Small/Obscure Pack Items

[Tag_Soup]

Well, waiting for September to come around has killed my office productivity...so in the spirit of wasting time, what are some small, cheap, or obscure items that find their way into your pack? Mine would include:

-Seasonings - Salt, pepper, broth/bullion packets. Elk backstrap or grouse over the fire is way better with some seasoning. Broth can be a real mood saver when its wet and cold. I often add a packet to a self dehydrated meal for extra flavor.
-Proxy Slips - After having a friend get nicked for being a good guy and packing out an elk on his horses for a random backpacker, I always keep a few printed paper Proxy statements and a pen in my pack. You never know when you may need help getting an animal out or have a vehicle break down and need someone to pick up meat.
-Cheap water bottle w/cool shield bubble wrap insulation - great for keeping morning coffee hot during the hike to a glassing spot and weighs 1 oz. kind of a b**** to pour into though
-Downloaded podcasts & ear buds - So long as I have a good charger along, I will often listen to a hunting podcast mid day or when rained in to keep the faith
-Shrink tubing - easy boot laces can be made with 550 cord and a shrink tubing end. Weighs nothing and I have used it twice
-Zip Ties - Good for attaching tags or fixing pack straps
-"Red Cap" - Calk tube end cover. I use them for barrel covers both rifle and muzzle loader hunting. Don't seem to change POI a bit and nice insurance that I won't jam dirt into my barrel or have moisture ruin a muzzle loader hunt.

 

[robtattoo]

I always have a small Shwartz spice bottle full of a mixture of salt, black pepper & red pepper. Pretty much great on everything. Never considered bullion prefer though. Good idea!

Zip ties & safety pins.

I always have a small notepad & pencil. I never make notes at home, but I find it really useful when I'm out hunting for making direction notes etc...

I always, always have a few heavy duty rubber bands. The type that come around asparagus bunches. I have 3 on my bow quiver & a couple on each rifle.

 

[Tag_Soup]

I always, always have a few heavy duty rubber bands. The type that come around asparagus bunches. I have 3 on my bow quiver & a couple on each rifle.

Interesting! What types of things have you found them useful for? I have a jar full of them at home, just haven't thought to bring a few along.

 

[robtattoo]

Securing clothing in place of an arm guard, holding tree limbs back for a temporary ground blind, compressing clothing in my pack....all kinds things!

 

[Gunnersdad49]

Earplugs, the rubber kind, not the foam kind. Especially when spotting or filming for a friend, they allow me the freedom to keep my hearing while focusing (pun intended) on the task at hand of getting a good idea of bullet or arrow placement, getting good footage, or watching where the animal goes. If I have the time, I put them in. If I don't, I regret it.

Tiny tootsie rolls. The ones that are about an inch long. They don't melt like chocolate, and end up in several pockets of my pack and my pants. They are a good little pick me up, cure for boredom, and the wax paper they come in is great for starting a fire.

 

[robtattoo]

Securing clothing in place of an arm guard, holding tree limbs back for a temporary ground blind, compressing clothing in my pack....all kinds things!

Almost forgot.... They make a hell of a fire lighter.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Dobermann]

Uncle Bill's Tweezers (sometimes called 'Sliver Grippers') are small, weigh next to nothing, and end in a sharp point that is great for getting out splinters.

Fisher Stowaway Pens are also very lightweight, and can slip into the back of an AGC bino pouch and be practically unnoticeable.

Credit-card sized magnifying glass plastic - again, weigh nearly nothing, can be used to make out detail in maps, etc, and start a fire on a sunny day.

Huzzah lip balm has an SPF option, which not all lip balms offer, and is oval-shaped. It seems to fit around other stuff in the side pockets of my AGC harness a little better than round lip balms. It's a small thing, but makes just enough difference to be worth the effort for me to track it down ...

 

[rayporter]

dental floss-the little rolls that the dentist gives out that are about a half inch diameter. just to use as string when i lose or give out my zip ties.