Gear to Assemble Your River Kitchen

At an America Outdoors conference, a raft outfitter told us that when he started, he didn’t realize he was really starting a floating catering company. Feeding hundreds or thousands of clients a season means the guide’s kitchen matters as much as the menu. These picks are aimed at float trips but carry over to horse packing and car camping.

Food prep and storage

Ammo cans are the rafting staple: animal-proof, generally leak-proof, and odor-containing. For coolers and dry boxes, pick sizes that fit your rig’s seating and storage; our Montana crew switched to Permafrost coolers, and Colorado Kayak Supply recommends the Downriver kitchen box. A vacuum sealer is optional but keeps food fresh for weeks.

Cookware

Steel pots handle daily abuse, but cast iron is more forgiving and heats more evenly when weight allows. A dutch oven is non-negotiable for river trips; the Partner Steel hard-anodized 12-inch model has a lid that doubles as a griddle. For stoves, small trips suit a small stove, while longer trips with bigger groups justify Partner Steel’s heavy-duty units. Pete Wallstrom at Momentum River Expeditions likes the lighter Woodland Power Stove from NRS.

Table setup

You will never have enough table. Camptime roll tables are sturdy, cheap, and pack small. The Downriver standard table doubles as a seat and fastens to most rowing frames. A kitchen floor is a must (Downriver’s, or a CGear sand-free mat), and a tarp or sunshade like the NRS River Wing or Kelty Noah’s Tarp saves the day when weather turns.

Clean up

The three- or four-bucket system is now standard: slop bucket for scraps, hot soapy wash, rinse, and an optional bleach sanitizing rinse. Galvanized steel buckets last; collapsible ones pack better. Jack’s Plastic Welding makes a collapsible bucket that makes hauling cleanup water easy, and a Downriver dish-drying bag keeps clean dishes from blowing into the river.

Don’t forget

Cooking implements, a hand-washing station, a plan for leftovers and trash, and biodegradable soap. Happy catering.