Reddit reviews Original Tick Key for Tick Removal 3 Pack (Multi Color)
We found 9 Reddit comments about Original Tick Key for Tick Removal 3 Pack (Multi Color). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Multi-colored Tick KeysLightweight and PortableEasily stores on your dog's collar or leashSlides any tick off your pet's skinDisinfect the Tick Key after each use
Ticks = high socks, long pants, carry a tick key
Bears = stand your ground and look big, don't run cause they will definitely catch you. You don't want a bear to catch you.
Snakes = scream like a little girl and run away. 100% effective in all situations.
Moose = find a thick patch of trees you can move through. Moose are not nimble creatures and end of season males have giant antlers - they cannot maneuver well in dense trees.
Little flying bitey things = cover your skin in clothing or bug spray. If this fails, curse the gods and swat the air wildly.
Little critters that want your food = learn to properly hang a bear bag and do it - every. single. time. Critters just want your food don't give 'em a reason to hang around.
Bigfoot = negotiate a peace treaty using Jack Links Beef Jerky
The last data shows 992 confirmed cases in the entire country. That's not "ground zero". The state of Pennsylvania alone had 9250 confirmed cases in 2018.
You can live in fear if you want, but it's not really as big a deal as the media hype is making it out to be. If you get a tick and have symptoms, by all means see a doctor... and if you're really concerned about removing ticks, get one of these. Stop buying into media fear mongering though.
It’s always a good idea to keep a tick remover on you for walkies too, because they can still bite even if your dog is treated.
I use this one that attaches to my keychain.
This product is great for removing them, doesn't take up much room in the keychain or wallet either.
Yeah, I try to keep one of these Tick Keys in my disc bag. They can be found for a few bucks at walmart. havent had to use one yet but it has good reviews
https://www.amazon.com/Tick-Key-Removal-Pack-Multi/dp/B0014B1TR2/ref=sr_1_5?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1492617394&sr=1-5&keywords=tick+remover
Haven't noticed an up-tick (har) in Oklahoma / Arkansas yet. Be sure to carry a Tick Key
Well, this got far longer than I intended. I hope you get something useful out of it, I did a brief summary at the end if you want to just skip to that.
The most important gear to have would be a way to contact someone if necessary. Assuming there is service, a cell phone suffices. I doubt you are going far enough into the wilderness for now that you will be out of cell reach. But keep an eye on the signal on your first trip on a trail, you don't want to find out you're in a dead zone after you realize you need to contact someone. An additional option would be an emergency whistle, some of them are capable of blasting over 120 decibels and are small enough to fit in a small first aid kit (see below) or wear around your neck. Three blasts are the commonly accepted signal for "Can I get some help over here please?!" Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back, so they can send out the cavalry in case you get turned around and can't make cell contact.
If you are going off pavement onto trails, take a map of the general area showing the trails in case you get turned around. Caltopo or Google maps are the most commonly used source for free, printable maps these days I believe. Just remember, typical printer paper and ink aren't waterproof, so slip them into a ziploc in case of rain. If you are going to be hiking in a managed area, contact whoever is in charge of managing it, as they probably have excellent maps available. If all else fails, there are often good maps at trailheads. Just don't get there empty-handed to hike counting on there to be a map. There are also lots of apps available like Gaia, Alltrails, Hiking Project, etc. A small (half-dollar size) pocket compass to orient yourself is handy to have, in case your cell phone dies and you don't have it to reference. Too many people act like there is no chance of them dropping or sitting on their phone or having it just decide to crap out on them. A small compass would also fit in a small emergency kit (see below).
Also important is to carry water. How much depends on the weather, distance, etc. Use you judgment and then carry a little more. A liter (maybe two?) should be enough for a couple of hours hiking. A snack or energy bar can be nice to have in a pocket in case your energy levels start to crash as well.
Another very important consideration is your footwear. If you are going to be hiking on established trails or paths, I don't personally think you need boots and would probably be better off in very comfortable walking or trekking shoes. They are far more lightweight (less fatiguing) and breath better than most boots. Speaking of breathing, waterproof anything = barely breathes. For spring, summer and fall, you'll probably be more comfortable in good breathing shoes that aren't waterproof but can dry quickly (including your sweat). Sweaty feet lead to them slipping around in the shoe, which leads to blisters. The only reason I would suggest boots is if you are going to be hiking over rough, rocky terrain or lots of roots that make for an uneven surface. In that case, good boots laced tightly can save you from twisting an ankle. Whatever you get, don't buy them at Walmart, go somewhere where the help has a clue. Don't be afraid to throw an aftermarket pair of insoles in there from the outset if they make the shoe/boot feel perfect, especially fully supporting your arch. Whatever you get, break them in slowly. Don't start with a 10 mile hike unless you like pain. If you've got a good pair of very comfortable, great fitting (no foot slippage!) and supportive walking shoes that aren't worn out right now, try them before blowing a bunch of money on something fancy.
Along with good walking shoes goes good walking socks. Cushioned merino wool hiking socks are always preferred over cotton, possibly with a sock liner if you are prone to blisters. The perennial favorite is Darn Tough Merino Wool Cushion Socks (lifetime guarantee!), but pick whatever you like. Just get something with cushioning (but not way too much that will make your foot slip around in your shoe). Don't worry about wool being hot, merino wool is some magical, physics-defying material. Just don't get winter-weight socks, you'll be fine. Merino wool socks can be hiked in for literally days and not pick up any odor, wool is naturally anti-microbial. Synthetic socks, on the other hand, can reek after a few hours and the smell will not want to come out.
Lastly on the foot front, take something like moleskin or similar blister care/prevention with you from the outset. Even sports tape or a band-aid will help in a pinch. A little first aid kit (throw it in a little ziploc baggie, no need to buy one) with some moleskin, a couple of band-aids, a safety pin (pops blisters, field repair ripped clothing/zippers/broken buttons), a couple of benadryl and advil, maybe some sting-eze along with your emergency compass will slip into any pocket. The key here is that as soon as you feel a hot spot, or rubbing on any part of your foot, STOP IMMEDIATELY, remove your shoe and sock, inspect the area and put something over the spot that is being rubbed. Check inside of your shoe, is there anything inside that might be causing the rub? Nobody ever wants to stop to mess with an annoyance in their shoe, so they soldier on. Well, it isn't going to go away, and it's just going to keep getting worse and worse until you can't walk on it. And it'll be too damn late to do anything preventative by then. So stop and take action as soon as you feel it. Sometimes just re-tying your shoe can stop the slippage. Don't ignore it. Your feet will toughen up, but if it's a recurring problem, consider sock liners, different shoes, pre-taping that spot before starting your hike, etc.
What to wear depends on the weather (temperatures and rain) and sun in your area. Clothing generally blocks sun better than sunscreen, but it can also make you hotter. Sunburns suck and lead to melanoma. Always wear a cap that will breath and is designed to keep the sun off of your face (a wide brim all the way around is great, if not a fashion statement). Cotton clothing is generally not pleasant once it's drenched with sweat (or rain), doubled or more in weight and sticking to you, but it is more effective at cooling you when it's wet (which is also why it can be deadly if it gets wet and the temperatures drop - and I'm not talking down to freezing). Performance synthetics are better at drying and blocking sun, but some can hold onto stink like nobody's business, even through washes. Lightweight merino is great, but they don't give that stuff away and it isn't as durable as synthetics. You can get by with whatever you've got in the closet to get started. I prefer synthetic, stretchable, hiking pants; jeans generally suck for hiking. They are restrictive, they bind when you want to raise your leg high, once they get wet they stay wet all day, so on and so forth. If all you've got is jeans or shorts, go shorts if the weather allows. Just remember, any skin you like cancer free needs to be covered with clothing or sunscreen.
Depending on the tick and mosquito intensity in your area, long pants/sleeves can help there, too. For sure, make use of bug repellent like DEET or Picaradin (hint: the "all natural" stuff doesn't really work) if you will be out in the early morning or evening for mosquitoes, or walking through grass for ticks. If you will be going off of established dirt paths and ticks are a real problem in your area, consider treating your clothes with permethrin. I'm really a believer in combining permethrin on my clothing with picaridin on my skin to prevent tick bites. If you do pick up a tick, do not pull it out with tweezers, or burn it or put oil on it or any of the other crappy old wives tales. That will likely just result in it spewing its bacterial load into your bloodstream. Use something like a Tick Key or similar that gets under the tick and pries it up out of your skin without ripping its head off still embedded in you, or squishing everything inside of it into you ala tweezers.
Lastly, and this is definitely an "after you've got some experience" item, you could consider trekking poles, even without carrying a pack. You mentioned being out of shape, trekking poles can really take some strain off of your knees, hips and ankles and spread it to your upper body. Definitely don't go out and buy them to start with, but keep them in mind if you find your lower joints really bothering you. Lots of people even brag up Walmart's and Costco's trekking poles that are pretty inexpensive. Just be sure to get the kind that have "flip-locks" instead of the "twist-locks" if you get adjustable length poles. Most people who start with twist locks quickly move on to flip locks after their twist lock poles collapse under them a few times. Watch some Youtube videos for proper technique for using poles.
All of the above will either be worn on you or fit in your pockets, with the exception of the water, which you could carry or get some sort of bladder or bottle carrier that would fit to your belt. No need for a pack - unless you want one!
So to summarize:
And go have fun! It's walking, chances are you aren't going to screw that up too badly, and the more you do, the better you'll get. You'll also figure out exactly what you want to have with you out there.
I suggest that you get something like a tick key or spoon so next time you don't have to worry!
Tick keys are great for removal - http://www.amazon.com/Tick-Key-Removal-Pack-Multi/dp/B0014B1TR2