Kuluar Splav: what to take from clothes, shoes and equipment

Kayaking is a great way to spend time outdoors, but you need the right equipment. In this article, we will analyze in detail the main points that you should definitely pay attention to when preparing for a water rafting trip. This is necessary to make your vacation safe and informative, and to bring you only positive emotions and impressions.

Tourist equipment for water splav on the rivers of Ukraine

Before you or your friends go on your first water trip, be sure to remember that for rafting on the rivers of Ukraine, tourist equipment must be reliable, comfortable, and guarantee safety during the trip. This is due to several important reasons:

• Protection of life and health. Hiking on a water route can be dangerous due to unpredictable natural conditions. For example, fast currents, rapids, stones, and other obstacles. Reliable equipment provides additional protection and reduces the risk of injury or drowning.
• Improved control. Good equipment allows for better control of the watercraft, which is important for safety and successful route completion. This is especially true for kayaking, canoeing, or inflatable rafting.
• Endurance and durability. Equipment must be able to withstand extreme conditions, including impacts on stones, sun, water, and mechanical stress.
• Convenience and comfort. High-quality equipment provides comfort during the trip. For example, comfortable seats, the right shape of the paddle, and reliable life jackets allow participants to focus on enjoying the experience rather than on discomfort or pain. Because we all expect only positive emotions when kayaking, as well as a lot of new experiences. But we do not expect anything to cause us inconvenience or trouble.
• Efficiency and performance to improve the overall efficiency of the rafting trip. Well-balanced and properly selected boats, paddles and additional equipment allow for better use of physical strength and technique, making the trip more enjoyable and less tiring.
• Psychological confidence. The feeling of safety and reliability of equipment gives rafting participants psychological confidence, which is important for successfully overcoming difficult areas and making the right decisions in stressful situations.

Therefore, the choice of high-quality and reliable equipment for water trips is a key element in preparation, it guarantees safety, comfort and pleasure from rafting. Please note: everything should be carefully selected and tested before going out on the water.

Here are the main elements you'll need:

Watercrafts

• Kayaks, canoes or inflatable boats.
• Paddles: for kayaks (double-sided) or canoes (single-sided).
• Life jackets: mandatory for all rafting participants. The life jacket should be comfortable and suitable for your weight and size.

Kuluar has already taken care of the boats, so you will receive all this equipment when you arrive at the rafting location.

Camping

• Tent: lightweight, waterproof, with a stable frame.
• Sleeping bag for alloy: comfortable, warm, with good thermal insulation.
• A carimat or air mattress.
• Cookware and a tourist stove.
• Fire starting kit: matches, lighter, tinder.

For safety and communication

• First aid kit: with a basic set of medicines and bandages.
• Mobile phone and chargers (with the possibility of charging from solar panels or power banks).

Additional gear

• Waterproof backpack for rafting: for storing things to keep them dry.
• Flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries.
• Multi-tool or knife.

Food and water

• Food: convenient for transportation and quick preparation.
• Sufficient supply of drinking water for the number of team members.

During the trip experienced teamleaders of Kuluar and their assistants will take care of preparing breakfast, snacks and dinner, as it is already included in the price of the rafting. Therefore, you can take additional goodies that you like)

Personal items

• Documents and money, plus waterproof cases for storing them.
• Tourist utensils for rafting.
• A flask/bottle for drinking water or a hydraulic system.
• Other important things at your own discretion.

Upon arrival at the start of the rafting trip, you will be given a safety briefing: listen carefully to the instructions from the group leader on the rules of behavior on the water and in emergency situations. Under no circumstances should you ignore it - it is primarily your safety and the safety of other team members.

First aid kit for rafting, personal hygiene and sun protection products

For rafting in kayaks, canoes, or other water vehicles, it is important to have a well-stocked first aid kit, personal hygiene products, and sun protection. Here's a detailed list of things you need.

Components of a first aid kit for water hiking

Basic medicines and materials:

• Bandages, sterile gauze bandages, adhesive plasters.
• Antiseptics (alcohol wipes, iodine or brilliant green solution).
• Dressings (hydrogel bandages, elastic bandages).
• Tweezers, scissors, disposable gloves.
• Sterile syringes and needles.

Painkillers, sorbents and antipyretics:

• Paracetamol, ibuprofen.
• Local anesthetics (lidocaine gels or sprays).
• Allergy medications: antihistamines (cetrin, loratadine).
• Medicines for the gastrointestinal tract:
• Sorbents (activated carbon, enterosgel).
• Antidiarrheals (loperamide).
• Probiotics.

The team leader already has these components of the first aid kit, so you don't have to worry about your health, because you are in good hands.

Others:

• Means of protection against mosquitoes and ticks
• Burn treatment (panthenol).
• Wound care products (antibiotic ointments).

We recommend that you prepare yourself and take several repellents.

Personal care products

• Toothbrush, toothpaste.
• Soap or shower gel.
• Shampoo and conditioner in small bottles.
• Towel (preferably microfiber, which dries quickly).
• Comb or hair brush.
• Wet wipes.
• Deodorant.
• Shaving products (razor, shaving cream).
• Skin care products (moisturizer).

Protection from the sun

• Sunscreen SPF 30+.
• Lip balm with SPF.
• Sunglasses with UV protection, preferably polarized to minimize water glare.
• Hat/baseball cap and balaclava/bandana for rafting. For sun protection, it is better to take a product with a wide brim and/or one that completely covers the neck.

Check all supplies before you travel and pack them in waterproof bags or containers.

Clothing for Splav

Kayaking, kayaking, or canoeing requires special clothing that will ensure comfort and safety during outdoor activities.

Here's a recommended list of things you should take with you:

• A windbreaker or waterproof jacket. It is important that it is light and breathable.
• Several T-shirts, preferably made of material that dries quickly.
• To protect yourself from the sun and prevent burns, it is recommended to wear a lightweight, breathable, long-sleeved T-shirt with UV protection. If you are going on your first water hike, it is not necessary to buy such specialized clothing right away. You can replace it with ordinary synthetic ones. But keep in mind that it will be much more comfortable in special clothes.
• In warm weather, sports shorts or swimming shorts are suitable.
• Socks are better to take special ones for water or made of neoprene.
• Gloves. Even ordinary household gloves will do, they will help to avoid blisters and provide the best grip on the paddle.

The right choice of clothing for rafting will ensure comfort and safety, and help you enjoy your outdoor activities without unpleasant surprises.

Of course, if you are going on your first one-day splav trip on the Dniester, for example, you may not have the entire list of necessary clothing. So take it and replace it with what you have. With experience, you will realize what is really worth buying and what you can do without.

Shoes for splav

For a comfortable stay, it is important to choose the right shoes. We recommend that you pay special attention to the following characteristics before buying:

• Waterproof and quick drying.
• Good grip of the sole on wet surfaces (stones or the bottom of the boat), which helps to avoid slipping and injury.
• Protection against stones, branches and other possible hazards.
• Lightness and comfort.

What types of shoes meet these criteria? We recommend taking them for rafting:

1. Water sneakers. They look like regular shoes, but are made of waterproof materials. They often have special holes for water drainage.
2. Sandals - light and comfortable, provide good ventilation and quick drying. Preferably made of water-repellent materials.
3. Water shoes that completely cover the foot and ankle, providing maximum protection. Usually made of neoprene or other waterproof material.

If you are going on your first water trip, and you don't know yet whether you will like this type of recreation or not, then there is no need to spend money on specialized shoes. In this case, for the first such trip, you should have: hiking sneakers (to have them in the kayak) and crocs or aqua shoes or something similar to such shoes.

Popular brands that produce quality rafting shoes are Teva, Merrell, Columbia, Keen, and Astral. When choosing a model, pay attention to its purpose, conditions of use, and personal comfort.

What you need for splav on the Dniester River

For splav on the Dniester River, you need to prepare both in terms of equipment and organizational aspects.

To begin with, you should choose the route you will be rafting and familiarize yourself with its features. If you are a beginner, it should be a simple program, and if you already have experience, you can choose longer and more difficult routes.
KULUAR has several routes, such as: Splav to Bakota or splav along the Dniester Canyon. Everything is provided here, and the group leader will always inform you about the main stops and other needs.

We also remember the weather forecast for the rafting period, which will help us to orient what we need to take for this particular period of time. For example: if it is forecast to rain for several days, you should definitely have a raincoat and a few extra things in case the others get wet.

Find out about the permits and rules on the route (if you are going with a guide, they will already do this for you). Follow the rules of behavior on the water and in protected areas.

Safety is an important aspect. Inform someone from your family or friends about your route and return time. Make sure your phone is charged.

Of course, we always go on a water trip as a team. It can be friends, colleagues, family, anyone. But remember: a team is always for each other. If you're a beginner, go as part of a group with experienced kayakers or hire an instructor. Going out on the water without experience is always dangerous, and we ask you to never do it.

Whichever water trip you choose - whether it's rafting on the Dniester in Ternopil, or from Kalush, or from Halych, there is no significant difference... Always remember: well-matched equipment, clothes, shoes and everything you need for this type of vacation means your comfort, safety and only positive emotions and impressions.

Perhaps after your first such vacation, you will like everything so much that you will get carried away, and we will soon see you on the lists for sports rafting on single kayaks or other interesting events.
The main thing is that all such water activities always bring you only positive and joy.

Author of the article: Liudmyla Lysun, consultant on water rafting in Ukraine

and hiking in Georgia, Turkey and other countries.