Tape Storage

By Ed Streit

When I head to the woods every fall, I always find a need for tape. I keep a roll of duct tape in the truck, and a small roll of electrical tape in my fanny pack.

Last year was my first trip to Colorado to pursue the great wapiti. As a newbie heading into the backcountry for the first time, I packed everything I could think of into my daypack. Alas, there was no room for a roll of duct tape. I came up with the perfect solution--I taped everything that was in the bag! Well, not exactly. I put tape on my flashlights, water bottle, pack frame, knife sheath and any other items I was carrying. As we all know, there are countless uses for tape: wound closure, emergency shelter setup, bow tip protectors, blood trail marker, bow repair--the possibilities are endless. Also endless are the types of tape that you can use, from the old stand-by duct tape, to painter's (aka masking) tape, electrical tape, clear packing tape, packing tape with the little strings in it, Scotch tape, and my favorite, self vulcanizing electrical splicing tape (awesome). Now there is tape at my fingertips whenever I need it, but it doesn't take up any noticeable room in my pack.

Comments:

John wrote: I don't remember where I first heard this, but its not my idea--I can say that with certainty.

Find a cotter key/pin in a size you feel will fit your key chain. Wrap the duct tape around the key slowly and evenly. Add as much as you want or feel you can handle hanging from your key chain. I attached a couple pictures showing what I mean. The cotter key I used is rather large, but as you can see from my key set I carry more than the average person. (Heck, I also carry a Buck 110 folder everyday too--after a while the size/weight becomes normal.) I put about 10 feet of tape on the one in the pictures. This obviously could be attached to a pack or a coat or whatever else you can think of.