I thought it was a strange item to pack also, but I found a small roll at the dollar store and threw it in our "already bulging" luggage. When picking up our luggage at the port, we found a huge rip in one of our large soft-sided suitcases! The port staff was very amused to watch me pull my roll of duct tape out of another suitcase and repair the damage, file a claim, gather my family together and wave good-bye! It came in very handy for us!!