Am wondering if anyone else has had any experience sending unrequested items, but things which are "terribly practical" in my book.  I have picked up some "practical 'guy' things" to send, like duct tape and bungee cords, funnels and small tool sets, paper clips, clothes pins, clamps, 3 in 1 oil, magnets, needle nose pliers, Swiss Army knives, etc.  Do they think it's "cool...I have just the use for it" (Macgyver lives!) or "boy, is that stupid"?  Any guys out there want to chime in on this?  Favorite gadgets and things you can't live without that people would laugh at?  Junkies, what item is the most unusual request you've had?

I know for a fact that my brothers would love the tools and knifes. My brother has a leatherman knife and seriously could not live without it. He brings it EVERYWHERE! I am sure all the guys appreciate the items you send. You know what they say duct tape holds the world together. Duct tape can hold anything together so it is a good idea to send.

Now what I am about to mention is not at all useful (well, I guess a little ) but it is funny. It is called the Freeloader Fork. It is a fork that extends to like 2 feet and I really want to get it. I think the guys would have a blast with it stealing each others food and just doing pranks on each other. I will try to do a link:

 http://www.mcphee.com/items/10571.html

 
Freeloader Fork
Ever been tempted by a passing dessert cart? Desired a dab of your dinner companion's delicious dumplings? The metal Freeloader Fork looks like a normal fork, but it telescopically extends to a length of 21"! At its full length it allows you to surreptitiously taste other's food and never be suspected. It can also be used as a pointer for culinary lectures, a back scratcher or a humorous conductor's wand.

Freeloader Fork
item 10571
$8.50 ea.

LOL--COOOL!!!  Love it!!  I know that they make long "grabbers" as well...as delicate as picking up a dropped screw (also long magnets for such) to one's that can pick up a can of food (or beer...lol).  I sent my contact a back scratcher that telescoped as well, but never heard whether he liked it or not...sigh...   Thanks for the tip, though.

One thing that seems to be really useful for the road guys that are patroling or especially the ones who disarm IEDs, is the black solid rubber straps for keeping their equipment secure in the vehicles.  Can you imagine that explosive material bouncing around inside their vehicles?

Gran

Zip ties seem to be pretty useful especially if they are a mechanic like my Grandpa. 

Cool!  I hadn't thought of those things.  It seems like all sorts of "fastening products" seem to be helpful, right?  Maybe I'll spend some time wandering through the hardware store this weekend and the auto stores looking for gadgets and "stuff".  Thanks everyone.

Debbie

I try to send random fun stuff. In a package Im trying to tape together right now there is a frankenstein halloween mask, a package of spiders, and a whoopie cushion. Then the necesities like razors and foot powder, and some candy corn. I doubt that a soldier in the field would ever seen anything and think that it was stupid.

Duct tape isn't a bad idea either. I saw on Youtube where some soldiers taped one of their guys to the grill of the HUMVEE. Everything has a use over there. Whether its the intended one or not.

 http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-UpClose-Weather-Resistant-Binocular/dp/B0000CAOGV/ref=rsl_mainw_dpl?ie=UTF8&m=A17MC6HOH9AVE6

Low cost IED/weasle spotter.  Waterproof.  Can be used for stargazing, especially in Afghanistan.  I've owned Celestron telescopes before and they are excellent.

You mentioned pliers, how about one of these.  I have this on in my emergency kit in the car.

 http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Suspension-Butterfly-Opening-Multi-Plier/dp/B000EDPT9K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1225977969&sr=8-1

I am a teacher and know how important it is for parents to read to their children. That is why I was so touched to know that Barry Morgan is looking for children's books to read to his kids.

He can count on me to send him some!!! 

Childrens books are a big hit, the troops have a progarm set up where they can do a dvd of them reading the book to their kids, they need the small type of dvd's to accomplish this as well as kid's books. I am sure there is a posting requesting these items somewhere on the AS site.

Like some others, I just love to send the whoppie cushions, duct tape, bungee cords, twine rolls, inexpensive hammers, nails, and assorted hardware stuff- as we all know, nothing goes to waste.