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#123483 - 11/07/09 01:33 PM All taped up and no where to go
Zalman Offline
member

Registered: 10/25/09
Posts: 97
Loc: Olympic Peninsula, Washington,...
I've been overhauling my gear from top to bottom lately. My 20-year-old semi-minimalist style has served me wonderfully, but it's been fun catching up with how much gear and methodology have changed.

One thing that apparently hasn't changed is duct tape.

The problem I'm facing now is that I've eliminated so many extras, I no longer know what to wrap my duct tape around. Collapsible water containers don't really feel right, I've always wrapped around a rigid core so the tape doesn't get too worn with crinkles. And the clincher, I don't use trekking poles.

I guess I'll use a small square of cardboard, if I can't find anywhere else.
_________________________
It's easy to be a holy man on top of a mountain.
-- Larry Darrell

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#123484 - 11/07/09 02:20 PM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: Zalman]
Pika Online   content
member

Registered: 12/08/05
Posts: 1814
Loc: Rural Southeast Arizona
Use an old credit card or a square of plastic cut from an empty gallon milk jug. Light and cheap.
_________________________
May I walk in beauty.

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#123487 - 11/07/09 04:19 PM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: Zalman]
Glenn Offline
member

Registered: 03/08/06
Posts: 2617
Loc: Ohio
Do you carry a flashlight? How about the handle of a toilet trowel? Or, if you do like I do and carry a snow stake to use as a trowel, wrap it around that and end up with a padded handle? What about the body of your water filter?

If nothing else, what about a length of very small diameter dowel pin?

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#123488 - 11/07/09 04:20 PM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: Zalman]
Jim M Offline
member

Registered: 11/23/03
Posts: 430
Loc: Kitsap Peninsula, WA
I had put duct tape on a pencil in my first aid kit. I can write down vital signs with the pencil and the duct tape works fine for adhesive tape. last summer I found a car broken down in the mountains and the owner needed duct tape to repair a leaking radiator hose. I have it to him and it worked, but I haven't replaced it yet.
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Jim M

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#123494 - 11/07/09 08:12 PM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: Jim M]
bigb Offline
member

Registered: 07/05/09
Posts: 124
Loc: Maryland
You need to make a dead show lighter, 2 bic lighters bottom to bottom with duct tape wrapped around to hold them together, you carry duct tape and have a 2 headed lighter, if you need to ask why its called a dead show lighter than nevermind.

But I do carry it backpacking and always will
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"In the beginers mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few."
Shunryu Suzuki

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#123495 - 11/07/09 10:06 PM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: Zalman]
Folkalist Offline
member

Registered: 03/17/07
Posts: 374
Loc: Fredericksburg, VA
Drinking straw cut to length. I slip it in my first aid menagerie kit.
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Why am I online instead of hiking?

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#123498 - 11/08/09 12:37 AM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: Zalman]
Heber Offline
member

Registered: 12/31/07
Posts: 245
Loc: St. Louis, Missouri
I put mine around my alcohol fuel bottle.

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#123512 - 11/08/09 12:33 PM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: Heber]
Zalman Offline
member

Registered: 10/25/09
Posts: 97
Loc: Olympic Peninsula, Washington,...
Great ideas. I have a cannister stove most of the time, no fuel bottle. Headlamp, no flashlight. No trowel. When I decided to try leaving the water filter behind -- that's when I hit the Duct Tape Wall.

Pencil, milk jug fragment, and drinking straw (my favorite) would all work well. Clever stuff.

Originally Posted By bigb
You need to make a dead show lighter

I actually have it wrapped around a Bic lighter now, but what to do when the lighter runs out of fuel (that is to say, halfway through "Tour")? Do you throw away the unused portion of the tape along with the used lighter(s)?
_________________________
It's easy to be a holy man on top of a mountain.
-- Larry Darrell

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#123515 - 11/08/09 12:52 PM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: Zalman]
bigb Offline
member

Registered: 07/05/09
Posts: 124
Loc: Maryland
I normally cook every meal and hike at least 1 overnight a month, few multi day trips mixed in and along with lighting fires, the two lighters I currently have are in there second year, after unused duct tape that has been taked of the original roll hits its second year it will start to lose its duck tape nature, so new lighters new duct tape.

The two lighter system last along time, the original idea was its hard to lose a lighter that big even with BLURRED VISION, the duct tape was a bonus and came in handy.
_________________________
"In the beginers mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few."
Shunryu Suzuki

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#123519 - 11/08/09 01:05 PM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: bigb]
Zalman Offline
member

Registered: 10/25/09
Posts: 97
Loc: Olympic Peninsula, Washington,...
Originally Posted By bigb
the two lighters I currently have are in there second year


Hm, I generally carry my knife and lighter with me at all times, backpacking or not. Daily use tends to exhaust the lighters more quickly. I suppose I could get a lot more mileage out of my lighter as a duct tape spool if I held that lighter in reserve for backpacking use.

I've often thought I had two lighters at a Dead Show, but turns out they were just one. crazy
_________________________
It's easy to be a holy man on top of a mountain.
-- Larry Darrell

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#123521 - 11/08/09 01:10 PM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: Zalman]
bigb Offline
member

Registered: 07/05/09
Posts: 124
Loc: Maryland
How very true, Ahhhhhh memories
_________________________
"In the beginers mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few."
Shunryu Suzuki

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#123540 - 11/08/09 09:10 PM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: bigb]
Jimshaw Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/03
Posts: 3983
Loc: Bend, Oregon
Hey comon guys, the Dead lighters had duct tape so you could tape it to your hand crazy and not lose them, but if you do lose one, you lose both. eek I always seaparate my bics and I have NEVER EVER carried duct tape OR a tent footprint...

Jim crazy
_________________________
These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.

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#123564 - 11/09/09 10:57 AM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: Jimshaw]
Zalman Offline
member

Registered: 10/25/09
Posts: 97
Loc: Olympic Peninsula, Washington,...
Originally Posted By Jimshaw
I always seaparate my bics and I have NEVER EVER carried duct tape


Ah Jim, I think I have your orange lighter from Shoreline '87.
_________________________
It's easy to be a holy man on top of a mountain.
-- Larry Darrell

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#123667 - 11/11/09 02:34 PM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: Zalman]
Larry Offline
newbie

Registered: 11/11/09
Posts: 13
Loc: TX
How about a straw? If you use a Flexair pillow you're carrying one anyway. You might want to snag a longer one from a fast food place though.

I haven't had a terrible time with it just wrapped around itself. So far so good but YMMV.
_________________________
-Larry

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#123688 - 11/12/09 12:55 AM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: Zalman]
Jimshaw Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/03
Posts: 3983
Loc: Bend, Oregon
Zalman
You look familiar, and they say I was there, but I really don't remember...
Jim crazy
_________________________
These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.

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#123708 - 11/12/09 11:22 AM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: Zalman]
sabre11004 Offline
member

Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 513
Loc: Tennessee
You can actually purchase the duct tape now that comes in "flat" rolls if that makes any sense. You do not get as much on a roll but it is very light weight and you can put it almost any where...sabre11004... goodjob
_________________________
The first step that you take will be one of those that get you there 1!!!!!

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#123715 - 11/12/09 01:31 PM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: sabre11004]
Larry Offline
newbie

Registered: 11/11/09
Posts: 13
Loc: TX
Originally Posted By sabre11004
You can actually purchase the duct tape now that comes in "flat" rolls if that makes any sense. You do not get as much on a roll but it is very light weight and you can put it almost any where...sabre11004... goodjob


I think that's the same idea as just rolling it up on itself but instead of ending with a cylinder you'll end with a little square. IIRC Adventure Medical Kits has it for sale rolled. It might be a little easier to use the last little bit if it's folded but I'm not sure since I haven't gotten to the end of my little roll yet.

Either method can be done at home with about 5 minutes and a standard roll of duct tape. I see no need to actually buy it like that.


Edited by Larry (11/12/09 01:32 PM)
_________________________
-Larry

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#123756 - 11/13/09 01:43 AM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: Larry]
Keith Offline
member

Registered: 01/04/02
Posts: 1667
Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Just a comment . . .
Has anyone else tried the new Gorilla duct tape -- by the same folks that bring us Gorilla Glue?

I've got a roll and it's definitely stronger (both the stickum and the fabric) than general issue duct tape. I think it will last longer, too -- although that's not really an emergency outdoor usage issue.
_________________________
Human Resources Memo: Floggings will continue until morale improves.

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#123765 - 11/13/09 11:10 AM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: Keith]
Larry Offline
newbie

Registered: 11/11/09
Posts: 13
Loc: TX
Originally Posted By Keith
Just a comment . . .
Has anyone else tried the new Gorilla duct tape -- by the same folks that bring us Gorilla Glue?

I've got a roll and it's definitely stronger (both the stickum and the fabric) than general issue duct tape. I think it will last longer, too -- although that's not really an emergency outdoor usage issue.


I've heard that the Gorilla tape is exactly what you say it is from a few other people. I intend to try it once my current roll runs out.

-Larry
_________________________
-Larry

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#123774 - 11/13/09 12:54 PM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: Larry]
sabre11004 Offline
member

Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 513
Loc: Tennessee
I can vouch for it certainly being a stronger material. I have recently purchased some and the material that it is made of definitely seems much stronger than just a standard duct tape, especially the brand that they sell at Walmart...sabre11004... goodjob
_________________________
The first step that you take will be one of those that get you there 1!!!!!

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#123779 - 11/13/09 03:41 PM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: sabre11004]
OregonMouse Online   content
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
I got the Gorilla tape last summer, but I haven't had the occasion to use it yet, except to wind a supply around my trekking poles. I just tried to unwind a little bit. It is definitely harder to unstick and appears to leave less residue behind than does the old-fashioned kind.
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

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#123802 - 11/14/09 09:05 AM Re: All taped up and no where to go [Re: Jimshaw]
theo Offline
newbie

Registered: 07/15/06
Posts: 4
Loc: TX
Originally Posted By Jimshaw
Hey comon guys, the Dead lighters had duct tape so you could tape it to your hand crazy and not lose them, but if you do lose one, you lose both. eek I always seaparate my bics and I have NEVER EVER carried duct tape OR a tent footprint...

Jim crazy
Finally! Someone with some sense. j/k. Seriously, though. Gorilla tape is better than regular duct tape but I've never been impressed with that style of duct tape. Sticks to everything but what you want it to and a total mess in hot weather.

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