Double-Duty Gear

I love nothing more than products or gear that can do more than one task. When every ounce counts in your bag, finding items that can be more of a jack-of-all-trades will be big payoff.

As always, it’s important to avoid bringing anything extra – packing only the essentials. Bringing multi-purpose gear helps minimize not only bag size, but keeps you more organized. We all have memories of rummaging through our bags to try and find that one random small item, so the less stuff you bring on your trips, the better.

Here are some of my favorite double-duty items – some are meant for backpacking, while others are good for just travel in general:

• Mirror + Hairbrush combo
  • Mirror: A mirror is not at all for vanity or to ensure I’m pimple-free – it’s for putting in my contacts daily. For those lucky enough to have perfect vision, well, good for you but I can’t join your party. With all of the adventures I find myself on, being glasses free is always ideal.
  • Hairbrush: With very long and very curly hair, when I have the luxury of showering in an actual shower while city-hopping, I need to brush it out or else I’m coming home with a rat’s nest above my head. Non-negotiable.
• Duct tape wrapped around a lighter
  • Duct Tape: Ever heard the saying ‘duct tape fixes everything’? Well, it’s true. Use it for fixing broken shoes, to cover up blisters, to seal a ripped tent, to open tight jars and more. I wouldn’t go camping without it.
  • Lighter: This should be self explanatory but it’s not for a pyro-party. Obviously use it for getting your stove and campfire light, but you can also use it to disinfect a sewing needle for blister-popping (trust me, I’m the expert here – see website name above).
• Compression bag + Clothing = pillow
  • Compression bags: I like bringing compression bags to keep my clothing in one place, and squished down as small as it can be with no air included in the packing. At night, use it filled with your bulkiest clothes and rest your head.
• A bandana
  • A bandana can be used for many items while on-the go. Use it as headwear/neckwear to block the sun (or to just look glam), as a scarf or earmuffs if it gets cold, a tensor bandage or ice pack holder in case of injury, a slow drip coffee filter, a cloth for cleaning dishes, an ‘oven mitt’ for handling hot cookware or as an eye mask to catch some Z’s.
• Vaseline
  • Peroleum jelly does a variety of things other than just the obvious lip or skin moisturizer. If you are blister-prone like me, rub some on your heels and between your toes in the morning and at night to reduce friction. Need some fire starter? Vaseline can help do the trick! It can also work to help shield any open wounds or sores from infection – slather some on and cover with duct tape.
• Camping soap
  • Use biodegradable multi-purpose soap as hand soap, shampoo and body wash, dish detergent and laundry detergent. You need just a few drops to get a nice soapy lather. Plus, when the bottle is done, re-use it for something else as the nalgene bottles that they come in are spill-proof.
• Safety Pins
  • Use safety pins for temporary tent repairs, to hang up clothing, fasten small items to your pack, remove a splinter or fashion a sling.
• Versatile Sandals 
  • When travelling in cities (staying in hostels), and heading to the beach, I need sandals that can be ready for action when needed as they become shower shoes, beach shoes and indoor slippers. But when I don’t feel like wearing sneakers anymore during the day or plan on a night out to a ‘nicer’ place, I try and find ones that can play this part as well (and are not just rubber flip flops).
• Hand Sanitizer
  • Keeping germ-free while travelling is super important as you’re likely entering in to unknown environments that your immune system has not experienced. But good ol’ hand sanitizer, due to it’s high alcohol content, can also be used as a deodorizer (kills bacteria in everything from your armpits to your sneakers) and blemish controller. You can also use it as a glasses cleaner if needed.
• Sporty Bathing suit
  • For the ladies out there, while camping or doing any sort of adventure, we want our ‘girls’ to be supported. Instead of bringing a sports bra, find a bathing suit that has a similar shape, or even one that has more of a bra-like clasp on the back. You can still wear these under dresses, shirts, etc, but can bring just one less item in your back. Plus, use the bottoms as easily washable underwear! Better yet if you can find reversible ones.
• Quick-dry towel 
  • Use this for all post-showers and beach trips of course, as well as a yoga or sitting mat, but use as an extra blanket if it gets cold, or fold it multiple times for use as a pillow.
• Bowl > Plate
  • Find a collapsible bowl that can do double duty as a plate and cutting board, reducing 2 items from your list already! Or just eat right out of the pot!
• Lightweight tarp
  • Tarps keep your camping gear dry but can also be used as a make-shift rain jacket, backpack cover or ground sheet for under your tent

 

Have any lightweight or multi-purpose gear tricks of your own? Leave me a comment – I would love to try them out!

 

Packing list: Splurge vs. Save

Hiking and camping gear can cost a fortune if you buy everything top-of-the-line and brand new.

If you’re looking to decide what is worth the extra bucks, or what can be done DIY or made cheaper, below are some thought starters based on my experiences.

Splurge: 

• Backpack
  • With a backpacking or portaging canoe trip upon you, your bag becomes the vessel to hold literally everything you need to bring. Regardless of size, there will be quite a bit of weight on your back so finding a bag that not only fits you proportionately, but hugs the hips and chest in the right places will help take the weight off your shoulders (literally). We are all built different, and the quality brands that make backpacking bags know that – building frames that adjust to fit any length of torso. If you plan on buying used to save a bit, ensure you go with a well-known brand as the cheaper ones tend to fall apart quite quickly, and are not as water resistant as you would hope.
• Sleeping bag
  • If you’re carrying all of your gear throughout your trip, a sleeping bag that is light and compressible will be important as every inch of your bag space is needed. Look for one that has a lower temperature rating (i.e. I recommend -5 to 4 degrees Celsius) so it can be used in more seasons. It may be too warm for summer months but you always have the option of opening it up or sleeping on top of it.
• Tents
  • Depending on where you are camping, you will likely be looking for a 3-season tent if you want it to last a few years and have the ability to be used wherever you go (with the exception of Winter camping – that’s a whole other element). Similar to sleeping bags, higher end tents are often lighter and pack smaller with multi-purpose fabrics and lightweight foldable poles. Make sure your tent has ripstop nylon and weather-sealed seams – I always prefer a bathtub floor to really protect against the rain – but you pay for the luxury of total dryness in a rainstorm (and in my opinion, it’s worth every penny as it becomes your home while you are away).
  •  There are good looking tents at Big Box stores but be wary of their quality on legitimate backpacking/hiking/canoe trips. Most will have a tarp or cover for the rain, but how effective they are is sometimes not-as-advertised. I would really only recommend these types when car camping, or not needing to carry it on your back.
• Footwear
  • You need footwear that has stability, traction, foot and ankle support, comfort and will keep you dry from the elements. With all of those qualities, investing in shoes that specialize in the activities you are partaking in is totally necessary. As a blister-prone gal, I will never again buy cheap hiking boots that look the part – but can’t actually deliver. Sore feet is the fastest way to ruin any trip. Every foot is different, and there are amazing brands out there that are right for you. Be diligent and patient in finding your glass slippers.

Save: 

• Clothing
  • The hiking trail is not a runway – you don’t need the top outdoor brands on your body to make it feel more real. However, having the right kinds of clothes is important – everything from a fleece sweater, to moisture wicking workout material shirts and wool socks. You can find a lot of good workout clothing at your local thrift store, or even big box store for a big discount.
• A pillow and sleeping mat
  • Make your own pillow with an empty pillowcase + all your clothes. If you want to bring a more ‘real’ pillow, you can find expandable or inflatable ones online for very cheap, or at your local dollar store
  • I’ve seen a ton of self-inflating sleeping mats on Amazon with good reviews. At the end of the day, they do the same thing as the expensive ones from a camping store – as long as you’re elevated off the ground slightly and have somewhere cushy to lie down, save yourself some dollars.
• Kitchen equipment
  • Most of the kitchen equipment you will need is already fairly lightweight, so you have the ability to buy plates, mugs, cups, cutlery etc at your local dollar store or big box store without much of a difference compared to the more expensive camping brands
  • If you’re planning on using a stove to make your meals, there are small and lightweight burners that clip on to a portable gas unit that are fairly affordable on amazon. The gas itself would likely need to be purchased at a camping store, but they are usually between $5-10.
• Lighting and Fire Starters
  • Headlamps are super affordable at stores like Canadian Tire or WalMart – but I would avoid the dollar store kind as they don’t light up the path as much. Just make sure you bring extra batteries and you should be good to go.
  • The dollar store has the fire-starter sticks for about half the price of a camping store. You don’t need a fancy brand here, just something to get the job done

• Med Kit and Toiletries
  • Please make your own. When I am in a camping store and see how much they charge for a basic med kit and bottled toiletries, it makes me cringe. Grab empty toiletry bottles and fill with what you already have in your shower – or buy some cheap biodegradable camp soap and use for everything. For the med kit, you likely already have everything that should go in to one, but if not, pick it all up at your local dollar store (bandaids, polysporin, advil, stomache relief – ie. pepto bismal, alcohol wipes).

Have ideas you think I should add? Let me know in the comments!