What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?
Think for an instant about the multi-tool. Many people have one of these stashed in their pocket, purse, or day pack. It is compact, has several tools built into one and is can be a real life saver in a pinch.
For those same reasons one of the most over looked tools one can carry is a simple magnifying glass. It too, is a tool which can perform multiple functions.
First and most obvious is that the magnifying glass allows you to see with enlarged vision. Tasks such as removing splinters or ticks, tying fishing line or threading a needle are much easier when you see them through the magnifying glass.
Second and also well known would be using the magnifying glass as a fire starter being extremely useful when needed. But the magnifying glass can also be used to melt or heat various items.
Some favorite features for using a magnifying glass are nocturnal.
There have been more than a few times when people (some whim were even avid outdoors folks) would laugh when I’d pull out my magnifying glass at 1:00AM. The comment always the same ‘What are you gonna do with that? Start a fire?!’ The laughs soon turned into curiousity and wanting to learn more once it was revealed what the magnifying glass is capable of doing at night.
Which leads us to the third reason and perhaps less known feature is the ability of the magnifying glass to become a flashlight. Using the available moon light to enhance light for reading or marking a map or documents. To brighten darker areas to find things like lost keys.
Fourth but certainly not the last reason is using the maginfying glass to signal acting as location beacon or sending morse-code. All can all be achieved by bouncing moon light through the magnifying glass against a reflective material such as emergency/space blanket or aluminum foil.
These are just a glimpse at what a magnifying glass can do. It doesn’t have to be big or bulky just a small one about the size of the face of a watch can do wonders in a pinch.
When it comes down to it. The things we carry with us often are the things that serve a purpose. If that thing can serve many purposes then all the better.
So now you too can see things in a different light.
Jeff Steele, Writer/Photographer 