What to Bring Tubing in New Braunfels

Pack for sun, water, and the trip back from the takeout. Keep the list small enough to secure every item. Loose phones, keys, shoes, and containers are difficult to recover in moving water.

Rules come before packing preferences. Read the current city document, check the river page, and confirm any outfitter-specific restrictions before arriving.

Quick answer

Bring drinking water in an allowed container, sun protection, secure footwear, a properly fitted life jacket when required or appropriate, and a waterproof way to protect essential keys and identification. Leave glass, foam containers, and unnecessary valuables behind. Confirm current city and outfitter rules before packing.

Check the rules before the checklist

The City of New Braunfels publishes river rules and tubing information. Read the current pages for the exact date because regulations, access, closures, and seasonal procedures can change.

The official reference prohibits glass and foam containers. It also lists restrictions on small containers and volume drinking devices. Do not pack from memory based on a previous trip.

Bring water in a permitted container

Tubing involves sun and heat. Bring enough drinking water for the group, but use containers permitted by current city rules. Check the container restriction document before leaving.

Do not replace water with alcohol. Follow all laws, age requirements, and river restrictions. Secure every permitted container so it does not become litter.

Use sun protection

Bring water-resistant sunscreen and reapply according to the product instructions. A hat, sunglasses with a retainer, and sun-protective clothing can reduce exposure.

Choose items that stay secure in moving water. Loose sunglasses and hats are easy to lose. Avoid bringing expensive items that are not necessary for the trip.

Wear secure footwear

Use footwear that stays attached and suits wet entry, exit, and walking surfaces. Flip-flops can be difficult to retain in current.

Check outfitter guidance for the route. Do not assume the riverbed, bank, or takeout will be smooth or easy to cross.

Plan life jackets around people and conditions

Life-jacket requirements depend on age, flow, and applicable river rules. The Guadalupe rules reference includes flow thresholds that affect requirements and whether tubing is allowed.

Use a properly fitted life jacket when required and whenever the person’s ability or current conditions call for one. Ask the provider or city source when uncertain.

Protect keys and identification

Bring only essential items. Use a secure waterproof method designed for water exposure. Test the closure before entering.

Do not depend on an unsealed pocket. Leave wallets, electronics, jewelry, and extra keys in a secure location outside the river plan.

Understand cooler limits

The current city reference states one cooler per person with a 30-quart maximum. Confirm that rule before the trip.

Choose a cooler the group can manage at entry, exit, and takeout. Secure the contents and follow every container restriction.

Understand tube limits

The city reference limits inflatable flotation devices to five feet in length or width. The tubing page separately states a diameter limit for personal tubes on the Comal.

Confirm whether the provider supplies a tube and whether personal equipment is accepted. Do not bring oversized novelty floats without checking the current rule.

Pack for the trip back

Dry clothes, a towel, and vehicle-safe water belong at the return point when possible. Confirm where belongings can be stored and how the group returns from the takeout.

Do not leave valuables visible in a parked vehicle. Follow parking and provider instructions.

What not to bring

Do not bring glass or foam containers. Avoid loose trash, unnecessary electronics, expensive jewelry, and anything the group cannot secure.

Check the official list for prohibited container sizes and devices. Rules apply even when an item was allowed elsewhere.

Family packing considerations

Match equipment to the youngest or least experienced participant. Confirm child life-jacket requirements, route suitability, and current flow with official sources or the provider.

Bring simple comfort items for after the float, but keep river gear limited and secure. Direct adult supervision remains necessary.

Weather and condition checks

Check the National Weather Service forecast, city river information, and the relevant USGS gauge. A packing list cannot make unsafe conditions appropriate.

Postpone when officials close access or advise against entry. Recent rainfall and upstream conditions may matter even when the local sky looks clear.

A final vehicle-side checklist

Before leaving the vehicle, confirm permitted water, sun protection, secure footwear, fitted safety equipment, protected keys, access instructions, takeout, and return transportation.

Read the tubing rules guide and compare routes in the Comal vs Guadalupe guide.

More packing questions

Can you bring a phone tubing?

You can choose to bring one, but it should be protected and secured. The safest practical choice is to bring only essential electronics.

Should you bring a towel on the river?

Keep a towel with dry clothes at the return point when possible. A loose towel on the tube can become wet or lost.

Can you wear flip-flops tubing?

Use footwear that stays secure during entry, exit, and current. Check provider guidance for the route.

Do you need cash?

Payment methods vary by provider, parking system, and date. Check directly and protect any necessary payment method from water.

Separate required items from optional comfort items

Official rules determine what is required or prohibited. Water, sun protection, secure footwear, and protected essentials are practical recommendations. A specific bag, speaker, camera, or accessory is optional and may create more gear to secure.

Do not describe a commercial product as necessary without an official requirement. Choose simple equipment that fits the rules and the group’s ability.

Ask the outfitter what is supplied. A rental may include the tube, shuttle, or other equipment, but the exact package and price must be confirmed directly.

Prevent river litter

Every item that enters the river should leave with the group. Secure permitted containers and keep loose packaging out of the float plan.

Use designated trash and recycling locations. Do not place an item in the water because it appears biodegradable or disposable.

River rules protect public waterways and reduce hazards for other users. Following the container and cooler limits is part of preparing for the trip, not an optional cleanup step.

Recheck the list at the access point

Conditions or provider instructions may change after the group packs. Read posted rules, ask questions, and remove a prohibited item before entry.

Confirm the takeout and return one more time. The correct gear cannot fix an unclear transportation plan.

After the float

Account for wet clothing, changing, hydration, equipment return, and the walk or shuttle back to the vehicle. Keep dry items where the provider says they can be stored securely.

Check every tube and cooler for personal belongings before returning equipment. Dispose of trash in the proper location and leave the access and takeout areas clear.

Recheck everyone in the group before driving. Heat, sun, and exertion can affect how a person feels after leaving the water. Seek appropriate help for any medical concern.