5m of tape
Paddlers: What can you do with 5m of tape?
That 5m length of tape that everyone carries in their PFD… A quick dig around will result in you discovering that there are commercially available options in lengths varying from 3m up to 8m and you can of course buy it off the reel at any good outdoor shop at almost any length you like. This article is not going to try and suggest which length is the most useful as the most useful length is the one you have in your PFD 😊. However, what it is going to try and do is suggest some of the ways it can be used. See below for a bunch of suggestions in no particular order. If you have more that you can add to the list we’d love to hear them. Especially if you have used them for real.
Safety and Rescue:
- Use it to build an anchor…
- Basket hitch
- Thread
- Wrap 3 pull 2 (the gold standard of anchors)
- As a prusik
- As part of a “pig rig”
- As a short throwline
- Use it to tow something on land or water
- Use it to raise / lower your craft
- As a painter on your craft
- To stop it floating away
- To line it down a rapid
- As a flip line for a raft
- Emergency harness
- Improvised arm sling
- Hold a splint in place
- Use it to mark the takeout
- Rafting canoes together
- As stirrup to get some back in / on their craft
Camp / River Life Bodges:
- As a washing line
- To tie boats on when you’ve forgotten / run out of straps
- Belt for your trousers
- Dog lead
- Improvised hand line for fishing
- Drop it (with a carabiner on the end) as a depth gauge in murky water
- Repair a head lamp strap
- Guyline for your tent or tarp
- Bundle and carry firewood
- Lash down a broken pack, barrel lid, or hatch cover
- Hang food away from animals
- As a skipping rope
- As a makeshift net for a game of volleyball at camp
- As a whip to make your bow padder go faster
- Slackline
⚠️ Safety Note: Some of the techniques described in this article require specialist knowledge, training, and practice to use safely. Do not attempt them unless you are properly trained and confident in their application. Some of them are just plain daft.
For hands-on experience on this and more, check out our paddling courses.
