Item you missed most

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fujita yuji

Joined
Jul 12, 2008
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I was reading PrimitiveMan's useless items thread and come to think of this.
According to Murphy, an item comes to be needed after you choose not to carry it anymore,
or after you lost it in the field or somewhere.
After all, we cannot see perfectly beforehand what is needed when.
Let's talk about such items.

For me, it was sunglasses.
I climbed Mt. Fuji in spring with no sunglasses. It was a hot day
and you know, sunglasses are sometimes annoying in hot/warm weather.
Of course, as it was a hot day, a lot of sunshine was falling and I carried ski.

I was completely blind for whole three days after that.
 
Tape,

I stopped carring it for a while, but its fast and funner than rope, stickyier stuff is the better.:D
 
I had a very compact Luminox travel alarm featuring the dial and hands illuminated with tritium vials. Used it for everything except backpacking (rafting, horse packing, car camping, etc.). Lost it. Until then I didn't realize how superior it was (for those applications) to any wristwatch I own.

DancesWithKnives
 
a good folding saw.

I went out not to long ago and left my saw at the house.

No big deal i have my Fiskars and my BHK ADCAP, I will just chop.

SCREW THAT...after almost losing my grip on the hatchet more than once and just being plain old tired and sore from all the ( poor technique ) chopping i SWORE I would have a folding saw from then on out.
 
A swede saw.

I also never take my watch off other than showering because I hate not knowing how much time has passed.
 
A camera. After carrying cameras everywhere for years, I just couldn't stand having one with me all the time anymore. Now, years later, I try to carry a point & shoot more often. Now if I would just remember to use it.
 
fujita yuji said:
According to Murphy, an item comes to be needed after you choose not to carry it anymore,
or after you lost it in the field or somewhere.
Click to expand...

Ha! Mr. Murphy sure does get around...me an ol'Murphy go waay back:D

Some have already been mentioned, but for me, it's,

My Watch
Burt's Bees chapstick
100mph/duct tape
LED flashlight
Sun glasses

Ever since my eye-surgery, I always have sunglasses when outside...I now keep a spare pair in my office, in my truck and on my IBA. When in the field, we are required to even where them at night...of course with clear lenses. It drives me nuts if I don’t have them within reach!

I'm a slave to time (in a good way). A lot of stuff I do revolves around tight schedules and I'm always monitoring the time and even timing other events. I feel naked without it and as soon as I don't have a watch, I'm constantly looking at my wrist and wondering what time it is:o

My Burt's bees chapstick is just one of those little things that as soon as it's not in my pocket, my lips feel chapped. I guess I have some issues:D

As much as I carry a knife or three...I always try to keep an LED/flashlight at hand. Several times when I didn't have one, the need came up for one and it drives me nuts.

100mph/duct tape is always needed and I now carry about 10-15 feet on a flat role in my back pocket. I don't use it all the time, but it sure comes in handy. Unfortunately, as soon as it gets left behind, I actually start looking for stuff that needs fixing or taping:eek:

I don't want to say they are "crutches", but I do try and make my most essential items "habits" for carrying. As Mr. Murphy always reminds us, when you're least expecting it, something bad will happen; and when you need something the most, you won't have it. Be prepared before you head out anywhere and be prepared to improvise if you’re caught with your pants around your ankles!

Many people at work know they can come to me for a blade, duct tape, 550 cord, flashlight or even a bandaid. I always give them hell about not being prepared and a few are starting to show off their knife or flashlight too me now.

ROCK6
 
These are all good points and I agree especially with the sunglasses and lip balm.

I get used to wearing a watch, but after a few days of not wearing one and constantly looking at my bare wrist, I feel more at ease and go with the flow of the day. The sunlight ends up giving me cues as to when to wake, take a break and go to sleep.

I'd add my space pen. I always carry it around and it's great for jotting down notes, writing in a log book, leaving instructions and that sort of thing. It writes on many surfaces, won't explode in a sticky, staining mess and it's small enough to not be obtrusive. My PSK also holds a small Sharpie, but the space pen gets used much more often.
 
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