If you haven't noticed by now I like kits...so every time I rebuild one of my kits I'm going to take a picture and post it here...the collective knowledge on this forum is so amazing that it would be a shame not to share my kit obsession and at the same time miss out on an opportunity to get tips and pointers from everybody here.

Today I streamlined my 'gear repair' kit. I never used to carry this one until a backpack strap gave way while I was riding my motorcycle. It's a good thing I was wearing the waist belt or I'd have needed one of my other kits! After I pulled over I was left with three options: leave my pack in the ditch and come back for it (not really an option), ride home as is (very not safe) or put it in my lap and ride VERY slowly (also not safe). I ended up riding home very slowly with one hand on the bars and one hand on the loose strap. Not long after that I bought an AMK gear repair kit and it grew into what you see here.

It's come in handy countless times while camping and hiking...though much more often to bail friends and strangers out than myself.

The kit is in a blue pencil case (I have 3 such cases in different colours so I can find them in my stuff sack quickly)...starting from approximate left to right:
  • Assorted buttons in a baggie
  • 3 Meters brass snare wire (it's not just good for catching rabbits!)
  • Roll of Duct Tape
  • Roll of McNett Clean Tape (I put some of the smaller items into the tape tube to conserve space)
  • Jig Saw blade
  • Container of safety and straight pins
  • 2 alcohol swabs
  • Blue glue stick (for bulk repairs)
  • Craft glue stick (for flexible repairs...amazing on an air mattress)
  • 3 sizes pole repair sleeves
  • spool of blue thread
  • spool of green thread
  • Length of shock cord
  • Former Coghlans tent repair kit bag with assorted patches and netting both sew and stick on. Also contains sewing needles and sand paper.
  • Small tube Seam Grip
  • Assorted replacement plastic bits. (Just typical backpack stuff for now but I may add more later)
  • Smith's diamond sharpening steel (a dull knife is broken gear IMO)
  • Assorted zip ties (I'm a bit low in the picture as I needed some recently)
  • Length of webbing
  • Mini Bic (for melting nylon cord/rope and glue sticks)

The kit is certainly full but it doesn't weigh very much as most of this stuff is plastic. I like the fact that it's a kit because I can toss it into my soft motorcycle luggage if I'm using that instead of my backpack.