How many uses for duct tape can we count?
Duct tape is the universal hiker’s do-all. The most obvious uses:
- Patching: tents, tarps, packs, etc.
- Preventing: Blisters. Tape your trouble spots.
- Splinting: Help immobilize a broken bone. (I shudder to think of how it would feel to peel it back off your skin, though.) Best to know how to immobilize a broken bone first, though.
Duct tape advice known to hikers the world over: wrap some around your hiking pole and you’ll always have a bit ready and won’t have to carry a big roll.
I know the rest of you have some duct tape tips: click on comments and add yours.
I carry about 4 feet of duct tape around my water bottle. A couple of weeks ago I had to use it to immobilize my knee (I had damaged three ligaments and fractured my tibia after about a 10 foot fall). I too wasn’t too fond of the thought of peeling duct tape off my leg, so I wrapped a garbage bag around my leg first. That gave me enough support to hobble down the mountain and spared me the pain of ripping out leg hair.
Story and pics here:
http://jasonalford.com/post/45268427/hiking-injury-or-how-duct-tape-saved-me
http://jasonalford.com/post/45845589/injury-update
Permalink | Posted August 26th, 2008, at 5:18 amSecuring: When folded over lengthwise, duct tape does a fine job replacing broken backpack straps.
Permalink | Posted August 26th, 2008, at 6:26 amThe most recent use I’ve seen of duct tape, which a Pacific Crest Trail hiker said only proved that he tried to get too many miles out of his old hiking boots, was the tape wrapped around a shoe to keep the sole on.
Just wondering, could you hang duct tape in strips to catch mosquitoes (like flypaper)? Now that would be cool!
Permalink | Posted August 27th, 2008, at 9:20 amPants repair.
Very klassy of course!
Permalink | Posted August 27th, 2008, at 1:09 pmDuct tape? I came up with 60 uses.
http://www.onepanwonders.com/myblog.htm?blogentryid=3431210
Permalink | Posted August 27th, 2008, at 1:16 pmWhen using duct tape for medical purposes, you can often apply a piece outside in first (shiny side against the wound) then adhere it with additional strips. Pulling out leg hair is bearable, pulling new skin off a healing wound is not so fun.
Permalink | Posted August 27th, 2008, at 2:12 pmI’ve put it over blisters to stop the contact of the rubbing.
Permalink | Posted August 27th, 2008, at 8:38 pmAdd a couple inches to each side of your tent’s emergency pole repair sleeve, and if/when you need to use it you wil be more than greatful that you don’t go hunting for it!
Permalink | Posted December 19th, 2008, at 9:06 ami wrap a bit around the shell out a pen (cut down a bit) and stick it in my first aide kit
Permalink | Posted July 5th, 2009, at 12:19 pmI fixed a hole in the mesh of my tent just a couple days ago with a piece of duct tape. No more sneaky mosquitoes!
Permalink | Posted August 22nd, 2009, at 10:42 amHa ha, just found this article. Some great ideas here. On the link below is a pic of a pair of boots we saved with duct tape a couple of weeks back. They were 12 years old!
http://ourhikingblog.com.au/2011/11/great-ocean-walk-guided-paid.html
Permalink | Posted November 28th, 2011, at 8:41 pmI think you could use duck tape a lot easier if you had two colors:
Permalink | Posted December 31st, 2013, at 11:39 amSilver-if you are stranded then it will reflect light
Camouflage-to not attract animals when you use it.
You could use it if you are stranded since it reflects light, also making beds. Also you could make underwear/bras.