Most of the time, your gear just works and you don’t think twice about it.
It’s when something fails, especially when you’re a long way from help, that you realize what you should’ve done differently.
Some of these were small lessons. Some of them weren’t.
Either way, they changed how I think about what I bring with me and what I trust when I’m a long way from help.
This isn’t about bad gear. It’s about the stuff that showed me where my setup had holes.
If you spend enough time out there, you’ll figure this out on your own.
Or you can skip a few of the harder lessons.
1. When “Looks Good” Isn’t Good Enough
Rough Country lift components
This one happened in Jackman, Maine. We were about 25 miles off paved roads on logging roads with no cell service.
It was one of my first trips after putting a lift kit on my truck. Looked great. Drove fine. I didn’t think twice about it.
Until the last day.
I came back to the truck and something just looked off. The control arm had completely failed, which also took the ball joint with it. The wheel was leaning in at an angle that made it pretty obvious we had a problem.
There was no fixing it out there. No calling for help. We just had to get it out.
We drove all the way from Jackman to Skowhegan like that, never going more than 30 or 40 miles an hour, hoping nothing else gave out along the way.
We made it. Got it fixed. But that was enough for me.
Just because something looks the part doesn’t mean it’s built for what you’re actually putting it through.
For some people, that setup probably works fine. For how I use my truck, it didn’t.
I ended up replacing the entire suspension with something a lot heavier duty, and the difference was immediate.
Lesson learned: if something fails out there, you’re the one dealing with it. Plan accordingly.
2. The Problem With “Conditional” Gear
Jumper cables
This was another trip up in Jackman.
I had jumper cables in the truck. Felt like I was doing the right thing. Like I was covered if something went wrong.
Then I left my lights on.
Came back to a completely dead truck. No cell service. Middle of nowhere.
The only reason it didn’t turn into a much bigger problem is because my friends came looking for me when I didn’t show up where I was supposed to be.
They found me and gave me a jump.
But if they hadn’t, I would’ve been in a dead truck in late November in northern Maine. That trip ended up dumping around 18 inches of snow, and temps were down around 10 degrees.
Walking out wasn’t really an option either.
That’s when it clicked.
Jumper cables don’t solve the problem. They solve the problem if someone else is there.
That’s not preparedness. That’s a conditional plan.
This is what I run now: the NOCO Boost Plus GB40.
It works without relying on anyone else being around.
Lesson learned: if you’re alone or remote, your gear can’t depend on someone else showing up.
3. When “Simple” Turns Into a Liability
AAA battery headlamps
This one happened coming off a mountain in Montana.
We pushed late, and by the time we were heading down, it was getting dark. I grabbed my headlamp, turned it on, and nothing.
Dead.
I had been putting fresh batteries in it every morning, thinking I was staying ahead of it.
But it was a cheaper headlamp with no lock. At some point in my pack, the button got pressed and it had been running all day without me knowing.
By the time I actually needed it, it was useless.
I didn’t have spare batteries with me because I was trying to keep weight down. So now I’m coming down a mountain in the dark with no reliable light.
Luckily I wasn’t alone. One of the guys had an extra headlamp and we made it down without any issues.
But that was enough for me.
This is what replaced it: the Fenix HM70R.
It locks so it can’t turn on in my pack. It’s rechargeable, and I already carry a battery bank.
No guessing. No dead batteries when I actually need it.
Lesson learned: if it can fail quietly, it eventually will.
What This All Comes Down To
None of this gear was completely useless.
But every one of these situations exposed the same thing.
I was relying on gear that only worked if everything went right.
That’s not how this works.
Now it’s pretty simple.
- Does it hold up to how I actually use it
- Does it work without relying on someone else
- Does it fail in a way I can deal with
If not, it doesn’t come with me.
You can figure all of this out the hard way.
Or you can build your kit around what actually holds up when it matters.
Because the wild has a way of finding the weak link.
