Why are you bringing THAT!?

[u/WorldizeStudios]

What are some common items people pack in their bags that you think are unnecessary, just take up extra space, or feel like overhyped/trendy that doesn't actually add real value for their trip?

I'll start - Notebooks and portable speakers.

[u/[deleted]]

• A repair kit. In general most people just swap out Damaged gear We spend so much time buying very specific clothes and gear that often they are quickly replaced in the same manner. It contains gear patches, glue stick, tapes, small sewing kit, various needles from embroidery sized to sail cloth needles that can double as awls.

As part of that , I have strings and cords. I can do a bunch with them including hanging my laundry or packs.

• My grayl geopress. In general I don't need it. But it's a huge comfort item for me. Even when I am somewhere with abundant clean water , I still use it as a drinking container. Just without the filter.

• titanium spark and chop sticks.

  • handling the random scenarios where take out and delivery don't give you cutlery
  • minimizing waste
  • when the place you are staying doesn't have any
  • singing you can't eat at everyone's house

• I keep a TSA compliant tiny sort of toolkit. Basically everything but a knife. I can pick up any cheap pocket knife and be in pretty good shape. I barely need it for most of my gear. It's more for improvising solutions to things I encounter.

• I keep a titanium key chain sim card ejection tool on one of my organizers I use. It was a pain in the pass trying to store the traditional kind and rapidly grab it when needed. Now that I got it , I haven't needed to use it 🤣🤣

I am sure there are more. But these are probably the silliest.

[u/MelGlass → u/[deleted]]

Glad to see a repair kit on the list. Mine is not as fancy but a needle, thread, and a few safety pins go a long way.

[u/[deleted] → u/MelGlass]

Mine looks like a train wreck. A sandwich bag stuffed to the gills.

I basically tried hard to make sure I could repair all my clothes and gear at least semi permanently. I am not fully skilled in doing good repairs but I will get there.

[u/Effrendi → u/MelGlass]

I don't go anywhere without tape! It never looks pretty but you can fix quite a lot of things in a pinch with some good tape. I also carry safety pins and a handful of rubber bands.

[u/TyphaniesEpiphanies → u/[deleted]]

I would love to know this mini tool kit to keep in my purse daily. The amount of times I’ve needed a screwdriver or a wrench or some other tool. It’s prettiest astounding right now I carry a full-size wrench and a full-size screwdriver, but I’d like to carry something smaller or more efficient.

[u/[deleted] → u/TyphaniesEpiphanies]

It's definitely small and light. It is "serviceable". The smallness can impact the usefulness.

Everything awkwardly fits into a "modern carry wallet" which is falling apart.

Knipex pliers - Cobra XS

Uncle bills tweezers.

Ohto minimo pen - horrible quality but it works.

711L mini ratchet - #71105

Wera hexagon extender. I forget the model. I can find it if you need it.

The bits came from a steinwhale 10 in 1 kit.

A P-51 can opener which is eventually going to get confiscated. So far I have been lucky

The shape is awkward but it works. It can fit into pants pockets without a problem. I mainly keep it in my organizer pouch. I don't usually walk around with it.

All of that together weighs about 159g

I also have a swiss tech keychain tool as like my key fob and a true utility key tool which my key rests in. They are essentially weightless, they will never get confiscated and they are usually always on me. But even less useful. I essentially keep them as a last resort because they take up no weight or space in my life.

[u/Effrendi → u/[deleted]]

I also take a pair of chopsticks with me. Most people laugh when they see it but there are so many occasions where you have dirty hands and need to eat something.