This sounds pretty harsh, but at that same time a really good point.

I started to label all my gear for two reasons.

The crew I run with is very generous with gear. It’s always flowing in and out. Major gear isn’t a big deal and most of us have all that stuff. It’s the little stuff, or the emergencies. My sleeping pad was stolen last night and I’m leaving tomorrow, can I borrow yours? No problem, I have 3. No rush getting it back, then both parties forget. I forget who I lent it to, and the lendee forgets who let them borrow it. Once in a while gear turns up with a “hey… that’s mine. Awesome.” But I have gear in my attic that isn't mine and I have no clue who to even ask!

The straw that broke this camel’s back was after a winter duck hunt I left my waders behind. I didn't worry much about it because the crew my waders were with are good people. Problem was, no one seemed to remember seeing waders. I ended up finding the waders about a year later, after I had replaced them. Lesson learned. Now I am more careful of keeping track of who has my stuff, and I mark everything. Even books.

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I generally just mark my initials on small gear or my last name on large gear. I have used sharpies and an engraving pen. Depends on the item.

On a camping trip with our scout troop up into Canada, I found a knife for a scout mess kit in our camp site. The knife had a full name and troop number on it. I did a quick internet search when we got back to Ohio and found out that it belonged to a Scoutmaster from a troop in New York. A few e-mails to get the mailing address right, he now has his knife back.