Best and Cheapest Gear

The best and cheapest river gear is arguably NRS. NRS or Northwestern River Supply is widely considered to have the biggest and widest selection of anything to do with river sports. They have even received the nickname "The Walmart of river sports" by many. Started over 40 years ago, NRS specializes in Whitewater gear but also offers a wide selection of other outdoor items you may need too.

Anything from whitewater rafts to hats and sunglasses, they have it all. NRS' closest rival is River Sports Outfitters, but they do not have the selection NRS has.  One of the downfalls of NRS gear is the quality. NRS gear has the tendency to be cheap and usually made in China, but it holds up to moderate use and is adequate for most things.

 NRS is primarily an online mail order company because of the remote locations of most of their customers, but they do have a large warehouse type store and showroom in the state of Washington. They also offer excellent sales and some of the best pro-deals in the nation for anyone working in the industry (guides, outfitters, or even pro kayakers). Overall they are a great company and a place where I will be shopping for all my river needs for years to come.