There’s a lot of debate about throw bags. If I had to choose one throw bag it would be the 15 Meter WWTC Pro. It’s a short rope which limits it’s distance but also makes it easy to throw and therefore generally more accurate. I’m starting to wear a waist belt and this one I hardly notice. The longer throw bags make bulkier waist belts which is a bit annoying.
I agree with Zach on brand but I use the 18m WWTC pro. I don’t find the belt particularly cumbersome and I like having the little bit of extra length. The 18m feels like the longest rope I can comfortably throw overhand and I love the modern wide mouth closure which makes stuffing easier and also allows the bag to be thrown like a tomahawk.
1 Like
I still like my good old NRS Pro throw bags. If you want one that is easy to throw, the compact is great and still has a pretty strong line. If I’m rafting I like the standard sized NRS Pro Rescue as the line is strong enough (5000+ lbs) and long enough to be used in multiple situations and I find I’m usually using a throw bag to pull on a stuck raft rather than rescue a swimmer.
If I’m someplace I’m worried about rescuing swimmers with a bag I’m a big fan of waist throw bags as it is always easy to access. Once again I’ve had good luck with the nrs pro version which is fairly low profile, easy to access and throw (I like how light the bag is) and pretty strong rope for the diameter. There are some great European ones and ones made by smaller companies but they seem harder to find consistently - the one Zach linked to is currently out of stock… I’m not a fan of the hip bags where you are throwing the waist strap with the bag like the old Salamander bags which are awkward to throw and kind of dangerous since you are throwing them at someone’s face.
And yes, I still knot the end of my throw bags, because I want to be able to find the end easily and quickly and I feel it significantly decreases the probability that I’ll ended up loosing the whole throw bag in the river. With or without a knot on one end of a throw bags I don’t want to be that person that left a throw bag in the river.
I use a shorter length River Station Gear throw bag, maybe 50’. It fits my ability to throw and most of my potential throw bag usage is generally 20-30’ max.
My current favorite is the WWTC 18m; I love having a waist mounted rope and, depending on the river, an additional rope in my raft. I don’t find it to be too big or cumbersome and I do enjoy the length of the rope. Using it on courses, teaching first year guides, and day to day on rivers that demand pretty regular rope usage - I have found that the tapered bag throws extremely well, the rope is great quality for client handling, it’s extremely easy to dial in repacking, and I have seen countless other ropes give guides issues when time matters.
We use ropes regularly on the Tongariro in NZ, mostly for quick pulls on slightly pinned/wrapped boats. I have found the WWTC bag to be much easier to deploy and use than waist bags with attached belts. We also do a lot of shallow water wading to set up through technical rapids to assist with these pins, not having your rope on your person takes up time during setup and doesn’t allow you to have 2 hands free.
I am against loops and knots in the end of throw bags, having a clean end is great and I’ve seen clients put fingers in even the smallest loops and damage skin. Instead I wrap about 2-3 inches of the end of my rope in electrical tape, it creates a rigid end that is easy to find, no knot that might get stuck between shallow rocks or debris, no loops so clients are less likely to hurt themselves, and the top of the bag cinches around it to keep it at the top every single time.
1 Like
Stay tuned! There hasn’t been much innovation in throwbags over the past 20 years or so. CMC rescue has just invested in WRS International. Their Chaos Throwbags have some unique and innovative features such as a hidden caribiner pocket, glow stick pocket, side (rather than front)
quick release, comfortable sleeve where the bag molds “flat” to the shape of your back.
I got mine “bag only” and added my own rope. I went all out using Sterling Canyonlux canyoneering rope so it can be used for throwing, hauling as well as raising/lowering. I have a sewn eye at the end of my rope so that the bag is “clipped onto” the end of the rope so that if I want to shed the bag (for a cleaner rope usage) I just uncllip it.
It comes in 2 sizes… I have 20m of rope in it which just fits in the smaller bag but after testing it in both I am using the larger bag for ease of stuffing.
comes in red with yellow and silver reflective.
The WRS bag looks really cool but also pretty similar to the WWTC and Morice throw bags. How is it different from those?
Depends on usage 
General usage: WWTC 18m - Good harness, strong rope for ropework, pocket for carabiner, throws well, loops for night work.
Throws : HF Paddlepeople classic - Throws really well and the best rope for the swimmer. Rope has no core so it’s really easy to hold onto.
All time favorite
1 Like