What to Wear Tubing So You Stay Cool, Comfortable, and Protected

Tubing looks like the kind of thing you can just show up for, and mostly you can. But what you wear makes the difference between a blissful few hours on the water and a sunburned, shoeless slog that ends with someone shivering on the shuttle.

So here is the simple version of what to wear tubing, built for a full day of drifting through clear, cool water in the sun. Get these basics right and the river takes care of the rest.

TLDR

• You are in and out of cool water in full sun for hours, so dress for comfort and protection.
• Start with a swimsuit plus quick-dry shorts or a rash guard, and skip cotton.
• Wear secured water shoes or strapped sandals, since the riverbed is rocky and flip-flops float away.
• There is almost no shade, so a hat, strapped sunglasses, and sunscreen or a UV shirt are essential.
• Never bring glass, and leave anything valuable you would hate to lose at home.
• Life jackets are provided to everyone and required for kids 12 and under.
• A longer float means more sun and water time, so dress for the trip length you pick.

Dress for a Full Day on the Water

The thing to remember is that tubing is not a quick dip. You are in and out of the water, sitting in it, and baking in the sun for a few hours straight, often with no shade at all. Dress for that reality and you will be comfortable the whole way down. Dress like you are headed to the beach for twenty minutes and you will regret it by the first beach stop.

Swimsuit and Quick-Dry Layers

Start with a swimsuit as your base, then add quick-dry shorts and a rash guard or a light synthetic top if you want more coverage. The golden rule is to avoid cotton. A cotton tee feels fine at the put-in and then spends the next three hours cold, heavy, and clinging to you. Anything that dries fast is your friend on the river.

Footwear That Stays On

Footwear is where people get caught out. The riverbed is sandy in stretches and rocky in others, and flip-flops famously float away the moment you hit the first rapid. Go with water shoes or sandals that strap on securely, and do not float barefoot, since stubbed toes on hidden rocks are a rite of passage nobody actually enjoys. For the full rundown, these essential gear for tubing notes cover the rest of the kit.

Sun Protection Is Not Optional

Out on the water there is nowhere to hide from the sun, and it bounces off the surface right back at you. A hat, sunglasses on a strap so they survive a tip-over, and either a good water-resistant sunscreen or a long-sleeve UV shirt will save you from the classic tubing sunburn. Reapply sunscreen at your beach stops, because a few hours is plenty of time to cook.

What to Leave Behind

Some things simply do not belong on the river. Glass is never allowed, full stop, and anything valuable or irreplaceable should stay in the car, because the river does not give things back. A small dry bag handles the essentials like a key and a phone, and this what to bring tubing list sorts the keep-versus-leave question for you.

Match Your Outfit to the Trip Length

How you dress should scale with how long you are out. A short float is forgiving, but a longer trip means more sun and more time in cool water, so lean harder on sun cover and a warm layer for the shuttle back. It is worth a look at how the trips compare so you can choose your float trip length and dress to match rather than guessing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I wear flip-flops on the river?

Better not to. Flip-flops slip off and float away at the first bit of current, and then you are barefoot on a rocky bottom. Secured water shoes or sandals that strap on stay put and protect your feet.

Is cotton okay to wear tubing?

Skip the cotton. It soaks up water, stays cold, and clings to you all day. A swimsuit with quick-dry shorts or a rash guard is far more comfortable from start to finish.

Do I have to wear a life jacket?

Life jackets are provided to everyone, and state law requires them for children 12 and under. There are no lifeguards on the river, so keeping yours on the whole way down is simply the smart move.

How do I keep my phone dry?

Use a proper dry bag clipped to you, or better yet leave the phone in the car. Phones and rivers are not friends, and no dry bag is a cast-iron guarantee, so do not bring anything you cannot afford to lose.

What should I wear when it is cool?

Layer up with a rash guard or a light synthetic top, and keep a dry layer for the shuttle. The river water runs cold even on warm days, so a little extra warmth goes a long way early and late in the season.

Ready to Gear Up and Float?

Dress for sun, water, and rocky feet, leave the glass and the valuables at home, and you are set for a great day. If you have any questions about what suits your trip, you can ask about trip lengths before you come.