Whether you’re new to river tripping, or an experienced paddler ready to tackle your next multi-week expedition, some of the most important items you’ll pack in your dry bag are footwear!
The right shoes are not only important for safety, but can also greatly improve the comfort and enjoyment of your time on the river. In this short guide, we’ll take you through the factors which make good footwear choices, and give a few of our top recommendations for your trip of a lifetime.
Factors to consider when choosing footwear for your river trip
- Protection: rocks, sticks and other submerged objects are common on the river, so a sturdy shoe can prevent unwanted injuries.
- Traction: rocky shores and muddy beaches can be slippery, so shoes with good grip will give you greater stability when stepping in and out of boats, walking on uneven terrain or portaging food and gear.
- Water drainage / waterproofing: either you want your feet to stay dry, or you want your shoes to drain quickly. If opting for rubber boots, ensure the material is of high quality and won’t split. Other choices such as closed toe sandals afford protection whilst allowing water to drain easily.
- Quick drying: another factor to consider if you’re committing to getting wet feet. Once you get off the river each afternoon and set up camp, you want those shoes to dry quickly for the following morning!
- Comfort: You’ll be spending several hours each day in the same pair of shoes, so making sure that they fit well and are comfortable is vital.
- Durability: the northern wilderness is a rugged environment, even in summer! Silt, sand, salt, rocks and exposure to the elements can easily show in poor quality gear, so make sure you invest in shoes that will last.
Our Recommendations
For rafters:
We highly recommend a solid pair of rubber boots for our raft guests, as these will keep your feet dry when stepping into and out of the raft. BOGS and Muck boots both offer great insulation for those who want some extra warmth.
For those interested in team tested gear, on your guides you will likely see XTRATUFF rubber boots. Designed in Alaska, they feature slip-resistant outer soles and are favored by northerners for their durability and snug fit.
Short on packing space? No problem! We offer 15” tall rubber boots to rent for our raft guests.
For canoeists:
After 40 years’ experience paddling in the North, we recommend neoprene socks and a sturdy pair of shoes (eg Keen sandals) to canoe in. 2mm or 3mm neoprene will keep your feet nice and toasty.
Astral Hiyak shoes are another fantastic option, giving support and stability whilst also having good insulation and grip, and dry fast.
If you are renting a drysuit from us, we will provide you with river shoes.
For hiking:
Not forgetting our land-based adventures! Our expeditions offer world class hiking opportunities, such as Goatherd Mountain on the Alsek, Sunblood Mountain on the Nahanni and the numerous peaks and ridges in Ivvavik National Park on our Firth River expeditions.
We suggest packing a sturdy pair of hiking boots with good traction, gore-tex or other waterproofing, and ankle protection. These will provide excellent support when exploring trails, scrambling across talus slopes and getting those all-important mountain panoramas to send home to your friends!
For evening campsites:
A chance to relax and disconnect is one of the main reasons guests say they enjoy our river trips so much. It’s important not to forget to pack a comfortable pair of shoes which you can do just that in!
We suggest a lightweight, closed toe pair of shoes such as crocs or trainers for those fireside evenings in camp.
Socks, socks - and more socks!
Shoes are just half the show! Having enough socks (at least 1 pair for every two days) is crucial to ensure your feet stay warm and dry. Wool socks are the best choice, as wool retains its insulative properties even when wet. Making sure you have dry socks on will keep your feet happy for the duration of your trip!
Felt insoles and BAMA booties are also must-haves for those who get cold feet.
Felt insoles insulate your feet from the ground, whilst BAMA booties have a two layer thermal system which insulates your whole foot whilst absorbing perspiration and wicking away moisture. We’d strongly recommend having two pairs of each for anyone on rafting trips to allow for rotational drying in case one set gets wet.
BAMA booties in particular are a firm favourite amongst our guides and make great Christmas presents for the winter season too. You’ll even find a few pairs being worn by our team in the office whilst we plan the summer’s expeditions!
For those bringing their own rubber boots, please allow enough room for extra layers including thick socks and BAMA booties.
Guests on our Alsek and Tatshenshini trips will be issued dry suits, which have attached waterproof feet and accompanying river shoes. Please note that the dry suits aren’t worn every day, so you will need to rent or bring your own rubber boots too.
Ready to pick up your paddle?
Does paddling through Canada’s deepest canyons, floating across the Tundra or marveling at the raw beauty of calving glaciers and icebergs sound like your dream vacation?
Now you’re prepped and ready for the river, it’s time to book your trip of a lifetime!
