Expert Advice: Learn Articles, Tips & How-To’s

Search our extensive collection of how-to articles and videos to help you safely raft, kayak, SUP, camp, fish and care for your NRS gear and apparel.

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5 MIN

Modular Frame Facts 101

The NRS modular frame system is a marvel of simplicity and strength. This visual guide walks you through the step-by-step process of assembly.

  • Rafting
  • Gear
7 MIN

Durable Water Repellent (DWR) and Paddlesports Dry Wear

Learn how Durable Water Repellent (DWR) works to keep you dry and comfortable in your paddlesports outerwear, dry wear and dry suits. Understand DWR's environmental impacts and how to care and reapply DWR as necessary.

  • Repair
  • Apparel
2 MIN

What is Drop Stitch?

Discover how drop-stitch construction works, why it delivers hard-shell performance in inflatable gear and what it means for durability and transportability.

  • Rafting
  • Stand-Up Paddling
  • Gear
5:26

The Making of Cataract Oars

Learn how a company that makes guided missile parts, armor piercing projectiles and parts for advanced aircraft got into making carbon fiber oars for rafting.

  • Rafting
2 MIN

Werner Construction & Design

Learn how Werner designs and builds their kayak paddles. Swing weight, straight or bent shaft, dihedral? We explain so you can feel confident in your purchase.

  • Whitewater Kayaking
  • Kayak Touring
  • Gear
2 MIN

The Iconic Bill’s Bag Dry Bag: A History

Read the story of how our iconic waterproof NRS Bill’s Bag came into existence, directly from the legend himself: Mr. Bill Parks.

  • Rafting
  • Camping
21 MIN

Treating Backcountry Water: How to Filter and Purify for Safe Drinking

Learn how to safeguard your body on trail: from protozoa and bacteria in backcountry water to effective filtration, purification and hygiene methods that keep you healthy outdoors.

  • How To
  • Rafting
  • Camping
  • Safety
4 MIN

The Fine Nine

Preparing yourself to prevent or recover from on-the-water emergencies.

  • Rafting
  • Whitewater Kayaking
  • Safety
5 MIN

Sea Kayak Safety: Pre-Trip Tips for Touring Kayakers

Sea Kayak Safety Starts at Home: Pre-Trip Tips for Touring Kayakers

  • Kayak Touring
  • Safety
6 MIN

River & Rapid Difficulty Ratings

You will encounter two different class rating systems for rivers and their rapids. Learn how these systems differ and where they're most commonly used.

  • Rafting
  • Whitewater Kayaking
  • Kayak Touring
  • Stand-Up Paddling
  • Safety
9 MIN

Riding the Flood

The dangers of high water boating and how to avoid them.

  • Rafting
  • Whitewater Kayaking
  • Kayak Touring
  • Stand-Up Paddling
  • Safety
2 MIN

Rescue PFDs Aren’t For Everyone

Learn about the specialized features of rescue life jackets and PFDs, as well as when they should—and shouldn't—be used.

  • Safety
  • Rescue
  • Gear
6 MIN

Rafting Put-in Safety Talk

The basics of a good put-in safety orientation for rafters.

  • Rafting
  • Whitewater Kayaking
  • Safety
7 MIN

How to Prepare for Medical Emergencies When Boating

Learn how to prepare for medical emergencies when boating, kayaking, or rafting when embarking on journeys that take you outside the 911 system.

  • How To
  • Safety
3 MIN

Life Jackets: Your Second Most Important Safety Item

Lets talk about the second most important safety item you should have on when you go boating. Thats your life jacket, or Personal Flotation Device (PFD).

  • Safety
  • Gear
6 MIN

How Sun Protection Works

Details on how sunscreens work and how they are tested.

  • Apparel
  • Camping
4 MIN

High-Water Safety Guidelines

High water can dramatically change rivers and requires that we redouble our ongoing emphasis on safety. Learn more about the guidelines of high-water safety.

  • Rafting
  • Safety
6 MIN

Nutrition: Fueling the Fires Within

Learn the nutrition and hydration dos and donts to help you stay warm and safe as the weather and water get cold.

  • Rafting
  • Whitewater Kayaking
  • Kayak Touring
  • Camping
11 MIN

Backcountry Food Handling and Hygiene

Learn how to properly deal with food handling, hygiene, and cleanup while on backcountry or river trips.

  • How To
  • Camping
5 MIN

Drys Suits Don't Make You Bulletproof

Your dry suit is only one piece of your boating safety system.

  • Apparel
  • Safety
13 MIN

Understanding Dry Drowning and How It Affects Paddlers

Learn what “dry drowning” or laryngospasm really is, how it can occur during paddling or swimming, and why staying calm and wearing a proper PFD can make all the difference.

  • Safety
5 MIN

Boating Safety for Dogs

Learn the proper techniques for safety bringing your dog on the water or next river trip. And don't forget the dog life jacket!

  • Rafting
  • Safety
  • Gear
10:34

That Time Mike Almost Drowned

Flush drowning is a real hazard, even when paddling with a well-trained, close-knit group. Learn lessons from this video to avoid a fatal outcome.

  • Whitewater Kayaking
  • Safety
1 MIN

Wetsuit Repair and Care

Learn how to properly clean, repair, and care for your neoprene apparel and wetsuits.

  • Repair
  • Apparel
1 MIN

Summit Valve Identification

Identify the Difference between a Summit 1 and a Summit 2 Valve.

  • Repair
  • Rafting
  • Whitewater Kayaking
  • Kayak Touring
  • Stand-Up Paddling
2 MIN

Instructions: Stabond Adhesive

Learn to patch tears or holes in your PVC rafts or catarafts. hypalon repair, punctured raft repair, and neoprene gasket repair.

  • Repair
  • Rafting
  • Whitewater Kayaking
  • Kayak Touring
  • Stand-Up Paddling
1 MIN

Gear Aid Aquaseal+NEO Contact Cement

Learn how to properly use and handle Gear Aid (formerly McNett) Seal Cement Adhesive, an industrial-strength neoprene cement.

  • Repair
  • Apparel
1 MIN

Military Valves

Information about the different types of Military valves.

  • Repair
  • Rafting
1 MIN

Leafield Valves

Information about the different types of Leafield valves.

  • Repair
  • Rafting
5 MIN

Hypalon Repair Instruction

Learn how to make repairs to your Hypalon raft, cataraft tubes, or your Hypalon raft floors with these detailed step-by-step instructions.

  • Repair
  • Rafting
  • Kayak Touring
1 MIN

Halkey-Roberts Valve Types

Information about the different types of Halkey-Roberts valves.

  • Repair
  • Rafting
  • Kayak Touring
  • Stand-Up Paddling
1 MIN

Latex Gasket Sizing Chart

Get to know the specific measurements of NRS’s range of neck, wrist, and dry sock latex gaskets and which sizes we use on our dry wear apparel.

  • Repair
  • Apparel
  • Gear
2 MIN

Clifton Urethane Adhesive Gluing Instructions

Learn to fix a tear or hole in your PVC raft or cataraft with these Clifton Urethane Adhesive Gluing Instructions.

  • Repair
  • Rafting
  • Kayak Touring
  • Stand-Up Paddling
3 MIN

Clifton Hypalon Adhesive Gluing Instructions

Learn to patch or add d-rings, footcups, or carry handles to your Hypalon raft with Clifton Hypalon Adhesive Gluing Instructions.

  • Repair
  • Rafting
2 MIN

Usage Guide for Clifton Accelerator

Adding Clifton Accelerator to Clifton Hypalon Adhesive gives maximum strength for repairs, increases heat and chemical resistance, and shortens bonding time.

  • Repair
  • Rafting
1 MIN

Inflatable Boat Material & Valve Reference Chart

Reference chart used to determine the correct material, glue and valves to use when repairing a boat from a specific manufacturer.

  • Repair
  • Rafting
  • Kayak Touring
  • Stand-Up Paddling