A lot of “survival” kits include duck tape (yes, that was the original name, not “duct”). That’s hard to argue with, it’s great stuff to have, it’s extremely versatile and it enhances your general capabilities admirably, which is what we’re going for, after all… general, non-scenario-specific capability enhancement. That gets us out of the business of trying to predict the future, and also has the potential to enhance our lives, not just save them in extreme circumstances.
Duck or duct tape is one of the most versatile tools you can have on-hand. There are better tapes out there for specific uses, but I don’t think any are as generally useful. The old joke is that you can repair anything with duck tape and WD-40, the first go stop things moving that shouldn’t but are, and the second to get things moving that should but aren’t. I actually prefer Kroil over WD-40 for serious use, but it doesn’t come in a convenient pen (and it’s expensive), so WD-40 will do for kits.
I even have it on good authority that the stuff works on Mars. One wondered about the near-vacuum sublimating the volatiles out of the adhesive, but hey, what do I know. 😉
However, the kits that include any duck tape typically just have these little rolls of a few feet, sometimes as little as one-and-a-half feet. I guess that MIGHT be enough in a few circumstances, but it’s less than I want to carry even in a small pack. This stuff is just way too useful to limit yourself to a tiny amount.
Gorilla Tape came out with this relatively new version, and I like it a lot more. It’s one-inch wide, instead of the standard two-inch duck tape (which was originally intended for waterproofing crate seams, that’s why it’s wide), and it’s thirty (30) feet long- enough for serious use, repair, bindings, lashings, with some left over. You could even fold it on itself lengthwise and use it as makeshift cordage in a pinch. I find it much more versatile than the wide stuff. If you need more width you can just make more wraps, which is much more convenient than trying to narrow the standard-width tape. Also, the roll is about the size of a hockey puck, much more easily packable than the large size. I’ve got it in almost all of my bags and kits now- indispensable for automotive use, cars have a LOT of hoses these days.
The first time I found this stuff in a hardware store I think it was wrapped in something like cellophane. I was quite excited, bought a couple of rolls, went back for more, and… gone. It disappeared for months, then re-appeared in the current cardboard “hang pack” packaging.
Frankly, I wish they had stuck with the original packaging . Now you really need to keep this in a baggie or something inside your pack to keep it from getting gooey adhesive on other items, especially in the heat. Also, it may tend to “cone-out” somewhat from pressure, especially in heat, which is a nuisance but doesn’t diminish its utility. What they really need is a lightweight dispenser that keeps it flat and also helps to tear the stuff.. probably wishful thinking.
– Robert the Wombat