LightBackpacking.com

Dog tags have been the main source of identification for soliders for decades. And they work for backpacking as well.

Rather than carry a wallet or other identification in the wilderness, I wear a lanyard around my neck with a dog tag that gives my vitals: name, phone number and healthcare plan ID. I also have a whistle and two Photon II mini-lights (which weigh less than an ounce each).

Whether you’re hiking solo or going with friends, having this information on your body can be a lifesaver.

The double G.I. type dog tags from Ultraforce with rubber sound silencers around the metal allow you to include blood type, allergies and other important medical information. 

Having an I.D., a whistle, and light all attached to your body, rather than in your pack — for a few ounces — is a good way to be lightweight and safe at the same time.

If you fall, get lost or get separated from your pack and the Ten Essentials, you’ll always have these essentials at hand. If you don’t think this is important, read Angels in the Wilderness: The True Story of One Woman?s Survival Against All Odds by Amy Racina and Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston.

Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.

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