Best Shoes and Sandals for River Rafting Trips

I’m often asked by guests about what type of footwear they should bring on their river trip. It’s a good idea to have river shoes that stay on your feet and separate camp shoes that are comfortable for hiking or wearing around camp.

While technically any shoe that will stay strapped to your foot will work, here are my top picks.

River Shoes: Astral Footwear

Astral Shoes are our guide’s favorite do-it-all shoe. You can easily go from rafting to hiking with these river shoes. My favorite model, the Rassler, is great for scrambling over slippery rocks, walking up wet creek beds, and having good toe protection on and off the raft. They are also a guide favorite for just wearing around town.

River Shoes: Chaco Sandals

Another guide favorite are Chaco Sandals. These classic outdoor sandals have a sturdy footbed that is great for walking over rocky ground, getting your feet wet in the raft, and works well for short hikes from the raft. It’s also my favorite shoe for summer dips in the river or for soaking in natural hot springs, when you don’t want to wear a bulky shoe but you need to protect your bare feet from sharp rocks.

River Shoes: Keen Sandals

Keen Sandals are a guest favorite for their use both on a rafting trip and also as a comfortable, functional shoe for wearing after your trip. They are a good combination of sandal and shoe that provide great toe protection.

River or Camp Shoes: Bedrock Sandals

Bedrock Sandals are new to our guides and so far we’re enjoying their durability and lightweight footbed. They’re a good shoe for the person who does everything in flip flops but wants a little bit of extra foot security and a non-slipping sole. These have become my everyday summer sandal around town or wearing while kayaking on hot days.

Camp Shoes: Bogs Boots

These are great boots for cold and wet weather camping. They keep your feet warm, dry, and sand free. They are especially great for when you don’t want to get your feet wet but are near the water for a bathroom break, a short hike that might cross some water, or it is raining. They’re also great for standing in the water while loading up a raft.

Camp Shoes: Blundstone Boots

Blundstones are our office staff’s favorite daily shoe. They are great for the cool and rainy spring, fall, and winters that we have here in the Pacific Northwest. They work as a great all-around shoe, from spontaneous hikes after work, to slipping on after a day of skiing, to wearing with nice pants and going to dinner. They’re also cozy and have a great, solid sole for wearing around rocky camps.

Camp Shoes: Crocs

These comfortable slip-on shoes are a guide favorite for hanging out around camp on a warm-weather trip.

Informal Discussion about Rafting Shoes and Sandals

What are your favorite shoes for camping and rafting? Let me know in the comments below!