Whether you’re planning your first rafting trip or gearing up for another adventure, wearing the right whitewater rafting outfit can make a huge difference in your comfort on the river.
The key is simple: wear quick-drying clothing, secure footwear, and avoid cotton.
This guide covers:
What to wear whitewater rafting
What NOT to wear
Frequently asked rafting questions
At Three Rivers Whitewater, our guides help thousands of guests raft comfortably every season.
Quick Whitewater Rafting Checklist
Before your trip, make sure you bring:
Bathing suit or swimsuit
Quick-dry shirt or rash guard
Synthetic shorts or leggings
Water shoes or sandals with straps
Sunscreen
Sunglasses with a strap
Towel
Dry clothes for after the trip
During cooler weather:
Wetsuit
Splash jacket
River booties
1. Wear a Bathing Suit
The name of the game is staying comfortable. This means wearing wicking materials that won’t hold the water against your body.
A bathing suit or quick-dry athletic layer works best for rafting because you will absolutely get wet. Synthetic materials dry quickly and help regulate body temperature throughout your trip.
Great options include:
Swimsuits
Athletic shorts
Rash guards
Leggings
Polyester athletic wear
2. Say NO to Cotton
If you choose to wear a shirt or layer over your bathing suit, avoid cotton at all costs.
When wet, cotton holds water against your skin which pulls heat away from your body. This can quickly make you cold and uncomfortable, especially during spring rafting trips.
Instead, wear:
Polypro (polypropylene)
Polyester
Synthetic athletic clothing
Moisture-wicking fabrics
These materials dry quickly and perform much better on the river.
3. Wetsuit Rental
We highly recommend our wetsuit rentals for any and all rafters! This specially designed gear will go a long way in keep you dry and comfy out on the river! Spring rafting trips often involve cold snowmelt-fed water, and wetsuits help keep you warm and comfortable throughout your adventure.
At Three Rivers Whitewater, we offer:
Wetsuit rentals
Splash tops
River booties
Wetsuits and splash gear are most popular during spring rafting season when river temperatures are colder from snowmelt.
4. Splash Top or Rain Jacket?
As an outer layer, splash tops will keep you the most dry. They have specialized gussets for your neck and wrists to keep out water. They do not have a hood though, which could come in handy if it does rain. We have Splash Tops available for rent with your wetsuit.
Unlike traditional rain jackets, splash tops are designed specifically for rafting and river conditions. They include specialized seals around the wrists and neck to help keep water out.
Splash tops are ideal for:
Cold-weather rafting
Rainy rafting days
Early season trips
And yes — we absolutely raft in the rain. We raft rain or shine here at Three Rivers.
