Below is a recommended Mountain Biking & Rafting Combination Trip Checklist – follow this list and you’ll be well prepared for your upcoming trip!
GEAR PROVIDED BY HOLIDAY RIVER EXPEDITIONS
- PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE (life jacket)
- LARGE WATERPROOF CAMP BAG
- SMALL WATERPROOF DAY BAG
- FULL COURSE MEALS: lunch the first day through lunch the last day
- EATING UTENSILS, PLATES, & CAMP CHAIR
- DRINKS: ice water, gatorade, lemonade, 1 soda/person/day (popular mixes of regular & diet)
- BIKE REPAIR KIT: sufficient for common road repair on standard mountain bikes. If your bike has nonstandard components, come prepared.
Day bag (10” diameter × 22” high) is for items you’ll need during the day. Camp bag (16” diameter × 28” high) is for sleeping gear & clothing (and will not be accessible during the day on the bike trip). When properly sealed, bags are usually waterproof. If you have concerns, test your bags. We provide separate storage for tents, tent poles, hiking poles, & personal beverages. Keep your gear light & compact (no more than 15–20 lbs.). Visit the FAQ page on our website for tips on packing for the bike portion of your trip; consider bringing a bag that can fit your helmet and any bike-specific gear that you’d prefer to leave with our support van when you transition to the river portion of your trip.
GEAR YOU MUST BRING OR RENT FROM HOLIDAY
- *CUP (for morning hot drinks and/or evening cocktails; plastic mugs work well)
- *WATER BOTTLE (included only with BIKE rental)
- SLEEPING BAG (compact and warm)
- SLEEPING PAD (compact, must fit in the bag described above)
- LIGHT, LOW-PROFILE TENT (backpacker style, not the bulky, heavy, or high-profile)
- PONCHO/RAIN SUIT (high quality, comfortable for riding)
- BIKE & HELMET (personal bikes must be in good repair)
You can rent most of the items listed above in our Rental Sleeping Kit. We offer two varieties: our basic sleeping kit, which consists of a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, small pillow, rain gear, & plastic mug (yours to keep!) for $50.00, or the same basic sleeping kit plus a spacious two-person tent for $75.00. Rentals must be reserved in advance. Rentals requested the morning of the trip are subject to availability. Water bottles & plastic mugs are available for purchase in our store in Green River. Water bottles are only included with BIKE rental.
Holiday rental bikes with helmets are available for $240.00/bike. If your personal bike fails to meet our minimum safety standards we will ask you to rent a Holiday bike. Bike rentals include a water bottle. Holiday rental bikes come with platform pedals only. If you have clipless shoes you must bring your own pedals.
RECOMMENDED CLOTHING & GEAR
- SWIMMING SUITS
- *SHIRT(S): short-sleeved (i.e., T-shirts or bike jerseys)
- *SHIRT(S): long-sleeved, quick-dry for sun protection
- SHORTS: quick drying
- LONG PANTS: quick-dry for sun protection; warm/comfy for night time
- SHOES: one pair to keep dry for biking/camp/hiking (i.e., durable sneakers or light-weight hiking boots), one pair to get wet while rafting (i.e., closed-toed water shoes or sandals/sneakers that will stay on your feet if you are swimming)
- *HAT: for sun protection, with chin strap
- *SUNGLASSES: with retaining strap
- SOCKS: cotton and/or synthetic or wool
- UNDERWEAR
- COMB or HAIRBRUSH
- TAMPONS/ZIPLOC BAGS: 1 bag per day
- WASHCLOTH
- *TRAVEL TOWEL: quick drying
- MEDICATIONS: aspirin/ibuprofen/acetaminophen and/or personal prescriptions
- WARM JACKET: fleece-lined or insulated with wind/rain-resistant shell
- *SUNSCREEN: SPF 15 or higher (Pro tip! If you bring spray sunscreen, please be considerate of your fellow passengers and guides and do not spray it where others can breathe it in.)
- *CHAPSTICK: with sunscreen
- HAND LOTION: non-fragrant
- *BIODEGRADABLE SOAP: available at outdoor specialty stores (Dr. Bronner’s, Campsuds, or ivory soap)
- TOOTHBRUSH/PASTE
- TISSUES/WET WIPES: small travel pack
- STUFF SACK: to organize inside of large dry bag or to keep wet/dry clothes separated (i.e., pillow case or plastic bag)
- *INSECT REPELLENT: DEET works best (Pro tip! Bring lightweight, long-sleeved pants and shirts and spray the repellent on the clothing instead of your skin. Sarongs are also great for keeping bugs off your head and shoulders.)
- *FLASHLIGHT or HEADLAMP WITH RED LIGHT SETTING: small with extra batteries (Pro tip! Our eyes are remarkably adapted to see in the dark, but white LED lights wreck that night vision and make it harder for you and everyone else to see the stars. Red lights preserve night vision and attract fewer bugs.)
- FACE MASK: although not currently required, face masks are advised during van transportation. Due to government agencies’ ability to alter requirements at any time, we ask that you have a face mask on hand in the event that they become required.
BIKE-SPECIFIC CLOTHING & GEAR
- HELMET: required (no exceptions), ANSI or SNELL approved
- PADDED BIKE SHORTS
- BIKE GLOVES
- TUBE PATCH KIT
- SPARE BIKE TUBE (Mr. Tuffy/Kevlar thorn strips are nice)
- HYDRATION PACK AND/OR *WATER BOTTLES (you should be able to carry 2–3 liters while biking)
OPTIONAL ITEMS
- *SARONG (Pro tip! Sarongs are good for EVERYTHING! Get them wet and they’ll keep you cool. They make great personal shade devices for hikes and sitting on rafts, and are good for extra bug protection. Wrap them around your waist for a discreet personal changing room. Use them as a towel. Lie on them on the sand. The list goes on!)
- WARM LAYERS: long underwear tops and bottoms (wool or synthetic), especially for early- or late-season trips
- FISHING GEAR: compact and well protected (i.e., rods packed in a case)
- CAMERA (at your own risk): extra memory cards, batteries, and a protective, waterproof case
- BINOCULARS (at your own risk)
- CHAMOIS CREAM (highly recommended!)
- EXTRA BEVERAGES (no glass please): liquor, boxed wine, canned beer, specialty pop, juice, etc. Labeling individual cans makes it easy for us to find your drinks after we pack them in our coolers. (Pro tip! Plan to buy your beer, liquor, or wine BEFORE arriving in Green River. The liquor store in town has an extremely limited selection (and no wine) and irregular hours. Some beer can usually be purchased at convenience and grocery stores.)
- EXTRA SNACKS: for small children and people with dietary concerns or health issues such as diabetes
- COVID PRECAUTIONS: rapid test, personal hand sanitizer, and/or personal sanitizing wipes
- GROUND CLOTH: for sleeping under the stars.
- *RIVER MAP: to see where you’re going
- GEL BIKE SEAT or GEL SEAT COVER
- BIKE-SPECIFIC RIDING SHOES
THINGS NOT TO BRING ON YOUR BIKE/RAFT TRIP: personal watercraft (e.g., SUPs, kayaks, pack rafts) without prior approval from our office, glass-bottled beverages, radios, speakers, firearms, pets, and large amounts of cash beyond what you’ll want for your guides’ gratuity. Do not bring expensive jewelry, watches, or electronics (i.e., cell phones, laptops, tablets, etc.). If you do choose to bring a cell phone for taking pictures, we strongly suggest getting a waterproof/shockproof/floating case (and to put it in airplane mode to save battery). WARNING: In the event of a loss—regardless of fault—our insurance will not cover these expensive items. If you do decide to bring any of the above items along with you to the meeting point for your trip, the most secure location to leave them behind would be at your hotel in their safe or locked up in the trunk of your vehicle. As a last resort we have a non-secure location at our headquarters, but we cannot assume responsibility for these items.
EARLY OR LATE SEASONS SUPPLEMENTS (April-June and Sept.- Oct. )
- *WARM STOCKING CAP: wool or synthetic
- WETSUIT BOOTIES or NEOPRENE SOCKS: optional, replaces/augments water shoes
- WARM PADDLING/BIKING GLOVES: lightweight, wool/synthetic or neoprene
- INSULATED RIDING TIGHTS: for cold-weather biking
- INSULATED OUTERWEAR: warm/water-resistant jacket and pants
- LONG UNDERWEAR: tops and bottoms, medium weight, wool or synthetic (fleece)
There is a greater chance of inclement weather on early and late season trips, but a well-prepared traveler will still be able to appreciate the many advantages of these trips. Having the right clothing is essential. Wool, fleece, Capilene, and Smartwool are natural and synthetic fabrics that retain their ability to insulate when wet (please note: cotton will not keep you warm when it is wet). Adding to these inner layers with good rain- and wind-resistant jackets and pants will keep you warm, dry, and, most importantly, happy. Your comfort on the trip starts with finding the right type of synthetic under- and outerwear and quality rain gear. We recommend evo.com for your additional biking/rafting trip needs. They offer a wide variety of gear to help you dress for success while on your biking/rafting trip. A prepared traveler is a happy traveler. Some items can be purchased from Holiday’s online store or at evo.com.
* = last-minute items you can buy at our Green River headquarters, the meeting point for our White Rim/Cataract, La Sal/Westwater, and Moab/Westwater trips.