Using stuff while traveling
 

Hi all,

No, tot that kind of stuff, that would be in the 'kitchen and food' topic.

Thing is, I've camped my entire life and just finished a 3 week trek in Nepal. So in this case I carried a candle and a emergency poncho.

On a mountain pass I wass suddenly in the middle of a huge thunderstorm. I made my way down the mountain but was soaked.

when I opened my pack u saw the poncho but did not use. I'm sort of hesitating to use the stuff I carry 'for you never know you might REALLY need it'. And so I've camped my entire life carrying stuff all around and always end up thinking 'maybe next time I'll need it / use it'.

I hate this for it can give you more comfort at that moment and it's not like I'm throwing away money. It's not the expenses while traveling.

Is this just me being stupid or do moe people have this?

Alex

Fortune and Glory, kid. Fortune and Glory.

I have done a similar thing in the garage when I used up a can of WD40, there is a small one in my bike tool kit but hesitated to use it because it was "for emergency use", I quickly realised how ridiculous that was and used it.

I've certainly done that with ponchos. Kept one in my emergency bag for years and not used it despite being soaked on a number of occasions because I didn't know where I could get another one to replace it. That soon stopped when Poundland started selling three for £1 doh.

Generally though I tend to recycle my emergency stuff every now and again and have no problems with using it. Everything has a lifespan and needs replacing whether you use it or not. I bought a tube of hard plastic adhesive some years ago on the basis that it'll come in handy some day but it didn't get used until last week when I was looking to repair a crack in my Suzuki's headlamp shell. I then found the adhesive had gone solid in the tube. That crack's been there for years and I should have repaired it while the adhesive was still functional but while I procrastinated a factor I hadn't taken into account came to the fore.

The worst outcome with emergency items like ponchos is that you keep them until the day you really need them only to find they don't fit or the plastic has oxidised or something. I've had a blind spot with emergency sewing kits, using them to repair something and not replacing the bits I've used so next time they're useless.

I had this dilemma with puncture kit, should I inflate my tyre with the CO2 gas canister or wait a bit until I find a service station? I waited to find a service station. Then when I had a puncture it was time to use them. Disaster ! damn things were rubbish, CO2 everywhere apart from in the tyre. I now carry a pump always, and I tried it at home first on both fully deflated tyres.

I'm always wondering if that "emergency whatever" will actually work when I need it, but then you can spend a lot of time worrying about stuff that probably won't happen.

BTW - I'll now carry a poncho ........do they work..........oh you wouldn't know :innocent:

Go on - splash out (!) at Poundland, buy a few and road test them. Let us know how you get on - a 2000 word review should cover it :rofl: I've not had cause to try mine out yet (although this morning came close I couldn't find them doh). It's always the way - I carefully hoard one and get soaked rather than use it and now I've got loads of them I've not had the opportunity. :(

I have stuff for emergencies that I never use even when its replaceable, like the 25 litres of emergencu water I took back to Spain from the Sahara.doh

Re ponchos, if you have the space bin the plastic ones and get a USMC Poncho, I bought one 20 years ago and it always travels with me. It'll keep you dry, work as a emergency shelter, curtains in hotel rooms with non. Tough and resiliant it a great bit of kit.

Only downside is the camo pattern but there are civilian or plain green or black versions available.

too much kit
 

I always carry too much kit but have used every bit of it. I am not sure if I neededto use it or I just used it in order to justify carrying it. I carry a wind up torch in case my headlight batteries run out. I know there are many places you can buy batteries but I figure what if they run out after the shops have closed and in the middle of a storm?

I always carry a poncho which has doubled up as a groundsheet to sit on, a wind break and a bivvy bag when I thought the heavens would come gushing through the roof of my tent! They can be folded up much smaller than this picture https://amazonsourcetosea.wordpress....p-carousel-221

I struggle constantly to know what to leave behind as I am sure the item I leave will be the one I need when in the middle of no where with no one in sight and generally in the dark with a storm brewing.

Having been caught out with the wrong gear in the snow and freezing cold and again in torrential rain where I discovered my "waterproof" panniers were not (long since replaced) I have no wish to be caught out again. I ended up with a paddling pool in my tent and my dripping wet clothes, sleeping bags, etc just adding to it. As a result I now carry a tarp so wet stuff can drip outside of the tent even in the rain.

Hope this helps to at least justify carrying "unnecessary" gear as it is only required when you need it!

GM

Thats essentially a civilian (and improved) version of the USMC Poncho I have, Nomad Travel have it with good discounts atm
Travelproof Expedition Poncho | Nomad Travel

Really good advice. RE-cycling old items (or at least having a look at them) is smart. I've been burned on this too ... from old, dried up Rubber cement, to dried out, cracking inner tubes. Anything plastic or rubber needs to be checked.

Tubes of glue, loc tite, JB Weld ALL need to be periodically re-newed.

As far as carrying stuff you never use ... only experience can help. If I don't use it ... I leave it home. But all depends on type of trip, terrain, camping or Hotels, which bike, and personal style and tolerance for discomfort.
bier

Tim,
I carry bicycle pumps too ... but beware, most are fairly Cheapo ... and guess what? I've had two that were strapped onto my DR650 ... they sat there over a year. Both failed due (I guess?) to internal rubber seals drying out or failing. NO GO. So now, I refresh these before every trip, they only last a few years. Mine got HOT, WET , so didn't help them much. On one, it worked, but barely ... a real PITA to pump up tire.

Do you really ride in a storm? Rather than carry a Wind up Flashlight, why not 3 spare AAA batteries for your head lamp? That's what I've always done. Set on Mid or low, my head lamp has long life.

Experience is the best teacher ... but of course everyone's experience is different. Freezing? Snow? Torrential rain? Hotel or bar, warm fire, day off riding ... thank you very much. :rofl: bier

Unless you ride to the top of a mountain ... and then STAY THERE, you usually can find things you need while on the road. You do stop for gas, yes?

In early years, I constantly ditched useless stuff (or gave it away) and bought items I needed. But every trip is different so kit constantly evolves.

Most stuff you need is available even in less developed countries. Bike parts are another story ... and proper planning needs to be done for that. bier