Your one "must have"

My Streamlight Microstream - in my pocket everyday, everywhere, and has been for maybe a decade. I have a few different Streamlights of varying size and lumens, but this is the one that stays in my pocket for everyday use when traveling and around camp.

Streamlight_8955-900y.jpg

If thinking of getting one, I hear they changed the pocket clip to a simpler straight clip. Suitable for a pocket, perhaps, but not for clipping to a hat or somewhere else like this one is.

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Roaddude - On the Road In North America - ROADDUDE

Roaddude - Traveling Photographer/Writer/Artist On the Road In North America. Gear, reviews, people, places, and culture.
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J.W. said:
Dental floss.

I know it sounds weird but you’d be surprised how useful it is. I’ve fixed a tent in the middle of the night with it. It’s crazy strong, sanitary, and doesn’t take up hardly any space. Plus you can clean your teeth with it.
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I have a camp chef hot pot....my water heater...showers and everything else.
 
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Anak said:
Patrick F. McManus.

He is a family camping tradition. If we are camping then McManus comes along. Come bedtime it is my job to pick and read one of his stories. I think the rest of the family most enjoys watching me struggle to read aloud as I nearly die laughing.

Of course I have to hide him away during the day or The Varmints will find him and spend hours reading when they should be running around living McManus.

For those who don't know him, Pat McManus used to write "The Last Laugh" for Outdoor Life magazine. All of those articles have been compiled into books. They are essentially collections of short stories, each of which can stand on their own, although character development does increase the more of them you read. They are largely humorous accounts of the various trials and tribulations endured by those who spend any amount of time outdoors. Do a Google search for "The Art of Trailering" and you should be able to find a pdf of one of his original columns. That will give you a taste of his style of humor.
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Old Griz said:
I hadn't thought about "Outdoor life" in ages
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JCWages said:
I grew up with those McManus columns. :hearteyes:
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Wow, what a cool throw-back. I also grew up with those mags and columns, but likewise hadn't even thought of them in ages. I'm going to have to see if I can find some of those compilation books.

-TJ
 
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tjZ06 said:
As for me, it's really hard to pick ONE thing... so I'll break the rules and do two:
  • Firearm
  • In-Reach Spot or similar GPS device with ability to send SOS w/ location
-TJ
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Great choices! Yes, I'm not a gun guy as you know but I still agree. :)

As for my 1 thing...... Toilet paper
 
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JCWages said:
Great choices! Yes, I'm not a gun guy as you know but I still agree. :)

As for my 1 thing...... Toilet paper
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Yeah, you're not a gun guy 'til a bear is charging you... or a tyrannical government. ;) :D

And yes, TP is a good call (this is why "1 thing" impossible). I'll raise your TP and add baby wipes. For some reason as an adult male with no children of my own I never thought of bringing baby wipes anywhere just for me until the first time I went to Afghanistan. If the brave men and women of the Special Forces community I worked with aren't "too tough" for baby wipes, than neither am I! In fact, they taught me that wipes are actually good bartering material. I like these for "hooker baths" http://tiny.cc/6144hz and these http://tiny.cc/u144hz for the more traditional use-case for wipes. Of course, good old fashion regular baby wipes are just fine, and way more likely to be found at a gas station or something on the road...

-TJ
 
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I got into a bit of trouble answering a similar question on this forum a while back. A thread was started asking what's the one thing you always seem to bring with you but could easily leave home as it's not a necessity? I answered "My Wife" :sunglasses: I'm gonna have to think this one through before answering...
 
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Along with the many things mentioned here, I have $20 stashed so if I lose my wallet or for some weird reason encounter a place that doesn't take plastic I can still get fuel, food, water, etc. Funny thing is, I have actually had to use the cash on more than one occasion over the years. Even gave it to someone that needed some gas to get back home.
 
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HuddExpo said:
Along with the many things mentioned here, I have $20 stashed so if I lose my wallet or for some weird reason encounter a place that doesn't take plastic I can still get fuel, food, water, etc. Funny thing is, I have actually had to use the cash on more than one occasion over the years. Even gave it to someone that needed some gas to get back home.
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My safety net is a bit more than that. A lot of people don't take plastic in small towns. Especially mom and pop places. Funny thing happened to me in Santa Fe. I didn't want to use my plastic at a motel and they wouldn't take cash. That was a new one for me.
 
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Lanlubber said:
My safety net is a bit more than that. A lot of people don't take plastic in small towns. Especially mom and pop places. Funny thing happened to me in Santa Fe. I didn't want to use my plastic at a motel and they wouldn't take cash. That was a new one for me.
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That has become the norm. If you pay with cash they have no way of charging you for incidentals or damage.
 
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Ok, I thought about it for a bit & my answer is: My teddy bear...

Actually, I realized there are a number of things I seem to always make sure I have with me even though I don't have a dedicated "Bug-Out-Bag" and some of them have already been mentioned. I also realized that for as long as I can remember, I've always had a powerful, good quality flashlight with me at all times, which is kept within easy reach. The couple of times that I've forgotten it, I felt kinda naked... Or, maybe I'm just afraid of the dark, which might explain the teddy bear :grimacing:

I know this doesn't answer the second part of the question, but it's all I could come up with.
 
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Old Griz said:
What one thing that is a must have for you that most folks probably wouldn't think to bring?
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A full tank of gas. I can't tell you how many times in the last 45-50 years I've run across someone out of gas, usually because they didn't fill up before they went out.

Water is the next thing.
 
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64Trvlr said:
A full tank of gas. I can't tell you how many times in the last 45-50 years I've run across someone out of gas, usually because they didn't fill up before they went out.

Water is the next thing.
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I'll go for tow chain and come along. I don't know how many times I have pulled some inexperienced driver in a two wheel drive out of a mud puddle or sand dune. That includes me before I wised up.
 
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