Anyone else travel with a backpack nearly everywhere you go? If so, what's in there?
Anyone else travel with a backpack nearly everywhere you go? If so, what's in there?
Let's see how much we have in common with our backpack inventories.
95 comments
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- Two N95 face mask
- An USB charger
- Two USB cords a type C and a mini-B
- A pen a pencil a very small notepad
- A rigid sleeve for importants documents (actually the menu from a restaurant near my workplace )
- A scarf, two gloves, a wollen cap
- sunglasses
- no-sun-glasses
- cloth for cleaning glasses
- plastic bags
- flashlight
I hate having to put the labtop from work in here that bastard is heavy
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Wait, is this something characteristic of the spectrum?
I love to take a backpack nearly everywhere with 1st basis supplies
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It's a stability thing. The autistic brain tends to want a lot more structure around it. Unfortunately, life can often get in the way of this. A backpack can act as a "safety kit". You know you will always have critical resources to hand, and so are less stressed with unexpected changes.
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We think my son might have autism and trying to engage with the school and health services for a bit of support. So far no luck. Anyway, because of this we're learning a lot and I'm now starting to think perhaps I have a touch of it.
I didn't know a backpack was a thing. I take mine everywhere. Last year I met a group of friends I haven't seen in years in a pub and I took my bag. They asked why do I have a bag. "It's got my stuff in it". They did enjoy trying my flash lights (I sometimes take two in case one runs out. It never has because they're regularly charged)
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I think it's more common among us than NTs. Military veterans would probably be another group that has a high prevalence of backpack use.
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I had no idea that was a thing. I used to take my backback everywhere to the point people asked me if I sold drugs. Apparently dealers often taken their backpacks everywhere cause of that. Eventually I forced myself to stop doing that, guess I was masking that too without knowing
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One of the dudes on Love on the Spectrum went on a first date with his backpack. But, he was a gentleman and carried it by hand on his side.
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- Cough drops
- Ear plugs (a few here and there)
- Microfibre cloth
- a lucky charm
- pocket-size tissue pack
- an emergency $50 bill
- an emergency snack
- an emergency Linux install USB drive
These are stuff then generally stay in the bag between trips. Stuff like a water bottle I add before almost any long trip out.
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An emergency Linux install USB drive?? In what scenario would you imagine you would need that?
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Never leave home without one. I’m always amazed others don’t do it as well.
I carry a 5.11 Rush 72. Uually there’s:
- a camera; Fuji X-S20
- contact lens cleaner and storage
- small bicycle pump
- 2 sunglasses (Oakley M2 & Ray-Ban Wayfarer)
- sunscreen during summer
- floppy boonie hat during summer
- one/two pocket knives
- a single watch storage case, usually with a watch in it
- a strip of blood pressure medication
- two powdered ibuprofen painkillers
- a bandaid or two
- a pen
And there’s bound to be something like a roll of candy, a snack, a water bottle, etc in it at any given time.
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I love those Wayfarers. I have a pair of Foldies (knock off brand that fold into a sort of little cube) in light blue. Polarized sunglasses are the best!
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They are excellent; very comfortable and always in fashion for those who care. My particular ones are non-polarized.
The Oakleys I have ARE polarized, and for a lot of situations it’s really handy for sure. Great at cutting annoying reflections on water, allows you to see through glass with reflections, etc.
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Lol. Read the title and started giggling. Family asks why I giggle, I tell them and they start laughing.
So yes. After losing everything, including the backpack I always have it with me. It's a hard rule - the moment I'm far from it, I need something from it.
The contents are pretty much everything I might need during an average day. Keys, vallet, medicines, a notebook and a pen, bandages, headphones, deodorant.
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oh no!! losing that backpack must've been devastating 😩
i've been using the same backpack since 2001. i can't imagine losing it. it's part of my identity. if i don't have it with me, people ask about it.
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- Spare phone charger (USB battery pack before it turned into a pillow)
- Micro-USB and USB-C data cables
- Ethernet cable
- 32G USB drive:
- 8G partition with bootable Linux Mint (can you guess what I do for a living?)
- The rest is FAT32 storage
- A cheap wireless mouse
- Bluetooth earphones (currently Skullcandy Jib True)
- Flashlight
- Sunglasses
- 300ml bottle, even if empty
- Several plastic bags
- Bunch of rubber bands
- Fork
- Teaspoon
- Toothpicks
- A tacky collapsible cup
- Tweezers (one with a sharp tip, one flat)
- Ibuprofen
- Photocopy of my medical insurance card
- Sometimes an iFixit Essentials kit (not sponsored)
This excludes the content of my wallet.
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32G USB drive: 8G partition with bootable Linux Mint (can you guess what I do for a living?) The rest is FAT32 storage
That you specified the partitioning is my favorite part 😆
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I could write a similar list about the flash drives I use at work or at home.
32G stick mentioned above
32G "Imaging" USB stick
- 400M partition with a customized bootable Clonezilla:
- One boot entry that loads the OS to RAM, brings up an ethernet interface with DHCP, and mounts a Samba share to /home/partimag
- One that loads the OS and brings up a bash CLI (Clonezilla is basically Debian with extras)
- One that loads the OS and mounts:
- A second FAT32 partition that contains:
- A Debian 11 image
- A Linux Mint image
- A customized Ubuntu 22.04 VirtualBox OVA image
2G "iHaxit" USB stick with a read-only switch
128G "Rescue"
- Bootable Windows recovery disk
- Plenty of space to save important documents before the subject computer is nuked
32G "DO NOT USE" stick that I nuke and reformat for whatever purpose I need (not to be used for storage)
...plus a lot of optical disks with various Windows installers.
- 400M partition with a customized bootable Clonezilla:
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- Change of clothes for my kid
- couple of hair ties for kiddo
- pouch (charging cables, blocks & headphones)
- kindle
- wet wipes
- notebad & pen
- medical bag (needle, emergency meds, bandaids Powerade packet) -powerbank
- sometimes pocketknife (depending on pants worn)
Bonus: Cannon T7 with 24mm EF-S f/ 2.8 (when I’m feeling artsy)
That’s it i think.
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- chap stick
- second pair of glasses in another color in case I need to match my clothes
- wipes for glasses
- noise canceling ear buds
- a pen
- meds
- charged travel charger with solar cells for recharging
- plug-in charger with cable
- laptop with accessories: mouse, stylus pen, backup battery for pen, USB charger for back up battery (can't be too safe!)
- hoodie
- whatever else I may need for the specific occasion
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Sunglasses
Phone charger
Chapstick
Deodorant
Perfume
Glasses wipes
Lighter
Kleenexes
Hand sanitizer
Passport
Pens
Scarf
Sweater
Socks
Notebook
Binder
Work apron
Extra water bottle
Sunscreen
A metric fuck ton of receipts
Gum
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I like this question, yes I travel with a backpack.
- vape liquid
- coil making kit, sisors, cotton, stainless steel wire, hobby wire snippers
- 18650 battery's
- backup headphones
- tissues
- a drink
- wallet and intern physical cash
- jacket/jumper
- hat
- USB c charger and cable
- 3 usb 32gb sticks, ventoy, films
- pocket knife
- bird seeds
I used to carry some general purpose rope but I dont do that now lol
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I really should bring bird seed around with me. There are some friendly crows that I'd like to be friendly with.
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I always thought I should try this but I have a vague memory of something I read about corvids. If you befriend them they’ll following you home, waiting for more and if you stop providing they might start being aggressive towards you.
Like I said this is just a vague memory and I have nothing to back it up. If someone has information about it being wrong, please share.
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Bird seeds is an excellent idea. Got a thing for pigeons.
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In my backpack:
- 0.75L Water bottle + a smaller one if I'm going far
- Mechanical pencil, extra lead, eraser, notes and paper (all in one plastic folder thing)
- Usually my laptop and charger
- Headphones
- USB power adapter
- USB-C cable (for The Phone)
- Earplugs
- Multi-tool (Leatherman wave+)
- Hand sanitizer, multi-purpose cleaner (in a tiny spray bottle),
- Hand lotion, vaseline, sunscreen
- Tote bag
- Bicycle tire hand pump (usually travel by bike)
- Extra inner tube
- Tire changing tool
- Extra bicycle lights
- MicroUSB cable (for the lights)
- Gaffer tape, gauze, disinfecting wipes (and whatever else is in my first aid kit)
- Nalaxone (seen one too many OD's)
- Small powerful magnet (emergency access through some electronically locked doors)
- Condoms (as if; emergency water storage lol)
- Permanent markers
- A Pen
In my various pockets:
- Facial tissues/paper towel
- Two more bicycle lights
- Cheap folding knife w/ window breaker and seatbelt cutter
- The Phone
- The Wallet
- All weather notepad
- Another pen
- Funny shaped Rock (and Stone) that I play with if I get nervous
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Why so many bicycle lights?
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Not all the places I go have lighted streets, so I want to be prepared in case one dies or is lost.
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Flashlight (off)
Lighter (10/100 Butane)
makeshift hammer
makeshift crowbar
pocket knife
smartphone (UPS) (80/100 Battery)
whistle
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needs a screwdriver made from a chunk of steel and some tape and its perfect
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Lets see..
My work bag has:
- Laptop/charger
- Faraday pouch w/ work phone and badge
- Water bottle (covered in stickers)
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, moustache wax, deoderant, and ADHD meds in case I forget them before leaving for work
- Chapstick
- Handwarmers
- Charging cables
- Pen and notepad
- Backup protein bar
- Mini first aid kit
- Fidget toy (begleri)
My personal bag gets repacked regularly depending on the outing, but typically has items from the above list plus:
- Multitool/iFixit toolkit
- Meshtastic radio node
- BTECH radio handset
- Solar battery bank
- Steam Deck, type-C hub, HDMI and Ethernet cables
- Flash drive w/ Ventoy, Linux disk images, and PC repair utilities.
- Portable hard drive w/ media
- Bluetooth keyboard
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Are the meds in rx bottles? Don't want the police to think you just have speed on you.
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Of course. Work would kick me to the curb if they caught me bringing unlicensed meds into the office. XD
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- USB power bank
- multi-tip charging/data cable (C/micro-B/Lightning)
- bandages
- ibuprofen
- nail trimmer
- small Maglite
- tiny tin of petroleum jelly (I dont like chap-skick)
- reusable silverware + chopsticks
- iPad Pro 10.5 & pencil
- Samsung Note 8 +512GB card (for music, podcasts, notes, OTG storage)
- headphones (Moondrop Chu2)
- pen & pencil
- sewing kit in a tiny mint tin
- Dirtywave M8 music tracker (my current obsession)
- Leatherman Juice Pro + Victorinox eyeglass screwdriver
- Leatherman Squirt S4
- cotton bandana & eyeglass cloth
- combination USB-A/C microSD card reader
- elastic band(s)
- OM System LS-P5 field recorder
- aux cable
I'm sure there's more I've forgotten but there is a cat on me so I am unable to move until he leaves. Sorry, I dont make the rules.
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Basic first aid or MacGyver first aid stuff.. Multi tool... Nail clipper kit.. Few pens... Lockpick set... tablet... And... A spare charger cable... .. Also my work keys and badge..
I think that it...
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Do you practice with the lock pick set? Been thinking about getting into it.
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Yeah I just have a couple locks in my backpack that I practice and okay with when I'm waiting for stuff.
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How often do you end up using the lock pick set?
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Not often. Honestly I just carry a couple locks to practice with when I'm bored and waiting for something.
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I chose a purse over a backpack.
- Vape juice and battery charger
- Hank of paracord
- Basic Swiss Army knife
- Napkins (also in various and multiple pockets, I always have napkins).
- Plasticware, chopsticks, condiment packets (whatever is extra from carry-out)
- OBD2 Bluetooth code reader
- Headlamp
- Medicine (prescription and OTC)
- Gum
- Eyeglasses screwdriver
- Charging cords (I have a couple of large batteries, but I don't always carry those)
- Pen
- Jersey gloves
- Ear plugs, cheap and individually wrapped, because I ride a motorcycle and will hand them out, and my son is a musician and has friends over and I make it rain earplugs.
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I got panniers for my bike and ever since I have gone off wearing a backpack. I use a tote bag now if im not cycling. Backpacks make my back sweaty.
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Backpacks make my back sweaty.
Yeah, I get that. But...they also squeeze you 😀
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Not on a spectrum I believe, but I can't leave my house without a backpack holding:
- A universal charger with a splitting cord for all popular connectors, a powerbank.
- Two pocket knives and one or two boxcutters\scalpels with exchangeable blades.
- 0.5-1L of water.
- Usual medications against head, stomack pain.
- Snacks and a fork\spoon.
- A book for leisure, a e-ink book and a notebook.
- A black marker and various pens.
- A rope I can use to carry multiple things.
- Carabins for the same reason.
- More usual options like plastic bags.
- Spare lighters and a flashlight.
- A copy of my ID to access services.
- Headphones and reflective glasses to turn off the surroundings when I need it.
Surprisingly, all of them came up handy in different contexts. Guess, just walking with all these things is a little training.
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What's in the bag? 😟 What was in the baaag??? 🥺 What's in the bag? 😭 WHAT'S IN THE FUCKING BAG?! 😡🔫
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I use a Maxpedition Prepared Citizen Deluxe backpack. It looks like a JanSport, but it has a bunch of internal pockets. I added extra pouches and velcro pockets, made my own zipper pulls, and modified the straps.
I've gone a little overboard with the contents. Really need to reduce the weight. I've got a couple multitools in there, first aid kit, tourniquet, class III backpack armor, meds and snacks, Flipper Zero, earbuds, magnifying glass, charger cables, batteries, hygiene kit, pens and journal, a couple flashlights, water bottle with a filter, beard brush, and hidden cash.
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I like backpacks as they are convenient to carry my stuffs.
- a tote bag
- USB-C charger
- headphone case
- ANC earphones
- Airpods for extensive walks
- Earplugs
- aluminum water bottle
- pen
- permanent marker
- knife, fork, and spoon
- paper napkin
- paracetamol
- paper
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Related question: what size backpack do y'all use? Every time I find a good one I start adding more stuff and then I want a bigger one to fit more 😭
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mine is around this size with 3 compartments: large/main, medium/middle, & small front pocket.
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I can't remember if mine is 32 or 35 litres. It's a good size. Not too small and not too big, but big enough to shove a bit of shopping in. There have been a few times I needed a bigger one but it's a decent trade off for practically.
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I stick with ~30 liters. I can put my usual stuff and have place for some groceries.
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Haha, aaaabsolutely. I have:
- My portable game console (Retroid Pocket 3+).
- My cable pouch (need a charger for a 20 year old iPod? I got you fam. HDMI? No worries. USB micro B? All good. For some reason I hate being caught out without the right cable).
- My 60w UGREEN Gan USB A/USB C charger.
- At the moment, the book I'm reading (Relativity Visualized).
- My journal. I don't write in it every day but sporadically.
- My medication.
- Battery bank.
- Laptop (ThinkPad T480).
- Deodorant.
- Hair wax.
- Toothbrush.
- A pen.
- My home and work keys with tag trackers on each and a multi tool on my home keys.
- External SSD.
- Umbrella.
- Ear plugs.
- Contigo go cup.
- A lighter.
Headphones, phone and wallet stay in my pocket.
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Ooh, deodorant is a good idea!
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Caffeine, melatonin and different painkillers. A book, my ID and priority card, a water bottle. And if I'm traveling I add an external battery and cables, a console. I also tried to put in my comfort food but it's chocolate and it melt.
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Yup.
Usually have a bottle of water, sun glasses, umbrella (yeah both, the Uk is wild), tablets, weed, cigs, grinder, keys, pen, and headphones.
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Yes, and I'll include other items I carry on my walker as well: Steam Deck Battery Packs for phones/devices no less then 4 two way radios Ham radio gear Charger cables for everything I own. A change of clothes baby wipes Medication My other wallet. note takeing stuff a laptop? (Sometimes) TI-83+ Graphing Calculator (Gotta have my trusty old guy) Kindle EPI Pens Water Bottle Snacks Other stuff I probably forgot.
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- trauma kit
- tourniquet
- clotting agent impregnated gauze
- a couple chest seals
- trauma sheers
- small OTC pharmacy
- sun screen
- lactose pills for friends
- booboo kit
- tampons and pads for friends
- Armytek Zippy keychain flashlight
- a couple 5 ah phone batteries so I can give one away if I need to
- tool kit
- tailor's measuring tape
- long titanium spoon
- sharpening stone
- tweezers
- small amount of silicone lube (squeaky things annoy me)
- tape
- zip ties
- Leatherman wave +
- Leatherman bit kit
- 3 inch titanium cressent wrench
- compact titanium combination socket and bit wrench
- paper and 2 in one sharpie
- lighter
- backup dog poop bags
- doc bronners soap
- small sewing kit
- wet wipes
- cord cut in convenient lengths
- spare socks
- seasonal accessories (sun hat, merino neck tube, knit glommits)
- cotton bandana
- check in case I forget to bring one when I pay rent
- plastic reusable bag if I need to carry more stuff than my bag's expanding pouch can hold
- single wall stainless steel water bottle
- fig bar
- chocolate covered almonds
- pepper gel
- emergency debit card in case I forgot my wallet
- small folding opinel knife for food
- spray bottle full of alcohol
- 3x magnification monocular for bird watching
- little pouch to keep dry leftovers in
- a couple kn95s with different strap styles since some of my friends like the ones that go on your ears
All of that fits in a 9 liter Poler Hip N Bindle
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Now this is how it should be !
I love the combination of preparation for both your own needs and that of others :3
- trauma kit
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- ANC headphones, ANC earbuds, wax earplugs, foam earplugs, silicone earplugs, Loop earplugs <-- yeah this autism thing really should've been clear a lot earlier in life
- Laptop, 2x 20Ah 100W power bank, 10Ah power bank, GoPro
- Travel adapter, spare watch charger, 2x 3m USB-C cable
- Half a pharmacy "just in case"
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I only travel with a backpack when taking my bike (which is most of the time I'm going anywhere other than across the street) and I just have my bike lock in it (it's more for bringing stuff from the store home). But seeing some of these other responses, that's likely to change.
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Omg you guys are my people! I had no idea this was an autism thing.
I go everywhere with a backpack containing:
- Laptop
- Charger
- Phone charger
- 2 TB hard drive
- Cord adapter
- Earplugs
- First aid kit
- Moleskin patches
- Hi-vis vest
- Wet wipes
- old iPod
- Pencil sharpener
- Daily planner
- Diary
- Pencil case containing colored pens for my color-coded planner, ink fineliners in various thickness, pencils and brush pen
- Water bottle
- Emergency meds
- Current book
- Sewing kit
- Umbrella
- Extra pads
- Shopping bag
I also wear a fanny pack containing:
- Smaller wet wipe packs
- Narcan
- Multitool
- Pens
- Dried tinder conk fungus and a pack of matches in case I need emergency tinder
- Fentanyl test strips
- Earbuds
- Portable battery to charge my phone with
- Carabiner
- Bus passes for two different states
- Hair ties
- Pen flashlight
Given that I have scoliosis, I do occasionally leave the house without the backpack because I guess not being in pain matters a little....
95 comments
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Doesn’t list knife. 🤔
Edit: it’s in one of your pant pockets isn’t it?
It is indeed. Along with my Pixel Buds Pro and chapstick
you are ready for whatever comes your way!
That's my goal! I like to be the guy that when someone needs something, they go "Oh, SaintWacko probably has it." And they're usually right!
Walking around with your passport is a dangerous game.
If I managed to lose my backpack, my passport is one of the things I'd be least upset about losing
Plot twist: I have two of them. Because of fear of losing it.
Tell us about your mini drone!
It's an old DJI Mavic Mini! Great little drone, folds up small enough to fit in a coat pocket, but it's got about half an hour of battery life. It's one of those things I don't use very often, but when I do there's no substitute
What bag you got?
The main bag is older gen SwissGear USB ScanSmart backpack, and then in one of the pockets I have an Everki Venue bag that has the surface and its peripherals, the tools, the flashlight, bag, chopsticks, SSD, and charging stuff. It's nice because if I want something more compact I can pull out the Venue and still have almost all my stuff. What I'd really like to find is some sort of modular system, so instead of having bags inside bags I have multiple bags that hook together and I can combine them in different ways depending on what I need
I, too, am a real-life D&D character.
Ah the Koss PortaPros! Excellent choice.