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It seems likely that when camping, hiking or backpacking you are going to be far from home, shops or any source of resupply. For this reason, there are some essentials that no experienced outdoor enthusiast will consider going without, one of the most important being the magic repair all' and perhaps one of the greatest inventions of all time duck tape.

This handy all-purpose hardware store on a roll will repair and patch almost anything that you can imagine. Nylon and plastic ground sheets, tents and fly sheets are easily damaged while deployed, sometimes by a windy day where debris nicks a few holes in the only protection between you and a dry and warm night. Out with the handy roll and a few minutes later, the repair is watertight and will last a good deal longer than you expect.

Few would agree with this one but on many occasions, a cut finger that bleeds annoyingly will be quickly fixed with a couple of light wraps of duck tape. I sometimes wondered if the glue did indeed include some kind of antiseptic because it seemed these cuts healed rapidly and the tape could be removed a short time later magic!

Tents these days come with those irritating flexible poles that sometimes break at the most inconvenient times. (When some weather is moving in rapidly and everyone is trying to set up before the sky opens up being one of the more frustrating experiences of this nature) Nothing like a quick duck tape repair to hold things up.

Consider the following suggestions describing some creative uses while outdoors:

Array your selection of fishing hooks on the sticky side of the tape. In this way, you can easily pack without fear of hooks snagging or becoming entangled, and you do not need to bring a bulky tackle box.

Fasten down loose ends of pack ties, buckles and cleats. Spending days hiking through the wilderness with endless clanking and slapping becomes quite a source of annoyance after a while. Duck tape will silence these irritating and repetitious noises, and who knows perhaps you may even see a little wildlife if you make less noise moving through the scrub.

A great way to pack eggs so they will withstand almost any kind of rigorous force is to half-fill a container with flour, array your eggs so that they do not touch the sides or each other, then completely fill the remaining air void and firmly fix the lid. Only the foolhardy would leave it at that because a dislodged container lid will be quite disastrous should the contents spread through your pack. Duck tape will reinforce the seal, and one or two additional wraps around the entire container will ensure nothing can dislodge the lid while in transit.

Part of the pleasure of outdoor activities is enjoyment of the natural environment. For this reason, responsible hikers, backpackers and campers will take everything they bring in. Duck tape will seal rubbish and discarded food packs so that your pack and belongings do not become befouled by leakages.

With imagination, there are few situations where duck tape will not pull you out of trouble when far from any help. From waterproofing to repairs and seals, few items are a more essential inclusion in a good quality camping rig.

Learn more about this author, Ian Loft.
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