You obviously buy the best gear you can afford. However not taking a life raft is a big no no. In some helicopters such as the Bell 206, it is impossible to get a raft out from the back seat especially if you didn't have floats fitted and had a front seat passenger. On those occasions I had a small single seat raft attached to my trouser belt, so that as long as I got out, I had a raft. Quite confidence building!
