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#106352 - 11/12/08 11:26 AM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: DTape]
DTape Offline
member

Registered: 11/23/07
Posts: 666
Loc: Upstate NY
oops you already had that one!
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#106353 - 11/12/08 11:32 AM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: Jimshaw]
Dryer Offline

Moderator

Registered: 12/05/02
Posts: 3591
Loc: Texas
Quote:
Toilet paper wins


Dang. And I don't carry the stuff backpacking. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
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#106354 - 11/12/08 02:54 PM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: Dryer]
Jimshaw Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/03
Posts: 3983
Loc: Bend, Oregon
Dryer,

Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Toilet paper wins


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Dang. And I don't carry the stuff backpacking.
___________________________________________

Never mind that invite to come camp with me Dryer... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.

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#106355 - 11/12/08 06:25 PM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: wandering_daisy]
billstephenson Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Quote:
Shoe insoles -- padding on my hips when my pack is killing me!


I feel the tiniest bit less wimpy now <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Bill
_________________________
--

"You want to go where?"



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#106356 - 11/12/08 09:08 PM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: Jimshaw]
wandering_daisy Offline
member

Registered: 01/11/06
Posts: 2865
Loc: California
This is a true story! About 15 years ago, my I took my daughter on a 18-day backpack in the Wind Rivers. We descended Bull Lake Canyon and ended up rim-rocked about half-way down. We built a raft from driftwod using 4 sleeping bag straps and two bungee cords. Then we used our raingear as "wetsuits" to swim the packs across (twice). The water was straight off a glacier and the canyon was so deep that we had no sunshine. The first time we swam naked we froze. The second time we did the wet suit trick. It really worked. (it was my daughter's idea). Less than a mile further we hit a cliff and had to lower packs - on - you guessed it! sleeping bag straps and bungee cords. I also strung my fish on the bungee cord. I do not think if this qualifies - but we shared one pair of wading shoes. One of us would cross and then toss the teva's back to the other person.

This reminded me of the many uses for sleeping bag straps. I have used straps to tie down extra corners of my tent, wrap around a rock in place of a tent stake, belt for pants (you do not need a belt when the pack is on because the waist strap keeps my pants up, but at night I need a belt. Hang food from little critters. Clothesline. Alternatively, you could just use cord to tie on your sleeping bag and then use it for all of the above too.

There are those who do not agree with this idea - but I have done this many times -- as I read pages of a book I then use then as toilet paper.

I do not take extra paper - just write my trip notes on the back of my maps. Many of my maps have little corners torn off where I wrote my e-mail address for someone I met in the mountains.

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#106357 - 11/13/08 06:38 AM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: Jimshaw]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
I still say that a multiuse is an item that Can be used for another purpose! It's what your mind can conceive. Every invention created was created from a thought or idea. Just because someone configures something a certian way doesn't mean it can't be used in a different way. Take a stone for instance. It was probably the first tool. Sure there are items that are intentionaly made with two or more uses. Take the poncho for instance. I'll bet it started out as a tarp and was modified so you could see out of it and wear it. then someone deceided to plug the hole and use it for a tarp again. I still say a stick or bandana wins. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
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#106358 - 11/13/08 07:15 AM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: chaz]
JAK Offline
member

Registered: 03/19/04
Posts: 2569
That's a really interesting thought Chaz.

Language is that way also. I listened to this show on CBC radio where they were talking about words, and that ALL words orginate as metaphors. Newer words tend to be living metaphors and older words tend to become dead metaphors, where they become so common we forget their origin, but all words are metaphors.

In that sense all words are gear and tools and raw materials,
and so all gear and tools and raw materials are metaphors.

Just make sure a few of these abstract concepts are made real when you really need them. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

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#106359 - 11/13/08 06:05 PM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: JAK]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
Quote:
Just make sure a few of these abstract concepts are made real when you really need them.


Yes, out of necessity comes fruition, but, form should always follow function.

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#106360 - 11/13/08 06:10 PM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: chaz]
JAK Offline
member

Registered: 03/19/04
Posts: 2569
Quote:
Quote:
Just make sure a few of these abstract concepts are made real when you really need them.


Yes, out of necessity comes fruition, but, form should always follow function.
Yeah but try and tell them that. My function always ends up grovelling after her form. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

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#106361 - 11/13/08 07:21 PM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: JAK]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
Yes, and always will!
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#106362 - 11/14/08 08:56 AM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: Jimshaw]
wandering_daisy Offline
member

Registered: 01/11/06
Posts: 2865
Loc: California
A bandana also serves most of those purposes. Plus, on one Fall hike it was much warmer than I had expected and I was so overheated in my wool base layer (did not bring a light shirt) that I fashioned a skimpy "top" from two bandanas (this was a fashion trend in the 70's!). Bandanas make nice prayer flags, sweat bands, tent cord, sun shade, and you can express yourself with outrageous designs and colors.

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#106363 - 11/14/08 11:49 AM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: wandering_daisy]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
Yeah I mostly want the outragious designs and colors. I thought about a camo colored tye dye? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
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#106364 - 11/14/08 04:46 PM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: chaz]
Folkalist Offline
member

Registered: 03/17/07
Posts: 374
Loc: Fredericksburg, VA
LOVE crazy bandanas! My favorite has happy suns all over it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Back to the topic, though, contact lens saline solution makes a great wound/burn irrigation before field dressing. Have I mentioned that you've REALLY gotta watch those camp stoves? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
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#106365 - 11/14/08 08:00 PM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: Jimshaw]
lori Offline
member

Registered: 01/22/08
Posts: 2801
Quote:
Toilet paper wins

OK all of these may not be completely legit, but there are an armful. First off my wife's input on multiple uses of toilet paper.
1) Bra padding for young campers
2) intimate feminine usage
3) Tinder
4) Cleaning up messes...
5) First aid as a gauze replacement
6) Wrapping a delicate specimen
7) Making a big X on the ground for rescue
8) wiping condensation from tent
9) wrappable insulation - emergency hat or neck scarf or foot insulation.
10) oil lamp wick
11) sediment filter
12) coffee filter
13) ear plugs
14) Surrender flag
15) molotov cocktail
16) Silencer
17) TP a friends tent
18) camp chair shimming = level device
19) Roll makes a pipe
20) wrap around comb for quasi kazoo
21) polishing glasses
22) small square targets
23) ?????
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> YMMV


Blowing your nose
cleaning your ears
loaning to people who are suffering from the Mountain House two step
markers, should you be directionally challenged yet need to go some distance off trail - drape over a branch every few steps and retrieve them on the way back.
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"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind there are few." Shunryu Suzuki

http://hikeandbackpack.com

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#106366 - 11/15/08 06:51 AM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: Folkalist]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
Quote:
My favorite has happy suns all over it.
I need to look for one of those. It would be great to wear on dreary days. I could also wear it onstage with a new band I want to form. I intend to call it,"Orange Sunshine", play only Psycadilic seventies and very electric blues.
But really, I think a bandana could have so many uses. I don't currently own one but will ditch the pack towell (that I really never use) and pick up two bandanas. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
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Enjoy your next trip...

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#106367 - 11/15/08 07:20 AM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: chaz]
Folkalist Offline
member

Registered: 03/17/07
Posts: 374
Loc: Fredericksburg, VA
No more James Taylor? I could listen to JT forever . . .
_________________________
Why am I online instead of hiking?

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#106368 - 11/16/08 07:07 AM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: Folkalist]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
No more JT please! All that stuff is now Musak in grocery store's.
_________________________
Enjoy your next trip...

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#106369 - 11/17/08 06:05 PM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: Jimshaw]
billstephenson Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Because of the way you framed your question, I really had give this some thought, and even that wasn't helping me come up with anything. But then I suddenly realized that on my last hike I left neosporin home because I took some raw honey with me to put on my oatmeal in the morning. I'd always considered neosporin essential before I learned about using raw honey.

Raw honey can be used as an anti-biotic ointment and an ointment for burns. It's also good to use as a dressing for most wounds and it promotes healing. Taken all by itself, honey is a great energy booster. It's also a very good cough suppressant and local raw honey is good for reducing allergies.

And, don't forget, it can also be used to attract bees and bears, in case you want either of those to come visit you.

So, for me, a little bit of honey is now considered essential gear as well as multi-use and multi-purpose, and, it tastes a whole lot better than neosporin on oatmeal too <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Bill
_________________________
--

"You want to go where?"



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#106370 - 11/17/08 06:19 PM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: Jimshaw]
billstephenson Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
Quote:
Toilet paper wins

OK all of these may not be completely legit, but there are an armful. First off my wife's input on multiple uses of toilet paper.
1) Bra padding for young campers
2) intimate feminine usage
3) Tinder
4) Cleaning up messes...
5) First aid as a gauze replacement
6) Wrapping a delicate specimen
7) Making a big X on the ground for rescue
8) wiping condensation from tent
9) wrappable insulation - emergency hat or neck scarf or foot insulation.
10) oil lamp wick
11) sediment filter
12) coffee filter
13) ear plugs
14) Surrender flag
15) molotov cocktail
16) Silencer
17) TP a friends tent
18) camp chair shimming = level device
19) Roll makes a pipe
20) wrap around comb for quasi kazoo
21) polishing glasses
22) small square targets
23) ?????
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> YMMV


23 ways to use TP.....

Dude, that sounds to me like something only an experienced Dead Head could figure out. In fact, I think I saw a guy back in `73 doing #9 in a rain storm. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Bill
_________________________
--

"You want to go where?"



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#106371 - 11/26/08 09:02 PM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: Jimshaw]
Paul Offline
member

Registered: 09/30/02
Posts: 778
Loc: California
This only applies on ski trips: my ski poles are the poles for my shelter (MSR Twin Peaks).

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#108246 - 12/23/08 08:46 PM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: Dryer]
redroach Offline
member

Registered: 05/17/02
Posts: 366
Loc: Houston, Texas
My High UV Buff.
Great headwear, nose wiper, pot cleaner, water strainer, and emergency bandage.


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#110821 - 02/06/09 04:48 PM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: Jimshaw]
Samoset Offline
member

Registered: 07/04/08
Posts: 429
Loc: Newnan ,GA
a lardge wedge tent stake makes a rather nice trowl. I carry one as my pack trowl and use it in conditions when a sturdy stake is needed.
http://store.colemans.com/cart/tent-stake-9-in-aluminum-27-pack-unused-p-1994.html
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Some peopole live life day by day. Try step by step.

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#110842 - 02/07/09 12:52 PM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: Samoset]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
I carry a plastic trowel that proved almost usless in soil that is root bound. For some trips I'm tempted to buy a lightweight folding shovel that can be used as a pic. I know that this will increase my pack weight but to dig a small hole shouldn't take me as long as using a stake. Maybe there is another way but I don't know what that would be.
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Enjoy your next trip...

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#110852 - 02/07/09 05:37 PM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: chaz]
Samoset Offline
member

Registered: 07/04/08
Posts: 429
Loc: Newnan ,GA
I have dug rather lardge holes in rootbound,rocky hard clay here in ga in just a few seconds. so when i said it makes a rather nice trowl. i was dead serious.
_________________________
Some peopole live life day by day. Try step by step.

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#110854 - 02/07/09 06:55 PM Re: REAL multi use items? [Re: Samoset]
OregonMouse Online   content
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
I must say that I would have no use for 27 of those things. I'm sure there are places where you could buy one or two similar stakes at a time. However, I have a similar semicircular tent stake dating from the 1980's (probably came with a tent I no longer have). It does a great job of digging and weighs 1.0 ounce. Since half of what I bury comes from my dog, he gets to carry it in his pack! Of course it could be a spare tent stake in case of need.


Edited by OregonMouse (02/07/09 06:57 PM)
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