Essential equipment
There are some items I consider to be essential equipment when camping. Things like:
- a fan (the old-fashion wave-by-hand as well as electric fans),
- a stick of Afterbite (Fred and I must have be the main course for a wide variety of bugs), and
- a wide brim hat, to name just three.
But on the top of my “Must Take” list is a “Plain Jane” carabiner. You know, one of those clips used by mountain and rock climbers. Mine is not as heavy duty as the ones they use. I got mine in Walmart or a Dick’s Sporting Goods Store, can’t remember exactly which place.
As you can see in this photo, I have the keys to my vehicles on one carabiner and clip them to my belt loop when not in use. The pink is a section of Ralf’s leash which is also attached to the carabiner. Its perfect keeping Ralf with his leash attached to me when we are walking a campground and I need my hands for things like picture taking and data recording.
If I take a purse into a grocery store, the carabiner is perfect for keeping my purse safe and secure in the shopping cart. I just weave the hand straps through part of the cart and clip them together. No grab and run unless you take the whole cart.
A small carabiner can hold a variety and quantity of hair bands.
A large carabiner works well to help carry several groceries bags from the store to the car. I just slip the hole provided for my hand through the carabiner and now I have several bags all collected and held together.
That large carabiner can also be a defensive weapon – metal knuckles. I’ve never used them as such but it is nice to know.
Frankly, I don’t go much of anywhere without a carabiner, it’s that important to me.
