What to Bring River Tubing in Texas: The 2026 Packing Checklist
A no-fluff, river-specific packing list for Comal, Guadalupe, and San Marcos — including the 2026 disposable container rules, what to wear, and a printable checklist you can screenshot.
1. The Absolute Essentials
If you forget one of these, your day is over before it starts. Every Texas river tubing trip — whether you're floating the Comal in New Braunfels, the Guadalupe below Canyon Lake, or the San Marcos through Rio Vista Park — needs the same six non-negotiables.
- • Photo ID. Every outfitter requires it to rent a tube and to buy alcohol.
- • Cash ($20-40 per person). Shuttle tips, parking, and snack bars.
- • Waterproof phone pouch. With a float strap or lanyard.
- • Strap-on water shoes. Flip-flops vanish in the first chute.
- • Reef-safe sunscreen (SPF 50+). Reapply every 60-90 minutes.
- • Reusable insulated tumbler. Required on Comal, smart everywhere else.
For a deeper first-timer walkthrough — how outfitters, shuttles, and launch points actually work — read our first-timer guide.
2. Drinks & Cooler Rules by River
This is where most first-time floaters get burned. Rules are not uniform across Texas rivers, and 2026 brought real enforcement muscle to New Braunfels.
Comal River (New Braunfels) — Strictest
In 2026, New Braunfels fully enforces the disposable container ban. Fines start at $500. The following are banned:
- Aluminum cans (beer, seltzer, soda)
- Glass bottles of any kind
- Styrofoam cups and coolers
- Ziploc / single-use plastic bags
- Any single-use plastic container
Allowed: reusable YETI / Stanley / Hydro Flask tumblers, stainless flasks, thermoses, reusable hard-plastic cups with lids, and reusable coolers up to 16 quarts per person.
Guadalupe River — More Lenient
The Guadalupe below Canyon Lake (Horseshoe Loop, 4th Crossing, Hueco Springs) is governed by Comal County rules, which are less strict than the city. Cans are generally OK, glass is still banned, and most outfitters allow hard-sided coolers up to 30 quarts. Always check your specific outfitter's rules — river-specific sections can have their own ordinances.
San Marcos River — Mid-Tier
Cans are allowed on most San Marcos floats, glass is banned, and Rio Vista Park charges a $5/day non-local fee on Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. If you're launching from a commercial outfitter like Texas State Tubes, their private launch skips the park fee.
Comparing rivers head-to-head? See our river comparison guide and individual pages for the Comal, Guadalupe, and San Marcos.
3. What to Wear
Spring-fed Texas rivers (Comal and San Marcos) sit at a steady 70-72°F year-round. That's refreshing in August and shocking in April. Dress for the water, not the parking lot.
Swimwear
- • Board shorts or swim trunks with secure pockets
- • One-piece or sport bikini (tie-side bottoms will come off in chutes)
- • Rash guard or UPF shirt for sun-sensitive skin
Footwear
- • Strap sandals: Chacos, Tevas, Keens
- • Water shoes: Astral Loyak, Merrell Hydro Moc
- • Old sneakers (acceptable backup)
- • NEVER flip-flops, Crocs without strap, or barefoot
Head & Face
- • Hat with chin strap or croakie
- • Polarized sunglasses with float strap
After-Float
- • Dry clothes in the car (shirt, shorts, underwear)
- • Beach towel or microfiber travel towel
- • Dry flip-flops for the ride home
4. What NOT to Bring
Leave this stuff in the car — or better, at home. Half of it will get you fined; the other half will just get lost in the river.
- • Glass bottles (banned on every river)
- • Styrofoam coolers (Comal: banned)
- • Aluminum cans on the Comal (2026 ban)
- • Ziploc bags or single-use plastics on Comal
- • Your good sunglasses
- • Jewelry (rings slip off cold fingers)
- • Anything electronic without a rated waterproof case
- • Illegal substances (river police actively patrol)
- • Large amplified speakers on Comal
- • Pets — most outfitters prohibit them entirely
- • Cigarettes / vapes in glass containers
- • Paper money loose in your pocket
5. Waterproof Tech
Texas rivers eat electronics. Here's what survives and what to skip.
IPX8 floating phone pouch
Hiearcool, JOTO, Case-Mate. Test in a sink before you trust it with a $1,000 phone. Always add a float strap.
GoPro or insta360 with float
The Floaty accessory turns a GoPro into a bobber. Mount it on a chest harness or a floating hand grip.
Waterproof Bluetooth speaker
JBL Flip 6, UE Wonderboom 3. Rated IP67 minimum. Keep volume reasonable — especially on the Comal.
Dry bag (5-10L)
For your keys, wallet, ID, and a spare shirt. Roll-top closure, not zipper.
6. Sun & Skin Protection
Central Texas sun + reflective water = nuclear-grade UV exposure. Even shaded sections of the Comal will burn unprotected skin in 20 minutes. June through September, plan as if you're floating on a tanning bed.
- • Mineral sunscreen (zinc/titanium), SPF 50+, reef-safe. Reapply every 60-90 minutes.
- • UPF 50 rash guard or sun shirt. One garment replaces four sunscreen applications.
- • Wide-brim hat. Protects ears, neck, and the top of your scalp (where sunscreen rubs off).
- • Lip balm with SPF. Sunburned lips ruin the next three days.
- • Aloe gel in the car. For after the float. Keep it in the cooler if possible.
7. Safety Gear
Texas rivers are fun, but they are still moving water with rocks, low-head dams, and the occasional submerged tree. Most outfitters require life jackets for all floaters ages 12 and under, and many provide them free with a tube rental.
- • Coast Guard-approved Type III PFD for every child 12 and under
- • Whistle attached to each life jacket for emergencies
- • Small first-aid kit in the shuttle car (bandages, antiseptic wipes, ibuprofen)
- • Tube rope / tethers to link family tubes together
- • Hydration: one bottle of water per person per hour of float
See our full Austin river tubing safety guide for hazard maps, emergency procedures, and river-specific warnings.
8. Group & Party Extras
Floating with a bachelor/bachelorette party, birthday group, or corporate outing? Add these to the kit.
- • Matching koozies or shirts — easy to spot your people on a crowded Saturday
- • Floating cooler tube (rent from the outfitter, usually $15-25)
- • Inflatable pong or cornhole for slow sections
- • Pre-made cocktails in reusable containers (Comal: mandatory)
- • Designated driver or shuttle contact number — see our shuttle company list
- • Booked party bus from Austin — zero DUI risk; see our Austin party bus tubing page
- • Cash for tips (shuttle driver: $5-10/person is customary)
9. The Printable Checklist
Screenshot this or print it. Covers everything above in one glance.
Texas River Tubing Packing Checklist
Essentials
- [ ] Photo ID
- [ ] Cash $20-40/person
- [ ] Waterproof phone pouch + strap
- [ ] Strap-on water shoes
- [ ] Reef-safe SPF 50+ sunscreen
- [ ] Reusable YETI/Stanley tumbler
Clothing
- [ ] Swimsuit (tie-securely)
- [ ] UPF rash guard / sun shirt
- [ ] Hat with chin strap
- [ ] Polarized sunglasses + croakie
- [ ] Dry clothes for car
- [ ] Towel
Drinks & Cooler
- [ ] Reusable insulated cups (Comal)
- [ ] Reusable cooler ≤16 qt (Comal)
- [ ] Bottled water (one per hour)
- [ ] Snacks in reusable container
- [ ] NO glass, NO cans on Comal
Safety
- [ ] Life jacket for kids 12 & under
- [ ] Whistle on each PFD
- [ ] Small first-aid kit in car
- [ ] Tube tethers / rope
- [ ] Emergency contact saved on phone
Tech
- [ ] IPX8 phone pouch
- [ ] Dry bag 5-10L
- [ ] GoPro w/ Floaty (optional)
- [ ] Waterproof speaker (optional)
Sun & Skin
- [ ] SPF 50+ mineral sunscreen
- [ ] SPF lip balm
- [ ] Aloe gel in cooler
Group Extras
- [ ] Matching koozies/shirts
- [ ] Floating cooler tube (rent)
- [ ] Tip cash for shuttle driver
austinriverfloat.com — Updated April 2026
10. Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring cans of beer on the Comal River in 2026?
No. As of 2026, the City of New Braunfels disposable container ban prohibits aluminum cans, glass bottles, styrofoam, and single-use plastics on the Comal River within New Braunfels city limits. Fines start at $500 per violation. Transfer drinks into a reusable insulated tumbler like a YETI, Hydro Flask, or Stanley before launching.
Can I bring glass bottles on any Texas tubing river?
Never. Glass is banned on every major Central Texas tubing river — Comal, Guadalupe, San Marcos, and the Frio. Glass that breaks in the river creates a permanent hazard, and outfitters will refuse service if they see it at the launch point.
What shoes should I wear tubing?
Strap-on water shoes or secure sandals with heel straps (Tevas, Chacos, Keens, or Astral Loyaks). Flip-flops will disappear in the first tube chute. Old sneakers work in a pinch. Barefoot is a bad idea — the riverbed has sharp rocks, zebra mussels, and broken glass from decades of floaters.
Do waterproof phone cases actually work?
Yes, if they are IPX8-rated floating pouches (Hiearcool, JOTO, or Case-Mate). Test them first by sealing a dry paper towel inside and submerging in a sink for five minutes. Add a lanyard or float strap — dropped phones sink instantly in 8-foot spring-fed water.
How big of a cooler can I bring on the river?
Comal allows reusable coolers up to 16 quarts per person (roughly a standard soft-sided 12-pack cooler). Guadalupe allows up to 30 quarts in most sections. San Marcos (Rio Vista) has no strict size cap but most outfitters rent dedicated cooler tubes rated for 48-quart hard coolers. Always confirm with your specific outfitter.
Can I bring a Bluetooth speaker tubing?
On the Guadalupe and parts of the San Marcos, yes — a floating waterproof speaker (JBL Flip, Ultimate Ears Wonderboom) is fine. On the Comal, New Braunfels city ordinance prohibits amplified sound loud enough to be heard beyond your immediate group. Keep the volume down or skip it entirely on Comal.
Should I bring cash or cards?
Bring $20-40 in cash per person sealed in a waterproof pouch. Shuttle tips, riverside snack bars, and parking attendants often prefer cash. Most outfitters take cards at the office before you launch, but once you are on the water, cash is king.
What happens if I bring banned items to Comal?
New Braunfels park rangers and river police actively patrol launch points and float routes. Expect a $500 fine for a first offense of the disposable container ordinance, plus confiscation of the banned items.
Keep Planning Your Float
Everything you need for a dialed-in Texas river day.