Backpacker Magazine – June 2001

Frisbee: The Perfect Camping Tool

How to make your Frisbee function as a camping tool.

by: Tom Watson

Tags:
• Gear
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• Skills
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• Technique
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When building inspector Fred Morrison sold his plastic flying disc to WHAM-O in 1955, he didn't know that he'd launched the perfect camping tool. Here are 20 reasons you can't live without one:

Kitchen duty Cutting board: Chop, slice, or dice; the rounded lip keeps food on "board"

Serving tray: Transfer solids or liquids to campmates

Plate or bowl: Hold pasta and stews

Preparation dish: Batter French toast or flour-coat fish

Emergency pot lid: Keep the heat in (but don't let it melt!)

Collecting basin: Gather berries or mushrooms

Stove platform: Provide insulation from snow (make sure it doesn't get too hot)

Boating Shallow bailer: Scoop out canoes

Signal device: Get noticed—add a big X with reflective tape to a brightly colored one

Emergency paddle: Save the day when you're up a creek

Boat repair: Cut off the rim and duct-tape the flat part over a punctured hull Utility tray: Hold tackle and fishing doodads

Fire building Windbreak: Block gusts while cooking or starting fires

Wind-maker: Fan embers or chase away bugs

Collecting basin: Gather tinder and shavings

Personal Soap dish: Keep leaves and twigs from sticking to your soap

Seat platform: Sit on snow, wet moss, or leaves

Field instructions: Write emergency ground-to-air signals and other notes with an indelible marker

Recreation Flying saucer: Oh, righttoss to a friend, either human or canine. Just don't lose it, because it's so valuable!

Sled: Travel at extreme speeds by smearing the bottom with cooking oil

For all of these uses, the 160-gram (5.6 ounce) Frisbee Freestyle model works best. It's plenty wide, with a deep basin and stout lip. Light colors improve signaling and note writing.

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