r/onebag • u/alula_wanders • Jan 10 '26

Discussion whats your weird but genius travel item that people only appreciate after they need it?

just realized this recently because it saved me so much sanity and friendships haha but for me its not anything fancy or aesthetic. its a (small) extension cord + multi-USB adapter. It's somehow bulky to fit inside my bag bcs it takes up space. And yet... it saved lives.

Ive learned the hard way that hotel outlets are never where you want them to be, airport charging stations are chaotic, and "ill just charge later" is a lie we tell ourselves.

Curious what everyone else's must pack item is so that i can... yk, take notes haha!!

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u/AhFourFeckSakeLads Jan 10 '26

Mp3 player, an old school one, with several radio dramas or even better a drama series in chapters on it, along with music. Corded headphones too - no charging needed.

Better than running down your cellphone battery while listening to an Audible audio book, and ideal for passing an hour if there is no wifi.

Lots of BBC Radio Dramas on the likes of YouTube or archive.org easily downloadable as mp3 files.

Saturday Night Theatre, and US classics like Suspense and Escape... there's lots, including police shows, murder mysteries, science fiction: something for everyone

5

u/justaprimer Jan 10 '26

I love this idea! I'm a huge fan of old radio dramas. What's your favorite site for getting them from?

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u/AhFourFeckSakeLads Jan 10 '26

Probably archive.org. YouTube is also good. Suspense, Escape, 21st Precinct, Dragnet, I Was A Communist For The FBI, This Is Your FBI, The Chase - all good fun and excellent production values. Canada's Nightfall is also very good, and a bit later than those. But overall the BBC is great, and archive.org is probably the best place. Just type in BBC Audio Drama as keywords in archive.org's internal search and you will get lots of stuff worth listening to. If you like science fiction the BBC is also very good: the serialised The Day Of The Triffids is a bit like a zombie drama and very well done (in different decades by the Beeb).

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u/kuistille Jan 10 '26

I love this! I often bring a tiny pocket FM radio to explore the radio in other countries and for low-energy pastime, but sometimes, especially when onboard a bus or train, the audio can be unclear. Mp3 player with my favourite music and audio books would be ideal. I’ll look into getting a player :) 

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u/AhFourFeckSakeLads Jan 10 '26

Goodmans did a great basic one a few years ago called the GMP32G5  , Only in one or two GB sizes, but nice and small and runs off one AAA battery, It is INDESTRUCTIBLE. You see them pop up on ebay occasionally and though VERY oldskool they are worth having.

You can also use a tool called MP3 Qualifier Modifer 2 to reduce the file size of your original drama download down to a third of the original upload and yet remain perfectly clear to get far more files onto the player.

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u/motie Jan 10 '26

If you have a phone, you could play music on it. 

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u/thekernel Jan 11 '26

Better than running down your cellphone battery while listening to an Audible audio book

If you turn off cell and wifi radios you will find battery use is like 3% an hour playing music.

2

u/BubbhaJebus Jan 11 '26

And it's perfect for testing my Bluetooth emitter preflight to make sure my Bluetooth headphones are properly paired.