27 Alternative Uses For Duct Tape To Always Be Prepared

Looking for some alternative duct tape uses?

There are dozens of uses for duct tape, it’s an essential item to have access to at all times. In this post, we go over why, how, and what duct tape can do to help you in everyday life. From medical uses to personal-defense uses, and of course, DIY.

Make a Hat

Keep warm by making a hat. If you have something or can find something that has the general shape of a hat, You can take leaves and other similar material to line the hat and shape it how you want.

Make a Primitive Spear

Use duct tape to craft a primitive survival spear. Watch this video to see how to make a homemade throwing spear.

Reinforce Knots

Duct tape makes one hell of reinforcement material. When you want to make sure one of your knots is secure, reinforced, and nearly impervious to failing, wrap duct tape around it, and not even a twister will be able to shake it loose.

Repair Cracks

Duct tape is a lifesaver for leaky water bottles. If you crack your canteen or water bladder, take a piece of DT to switch it up. It will be the best solution temporarily.

Before sticking it on the crack, to avoid using more than you need to. Dry the surface as much as possible. Moisture is kryptonite to duct tape.

Make Cordage

This is strong material so using it as cordage is common.  It makes for an effective rope alternative. Watch the military made cordage using duct tape.

Craft a Sling

Nobody plans on injuring their arm to the point where they need a sling. But in case you do, you’ll be prepared.

You don’t need an actual sling. Make one with duct tape, it will hold your arm steady and secure until your able to get medical attention.

Insulation

One of the more impactful survival uses for duct tape is the ability to insulate things. You can insulate clothing and Winter survival shelters using duct tape.

We mentioned before on this list that you can make a hat with DT. You can insulate the hat you make as well. Line the inside of the cap with leaves or other material and use the DT to keep it all together. It helps during the colder months.

Makeshift Canoe Seat

Use it to create a more comfortable seat with duct tape.

Snow Blindness Protection

Beat the snow and use duct tape for protection.

Mark Your Trail

You can mark your landmarks and other spots during your hiking trip. You can count on it not falling off of your mark. Watch this tutorial on how to mark your trail with duct tape.

Make Snowshoes

Doing this can mean the difference between getting frostbitten and not. Take the duct tape and wrap your feet with it, around and around until you’re satisfied with the amount of padding.

Make A Cup

This isn’t ideal and I’d only do it if I really needed a cup… most likely because I would be needing my coffee that I didn’t get yet and can’t make a DIY camping mug either.

Make a Knife Sheath

Make a sheath for your survival knife using DT. This video is a good tutorial on how to do it.

Improvised Arrow Fletching

DT is a pro at using for improvising different pieces of gear and tools. Using it for arrow fletching is one of them. This video below shows you another way to do arrow fletching.

Handcuffs

Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands, or rather tie up someone else’s hands.

In emergency situations, where people are actually concerned about their life. They can let out their dark side and start acting irrationally based on pure fear. If it becomes too much and they jeopardize the safety of others around them.

Duct tape is a good solution to wrap up their hands to restrain them to prevent endangering the safety of others.

Either way, it’s a sticky situation.

Provisional Bug Catcher

You can take strips of DT and strategically place them in the path of the bugs you want to get rid of. Once they hit the tape, they’re immobilized and can’t escape. Works well.

Duct Tape Fire

There are many ways to start a fire. Using duct tape is one of them. It’s somewhat of a trick. So watch this video to see how he does it. I had to watch it twice to get it.

Build An Emergency Torch

The sun is setting and your flashlight’s batteries died unexpectedly. Let duct tape light your way. Make an emergency torch. This video shows you step-by-step how to make it.

First Aid Arm Sling

This works but it’s not ideal for long term use. It’s perfect for a temporary sling until you can get access to a proper sling.

Emergency Tourniquet

Wrap the duct tape around the wound multiple times. Ideally, you want to place something over the wound first, then wrap it with the duct tape.

But If you don’t have any cloth or anything else to cover the wound first, having the wound wrapped is the most important thing.

Create Butterfly Bandage Strips

You can make bandages by cutting four strips of duct tape. Take two of them and place them over the wound. Then take the other two strips and place them across the middle section of the first two strips.

Beat Blisters

Blisters are best avoided in general I think we would all agree. Especially out in the wilderness where there’s much more potential for infection without having immediate access to medical attention. Use DT to avoid blisters.

Make a DIY Blowgun

Making your own blowgun at home requires something strong to secure the assembly of the blowgun. DT is the preferred material to use for doing that.

If you want DIY blowgun instructions, see our step-by-step guide on how to make a blowgun.

Fix Glasses

If you happen to drop your glasses. Use duct tape to repair them and keep them together as best they can. It’s perfect for a temporary solution until you can get them fixed.

History of Duct Tape

Duct tape has existed for more than seven decades. It was invented by Johnson and Johnson during World War II. They needed a waterproof tape. So they made duct tape specifically to keep moisture out of ammo cases.

Now it’s used in countless ways and in many different areas of work. Especially home improvement. You won’t find a DIY man, builder, or prepper without duct tape in stock and in every survival emergency kit he has.

Conclusion

If you don’t have duct tape and in-stock in multiple places and multiple kits, it makes a big difference having it since it’s useful in so many different scenarios.

If you liked this post, you may also like our post on different uses for spiders silk and the post on practical uses for bamboo.