here’s what i submitted to the cool tools “what’s in your bag” series.
i carry a lot of items with me; some of my friends call me swiss-army-bekee because it’s likely that i have the resources or tools to help them in a pinch.
i’ve had my share of Timbuk2 bags, and have been using this one for a little over four years now, it’s their Classic Messenger – Small. it has all the right pockets and zippers and enough space for a big haul.
I’m not sure I can put into words why most of these things are useful as a lot of them are in case of an emergency or an immediate need that I haven’t had but am preparing for, but I’ll do my best, albeit sarcastically.
- Three Sharpies: large, regular, thin point. You never know when something will need to be marked up or written on.
- Fisher Space Pen – Orange
- Travel-size Vicks Vaporub. In the event of the onset of a cold, or a dead body.
- Burt’s Bees lip balm. The winter is dry in Wisconsin.
- White Monkey Holding Peach Balm http://www.amazon.com/White-Monkey-Holding-Peach-Balm/dp/B00175YLUW. I just like to say the name, it works as well as Tiger Balm.
- triple antibiotic ointment
- iPhone
- Sephora mirror http://www.amazon.com/Sephora-SEPHORA-COLLECTION-Compact-Mirror/dp/B004XN9L5A. I joke with my friends that this is to signal the rescue helicopter, but I don’t camp or get myself into places where this would be needed.
- glasses repair kit
- emergency sewing kit
- lighter
- Gerber paraframe mini http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-22-48484-Paraframe-Knife-Serrated/dp/B000G0OMK8. I have this in my bag in case I forget to put my CRKT knife in my pocket in the morning.
- Leatherman Squirt http://www.amazon.com/Leatherman-831195-Squirt-Black-Keychain/dp/B0032Y2OT6
- Paracord bracelet. I made this to justify carrying a micro grappling hook (see below).
- Light My Fire utensil http://www.amazon.com/Light-Fire-Original-BPA-Free-Multi-Color/dp/B00BUIWK36. I don’t know why I carry this; I’ve never used it, but I know the second I take it out of my bag, I’ll need it.
- Emergency poncho. This probably is as effective as a paper bag, but I hate getting rained on while biking.
- Black Diamond carabiner. I bought this thinking it was steel, but the product description lied. I keep it just in case I need to zip line somewhere.
- mini keyring Sharpie. I bought this on a trip to NYC because it’s orange.
- Gerber hook knife http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-30-000637-GDC-Hook-Knife/dp/B00B0I46OC. This doesn’t seem at all useful to me… I should probably gift it to someone.
- True Utility flashlight http://www.amazon.com/Utility-TU283-MicroLite-Flashlight-Batteries/dp/B007N0WLNY. One can never have enough ways to see in the dark.
- True Utility nail clippers http://www.amazon.com/Utility-TU236-Clips-Clippers-Stainless/dp/B007IOHPLI. Because hangnails are annoying.
- 3′ measuring tape
- various spare keys
- bag of stones
- various otc pills (aspirin, benadryl, etc.)
- Altoids Smalls
- mini deck of cards
- Field Notes notebook
- Coleman first aid tin http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Purpose-First-27-Piece-Metal/dp/B00BIRMTY4. I bought this on a whim because I’m a sucker for these things.
- reusable gear tie http://countycomm.com/gt3.html
- wrenches
- bike tire levers
- bike tire patch kit
- presta to schrader converter (not pictured)
- pens
- Wacom Intuos stylus http://www.wacom.com/en-us/products/stylus/intuos-creative-stylus-2. This functions with the iPad (not first gen), I bought it because I had started a web comic that I have not updated since I bought it.
- Apple earpods
- 32g flash drive
- 8g flash drive
- 2g flash drive. The only people that have used any of these are co-workers.
- dental floss
- Cocoon grit-it organizer http://www.amazon.com/Cocoon-CPG4BK-Grid-It-Organizer-Black/dp/B003OXJL5K. This seems like a silly item to spend money on, but it really does make organization easy.
- paperclips, safety pins
- Fisher Space Pen – Black
- Leatherman juice s2Â http://www.amazon.com/Leatherman-Juice-Orange-Multi-Tool-70202001K/dp/B001F8HKYA. This was my first Leatherman.
- True Utility lighter http://www.amazon.com/Utility-TU262-FireStash-Miniature-Lighter/dp/B007IOHPQS. I used this at a friend’s February outdoor wedding to light their Wishing Balloon. It worked way better than everyone else’s Bics.
- Nano Light Streamlight http://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-73001-Miniature-Keychain-Flashlight/dp/B0011UIPIW. I should carry this somewhere more convenient. It’s extremely bright for the size.
- Crank Brothers bike tool http://www.amazon.com/Crank-Brothers-Multi-Bicycle-5-Function/dp/B002VFZ688. This is perfect for adjusting seat heights and basic bike maintenance.
- Planet Bike tire gauge
- micro grappling hook http://www.countycomm.com/microhook.html. I don’t know if I’ll ever get the opportunity to use this, but I sure would hate to miss it if it comes up!
- pocket screwdriver http://www.countycomm.com/1x4driver.html
- pil holder
- Overland Equipment wallet
- Baggu bag https://baggu.com/. I frequently stop at a local market to get something on the way home to make for dinner, this fold-up bag is perfect.
- Moleskin notebook
- Gerber suspension http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Suspension-Butterfly-Opening-Multi-Plier/dp/B000EDPT9K
- two Duncan yo-yos. You never know when you’ll need to relax with a yo-yo.
- iPad
- random book (usually a cookbook)
- Guest Check pad. This is typically where my weekly grocery list gets penned as I think of items to purchase.
i’m also a web developer in the midwest who has recently had the good fortune to land a great job that i can bike to year-round. as you can imagine, nothing else is going to fit in that bag up there, so i bought a Classic Messenger – Large. when it arrived, i was sorely disappointed in the lack of internal pockets. so, i came up with the best solution i could, and that was to carry the Small bag inside of the Large when commuting to work!
it seems crazy, i know, but i kind of am. so, inside this bag (aside from the other bag) is as follows:
- Dog keyfob http://www.defensedevices.com/dog-defense-keychain.html. I bought this when I bought my house seven years ago, thinking I’d need it in the neighborhood on dog walks. Thankfully, I’ve never had to use it.
- Gerber shard http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002ZK45IQ. This tops EDC lists all the time, but I have yet to have occasion to use it.
- Nomad Key Charger http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IIYAIVG. Invaluable. I got so tired of untangling the white Apple cord to charge my phone at work. I’ve read reviews that the part that attaches to a keychain breaks easily, but I haven’t had that experience.
- True Cash Stash http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002JUDJBG. It’s nice to know that I have $20 hidden with my keys, just in case.
- Key ring kit http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0057OIR2C. I’ve found these keyring attachments to be useful, both for easy removal of items (the Nomad charger, for one), but also to differentiate similar-looking keys from one another.
- Timbuk2 bag rain cover http://www.timbuk2.com/messenger-bag-backpack-rain-cover/884.html?dwvar_884_size=7&dwvar_884_color=8004. Works great! Even though Timbuk2 bags are water resistant, sometimes I’m carrying a laptop in addition to my iPad and don’t want to chance anything getting wet.
- Park Tool bike tools http://www.amazon.com/PARKTOOL-AWS-13-MICRO-HEX-WRENCH-RING/dp/B00NMUYYZM. I just got this because my local bike mechanic has it on his keys and I want to look cool.
- emergency poncho (see explanation above)
- Planet Bike 5-beamer
- Planet Bike rear light
- Arcteryx rain jacket (when weather dictates – not pictured)
- Marmot rain pants (when weather dictates – not pictured)
- Genuine Innovations tire repair wallet http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Innovations-Tire-Repair-Inflation/dp/B009ZMYQ18. I just bought this and haven’t had to use it.