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Pants can become waterlogged and make it more difficult to cross without getting swept away in the current. You also don't want to have soaked boots after you cross, so change into a spare set of shoes or sandals before you cross.  You also don't want to walk around in wet clothes because you can get hypothermia. Change into a spare pair of clothes so you can change back once you reach the other side of the river. The spare shoes should still fit snugly so they don't come off or trip you up while you're crossing. Unbuckle your hip belt and loosen the straps keeping your gear attached to you. If you fall, you need to be able to remove your gear before it fills up with water and drags you downstream in the current. No gear or equipment is worth risking your life over. A trekking pole or a sturdy stick about 5–6 feet (1.5–1.8 m) long can help increase your balance and provide another point of contact with the river bottom to help you cross the river more easily.
Change into shorts and spare sandals or shoes. Loosen your backpack and gear before you cross. Use a trekking pole or a sturdy stick for stability.