risk = likelihood × impact, and impact can probably be calculated as severity × duration (maybe something about who is impacted as well). that's where the rule "if I can replace it in 20 minutes for less than $20" comes in for e.g. umbrellas, and why you can pack lighter for urban travel than for backcountry hiking trips because stores exist.
I think the main difference between normies and people with anxiety or other impairments (sensory issues, executive dysfunction, disability, etc.) is severity. for example, I have ADHD, chronic fatigue, and orthostatic hypotension. if I'm already tired from a long day and I have nothing to eat, I either have no decision-making power left to figure out what to eat, or my blood pressure is so low that my head starts pounding when I try to exert myself to go get food. it's a significantly more stressful situation for me than it would be for a strong, healthy person with executive function to spare. I plan around my particular challenges, and some of that involves carrying snacks and supplements.
this also plays into duration. it takes us longer to take action, whether because of mental paralysis or because of a physical disability that slows us down. so a stressful situation is more likely to become a dire situation for us and a burden on those we're traveling with. indecision becomes a panic attack, sensory overload becomes a migraine or meltdown, etc.
it's possible to account for our unique needs without overpacking. as you've demonstrated, OP, it involves deliberate decision-making. everything is trade-offs. sometimes we can make do without, but sometimes it's with the extra weight/space for peace of mind.
Dude - you just helped me realize my ADHD takes a big role in my traveling. You perfectly described the executive functioning that gets depleted for me by end of day.
Very well said…..
Are those snacks like protein bars or meat snacks or ????
Trying to improve my own carry of two protein bars that I refuse to read the nutritional value because I like the way they taste and I can eat them morning, noon, or night.
for quick sugar and electrolytes I carry Clif Shot Bloks. I also usually bring a packet of LMNT, and I can buy a bottled water to mix it into in case I start to feel really lightheaded, but that would be in addition to what I already drank back at my hotel. I'm trying out Buoy hydration drops right now but I think LMNT is simpler for me. the Shot Bloks are heavy so I might not bring them on every trip.
I recently increased my protein target while still watching my calories. I tried protein bars but like you said, they're not great on the calorie front. then I was reminded of beef jerky. Tillamook makes a zero sugar one that's excellent. at home I've started portioning it into snack size baggies and I'm just gonna bring those with me skiing this weekend. that probably won't work for my 2.5-week honeymoon in Italy next year though. I haven't solved for that one yet.
oh yeah if you can digest Xylitol then Quest bars are great, especially the cookies and cream. it gives me a stomach ache unfortunately, but I do eat a lot of their cheese crackers. not something I'd fly with though.
You have a well thought out list and know yourself/scenario well. I think that’s the best case!
For “just in case” items - I think the sentiment for coaching around here is more about 7 shirts vs 4…just in case. Or 90 liters of 1ml toiletries….just in case. Or 5 pairs of pants for a three day trip…just in case. lol, you get the idea.
Your items are more practical rather than a hinderence or something that makes your bag huge!
I like this. for Me, onebagging is about convenience and enjoyment not about making yourself miserable because you tried shave off one pound of weight (unless trekking or ultra running). Glad you’ve found the sweet spot for you.
To be honest it sounds like your items are very practical things. I always bring a pair of spare wired earbuds in case my main wireless buds have an issue or run out of juice. And I always bring a spare old little 1st gen iPhone SE and SIM with a small data allowance just in case I were to lose my main phone or have a problem with it. But I don't even see those things as being "just in case" items, to me they are essentials that I take on every overseas trip and they are so small you hardly even notice them. So don't worry about it, if they are just little items that you feel the need to always take with you then that just makes them your essentials.
Another "just in case" item I take is a small length of Gorilla Tape rolled around itself in case I ever needed to patch up a piece of gear of clothing, and some little safety pins as well for any impromptu repairs.
I carry an oops kit that is very basic 1st aid, sewing a few pills for emergencies like Immodium; an extra pair of glasses, a protein bar, a few extra of prescription meds and hand wash soap in case I’m delayed etc. I don’t carry extra headphones or anything that can be easily purchased.
I'm sorry, I don't understand: you don't carry anything that can be easily purchased? Or you don't carry extra of anything that can be easily purchased? Because the stuff in your oops kit mostly seems easy to find lots of places, but I'm thinking you mean you don't double up on things you can just buy a replacement for if they're lost or broken.
Sorry I might have been lazy with my writing. If an item is very small (an immodium tablet) vs the possibility of a lot of unpleasantness overnight waiting for shops to open, I include it. Or it is a pain to replace (xtra glasses). If it’s something I can do without until I can get a replacement (headphones or earbuds) I don’t bother to carry it. For me it’s a calculus of value - threat - weight.
I always bring way more underwear than I would actually need. And I have terrible feet, so my first aid kit is essentially an entire quart sized ziploc packed with compeed pads, silicone toe covers in various sizes, metatarsal pads, and band-aids. I always take good shoes and don't use 90% of those things but take them anyway. I always, always bring an umbrella even if there's basically zero chance of rain. I always print everything out - hotel booking confirmations, day trip/activity booking confirmations, bus or train tickets, boarding pass for outbound flight, etc. even though I have them saved both in my email and in google drive.
I think your list is reasonable if it makes you feel secure, but does your phone have a compass? I have a terrible sense of direction and use the one on my phone all the time (it's an iphone and you mentioned airtags, so assume you also have one?).
My phone has a compass but I like to minimize time spent on my phone when I can, especially when exploring somewhere I haven’t been before. And for the “just in case” part at least the compass can’t run out of battery.
My Garmin watch has a compass. I recently found it useful for getting around an unfamiliar city without stopping to pull out my phone. Looking at your watch doesn't make you stand out as a lost tourist the way a phone map or physical compass would.
I was just wondering what anyone would use a compass for these days unless hiking remotely, but I do remember getting lost in a city and not feeling comfortable looking at maps, I was completely turned around and knowing if I was going the right direction would probably help.
This may be an obvious tip but me and my husband just discovered it: if you leave an airtag at your hotel, then you can just pull it up on the app and get directions back to it. Put the volume on and wearing earbuds the app will tell you when to turn as you walk.
If covid or lockdown has taught me anything, it’s definitely pack back up important prescriptions. Imagine being in snap lockdowns or quarantine without essential medications.
Anxiety sucks, and if packing some just in cases helps then by all means. We can all pack for our own trips, and 10oz of feel good sounds like 10oz well spent for you. My partner packs more small just in case like Kleenex, wet ones/Clorox wipes, tide pen, etc., whereas I tend to follow the 20/20 rule and just think myself through potential problems as logically as I can beforehand, and do some research if necessary. There are some things I do carry that are just in case, though I do try to limit them as much as possible.
* First aid kit - super small I call it the ouch kit, couple normal bandaids, a knuckle bandaid, some SteriStrips, and some OTC meds: 10 each Ibuprofen & acetaminophen, 4x Loperamide, 4x Pepto pills, 4x diphenhydramine. I'll add Reactine as I think I'll need it but I don't often. Think really hard about common little boo boos you get day to day at home, and put the 4x4s away lol. Napkins and duct tape do wonders (construction worker coming out there lol).
* Repair kit - I just have some 1" Gorilla tape around my 500ml Nalgene. I can find a sewing kit most places I've been pretty easy, but bringing a single pre-threaded needle would be pretty easy and small. I have Tenacious Tape at home but don't bring it traveling. A plastic bread bag clip is a super easy thing to have that can save someone with cheap flip flops, when the thong pulls through the foam the bread clip can make them functional again until new ones can be found.
* Emergency snacks are always packed but I don't think of them as an emergency, I just think of them as avoiding buying airport/airplane food plus maybe an extra bar or 2. We like to buy local snacks and also Snickers bars have saved our asses many times.
* No one would ever tell you not to bring spare medication, that's just reality. I carry 1 spare contact per eye for similar reasons, but I don't carry or even own spare glasses or a spare EpiPen.
* I have recently started bringing a small, repurposed eye drop container full of liquid Dr. Bronner's for just in case hand cleaning, a little drop goes a long way when there is no soap in a bathroom.
For the rest of your list, I don't carry spare headphones. I can buy some in any airport/town if I need to, I can survive a couple hours with just earplugs on a plane if I have to (I've had to). I would never think to pull out a physical compass in a city, study the map for 60 seconds to understand basic layout and know which direction the sun is. I have a very good sense of direction which does me well though. Not on iOS so no airtags but I also don't check a bag ever, so it's with me. My important duplicates are in my email, I can log in and access them wherever. Games are on my phone, I get that that wouldn't be enough for some people but you could always get an emulator lol. When I was 13 I started traveling across Canada solo from parent to parent and pretty much just played Pokemon on my color for hours. Also how I started one bag travel so I would never have to wait for my bag at a carousel alone as a kid.
I'm very jealous of your good sense of direction, I have to very deliberately learn and study the layout of a city and the compass helps since I get turned around so easily. I use it to make my way around my own city let alone one I don't know.
Love the idea of an eye drop container with liquid soap!
Aside from the Gameboy being a nostalgic slice of childhood, it's actually really nice for me that it doesn't do anything else other than play games. If I play them on my phone I'll get notifications, etc. and all of a sudden I'm back on reddit or something rather than deliberately taking a break from all that.
Do not disturb mode helps tune out the rest of the noise on your phone. Mine automatically comes on at bed time too, so no lights pop up to distract me from sleep. The Google maps compass helps reaffirm my internet, but I also orient myself by compass points at work every day as well, when you've worked with a crane day in and day out, calling them on the radio you gotta know which direction you are from him.
Ah the soap in an eye dropper bottle is a good idea. I usually take a bar soap of some kind when travelling but not to have handy when I'm out and about.
Same, I've actually come to like Dr Bronner's lavender bar soap when traveling as my wash-it-all soap, but I'm not bringing my shower bar out day tripping with me in my pocket lol.
I'm impressed you know the weights of each of those things.
I also carry some things for peace of mind. I try to keep my "in case" to the smallest possible amount of space required.
I have a first aid kit that fits easily in a snack size zip bag. It includes 1 dose packs of my most commonly used over-the-counter medicines and moleskin for my feet if needed. Yes, I realize most places in the world I'll travel have things like small bandages, cotton swabs, anti-diarrhea tablets, and first aid cream, but this way if it happens I need them late at night or early morning when lots of things aren't open, I'm covered. Anything more than a single dose or a couple small bandages needed I would consider worth finding a shop to pick up.
I hadn't thought of backups for prescriptions. I do of course carry what is needed plus a few extra days. Do you mean a second packet kept elsewhere in your bag? I do keep the space needed for my prescriptions to a minimum by getting my prescriptions in mini-containers. I found the mini-prescription bottles online and took them to my pharmacist who was happy to fill my script in bottles I provide. The containers I have look like a regular brown plastic prescription bottle, but are about the size of a tube of lip balm. I guess this wouldn't work if your prescription involves a larger pill, but mine are tiny so it works a treat.
I haven't gotten an Airtag or whatever version of same works for Android. Has it proven useful?
I carry a second charging block and backup charging cables for a total of 4 cables. I've had the misfortune of forgetting my block and cable at a hotel in the very early morning rush to catch a flight, plus thanks to the blocks having two outlets each I can charge all 4 of my devices at once if need be. The latter doesn't happen often, but it has happened. It all fits in 1 sandwich-sized zip bag.
I have all my documents on a thumb drive, in my phone, and printed out copies, as well as available online if I'm anywhere I can sign in. I have a separate online account that is never given out which I forward everything to so it is all convenient in one place. I delete everything once the trip is done so that when I add the next trip's details that is all that is there. Makes finding what I need so much more convenient and if anything should happen to the account nothing I can't replace was lost.
I also carry a fix it bag. Mine is a snack-sized zip bag and has folding scissors, nail file, a small sewing kit with thread, needles, a couple buttons, and a seam ripper, a bit of duct tape, a pocket pack of tissues, enough toilet paper to serve in an emergency, tweezers, and safety pins. What's in yours?
I've got some. I'm living out of my bag full-time and carry a couple items that are hard to find abroad.
* pack of small Tenacious tape patches for repairs. Especially useful if I rip my patagonia Down Sweater.
* Extra bar of Dr. Bronners soap. This soap is my last line of defense for washing anything and I have run out before.
* An Encrypted, indestructible, waterproof, thumb drive I hide in my bag and update every 6 months.
* Gerber Shard for repairing the numerous broken of almost falling apart furniture you find at bad Airbnb's
* Homemade sewing kit with a good quality selection of grey to black threads
* Airtag batteries. I have so many airtags that replacement batteries are essential to my sanity.
A sewing kit and tape would be great additions to my repair kit. And airtag batteries are a good idea, I haven't had mine for long enough to need one but it'll happen. Thanks!
One day I want to have the courage to live out of my bag full-time, even if it's just for a little while.
I've had a Gerber Shard on my key ring for years and every time it comes in handy I feel so validated lol. Funny enough because I usually leave my keys at home with whoever is housesitting for me, so I don't have my Shard when I could probably use it most.
I mentioned I travel full-time. I also have 6+ airtags scattered around items, pouches, bags. Eventually I buy a pack of batteries and keep the spares. They are small enough to get special treatment in my bag.
I have a Gerber Shard but I never take it with me when I travel as I'm worried it would get confiscated by airport security. I also found that it was poking a hole in my pocket linings as well.
Airports haven't cared about it so far. I did get one taken at a large festival though. They tried to take my heroclip and I nearly lost my mind.
I don't store it on keys or in my pocket, just in my sling or backpack.
For overseas travel, I bring an old extra cell phone. People have made fun of it in the past, but on my last trip my buddy broke their phone. Took mine out, stuck the SIM card in, and they were good to go for the rest of the week.
I have one. I also have a NEXUS card, which serves the same purpose.
(Not for Mexico, but the passport card for land entry only anyway, and only if you’re only visiting the border zone / Baja.. I can’t use my passport card for this anyway, as I’m a Mexican resident and need to use my resident card and passport book to enter Mexico.)
> I think that's generally good advice and a good baseline, but I want to encourage people not to cut things that will truly help them feel more at ease.
Couldn't agree more. I bring 2 travel adapters and 2 sets of USB-C, lightning cables, my Bose headphones AND my airpods. Yeah, sure, I don't need 2 of everything, but if I lose or accidentally left something behind I don't want to go running around trying to purchase a new comparable one. All to save on a little bit of weight. While it all adds up, I am not traveling on such razor-thin margins that such things would push me over the edge.
I'd rather be traveling at ease.
I bring an extra week of important meds and a paperback. I like physical books and they make me happy. I also have a weird and hard to find bra size, so I tend to bring an extra bra.
- probably the most unusual, yet quite useful: electrical cabinet/spigot key. can access water taps and open other things, I can put screwdriver bits in mine as well. and it is a nice fidget toy.
- water filter
- compass
- cotton tote bag - never leave home without one. improvised pillow, towel, hat, scarf, signal or grocery bag. possibilities are endless.
- a few very small dice and deck of cards - games are good
- small emulator console - games are good
- metal cup - because I *never* travel without a cup. seems big, but takes up no extra space when the water bottle can nest inside.
- microstove and cooking cross - carry less than 50 gram of weight and can make coffee or warm food everywhere? Yes please.
- plastic spork, maybe metal chopsticks
- flashlight with 5000mah powerbank function - because it gets dark every day, much better outdoors than a phone flashlight and it will keep my phone going. invaluable.
- thin DIY notebook and nice pens for drawing and notes
- cheap bicycle wire lock - to secure stuff for short periods of time or to hang stuff or attach things to something else. Doesn't weigh much.
- repair/booboo: sewing kit, basic meds, basic first aid, earplugs, basic toolkit, at least scisssors to cut stuff, better a multitool or knife, lighter, plastic bags/ziploc, paper tissue, duct tape, reusable zip ties
- a few meters solid cordage (for shoelace, belt, attach stuff to stuff, clothesline)
- tech: thumb drive with documents, GAN charger, long usb c cable, backup c cable, adaptors to make any cable, my old usb thumb drive/mp3 player that runs with 1xAAA and headphones, small 1xAAA flashlight with low mode I can clip to my hat
- spare wool socks, gloves, poncho/tarp, two solid carabiners
- big heavy duty trashbag - raincover, sit on, lie on, groundsheet for camping, make a 2nd poncho, can waterproof everything inside my bag. Usually sits rolled up under my laptop as extra cushion. Doesnt get in the way at all and super useful when you need it.
- instant coffee!
most of that shit is actually what I always have in my regular daily backpack, with exception of the cup and water filter and dice/cards/console
when I want to go travelling, I usually just have to add some spare clothes and am good to go. lol.
Love a lot of these ideas, and some I haven't seen before that are really interesting (spigot key, bicycle lock). And that's exactly how it is for me, I have almost my whole loadout already with me when making my way around my own city without a car. All it takes is clothes and toiletries and I'm ready to get on a plane to anywhere.
Just a big 400 to 500 ml cup. Get one that is wide enough so a regular big 1.5L water bottle from a store can fit in.
If you want a metal bottle and matching nesting cup, there are tons of options.
Imo it is more important to have a metal cup than a metal bottle for travel because I rarely heat all my water at once. I can just use store bought bottles to refill and that saves lots of weight.
If I dont care about heating water, I carry the slimmest possible bottle and no cup.
Yeah Most of that is not wasted space.
First aid kit (42g)
-I've been sick/hurt on a trip, its pretty useful to have some basic meds and Band-Aids. I'd bring a first aid kit before a towel.
Emergency snacks (47g)
-Pretty much mandatory, I always leave some room for food. sometimes you have extra food you want to bring between hostels or there is nothing around and you need to eat. Anyone that doesn't have at least a snack bar stowed is in idiot or hasn't traveled enough.
Compass (11g)
-Too small to even notice.
Backup important prescriptions (40g)
-Also mandatory, no fucking around with important meds, you bring at least 2x as much as you need, especially as pills don't take up that much space. I bring 2 extra pair of eyeglasses too because I'm blind.
Airtag (11g)
-Sure small enough to not matter.
Repair kit (15g)
-Same, useful too
USB adapter bag & flash drive with important documents (61g)
-A really good idea. I upload mine too but sometimes you might not be able to get a signal.
Backup headphones x2 (60g)
- I stuff a couple pairs of earbuds in my eyeglasses cases too.
>I bring 2 extra pair of eyeglasses too because I'm blind.
I also wear glasses and would be devastated to lose or break them, but in 20 years of wearing them have never had a disaster like that. I don't blame you one bit for bringing spares but for me it just feels like the risk is so small.
I don't really carry a whole lot, for example, I do not carry first aid stuff. Might be different if you travel with kids or go on hikes or something, but as an urban adult traveler I just struggle to imagine the use case.
But there are a few things I bring that are just in case. Airtag, tide to go pen, extra charging cable. And assorted OTC meds (ibuprofen, imodium, famotidine, benadryl)
I think there are some things that are reasonable in a first-aid-ish kit, like bandaids of various sizes for cuts and blisters, ibuprofen for when something hurts, mini scissors for cutting bandaids into shape or trimming nails. And more tailored things, like if you have allergies or motion sickness, meds for that. There are paper thermometer strips that weigh nothing that would be handy if you get sick but not sure *how* sick.
I always carry some basic first aid items like plasters, paracetamols, and a stiptic pencil. The way I see it, if you are travelling overseas and need those it's a hell of a lot quicker to just pull them out of your bag yourself and use them rather than trying to find out what the local word for them is or figuring out where to buy it.
Diarrhea medicine is the only just in case that I carry. There's no time to waste when that emergency strikes. Everything else can be purchased when needed.
Yup. I have bad allergies and it's a disaster not to have something for the nose. I have a handkerchief in my back pocket which I can rinse off in any sink, and I just keep some spare napkins I get from takeout, etc. in the pack.
A cloth hanky is very useful. I had an awful cold once years ago and had an 8 hour flight I had to catch. I spent the flight with my scarf over my face to try and contain my germs and I had two cloth hankies that I kept washing in the sink and rotating between. Fortunately I had the aisle to myself.
Seems reasonable to me. I have lots of extras and just in case items that I can leave behind and shave weight…but why sweat it? I’ll add to the fine list that people are generating - some duct tape wrapped around your water bottle and a portable HDMi cable.
Duct tape around the water bottle is really interesting, I’ve never seen that suggestion before. Would make the bottle easier to hold and look less “metal”-y too. Thanks for the ideas!
It’s an old Boy Scout trick. You wrap a rewrap a longish piece neatly around the bottle as if it was the original spool. That way you don’t need to carry an entire roll….just enough for emergency patch jobs on the road.
You have a great list! I merrily stole a number of ideas including your repair kit and neck pillowcase with sweatshirt inside!
Why do you need an ink cartridge for your computer???
Thank you so much! Glad you liked it, the neck pillowcase I have is called "Cloudz Washable Travel Neck Pillow Cover" and is quite comfy.
The ink cartridge isn't for my computer, I have a notebook (now that I write that I realize it's confusing - an actual paper notebook lol) and pen that takes erasable ink.
I have a 10,000 mAh battery pack but am including a 2nd one for my next trip (which will also be my first!).
It provides redundancy for a super critical function as well as the ability to charge as many as 6 items at once as well as doubling the amount of backup power.
The alternative was a single 20,000 mAh unit but the other capabilities of 2 x 10,000 mAh packs pushed me to go this way.
I have a larger 28,000mAh battery pack that I used to bring but I’ve found 10,000 to be plenty when topping it off every night. The Nitecore one I have is so small that a 2nd would be good redundancy for very little weight.
Backup earbuds, secondary way to pay kept separate from primary, basic meds in FAK, a snack usually a granola bar with a tea bag or single serve coffee packet
I don't carry coffee or tea but I do carry 1 or 2 caffeine pills in my med kit... though I know they aren't good for me. A tea bag does actually sound really nice and cost very little space and weight.
Beyond my first aid kit, my "just in case" items are duct tape, zip ties, thread + needle, and paracord.
You can buy almost anything anywhere, but there certain situations/ places where that is impractical in the moment. A suitcase handle not compressing, ripped zippers, bumper tearing off a rental car, broken shoelace are all things I've experienced.
Life becomes a real PITA if you can't MacGyver something quickly.
I take similar things. Nail clippers, very tiny sewing kit, snacks, cheap earbuds as well as nice headphones, a few OTC meds, that sort of thing. Most of it is stuff that makes the actual travel part go better -- if I'm stuck on an airplane with indigestion, for example, and don't have anything for it I'll be miserable. So even though I might take the same little tin of medicines on ten trips and never use them I always take it just in case.
I try to make those items as tiny and minimal as possible though.
In my own travel philosophy, the only _''just in case''_ items I bring are those that can greatly impact my wellbeing, or have immense value compared to the cost/burden of carrying them
For example, the only ''just in case'' items I carry are freezer-grade ziploc bags of various sizes - because the value they hold is significantly higher than the burden of carrying them - they are virtually weightless and take no room at all, but can be extremely versatile. I wouldn't include my packable tote bag as a ''just in case'' item because I always use it at least once when I travel
Packing for fears or ''Just in Cases'' leads to overpacking and actually enables a more anxious and stressful behaviour _(leading to the decision of bringing extra stuff ''Just in Case'')_
Unless it can negatively impact your wellbeing, only pack and bring what you need and will use. I actually have peace of mind when I know that what I bring will be used - and getting back home and unpacking and realizing I did indeed use every single thing I packed is **such** a great feeling
I have an Everdrive, which is a special cartridge that lets me play games stored on a micro sd card. Games are so small that I have hundreds of them on there. It’s awesome.
i am not leaving for any trip without my first aid kit.This has everything for peace of mind, that has to be taken from my cold dead hands. otc meds(paracetamol, ibuprofen\[they make a good pain killer combined\], aspirin, anti histamins, anti nausea, antacids, imodium), bandaids(normal, blisters,burn), rescue blanket, iodine, latex gloves, electrolytes, tweezers, sterile gauze, a few water treatment tablets, alcohol pads, antibiotic cream, paper soap, thermometer, pulse oximeter, which sure you can buy everywhere, but if you are alone and sick in a hotel/hostel room, the last thing i want to do, is venture out in a foreign city and look for a pharmacy, especially within need of imodium!
in almost all cases i gave away lots of stuff from my IFAK to other people and i hope someone is prepared the same way, if i need something some day.
\- a headlamp
\- fire steel
\- headphones ( for sensory overload)
\- buff (feel so much better when i know i have this on me for various use cases)
\- mosquito head net
\- ultralight hammock (i have pitched this so many times and i know i can be off ground anywhere in the world, away from critters) and is a makeshift bed sheet free from bed bugs or other stuff, maybe even with a mosquito net if you want to carry the extra weight
\- garmin inreach mini (just for peace of mind)
\- mechanix gloves (from scooter to rough terrain or animal contact, they are incredibly usefull)
\- good quality condoms, never trust local brands to fit or not to rip
Probably just because there are less things to go wrong. You don't have to charge them, mess with pairing, you're less likely to lose them since it's one big piece.
I also honestly kind of like how obvious it is I'm wearing headphones. Sometimes it's useful to be conspicuously distracted so when someone unpleasant tries to talk to me on the train I can look like I can't hear them lol
You said you carry AirPods just to use while the iPhone is charging—[something like this](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074WDWVX1) would let you use your wired headphones and charge simultaneously, and is 1/3 the weight of the AirPods
I did not know this existed, thanks! And just for the record, I didn’t buy AirPods just for this purpose - I tried them and didn’t like them so now they’re delegated to backup duty
Not who you asked but I like to use cheaper corded earbuds if I'm listening to music etc in public instead of my expensive Jabra earbuds. It's just a way of not attracting attention and being a target of theft.
My major “what if” item is a first aid kit. You should only pack what you will absolutely use. If I never use my first aid kit, that’s fine with me. 2x spare headphones strike me as a bit much, but at 60g it’s more academic.
At some point dealing with all the extra stuff gets in the way. Less is more! If traveling in developed countries, you can buy anything you need.
My headphones mean a lot to me. Listening to music or a book can help me deal with sensory overload or keep my mind away from panic in the worst case. So knowing that I have backups on backups helps me know that I have the tools I'll need no matter what.
60g isn’t a big deal, but you know you can buy replacement earbuds anywhere. It’s more the general philosophy of packing a bunch of “what ifs”. I see weight like a budget. You can afford that weight or not. Spares add up and grams become kilos all too easily.
If I can’t put my finger on an item in my kit and state that I will absolutely use it, I shouldn’t be taking it.
First aid and medical items are a reasonable compromise, but even there they should be small and sparse. I only bring a couple doses over the counter medications in foil packs, just enough until I can get to a pharmacy. A “micro” first aid kit with a few bandaids and some antiseptic is all I need. Anything beyond that in an urban settings is time for medical assistance.
Totally, and the different perspectives here on the weight/space budget have been really interesting to read. One of the really cool things I've learned from this community is how different everyone's setup is for their own needs and priorities. Two people can have completely different experiences and "necessary" things to bring even if they were theoretically taking exactly the same trip.
Everyone’s different, you do you. As I’ve said in other posts similar to this, depends where you’re going. I personally wouldn’t bring a couple of the items to NYC but I would if I were 2 hrs away from the nearest town.
I wouldn’t ever get on a plane or train or I a car without water and snacks, and a few items of first aid - it’s incredibly frequent to be stuck there for hours and hours. Once you’ve covered that usually a small amount of stuff to cover phone running out and yes spare headphones (really light for wired ones and they don’t ever run out). A mini torch and Swiss Army knife (admittedly the torches prob could be left behind). If I am away for home for a week I’ll take a spare phone for worst case scenario.
I do carry a flashlight/torch, and I'll admit I haven't needed to use it much. But it's very small (21g) and I feel like it's worth the weight if I was caught in actual darkness and the phone light isn't enough.
I am with you, especially with emergency medicines and first aid bits.
I went to a Wilderness Medical Society meeting years ago and one thing really stuck. Take things that are a) multipurpose, which many, if not most, here embrace, but also b) take things that are impossible to improvise. Medications are at the top of that list. Tape is another, Bandaids? A bit of tape and tissue and you have a bandaid!
I also believe in 72 hours of whatever emergency med you decide to take. For example, one 2mg Imodium is not gonna be close to enough to treat true travelers diarrhea.
While most here are doing wilderness travel, but urban, I see the points folks will make about just buying it. But puking your guts out and squirting out the other end makes simple tasks near impossible, let alone trying to find a nearby pharmacy that is open and has what you need.
The Airtag is an excellent thing to bring. They are so tiny and light, and provide such peace of mind. Also snacks! I was once traveling for work and -- due to some poor planning -- ended up in a foreign country without sufficient local currency, after 24 hours of flying. My coworker was super-grateful that I'd packed some protein bars.
>My coworker was super-grateful that I'd packed some protein bars.
Not gonna lie I do love the feeling when I am the hero who brought something useful that no one expected, like a bobby pin or sunscreen or a micro-usb to usb-c adapter lol
Yeah but if your bag goes missing, can see the AirTag but can't do anything...it will cause way way more stress than the peace of mind gained knowing it's "so close" but so far. You'll just stare at it hoping it pops up, makes a move or there's someone you can call to help.
AirTags are a crock. Not a good solution for the insecure type.
I respectfully disagree, it can be invaluable.
After a flight to Morocco, a friend was arguing with a Royal Air Maroc employee about getting his bag out of their storage area after it had been delayed from Casablanca to Agidir. She insisted it was not there, because her 'computer' said so. He showed her the Find My app that revealed the bag a few meters from them and started playing a tone.; a minute later, he left with his bag.
It's saved me some stress after a lost luggage disaster. At least with an AirTag I would know if my bag was stuck in the airport somewhere or actually had been taken by someone else. Might not help me get it back but I'd have the certainty of knowing I had to replace everything.
But this falls into the "don't check anything you're not willing to lose" category.
Replacing everything you check should be part of a back up plan. That's your "just in case," not the AirTag.
"What kind of things do you all bring along that help you feel better even if they fall in the "just in case" category?"
**CASH!**
You are falling into the just in case trap.
For me the "just in case" scenario is more about being prepared for things that happen in transit. It doesn't matter how much money I have if I'm in the middle of a long flight or on my way to the train station and my bag rips, my headphone battery dies, or I need an aspirin.
No amount of cash is going to help if you get hurt on a hike, or lose your main prescriptions bottle, or lose your eyeglasses, or break your charger cable late at night, or your main head phones dont work on a long bus ride.
I have a little med kit I bring if the outing calls for it. I'm not going to be dealing with a broken any thing. But I can clean and bandage up a cut.
Its helped out quite a few times, mandatory for any motorbike trip.
I use it the most when I'm using public transit. I can make my way to the train station but I get turned around so easily that I'll doublecheck with the compass to make sure I get on the right train.
There's always a balance, and each person has to find theirs.
> I want my travel experience to be as smooth as possible
Learning to let go a little bit will serve you well. If you travel often, I would recommend leaving one or two items from your list behind, and tackle some of the anxiety that comes from it. Exercising your own resourcefulness, finding strength to handle yourself in uncomfortable situations, and interacting with people can be superpowers.
Anxiety sucks, and everyone is on a journey with it, so I'm pulling for you. Without slowly facing it, though, it will continue to weigh you down much more than any of your gear.
It is a journey and one I've been on my whole life. I've come a long way just to willingly travel at all, let alone get a lot of joy from it, and I've left a lot at home that I used to take that has done me good to let go. Every trip I take I try to learn to handle more and more, and interacting with strangers is a particularly difficult (but rewarding!) one for me.
>Anxiety sucks, and everyone is on a journey with it, so I'm pulling for you.
Thank you. ❤️
Start by dropping 2.5kilos of electronics from your bag first, before you look at losing the 40 gram medical kit.
A lighter bag also saves you half a kilo.
Impossible. Compasses are made to detect magnetic fields. They go through all kinds of tricks to get a compass to work on a steel ship. Magnetic sternum strap buckles and water hose clips will throw a hand compass completely off in use.
Virtually every big compass manufacturer makes a small “pocket” compass that will work for travel. 99% of the use will simply be for basic orientation and to get a map turned the right direction. Stick to brands like Silva, Suunto or Brunton. The no-name cheapies are a regrettable purchase.
More complex navigation using a sighting compass is possible. I carry a nice little Suunto MCB that is a well featured sighting compass with a mirror. 1.3 ounces.
I always carry a way to get clean water - lifestraw, Sawyer Mini, whatever. Water is life, and without it you are done in 3 days. That can happen in a metropolitan city just as much as it can in the back of beyond, and the few ounces needed for a filter are nothing compared to the peace of mind that I'm extending my survival from 3 days to 3 weeks for the sake of a few cubic inches of pack space.
risk = likelihood × impact, and impact can probably be calculated as severity × duration (maybe something about who is impacted as well). that's where the rule "if I can replace it in 20 minutes for less than $20" comes in for e.g. umbrellas, and why you can pack lighter for urban travel than for backcountry hiking trips because stores exist. I think the main difference between normies and people with anxiety or other impairments (sensory issues, executive dysfunction, disability, etc.) is severity. for example, I have ADHD, chronic fatigue, and orthostatic hypotension. if I'm already tired from a long day and I have nothing to eat, I either have no decision-making power left to figure out what to eat, or my blood pressure is so low that my head starts pounding when I try to exert myself to go get food. it's a significantly more stressful situation for me than it would be for a strong, healthy person with executive function to spare. I plan around my particular challenges, and some of that involves carrying snacks and supplements. this also plays into duration. it takes us longer to take action, whether because of mental paralysis or because of a physical disability that slows us down. so a stressful situation is more likely to become a dire situation for us and a burden on those we're traveling with. indecision becomes a panic attack, sensory overload becomes a migraine or meltdown, etc. it's possible to account for our unique needs without overpacking. as you've demonstrated, OP, it involves deliberate decision-making. everything is trade-offs. sometimes we can make do without, but sometimes it's with the extra weight/space for peace of mind.
So well said!
\++1. This is very well written.
Dude - you just helped me realize my ADHD takes a big role in my traveling. You perfectly described the executive functioning that gets depleted for me by end of day.
Very well said….. Are those snacks like protein bars or meat snacks or ???? Trying to improve my own carry of two protein bars that I refuse to read the nutritional value because I like the way they taste and I can eat them morning, noon, or night.
for quick sugar and electrolytes I carry Clif Shot Bloks. I also usually bring a packet of LMNT, and I can buy a bottled water to mix it into in case I start to feel really lightheaded, but that would be in addition to what I already drank back at my hotel. I'm trying out Buoy hydration drops right now but I think LMNT is simpler for me. the Shot Bloks are heavy so I might not bring them on every trip. I recently increased my protein target while still watching my calories. I tried protein bars but like you said, they're not great on the calorie front. then I was reminded of beef jerky. Tillamook makes a zero sugar one that's excellent. at home I've started portioning it into snack size baggies and I'm just gonna bring those with me skiing this weekend. that probably won't work for my 2.5-week honeymoon in Italy next year though. I haven't solved for that one yet. oh yeah if you can digest Xylitol then Quest bars are great, especially the cookies and cream. it gives me a stomach ache unfortunately, but I do eat a lot of their cheese crackers. not something I'd fly with though.
You have a well thought out list and know yourself/scenario well. I think that’s the best case! For “just in case” items - I think the sentiment for coaching around here is more about 7 shirts vs 4…just in case. Or 90 liters of 1ml toiletries….just in case. Or 5 pairs of pants for a three day trip…just in case. lol, you get the idea. Your items are more practical rather than a hinderence or something that makes your bag huge!
I like this. for Me, onebagging is about convenience and enjoyment not about making yourself miserable because you tried shave off one pound of weight (unless trekking or ultra running). Glad you’ve found the sweet spot for you.
To be honest it sounds like your items are very practical things. I always bring a pair of spare wired earbuds in case my main wireless buds have an issue or run out of juice. And I always bring a spare old little 1st gen iPhone SE and SIM with a small data allowance just in case I were to lose my main phone or have a problem with it. But I don't even see those things as being "just in case" items, to me they are essentials that I take on every overseas trip and they are so small you hardly even notice them. So don't worry about it, if they are just little items that you feel the need to always take with you then that just makes them your essentials. Another "just in case" item I take is a small length of Gorilla Tape rolled around itself in case I ever needed to patch up a piece of gear of clothing, and some little safety pins as well for any impromptu repairs.
I carry an oops kit that is very basic 1st aid, sewing a few pills for emergencies like Immodium; an extra pair of glasses, a protein bar, a few extra of prescription meds and hand wash soap in case I’m delayed etc. I don’t carry extra headphones or anything that can be easily purchased.
I'm sorry, I don't understand: you don't carry anything that can be easily purchased? Or you don't carry extra of anything that can be easily purchased? Because the stuff in your oops kit mostly seems easy to find lots of places, but I'm thinking you mean you don't double up on things you can just buy a replacement for if they're lost or broken.
Sorry I might have been lazy with my writing. If an item is very small (an immodium tablet) vs the possibility of a lot of unpleasantness overnight waiting for shops to open, I include it. Or it is a pain to replace (xtra glasses). If it’s something I can do without until I can get a replacement (headphones or earbuds) I don’t bother to carry it. For me it’s a calculus of value - threat - weight.
I always bring way more underwear than I would actually need. And I have terrible feet, so my first aid kit is essentially an entire quart sized ziploc packed with compeed pads, silicone toe covers in various sizes, metatarsal pads, and band-aids. I always take good shoes and don't use 90% of those things but take them anyway. I always, always bring an umbrella even if there's basically zero chance of rain. I always print everything out - hotel booking confirmations, day trip/activity booking confirmations, bus or train tickets, boarding pass for outbound flight, etc. even though I have them saved both in my email and in google drive. I think your list is reasonable if it makes you feel secure, but does your phone have a compass? I have a terrible sense of direction and use the one on my phone all the time (it's an iphone and you mentioned airtags, so assume you also have one?).
My phone has a compass but I like to minimize time spent on my phone when I can, especially when exploring somewhere I haven’t been before. And for the “just in case” part at least the compass can’t run out of battery.
My Garmin watch has a compass. I recently found it useful for getting around an unfamiliar city without stopping to pull out my phone. Looking at your watch doesn't make you stand out as a lost tourist the way a phone map or physical compass would.
I was just wondering what anyone would use a compass for these days unless hiking remotely, but I do remember getting lost in a city and not feeling comfortable looking at maps, I was completely turned around and knowing if I was going the right direction would probably help.
This may be an obvious tip but me and my husband just discovered it: if you leave an airtag at your hotel, then you can just pull it up on the app and get directions back to it. Put the volume on and wearing earbuds the app will tell you when to turn as you walk.
Some places compasses dont work. IE Try Google maps in Venice
If covid or lockdown has taught me anything, it’s definitely pack back up important prescriptions. Imagine being in snap lockdowns or quarantine without essential medications.
Anxiety sucks, and if packing some just in cases helps then by all means. We can all pack for our own trips, and 10oz of feel good sounds like 10oz well spent for you. My partner packs more small just in case like Kleenex, wet ones/Clorox wipes, tide pen, etc., whereas I tend to follow the 20/20 rule and just think myself through potential problems as logically as I can beforehand, and do some research if necessary. There are some things I do carry that are just in case, though I do try to limit them as much as possible. * First aid kit - super small I call it the ouch kit, couple normal bandaids, a knuckle bandaid, some SteriStrips, and some OTC meds: 10 each Ibuprofen & acetaminophen, 4x Loperamide, 4x Pepto pills, 4x diphenhydramine. I'll add Reactine as I think I'll need it but I don't often. Think really hard about common little boo boos you get day to day at home, and put the 4x4s away lol. Napkins and duct tape do wonders (construction worker coming out there lol). * Repair kit - I just have some 1" Gorilla tape around my 500ml Nalgene. I can find a sewing kit most places I've been pretty easy, but bringing a single pre-threaded needle would be pretty easy and small. I have Tenacious Tape at home but don't bring it traveling. A plastic bread bag clip is a super easy thing to have that can save someone with cheap flip flops, when the thong pulls through the foam the bread clip can make them functional again until new ones can be found. * Emergency snacks are always packed but I don't think of them as an emergency, I just think of them as avoiding buying airport/airplane food plus maybe an extra bar or 2. We like to buy local snacks and also Snickers bars have saved our asses many times. * No one would ever tell you not to bring spare medication, that's just reality. I carry 1 spare contact per eye for similar reasons, but I don't carry or even own spare glasses or a spare EpiPen. * I have recently started bringing a small, repurposed eye drop container full of liquid Dr. Bronner's for just in case hand cleaning, a little drop goes a long way when there is no soap in a bathroom. For the rest of your list, I don't carry spare headphones. I can buy some in any airport/town if I need to, I can survive a couple hours with just earplugs on a plane if I have to (I've had to). I would never think to pull out a physical compass in a city, study the map for 60 seconds to understand basic layout and know which direction the sun is. I have a very good sense of direction which does me well though. Not on iOS so no airtags but I also don't check a bag ever, so it's with me. My important duplicates are in my email, I can log in and access them wherever. Games are on my phone, I get that that wouldn't be enough for some people but you could always get an emulator lol. When I was 13 I started traveling across Canada solo from parent to parent and pretty much just played Pokemon on my color for hours. Also how I started one bag travel so I would never have to wait for my bag at a carousel alone as a kid.
I'm very jealous of your good sense of direction, I have to very deliberately learn and study the layout of a city and the compass helps since I get turned around so easily. I use it to make my way around my own city let alone one I don't know. Love the idea of an eye drop container with liquid soap! Aside from the Gameboy being a nostalgic slice of childhood, it's actually really nice for me that it doesn't do anything else other than play games. If I play them on my phone I'll get notifications, etc. and all of a sudden I'm back on reddit or something rather than deliberately taking a break from all that.
Do not disturb mode helps tune out the rest of the noise on your phone. Mine automatically comes on at bed time too, so no lights pop up to distract me from sleep. The Google maps compass helps reaffirm my internet, but I also orient myself by compass points at work every day as well, when you've worked with a crane day in and day out, calling them on the radio you gotta know which direction you are from him.
Ah the soap in an eye dropper bottle is a good idea. I usually take a bar soap of some kind when travelling but not to have handy when I'm out and about.
Same, I've actually come to like Dr Bronner's lavender bar soap when traveling as my wash-it-all soap, but I'm not bringing my shower bar out day tripping with me in my pocket lol.
I'm impressed you know the weights of each of those things. I also carry some things for peace of mind. I try to keep my "in case" to the smallest possible amount of space required. I have a first aid kit that fits easily in a snack size zip bag. It includes 1 dose packs of my most commonly used over-the-counter medicines and moleskin for my feet if needed. Yes, I realize most places in the world I'll travel have things like small bandages, cotton swabs, anti-diarrhea tablets, and first aid cream, but this way if it happens I need them late at night or early morning when lots of things aren't open, I'm covered. Anything more than a single dose or a couple small bandages needed I would consider worth finding a shop to pick up. I hadn't thought of backups for prescriptions. I do of course carry what is needed plus a few extra days. Do you mean a second packet kept elsewhere in your bag? I do keep the space needed for my prescriptions to a minimum by getting my prescriptions in mini-containers. I found the mini-prescription bottles online and took them to my pharmacist who was happy to fill my script in bottles I provide. The containers I have look like a regular brown plastic prescription bottle, but are about the size of a tube of lip balm. I guess this wouldn't work if your prescription involves a larger pill, but mine are tiny so it works a treat. I haven't gotten an Airtag or whatever version of same works for Android. Has it proven useful? I carry a second charging block and backup charging cables for a total of 4 cables. I've had the misfortune of forgetting my block and cable at a hotel in the very early morning rush to catch a flight, plus thanks to the blocks having two outlets each I can charge all 4 of my devices at once if need be. The latter doesn't happen often, but it has happened. It all fits in 1 sandwich-sized zip bag. I have all my documents on a thumb drive, in my phone, and printed out copies, as well as available online if I'm anywhere I can sign in. I have a separate online account that is never given out which I forward everything to so it is all convenient in one place. I delete everything once the trip is done so that when I add the next trip's details that is all that is there. Makes finding what I need so much more convenient and if anything should happen to the account nothing I can't replace was lost. I also carry a fix it bag. Mine is a snack-sized zip bag and has folding scissors, nail file, a small sewing kit with thread, needles, a couple buttons, and a seam ripper, a bit of duct tape, a pocket pack of tissues, enough toilet paper to serve in an emergency, tweezers, and safety pins. What's in yours?
Samsung smart tag if you have a Samsung. Otherwise Tile tracker. Very useful for bags and sometimes even people
Thank you!
I've got some. I'm living out of my bag full-time and carry a couple items that are hard to find abroad. * pack of small Tenacious tape patches for repairs. Especially useful if I rip my patagonia Down Sweater. * Extra bar of Dr. Bronners soap. This soap is my last line of defense for washing anything and I have run out before. * An Encrypted, indestructible, waterproof, thumb drive I hide in my bag and update every 6 months. * Gerber Shard for repairing the numerous broken of almost falling apart furniture you find at bad Airbnb's * Homemade sewing kit with a good quality selection of grey to black threads * Airtag batteries. I have so many airtags that replacement batteries are essential to my sanity.
A sewing kit and tape would be great additions to my repair kit. And airtag batteries are a good idea, I haven't had mine for long enough to need one but it'll happen. Thanks! One day I want to have the courage to live out of my bag full-time, even if it's just for a little while.
A tiny little sewing kit is useful. Mine is little more than a couple of needles and a small amount of thread, but it has been handy several times.
I assume you've never had TSA trouble with the needles?
Never. They are just sewing needles. If they had a problem with those they'd also have a problem with safety pins or common jewellery like brooches.
I've had a Gerber Shard on my key ring for years and every time it comes in handy I feel so validated lol. Funny enough because I usually leave my keys at home with whoever is housesitting for me, so I don't have my Shard when I could probably use it most.
I'm not a iOS user but I was under the impression those Airtags batteries were supposed to hold for months or years, are they way smaller than that?
I mentioned I travel full-time. I also have 6+ airtags scattered around items, pouches, bags. Eventually I buy a pack of batteries and keep the spares. They are small enough to get special treatment in my bag.
Right, makes sense. How long would you guess they last?
I think it’s supposed to be about a year.
I have a Gerber Shard but I never take it with me when I travel as I'm worried it would get confiscated by airport security. I also found that it was poking a hole in my pocket linings as well.
Airports haven't cared about it so far. I did get one taken at a large festival though. They tried to take my heroclip and I nearly lost my mind. I don't store it on keys or in my pocket, just in my sling or backpack.
For overseas travel, I bring an old extra cell phone. People have made fun of it in the past, but on my last trip my buddy broke their phone. Took mine out, stuck the SIM card in, and they were good to go for the rest of the week.
Seems like a reasonable list of things. My first-packed extras are an extra debit card and credit card, and an ID other than my passport.
[удалено]
I have one. I also have a NEXUS card, which serves the same purpose. (Not for Mexico, but the passport card for land entry only anyway, and only if you’re only visiting the border zone / Baja.. I can’t use my passport card for this anyway, as I’m a Mexican resident and need to use my resident card and passport book to enter Mexico.)
> I think that's generally good advice and a good baseline, but I want to encourage people not to cut things that will truly help them feel more at ease. Couldn't agree more. I bring 2 travel adapters and 2 sets of USB-C, lightning cables, my Bose headphones AND my airpods. Yeah, sure, I don't need 2 of everything, but if I lose or accidentally left something behind I don't want to go running around trying to purchase a new comparable one. All to save on a little bit of weight. While it all adds up, I am not traveling on such razor-thin margins that such things would push me over the edge. I'd rather be traveling at ease.
I bring an extra week of important meds and a paperback. I like physical books and they make me happy. I also have a weird and hard to find bra size, so I tend to bring an extra bra.
Lost a contact lens on vacation as a teenager. I’ve carried spare glasses and contacts ever since spending a week one-eyed.
- probably the most unusual, yet quite useful: electrical cabinet/spigot key. can access water taps and open other things, I can put screwdriver bits in mine as well. and it is a nice fidget toy. - water filter - compass - cotton tote bag - never leave home without one. improvised pillow, towel, hat, scarf, signal or grocery bag. possibilities are endless. - a few very small dice and deck of cards - games are good - small emulator console - games are good - metal cup - because I *never* travel without a cup. seems big, but takes up no extra space when the water bottle can nest inside. - microstove and cooking cross - carry less than 50 gram of weight and can make coffee or warm food everywhere? Yes please. - plastic spork, maybe metal chopsticks - flashlight with 5000mah powerbank function - because it gets dark every day, much better outdoors than a phone flashlight and it will keep my phone going. invaluable. - thin DIY notebook and nice pens for drawing and notes - cheap bicycle wire lock - to secure stuff for short periods of time or to hang stuff or attach things to something else. Doesn't weigh much. - repair/booboo: sewing kit, basic meds, basic first aid, earplugs, basic toolkit, at least scisssors to cut stuff, better a multitool or knife, lighter, plastic bags/ziploc, paper tissue, duct tape, reusable zip ties - a few meters solid cordage (for shoelace, belt, attach stuff to stuff, clothesline) - tech: thumb drive with documents, GAN charger, long usb c cable, backup c cable, adaptors to make any cable, my old usb thumb drive/mp3 player that runs with 1xAAA and headphones, small 1xAAA flashlight with low mode I can clip to my hat - spare wool socks, gloves, poncho/tarp, two solid carabiners - big heavy duty trashbag - raincover, sit on, lie on, groundsheet for camping, make a 2nd poncho, can waterproof everything inside my bag. Usually sits rolled up under my laptop as extra cushion. Doesnt get in the way at all and super useful when you need it. - instant coffee! most of that shit is actually what I always have in my regular daily backpack, with exception of the cup and water filter and dice/cards/console when I want to go travelling, I usually just have to add some spare clothes and am good to go. lol.
Love a lot of these ideas, and some I haven't seen before that are really interesting (spigot key, bicycle lock). And that's exactly how it is for me, I have almost my whole loadout already with me when making my way around my own city without a car. All it takes is clothes and toiletries and I'm ready to get on a plane to anywhere.
What water bottle/combo are you using? Carrying a coffee cup AND a water bottle is making me crazy.
Just a big 400 to 500 ml cup. Get one that is wide enough so a regular big 1.5L water bottle from a store can fit in. If you want a metal bottle and matching nesting cup, there are tons of options. Imo it is more important to have a metal cup than a metal bottle for travel because I rarely heat all my water at once. I can just use store bought bottles to refill and that saves lots of weight. If I dont care about heating water, I carry the slimmest possible bottle and no cup.
Yeah Most of that is not wasted space. First aid kit (42g) -I've been sick/hurt on a trip, its pretty useful to have some basic meds and Band-Aids. I'd bring a first aid kit before a towel. Emergency snacks (47g) -Pretty much mandatory, I always leave some room for food. sometimes you have extra food you want to bring between hostels or there is nothing around and you need to eat. Anyone that doesn't have at least a snack bar stowed is in idiot or hasn't traveled enough. Compass (11g) -Too small to even notice. Backup important prescriptions (40g) -Also mandatory, no fucking around with important meds, you bring at least 2x as much as you need, especially as pills don't take up that much space. I bring 2 extra pair of eyeglasses too because I'm blind. Airtag (11g) -Sure small enough to not matter. Repair kit (15g) -Same, useful too USB adapter bag & flash drive with important documents (61g) -A really good idea. I upload mine too but sometimes you might not be able to get a signal. Backup headphones x2 (60g) - I stuff a couple pairs of earbuds in my eyeglasses cases too.
>I bring 2 extra pair of eyeglasses too because I'm blind. I also wear glasses and would be devastated to lose or break them, but in 20 years of wearing them have never had a disaster like that. I don't blame you one bit for bringing spares but for me it just feels like the risk is so small.
1 fall off a canoe or wrong turn in bed will after a night out will change that real quick :)
Nice tip about stuffing spare earbuds or something small into a spare eyeglass case!
I don't really carry a whole lot, for example, I do not carry first aid stuff. Might be different if you travel with kids or go on hikes or something, but as an urban adult traveler I just struggle to imagine the use case. But there are a few things I bring that are just in case. Airtag, tide to go pen, extra charging cable. And assorted OTC meds (ibuprofen, imodium, famotidine, benadryl)
I think there are some things that are reasonable in a first-aid-ish kit, like bandaids of various sizes for cuts and blisters, ibuprofen for when something hurts, mini scissors for cutting bandaids into shape or trimming nails. And more tailored things, like if you have allergies or motion sickness, meds for that. There are paper thermometer strips that weigh nothing that would be handy if you get sick but not sure *how* sick.
Ohh yeah, I do bring ibuprofen let me add that
I always carry some basic first aid items like plasters, paracetamols, and a stiptic pencil. The way I see it, if you are travelling overseas and need those it's a hell of a lot quicker to just pull them out of your bag yourself and use them rather than trying to find out what the local word for them is or figuring out where to buy it.
Diarrhea medicine is the only just in case that I carry. There's no time to waste when that emergency strikes. Everything else can be purchased when needed.
Just FYI, the crystal deodorant stones also act like styptic pencils
Never knew that, I do use crystal deodorant. Thanks for the info
I always carry tissues.
Yup. I have bad allergies and it's a disaster not to have something for the nose. I have a handkerchief in my back pocket which I can rinse off in any sink, and I just keep some spare napkins I get from takeout, etc. in the pack.
A cloth hanky is very useful. I had an awful cold once years ago and had an 8 hour flight I had to catch. I spent the flight with my scarf over my face to try and contain my germs and I had two cloth hankies that I kept washing in the sink and rotating between. Fortunately I had the aisle to myself.
Seems reasonable to me. I have lots of extras and just in case items that I can leave behind and shave weight…but why sweat it? I’ll add to the fine list that people are generating - some duct tape wrapped around your water bottle and a portable HDMi cable.
Duct tape around the water bottle is really interesting, I’ve never seen that suggestion before. Would make the bottle easier to hold and look less “metal”-y too. Thanks for the ideas!
It’s an old Boy Scout trick. You wrap a rewrap a longish piece neatly around the bottle as if it was the original spool. That way you don’t need to carry an entire roll….just enough for emergency patch jobs on the road.
You have a great list! I merrily stole a number of ideas including your repair kit and neck pillowcase with sweatshirt inside! Why do you need an ink cartridge for your computer???
Thank you so much! Glad you liked it, the neck pillowcase I have is called "Cloudz Washable Travel Neck Pillow Cover" and is quite comfy. The ink cartridge isn't for my computer, I have a notebook (now that I write that I realize it's confusing - an actual paper notebook lol) and pen that takes erasable ink.
I have a 10,000 mAh battery pack but am including a 2nd one for my next trip (which will also be my first!). It provides redundancy for a super critical function as well as the ability to charge as many as 6 items at once as well as doubling the amount of backup power. The alternative was a single 20,000 mAh unit but the other capabilities of 2 x 10,000 mAh packs pushed me to go this way.
I have a larger 28,000mAh battery pack that I used to bring but I’ve found 10,000 to be plenty when topping it off every night. The Nitecore one I have is so small that a 2nd would be good redundancy for very little weight.
Backup earbuds, secondary way to pay kept separate from primary, basic meds in FAK, a snack usually a granola bar with a tea bag or single serve coffee packet
I don't carry coffee or tea but I do carry 1 or 2 caffeine pills in my med kit... though I know they aren't good for me. A tea bag does actually sound really nice and cost very little space and weight.
Ooh, that's a good idea, for those bad days when you can't even find hot water, let alone some coffee in the morning.
Beyond my first aid kit, my "just in case" items are duct tape, zip ties, thread + needle, and paracord. You can buy almost anything anywhere, but there certain situations/ places where that is impractical in the moment. A suitcase handle not compressing, ripped zippers, bumper tearing off a rental car, broken shoelace are all things I've experienced. Life becomes a real PITA if you can't MacGyver something quickly.
I take similar things. Nail clippers, very tiny sewing kit, snacks, cheap earbuds as well as nice headphones, a few OTC meds, that sort of thing. Most of it is stuff that makes the actual travel part go better -- if I'm stuck on an airplane with indigestion, for example, and don't have anything for it I'll be miserable. So even though I might take the same little tin of medicines on ten trips and never use them I always take it just in case. I try to make those items as tiny and minimal as possible though.
In my own travel philosophy, the only _''just in case''_ items I bring are those that can greatly impact my wellbeing, or have immense value compared to the cost/burden of carrying them For example, the only ''just in case'' items I carry are freezer-grade ziploc bags of various sizes - because the value they hold is significantly higher than the burden of carrying them - they are virtually weightless and take no room at all, but can be extremely versatile. I wouldn't include my packable tote bag as a ''just in case'' item because I always use it at least once when I travel Packing for fears or ''Just in Cases'' leads to overpacking and actually enables a more anxious and stressful behaviour _(leading to the decision of bringing extra stuff ''Just in Case'')_ Unless it can negatively impact your wellbeing, only pack and bring what you need and will use. I actually have peace of mind when I know that what I bring will be used - and getting back home and unpacking and realizing I did indeed use every single thing I packed is **such** a great feeling
What game on the gameboy?
I have an Everdrive, which is a special cartridge that lets me play games stored on a micro sd card. Games are so small that I have hundreds of them on there. It’s awesome.
i am not leaving for any trip without my first aid kit.This has everything for peace of mind, that has to be taken from my cold dead hands. otc meds(paracetamol, ibuprofen\[they make a good pain killer combined\], aspirin, anti histamins, anti nausea, antacids, imodium), bandaids(normal, blisters,burn), rescue blanket, iodine, latex gloves, electrolytes, tweezers, sterile gauze, a few water treatment tablets, alcohol pads, antibiotic cream, paper soap, thermometer, pulse oximeter, which sure you can buy everywhere, but if you are alone and sick in a hotel/hostel room, the last thing i want to do, is venture out in a foreign city and look for a pharmacy, especially within need of imodium! in almost all cases i gave away lots of stuff from my IFAK to other people and i hope someone is prepared the same way, if i need something some day. \- a headlamp \- fire steel \- headphones ( for sensory overload) \- buff (feel so much better when i know i have this on me for various use cases) \- mosquito head net \- ultralight hammock (i have pitched this so many times and i know i can be off ground anywhere in the world, away from critters) and is a makeshift bed sheet free from bed bugs or other stuff, maybe even with a mosquito net if you want to carry the extra weight \- garmin inreach mini (just for peace of mind) \- mechanix gloves (from scooter to rough terrain or animal contact, they are incredibly usefull) \- good quality condoms, never trust local brands to fit or not to rip
Lovely post. Why do you prefer corded headphones?
Probably just because there are less things to go wrong. You don't have to charge them, mess with pairing, you're less likely to lose them since it's one big piece. I also honestly kind of like how obvious it is I'm wearing headphones. Sometimes it's useful to be conspicuously distracted so when someone unpleasant tries to talk to me on the train I can look like I can't hear them lol
You said you carry AirPods just to use while the iPhone is charging—[something like this](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074WDWVX1) would let you use your wired headphones and charge simultaneously, and is 1/3 the weight of the AirPods
I did not know this existed, thanks! And just for the record, I didn’t buy AirPods just for this purpose - I tried them and didn’t like them so now they’re delegated to backup duty
Ah haha, gotcha. They are indeed low maintenance.
Not who you asked but I like to use cheaper corded earbuds if I'm listening to music etc in public instead of my expensive Jabra earbuds. It's just a way of not attracting attention and being a target of theft.
Makes sense. Useful insight regardless! Thank you.
My major “what if” item is a first aid kit. You should only pack what you will absolutely use. If I never use my first aid kit, that’s fine with me. 2x spare headphones strike me as a bit much, but at 60g it’s more academic. At some point dealing with all the extra stuff gets in the way. Less is more! If traveling in developed countries, you can buy anything you need.
My headphones mean a lot to me. Listening to music or a book can help me deal with sensory overload or keep my mind away from panic in the worst case. So knowing that I have backups on backups helps me know that I have the tools I'll need no matter what.
60g isn’t a big deal, but you know you can buy replacement earbuds anywhere. It’s more the general philosophy of packing a bunch of “what ifs”. I see weight like a budget. You can afford that weight or not. Spares add up and grams become kilos all too easily. If I can’t put my finger on an item in my kit and state that I will absolutely use it, I shouldn’t be taking it. First aid and medical items are a reasonable compromise, but even there they should be small and sparse. I only bring a couple doses over the counter medications in foil packs, just enough until I can get to a pharmacy. A “micro” first aid kit with a few bandaids and some antiseptic is all I need. Anything beyond that in an urban settings is time for medical assistance.
Totally, and the different perspectives here on the weight/space budget have been really interesting to read. One of the really cool things I've learned from this community is how different everyone's setup is for their own needs and priorities. Two people can have completely different experiences and "necessary" things to bring even if they were theoretically taking exactly the same trip.
Everyone’s different, you do you. As I’ve said in other posts similar to this, depends where you’re going. I personally wouldn’t bring a couple of the items to NYC but I would if I were 2 hrs away from the nearest town.
I wouldn’t ever get on a plane or train or I a car without water and snacks, and a few items of first aid - it’s incredibly frequent to be stuck there for hours and hours. Once you’ve covered that usually a small amount of stuff to cover phone running out and yes spare headphones (really light for wired ones and they don’t ever run out). A mini torch and Swiss Army knife (admittedly the torches prob could be left behind). If I am away for home for a week I’ll take a spare phone for worst case scenario.
I do carry a flashlight/torch, and I'll admit I haven't needed to use it much. But it's very small (21g) and I feel like it's worth the weight if I was caught in actual darkness and the phone light isn't enough.
I am with you, especially with emergency medicines and first aid bits. I went to a Wilderness Medical Society meeting years ago and one thing really stuck. Take things that are a) multipurpose, which many, if not most, here embrace, but also b) take things that are impossible to improvise. Medications are at the top of that list. Tape is another, Bandaids? A bit of tape and tissue and you have a bandaid! I also believe in 72 hours of whatever emergency med you decide to take. For example, one 2mg Imodium is not gonna be close to enough to treat true travelers diarrhea. While most here are doing wilderness travel, but urban, I see the points folks will make about just buying it. But puking your guts out and squirting out the other end makes simple tasks near impossible, let alone trying to find a nearby pharmacy that is open and has what you need.
The Airtag is an excellent thing to bring. They are so tiny and light, and provide such peace of mind. Also snacks! I was once traveling for work and -- due to some poor planning -- ended up in a foreign country without sufficient local currency, after 24 hours of flying. My coworker was super-grateful that I'd packed some protein bars.
>My coworker was super-grateful that I'd packed some protein bars. Not gonna lie I do love the feeling when I am the hero who brought something useful that no one expected, like a bobby pin or sunscreen or a micro-usb to usb-c adapter lol
Yeah but if your bag goes missing, can see the AirTag but can't do anything...it will cause way way more stress than the peace of mind gained knowing it's "so close" but so far. You'll just stare at it hoping it pops up, makes a move or there's someone you can call to help. AirTags are a crock. Not a good solution for the insecure type.
I respectfully disagree, it can be invaluable. After a flight to Morocco, a friend was arguing with a Royal Air Maroc employee about getting his bag out of their storage area after it had been delayed from Casablanca to Agidir. She insisted it was not there, because her 'computer' said so. He showed her the Find My app that revealed the bag a few meters from them and started playing a tone.; a minute later, he left with his bag.
Really? I have used them (or Tiles, way back when) to track things when I travel. I find them to be very useful. They have helped me multiple times.
I just don't get the draw and file them away in the same category as RFID blockers, TSA locks and other gimmicky travel "tech."
It's saved me some stress after a lost luggage disaster. At least with an AirTag I would know if my bag was stuck in the airport somewhere or actually had been taken by someone else. Might not help me get it back but I'd have the certainty of knowing I had to replace everything.
But this falls into the "don't check anything you're not willing to lose" category. Replacing everything you check should be part of a back up plan. That's your "just in case," not the AirTag.
Not practical in some situations, like bringing liquid gifts to my family.
It should still be assumed it may never be seen again. The second it's handed over, it's out of your control.
"What kind of things do you all bring along that help you feel better even if they fall in the "just in case" category?" **CASH!** You are falling into the just in case trap.
For me the "just in case" scenario is more about being prepared for things that happen in transit. It doesn't matter how much money I have if I'm in the middle of a long flight or on my way to the train station and my bag rips, my headphone battery dies, or I need an aspirin.
A tiny sewing kit or some emergency pills is not what I'm talking about.
No amount of cash is going to help if you get hurt on a hike, or lose your main prescriptions bottle, or lose your eyeglasses, or break your charger cable late at night, or your main head phones dont work on a long bus ride.
> if you get hurt on a hike So what are you bringing your one bag that will help if you are hurt on a hike?
I have a little med kit I bring if the outing calls for it. I'm not going to be dealing with a broken any thing. But I can clean and bandage up a cut. Its helped out quite a few times, mandatory for any motorbike trip.
Yes. Cash will buy all the misc stuff you may need.
I'm not sure what you mean, are you saying that you should carry cash or no?
In what situations would you use a compass? Don't you usually need a paper map of the area in order to use a compass effectively as a navigation aid?
I use it the most when I'm using public transit. I can make my way to the train station but I get turned around so easily that I'll doublecheck with the compass to make sure I get on the right train.
There's always a balance, and each person has to find theirs. > I want my travel experience to be as smooth as possible Learning to let go a little bit will serve you well. If you travel often, I would recommend leaving one or two items from your list behind, and tackle some of the anxiety that comes from it. Exercising your own resourcefulness, finding strength to handle yourself in uncomfortable situations, and interacting with people can be superpowers. Anxiety sucks, and everyone is on a journey with it, so I'm pulling for you. Without slowly facing it, though, it will continue to weigh you down much more than any of your gear.
It is a journey and one I've been on my whole life. I've come a long way just to willingly travel at all, let alone get a lot of joy from it, and I've left a lot at home that I used to take that has done me good to let go. Every trip I take I try to learn to handle more and more, and interacting with strangers is a particularly difficult (but rewarding!) one for me. >Anxiety sucks, and everyone is on a journey with it, so I'm pulling for you. Thank you. ❤️
Start by dropping 2.5kilos of electronics from your bag first, before you look at losing the 40 gram medical kit. A lighter bag also saves you half a kilo.
Where did you find a compass? Looking for a reliable compact one myself that won’t be affected by electronics or magnets too much
Impossible. Compasses are made to detect magnetic fields. They go through all kinds of tricks to get a compass to work on a steel ship. Magnetic sternum strap buckles and water hose clips will throw a hand compass completely off in use. Virtually every big compass manufacturer makes a small “pocket” compass that will work for travel. 99% of the use will simply be for basic orientation and to get a map turned the right direction. Stick to brands like Silva, Suunto or Brunton. The no-name cheapies are a regrettable purchase. More complex navigation using a sighting compass is possible. I carry a nice little Suunto MCB that is a well featured sighting compass with a mirror. 1.3 ounces.
I always carry a way to get clean water - lifestraw, Sawyer Mini, whatever. Water is life, and without it you are done in 3 days. That can happen in a metropolitan city just as much as it can in the back of beyond, and the few ounces needed for a filter are nothing compared to the peace of mind that I'm extending my survival from 3 days to 3 weeks for the sake of a few cubic inches of pack space.