Am I the only one who codes guidebook highlights with colored tabs?

It helps me quickly find info on flora, fauna, and trails during hikes.

5 comments

5 Comments

Just imagine meticulously color-coding your entire guidebook, only for a single morning hike to render it a soggy, unreadable mess. The tabs don't just get wet, they commit to a full-blown MELTDOWN, bleeding color onto pages about endangered wildflowers. It's like nature's way of reminding you who's REALLY in charge of this outdoor experience. I've seen tabs curl up like defeated little flags after a drizzle, making my careful organization utterly POINTLESS. But hey, at least the ruined guidebook becomes a unique souvenir of that time you tried to outsmart the elements.

amy_young2h ago

Cool idea, but what happens when the tabs get wet from dew?

baker.grace2h ago

Ugh, that's a real concern! I've totally ruined a few pages from morning moisture. Honestly, it makes me hesitate to tab my nicer field guides. I started using those plastic laminate sleeves for the really damp hikes, but it's a hassle. Tbh, I still prefer tabs for quick reference, so I just accept some wear and tear. It's a trade-off for having organized info on the trail.

evand111h ago

Recall reading in Backpacker magazine that waterproof tape reinforces tabs.

eva_perez1h ago

Wait, seriously? That's a genius hack from the magazine but I'm skeptical about the execution. How does the tape hold up to constant page-turning and being stuffed in a pack? Are we talking about wrapping the entire tab or just the base where it meets the page?