Equipment
Our top-quality canoes and life jackets ensure you’re fully equipped
for a safe and enjoyable river experience.
Essential Equipment for Your Adventure
Canoe Rentals:
Our 17-foot Grumman canoes are designed for stability and durability, with a generous load capacity of 750 pounds. Each canoe features a bow seat and a stern seat, leaving ample space in the center for gear or children, making it perfect for family outings or extended trips.
Life Jackets:
Safety is our top priority, which is why we provide life jackets in a variety of sizes to ensure a proper fit for every adventurer.
Children’s life jackets are sized based on weight categories: under 30 pounds, 30 to 50 pounds, and 50 to 90 pounds.
Each child is individually fitted with a life jacket, which must be worn at all times while on the river, as required by law.
Gear and Packing
Prepare for your adventure with our gear suggestions and packing tips, ensuring you bring everything you need for a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable trip on the river.
GEAR SUGGESTIONS
STANDARD AND ECONOMY TRIPS
Duffle bag (or other soft luggage – no hard-frame backpacks), sleeping bag, sleeping pad, waterjugs (enough for one gallon per person per day), gloves, poncho (or rain suit), low folding chair, binoculars, cooking gear, provisions, plastic bags (ziplocs and trash), rope to secure supplies, sunglasses with strap or leash, litter bags, old tennis shoes (or water shoes or socks), sunscreen lotion (SPF 30 or greater), chapstick, flashlight, bug repellent, wide brim hat, long and short pants, lightweight long and short sleeve shirts, medium weight jacket, swimsuit, towel, personal toiletries, camera (waterproof or single-use), first aid kit, maps, medical treatment forms (for minors not with parent), fishing gear, small tent.
MINI-VACATIONS
Sunglasses, tennis shoes, canteen or water bottle, sunscreen lotion, broad brim hat, long and short pants, long and short-sleeved shirts, swimsuit, camera, fishing gear, personal items, medical treatment forms (for minors not with parent)
STANDARD AND ECONOMY TRIPS
For most Colorado River canoe and kayak trips, nothing beats an old-fashioned duffle bag. GI Style canvas, zippered nylon or cotton, any near-standard duffle bag is great. If Jerkwater is transporting you, we strongly recommend one duffle bag per person. Food and cooking gear, as well as tents and tarps can be separate, but all personal gear, including sleeping bags, foam pads, clothes, fishing gear, etc., should be put in one duffle per person.
TO PACK
Line the inside of the bag with two or three plastic trash bags – NOT THE OUTSIDE. Then line the bag with your sleeping pad. Stuff your sleeping bag inside on the bottom – as TIGHTLY as you can.
On top of your sleeping bag, pack your clothes, toilet articles, fishing gear, cameras, etc. (zip closure type plastic bags are handy for many of these items.)
That’s really all there is to it. Close the plastic trash bags with twist ties, then zip up the duffle bag and you’re ready to go. You may want to put a few extra plastic bags in on top, so you’ll have extras for later in your trip.
TENTS, TARPS, STOVES AND FOOD
Pack these items in boxes, duffle bags, mesh bags or plastic coolers (ice chests) as appropriate.
CAUTION: NOTHING should have plastic bags on the outside. They will tear immediately and end up next to useless.
Bring everything you need to make your trip pleasurable. BUT – trucks, buses, vans, trailers, canoes and kayaks have only so much space and cannot be stretched. A canoe full of loose gear is an accident waiting to happen. Duffle bags and canoes were made for each other. Try it
WARNING
Backpacks are great on the trail, but a hard-frame pack is a misery in a canoe or kayak. These packs do not work for paddling – the frames will be damaged, and you will be frustrated.