NRS

NRS in South Africa

NRS stands for Northwest River Supplies. The company says it was started in 1972 by Bill Parks, a business professor and river runner, with $2,000 of savings and a garage full of boating gear. It's still based in Moscow, Idaho, where it designs its products in-house, and it describes itself as owned by its employees. The brand also makes rafts, kayaking gear and paddling clothing; what we list is its rescue, safety and rigging kit, plus one bag that divers take to straight away.

Throw bags and bow lines

A throw bag is the first piece of rescue kit on any boat that works near moving water or a current line. The Standard Rescue Throw Bag carries 23 m of 9.5 mm floating line, the thicker rope that's easier to grip and haul. The Compact Rescue Throw Bag holds 21.3 m of 6 mm line in a smaller, lighter bag that fits behind a kayak seat or in a dive boat's dry box. The Guardian Wedge Waist Throw Bag rides on the hips with 16.8 m of line, for a skipper or guide who wants it on the body rather than in a locker. NRS is clear that a rescue bag isn't a mooring line, which is why the Bow Line Bag 15 m exists: 15.2 m of 9.5 mm rope for tying a boat to shore, so the throw bag stays packed for its real job.

Rescue PFD, tether, hardware and knife

The Rapid Rescuer PFD is a rescue life jacket with a quick-release rescue belt, built for swiftwater technicians. Pair it with the Tow Tether with Carabiner 135 cm, a bungeed cow tail that clips to that belt for towing a swamped boat or a tired swimmer. For hardware, the Sliq Screw Lock Carabiner is the light one at 54 g, and the Nuq Screw Lock Carabiner is the full-size frame with a wider 22 mm gate that's easier in gloves. The Pilot Access Folding Knife has a blunt tip and serrations for cutting rope and webbing. See the full water rescue range.

Helmets, gloves and footwear

The WRSI Current Helmet is the sized helmet with a retention system that draws it tighter when current pulls on it, and it meets CE EN 1385. The Havoc Livery Helmet uses a dial to fit heads from 55 to 59 cm, which suits a club or training course sharing one set. The Workboot Wetshoe gives a lugged, non-marking sole and 5 mm neoprene for walking on wet rock and slipways, and the Utility Gloves are 2 mm neoprene with reinforced palms for rope work in cool water.

Straps, webbing and a bag for wet kit

The Buckle Bumper Straps (Pair) wrap the cam buckle in a guard so it doesn't mark a car roof or a hull, handy for kayaks or cylinder crates on the drive to a dive site. Webbing 25 mm per Metre is cut to length for cylinder lashings, grab loops and tie-downs. For divers, the Purest Mesh Duffel Bag 60 L is the easy choice: a mesh upper lets a wet wetsuit breathe on the way home, with a separate end pocket for dry clothes. More bags sit in dive bags and cases.