Everything you need to know to properly prepare your canyoning outfit and equipment
You are planning a canyoning outing and you wonder what equipment et what outfit you must provide ? You are right, because to take full advantage of this whitewater activity, it is essential to be good team. The canyon descent takes you on changing and varied terrains. Between steps in the forest then on the rock, climbing, abseiling, white water swimming et jumps, your canyoning equipment and your outfit must be adapted to all the obstacles encountered. For a optimal security, we recommend that you be accompanied by a certified canyoning guide. Three types of material are to be expected: what you need to bring, the individual equipment provided to you, and the canyoning equipment for the group, managed by the guide. At the house of Exterior Nature, we are guides of canyoning in the Pyrénées-Orientales (66) Since 2007, we explain everything to you:
Outfit and equipment for canyoning: what you need to bring
A swimsuit and a lycra top
Of course, the swimsuit is essential. Don't forget that you are going to swim in torrents… We also advise you to bring a well-fitting lycra. During the approach and return walks, it is often very hot. You will therefore only put on the lower part of the suit, the one that covers the legs up to the waist. A lycra top will protect you from the sun. Then, worn under the suit, it will provide good protection against chafing and irritation due to the neoprene.
Adapted shoes
There are both special shoes for canyoning, but if you do not practice this sport on a regular basis, they are not essential. For occasional outings, sneakers or hiking type sports shoes do the job very well. Be careful, however, to check that the soles are not smooth. Shoes grippy and non-slip are strongly recommended, because you will be moving on rocks polished by the waterways, which can be very slippery!
water and food
If you are planning a canyoning day trip, you will need to bringwater and food. For obvious reasons of convenience, your picnic should not be too bulky or too heavy. Think you'll have to carry it from the start to the end of the canyon...
For canyoning outings of a few hours or half a day, just bring a bottle of water and a snack that you will taste when you return from the activity. Don't forget to eat well for breakfast and drink water before heading into the canyon! And don't worry, your guide will also take a bottle of water in his bag.
A towel and dry clothes
Plan a bath towel and clothing for the return. After spending the day in very cold water, you will be happy to find yourself dry!
That's all you need to plan! And if you call on Exterior Nature for your canyoning outing in the Pyrénées-Orientales, remember to bring a USB key. You will be able to recover all the photos of your day for free. Nice, right?
Individual canyoning equipment: what your guide provides
Your guide will meet you near the canyon and give you all the necessary canyoning equipment:
A full neoprene wetsuit
It is a suit similar to those used for diving, but it is stronger and more flexible, for better freedom of movement. The suits we provide are 5 millimeters thick.
La neoprene wetsuit is the essential canyoning equipment for three reasons:
- It helps prevent hypothermia. As you can imagine, the water in rivers and streams can be very cold! It all depends on the altitude and the season, of course. In the Pyrénées-Orientales, the water temperature of the canyons varies between 15 degrees in winter or at altitude, and 25 degrees in summer. The neoprene wetsuit allows the entry of a millimetric layer of water that the body heats instantly and which insulates from the cold. It must be adjusted, so as not to renew the continuous inlets and outlets of cold water.
- It provides impact protection. Reinforced at the knees, elbows and buttocks, the canyoning suit protects against shocks. Because in this wild and mineral environment, you are likely to bump into the rocks...
- It helps to float. Thanks to the neoprene suit, you come back to the surface more quickly after the jumps and you easily maintain yourself in a floating position.
neoprene socks
For cold canyons or outside the summer period, it is recommended to protect your feet from the cold with neoprene socks. At Exterior Nature, we provide you with socks at the beginning of the season, when the water is very cold, and in summer for cool canyons like the Llech.
A helmet suitable for canyoning
Le helmet is essential to protect yourself from falling rocks and pebbles, which are not uncommon when practicing canyoning. It is also very useful equipment to protect your head in the event of slipping or loss of balance, which can lead to falls on the rock.
The helmets we supply for canyoning are similar to those used for rock climbing, but they are designed to dry faster. However, a climbing helmet does the job just fine. We strongly advise against all other helmets, such as those for cycling, which are not suitable and do not provide optimal protection.
A canyoning harness
Who says abseiling, passages on handrails and ascents on rope, says harness ! The canyoning harness resemble those for climbing, but are fitted with a plastic skirt, tarpaulin type, to protect the suit from rubbing on the rock. The anchor point is higher and reinforced, allowing you to stay upright when suspended.
Of course, the harness is equipped with a “eight” type descender and carabiners.
Important information: the harness and the helmet are considered as PPE: Personal Protective Equipment. As such, they are subject to European standards and must bear the CE mark. They are also subject to regular checks by the competent authorities. Remember to check these points with your guide!
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Canyoning equipment: the equipment carried by your guide
For the whole group, your guide takes (and carries himself) all the equipment necessary for the activity:
One or more semi-static canyoning rope(s)
Used for abseiling and handrails, those are ropes manufactured in a special material which allows to be in continuous tension, without risk of breakage. These ropes are often brightly colored, to be clearly visible in the foam of the waterfalls.
According to canyoning safety rules, your guide always carries a length of rope measuring at least three times the highest waterfall of the exit, in one or two ropes.
Canyoning-specific equipment
The professional canyoning guide never leaves without the appropriate equipment, to supervise the exit, but also in case of loss. Among the materials needed are lanyards, descenders (eight), safety carabiners, a knife, shunts (ascenders) and all the equipment to re-equip an abseil.
A canyoning backpack
Le canyoning backpack has three essential characteristics:
- It is made with a very strong material, tarpaulin-type plastic, resistant to shocks, falls and friction, without any straps or buckles that could catch on rocks or branches.
- He's perforated in several places so that the water can drain away and it is not too heavy.
- He's waterproof and it floats, thanks to a container that is inside, and is used to store everything that should not get wet: phones, keys, first aid kit, food, water, etc.
Outside Nature: canyoning outings in the Pyrénées-Orientales with top-notch equipment!
Since 2007, professional guides d’Extérieur Nature offer outings in the most beautiful canyons of the Pyrénées-Orientales. Your security and your comfort are our priorities. We only supply specific equipment adapted to canyoning. We check and control all the equipment daily: suits, helmets, harnesses, carabiners, descenders, ropes, etc.
Passionate about white water sports and nature, we take you safely to discover the magnificent gorges and wild landscapes of the Perpignan region. For more information contact us !
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