A Core Self-Rescue Kit for Touring and Sea Kayaks
The NRS Basic Touring Safety Kit brings together four specific pieces of kit a touring or sea-kayak paddler reaches for after a capsize: a Fox 40 Epik Whistle, an NRS paddle float, an NRS bilge pump and an NRS Deluxe Boat Sponge. It's built for sit-inside touring and sea kayaks, where a paddle float can assist an unassisted re-entry and a manual pump can clear water from the cockpit afterwards — a matched setup for a paddler who already owns a boat and buoyancy aid and wants their core self-rescue kit sorted in one purchase, not a full expedition safety pack.
What's Inside
- Fox 40 Epik Whistle — pea-less design for reliable use in wet conditions, with a cushioned mouth grip and breakaway lanyard.
- NRS Paddle Float — two separate air chambers, 7 litres each, that slide over a paddle blade to create a temporary outrigger for self-rescue.
- NRS Bilge Pump — a floating manual pump rated at 30 litres per minute, for clearing water from the cockpit after a capsize or re-entry.
- NRS Deluxe Boat Sponge — mops up the residual water, sand and silt a pump can't reach.
How the Paddle Float and Pump Work Together
After a capsize, the paddle float inflates onto one end of your paddle, giving you something stable to lean or press against as you climb back aboard. Once you're back in, the bilge pump clears the bulk of the water NRS rates it to move 30 litres a minute, though the real time depends on your kayak, the sea state and how much water is in it, and the sponge finishes the job. A paddle float supports self-rescue, but it doesn't replace knowing and practising the technique: RNLI and Paddle UK safety guidance both advise learning and practising re-entry skills before you need them for real.
Who It's For — and What It Isn't
This kit suits a new touring-kayak owner setting up their boat, a paddler moving from sheltered water into longer lake or coastal trips, or a club or course member who needs the standard four components in one order. It is not a substitute for a correctly fitted and worn buoyancy aid, suitable clothing, weather and tide planning, or a means of calling for help — Paddle UK's Paddlesafer guidance treats each of these as a separate, non-negotiable basic, not something a safety kit replaces. It's also not intended as a whitewater, surf or moving-water rescue kit, a first-aid kit, or a safety solution for SUP or inflatable craft.
Specification
The paddle float's two chambers each displace 7 litres — a backup if one chamber is punctured or under-inflates, not a stated weight or buoyancy-capacity rating. The bilge pump is rated at 30 litres per minute. Total kit weight is around 850g.
Ordering
Browse the wider Rescue Kit range or the full NRS range to build out your touring safety setup, and check our delivery information page for current shipping options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in the NRS Basic Touring Safety Kit?
The kit contains four items: a Fox 40 Epik Whistle, an NRS paddle float, an NRS bilge pump and an NRS Deluxe Boat Sponge. It does not include a paddle leash, deck bag or extra signalling device — those are part of the separate NRS Deluxe Touring Safety Kit.
How does a paddle float help with kayak re-entry?
The paddle float inflates onto the end of your paddle to create a temporary outrigger, giving you something stable to lean or push against while climbing back into the kayak after a capsize. It's designed to support self-rescue, but using it well takes practice, so try it in calm, controlled conditions before you rely on it on the water.
Does this NRS safety kit have a dual-chamber paddle float?
Yes — the NRS paddle float has two separate air chambers, each displacing 7 litres when inflated. The second chamber is a backup if the first is punctured or doesn't fully inflate, not an extra buoyancy-capacity rating.
How much water does the NRS bilge pump move?
NRS rates the included bilge pump at 30 litres per minute. How quickly it actually clears a flooded cockpit depends on your kayak, the sea state and how much water you're pumping against, so treat this as a manufacturer output figure rather than a fixed clearing time.
Is a touring safety kit a replacement for a buoyancy aid or rescue training?
No. This kit supplements, not replaces, a correctly fitted buoyancy aid, weather and tide planning, a means of calling for help, and practised rescue skills. Paddle UK and RNLI safety guidance both treat these as separate basics that a safety kit doesn't cover.
What is the difference between the NRS Basic and Deluxe Touring Safety Kits?
Based on NRS's own range, the Deluxe kit adds a paddle leash and a mesh deck bag to the same core whistle, paddle float, pump and sponge in this Basic kit.