To have the best time possible whitewater rafting, you should consider both comfort and safety. This means not only booking a trip with a reputable rafting company, but also showing up with the right clothes and equipment.
No matter what type of river adventure you’re planning, an appropriate pair of river rafting shoes should be pretty high on your list. Not only will having the right river shoes keep your feet protected, but they’ll keep you prepared in the event of unforeseen circumstances like an ‘out of boat experience’.
As longtime river guides in Colorado, the team at Echo River Canyon Expeditions has years of experience testing different rafting shoes. We know what will stick to your feet and what will end up as an offering to the river gods. So we’ll walk you through this brief guide before you head out on your next adventure.
Why do you need to wear shoes when whitewater rafting?
There are a number of reasons why shoes or other secure footwear is necessary while rafting. To begin with, it’s immensely helpful to have a good grip on the raft with your feet when bracing and paddling through the rapids. There are also times when need to walk on rocky shorelines to access the raft at the start and end of the trip, or while taking a break over the course of the tour.
Similarly, if you fall out of the boat and go for a swim, appropriate rafting shoes will help keep your feet protected. During a swim and on your way back to your raft or to shore it’s common to bump your feet on rocks – good shoes are super helpful in this situation. They’ll also protect your feet when it comes time to walk along a rough shoreline on your way back to your raft.
Can you wear sandals when rafting?
A common question that people have about rafting trips is whether or not they can wear sandals on the river. While sandals with secure, adjustable heel straps work just fine for whitewater rafting, flip flops simply won’t cut it. It’s not unusual for people to lose their flip-flops when they are first climbing into the raft, where a little bit of current simply whisks them away. Even more, if you fall out of a raft, there is simply no chance of saving your flip-flops.
How about Crocs? While we have nothing against the brand itself, the most popular style of Crocs, the Classic Crocs with the hinged ankle loop is truly no better than flip flops. Comfortable when dry? You bet. But once they’re wet they tend to slip off quite easily. Avoid this style of footwear for water activities.
So what ARE the best shoes for white water rafting?
While there are a number footwear options or shoes to wear white water rafting, they are not all created equal. Below is a recap of what style of footwear you should consider, and a few you should definitely avoid…
Rental river shoes
While you may not see our rental shoes on the fashion runways, they’re pretty amazing for a day of rafting. Our river shoes are insulated so they keep your feet and ankles warmer, they have have a semi-rigid sole to protect your feet, and we wash them after each use.
Water shoes
Water shoes are fully enclosed shoes made of mesh that were designed specifically for the water. These shoes are known for their quick-drying ability, as well as their style and comfort. Because they are made to get wet, water shoes won’t wreak havoc on your feet.
Tennis shoes
Tennis shoes, running shoes, or really any lighter weight shoe with laces are always a great option for white water rafting. It’s not necessary to purchase a brand-new pair of water shoes for your rafting trip, so repurposing an old pair of tennis shoes for a weekend adventure is a great idea.
Flip flops
Nope. Flip flops are not a good call for rafting footwear. They slip off way too easily and will leave you barefoot on the banks of the river.
Classic Crocs sandals
Nope. Classic Croc sandals slide off just as easily as flip flops, especially once wet. Granted, there are certainly some solid Crocs brand water shoes that lace up and securely stay on your feet, but save the Classic style for après-rafting lounging.
Bare feet
Big nope. Unless you’re a Hobit, bare feet are not allowed on our rafting trips. It’ll be challenging enough walking on our gravel parking lot, let alone walking across the shoreline, bracing in the raft, or protecting your feet from rocks in the river.
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You need to be prepared if you want to maximize your fun on a whitewater rafting trip. Please Contact Us today with additional questions about the best rafting shoes.
