Not instantly Bushcrafty kit

[Motorbike Man]

Inspired by a thread on British Blades in which Narsil commented on the fact that he has a hot melt glue stick in his possibles bag, I had a look at my kit and includes a glue stick, some tye-raps and a small roll of gaffer tape. I would never have considered these things to be bushcrafty but on reflection, they could get you out of all sorts of problems with repairs, take up next to no room and weigh even less.

I was wondering if anyone else carries anything like this?

 

[Wayland]

Cable ties, and spare batteries....

 

[RovingArcher]

Yep, I do. I carry a field repair kit for my arrows, which includes a stick of hot melt.

 

[hobo]

jus saying hi and to say gaffer tape is god !! the glue stick thing is a good idea to what do you melt it with direct flame or heated meatal!

 

[Motorbike Man]

jus saying hi and to say gaffer tape is god !! the glue stick thing is a good idea to what do you melt it with direct flame or heated meatal!

Either would work, heated metal would be easier certainly, but you could even use a heated stone

 

[Rhapsody]

A wire coathanger. There are just so many different uses for a stout bit of wire around the camp that it's unbelievable; improvised pot-hangers, stands, stew-stirrer (I forgot my spoon), pegs for a basha's guy-lines, even a tool to burn designs onto wood carvings... not to mention a million other little things, like hanging up wet clothing and holding random things together temporarily. Quite useful, yet you wouldn't think to bring one!

 

[JakeR]

Towel?

(i'll get me coat)

 

[pumbaa]

Gaffa tape is a must , but i take velcro Adjustable ties (another B&Q bargin)
They come upto 38cm but can be joined for a longer length and way virualy nothing . They even come in larey colours so must be woth carrying !
Pumbaa

 

[JakeR]

Duct tape (same as gaffer?) has a 1000 uses. So another vote for that

 

[MagiKelly]

Duct tape is like "The Force" in Star Wars. It has a light and a dark side and it holds the whole universe together.

 

[HuBBa]

If it can't be fixed with duct/gaffa tape.. it can't be fixed

 

[pumbaa]

Ah but the velcro is reusable !!!!

 

[AJB]

Just a tip about Gaffer, I used to work with a lot of Broadcast Camera men. They all had about a dozen half meter strips of gaffer stuck to the inside of their coats, it was easily accessible and took up no space.

 

[grahoom]

i always have a roll of gaffer tape in my rucksack. so useful.

 

[Squidders]

I tend to carry a few elastic bands... they are good at holding stuff together, you can flick them at things and they are good for lighting fires.

 

[MartiniDave]

Old bicycle innertubes!
If you got to your local bike shop they often have loads (with punctures) they just throw away. All sorts of uses. Make you own "ranger bands", tie down straps, waterproof firelighting strips, attaching firesteels to knife sheaths etc. etc.
The small ones are great for stopping land rover tailgate chains from clanking around, but do cut a hole at the bottom of the loop or they fill with water.

Dave

 

[Moine]

Ok, soapbox mode here...

I think it's stupid and dangerous to avoid good pieces of gear and good techniques because they are not old fashioned enough.

End of soapbox mode.

I know how to make flint tools, but I still carry (at least) a good quality blade in the field. I know how to obtain fire by many different "primitive" means, but I always carry 3 different ways to create fire quickly in the field. I know how to make a debris hut stormproof, but I still carry at least a poncho, if not a poncho and a tarp. I know how to obtain pure pine pitch from fatwood and make a tar out of it... but I still carry cyanoacrylate and duct tape...

It's good to knwo and practice old fashioned stuff, but that's no reason to stop being realistic.

Cheers,

David