What's your most/least useful piece of kit?
 

Just out of interest, thought this would make a good topic.

What's useful? what isn't?

Mine are as follows:-

Most useful= camel back water container.
(5 litres in a back pack, used every day since September).

Least useful= local phone plug adapters for laptop. (website updates can be done in internet cafes).

Goose
www.gooseontheloose.com

though I havent done much bike touring yet, I ahve traveled a bit in cars, kayaks, and on foot etc. I find that my Gerber tool is an essential, and a good knife is always handy as well. Some chord from a rock climbing store is very handy. either 3mm or 4mm. And for those winter trips, my down booties are essential, especialy for those sub zero trips from the tent to the woods and back.

Black vinyl tape (electricians tape).
Duct tape.
To save space re-roll them on to a short section of pencil.

Most useful woould have to be my Leatherman or our water filter, can't really decide which is more useful.
Least useful (I'm going to tempt fate here) would be our puncture repair kits - unused since leaving home, but I guess there's got to be a first time somewhere down the road.....

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no pipe, no slippers
www.chasingthesun.org

Most used - Oxford Boss disk lock.
Most useful - Heated grips for when I haven't got the right gloves on.
Least used - Tyre weld repair kit (fingers X'ed).
Least useful - Any boots with thin/soft soles - the left one wears through in no time with the weight of the bike.

An old bicycle inner tube is also pretty damn handy, or at least slices of it are.

Touratechs twin spot headlamp is complete toilet though.

Goose.
www.gooseontheloose.com

Hegehog,

You have piqued my curiosity - how do you wear out the left sole with the weight... huh?

FWIW I used thin soled SIDI boots on my RTW and they were wonderful, light and cool, I'd do it again. In fact the same pair would probably do it again.

------------------
Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Most useful and loved, my Leatherman
( I'm in a complate flap if I can't find it )

My Camelback 2Litre ( Despite the ridicule of my former travel partner.... )

100 Mile-an-hour tape (Duct tape for others)
( Rescued me more than once )

My Sony Mavica CD Camera...

Least used
Touratech stool ( Threw it away )
My tent ( after having left Argentina / Chile
My Psion 5 Series, cause I cannot connect it without the driver software....

Why duct tape must be the most useful think, followed by bungie chords.

'Course I could make a case for money. Very little in this world can't be bought.

Kurt

Most useful - a reliable bike.

I'm currently waiting for the main bearings to be replaced after only 13,000 km. It also had a front wheel bearing changed at 8,000 km. Yes, it's a 2000 Adventure. But it sure is great fun when it works.

Least useful - second passport.

It's still in the UK waiting for a Sudan visa

Yeah the ductape & leatherman are indispensible & got a thorough work out on my trip. With Harvey on the water filter contraption too. Hours of pumping but paid for itself many times over.

Least used item - this will shock a few. My extremely expensive portable cooker. Never used in a year on the road. Food dirt cheap in all parts of Asia then Aussie/N.Z have stoves in camping grounds or BBQ's & wood in Nat'l parks to self cook. A cooker also takes up a fair bit of space.

MOST useful- MeshTex First Gear Jacket-I've worn it every day of our Americas trip for the past 6 months. TIP...Throw the Aerostich Darien over it for cold weather

LEAST useful- my backpack- it usually sits in my Ortlieb and rarely comes out.

I couldn't live without my Petzl LED head torch and of course, my Leatherman Wave. I've used a slightly bigger black leather pouch (from Victorinox of Swiss Army Knife fame)which also accommodates the additional tool adaptor plus room for a tiny torch. Bike wise, a good quality set of tools (and I don't have an adjustable spanner).

Tim
R100GSPD

Most useful: Camelbak water thingy, compass on top of tank bag, Katadyn water filter, good map

Least useful: GPS, Psion 5 Palm top PC, even less than that: travel-modem for Psion

ChrisB

Big Riderswearhouse cargo net and it's awesome.