NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc.
NRS (Northwest River Supplies) is a 100% employee-owned, Moscow, Idaho-based paddlesports company founded in 1972, designing and selling inflatable rafts, kayaks, packrafts, technical apparel, and safety equipment to recreational paddlers, river outfitters, rescue professionals, and backcountry hunters through DTC e-commerce, a flagship store, and a dealer network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersMoscow, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. does
NRS (Northwest River Supplies, Inc.) is a Moscow, Idaho-based, 100% employee-owned paddlesports and outdoor gear company founded by Bill Parks in 1972 with $2,000 in personal savings. The company designs, engineers, and distributes an extensive catalog of inflatable watercraft, technical apparel, safety equipment, and paddlesports accessories serving recreational paddlers, river guides and outfitters, swiftwater rescue professionals, kayak anglers, and backcountry hunters.
NRS's core product platform is built around inflatable watercraft — including rafts across Expedition, Otter, Outlaw, and Select series, inflatable kayaks, inflatable SUPs, and six packraft models (Neutron, Neutron SL, Pulsar, Aster, Riffle, Orion) — complemented by a technical apparel portfolio (dry suits, dry wear, splash wear, HydroSkin, wetsuits), dry storage solutions (the heritage Bill's Bags line dating to 1977, Tuff Sacks, Ether HydroLock dry bags), safety equipment (PFDs, rescue PFDs, helmets, throw bags, rescue hardware), and a full range of paddles, footwear, and camp gear. Differentiated construction techniques include RF-welded seams with interior taping, dual-sided TPU packraft material, proprietary Vertex Outfitting with interchangeable backbands and thigh straps, TIZIP waterproof stern closures, limestone-based Terraprene neoprene, and PVC-free nylon construction. The company also operates the PaddleWays mobile application for waterway discovery and trip planning.
NRS generates revenue through a multi-channel model: direct e-commerce sales via nrs.com (with free shipping on qualifying orders), a flagship retail store in Moscow, Idaho, a North American dealer network accessible through the website's dealer locator, and a dedicated international program for non-U.S. customers. Pricing is unit-based across the catalog, ranging from accessories under $10 to packrafts and large dry bags above $1,000, with a seasonal Summer Sale offering 15-60% discounts across categories. The company is privately held, has no outside equity or venture backing following the 2014 transition to 100% employee ownership, and does not publicly disclose financial results.
NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc.
- Legal name
- Northwest River Supplies, Inc.
- Website
- https://nrs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- NRS (Northwest River Supplies) is a 100% employee-owned, Moscow, Idaho-based paddlesports company founded in 1972, designing and selling inflatable rafts, kayaks, packrafts, technical apparel, and safety equipment to recreational paddlers, river outfitters, rescue professionals, and backcountry hunters through DTC e-commerce, a flagship store, and a dealer network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Paddlesports Equipment
- NAICS
- Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911), Sporting and Recreational Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423910)
- SIC
- Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Paddle Sports Retail (Kayak, Canoe, SUP, Paddles) (CRAMAIAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water Sports & Marine Recreation Retail (Paddle/Surf/Dive/Boat Accessories) (CRAMABAI), Paddling & Packrafting Gear Retail (CRAMAAAL), Outdoor Navigation, Safety & Survival Gear Retail (CRAMAAAE), Kayak & Paddle Fishing Specialty Retail (CRAMALAF), Outdoor Travel Gear (Duffels, Packs, Dry Bags) Retail (CRAMAAAI), Marine Safety & Navigation Electronics Retail (PFDs, EPIRBs, GPS, VHF) (CRAMAIAH), Water Sports & Marine Recreation Gear Distribution (CRAOAJAD)
Keywords
Where NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Moscow
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- E-commerce Direct Sales: NRS sells directly to consumers through its e-commerce platform at nrs.com, offering a full catalog of paddlesports gear, apparel, and watercraft with free shipping on qualifying orders.
- Retail Store Sales: The company operates a flagship retail store in Moscow, Idaho, showcasing the full range of NRS products for walk-in customers.
- Dealer/Partner Sales: NRS distributes through a network of retail dealers across North America, who resell NRS products to end consumers.
- Gift Cards: NRS issues gift cards, allowing customers to purchase products across the full catalog.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | General retail pricing across apparel, gear, and watercraft |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NRS designs, manufactures, and sells paddlesports and outdoor gear, including inflatable rafts, kayaks, packrafts, and SUP boards; technical apparel such as dry suits, dry wear, splash wear, HydroSkin, and wetsuits; waterproof dry storage including Bill's Bags; safety and rescue equipment such as PFDs and throw bags; paddles, footwear, and camping gear. The company sells directly to consumers via its nrs.com e-commerce site and flagship retail store in Moscow, Idaho, and distributes through a network of authorized dealers across North America, with international shipping available.
Product overview
NRS (Northwest River Supplies) is a paddlesports and outdoor gear company offering an extensive portfolio of water sports equipment centered around inflatable watercraft and technical apparel. The product lineup spans multiple categories: packrafts (Neutron, Neutron SL, Pulsar, Aster, Riffle, Orion) for ultralight backcountry travel; inflatable rafts across various series (Expedition, Otter, Outlaw, Select) for commercial and recreational whitewater; inflatable kayaks and SUP boards for different paddling experience levels; dry storage solutions including Bill's Bags, Tuff Sacks, and Ether HydroLock bags; technical outerwear including dry suits, dry wear, splash wear, HydroSkin, and wetsuits; safety equipment such as life jackets, helmets, throw bags, and rescue gear; paddles for all disciplines; and footwear and gloves. The company also offers a PaddleWays mobile app for route planning. NRS serves recreational paddlers, commercial outfitters, fishing enthusiasts, and backcountry hunters with complementary accessories, repair products, and camping equipment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bill's Bags: A line of waterproof dry bags trusted since 1977, known for toughness and utility from the Grand Canyon to the North Pole.
- PaddleWays
Products and services
- NRS Packrafts Six-model packraft line (Neutron, Neutron SL, Pulsar, Aster, Riffle, Orion) covering whitewater, all-water, calm-water, fishing, and hunting/bikerafting use cases, featuring Vertex Outfitting, RF-welded seams, dual-sided TPU materials, and TIZIP waterproof stern closures.
- NRS Inflatable Rafts Full line of inflatable rafts across multiple series including Expedition, Otter, Outlaw, Select, and STAR series for commercial and recreational whitewater, fishing, livery operations, and expedition use.
- NRS Inflatable Kayaks (IKs) Inflatable kayaks for whitewater, touring, and recreational paddling across multiple river conditions.
- NRS Inflatable SUP Boards Inflatable stand-up paddleboards for flatwater and light whitewater use with portable storage.
- Bill's Bags Dry Bags Waterproof dry bags trusted since 1977 for river and expedition use, available in multiple sizes from 10L to 110L.
- NRS Tuff Sacks and Ether HydroLock Dry Bags Lightweight waterproof dry sacks and premium HydroLock-closure dry bags available in multiple sizes for kayak hatches, day use, and lightweight packing.
- NRS Dry Suits Full-coverage waterproof, breathable dry suits with latex gaskets at neck, wrists, and ankles providing complete water protection for cold-water paddling.
- NRS Dry Wear and GORE-TEX Pro Outerwear Waterproof breathable outerwear tops and pants with gasket seals, including GORE-TEX Pro constructions, for paddling in wet conditions.
- NRS Splash Wear Waterproof outerwear with hook-and-loop closures designed for splash protection without full submersion, including the Endurance Splash Jacket line.
- NRS HydroSkin Neoprene-based performance underlayers, including HydroSkin 0.5 Gloves, providing warmth and water resistance for cold-water paddling.
- NRS Wetsuits Performance neoprene wetsuits with paddler-specific cuts for kayaking, rafting, SUP, and surf, including Farmer John/Jane styles, Ignitor series, and Rescue wetsuits, using Terraprene limestone-based neoprene.
- NRS Life Jackets and PFDs Personal flotation devices including rescue PFDs, fishing PFDs, low-profile PFDs, and kids' PFDs for various paddlesports activities.
- NRS Safety and Rescue Equipment Safety gear including throw bags, rope and webbing, carabiners, rescue hardware, rescue kits, and medical kits for swiftwater rescue operations.
- NRS Paddles Full line of paddles including whitewater, touring, SUP, packraft, raft, and canoe paddles with various blade styles and materials (including the Werner paddle line and Carlisle oar shafts).
- NRS Footwear Water shoes, wetshoes, and boots designed for paddlesports with non-slip soles and quick-drying materials, including the Freestyle Wetshoe line.
- NRS Gloves and Helmets Paddling gloves including HydroSkin gloves and neoprene gloves for hand protection, plus protective helmets designed for whitewater kayaking and paddlesports with impact protection.
- NRS Camp Gear Camping equipment including chairs, hammocks, shelters, sleeping pads, stoves, camp kitchen, and water filters for river trips.
- NRS Packraft and Paddling Accessories Accessories including Vertex backbands, thigh straps, inflation bags, throw ropes, drink holders, and outfitting upgrades for NRS packrafts.
- Gear Aid Repair Products Full line of repair adhesives, patches, and maintenance products for inflatable boats, dry wear, and paddlesports gear, including the Aquaseal FD flexible adhesive.
- PaddleWays Mobile App Mobile application for finding paddling locations, planning routes, checking conditions, and discovering new waterways, available on iOS and Android.
Quantifiable outcome
- Products trusted from the Grand Canyon to the North Pole since 1977
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kokatat: Kokatat is a paddlesports-specific manufacturer of dry suits, PFDs, and technical apparel, founded in a paddling hub (Arcata, CA). It is the closest direct competitor to NRS in technical paddlesports outerwear and PFDs.
- Immersion Research: Immersion Research makes dry suits, spray skirts, and paddling apparel targeted at whitewater and kayak anglers. It competes head-to-head with NRS in paddlesports technical apparel and accessories.
- Level Six: Level Six designs and sells PFDs, dry bags, and paddlesports apparel for whitewater, SUP, and kayak fishing. It is a direct specialty competitor in the same niche retail and dealer channels as NRS.
- Astral Designs: Astral Designs builds PFDs, paddling footwear, and lifestyle paddlesports gear with a strong design and sustainability positioning. It is a direct peer in life jackets, water shoes, and paddlesports apparel.
- AIRE: AIRE manufactures inflatable rafts, catarafts, and inflatable kayaks. It is a direct competitor in the same inflatable watercraft category that is core to NRS's raft, IK, and packraft business.
- Werner Paddles: Werner Paddles is a leading manufacturer of kayak, canoe, raft, and SUP paddles. Werner paddles are sold through NRS as a dealer, and Werner is a direct peer in paddle hardware for the same paddlesports end customer.
- Aquaglide: Aquaglide designs inflatable kayaks, SUPs, and water park equipment for recreational paddlers. It directly overlaps with NRS's inflatable kayak and SUP product lines.
- Jackson Kayak: Jackson Kayak designs whitewater, fishing, and recreational kayaks with strong community and ambassador programs. It is a direct peer in the whitewater and kayak fishing customer base that NRS serves with boats, PFDs, and apparel.
- Star Inflatables: Star Inflatables builds custom and stock rafts, catarafts, and inflatable kayaks for whitewater and commercial outfitters. It is a direct competitor to NRS in the inflatable raft and IK category.
Broad incumbents
- Confluence Outdoor: Confluence Outdoor owns Perception, Dagger, Wilderness Systems, Wave Sport, and Old Town, manufacturing kayaks and SUPs at scale. It is a broad incumbent in paddle sports watercraft that competes with NRS in inflatable kayaks and SUPs as part of a much larger portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceNRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc.
What does NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. do?
NRS designs, manufactures, and sells paddlesports and outdoor gear, including inflatable rafts, kayaks, packrafts, and SUP boards; technical apparel such as dry suits, dry wear, splash wear, HydroSkin, and wetsuits; waterproof dry storage including Bill's Bags; safety and rescue equipment such as PFDs and throw bags; paddles, footwear, and camping gear. The company sells directly to consumers via its nrs.com e-commerce site and flagship retail store in Moscow, Idaho, and distributes through a network of authorized dealers across North America, with international shipping available.
Is NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. a public or private company?
NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. founded?
NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. was founded in 1972. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. based?
NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. is headquartered in Moscow, United States, in the North America region.
How does NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. E-commerce Direct Sales are the primary driver. The others are retail Store Sales, dealer/Partner Sales and gift Cards.
Who are NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kokatat, Immersion Research, Level Six, Astral Designs, AIRE, Werner Paddles, Aquaglide, Jackson Kayak and Star Inflatables. Confluence Outdoor is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc..
What industry is NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc. in?
NRS - Northwest River Supplies, Inc.'s product category is Paddlesports Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAIAD, Paddle Sports Retail (Kayak, Canoe, SUP, Paddles), with a secondary code of CRAMABAI, Water Sports & Marine Recreation Retail (Paddle/Surf/Dive/Boat Accessories). Its NAICS code is 33992 and its SIC code is 3949.