Gear Decisions: Rite in the Rain vs. Carpenter Pencil - What Do You Really Need?

Start With Critical Thinking, Not Herd Mentality

Last week, I grabbed my notebook and headed into the woods to study some tracks.  I try to do this weekly, but it typically ends up being monthly. I was sketching early in the day for maximum shadows in the track, which helps.  It reminded me how important it is to choose gear that works, not because it’s trendy, but because it suits the job.

In the outdoor world, it’s easy to get swept up in gear hype. We’re human, herd animals by nature, and we often default to what we see others doing. But when it comes to the tools we carry, it’s worth slowing down and asking: do I really need this, or do I want it because it looks cool?

Developing critical thinking about your gear can save you money, reduce pack weight, and increase your overall effectiveness in the field. There are plenty of valid reasons to add a new item to your kit:

• It serves a specific need you have.
• It simplifies or speeds up a task that matters in your context.
• It reduces risk or increases durability in your environment.
• It’s something you’ve tested and proven in your training, not just something that looks cool on social media. 
• It supports like-minded individuals, businesses, or communities.

To explore this mindset in action, let’s take a simple example: a pencil.

Two Pencils, Two Philosophies

Rite in the Rain Mechanical Pencil

This is the choice for those who lean toward the technical and “tacticool.” It’s well-built and designed for use in wet weather. Here are the key features:

• Functions well in ideal and moderately adverse conditions
• Easy to extend the lead with a simple click mechanism
• Built-in eraser that actually works
• Moderately durable, resistant to breaks but not indestructible
• Compact and sleek, fits well in MOLLE organizers or admin pouches
• Although it is small, it is heavy for a pencil. 

It’s a solid choice. But is it necessary? That depends.

Carpenter Pencil

Now consider its simpler cousin, the humble round carpenter’s pencil. It’s often overlooked, but it offers some unique advantages:

• Easier to handle with gloves or numb hands
• Sharpen it with a knife, rock, or whatever’s handy.
• The eraser does the job just fine.
• Doubles as excellent fire tinder in a pinch
• Easy to break, yes, that’s a drawback, but also a reality check

It’s cheap, versatile, and it gets the job done with fewer moving parts.

Which One Should You Choose?

That’s the wrong question. The better question is: which one do you need?  

The Rite in the Rain mechanical pencil might be perfect if you're writing detailed notes on wet maps or documenting in-the-field data. If you're teaching a class, journaling, or sketching terrain features, it makes sense.

The carpenter pencil? It's a bushcraft staple, simple, reliable, and even disposable if needed. It’s ideal for cold-weather use or rough environments where simplicity and redundancy are crucial.

With that said, notice from the photograph that I have both and that was not just a photo op.  I use both at different times.  Which prompted me to write this.  Sometimes i ponder on some of the simplest of things.  

Final Thought: Don’t Let Marketing Pack Your Kit

There’s no right or wrong answer here. But every piece of gear should earn its place in your kit by meeting your needs, not someone else’s opinion.

So the next time you're looking at a new piece of kit, be it a pencil or a multi-hundred-dollar gadget, stop and ask:

• What problem is this solving?
• Do I have that problem?
• Have I tested this myself?
• Is it overcomplicating a simple task?
  
• If I spend money on something, who does that money go to?

We don’t carry gear to impress people, we carry it to solve problems. Choose wisely.