This is my current setup, all contained within the crossbody bag on the left. I've had more or less the same stuff, in the same bag, for about three years before, but the zipper on the bag was breaking, so I replaced it. I decided that would be a good time to rethink what I'm carrying.
Currently, that is (clockwise from top left):
- wallet
- some spare cash, just in case
- a microfiber cloth
- lockpicks and a small box of lock pins (I have a practice lock that I often carry around in case I get bored)
- bandaids
- the bag is a Pacsafe GO Crossbody
- glasses cleaning swabs
- USB sticks (two with data, one with Ventoy and Linux ISOs)
- USB C-to-C cable to charge my phone
- a mechanical pencil
- keys, on a chain
Now, I'm looking for suggestions as to what else to put in the bag. Its gotta be thin and flat if possible.
My ideas so far are an appropriately sized notebook and a thin pocketknife.
What do you think? Have you got any ideas/suggestions?
Looks good, I edc an emergency blanket, a brick? to use with the usb-cable and a multitool.
By brick, do you mean a powerbank? I used to have one in the old bag for a while, but it doesn't really fit (it fits in the bag, but it's a bit too thick, so it prevents you from putting any other slightly thicker things in without putting serious strain on the seams), and in my experience, I didn't end up actually needing it most of the time. I'm kinda trying a compromise with the charging cable, in the hopes that if I do have to charge my phone, I can find someone with a charger/powerbank/laptop/etc. (or use my own laptop) and don't need to figure out if they have the right cable.
Do you have any suggestions for a small/flat multitool? (my guess is, pretty much everyone in this community has their own suggestion for a multitool :) )
How big is the emergency blanket folded up?
Honestly don't complicate the multitool. Nothing wrong with a basic Swiss Army knife. The blade is the thing you will probably get the most use out of, because when you need to cut tape or a package or something, nothing else but a knife will do. After that, flathead / Phillips screwdriver, and personally I end up using the little metal tweezers in the Swiss Army knife a lot, but that's probably not a universal experience. Everything else you might have in a multitool will rarely get any use.
I carried a multi tool for several years and used it only once. Switched to the smallest Knippex wrench pilers, used it much more often, and it's smaller and lighter. That's for my multi tool recommendation.