizing safety guidelines, you should also be focused on what you’ll be wearing during your excursion. Dressing well for river rafting not only allows you to enjoy yourself as much as possible, but it also helps keep you safe.

All Season Clothes

Depending on the season in which you’re river rafting, you will have to change certain parts of your clothing to appropriately accommodate for the weather. However, there are some clothing items that you should wear for a rafting trip no matter what season you’re in.

A paddling jacket is great for keeping spray off of your chest and arms. They’re lightweight, breezy and waterproof, making them a great clothing option for all river rafting trips. It will also help prevent sunburn and keep you warmer in cool weather.

Paddling shorts offer similar protection for your legs, and they can be a great part of your base layer no matter the weather.

You’ll also need river sandals or a pair of sneakers with good grip. River sandals are comfortable, stay firmly on your feet even in water currents and provide good traction on slippery surfaces. If you don’t have river sandals, however, a good pair of sneakers or tennis shoes will do the job.

Summer Clothes

A swimsuit is the best choice of base clothing for the hot days of summer. Swimsuits are cool, easy to move in and made of appropriate materials for water activities.

It’s a good idea to wear or bring a white t-shirt with you as well. Not only will a nice bright t-shirt help deflect the heat from the sun, but it will also help prevent sunburn. Additionally, it can be very refreshing when dipped in the water of the river.

Wear a brimmed hat to help keep the sun out of your eyes and further protect your face and scalp from sunburn. Make sure it fits snugly or it might fly off during the ride.

Spring and Autumn Clothing

The best base clothing for spring and autumn rafting is wet suits. A good wet suit keeps nearly your entire body covered and fully insulated from the cold. In addition, they have great maneuverability in the water.

A wool hat is vital to help retain heat in your head and ears, which is where a large amount of body heat is typically lost.

If it’s particularly cool out, wear a full outfit of wool clothing such as a wool sweater, socks and leggings. Wool keeps most of its insulating properties when wet and dries more quickly than cotton.

Closed-toe shoes or neoprene booties are also better for colder weather than river sandals.

What Not to Wear

Never wear cotton clothing during spring and autumn rafting trips. When wet, cotton loses all of its insulating capabilities.

Flip-Flops may be nice at the beach, but they’re terrible for rafting. They have no traction, don’t stay on your feet very well and will quickly become uncomfortable.

Heavy and uncomfortable clothing is also a hindrance on the water. Light comfortable clothing allows you to more efficiently paddle and follow the guide’s instructions quickly. In addition, if you fall overboard, any heavy or constrictive clothing will make it more difficult to swim to safety.