So, the other day as I was sitting at the computer drinking my morning cup of coffee a post popped up. A question was asked… What three thing do you always carry in your saddle bags? First thing that came to my mind was toilet paper. I’ve never seen toilet paper for sale in the back country …and when you need it, you need it. Only two other folks besides myself had said toilet paper as an answer. But before I could type my response there must have been a hundred responses. I was shocked how popular this post was. As I read down through everyone’s top three items it seemed that like 90 plus percent of everyone posting said that they carried a Leatherman type tool. Have any of you ever used one? I bought one when they first came out, I gave it away when Gerber came out with their version. I don’t care what brand you carry, all they are good for is pinching your finger and teaching you knew adult adjectives. So, my question is what do you use them for while on the trail ??? The knife blade is too small to cut about anything. I guess you can tighten a Chicago screw, if you had something to hold the other end. Here is what I carry… a pair of fencing pliers. They are bigger and stronger. They can cut that random wire before or after you get tangled up in it. Put a shoe back on, pound in a tent stake, hammer in a nail use, them as a hoof pick, options are endless. And yes, they are bigger, but they do fit into a saddle bag and they will open that adult beverage at the end of a long hot day on the trail. Get out on the trail and enjoy this beautiful summer weather.
See you on the trail
Andy
P.S. Post in the comments your top 3 items you take on the trail, we would love to see everyone’s answer!
Robin Williams says...
I don’t carry a “Leatherman” but I carry something similar designed for horsemen. It looks like a Swiss Army Knife all folded up, but has a hoof pick, farrier knife, awl, what looks like a comb for bot eggs but the teeth aren’t close enough for that, and one very sharp nasty knife. Have I used it on the trail? The answer is obvious. And once for the darnest thing. The hoof pick? Rocks. The awl? An emergency hole in a billet for someone’s fat horse.
But the thing that saved the day, and not what you would expect, was the farrier’s knife. Sure, I’ve cut off flapping frogs that came loose on the trail. But the day it saved a horse was the most amazing. A fellow rider had forgotten his halter and used a nylon rope to make a halter and tie him. We were all having fun talking, and someone said, “A horse is choking.” The nylon rope had not been put on properly for a halter and lead, and it had tightened around his neck to the point he was rearing and then his knees started to buckle. When we looked at the line, there was no way to get it loose, no knife would slide under without sticking him so I asked a young rider to grab my Cowboy leatherman out of my saddle bag, and I slipped that round ended one sided farrier knife under the rope and started cutting. That horse knew I was there to help and quit rearing. Someone said, “He’s going down, he’s suffocating,” and with the last cut the rope came free.
And yes, I have toilet paper and a first aid kit. I’m assuming you just want in the bag as the top three.
July 07, 2017
Sara says...
My epi pens
June 29, 2017
Todd Bryant says...
TP, leatherman, whistle, water bottle for dog.
June 28, 2017
Todd Bryant says...
TP, leatherman, whistle, water bottle for dog.
June 28, 2017
mike says...
Banamine, Toilet Paper, extra breakaway string for pack saddles.
June 28, 2017
Marsha Kery says...
TP
Water
A granola bar that is at least 3 years old
June 28, 2017
Steve Larkin says...
Toilet paper, small first aid kit (combination horse and human), and compass.
June 28, 2017
Rob P says...
Toilet Paper, Paracord, and a leatherman (the pliers are good if the dog runs into a porcupine.
You asked for the top 3. There is other stuff in the bags that are always with me as well, but those three I don’t leave home without
June 28, 2017