Weekly Blog #22 - A "Patch" of Personality...
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posted: Saturday, September 26th, 2026
There are plenty of ways to show personality on the trail, but Sponge suggests "patches"
If there's one thing universally true about distance hikers, it's that we're a colorful lot. Sponge has met hundreds of hikers out on trails - most of which have backstories and personalities that would be worthy of a hangout session lasting for many cold beers.
But sometimes, it's tough to get to know a hiker without taking the time to talk to them. We don't always wear the most colorful clothing - and our tendency to pack light means we don't have a lot of personal trinkets that give you clues about our interests off the trail. So what can us trailblazers do to let others know what we're all about?
Put on a 'patch'
Sponge recommends adding some high quality patches to your pack, clothing or organizational bags. These small, tightly-wound thread designs are durable enough to stand up to the elements. Just make sure you use non-adhesive patches, those with stickiness are destined to either cause a mess or fall off at some point. You'll want patches you can sew into place or affix with super-strong bonding glue.
There are THOUSANDS of patches out there - ones that can show your hobbies, humor, sports teams you support or even foods you crave. Many are colorful, graphical and eye-catching - which is the point. Adding them to your hiking gear or apparel allows other hikers (or even complete strangers in town) to notice what you have in common...or what is totally unique about you as a person.
Sponge's personal 'patches' explained
Sponge collects patches the way some collect tattoos. But what are they and what exactly do they mean?
For starters, Sponge has two on his pack - visible on either side of his Durston Kawka 55's Y-strap.
The first says "But Did You Die?" - a direct quote from Leslie Chow's character in The Hangover 2. It was asked sarcastically to another character complaining of having a bad day (meanwhile Chow had just been retrieved from a hotel ice machine after the other characters thought he was dead).
The second is another movie quote (showing that Sponge is an absolute nut for goofy comedies or action flicks). This one is taken from Deadpool: "Maximum Effort." Together, these two quotes sum up what every hard hike is about: not dying and putting in extreme effort to prevent this.
On his invaluable fanny-pack, Sponge has a "It's Another Half-Mile or So..." patch. This is another tongue-in-cheek reference to one of the biggest challenges of the trail - finding that long-awaited stop, viewpoint or end-destination.
Finally, on his medical bag, Sponge has YET ANOTHER movie quote, this time from Predator. Uttered by Jesse "The Body" Ventura in response to an observation that he's bleeding: "I Ain't Got Time to Bleed!"
Future patches for Sponge?
Like a tattoo-addictee searching for more 'skin space', Sponge would like to add more patches to his arsenal. But what and where?
So far, none of Sponge's actual clothing has a patch. While his trademark black-hat is off-limits, other items could certainly be contenders. His hiking pants, for example, could spot a patch - maybe in an area where there is a rip or to reinforce an area where rips tend to occur. He also has a canvas travel wallet that could use a cool patch - maybe a good quote from the movie Wall Street...although "Greed is Good" is just not Sponge's style.
Eventually, Sponge may tackle more areas that require cold-weather gear. This can open up new patch possibilities for items like gloves or a jacket.
It's tough to say what the future will hold. But Sponge is happy to match items and patches to the wacky parts of his personality.