If you’re going white water rafting in spring or fall when the water is a little bit cooler you need to dress for the cold water. You want to enjoy your trip down the river and wearing a good base layer can help to keep you warm and comfortable for your journey. That is why we recommend wearing leggings when going river rafting in cold or rainy weather.
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Best Women’s Leggings for River Rafting
- Minus33 Merino Wool 5300 Woolverino Women’s Midweight Leggings
- Icebreaker Merino Women’s Everyday Leggings
- GEEK LIGHTING Womens UPF 50+ Surfing Skins Leggings Wetsuit Swim Long Pants
Best Men’s Leggings for River Rafting
- Icebreaker Merino Men’s Mens 175 Everyday Leggings W Fly
- Woolx Mens BackCountry Midweight Merino Wool Base Layer Bottoms
- UPF 50+ Men’s Surfing Leggings Sun Protection High-Waist Tummy Control Swimming Pants
Women’s Leggings
1. Minus33 Merino Wool 5300 Woolverino Women’s Midweight Leggings
Product Features
Brand Name: Minus33 Merino Wool
Material: 85% Merino wool, 13% nylon, 2% spandex
Colors: Black
Sizes: X-Small to XX-Large
Our top pick for women’s rafting leggings goes to the Minus33 Merino Wool Midweight Leggings. Merino wool is the material of choice for cold weather rafting, and these leggings are 85% merino. We recommend merino because it is an extremely good insulator even when wet, and it also wicks moisture very well compared to other fabrics. These make an excellent base layer, but they also have a UPF rating of 50+ which will keep you protected from the sun. Overall these are excellent leggings that we highly recommend for comfort on the river.
2. Icebreaker Merino Women’s Everyday Leggings
Product Features
Brand Name: Icebreaker Merino
Material: 100% Wool
Colors: Black, lotus, velvet, vino
Sizes: X-small to X-large
Our next pick for women’s rafting leggings goes to the Icebreaker Merino Women’s Leggings. These leggings are made from 100% wool which makes them breathable in warm weather while keeping you insulated in cold weather. The leggings are designed to be lightweight with great moisture-wicking abilities without sacrificing any insulating power. They have four color options: black, 2 shades of purple, and a velvet color. Overall these are excellent lightweight wool leggings that will keep you warm in the cold water. The only drawback is that they don’t offer an XXL size like the Minus33 Merino Wool Offering
3. GEEK LIGHTING Womens UPF 50+ Surfing Skins Leggings Wetsuit Swim Long Pants
Product Features
Brand Name: Geek Lighting
Material: 80% Nylon, 20% elastane
Colors: 11 Color options
Sizes: Small to 3XL
The next spot on our list is the Geek Lighting Women’s Surfing Wetsuit Leggings. These leggings are great for white water rafting because they are designed for water. They are made from water-resistant nylon and are designed to be ultra-soft and flexible which allows you to move unrestricted without any chafing or skin irritation. Nylon is also fast drying compared to other fabrics like cotton which absorb moisture and keep you wet. These leggings also have a UPF 50 rafting, which is excellent for protecting your skin from the sun. The only drawback with these leggings is that they will not be as warm as wool leggings, but they are great for when the temperature is not as cold.
Men’s Leggings
1. Icebreaker Merino Men’s Mens 175 Everyday Leggings W Fly
Product Features
Brand Name: Icebreaker
Material: 100% Merino wool
Colors: Black
Sizes: Small to XX-Large
Our favorite men’s cold water rafting leggings are the Icebreaker Men’s 175 Everyday Leggings. These leggings are made from 100% merino wool, so you know they will keep your legs insulated very well even in the cold water, while also being breathable and moisture-wicking. These leggings also have a fly and an elastic waistband. Overall these are warm and comfortable men’s leggings that can be used river rafting, hiking, running, skiing, snowboarding, are for any other outdoor cold-weather activity.
2. Woolx Mens BackCountry Midweight Merino Wool Base Layer Bottoms
Product Features
Brand Name: Woolx
Material: 100% Merino wool
Colors: Black, heather, blue, or denim
Sizes: Small – XX-Large
Our next pick for men’s leggings is the WoolX Men’s Merino Wool Base Layer Pants. These are another 100% merino wool leggings that are ideal for a variety of activities. The leggings are soft, warm, breathable, and moisture-wicking as you would expect from a quality merino clothing item. These leggings are midweight, which is great because they are not too heavy which allows you the freedom to move around in the raft. They also have four color options so you have a variety to choose from.
3. UPF 50+ Men’s Surfing Leggings Sun Protection High-Waist Tummy Control Swimming Pants
Product Features
Brand Name: Lemorecn
Material: 82% Nylon, 18% spandex
Colors: Black, gray, navy
Sizes: Small to 2XL
Our final pick for men’s leggings for whitewater rafting goest to the Memorecn Men’s Surfing Leggings. These nylon-based leggings are designed for surfing which makes them great for all kinds of water sports. The nylon is breathable, fast-drying, and flexible which allows for unrestricted movement. They also have a UPF 50+ rating which is excellent for protecting your skin from the sun. The only drawback about these leggings is that they are not the best for cold weather. If you’re going rafting in cold weather, we always recommend merino wool. But these are good budget-friendly leggings nonetheless.
White Water Rafting Leggings Buying Guide
When shopping for leggings to take on the river, there are a few different things you will want to look for. Here are 3 things to look for in your rafting leggings
- Material
- Insulation
- Moisture Wicking
How to Choose River Rafting Leggings
1. Material
If it’s cold weather we highly recommend a material like merino wool. This is due to its great ability to keep you warm. Another good option is any sort of synthetic quick-drying material such as nylon, polyester or lycra. What you want to avoid is heavy clothing like jeans or any sort of cotton clothing. These will absorb water and stay wet which will keep you cold an uncomfortable.
2. Insulation
Another thing you will want to look for is something that will insulate you very well even in the cold water. This is why we recommend merino wool leggings. Because wool is such a great insulator. You may also find leggings designed for swimming and diving that also has a good insulation factor
3. Moisture Wicking
Lastly, when shopping for leggings you should look for something that is moisture-wicking. A material that is moisture-wicking and breathable will keep you comfortable and dry fast so you can get the most enjoyment out of your trip.
You can read more about how to dress for river rafting here. Or read this if you are going hiking and need a good pair of outdoor leggings.
