Duct Tape?

It's about time someone finally asked about this: it's the only item on Rick's packing list that he doesn't explain. But Rick-nik Insiders know the secret explanation is: Use the duct tape to secure your electrical adapter to your appliance's plug, otherwise it might stay in the outlet (and get left behind) when you pull out the plug. (I swear I'm not making this up, that's what The Master says.)

That's the official explanation, but there are a variety of other uses for duct tape: For example, you can duct tape your Netbook to a ceiling light fixture in your room and play cards on Skype with your regular card partners back in The States.

How many other uses can we come up with for duct tape in Europe?

As long as we are talking about ONE of the two most important items needed by every traveler, that being WD-40 and Duct tape. Common sense says; if should move, and it doesn't, use WD-40, and if it moves and shouldn't, use duct tape. There that answers some real important travel related issues with a little humor! Dan

As long as we are talking about ONE of the two most important items needed by every traveler, that being Duct tape, we might as well mention the other; WD-40! Common sense says; if it should move, and it doesn't, use WD-40, and if it moves and shouldn't, use duct tape. There that answers some real important travel related issues with a little humor! Dan

In the last season of the Amazing Race, a guy's wife made him pack duct tape. He ended up using it to re-attach the bumper of his car!

Duct tape could also be used to repair a torn backpack or to keep your Rick Steves towel that you are using as a picnic blanket from blowing away in the wind. If you are paranoid, you could use duct-tape to REALLY secure your money belt.

"He ended up using it to re-attach the bumper of his car!"

Dan: was that you? Using the duct tape to re-attach the bumper of your rental car, after the fender bender you mentioned on another thread, that Mastercard almost didn't reimburse you for?

Duct tape is an inside joke in our famiy because we have used it in so many ways. One Christmas he favorite gift was the calendar with "365 ways to use duct tape."

I always carry a small roll, especially when hiking. One time it got me out of the bottom of the Grand Canyon when I had bad blisters; I covered my heels with duct tape and was able to happily hike up to the rim without pain.

But my favorite European duct tape story was this: on an SAS flight from Copenhagen to Seattle, we had to make a stop in Bergen, Norway, to pick up food because the Danish companies that serviced aircraft were on strike. The Bergen runway is a bit rough for large planes, and upon landing one of the ceiling panels shook loose. The woman across the aisle freaked out and demanded to see the captain, or be taken off the plane.

So the captain came down the aisle, pulled a roll of duct tape out of his back pocket, taped up the offending errant panel, and then faced the woman and said, "There, Madame, that should take care of it."

It stayed in place for the duration of the flight, and she never said another word.

Lola: Good one (the SAS Captain)

Re your "I always carry a small roll, especially when hiking One time it got me out of the bottom of the Grand Canyon when I had bad blisters; I covered my heels with duct tape and was able to happily hike up to the rim without pain."

South Kiabab Trail or Bright Angel Trail?

If your hotel room as a couple of annoying flying critters bouncing around the walls, one can fashion a very effect fly catcher with duct tape, and the toilet brush thingy.....very MacGyver!

travel duct tape

What Linda said. If you are using it for blisters, don't put the tape right over the blister!!! Ouch. Cover the blister properly, and then cover that with duct tape to keep everything in place.

Kent---I got the blisters hiking down the South Kaibab trail. I used the duct tape to get myself up the Bright Angel trail. We've been back twice since, including a rim-to-rim, and I've stayed blister-free, thanks to Smartwool sox.

And to tie this to Europe---the first time I used duct tape for blisters was on a hiking trip in Switzerland. I used it to cover the "Compeed" blister pads you can buy at the Swiss pharmacy.

Another use I forgot to mention---in Alaska we called it "Super Cub tape", as it was commonly used to repair tears in the skin of the aircraft.

I plan on taping down the locks on my checked bag so it doesn't get pulled or crushed on the conveyor belts.

Good tip about the heel pain and blisters, though. I'll have to remember that one!

"Kent---I got the blisters hiking down the South Kaibab trail. I used the duct tape to get myself up the Bright Angel trail."

Lola: Yep! That was my guess, I've done it the same way, in order to get the views, down in, on the S. Kiabab. Moleskin worked for me, apply to known blister spots before.

In the Air Force we used duct tape to temporarily seal small holes on the wings (most often from bird strikes), we called it "speed tape".

Duct tape is best for patching a hole in your suitcase or daypack. You can use it to help pack souvenirs you want to ship home. It can also hem your pants temporarily or do a myriad of other things. My mom uses it to "ugly up" her suitcases - it makes them easier to spot in baggage claim and less likely someone will steal them.

Don't bring a full roll of duct tape. I doubt you will need more than ten feet of tape (although we used a bunch one time to shore up a duffle bag before checking). I like to wrap it around a pencil, unless I have only a small amount left on a roll - then I just flatten the roll and bring it.

I have made several trips to the UK, always carry a few safety pins (various sizes) and some duct tape rolled on a pen. I finally used them on the third trip, for a young lady on a RS tour whose flip flop broke--the piece of plastic keeping the between the toes bit through the flip flop broke off and she could not walk.

The between the toes bit was put back through the hole and a big safety pin became its new anchor, keeping it there. A bit of duct tape covering the safety pin was to stop the pin from catching on things. The young lady walked the rest of the day until reaching the hotel.

Carry your duct tape, and a few safety pins won't hurt either :-)

Magellan's sells small rolls
http://www.magellans.com/store/Luggage_Scales___Locks___Luggage_AccessoriesKR399?Args=&refchan=Search

To most men, duct tape is the greatest invention since....the remote control.

Besides Magellans, you can also get it at minimus.biz

Over the years on vacations we've used duct tape to hold our mini-van's door shut when the latch broke on vacation and no one could fix it without a week long process of ordering parts, repaired a ripped running shoe, and taped up a ripped out zipper on luggage. We too just carry a small amount in our backpack, wrapped around a pencil.

Duct tape is amazing for heel blisters -- put on a normal bandage first, then cover entirely with the duct tape. It holds tight and you can get on with your day. Also, if you have problems with plantar fasciitis, duct tape can support your foot/heel and allow you to walk for miles without pain. (That tip truly saved a vacation for me!) We never travel without it!

:)

OK I am convinced. Into the pile goes a bit of duct tape. Many thanks for making me smile with your replies.

Oh how I wished I had duct tape when I was in France a few years ago. My packable duffle bag got torn on the last day of my trip. I searched everywhere for some duct tape, but i didn't know how to ask for it in French. Sadly, I had to buy an expensive bag to replace it. It's very attractive, but I never use it because it really doesn't fit my style of travel. I need to think to donate it somewhere. I now carry duct tape. Pam

Definitely a must take. My husband and I were just laughing about this yesterday when we were in the camping section of Dick's Sporting goods yesterday and saw that they sell small rolls of duct tape. I used to travel a lot for business and it has come in handy many times. Someone mentioned plantar faciatis- thanks for the tip! I am slowly getting over it and this may indeed come in handy if I have a flare up.

My mom actually purchased a duct tape passport holder at a craft show. It was made of colorful tape and had Nova Scotia tartan woven in. You would never know it was duct tape!

"I searched everywhere for some duct tape, but i didn't know how to ask for it in French."

In French it's "tape duh duck."

As I keep telling my better half;

"If you cant fix it with duct tape--you're not using enough!"

I forgot to mention that models use duct tape as an alternative for a bra. Wrap it from one underarm to the other. As Paul Harvey would have said, "It's...true."

We're getting into a weird are here:)

For blister prevention, use anti-perspirant on your feet before you don your socks. Socks fail to prevent blisters when they get saturated with sweat. I learned this from a college cross-country coach.

Ok, Brad where did you learn THAT?! (re: bra)

I don't know about models, but I know girls who do that when going to clubs. They all very quickly learn to put something NOT sticky under the tape in more sensitive spots. Apparently it works unless you get too hot and sweaty from dancing.

There is a contest every year by Duct Tape manufactures for making prom dresses and tuxedoes out of the stuff! A couple from a local highschool was in the finals a few years ago. She made her entire dress and his jacket and pants (not shirt) out of the stuff.

I just returned from Spain where I used my little roll of duct tape to repair a tourmate's rain jacket (we also considered taping his mouth shut, but that's another story). Also used it in Italy to put the handles back together on one of those paper wine-carrier boxes.

I have been mercilessly chastised and teased for being over prepared, but I think actually using the duct tape fully vindicates me!

Nancy,

About the bra. One of my very good friends was runner up in Miss San Diego years ago. She told me almost all the contestants used ductape so they could achieve the desired effect without any bra lines. Later, I dated a model who said everyone she knew did that at least sometimes.

Brooke,

I can see that. Having used duct tape for it's original purpose (sealing ducts) more than once, I know it sticks better once it's been heated up.

We have used duct tape several times for different things. Last time was to tape down the edge of a rug that was folded upward. The bed was holding down the other side. Kept tripping over the corner. Duct tape solved the problem.
But my favorite items to have along are safety pins. Once in an I-Max theatre in Washington ,DC, as I was sitting down the outside edge of my shorts caught on the arm of the chair and the ENTIRE side of my shorts ripped out -- all the way up to the waistband. After the show, I showed my wife my problem. She had some safety pins. I sort of held my pants together, went to the bathroom, took off the shorts in a stall, pinned them together, and didn't even have to find our way back to the hotel (which was a metro ride away) to change.

Thomas, duct tape would have worked on your shorts too.

I've been doing Web searches to learn more about possible use of duct tape and relieving plantar fasciitis pain. Would love to know how to specifically use it from someone who's done it. Anyone able to post something? Many thanks.

Duct tape is great for when British Airways hits your bag on the tarmac with their little micro machine luggage car and it has tears and rips all over it. Worked like a charm and was actually very funny to look at.

I wrote earlier about using duct tape to tape my foot and alleviate plantar fascitis pain. To those who are interested, here is the website that describes it: http://heelspurs.com/tape.html

P.S. Sorry for the delay in providing this information. Though I did receive a few private messages re this, I unfortunately am unable to open them (even with the Webmaster's help). Good luck and happy travels to everyone!

:)

Pardon me if this has already been posted; duct tape can be used as a carrying handle for awkward packages. You use a longer length of it and stick the ends to the package, leaving a loop, then scrunch or roll the extra tape (the loop) so it forms a handle.

I used to work on fairs and exhibitions- duct tape was an essential. We used if for all sorts of things I'm sure the manufacturers never intended!

Have used duck tape for years on many trips.

Last trip, based on recommendations from friends, I upgraded to GORILLA Tape. Gorillas must be stronger than ducks, right? The stuff is great - like super-strong, industrial-strength duct tape - seems both stronger and stickier. We used it on a couple of small repairs while on the road, typical stuff like bags and shoes, worked great. I cannot vouch for it as a bra substitute, and considering how strong it is, I'd think twice before sticking it on any sensitive areas.