What should I put in my "man-purse" daily survival kit?

[ZapNZs]

What kind of jobs even use grappling hooks?

• FBI Hostage Rescue Team
• Ninjas
• Samurai
• Ronin
• Grappling hook salesmen
  
• Batman

These appear to be a big thing for group tree climbers too.

https://www.amazon.com/TI-EDC-Grappling-Folding-Survival-Climbing/dp/B075V4JWXC

• MULTI-PURPOSE: Great for outdoor climbing and adventure activities, wilderness survival or tree limb removal

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

My work satchel consists of:

A4 page per day diary
Chewing gum
Pens
USB dongles
My lunch
iPhone cable
Paracetamol
Deodorant
Earphones

Not a hugely exciting array of items but essential to my daily life lol.

 

[Apple fanboy]

My work satchel consists of:

A4 page per day diary
Chewing gum
Pens
USB dongles
My lunch
iPhone cable
Paracetamol
Deodorant
Earphones

Not a hugely exciting array of items but essential to my daily life lol.

No grappling hook? How dull!

Mine has my Macbook Air, charger, Bose QC35's.
Everything else is in my work drawers or car parked outside my office.

 

[LizKat]

My handbag for the daily commute in NYC used to have a wallet, a change purse w/ subway tokens in it, pen, little notepad, travel pack of facial tissues and a few toiletries, that's about it.

Now I'm retired and supposedly leading a simpler life, but I can't go anywhere without a totebag carting all kinds of other stuff like iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and an iPod Nano w/ FM radio, plus their assorted cables and a charger, earbuds, keyboard, bluetooth speaker, yada yada, it's all Apple's fault.

I do actually have a go-bag though, it's out in the car in winter. A duffel with jeans and a copy of warm everything else from unders on up in it -- since if the house caught fire and i managed to escape it would be nice not to be outdoors in nearly my "birthday suit" when it's ten below zero. There's other stuff like a spare parka, gloves, scarf, hat, a fleece blanket, utility tools and well-wrapped energy bars and sports drink mix packets in some plastic bins in the car's trunk. I don't lock the car in that season either and the key's in the ignition, snow shovel and brush on the deck ready to roll. The deep winter's no joke here. I figure as long as i have that stuff ready, maybe I won't need it.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

My handbag for the daily commute in NYC used to have a wallet, a change purse w/ subway tokens in it, pen, little notepad, travel pack of facial tissues and a few toiletries, that's about it.

Now I'm retired and supposedly leading a simpler life, but I can't go anywhere without a totebag carting all kinds of other stuff like iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and an iPod Nano w/ FM radio, plus their assorted cables and a charger, earbuds, keyboard, bluetooth speaker, yada yada, it's all Apple's fault.

I do actually have a go-bag though, it's out in the car in winter. A duffel with jeans and a copy of warm everything else from unders on up in it -- since if the house caught fire and i managed to escape it would be nice not to be outdoors in nearly my "birthday suit" when it's ten below zero. There's other stuff like a spare parka, gloves, scarf, hat, a fleece blanket, utility tools and well-wrapped energy bars and sports drink mix packets in some plastic bins in the car's trunk. I don't lock the car in that season either and the key's in the ignition, snow shovel and brush on the deck ready to roll. The deep winter's no joke here. I figure as long as i have that stuff ready, maybe I won't need it.

Sounds like what they used to term the "grab bag" that we have been encouraged to have close to hand at all times when abroad in some of the places where I have worked.

However, my briefcase is daily home to some good German stationary - a good German notebook or two; my Apple 11" MBA (plus its charger if I am overnighting anywhere), my iPod Touch (plus its charger if I am overnighting anywhere), my Bowers & Wilkins P5 headphones, Olbas Oil (a small bottle, I have sinus problems sometimes), Tea Tree Oil (a small bottle, very useful), cartridges of Mont Blanc ink (black, mid night navy, and blue), sometimes, my Mont Blanc fountain pens if I am not wearing a formal jacket - although they are more usually kept in an inside pocket of my jacket, spare packets of tissues, and sometimes an actual book or two, depending on what I am reading at the time.

Plus, the daily newspaper if I am at home. Often, a bottle of water. And a small, portable, men's umbrella (the large men's umbrellas are far too big, the ones made for women are usually badly-made and utterly useless).

 

[niploteksi]

plastic cutlery!

 

[WinkWink726]

I do actually have a go-bag though, it's out in the car in winter. A duffel with jeans and a copy of warm everything else from unders on up in it -- since if the house caught fire and i managed to escape it would be nice not to be outdoors in nearly my "birthday suit" when it's ten below zero. There's other stuff like a spare parka, gloves, scarf, hat, a fleece blanket, utility tools and well-wrapped energy bars and sports drink mix packets in some plastic bins in the car's trunk. I don't lock the car in that season either and the key's in the ignition, snow shovel and brush on the deck ready to roll. The deep winter's no joke here. I figure as long as i have that stuff ready, maybe I won't need it.

I have the same thing in my Explorer

I keep a pair of warm clothes, an extra thick pair of socks;
Some energy bars and trail mix stuff, and a few bottles of water;
Some basic first aid stuff and an astronaut blanket;
Multitool, etc.

I also keep one of my super basic spare key sets in my console. I know that's dumb, but If I ever find myself locked out, my truck has that keypad lock/unlock deal on the door, so I can get in and either get back in the house (or wherever), or drive away.

Basically, without being too much of an over-imaginatve/paranoid psycho, I'll be okay (at least in the short term) in the case of bad weather or whatever, as long as I have access to my vehicle.

 

[Bart Kela]

The original inquiry is from 2008, times have changed.

He can lose the AA & AAA batteries unless he has specific devices that still use these. Most devices are rechargeable these days and he should rethink his device charging gear.

My legacy single AAA-cell Maglite outputs less light than my iPhone SE's LED, you can forget that type of flashlight in 2017.

He can also lose the blank CDs/DVDs.

Stuff he missed: safety pin (unless he keeps one in his travel sewing kit), paperclips, earplugs, writing utensils (which might include a permanent marker), one small bandage.

Wrapping up something in a couple of paper towels is worthwhile. I also keep a couple of blank Post-It notes in my wallet. Sometimes a small scrap of paper is handy.

 

[IHelpId10t5]

I put my keys and wallet in one pocket, clip my knife inside that same pocket, put my iPhone in the other pocket, and then walk out the door in the morning. I do have a micro-leatherman as a keychain which is quite useful on a daily basis.

Unless the rest of you are planning on being lost in the jungle or stumbling into an episode of MacGyver, I can't possibly understand how you need all of that crap or a man purse to contain it.

 

[WinkWink726]

Unless the rest of you are planning on being lost in the jungle or stumbling into an episode of MacGyver, I can't possibly understand how you need all of that crap or a man purse to contain it.

meh... I mean, there's no harm in being prepared.
I don't really think you should carry all of that stuff everywhere you go (like a woman totes a purse around), but a car "SHTF bag" is pretty okay, imo

 

[Bart Kela]

I put my keys and wallet in one pocket, clip my knife inside that same pocket, put my iPhone in the other pocket, and then walk out the door in the morning. I do have a micro-leatherman as a keychain which is quite useful on a daily basis.

Unless the rest of you are planning on being lost in the jungle or stumbling into an episode of MacGyver, I can't possibly understand how you need all of that crap or a man purse to contain it.

On workdays I carry a small briefcase and I have the opportunity to put some stuff in it since notebook computers are so small and lightweight these days. Not crazy to have some handy tools and supplies close by.

On weekends I am often out and about on foot without my briefcase so I have to be more judicious about what I have on me.

While I might not keep a bandage in my wallet, I keep one in my briefcase, there's a small first aid kit in the car.

It's about scaling resources based on the situation. I keep a permanent marker in my car and my briefcase, but do I need one on me if I'm visiting the local sports bar for a beer? NO.

 

[IHelpId10t5]

On workdays I carry a small briefcase and I have the opportunity to put some stuff in it since notebook computers are so small and lightweight these days. Not crazy to have some handy tools and supplies close by.

On weekends I am often out and about on foot without my briefcase so I have to be more judicious about what I have on me.

While I might not keep a bandage in my wallet, I keep one in my briefcase, there's a small first aid kit in the car.

It's about scaling resources based on the situation. I keep a permanent marker in my car and my briefcase, but do I need one on me if I'm visiting the local sports bar for a beer? NO.

I'm with you. Despite my comment about what I carry on my person ever day, I do agree completely about being prepared. My car has plenty of what would be needed for survival or just convenience. I guess if I had to tote a laptop to work every day then I would likely have few things in a backpack with the laptop. But, when a laptop bag becomes a man purse because of the amount of contents is where I draw the line.

 

[Bart Kela]

Again, it's all scalable and situational based on a given person's lifestyle.

Sunscreen lotion is handy, but I don't really see a need to carry it to work with me in my briefcase. However, I usually some around in my car, because if I'm going to be doing an activity that would call for sunscreen, chances are that I will be driving to it.

Same thing with the hiking boots and socks in my car. No, I don't need a fresh pair of thick socks in my briefcase, but they sure are handy when drive to a local park/reserve for a hike. Same thing with the water bottle. I don't need one in my bag for my regular commute.

Things like the OP's roll of duct tape and electrical tape are funny. I can see having a leftover roll of duct tape in your car, but in your "murse"? Not for the typical office worker. Now if you are cameraman for some local network news program, roadie or hardware IT technician, yeah, I can see that, but not in the context of a 9-5 office worker.

Of course, the OP asked the question without describing his real situation so really he knows the best about what he should be carrying on his person.

It's in the same vein of asking "what ___ should I buy?" without giving one whit of information about your general usage case. People do that all the time and they most get garbage suggestions because they didn't bother to provide any context.

Sadly, this thread is almost nine years old and people still haven't figured out how to properly frame their inquiries relative to what they want to get accomplished. Not a problem specific to MacRumors, this is a general failing of many people who pose questions in Q&A forums all over the Internet, regardless of the topic.

Pity.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

The original inquiry is from 2008, times have changed.

He can lose the AA & AAA batteries unless he has specific devices that still use these. Most devices are rechargeable these days and he should rethink his device charging gear.

My legacy single AAA-cell Maglite outputs less light than my iPhone SE's LED, you can forget that type of flashlight in 2017.

He can also lose the blank CDs/DVDs.

Stuff he missed: safety pin (unless he keeps one in his travel sewing kit), paperclips, earplugs, writing utensils (which might include a permanent marker), one small bandage.

Wrapping up something in a couple of paper towels is worthwhile. I also keep a couple of blank Post-It notes in my wallet. Sometimes a small scrap of paper is handy.

Actually, I use Maglite torches - and when I am abroad there is always one in my briefcase, they are very useful; thus, the batteries are a necessity.

 

[Bart Kela]

Actually, I use Maglite torches - and when I am abroad there is always one in my briefcase, they are very useful; thus, the batteries are a necessity.

Yeah, I've been using Maglites for two decades. That said, I reiterate that a single-cell AAA is weaker than a smartphone LED.

Times have changed in the nine years since the original inquiry here was made. Go back and read it. It's a funny throwback to a different time.

I have Maglites at home and in my car. I just don't think the mini-Maglites are worth carrying around in your briefcase or "murse" anymore.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yeah, I've been using Maglites for two decades. That said, I reiterate that a single-cell AAA is weaker than a smartphone LED.

Times have changed in the nine years since the original inquiry here was made. Go back and read it. It's a funny throwback to a different time.

I have Maglites at home and in my car. I just don't think they are worth carrying around in your briefcase or "murse" anymore.

Well, I'm old world.

When I'm travelling, - and my traveling is not confined to the First World, I prefer a torch, and Maglites (I have a number in different sizes, at night, one is usually in my jacket packet) are sturdy, robust, reliable, - besides, the batteries tend to last a long time - and are extremely portable.

 

[Bart Kela]

Yeah, the problem these days is I can't remember the last time I put new single-use batteries in a Maglite or stuck fresh rechargeables in the damned thing.

I do know when I last charged a smartphone. Plus, my smartphone tells me how much battery charge I have left. My stupid Maglite doesn't do squat.

For things like mini-Maglites, I think their time is over unless you use them on a nearly daily basis.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yeah, the problem these days is I can't remember the last time I put new single-use batteries in a Maglite or stuck fresh rechargeables in the damned thing.

I do know when I last charged a smartphone. Plus, my smartphone tells me how much battery charge I have left. My stupid Maglite doesn't do squat.

Well, I do remember things like batteries - my memory tends to be rather good - and I tend to remember when I need to buy more. They last a long time, And I always have spares to hand.

......

For things like mini-Maglites, I think their time is over unless you use them on a nearly daily basis.

Or work in parts of the world where electricity and internet are less than ideal and sometimes patchy, or even non-existent. They are ideal, and a lot more portable than smart phones.

Besides, I don't, as a general rule, use smart phones; I never used one at all until this year when work issued me with one, which I rarely use.

Another thing that goes into my briefcase, daily, is an old-fashioned wallet sized annual diary; invaluable for planning meetings and making notes.

 

[USAFA2008]

I have an older version of The North Face Offsite that I carried almost daily the last 10 years. It is carried when I go to work and because I don't have a set desk it has more items than usual since I would leave a lot of it in my desk.

• Badges for the secure area I work in
• Extra pens
• Blank Post-It notes
• Note pads and a clip board
• Personal iPad
• 4 port charger with cables for my iPhone iPad and Apple Watch and adapters to use in Europe and England
• Bandages
• Waterproof otterbox container with extra insignia and patches just incase
• Gloves
• Mechanix Wear gloves
• Comb
• Hand sanitizer
• Body spray
• Microfiber cloth and cleaning spray for my glasses
• Extra pair of contacts
• Extra pair of glasses and sunglasses
• Knife
• Icy Hot and Benadryl sprays
• Asprin
• Carabiner with silicone wedding ring key to my locker and extra empty key rings. I put my wedding ring and Academy class ring on it when I am doing something that could damage it.
• Extra set of ID tags
• Wallet with credit cards and various denominations of cash
• Keys to my car and house when I am not driving
• Hats in uniform patterns
• Extra sets of boot strings
• Water bottle
• Snak food
• Plastic eating utensils
• Battery pack
• Flashlight
• Manilla folders
• Printed regulations as applicable to what I am doing at the time

That is more than I usually carry but I don't have a set desk at work so I don't want to leave a lot of stuff in it. I do have a locker but it is not close to where I work.

 

[Bart Kela]

Or work in parts of the world where electricity and internet are less than ideal and sometimes patchy, or even non-existent. They are ideal, and a lot more portable than smart phones.

But I don't find myself in those places most of the time. Sure, if I know I'm going to one of those places, yeah, I might consider it.

In a way, it's like carrying around an umbrella. Do you need a small umbrella in your "murse" in the SF Bay Area during the summer? No, it doesn't rain during the summer.

Would I carry one in the summer in Southeast Asia? Sure, a sensible precaution.

I get that you love your Maglites. That's great. I like most of mine, but there is no longer a mini-Maglite in my briefcase, at least when I'm around my home territory.

In any case, the original post was asking individuals about what *THEY* carry in their "murses." I never said that a mini-Maglite was totally useless to everyone. I just said that in today's era with smartphones, most people have something better than a mini-Maglite.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

But I don't find myself in those places most of the time. Sure, if I know I'm going to one of those places, yeah, I might consider it.

In a way, it's like carrying around an umbrella. Do you need a small umbrella in your "murse" in the SF Bay Area during the summer? No, it doesn't rain during the summer.

Would I carry one in the summer in Southeast Asia? Sure, a sensible precaution.

I get that you love your Maglites. That's great. I like most of mine, but there is no longer a mini-Maglite in my briefcase, at least when I'm around my home territory.

In any case, the original post was asking individuals about what *THEY* carry in their "murses." I never said that a mini-Maglite was totally useless to everyone. I just said that in today's era with smartphones, most people have something better than a mini-Maglite.

Oddly enough, when I am at home - in the British Isles - a small, sturdy umbrella is one of those things I carry all the time. Just in case.....

And I get that most who write on these threads are from the US, and some from urban parts of the US where life - unless you are poor - is comfortable and relatively orderly, and that they live in the world of the smart phone.

But, firstly, not everyone even in the first world - gets the siren lure of the smart phone - I don't, although I can see that they might have their uses - and secondly, not everyone lives and works in the Bay area of San Francisco.

What @USAFA2008 has written - although exhaustive - comes somewhat closer to what I carry around a lot of the time. Certainly, the international charger is something I have always - my computer and iPod are both powered by international four port chargers, and the days I forget to bring glasses spray and cleaning cloth, I end up kicking myself.

My sunglasses are prescription glasses, so, I always have a spare to hand.

Abroad, I always have a torch to hand; and, even at home, for rare electricity blackouts, I have one on my desk, near my computer.

 

[Bart Kela]

Oddly enough, when I am at home - in the British Isles - a small, sturdy umbrella is one of those things I carry all the time. Just in case.....

Not surprised you keep an umbrella at home in the British Isles. It rains a lot there.

And I get that most who write on these threads are from the US, and some from urban parts of the US where life - unless you are poor - is comfortable and relatively orderly, and that they live in the world of the smart phone.

But, firstly, not everyone even in the first world - gets the siren lure of the smart phone - I don't, although I can see that they might have their uses - and secondly, not everyone lives and works in the Bay area of San Francisco.

Most people who post on MacRumors certainly do not live in the SF Bay Area. That's pretty clear based on their knowledge of Apple and how the company works. Also, the threads about Apple Park (Apple Campus 2 or "the spaceship") are pretty telling.

That said, this is a technology blog site for Apple products. I know there are readers here who don't have this product or that product, but I'm guessing that 99.5% of active commenters have an iPhone.

We already know that Apple makes the lion's share of its revenue from iPhone sales and that the number of iDevices deployed on the planet greatly overshadows the number of Macs or other non-iOS devices.

What @USAFA2008 has written - although exhaustive - comes somewhat closer to what I carry around a lot of the time. Certainly, the international charger is something I have always - my computer and iPod are both powered by international four port chargers, and the days I forget to bring glasses spray and cleaning cloth, I end up kicking myself.

My sunglasses are prescription glasses, so, I always have a spare to hand.

Well, that's a medical necessity, not an optional tech gadget to stow away. I wear prescription glasses as well. For those with good vision/Lasik/whatever, those aren't issues.

Abroad, I always have a torch to hand; and, even at home, for rare electricity blackouts, I have one on my desk, near my computer.

I certainly keep flashlights at home and in my car. They are useful there. But you are deviating from the discussion here. The subject is about what one keeps in their "murse" not about what you keep at your desk or in your kitchen or what you pack when you go on holiday out of country.

I don't keep a flashlight by my computer desk. If the power goes out, the monitor will stay on anyhow with the UPS.

The flashlight in the room is kept elsewhere. There's one by a nightstand in my bedroom as well.

And blackouts in my area are infrequent (a couple times a year) and most last less than a minute.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

No, I am not really deviating from the discussion; abroad, I always have a torch - one or two maglites - in my briefcase.

At home, I tend to have one near my desk - handy when there are power cuts (rare) or fuse blow-outs (a little more frequent).

But, each to their own.

 

[USAFA2008]

But I don't find myself in those places most of the time. Sure, if I know I'm going to one of those places, yeah, I might consider it.

In a way, it's like carrying around an umbrella. Do you need a small umbrella in your "murse" in the SF Bay Area during the summer? No, it doesn't rain during the summer.

Would I carry one in the summer in Southeast Asia? Sure, a sensible precaution.

I get that you love your Maglites. That's great. I like most of mine, but there is no longer a mini-Maglite in my briefcase, at least when I'm around my home territory.

In any case, the original post was asking individuals about what *THEY* carry in their "murses." I never said that a mini-Maglite was totally useless to everyone. I just said that in today's era with smartphones, most people have something better than a mini-Maglite.

I hate using an umbrella so I keep a civilian jacket and hat in my car as well as my Air Force issued parka.
I agree with what you said 99% of the time being able to use a smartphone as a flashlight however when I am training or deployed I can't have my smartphone so that necessitates a flashlight.
Maglites are great especially their LED offerings.

What @USAFA2008 has written - although exhaustive - comes somewhat closer to what I carry around a lot of the time. Certainly, the international charger is something I have always - my computer and iPod are both powered by international four port chargers, and the days I forget to bring glasses spray and cleaning cloth, I end up kicking myself.

My sunglasses are prescription glasses, so, I always have a spare to hand.

Abroad, I always have a torch to hand; and, even at home, for rare electricity blackouts, I have one on my desk, near my computer.

The international charger comes in handy since I go to Italy and Germany a lot for work and I don't have to play lets find a charger. The glasses spray and cleaning cloth also work great on my iPhone 7 Plus and iPad and it comes in handy.
I almost always have a flashlight on me. On my car keys I have a small LED light and when I am training or deployed I have 3 or 4 on me.