All taped up and no where to go

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.

Use an old credit card or a square of plastic cut from an empty gallon milk jug. Light and cheap.

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?

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.

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

Drinking straw cut to length. I slip it in my first aid menagerie kit.

I put mine around my alcohol fuel bottle.

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.


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)?

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.

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.

How very true, Ahhhhhh memories

Hey comon guys, the Dead lighters had duct tape so you could tape it to your hand and not lose them, but if you do lose one, you lose both. I always seaparate my bics and I have NEVER EVER carried duct tape OR a tent footprint...

Jim

Ah Jim, I think I have your orange lighter from Shoreline '87.

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.

Zalman
You look familiar, and they say I was there, but I really don't remember...
Jim

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...

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.

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

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...

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.

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.