What to Wear for Salt River Tubing or an Arizona Lake Day
River and Lake Days
Built to get wet.
For Salt River tubing or an Arizona lake day, wear a quick drying athletic tee or swim top, stretch athletic shorts that can go in the water, a hat that stays on, and sandals with a heel strap. Everything you bring will get wet, sit in the sun for hours, and ride home in a hot car, so skip cotton and build the outfit from performance fabric. Here's the full build.
The River Kit
For Him
In stock in every core size. Free shipping over $75.
Drew Short 5"
Light Grey
Lightweight four-way stretch with a drawstring waist and zip back pocket.
$55
View detailsEden Hat
Olive Green
Water resistant with a Stay-dri sweatband. One size fits most.
$40
View detailsThe River Kit
For Her
40% off select women's styles, applied automatically at checkout.
Olivia Skirt
Tangerine
Pleated mini with built-in shorts. The color was made for a lake day.
$72$43.20 at checkout
View details
Luna Bra
Mint
Light support and an X strap back under a skirt or shorts.
$48$28.80 at checkout
View detailsWhy cotton ruins a river day
Cotton soaks up water, holds it against your skin, and starts to chafe by the second hour. On the Salt River that means a heavy, clammy shirt from the first splash until you're back at the car. A synthetic performance knit does the opposite. It sheds water, dries in the sun between splashes, and keeps its shape.
The Tim Tee in aqua blue is the move here. It is 88% polyester and 12% spandex, moisture-wicking and quick drying, with a tailored athletic fit that still looks like a real shirt at the gas station stop on the way home.
Shorts that can get wet and keep working
Board shorts work, but a good pair of stretch athletic shorts works better. They dry nearly as fast, and you're not stuck in swim trunks for the rest of the day. The Drew Short 5 inch in light grey has a lightweight polyester body, four-way stretch, and a drawstring waist that stays put while you climb in and out of a tube. The 7 inch version works too if you prefer more length.
Skip anything with heavy pockets or a thick waistband. Wet fabric gets heavy fast, and you'll be hauling yourself onto a tube all afternoon.
The river day checklist
- A quick drying tee or swim top. No cotton.
- Stretch athletic shorts or a skirt with built-in shorts. Light pockets, secure waist.
- A hat that stays on, and cheap sunglasses with a strap.
- Sandals with a heel strap or old trainers you don't mind soaking.
- Sunscreen, reapplied every time you leave the water.
- A dry bag for your phone and keys.
- A dry tee in the car for the drive home.
Sun protection is not optional out there
The Salt River and the Valley lakes give you hours at a stretch with no shade, and the water bounces light back up at you. That's a double dose of Arizona sun. A brimmed hat earns its spot. The Eden Hat is water resistant with a Stay-dri sweatband, so a splash doesn't ruin it.
Reapply sunscreen every time you're out of the water. The most common souvenir from the river is a burn nobody felt happening.
The women's build: skirt over swimsuit
For women, the strongest river day formula is a swim top or sports bra under a skirt with built-in shorts or athletic shorts. The Olivia Skirt in tangerine works surprisingly well here. The built-in shorts handle climbing in and out of tubes, the pleats and shorts are polyester, nylon, and spandex rather than cotton, and the color is made for a lake day. A Luna Bra underneath gives light support without bulk.
The mistake to avoid is the cute cover-up that can't get wet. Everything on your body should be able to take a full dunk and recover within the hour, because on the Salt River it will get the chance.
For the Ride Home
Keep These in the Car
Free shipping over $75.
What to leave in the car
Phones ride in a dry bag or stay behind. Nice sunglasses become river donations, so bring the cheap pair with a strap. And leave white clothing at home. Between the river water, the sunscreen, and the cooler, white doesn't survive the day.
Shoes matter more than people think. Flip-flops come off in the current. Wear sandals with a heel strap or an old pair of trainers you don't mind soaking.
The ride home is part of the outfit
The day doesn't end at the river. There's a 45 minute drive back to Scottsdale, usually a food stop, and sometimes a patio after. Quick drying fabric means you're presentable by the time you park, and a dry Joey Tee waiting in the car finishes the change in ten seconds. That's the real argument for athletic fabric over swimwear: one outfit covers the entire day.
Ready to gear up?
Quick drying tees, stretch shorts, and hats built for a full day in the sun.
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40% off, automatically applied at checkout on select women's styles.
Shop Women'sFrequently Asked Questions
What should you wear for Salt River tubing?
A quick drying athletic tee or swim top, water friendly athletic shorts, a brimmed hat, and sandals with a heel strap. Avoid cotton completely, since it stays wet and heavy all day. A polyester tee like the Tim Tee sheds water and dries between splashes, so you're comfortable from the river to the ride home.
Can you wear athletic shorts in the water?
Yes. Stretch athletic shorts in performance fabric dry nearly as fast as board shorts and look better once you're out of the water. The Drew Short 5 inch is a good fit for it. Skip heavy pockets and thick waistbands, which hold water.
What shoes should you wear tubing on the Salt River?
Sandals with a heel strap or old trainers you don't mind soaking. Flip-flops come off in the current and are often lost early. Whatever you wear will get wet, so choose something that drains and stays on your foot.
How do you avoid sunburn on an Arizona lake day?
Wear a brimmed hat, reapply sunscreen every time you leave the water, and keep a dry tee in the car for the ride home. The water reflects sunlight back up at you, so you're getting sun from two directions for hours with no shade.
What should women wear tubing on the Salt River?
A swim top or sports bra under a skirt with built-in shorts or athletic shorts. The Olivia Skirt has built-in shorts for climbing in and out of tubes. Skip any cover-up that can't take a full dunk.
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