Review: NRS Un-Pin Kit

When I consider the required safety equipment for a day on the water, I think of my un-pin kit kind of like a spare tire: I don't expect to use it, but it would be foolish to leave home without it. So too with the NRS Un-Pin Kit ($400), which packs all the essential tools for a mechanical-advantage rescue into a compact package that fits easily in a kayak or canoe and stays out of the way until the moment you need it.

What stands out most is the quality of the components. Every piece comes from companies and systems that have earned their reputation on rivers around the world. When things have gone sideways and you're relying on Plan B, there is comfort in knowing every pulley, carabiner, and length of rope has been selected with rescue applications in mind. There is no guessing whether your gear will hold up when the situation becomes serious.

At its price point, the Un-Pin Kit represents one of the easiest safety investments a paddler can make. Like a first-aid kit, spare paddle, or throw rope, you hope it spends its entire life sitting unused in your boat. But if the day comes when you need it, you'll be glad it's there. Available at NRS.com.