The best part of backpacking is getting away. But when you鈥檙e deep in the wilderness,聽you鈥檒l need to be prepared if your gear fails. For a list of repair tools,聽I turned to my friend , who spent more than a year hiking the Pacific Crest, Appalachian, and Continental Divide trails. Here are the eight items he always carried聽in his pack.
Speedy Stitcher Deluxe Sewing Awl Kit #110聽($20)
This is a , especially for someone like Theule, who cuts his straps and toothbrush to save weight. It鈥檚 his go-to because the needles and heavy-duty hemp thread are burly enough to聽fix a blown-out聽leather boot or tear in his tent.
Superglue ($2.50 for 2)
聽is almost as useful as duct tape. Theule uses it to seal holes in jackets, reinforce stitches in large聽fabric tears, repair hard聽goods like broken trekking poles, and even seal large cuts that are too big for a Band-Aid.聽(He cleans the wound, closes it shut, and puts superglue over the top.)
惭辞濒别蝉办颈苍听($3)
Theule uses 聽to prevent聽and cure聽blisters on his feet and聽hands, as well as聽patch holes in his shoes, clothes, bag, or tent. Tip: Don鈥檛 apply moleskin directly over a blister. Instead, cut a larger square with a hole in it and apply the hole over the blister. The moleskin around the blister will keep your sock from making the sore聽worse, and the hole allows the blister to breathe and heal.
尝别耻办辞迟补辫别听($9.50)
鲍蝉别听, with its superstrong聽adhesive, to聽prevent聽bandages, gauze, or moleskin from falling off when you鈥檙e on the聽trail. You can also use it as a patch to repair worn gear.聽Theule once used Leukotape plus聽 (which he uses as a tarp) to seal a giant hole in his boot.
McNett Tenacious Tape ($5)
Meet . McNett is designed聽to seal holes in waterproof or water-resistant gear. It comes in rolls or precut strips and uses a special glue that bonds to your jacket,聽pants, or sleeping bag and won鈥檛 come off when it gets wet. It鈥檚 made primarily from聽reinforced ripstop nylon,聽making it ultrastrong.
Swiss Army Knife ($25)
Theule carries a 聽for food and other camp chores, as well as a聽smaller聽version聽so he has scissors and a聽more agile blade handy for聽cutting聽bandages and patches.
Duct Tape ($5)
It鈥檚 strong, versatile, and has saved Theule in many a pinch. Use it to repair hard聽goods, cover blisters (if your moleskin runs out), and patch holes. Tip: Don鈥檛 bring a . Instead, tear 20 or so feet off and wrap it around a water bottle.
Hyperlite聽Small Roll-Top Stuff Sack聽($36)
Theule organizes his repair kit in this sub-one-ounce bag. He likes the because it鈥檚 ultralight and durable, but you can also get away with a normal nylon stuff sack like 聽for less.