Duct tape is an Alaskan tradition. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and if it is broke, break out the duct tape. That magic cure-all has so many uses, beyond simply wrapping it around ducts. • Sewing.

I’ve carried duct tape in the field long enough to know it deserves a permanent spot in every gear kit or tackle box. It’s not flashy—but what it lacks in glamour, it makes up for in grit. I’ve used ...