Quick, Overnight Bicycle Touring

Brett Surprised the group with a donut from Bob’s in San Francisco. It weighed more than a pound and was bigger than a dinner plate. What do three men do with such an item? 1. 1. Remove from box
2. Place on fire
3. Consume

By Brett,

I like to prepare for any trip in the great outdoors….or really any trip for that matter, using what I like to call a ‘Three Kit System’. Years ago when I started traveling for business I soon realized how much easier it was to keep a dopp kit ready to go at all times. This kept me from having to assemble all the items for each trip, and made packing much easier. Likewise, there are a couple other kits that I think are handy to keep at the ready — and a key part of any gear list.

Any outdoorsman will tell you that when you’re in the back-country you also need a first aid kit. The size and type of first aid kit you bring is specific to the type and duration of the trip, and I’m not going to go into a lot of details on that here.

The third kit….which I find is less commonly sited, is what I like to call the Back Country Tool Kit. This kit contains all the key necessities you might need to repair or fix any of your crucial gear or create solutions to a myriad of problems or opportunities. Like the other two kits I find that having an intact kit, ready to go at all times, is pretty handy and can save a lot of preparation time. When I’m not going on a trip, I keep my tool kit in the car (just as I keep a dopp kit and first aid kit in the car, for just such an emergency). Over the years, I’ve assembled a small collection of tools and supplies that can get you out many jams. I like to keep my tool kit in a small zipper bag like some of those offered by Eagle Creek. There are times when I’ve reached into my little bag of tricks, and people can’t believe I just happened to have just what was needed to save the day. The key isn’t in having everything; it’s in having the right things. I’ve settled on a few key items over the years.

Here’s what I like to keep in my tool kit:

1.  Duct Tape: We all know how this can be a life saver around the home. It’s no less useful in the backcountry. It can be used to prevent a hot spot from forming on your foot, or to bind some gear back together. Just this summer I used it to bind a sole back onto a friend’s boot, which helped to get her safely home. I generally just roll the tape on itself into a flat role about 2 inches wide and a quarter to half inch thick. If you’re on a longer trip you might want a bit more.

2.  Lighter: (You could also use a magnesium stick or flint). The ability to start a fire can be a life saver.

3.  Multi tool: I like a Leatherman (with a pair of pliers) but Swiss Army knives are good too.

4.  Heavy duty needles: Should you need to repair a pack, boot, tent, or clothing item this could be pretty handy and with next to no weight. You could also cut and bend them into a variety of tools such as fish hooks.

5.  Heavy duty fishing line: I usually just wrap some around the cardboard pack of needles. You could use this as thread to sew up a pack, fish with it, or even make a variety of animal traps if need be.

6.  Headlamp: Keeping this in your tool kit is just handy consolidation.

7.  Wire: A small section of wire can be used to attach something, can be used with a battery to start a fire, or even crafted into a fish hook.

8.  Emergency blanket: These generally weigh just a few ounces, but can literally save your life if you’re caught with too few or the wrong clothes. It can also be used as a windblock, a rain poncho, or a tarp.

9.  Cord: There are so many uses for this; it’s a critical piece of equipment. To list a few: bear bagging, stretching a tarp/shelter, lashing gear, making a trap, etc.

10. Twist ties: These can be pretty handy for a quick fix or lashing. I prefer the ones that can be opened and reused.

11. Super Glue: For a fraction of an ounce this can be a real handy item. I use this surprising frequently on backcountry trips where there are so many little things that can break (sunglasses, a clip on a pack, etc.). I’ve also heard that superglue can be used to seal up a cut in a pinch (though as I’m not a Dr. you’ll have to weigh this decision yourself).

12. Water Purification Tablets (and neutralizer): Clean water is a key in staying healthy and safe, and you don’t always know if a clean source of water is available. Of course you’ll all need a vessel for water, but I generally pack that separately.

Of course there are many other things that you could keep in your kit, including a few spare parts, straps, etc. but I’ve found the items in this list to be pretty useful. Of course having these items is only half of the battle. Knowing how to use the various items, and craft innovative solutions to problems is where the rubber meets the road. I’ve occasionally been nicknamed MacGyver by travel companions, and part of the fun for me is figuring out how to resolve a problem with the materials on hand or in the environment. I’ve found with this collection of materials listed, I have a pretty good chance of being able to develop all sorts of nifty solutions — bring on the challenge.