What to wear rafting?
For the summer shorts or a bathing suit or swim trunks and a T-shirt are best. Shoes that will stay on your feet are required, which can be river sandals, old tennis shoes, or nylon topped water shoes. No Flip Flops or other shoes that won’t stay on your feet for rafting the Ocoee River!
What to wear in cooler weather
For the cooler weather we recommend synthetic fabrics such as polypropylene or nylon or synthetic fleece. It is better to wear nylon or synthetic swimwear and shirts for your time on the water. We provide splash gear and wetsuits when weather requires at no additional cost. Our outpost provides changing rooms and hot showers. If you are lacking any gear our store stocks water shoes as well as quick-dry shirts and shorts. Bring your GoPro to wear on your helmet and please tag us in your video!
What to avoid wearing or bringing rafting
What you don’t wear rafting is just as important as what you wear rafting! Also for greatest comfort and warmth don’t wear cotton on the river. Avoid cotton as it will make you colder. Cotton’s ability to hold many times its mass in water greatly increases evaporative cooling. What to bring. For the least delay bring your signed trip waivers. Bring suntan lotion but leave the suntan oils at home. Oil is not your friend on the river especially if you would prefer to stay in the raft. Bring sturdy footwear for rafting the river such as sneakers, wetsuit booties, or sandals with straps but not flip-flops.
Don’t bring expensive or sentimental items on the bus or river. It is best to leave rings and jewelry locked in your car or at home. Our guides can tell many different rafting stories about lost wedding rings or diamonds. Don’t bring drugs or alcohol to the river or Cherokee National Forest. Don’t bring your phone on the river. The waterproof bags and lanyards often fail and can create entrapment hazards or choking. Phones also create distractions and could impact your safety while rafting. OAC’s professional photographers will get great action shots of your trip. So you won’t need your phone or camera. However do bring your GoPro to attach to one of our helmets.
