Glad I found your channel. I just bought the NRS Co-pilot so I'd have a knife I could get to on my PFD when paddle boarding or kayaking, just in case. I'm not doing WW, just moseying around recreationally. But my women's style PFD doesn't have the center pocket so I was going to mount it on that strap by my shoulder. I'd rather not slice my neck open in an emergency. I'm looking at the Gerber now, because I could tuck it in the pocket.
You have convinced me. I already have an old Spyderco Rescue inside my pocket but will be removing the NRS cream cheese knife from the outside before the next trip. The bottle opener has always bothered me since we shouldn't have glass on the river anyway.
You are the guy I watch for these kinds of reviews. Especially with rescue knives, nobody else does such a straight up comparison of so many knives. I bought the Gerber knife after your first review of it, and it has served well on vests where I have big pockets. I use the longer NRS knife on vests where it will not be in the way, with small pockets.
I use a stubby NRS and love it but I did personally sharpen it myself which helped a bunch. Love seeing more reviews and not just river running footage! Even if some of it is repeat content, a lot changes over a few years. Thanks for your honest reviews!
Thanks for the video Zach. I have a Stohlquist River Rsecue knife and I had no idea how bad it cut... First problem I had was the bracket to attach to a pfd broke after it got snagged on something (light pull...). The company didnt do anything to remedy the issue. I just bought the Byrd cara cara 2 and I am really impressed. Sharp, takes up less room in pfd and can be easily opened with either right or left hand.
Ok Zach.... after a couple years of being told to run knives on the inside of my vest by you and others, I think I'm going to move my NRS co-pilot to my vehicle as a general "open bottles, break windows, etc" knife and take it off the shoulder strap of my blue-jacket. Ever since my first WW trip as a young boy scout, I thought the external NRS knives on PFDs were cool....now I'm realizing they are mostly just "tacti-cool"...and as you point out, they clearly aren't the best at one of their core uses, cutting rope! I will finally be switching to a folding knife that I run inside my clamshell.... you've officially converted me. Now to figure out which one.....
I think it would be good to have a couple of tests where you're trying to cut rope that is under tension. I cut a rope a couple of weeks ago on the left of Bedrock, and pretty much a single swipe snapped that rope very quickly. Good update!
Thanks for these tests. Have you tried the Edelrid canyoning knife? Somewhat similar to the bear claw but more easily available in Europe. I think I would prefer the handle on the bear claw, but it would we interesting to see how they compare in cutting performance. Then there is also the palm rescue knife. Looks quite cheap but might be good enough? Also, what do you think about hook designs, such as the Benchmade 10 rescue hook? Should be safer on the lapel, maybe in addition to a folder in the pocket?
I love the spyderco assist. the last 1/4 is not serrated, but it still cuts through dirty rope on one pull. IMO the advantage is that the point is totally blunt, with no sharp tip. Good for safety when cutting in close quarters, and protects rafts from any accidental punctures. I popped a boat with a knife tip performing a floor rope repair - won’t happen with the Assist.
Would you ever consider a tether on the knife? I have a 6" bungie tether from internal PFD to my folding knife so reduces chances of not loosing it (dropping), and of cause the tether can always be cut by the knife if it hinders
A sharp knife. ..the nrs one needs a reshape. It needs a small positive curve (hook) and a hand sharpened edge. All on the knifes you have tested could be sharpened. (Edge shaped) to cut way better.. .
What if you dont have a clamshell pocket like in the nrs big water pfd? Accessing your internal knife would be limited just like placing an external knife on one side of your body.
When I use the NRS Big Water PFD I do the best I can by putting the knife in one of the pockets and nothing else in that pocket. I don't love the location of the knife tab on that PFD.
Awesome. I’ve always carried two knives. Fixed blade externally (rescue knife) and a folder in the pfd pocket. The rescue knife is never used for anything other than rescue, ever, for any reason. The folder is used for everything other than rescue. The rescue knife then stays perfectly scary sharp, the sheath stays tight and it lives a rather boring life (hopefully) waiting for its moment. I’m a spyderco guy like yourself and the enuff and Atlantic salt that you already have would be a killer combo.
Glad I found your channel. I just bought the NRS Co-pilot so I'd have a knife I could get to on my PFD when paddle boarding or kayaking, just in case. I'm not doing WW, just moseying around recreationally. But my women's style PFD doesn't have the center pocket so I was going to mount it on that strap by my shoulder. I'd rather not slice my neck open in an emergency. I'm looking at the Gerber now, because I could tuck it in the pocket.
Good idea
You have convinced me. I already have an old Spyderco Rescue inside my pocket but will be removing the NRS cream cheese knife from the outside before the next trip. The bottle opener has always bothered me since we shouldn't have glass on the river anyway.
You are the guy I watch for these kinds of reviews. Especially with rescue knives, nobody else does such a straight up comparison of so many knives. I bought the Gerber knife after your first review of it, and it has served well on vests where I have big pockets. I use the longer NRS knife on vests where it will not be in the way, with small pockets.
I thank you. I use the NRS because that’s what have. Sometimes gets clumsy as you describe.🤙
I use a stubby NRS and love it but I did personally sharpen it myself which helped a bunch.
Love seeing more reviews and not just river running footage! Even if some of it is repeat content, a lot changes over a few years. Thanks for your honest reviews!
Thanks for the video Zach. I have a Stohlquist River Rsecue knife and I had no idea how bad it cut... First problem I had was the bracket to attach to a pfd broke after it got snagged on something (light pull...). The company didnt do anything to remedy the issue. I just bought the Byrd cara cara 2 and I am really impressed. Sharp, takes up less room in pfd and can be easily opened with either right or left hand.
Yep the Cara Cara 2 is a really nice knife
Ok Zach.... after a couple years of being told to run knives on the inside of my vest by you and others, I think I'm going to move my NRS co-pilot to my vehicle as a general "open bottles, break windows, etc" knife and take it off the shoulder strap of my blue-jacket. Ever since my first WW trip as a young boy scout, I thought the external NRS knives on PFDs were cool....now I'm realizing they are mostly just "tacti-cool"...and as you point out, they clearly aren't the best at one of their core uses, cutting rope! I will finally be switching to a folding knife that I run inside my clamshell.... you've officially converted me. Now to figure out which one.....
Awesome
I think it would be good to have a couple of tests where you're trying to cut rope that is under tension. I cut a rope a couple of weeks ago on the left of Bedrock, and pretty much a single swipe snapped that rope very quickly. Good update!
Great points. I use a spydico on m’y pfd and a gerber river shorty external. Cuts much better than a NRS
I am of the same opinion and use the same setup. Spyderco serrated knife for the win!
Yep!
Thanks for these tests. Have you tried the Edelrid canyoning knife? Somewhat similar to the bear claw but more easily available in Europe. I think I would prefer the handle on the bear claw, but it would we interesting to see how they compare in cutting performance. Then there is also the palm rescue knife. Looks quite cheap but might be good enough?
Also, what do you think about hook designs, such as the Benchmade 10 rescue hook? Should be safer on the lapel, maybe in addition to a folder in the pocket?
I love the spyderco assist. the last 1/4 is not serrated, but it still cuts through dirty rope on one pull. IMO the advantage is that the point is totally blunt, with no sharp tip. Good for safety when cutting in close quarters, and protects rafts from any accidental punctures. I popped a boat with a knife tip performing a floor rope repair - won’t happen with the Assist.
Yes that is a bad ass knife
Check out the gill marine tool. It a folding knife with a cool half moon non snag serration. Its cheap but neat.
I had an NRS catch on a perimeter line. I couldn't figure out that I was stuck, so wound up breaking it off the vest and lost the knife in the river.
Would you ever consider a tether on the knife? I have a 6" bungie tether from internal PFD to my folding knife so reduces chances of not loosing it (dropping), and of cause the tether can always be cut by the knife if it hinders
I’m not going to use a tether but if it works for you I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad idea
I agree with all of this Zach. I would only add that the Gerber knife isn't reversible, and feels funky for a lefty.
Then get a Sypderco
@@GearGarageTV I have 3
A sharp knife. ..the nrs one needs a reshape. It needs a small positive curve (hook) and a hand sharpened edge.
All on the knifes you have tested could be sharpened. (Edge shaped) to cut way better.. .
What if you dont have a clamshell pocket like in the nrs big water pfd? Accessing your internal knife would be limited just like placing an external knife on one side of your body.
When I use the NRS Big Water PFD I do the best I can by putting the knife in one of the pockets and nothing else in that pocket. I don't love the location of the knife tab on that PFD.
The new version has a pocket on the shoulder for knives.
Check out the spyderco enuff salt.
That looks sweet. I just ordered one to test it out.
Awesome. I’ve always carried two knives. Fixed blade externally (rescue knife) and a folder in the pfd pocket. The rescue knife is never used for anything other than rescue, ever, for any reason. The folder is used for everything other than rescue. The rescue knife then stays perfectly scary sharp, the sheath stays tight and it lives a rather boring life (hopefully) waiting for its moment. I’m a spyderco guy like yourself and the enuff and Atlantic salt that you already have would be a killer combo.
NRS knives are garbage. there is definitely a trend of rescue specialist stowing knives internally. and i 100% agree with this practice
Yep