Quote Originally Posted by ChattanCat View Post
Ok, I am curious. What have you used the paracord, carrbiners, and duct tape for while in the woods, meadows, and mountains?
Duct tape repairs packs, raingear, tents and tarps. I use it a lot to mark trail areas that need work...wrap it around a branch and write instructions for the trail crew to follow. Boot repair.

With 550 you can make a dog leash for lost pets, tool hoisting lines when doing tree work, tarp support lines, extra tent fly tie-downs in high wind areas (try camping on top of Mt. Mitchell some time...the winds blow down the tents of the uninitiated on a regular basis. Pretty much every night someone loses their fly or their entire tent). I used 550 last year to lash two branches to my leg for a splint when I blew my ACL, then when I found that I kept banging my foot on the ground I rearranged it to lash foot to my backside so I could hop down the mountain more easily.

Carabiners are invaluable when making a z-drag to move really heavy objects (but this requires heavier line than 550 and a couple of Prussik loops, all of which I also carry when doing trail work). They're also handy for attaching gear to your pack loops, and having several hanging on your pack makes you look like you know what you're doing even if you don't.

How's that?