I got annoyed recently when I wanted to leave the house and noticed my bag was half full just with stuff to deal with weather. In Tokyo, I usually carry an umbrella with me, maybe sunscreen, sunglasses, a mini towel etc. Others have fans, “neck fans” (not sure how they are called). Maybe a water bottle also counts.
All of this is “weather stuff” for me. I asked a friend what she carries around, and we started to think about some other categories as well. So I wondered how much of the stuff we carry around is actually about the thing we want to do wherever we go, and how much is just to cope with the environment? Also, I would be curious how this looks like in other places around the world. Things probably vary by gender, age, season as well.
Some categories are:
- weather stuff
- personal hygiene stuff
- safety stuff
- not being annoyed by others stuff
- infrastructure fail stuff (e.g., preparing for when trains get delayed)
As an American who drives a truck, this is moot. I have a full set of clothes, winter outer wear, a jug of water, a canister of peanuts, a blanket, a shovel, trauma sheers, a leatherman, a sun hat, to walking poles, a Midwest level scraper/brush, an air pump for my tires that plugs into the lighter, full spare, spark plugs, an extendable magnet, 10k lumen light that plugs into the cigarette lighter to charge if need be, tweezers, nail clipper, eyeglass repair, a paper book of maps for all 50 states, and a spare toothbrush.
Probably forgot some things. My truck is essentially my purse.
That should keep you safe on the way to Walmart.
Lol, it’s not a dodge RAM. To be fair, I travel for work sometimes. And I do haul in my truck, complete with added trailer which is a piece of rural living. I’ve never rolled coal or gunned it on a residential street.
it’s not a dodge RAM
They said Walmart, not the liquor store.
I also drive a truck with the same stuff as you under the back seat. I use it to haul stuff and work around my buddy’s ranch on occasion. It’s not diesel so I couldn’t roll coal with it if I wanted to (nor do I want to).
I need a trailer rarely enough that I’ll rent one if I’ve gotta haul more than will fit in the bed.
Wait what? Are you some kind of librul?
Bro’s got the whole Walmart in his truck.
Have you ever been outside of Los Angeles? Some places in America, this kind of kit is worth the insurance and peace of mind.
I’ve never been to Los Angeles or any other place in the US for that matter. I was just trying to be funny.
I was too. Let’s call it a draw?
OK, fine. But I’m not kissing you!
This is one thing I miss about having a truck. All the room for bugout equipment. I downsized recently, and had to greatly downsize my kit too.
Or just stuff in case you get stuck in the snow. Probably not needed with a truck, but, habit to always have that stuff.
We have all of this in a Honda HRV, the smallest Honda you could buy at the time.
I also haul wood in it with the seats down and hatch tied down.
No qualms if you use your truck, they have a purpose. Just want non-Americans to realize we don’t all go down that road.
“I didn’t really relate to that song, y’know, because I had different things in my Jeep, than he had in his Jeep.”
As little as possible. The only things I always take with me are my phone and my keys. I generally look at the weather report and only take an umbrella with me if there’s a chance of rain. I only take my wallet if I’m going somewhere where I might buy something etc.
Uhhhhh.
Keys, wallet, and phones. Is all I do. Unless it is actually winter then I have gloves too.
This, except also a quarter for an Aldi shopping cart.
That’s in the wallet.
We just leave one in each car.
Spectacles, testicles, wallet, and watch. Well, and a pocket knife. But that’s likely because I drive everywhere, and am currently in America.
To chime in, when I spent a few months in Osaka, I definitely carried more. Backpack, hand towel, change holder, plastic trashbag, pen, paper, deodorant (as to not offend Japanese folk, being a Westerner not used to the humidity), etc.
So maybe it’s very much a locale thing?
I guess it’s local, it only became so apparent to me some time after moving to Japan. It’s also interesting how the types of things to prepare for change. In Japan, I think it’s mostly about weather. No need for safety measures, food and drinks everywhere and cheap, clean and reliable infrastructure (toilets, trains, everything, basically). People are also mindful about the noise they make, so even earplugs are not necessary.
In Germany it’s different. Weather is not so much of a concern, but I used to carry a basic pack of stuff with me in case I crashed at a friend’s place. This doesn’t happen here very often, and cheap hotels or manga cafes often have basics like toothbrushes etc.
In Japan, I think it’s mostly about weather. No need for safety measures, food and drinks everywhere and cheap, clean and reliable infrastructure (toilets, trains, everything, basically). People are also mindful about the noise they make, so even earplugs are not necessary.
Things like this make me really want to move to Japan. But then some basic things like not being able to carry a pocket knife turn me off of the idea.
If you haven’t visited, you definitely should. It’s really an amazing country, and you will hardly miss your pocket knife.
I definitely want to visit! I subscribe to a few Japan travel channels on YouTube and have been itching to go for ages.
Don’t underestimate the weather, though. It’s terrible in summer, unless you’re up on some mountain or at the Russian border. Spring and fall are great, though.
What’s up with the hand towel? Both you and OP had one in Japan.
Public restrooms typically don’t have paper towels or hand dryers.
Wallet, keys, phone, cigarettes, lighter.
Though I do have a multi tool in my wallet and another on my key chain.
I always wonder about the multi tool people. That seems super popular, but I never see a need for it. What do you use it for? Multiple things? 🥁
Personal hygiene is one big reason for me, though obviously there are smaller options than a full multitool like a small Swiss army knife. I just need a small pair of scissors on me 24/7, that’s not negotiable.
Having a basic screwdriver always with me also helps from time to time. Sometimes as a screwdriver, sometimes as a small crowbar.
Ironically, the first thing I would ditch from my multitools and Swiss army knives would be the blade. Scissors do most things I need just as well or better, and the blade is just a liability in lots of jurisdictions.
I rarely actually use them, but I was a Boy Scout so I like to be prepared, just in case. The screwdrivers on both and wrenches on the wallet one come in handy more often than anything, but I also have scissors and a knife on the keychain one.
Phone wallet keys.
There’s an umbrella in my car but I use it like once a year.
Same, but I pared my wallet down to my just DL and one card. I don’t like carrying shit around for no reason anymore.
It really depends on mode of transportation, especially if a car is involved or not. I suspect a number of people in this thread are folks who drive most/all places and aren’t including all the stuff they have stashed in their cars, available if needed. Also, driving means minimal exposure to the elements, so even less stuff is needed to stay comfortable/presentable than if you are walking, biking, waiting at transit stations, etc.
As a former Tokyo resident I’ll also add that I used to carry a folding fan around with me in summer when I lived there, but I have no need in the US where air conditioning is so prevalent (to the point of overuse). I also stopped needing a fan so much, regardless of temperature, when living in less humid places.
Also, shocked more people aren’t mentioning a water bottle. I bring a reusable water bottle with me any time I have to leave the house for more than a couple of hours, especially if I’m cycling somewhere but even if I’m driving. How are y’all staying hydrated sans water bottle???
Most of the stuff I carry have already been mentioned so I’ll just add the ones not a lot of people carry:
- hand sanitizer
- a small travel vial of liquid soap
- a couple of squares of toilet paper rolled up
All of those including the standard phone, keys, wallet, etc. all fit in a small handbag that I wear across my chest.
Sometimes if I know I’ll be out in hot weather, I bring water in an insulated container. I also have a small bag that specifically has a pocket for water bottles.
Swede living in a suburb to Stockholm, 36 year old man, living alone.
Weather stuff:
I put an unbrella in my backpack during autumn, I wear a hat during winter.
I have sunglasses in my car and my new pair in my backpack, I wear regular glasses all the time.
If it is really hot I carry an insulated water bottle, on special occations I have carried a thermos flask with hot mulled wine (glögg) when it is around christmas, very cold and I won’t be driving.
Personal hygene:
Nothing really, well I have some paper towels in my car for emergency nature calls in the woods…
Safety stuff, nothing really, if I am going for a long trip, I will get some supplies, gloves, band aids, dressings, disinfectant, stuff like that.
Oh, as a bit of a planespotter, I allways have ear defenders in my car, as well as a big pack of extra ear plugs for any friend going with me who forgot their own hearing protection.
Annoyance filter, during autumn, winter and spring I allways carry my Bose QC35 II, suring summer I switch to some IEMs, currently using my Jabra Elite 3. I allways have my iPhone with me as well.
Infra fail stuff:
I carry my work phone to advice my work about delays, else my phone has all apps I need, finally I have biked from the suburbs to the center of Stockholm and back again, so I know my way around, should all public transport fail and I can’t get a taxi, I would just start walking.
It would probably take 3-4h to get home, but I’d get there
Phone,keys, wallet generally. If its going to rain I bring an umbrella. If its hot I put in cream. If im bringing a bag I bring a bottle of water
Since I’m in the US where public transportation is next to nonexistent outside of maybe 5 cities, I (and the overwhelming majority of Americans) are cheating since we can EDC a hell of a lot of things in our cars. My pockets have 3-4 items max, but I consider my vehicle my home away from home, and if I’m away from home more than a night I pack her to the gills.
For weather pretty much nothing. If I need sunscreen I’ll put it on beforehand. I rarely carry an umbrella even if there’s a chance for rain. But I do carry a bunch of stuff for “daily emergencies” like water, pen and paper, wet wipes etc. just because I usually have a backpack and they don’t take up much space.
Keys, wallet, phone, shopping bag. That’s it.
Ye same, minus the shopping bag. Between the phone and the wallet, I can solve most problems I’ll run into. If it rains I’ll get wet ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I used to live in the desert. So on me, water bottle and sun block. In my car, water and a blanket.
I always carry a water bottle with me, no matter what the situation.
In a daily outing bag, I also always carry bandages, Vaseline, nail clippers, pepper spray, phone, glasses cleaning cloth, a portable charging bank/handwarmer, and a small stuffed animal (for emotional support).
I should start carrying sunscreen, but I 100% always spill things in my bag— be it ink, drink, or anything else.
For anyone reading this: purchase an Owala water bottle!! I don’t recommend brands often, but as someone who used to be chronically dehydrated AND always spilling shit: get an Owala. It has a lid that opens with a button push, a very good carrying handle that doubles as a button-guard when down, an easy to clean lid with removable/replaceable parts, and you can choose between swigging it or sipping it up without a straw!! I hate putting my mouth on straws, so that was a great option (even though I only swig lol— but the straw is inside the waterbottle). I’ve had mine for 2 to 3 years now, and apparently they’re popular now. Seriously, 100% recommend them. Only real downside is they are a bit too large for some cupholders and they can’t hold hot liquids, but that’s it.
Stay hydrated.
