CLOTHING LIST
Packing ALL of the items on this list will provide layering options for body temperature regulation required by temperature fluctuations/extremes that can occur on any day, anytime of year due to the combination of cold river water and rain or cloud cover. You should stick to this list pretty closely; please call us if you have any questions about specific items. All clothing must fit into one waterproof river bag and a the mesh bag provided for your day gear and clothing you want to access throughout the day. (For dimensions, see “What We Provide.") Try to keep heavier items like toiletries/cosmetics to a minimum. Bring clothing you won't mind getting dirty. We suggest loose fitting, FAST-DRYING, durable materials..
Good places to shop for these items are: Early Winters (at earlywinters.com or 800 458-4438), NRS (at NRScatalog.com or 800 243-1677), and REI (at REI.com or 888 873-1938) and the Canyon Explorations/Expeditions Retail Catalog. Orders from Canyon Explorations/Expeditions may be picked up at the pre-trip orientation for your convenience.
1 RAIN JACKET and RAIN PANTS: needs to be 100% waterproof. Coated nylon works best - not all Gore-tex is 100% waterproof. Use on cloudy days to keep you as dry as possible through rapids (water is 45-52o) as well as in rain. Yes, you may need rain gear during the summer months—don't leave it behind! Paddlejackets are recommended also for spring and fall trips and during the rainy season because only a paddlejacket can keep you completely dry. Staying dry is critical to staying warm during the spring and fall months or during cloudy/rainy weather that can occur at any time of year.
1 SET LONG UNDERWEAR: shirt + pants; made from polypropylene or capilene; worn under rain gear (or Paddlejacket) to provide the insulation needed for rafting through the 45-52o river water when the sun is not out. Yes, you may even need these in the summer months! Silk or cotton is OK for camp use but is not adequate for boating because it won’t keep you warm when wet.
1 FLEECE JACKET OR MICRO-FLEECE TOP: if you experience extended rain during your trip (rare but it does happen), summer temperatures can plummet and you will find yourself needing one of these items.
1 FLEECE OR WOOL HAT: Your body temperature can be greatly impacted by what you wear on your head. A warm hat is both lightweight and small but will make a big difference if you encounter cooler temperatures on your trip.
1 SUN HAT & HAT RETENTION STRAP: Cotton baseball cap, sun hat, or visor.
3 T-SHIRTS or tank tops; or jog bras for women.
1 BATHING SUIT (OR QUICK DRY SHORTS): can be worn daily as the base layer of clothing, enabling you to add/change clothes quickly and stay comfortable during the temperature fluctuations that occur throughout the day. Can be worn with a variety of tops such as the bathing suit top and jog bras for women.
2 QUICK-DRYING SHORTS: Loose fitting; not cotton; double as swimsuits for men; can be used with a jog-bra as the bottom layer for women instead of swimsuit.
1 LONG-SLEEVED SHIRT OF LIGHT COTTON OR SUPPLEX NYLON: Soaking cotton clothing in the cold river water keeps your body temperature down in extreme heat and offers you the best sun protection. This is essential for your health/comfort in June, July, and August! Not necessary for April or October.
1 PAIR LIGHT COTTON OR SUPPLEX NYLON PANTS: not jeans; light color (e.g. khaki); need to be roomy and comfortable for sitting in the raft and hiking.
1 PAIR RIVER SANDALS: for short, wet hikes and for boating; with good traction on soles—soft rubber soles are essential (such as TEVA spider rubber soles and Chaco’s 5.10 rubber soles) as they are the best gripping ones for this environment Hard rubber soles will not work well. See
FOOTWEAR section for more information. TEVA: 1-800-367-8382 or www.tevasandals.com; Chaco: 970-527-4990 or www.chacosan.com or e-mail at info@chacosan.com
1 PAIR LIGHTWEIGHT HIKING BOOTS: for dry hikes. (See FOOTWEAR section for more information.)
3 PAIRS SOCKS: 1 pair should be wool or fleece; others should be non-cotton hiking socks.
EXTRA ITEMS NEEDED FOR FALL & SPRING TRIPS (April/May/September/October)
1 PADDLE JACKET: has a neck gasket that prevents water from getting down your front. NOTE: We carry the Kokatat Superbreeze for $68.00
2nd SET LONG UNDERWEAR: polypropylene or capilene; dry set for in camp or doubling-up.
2 PAIRS WOOL OR FLEECE SOCKS
1 FLEECE HAT
1 FLEECE PANTS regular or micro fleece
1 WETSUIT BOOTIES/NEOPRENE SOCKS: wool or pile socks under river sandals work well also
1 MICRO FLEECE TOP: bottom layer under your paddle jacket on cold days
NON COTTON (QUICK DRYING) JOG BRAS: This makes a huge difference!
GEAR LIST
BACKPACK: for hiking your clothing into the canyon; non-frame or inner-frame recommended; this will be stored away empty for the duration of your trip.
2-QUART WATER BOTTLE: this is your lifeline in the canyon. Must be heavy duty enough to withstand someone stepping on it (Evian type water bottles are NOT O.K.).; two one-quart bottles are acceptable. Note: we will be supplying you with straps and tape to rig your bottle(s) to clip onto the boats. Camelback type hydrating systems are great for the hikes (water bottles are still required for use on the boats); bladders fit into the day packs we provide for hiking.
HEADLAMP or FLASHLIGHT(and extra batteries)
1 CARABINER: this is an ESSENTIAL item used to secure your water bottle(s) to the boat; it can be purchased in the climbing section of most sporting good stores. Passengers find these to be very handy items. 2-3" oval. Pronounced “‘beener”. At a minimum, you need one.
SUNBLOCK: paba free; 8-12 oz. depending on how sun sensitive you are and whether or not you will use your long sleeved cotton shirt and pants for sun protection.
LIP BLOCK & LIP MOISTURIZER very important - see skin moisturizer.
SKIN MOISTURIZER: 8-12 oz. - very important! You are in a dry, desert environment and the effects of being wet and then extremely dry have a cracking effect on your skin. We also recommend a heavier/greasier “salve” for hands and feet, which will crack (see Super Salve on our retail list).
SUNGLASSES & EYEGLASS RETAINERS): (e.g. Chums or Croakies); a 2nd pair is a good idea.
PRESCRIPTION EYEGLASSES & CONTACTS: a second pair is a VERY good idea.
TOWEL: small synthetic pack towel (like a chamois) will be highly absorbent even when wet. Made of quick-drying synthetic materials, they can be found in camping or sport stores. A small regular towel is ok during hot months when it can dry overnight; at all other times a quick-dry towel is needed because everything, including the towel, gets packed in with your clothes each morning.
TOILETRY ITEMS: Shampoo (biodegradable) and Conditioner; Soap (biodegradable; a bottle of Ivory liquid works well for body and clothes washing); Toothbrush & Toothpaste, and Tampons
2-3 ZIP-LOCK BAGS: for storage of lotions, liquids, wallet, etc. in waterproof bag.
1 BANDANNA: cotton.
OPTIONAL
• Camera and extra film
• Binoculars
• Journal/notebook
• Paddle gloves for use on the paddle boat
• Underwear (camp wear only; we recommend only shorts or bathing suits during the day)
• Pair sneakers to have a dry pair for camp or low impact hikes
• Pillow case (stuff clothes into it and use for camping pillow)
• Cotton clothing for evening camp wear: shorts, sweats, sarongs or sun dresses (sarongs and sun dresses are really great to wear around camp!)
DO NOT BRING (i.e. we supply): Toilet paper, eating utensils, or first aid items like Band-Aids, aspirin/ibuprofen/acetaminophen, anti-acid tablets, Benadryl, insect repellent, etc.
FOOTWEAR
We recommend that you wear river sandals on the river and for the wetter hikes and light weight hiking boots for the dryer hikes. Avoid painful blisters by buying these items early and breaking them in before your trip. River sandals can be worn in the shower to speed up the break-in process. River sandals need to have a good gripping sole (softer rubber is better) and be broken in before your trip.
Activities in Grand Canyon are tough on feet and quality footwear is important. We make the following recommendations for Grand Canyon activities/conditions. River sandals are great in the water and most people find them great for hiking as well, although some people do not find them adequate even for shorter side canyon hikes. Hiking shoes/boots offer good support and are critical for longer hikes (e.g. 3-7 miles) but are not good all the time as many side canyon hikes require swimming or walking through small pools of water.
Wetsuit booties or neoprene socks (can be worn with river sandals) are recommended as an option on the paddle boat, since they work well for sliding your feet into the foot cups (oar boats do not have these). If you are traveling in the Spring or Fall, or if your feet get cold easily and this bothers you, wetsuit booties can also be useful.
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