Here’s a super cool product for 2010 that we’re filing under why-didn’t-someone-think-of-this-before: GearPods. GearPods is essentially a modular adventure gear system that’s perfect for outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, or even trail running. The “pods” are interlocking tubes that sorta look like those vacuum tubes they use at the bank or Home Depot and can be purchased as full kits or empty containers.

The Backcountry GearPods kit is packed with enough survival gear to sustain any adventurer for days in the wild and features items in the following categories: first-aid, basic survival, and even cooking. We’ve seen plenty of compact and portable first-aid kits but the Backcountry takes things to an entirely different level with matches, fuel, a CookMug, purification tablets, fishing tackle, whistle, compass, mini saw and knife, flashlight, and much more. Everything fits into a modular and durable package that’s roughly 9.5 inches high and 3 inches in diameter - the perfect size for an adjustable diameter bike bottle cage or side sleeve on a daypack. Fully stocked the Backcountry kit weighs in at just 18 ounces.

GearPods are water-resistant which means your important survival gear should stay dry even if you don’t. Although GearPods aren’t entirely waterproof (don’t drop yours in a lake, for example), you can enhance the water resistance by sealing the screw connections with duct tape (which is actually included!) or bicycle tubes and rubber bands. Before GearPods I often used zip lock bags for keeping things dry and organized but I found they often punctured inside my pack. GearPods are constructed of polycarbonate so they’re tough plus you can see what’s inside just like a plastic bag.

Beyond being insanely useful, GearPods are simply beautiful. From the iconography to the tight and neat packaging you can see that a lot of thought went into creating each GearPods kit. The orange caps and connectors make it easy to spot the kit inside a pack and the simple labels let you know what’s inside each compartment at a glance. There’s a raft of compatible kit components from aerated caps (for drying damp gear) to the GearPods Barista which turns your CookMug into a French press coffee maker.

Contents of the survival kit. The first-aid kit contains standard first-aid items.

As with any survival or first aid kit, it’s important to periodically check your kit to make sure things aren’t expired or broken. Even more important, check to make sure you replace any items you may have used in your last trail “emergency” - kits are only useful when they’re complete!

One GearPods enhancement I’d like to see is the addition of a simple survival guide. Many of us are probably already familiar with outdoor basics but in an emergency situation it’s important to make the most of your resources. I for one could probably start a fire using just one match but I’d struggle to use the included fishing equipment successfully. Some items, like the spool of thin wire, may require a little explanation. Should it be used for building small game snares? Fixing broken equipment? If it’s the former, I’ll need a primer, preferably with diagrams. The Backcountry does include instruction cards on signaling and CookMug operation but I could definitely use a little more info in the field.

Now that I have the Gear Pods Backcountry kit I sorta hope I get lost on my next epic hiking or mountain biking trip. Even if I don’t have to use my kit, at least I’ll be more confident when I head out into the woods, ready for any situation. Besides, I can think of worse things than turning a day hike into a 3 day adventure!

Thanks to the folks at Gear Pods for providing the Backcountry kit for review. If you’re looking for more info, check out the video review below.

The Camping Blogger posted a great article on preparing for the unexpected when camping and it’s a good place to start if you’re getting your gear prepped for the summer. It’s a fact that on most camping trips you’ll forget and/or break at least one item but if you’re prepared with some versatile emergency supplies it won’t ruin your trip. In fact, after you MacGuyver a solution to your problem you’ll probably feel pretty smart - and there’s nothing like a good old-fashioned sense of accomplishment. Some of the versatile camping items mentioned on Camping Blogger (and in the comments):

• Duct dape. ‘Nough said.
• Aluminum foil: great substitute for pots and pans
• Zip lock bags: I like to use these to keep clothes organized and dry but there are hundreds of other camping uses.
• Rope/twine: Roy mentions packing parachute cord specifically but at least having some type of rope or string around can get you out of a pickle. A sewing kit with thread can be helpful as well for mending ripped equipment or clothing or even fishing if you forget your tackle!
• Seam grip: I don’t pack this myself but believe me, I’m adding it to my list right now.

In addition to the things mentioned I also like to bring along an extra tarp just in case I find myself in a huge downpour and need to keep things dry. A plastic tarp can also be helpful if you forget a sleeping bag (like one of the Camping Blogger commenters did). I also bring paper towels which can be used for everything from cleaning to fire-starting to writing notes.

Camping is really just improvised living in the great outdoors - as long as you have a few of these versatile items there isn’t any problem you can’t solve!