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 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.
I drag around so much stuff my knees ache.
I’m in the mountains, so just a waterproof down jacket. A 15C day can drop to 2C in a couple hours after sunset, or if bad weather rolls in.
When I live in cities, I hang headphones around my neck, otherwise just the usual keys and phone.
Rain doesn’t bother me and I don’t find it hard to be resourceful when needed. I hate carrying stuff around with me so just don’t.
Same, Ive reached the point where I’m almost always leaving the house with water umbrella sunglasses and towel. I used to be careless and leave with nothing… I feel old now
Keys, right pocket. Wallet and phone, left pocket.
Done.
Correct
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.
We just leave one in each car.
That’s in the wallet.
Sunglasses, cap, jumper, coat (which one varies depending on time of year). Then phone, keys, loose change and a plectrum in my pockets.
Phone, wallet, keys
I don’t even own an umbrella or sunglasses, I might have a bottle of sunscreen…somewhere…
Though I do wear a hoodie year-round, so if it rains I just put my hood up
I think it’s wild that you carry so much stuff, especially since it sounds like you primarily walk and take trains being in Tokyo and all
A bunny hug, keys, and phone/wallet combo. I’d carry less, but I’m already at the bare minimum.
Personally I think you are overdoing it OP.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/good-question-bunny-hug-1.7125965 explains what a bunny hug is: a word for hooded sweatshirt that people from Saskatchewan use.
The clothes I’m wearing, wallet, phone (sometimes a second), and usually keys as well. Depending on outdoors or not, sunglasses.
Unless I’m doing something specifically the would require more, that’s about it.
If I’m generally our and about, phone, wallet, keys, phone charging cable, a pen, anything else I need can be acquired as I need it.
It’s also functionally ECD is my backpack, mainly because I use it to carry my laptop with me wherever I’m likely to need it, like work, or class, or to carry a bunch of stuff like MtG decks for an MtG event, or clothes if I’m spending a night at a friend’s house.
I live in the US and its very car centric here. It’s rare that I’m ever more than a few minutes away from a source of water or food, I keep an umbrella in my car, it has AC to keep me cool, if it’s chilly out I wear a jacket.
Looking at the majority of the replies I see some meme potential (no offense):
Dude irl: “I only carry the minimal”
Dude in games: “This is my 5000 ton backpack with 50 health potions, a bunch of plant leaves, 2 axes, 3 bows, 4 swords (1 of them cursed), a few scrolls and runestones; some bread, cheese, milk, apples, glasses of beer; and a map”
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
Very far north in Scandinavia:
Keys left pocket. Phone right pocket. Earbuds right pocket. Wallet (debit card and ID really) right leg pocket.
I check the forecast in the summer, if rain during the day then put on jacket. Peak temp 20°C or above use shorts.
In the winter I check temperature. +5 to -15 thin gloves -15 to -30 thick gloves. -30 to -40 carefully consider if I have to go out. -40 or less: take a picture of the thermometer and send it to people in the south to make them feel better about their life choices.
I used to live in the desert. So on me, water bottle and sun block. In my car, water and a blanket.
