(Part 2) Best products from r/whitewater

Not sure where you typically paddle, but BC in generally is very hard for it's rating. Just honestly evaluate your skills before you decide you must run any particular river and build up in difficulty. Here is a good BC guide:
http://www.liquidlore.com/bc/

This is a pretty good PNW guidebook that can at least give you some ideas:
https://www.amazon.com/Paddling-Pacific-Northwest-Whitewater-Hinds/dp/1493023063

It's a bit biased toward class iv/v so that might be what you're wanting. It's a fun read if nothing else. It's shaping up to be a pretty good snow year, so you should have lots of options going into August. Memorial day weekend at the Lochsa is a good spot if you like to party. The Lochsa is bigwater class iv and really fun, nothing too difficult. Lots of people run it in a playboat and there is a great play waves at certain levels. There is also the Clearwater right there which is more challenging iv-v. Also some great hotsprings there as well.

Another river to keep your eye on around that time of year is the Icicle. It's basically the next drainage over from the Tumwater and often has good levels in June. The middle section of the icicle is no joke multiple class V rapids, but it is all roadside and there are locals around to show you the way. Around that time the Cooper, Cle Elum, Ohanepecosh, and Fall in the Wall may be options.

I have one of these but the NRS boaters gloves also look good.

I was recommended this stuff https://www.amazon.co.uk/McNett-Tenacious-Tape-Fabric-Repair/dp/B005BLQTEE/ref=pd_lpo_200_bs_tr_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=JE4Y4RXE3TRKTR73BV46 by Mark from IR -- apparently it's pretty bomber.

I use this thing because it's cheap and easy to set up. It doesn't get high enough to get over my shoulder like those big suckers, but it gets it off the deck, out of the water, and lets me articulate it slightly out to the side of the boat with the joint attachments.

http://www.amazon.com/Helmet-Extension-GoPro-Hero-Cameras/dp/B00GBNV19E/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1418676443&sr=1-1&keywords=gopro+helmet+arm&pebp=1418676446877

Although old, this book has some good exercises in it: http://www.amazon.com/Playboating-Kayaking-Eric-Jackson/dp/0811728943/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335533520&sr=1-2

Thanks everyone. I'm thinking I may do a wrap of tape around the shaft and then some of these on the blades. https://www.amazon.com/RydeSafe-Reflective-Decals-Hexagon-Yellow/dp/B00ARS82E6/ref=sr_1_11_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1521740606&sr=8-11-spons&keywords=yellow%2Breflective%2Bstickers&th=1

The foam mat you use when camping.

Hamble Redwood BB-FM200 Foam Mat https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000SLYGQA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_CO0ZCb7YY1TPQ

Fit it out as tight as possible because the foam will settle down with use.

There are waterproof passport holders. I would use something like that or something similar (like phone dry bag).

Try Eno river state park, right there in Durham. There may be campable spots look into it. There are at least 5 sections that I recall.

cape fear near Lillington has a class 2 run. Upper Haw is class 2.

You don’t need much for rapids for a great canoe trip there are many rivers just finding where you can camp is tricky.

Here is a book on eastern NC:
eastern nc paddling guide

Planning to order some next time we go; "Either Oar"

Remember a guy on a raft with a yellow one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/KAVU-Kavu-Chillba/dp/B004H8BHV2

https://www.amazon.com/Salamander-Retriever-Kayak-Rescue-Tether/dp/B00433JL3M

I got these on my crossbars and had zero issues last summer.

https://smile.amazon.com/Lifetime-Warranty-TMS-Carrier-Crossbar/dp/B003V57NUQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1493324975&sr=8-2&keywords=kayak+j+rack

If you also have a backpack hydration pack you use for other sports, you might want to look into a tube brush (e.g. https://smile.amazon.com/Hydrapak-A144-Tube-Brush-36-Inch/dp/B00129IUB4?sa-no-redirect=1) and kills two birds with the same stone. These work well. (...and thanks for reminding me: my float bag tubes are embarrassingly nasty).

I read a bunch of reviews and ended up with this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XFM62GB/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here's some footage. I haven't found a free video editor that will let me upload/export 1080p. So these are 720p/60.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3AkJTCJtk8

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e7qWIvZXxM

That is a cold river, you'll definitely have fogging problems with any kind of goggles or glasses. There are things you can do to prevent fogging, like using Cat Crap anti fog (https://www.amazon.com/EK-10003C-Cat-Crap/dp/B002ZNA488), which I've never used but one of my buddies does. I just don't bother with wearing corrective lenses, my vision isn't so bad that I can't see where I'm going; glasses fog and get droplets on them, ironically making it harder to see.

I do want to try to steer you away from wearing contacts on a river, I've had my eyeballs power washed quite a few times. I don't wear contact lenses any more, but I can imagine that it would have been very irritating to have fresh water trapped under a contact.