Getting Ready for the Adventure of Your Lifetime: 9 Items to Pack for a River Tubing Expedition

Summer is coming and all you want to do is to have some fun. You could go for a swim, or simply relax on a sandy beach. If you are the more adventurous type, you could consider enjoying some water sports like river tubing.

River tubing is one popular water sport. It is very simple – you sit on a tube that has been inflated and floats your way along a river. It is a great way to see the outdoors from this angle, where you would not be otherwise able to see certain sights.

While the origins are somewhat hazy, it is mostly assumed that someone who lived on a farm took the inner tube of an old tractor, climbed onto it and floated down a river. These days, manufacturers make float tubes for specifically this purpose. Going on a river tubing expedition is an experience like no other. It is really fun and can be both relaxing and exhilarating.

Take a look at nine items that you should carry along with you as you get set for an adventure of a lifetime.

A River Float Tube

It is better to use a specialized float tube than an old inner tube from a wheel. This is because inner tubes from tires were not designed for that purpose, and thus your safety and comfort would be compromised.

There are different kinds of river float tubes, depending on what you are looking for. Some things to consider would be the shape of the tube, how big it is, and what material was used to make it. If you are ready to purchase one, look for good quality tubes, for example, those made from puncture resistant or strong material that will last long. Alternatively, you can acquire by renting one. You can find more about this here.

Secure Footwear

It is important to protect your feet because you may have to wade through the river as you make both your entry and your exit, and in the event that you find yourself in a situation where you have to stop and stand in the water.

The river floor can be slippery and have sharp surfaces, which can be dangerous. To avoid cuts, pricks and bruises, make sure that you carry water shoes, river shoes or river sandals. As a last resort, tennis shoes can also work.

Even the toughest, most calloused of feet may not be able to escape a wounding. Protect your feet. Do not opt for flip flops. They hardly cover your feet and have very thin soles. Water shoes are made of mesh and have thick soles to prevent cuts when walking in environments like river beds. Flip flops do not have the best grip on wet or muddy surfaces and can interfere with your balance. Water shoes, on the other hand, are slip-resistant.

Flip flops can also slip off your feet very easily and float away with the current, leaving you barefoot. Water shoes are secure, meaning that stay secure on your feet. It is quite a challenge trying to walk with flip flops on a riverbed. Remember, your aim is to have fun and not to get stressed out.

A Waterproof Camera/Phone Case

A river tubing expedition is definitely something that you will want to remember. You do not want to miss out on the great photo opportunities that may arise, especially if you are going with friends. While we usually have our phones with us, they are not waterproof and so you risk damaging them if water gets into them. That is why carrying along a waterproof camera would be a better alternative.

If you feel that this may be an unnecessary purchase, then consider getting a waterproof case for your phone so that you can still use it to capture moments while protecting it. Buy cases from reputable brands and test them out in a sink full of water, for example, so that you are sure that it actually does a good job of keeping your phone dry.

A Hat or Cap or Visor or a Pair of Sunglasses

There will hardly be any shade along your tubing course and so you might want to have something to protect your eyes from the harsh rays of the sun. This is where hats, caps, visors and sunglasses come in. Go for sunglasses with safety straps or a headband or a neckband to keep them secure. Better still, you can also attach a float bobber of some sort to each of the stems of your glasses. This is for that unlikely event in which you flip your tube over and your glasses fall into the water.

Hats and caps will, apart from helping to shield your eyes, aid in keeping your head cool. Visors also do a good job of shielding your eyes. If you will be doing this with children or fair-skinned people, make sure that they have these items.

Drinking Water

While you will be surrounded by water, you cannot always drink it. Drinking water is a must. Carry plenty of bottled water for the trip. It will keep you from getting dehydrated, which happens more often than you would think when river tubing. You should drink at least one to two bottles of water every hour. Heat stroke is not a swimming style. You seriously do not want to suffer from that.

Snacks and Beverages

There is a high possibility that you will work up an appetite during your expedition. It is not like you are seated on a ship enjoying the view. You will be expending energy and you will need to replenish it. The expedition can leave you feeling famished. Pack some snacks (like chips, crackers, pretzels, protein bars and the like) or a light meal.

Beverages should either be in cans or plastic bottles. Glass is not allowed on most rivers. Glass breaks easily and can be hazardous to life in the river as well as people wading in it. You can consult your local river rules and regulations for more information on what is and what is not allowed. Remember to carry something that you can use to keep your trash while you are on the river. It is not good to litter. Do not pollute the water.

Coolers and Ice

Carry a cooler and lots of ice. This will help keep your drinks cool, your perishable snacks from going bad, and your chocolatey snacks from melting. 52 quart coolers fit perfectly into cooler carrier tubes but you can also carry smaller coolers. Isn’t it kind of cool to have your food and beverages floating alongside you as you float along the river? Do not forget to secure the cooler carrier tube to your tube using ropes, lest you lose your food.

Some rivers have regulations that do not allow Styrofoam so be aware of such as you shop for your cooler.

Sunblock or Sunscreen

As mentioned earlier, the probability of your being under some sort of cover during your expedition will be close to zero. Protect your skin from the hot rays of the sun and its harmful ultra violet rays by applying sunblock or sunscreen before your trip. Afterward, reapply it regularly during your trip. Try as much as possible to get the waterproof type. They will work better in such an environment. Make sure that they are also environmentally friendly. The recommended SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is 30 or higher. Sunburn is not the best way to remember that you were out on a river tubing expedition. Neither is skin cancer.

Life Jackets

Life Jackets are usually recommended for children and for non-swimmers. However, even if you may be a pretty good swimmer it would still be advisable to have a life jacket with you on your expedition. It is always better to be safe than sorry. No matter what happens, at least the life jacket will help you stay afloat and if you feel that you do not need it after you have found yourself in the water, you can always take it off.

Try to get the Type III inflatable life jackets. These ones help to keep you upright, which is an ideal position for anyone that has been thrust into a flowing river. It is a legal requirement that every child under fourteen years of age should be in a life jacket at all times. Remember that you will hardly find a life guard on duty at the river, so be wise and take all the safety precautions you can.

Conclusion

If you are an adrenaline junkie, you may think that river tubing is not for you. But there is something so relaxing about being on the water with the waves lapping around you. And if you get bored you can always hop off the tube and have a swim. River tubing is a relatively cheap way to spend quality time in nature and with your friends. Imagine spending anywhere between two to two and a half hours floating down a river. It is a great time to catch up and tell stories. Enjoy your adventure and remember to stay safe. – Travel Feeder