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 Solo tripping, especially extended trips into remote wilderness regions, means putting a ton of faith in your equipment. Your canoe, packs, tent, stove and other gear are put under constant strain from repetitive use. While we strive to keep our gear in good working order, over time even the best gear begins to wear. When this occurs, you'll have to make the necessary repairs and practice preventative maintenance to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip.
At the beginning of the season, and more importantly before departing on an extended solo adventure, it’s a good idea to do an audit of all your gear. Lay it all out and go through everything. Check for wear, test items such sleeping pads, stoves, tents etc. Repair or replace anything that’s not in perfect working order.
While the cost of good gear can be a limiting factor, you should use the best gear that your budget allows. This is no time to go with inferior products to save a few bucks; there’s a good reason top of the line gear is priced as it is. Do your research, look at what other trippers have used on long expeditions and make an educated purchase.
That said, even the best gear will fail over time and it’s up to you to know how to make the appropriate repairs. Let’s take a look at some of the staple items that should be in every wilderness trippers repair kit.
Multi-tool: One of the most important items to carry, there’s dozens of models on the market. Choose a quality tool such as those made by Leatherman or Gerber. Your tool should include features like needle-nose pliers, serrated knife, awl, scissors and a file.
Gorilla Glue: A small bottle of Gorilla Glue will help you make repairs to your canoe such as hanging your seat or replacing a thwart…..or just about any odd job.
Crazy Glue: Crazy glue is handy for re-applying knee pads, tie downs and fixing a host of other problems. It’ll also seal a nasty cut in an emergency!
Duct Tape: The universal tool for making quick repairs in the field, carry a large roll of the best duct tape you can by. There's almost no limit to it's powers from mending a beat up canoe, to covering holes in packs.
Screws: A few spare screws will help to replace stripped or lost screws that work their way out of the trim, or deck plate etc. Ensure you’re carrying the correct sizes.
Small Screwdriver: You might have one on your multi-tool, but a small screwdriver with interchangeable heads will give you more torque when tightening loose screws.
Sleeping Pad Repair Kit: This one’s a must! Many trippers have experienced punctured sleeping pads on trips. These kits are lightweight and contain everything needs to make numerous repairs.
Stove Maintenance Kit: Purchase a maintenance kit for your appropriate stove model. Kit’s contain items such as stove tools, fuel filters, O-rings, oil and instructions on cleaning and changing parts.
Gore-Tex Repair Kit: For those that trip with Gore-Tex raingear, carry a repair kit to make repairs to rips and holes.
Canoe Parts: Spare parts such as seat hangers, small pre-drilled wood supports, and brackets will take care of seat repairs.
Seam Grip: Make repairs to tent floors, fly's and tarps quickly. It waterproof’s too!
Eyeglass Repair Kit: A must for anyone that wears glasses, these kits are also handy for repairing sunglasses. They usually include small screwdrivers, spare nose cushions and a magnifying glass.
Sharpening Stones: Your knife is one of the most important tools in your kit…. keep it sharp and it’ll perform better and be a lot safer to use.
Tent Fly Material: Carry a few swatches of tent fly and floor material. Most manufacturers now supply you with some when you purchase a tent. Repairs to holes can be made quickly by applying these over the compromised area.
Spare Buckles: Plastic buckles on packs, and barrel harness will break. Carry spare buckles in the appropriate sizes and you’ll never be stuck without a pack strap closing.
Zippo Flints & Wick: If you carry a Zippo lighter, don't forget to carry extra flints and wicks. For convenience, you can carry 2-3 spare flints inside your lighter. Drop them in between the fiberglass when you refuel. You'll always have one handy!
Sewing Kit: A few stitching needles and a bobbin of thread will handle all your clothing repair duties. It's also handy for making repairs to loose stitching on packs and other gear.
All the items above should be packed into a small compression bag or utility box for easy access and organization. Depending on the area you're tripping in, you'll have to adjust the kit to your specific needs. One thing's for sure. Carrying a complex repair kit will allow you to deal with equipment failure in stride.
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