Your phone dies. Your signal is gone. You're trying to remember if that's poison ivy or poison oak, whether the stream water needs five minutes or thirty, what three whistle blasts actually means. The information exists — you've looked it up before — but it's not there when you need it.
That's the problem these stickers solve. Five outdoor reference cards, printed on premium waterproof vinyl, sized to stick on a Nalgene, Hydro Flask, CamelBak, or Stanley. The info lives on your gear — which means it's always in your pack, always accessible, always there when it matters most.
The Five Outdoor Reference Stickers
Emergency Signals
Three whistle blasts. Ground-to-air patterns. SOS in Morse code. The three emergency communication protocols every backcountry traveler should know — and rarely has memorized when they actually need them.
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Water Treatment
Boiling times by elevation, chemical treatment options (chlorine dioxide vs. iodine — and what each does and doesn't kill), filter micron ratings, and UV purifier basics. Backcountry water purification in one compact reference.
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Too Hot / Too Cold — Know the Signs
Hypothermia (the "umbles": stumbles, mumbles, fumbles, grumbles), heat exhaustion, and heat stroke — symptoms and what to do for each. The critical note: victims rarely recognize it in themselves. Watch your buddy.
Shop on Etsy →Morse Code International
The full International Morse Code alphabet and numerals 0–9. For ham radio operators, preppers, and anyone who wants to know. Not something you memorize — something you have when you need it.
Shop on Etsy →Poisonous Plants — The Big Three
Poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac — leaf shapes, cluster counts, and key visual identifiers for all three. Leaves of three, let it be. Know the difference before the hike, not after.
Shop on Etsy →Why a Sticker, Not a Card or an App?
Reference cards get left at home. Apps need a signal. A sticker on your water bottle is just there — you don't have to think about packing it, charging it, or finding it in your bag. It's on the thing you're already carrying, which means it's always with you.
These are printed on the same material used for vehicle and outdoor signage: premium vinyl with UV-resistant glossy laminate. They survive being dunked, dropped, and baked in the sun. If your water bottle survives the trip, so does the sticker.
Where to Stick Them
- Wide-mouth water bottle (Nalgene, Hydro Flask, Stanley) — the flat bottom panel is perfect for a 3" sticker
- Hydration pack — shoulder strap or top lid, somewhere visible
- First aid kit lid — the Heat & Cold and Emergency Signals stickers are especially at home here
- Bug-out bag or day pack — pick the sticker that matches how you use the bag
- Helmet or hard hat — popular choice for trail building and backcountry work crews
The Full Reference Series
These five stickers are part of the VARØ Industries reference sticker series — practical information in a compact, durable format. The workshop series covers the shop side: pilot hole sizes, fraction/decimal/mm conversions, and wood glue types. If you split your time between the outdoors and the workshop, both sets live well together on a tool chest or water bottle.
All stickers are available individually or as a set of three at a discount. Ships flat in a rigid protective mailer — free domestic shipping.
Browse the full sticker collection on Etsy →
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
- Shop on Etsy →
- Browse the full sticker collection on Etsy →
- Workshop Reference Stickers for Your Toolbox — VARØ Industries Blog
- VARØ Industries Is Now on Sticker Mule — VARØ Industries Blog
- Everything I Sell on Etsy: The Complete VARØ Industries Guide — VARØ Industries Blog