If I had to choose only one magic tool to carry while snowmobiling, it would be duct tape. Duct tape can get you through many emergencies and doesn’t require any other tools. You can be all thumbs, and still be an expert duct taper. It’s tough to inadvertently injure yourself using duct tape. And using today’s vibrantly coloured duct tape, I don’t need to be dreary and can match my sled too. If duct tape has one major downfall for snowmobiling, it’s that cold can make it less sticky, so warm it up before using.

Duct tape demonstrates its benefits to me over and over again. One companion somehow tore up the seat of her black snow pants. Repairs were affected with strips of black tape. She rode the rest of the tour without frostbiting her butt.

When I snowmobiled in the Arctic. Icy winds would start frostbite on any exposed flesh.  Judiciously applied to nose, cheeks and temples each morning, duct tape provided a protective barrier. But be careful: local restaurants and stores may think it’s a hold-up if you forget to remove the tape! (Tip: The best way to peel it off is under a hot shower.)

I’ve used duct tape in many other ways. It’s a great way to seal pant and wrist cuffs against snow incursion while playing in powder. I’ve used it to secure electric visor and helmet communicator wires in place. On one tour, duct tape held my jacket together when the zipper broke. On another, I used it to hold a handle bar bag in place after the strap tore off. I’ve even captured that geek look when I held two broken halves of my glasses together at the nosepiece with duct tape. At least it wasn’t white.

Duct tape can be an excellent bandage or immobilizer for a splint. It can cover a blister or wrap a twisted ankle. Two pieces across the lens of glasses, leaving a narrow strip for seeing, can help prevent snow blindness. 

Under the hood, duct tape can hold survival items in place. I use it to reinforce the corners of transported oil containers and secure their tops from leaking. It’s also useful for many minor repairs and to prevent wires from chaffing. I’ve used it to block hood vents in deep powder, to hold a hood together and to repair a windshield. And if worst comes to worst, it can hold your luggage in place or repair a ripped bag.

Some manufacturers call it duct tape, others duck tape. I don’t know why. I’ve never used it to tape either a duct or a duck, but it will continue to be the most essential part of my snowmobiling kit.