When I want to laugh, truly laugh, I go to rapids well within my comfort zone—the ones I’ve started to lazily drift through—and hunt out the potential within them. Now, I’m no longer a vector floating A to B, and instead drawing across boulder gardens in cursive calligraphy. I experiment with the currents, mazing through slots, across reactionaries and off tucked-away boofs, building momentum as the moves interconnect one to the next. Once I’m moving through a rapid like this, I can’t help but grin and bellow. It feels like I’ve tapped into a secret network and synchronized with the river’s rhythm.
What’s in Editor Joe Potoczak’s Class Fun river running kit
Fluid Donsa
MSRP: $715
A long half-slice opens a new universe. You can surf green waves no nine-footer can catch, launch into pirouettes, scream over drops and blast upstream to do it all again. The Donsa is an indestructible version of a slalom boat, and the consequence is one of the most fun and overlooked kayaks of all time.
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Werner Double Diamond
MSRP: $449
Whitewater kayaking at its finest is a ballet amidst a maelstrom, especially with the Double Diamond in hand as it slips with grace through the water. The blade size is just right, and the foam core provides a smooth, curving profile. When the tips of my beloved Werner delaminated, I glassed new carbon onto its foam and Dynel bones to dance again.
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Sweet Protection Strutter
MSRP: $200
Sweet has been pulling off the baseball cap-style helmet better than anyone for 30 years. Beyond looking cool, it’s the brand I’ve trusted with my cognitive abilities for as long as I’ve been running whitewater. Their Rocker and Wanderer are also fantastic options with safety in mind.
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Astral YTV
MSRP: $165
The YTV is about as close as it gets to finding a PFD that feels like you’re wearing nothing at all.
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Snap Dragon Armortex Sprayskirt
R.I.P. I would have bought three more if I knew I’d never buy another.
Birdwell Beach Britches
MSRP: $125
Faced with the dilemma of continually wearing out the seat of the average boardshort, I looked to the surf scene. Birdwells are heavily constructed and fashionable. Haven’t busted them yet.
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NRS Wetsocks
MSRP: $29.95
Going barefoot is a leading cause of gnarly toes. NRS’s Wetsocks are inexpensive padding between your feet and the boat. They also provide insulation and will last for multiple seasons.
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Adidas 5.10 Trailcross Shoes
MSRP: $120
I kept water and trail gear separate as long as I could, but there was no more denying the Trailcross is a superior water shoe. With the Stealth rubber and dotted tread pattern, I don’t have to think twice about my footing once I slip them on and step out of the boat.
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Ombraz Classic
MSRP: $160
Ombraz armless sunglasses are a revelation. Adjustable accessory cord attached straight to the frame of polarized lenses—how did it take so long? The weight of the cord is even enough to rest over the ears when not cinched into action mode. I’ll never go back.
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3-Piece Rescue Kit
Swims and pins know no class. If you are carrying (at the very least) a throw rope, a length of webbing, and two climbing-grade carabiners, you can accomplish a lot. When it comes to lines, always have a quick-release mechanism, a.k.a. a river knife on hand (see our review of the Best Rescue Knives).
Tenkara Rod Co. Beartooth
MSRP: $175–$295
Fly fishing and reading whitewater have a lot in common, and as you figure out all the ways you use features on a river, you start to realize how the trout do too. Or vice versa. When I see a pretty stretch, I like to pull over, grab a packable rod from the stern, and spend time soaking it in.
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This article was published in Issue 75 of Paddling Magazine. Be like a fish. | Feature photo: Owen Roth
