The Most Common Lost & Found Items in the Great Outdoors (and How to Get Them Back)

People think that if they lose something, it’s gone forever—poof, vanished into the wilderness. But that’s just not true. Go to any outdoor forum (MountainBuzz, Duck Hunting Chat, Moab Gear, Go4AWalk.com, Mountain Project, etc.), and you’ll find thousands of people desperately trying to reunite with their lost gear.

Here’s the good news: most people who find lost items want to return them. Wouldn’t you? Even a wallet stuffed with cash can find its way home without a missing dollar—just check out some social experiments on YouTube. The key to getting your stuff back? Make it easy for people to return it.

At Karmik Outdoors, we’ve done the research. We combed through lost-and-found sections on Craigslist in outdoorsy cities across the Northwest—Boise, Yakima, Spokane, Bozeman, Denver, Bend, Salt Lake, and Reno—to find the most commonly lost items. We skipped niche forums (which would skew the data) and avoided pets, though you should put a Karmik decal on your dog’s collar.

Here’s what we found: The top three lost items are overwhelmingly the most expensive and inconvenient things to lose. If you drop a glove, you can get another. But if you lose one of these, you’re in for a world of hurt. Let’s get into it.

The Top 3 Lost Items (a.k.a. the Worst Things to Lose)

1. Phones

Sure, you can track your phone—but what if it’s dead? Wouldn’t it be easier if the finder could just scan a Karmik decal and contact you immediately? With one on your phone or case, you could get an email within seconds of someone picking it up.

2. Keys

If you have a key fob, put a Karmik decal on it. Period. Modern car keys are ridiculously expensive to replace. With a Karmik tag, you can get your keys back within minutes instead of retracing your steps for hours or shelling out hundreds for a replacement. Our Anywhere Tag fits most key fobs, and our Bag Tag works well on keychains.

3. Wallets

Forget the money—you can make more of that. What you won’t get back is the time you’ll waste canceling credit cards and getting a new driver’s license. Skip the stress and put a Karmik decal inside your wallet for a seamless return process.

🚨 You need at least three Karmik decals for these items.

Now, Onto Our Beloved Outdoor Gear

4. Backpacks

(Motorcycle, Fishing, Hunting, Photography, Hiking, Disc Golf—you name it.)

We cram our backpacks with expensive gear, so losing one is extra painful. Whether you’re on a mountain or in an airport, a Karmik Bag Tag on your pack gives it a much higher chance of coming home.

5. Drones

These things fly. Sometimes, they don’t come back. GPS helps, but batteries die. A weatherproof, no-Bluetooth-needed Karmik decal ensures someone can return your drone when it inevitably crash-lands.

6. Cameras & Lenses

Photographers are some of the most passionate (and expensive-hobby-loving) people out there. Whether you're shooting landscapes, wildlife, or action sports, slap a Karmik decal on your camera and lenses.

7. Sunglasses

High-end sunglasses aren’t cheap. If they’re prescription, they’re even more valuable. A Karmik decal on the case (or frame) helps ensure they get back to you.

8. Skis & Snowboards

Gear mix-ups happen all the time at ski resorts. A Karmik decal makes sure your skis or board don’t get mistaken for someone else’s. Bonus: When you sell them, the new owner can re-register the tag, making your gear more valuable.

9. Gloves

Under every ski lift in the world, lonely gloves sit, waiting for their owners. Our decals don’t work well on gloves yet, but we’re working on solutions. Tell your favorite glove brand to collaborate with us!

10. Poles (Ski, Trekking, Bi-Pod, etc.)

Anything with “pole” in the name gets lost a lot. If you use poles, put a Karmik decal on them.

11. Fishing Rods

Karmik Outdoors was literally founded because our owner found a lost fly rod. Some fishing rods cost over $1,000—protect yours with a Karmik decal. If you lose one on a big trip, a finder could send it directly to your destination!

12. Optics (Binoculars & Spotting Scopes)

Ever lost a pair of high-end binos? Yeah, we’d rather not think about it either. Put a Karmik decal on your optics now.

13. Waterfowl Decoys

Hunters lose decoys to rivers, ice, and wind all the time. A Karmik decal helps recover expensive decoys—or at least keeps your set organized when hunting with friends.

14. Fishing Nets

If you lose a net, someone will find it. Without a Karmik decal, it’s just another unclaimed piece of gear. Save yourself $360 for the cost of a $10 sticker.

15. Tackle & Fly Boxes

For less than the price of one lure or fly, you can protect an entire box of gear. That’s a no-brainer.

16. Watersports Gear

Life jackets, SUP boards, kayak paddles, dry bags—if it touches water, it’s at risk of floating away. A 25-pack of Karmik decals can safeguard everything in your boat.

17. Bikes

Your bike is worth more than your first car? Yeah, same. A Karmik decal on your frame or helmet could be the difference between recovery and heartbreak.

Other Items That Get Lost Too Often:

• Earbuds

• Power tools

• Laptops

• Luggage

• Firearms

Some things—like Hydroflasks or fly boxes—don’t always get reported because the finder doesn’t know their value. Others, like sentimental items, are priceless.

If you own anything on this list, protect it. Save your time, money, and sanity with a Karmik decal. It’s an investment in peace of mind.

Robert Gillingham
Founder & Owner, Karmik Outdoors
(Frequent loser of things)