by Joseph Hazelbaker

Created on: April 18, 2007   Last Updated: April 27, 2007

Duct tape has gone from a specialized tape in the heating and cooling industry to a ubiquitous everyday tool for everyone, including hikers and backpackers. The simple truth is that you can't anticipate everything for which you could possibly use duct tape; it's that useful. To play on a popular marketing catch phrase "just take it."

The list of potential uses for duct tape is endless and evolving. Here's some of the uses I've actually seen it put to:

Fixing a broken tent pole
Patching a hole in a boot
Patching a hole in a jacket
Isolating a broke finger and a sprained ankle
Covering a blister and an abrasion
Repairing a burn hole in a water bottle
Fixing a pair of glasses

Duct tape, and its newer variants, is an indispensable tool, particularly in the backcountry. It is probably the one thing in your emergency kit you will use and use regularly. Along with your credit card, "don't leave home without it."

Note: "duct" is the proper term to describe the progenitor to the currently popular gray tape. However, many people refer to the tape as "duck" tape. The word has been adopted by a company that manufactures "duck" brand tape of many different styles, some of which are better than others for outdoor uses. Make sure you get a higher quality tape, preferably waterproof. Another great option that I have found to be excellent, particularly in wet environments, is Gorilla tape. I used Gorilla tape to stick a wet sheet of plastic to a wet wall during a roofing leak at our store. The adhesive worked great even when drenched and held the plastic up for several days, even with water pooling in it.

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