6 Ways to Repurpose Your Outdoor Gear for Travel
Get more value from your adventure tools in the city and on the plane
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After you’ve dropped serious cash on a piece of outdoor equipment, it can be tough to justify putting the item away once you’re no longer on the river or trail. Luckily, there are a lot of simple ways to repurpose this performance gear for travel. Here are six of our favorite strategies.
Petzl Grigri Belay Device ($100)
Use this small, locking belay device when roping gear to the roof of your car. The Grigri locks in place whenever there’s tension on the line and easily comes undone when you need to access your belongings. There’s no need to retie any knots or stop your car every 20 miles to make sure everything is still in place.
Seattle Sports Drydoc ($15)
In the event of a sudden downpour, this waterproof pouch will prevent you from delaminating your passport or drowning your phone in a wet pocket.
REI Sea to Summit Mini Stuffsack Set ($25)
People pay a lot of money for compressible packing cubes, but backpackers have something just as good: stuffsacks. These are water resistant, fit easily into any suitcase, and have drawcords so they can double as laundry bags. Plus, unlike traditional luggage compartments, they’re made from highly durable Cordura.
Seam Grip Seam Sealer ($8)
Glues and sealants are usually thought of for fixing tears in shells or tents, but this stuff can bail you out of a lot of everyday situations. Hoping to save space in my bag on a recent trip, I made the decision to bring only one pair of jeans, overlooking a prominent hole in the crotch. With a tube of seam grip sitting in the bottom of my backpack, I was able to patch up the tear inconspicuously.
Anker Solar Charger ($50)
How many times have you wandered through an airport terminal looking for a place to charge your phone? And how many times have you forgotten to bring the right adapter for your charging cable? Solar chargers deserve a place on any list of essential travel items. After all, you’re as likely to be without an outlet abroad and away from home as you are in the woods.
Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow ($20)
Neck pillows are great, but they tend to get in the way the second you step off the airplane. The foam in Therm-a-Rest’s design is far more comfortable than the standard plastic beads in neck pillows and compresses to a fraction of its size, so it’s easy to pop into your carry-on.