What to Wear on a Sedona Jeep Tour

The basics

Sneakers or hiking boots with closed toes are the footwear standard, because stops include short walks on uneven terrain with slightly steep climbs. Jeans or outdoor pants work on the seat better than shorts on longer, bumpier routes. Bring a water bottle and a camera or cell phone, both of which operators recommend. A wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen and sunglasses round out the kit.

One small swap: if you wear contact lenses, consider eyeglasses for the ride, since dust in an open vehicle can irritate the eyes.

What not to wear

Operators only spell out what to wear, so the don'ts come from common sense on an open, dusty, bouncy vehicle. Skip sandals and flip flops, since toes are exposed on climbs over rock. Skip loose scarves and flowing fabrics that whip around in the wind.

Skip white clothes if dust bothers you, and skip delicate lenses, since contact wearers are advised to prefer eyeglasses. Leave jewellery that can catch on seat frames at your accommodation.

Outfit by season

Spring is peak tourist season, so book your tour several months in advance and pack for mild days with a light jacket for early departures. Summer demands sun defence above all. Fall is the easiest season to dress for.

Winter mornings on an open seat are genuinely cold, so fleece, beanie and gloves earn their space.

Cold mornings and early starts

Temperatures can be noticeably colder in the early hours or at night, so a first-light departure needs the winter kit even in mild months. If your route heads toward higher country, expect it to run 10 to 15 degrees colder than Sedona. That difference decides whether the extra layer goes on your body or stays in the backpack.

Match your shoes to the route rating

Tour operators rate routes on a scale from Paved to Rugged terrain. On a paved or mild scenic route, any comfortable sneaker handles the picture stops. On a rugged route such as the Broken Arrow style trails with rocky rough climbs, closed-toe shoes with grip pay off, and hiking boots add confidence on the steeper sections.

Check the terrain rating before you book and dress to that rating rather than to a generic list.

Protect your gear

Carry your phone in a zipped pocket or a closed bag while the wheels are turning, and take it out only at stops. A sealed plastic bag costs nothing and keeps fine dust out of charging ports. Wipe lenses, screens and sunglass lenses with a damp cloth back at your accommodation. Pack a spare shirt if dust on clothes bothers you.

Eyewear deserves a mention too. Contact lens wearers are advised to switch to eyeglasses for the ride, because dust in open vehicles irritates the eyes. Sunglasses double as dust shields for the walk-around stops.

Checklist

Tick these off before you leave your accommodation:

- Closed-toe sneakers or hiking boots - Comfortable outdoor clothing in layers - Light or insulated jacket, per season - Wide-brimmed hat or sun hat - Sunglasses or eyeglasses instead of contacts - Sunscreen, high SPF in summer - Refillable water bottle - Camera or cell phone, in a zipped pocket or bag - Small backpack, room is provided on the jeep - Rain layer or trust the ponchos carried on every vehicle

Leave behind sandals, loose scarves and jewellery that can catch.

Dressing for a wet ride

A light rain layer over your usual outfit is enough, since the poncho covers the rest. Closed-toe shoes matter more in the wet, because the short walks at stops run over slick rock and uneven ground. Keep your phone and camera in a zipped or sealed bag, and bring the layer you would wear on a cold morning, since wind plus rain on an open seat gets cold fast at any time of year.

Two Pink Jeep routes compared

The Scenic Rim Pink Jeep Tour runs 2.5 hours along the rim, so standard layers and sneakers cover it. The Red Rock Range Pink Jeep Tour is a 2 hour ride, shorter and easier to dress for with a single warm layer. Book either with free cancellation 24 hours ahead, then dress to the season table above.