EDC Collection for Airline Travel

[Bolster]

My EDC becomes uber-important when I travel by air. Then I need the least, that can do the most. Any of it may be lost, destroyed, or stolen, I try to get middle-of-the-road stuff. I give presentations in front of hundreds, so everthing must function perfectly (including myself) every time, no excuses. Pictured is the "core gear" that goes into my LL Bean travel vest, and it's working pretty well for me...however some upgrades are needed...that's why I'm here. A few opinions about some of these items:

- Old style iPod shuffle for audiobooks. Will not upgrade 'cuz this one can plug and charge w/o adapters and acts as a backup USB drive in a pinch. It's inside a silicone skin. Don't enjoy squinting at movies on a small screen so the video iPods are not for me at this time.
- Canon SD1000 compact camera. Would have preferred a smaller size, but this isn't bad. It pulls duty as my on-the-road photocopier and documentation device. I won't make do with a phone camera for quality and resolution reasons. This camera is covered in a black silicone skin, and rides in an outer neoprene skin (not pictured).
- The Spyderco CF CalyIII in ZDP doesn't belong in this shot unless I'm checking luggage, which is very seldom. But it's an exceptional knife. It may get some competition from a ZDP Stretch II when I can score one.
- The watch needs a major upgrade. Considering a St Moritz Pathfinder Ti that has an alarm.
- TWO USB drives, because it's not uncommon for any given Windoze computer to dislike one or the other. (Thank you Microsoft geniuses.) Home-made candycane lanyard so I see and remember it when I walk off the stage.
- Pencil needs an upgrade. I should not be carrying a drafting pencil, with its long thin bendy lead tube.
- On my key ring is a Proto screwdriver...my pride and joy, used to belong to my Dad. Always makes me think of him, sort of a good luck charm--except it's very useful to boot. May start to carry an Atwood Keyton instead, with less sentimental value. I try to carry only stuff I can live without, or replace.
- A medium-small Brunton compass. I like the size, just right. On an aluminum mini-biner, and pull the flashlight away for a reading. Has led me astray when I'm not paying attention where I'm standing (over the subway, etc.)
- The grandma-style coin purse is a really good piece of kit, and it's super low tech!
- The fauxton probably needs an upgrade, maybe not.
- Somewhat pimped Fenix L2D, with shrink tube for grip and a super-bright custom-made GITD "cheerio" bead on the lanyard.

Not pictured:

- A sub-7" pair of scissors, one blade of which is sharpened to a steep, keen angle. Once TSA started allowing scissors back on board, life has gotten considerably easier. I almost don't miss my knife.

Don't Own Yet, but Need (recommendations appreciated!)

- A TSA friendly multi-tool, considering the IDL T-7 multitool. Heard it's better than the similar swiss-tech option.
- A good thermometer. (Edit, got it: The "fishpond" thermometer is perfect.)
- Am considering an electronic altimeter/thermometer/compass more for amusement than anything else, perhaps to watch ascent and descent on airplanes. Good/bad idea?
- Want a tritium vial to attach to the flashlight lanyard, so can find at night.

AM I MISSING ANYTHING?

http://www.cmp-usa.com/ebay/xedcgear.jpg

[Lunal_Tic]

Where'd you get the silicone for the SD1000?

-LT

[dyyys1]

Great post, Bolster, and nice setup! I love the look of the calyIII. :smitten: Now to answer some of your questions:



- A good thermometer.


Is this for medical purposes or just to see the weather? If it's for the weather I personally just wave my hand around in the air and then declare "cold" or "hot." ;D



- Am considering an electronic altimeter/thermometer/compass more for amusement than anything else, perhaps to watch ascent and descent on airplanes. Good/bad idea?


A thought: airplanes are pressurized, so you may be able to see a difference but you won't get a very good reading on an altimeter, I don't think. Nevertheless, I agree that it would be fun to be able to take measurements like that. Let me know if you find a cheap option!



- Want a tritium vial to attach to the flashlight lanyard, so can find at night.


Try poking around the CPF Marketplace (http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/). There are one or two threads where people sell these.



AM I MISSING ANYTHING?


Hmmmmm. Have you ever thought about carrying a laser pointer for presentations? I guess it depends on the type or presentations you do. How about a whistle? It's useful in countless potentially dangerous situations, or any time when you want to get someone's attention. Check out the Fox40 whistles. I carry a Fox40 micro. :)

[Bolster]

Where'd you get the silicone for the SD1000?

It was a BIN item on eBay, a direct China import. I probably did a search such as "SD1000 silicone" or something. I believe the brand is "Exim." It looks great, fits great, feels great, makes the camera low-profile, and does a wonderful job of protecting without feeling like it's in the way. Now with the good news out of the way...

...the seller did not explain several things (surprise surprise): in black, you can't see the buttons on the back, and there is no molding to indicate where they are, so I have used a silver sharpie to mark where the buttons are...and memorized what they are. (Notice there is molding pictured in the Exim advert. Perhaps that is for other cameras as the SD1000 has flat buttons.) Also you must remove the sleeve to get to the SD card/battery, not a big deal, but my wife's sleeve has a cutout for easy access. So it's a mixed bag. It would be more functional in white/clear, but I like the look of the black better.

[Bolster]

1. Is this for medical purposes or just to see the weather?
2. A thought: airplanes are pressurized, so you may be able to see a difference but you won't get a very good reading on an altimeter, I don't think.
3. Try poking around cpfmarketplace.
4. Hmmmmm. How about a whistle? It's useful in countless potentially dangerous situations, or any time when you want to get someone's attention. Check out the Fox40 whistles. I carry a Fox40 micro. :)

Hi Dyyys: 1. A personal project; I'm trying to figure out how many layers of clothing I need to be comfortable at what temperatures! 2. You probably just saved me the disappointment of an altimeter not functioning for the one thing I'd want it to do...thanks... 3. Found it ... thanks again .... 4. Good point. I am lacking there. I will check out the Fox40s.

[Mark123]

Great layout. Agree with an earlier reply-I've tried using both an altimeter and GPS on flights for amusement purposes. The altimeter will show no more than 5000m b/c cabin is pressurized. Also, GPS cannot receive any signals due to shielding from plane's chassis.

You guys must be Zen masters when it comes to flying :yoga: personally, I have to keep myself entertained, with a good book, or using a video iPod.

[Gatsby]

An interesting and useful collection. I had to ask about the compass ... don't see that in an urban presentation kit very often. Real photons are worth the money if the extra features are worthwhile (multi levels in the freedom, constant on option in the photon II) but otherwise a handful of fauxtons are probably fine as a last ditch backup light.

As for things you're missing - perhaps one of the small Garmin GPS's to get you around strange cities?

[inthedark]

I'm still working out the kinks in my travel gear, it's a slowly evolving process. I've been through 10 different airports in the last few weeks, and have probably spent more time sleeping airplane seat than my own bed this last month. Usually, I dont' have to carry anything work specific other than a laptop (if i do, it gets checked in), so I try and take everything as carry-on if possible. That saves a lot of hassle of having to go through special security lines for checked baggage, and baggage claim.

Most of my travel now is for business, so it's a lot more luxurious than what I am used to and I don't have to carry as much, but I will get away on my own for a weekend and travel on a budget. This is what I have in my backpack, I also have a small carryon that is almost all clothes. This is what I carried on my last overseas trip:

1. Ipod - I always carry it, but I notice I really don't use it that much. Once in a while I use it while waiting at the gate, but on a plane I'm either sleeping, watching a movie, or reading.
2. Pocket Power (http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=354688) - I bought it specifically to extend the battery life on the ipod, but I may be leaving that at home. I even went through the trouble of replacing the batteries inside with higher capacity cells to give more runtime. It has an AC outlet, but other than charging phones and stuff, I don't know what else it could be used for.
3. Bandana - Always useful for something
4. Small carabiner compass (http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Force-Carabiner-Compass/dp/B000COYKL4) - One of my most usefull travel tools for navigating a strange city. I have it clipped to my shoulder straps so I can quickly get my bearings when getting off a subway, while in a taxi to make sure you're going to your destination, or just walking around. Highly recommended for all travel
5. Laptop - I don't really like carrying laptops, but it does come in handy at airports with free wi-fi. I've made car and hotel reservations, changed airline tickets, send e-mails and such. You can almost always find a free outlet around the airport to charge it.
6. GPS - Sometimes I carry one, sometimes not. I've used it to mark my hotel locations in foreign countries, because there have been times I've been lost and haven't been able to find my way back. Especially useful if you don't speak the native language, you can at least point the direction to the taxi drivers
7. Book - Always need to carry some reading material, because the most likely situation you'll face when travelling is boredom.
8. Passport - self-explanatory
9. Cellphone and one of these (http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/aa-cell-phone-charger-124012.php) - I don't really like carrying cellphones, but they do come in handy while waiting to get picked up. Seems like a lot of airports have drastically reduced the number of payphones at the terminals, especially near the baggage claim
10. Small first aid kit - the usual bandages and stuff, but added some tylenol, immodium, dramamine, and a small pocket mirror stolen from my gf
11. 3 packs of travel tissue paper - Aside from the obvious use, it's also great in some 3rd world countries where not all the toilets are fully stocked
12. Napkins - I always grab a handful of napkins from whatever restaurant I happen to be at, and sometimes I'll save the sealed disposable washclothes they give in an airplane.
13. Paracord - I used it as a clothesline before, but haven't really had a need on business travel since most of the hotels have a lot more amenities
14. USB card (http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Micro-Vault-Flash-USM2GH/dp/B000F9LRZI) - So small i carry it all the time
15. Spare wool socks - Sometimes I'll carry a full change of clothes if I'm taking a weekend side trip and don't want to carry another bag, but usually it is too bulky. The most important thing is to have clean socks and maybe a t-shirt, everything else can be reworn.
16. Pen - for filling out visa and arrival forms on the plane. If you have it all filled out, as soon as you get off the plane run to the immigration counter while everyone else is still filling theirs out, that way you can beat the hundreds of other people that were on your flight. I had a laser pointer pen which was pretty neat, but not really essential
17. Keychain carabiners - Great for hanging your bags on stuff, of just clipping things together as a security measure
18. Zipties - Hundreds of uses, but the small ones are good for locking zippers together.
19. Camera (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz7/) - I would like carry an SLR, but can't handle the weight and bulk, and I dont' like the picture quality of the small point and shoots, so I've compromised on this. I sometimes carry this one (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0501/05010501pentax_optiowp.asp) if I'm going somewhere a little more adventurous and don't want to risk damaging the other one.
20. Flashlight and headlamp - I'm always switching between different ones, but right now I'm carrying the Fenix L1T and rayovac 1AA. I used to standardize on CR123's, but if I have my GPS and cell phone charger thingy, they both run off AA's.
21. Shirt (http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0040650942725a.shtml) - I posted before about trying to find the perfect travel shirt, i think I may have found it with this one. All I really need is something to keep me warm during the airplane ride and maybe as I leave the airport to get to my final destination. Just needs to be presentable enough in case I need to wear it to work. Fleece sweatshirts are nice too, and they make decent pillows, but are more bulky.
22. CASH - The most important item of all. Better than credit cards, better than travellers checks. I found that out last week when I was in Cambodia, most places don't accept credit cards, they don't take travellers checks, and they don't even want their own currency. What they really want is US dollars. The funny thing is, they only want new bills, if it's old looking or has a tiny tear in it, they won't accept it. They won't even take coins, bills only. There are a few other places that are like that also. Small bills are better, because if they don't have the right change, you'll end up getting their currency in return. So far the US dollar is pretty much a standard currency and accepted anywhere, we'll see if that changes in the next year or so.

Like I said, it's a work in progress, I'm slowly figuring out what I want and don't want to take. I'm hoping to be able to lighten my load significantly so I only need to take 1 bag for everything (including clothes), but so far this has been working out for me. There's some more things I'm forgetting, I'll add the rest tonight when I get home. Good thing I'm slow at unpacking my stuff.

[Gatsby]

4. Small carabiner compass (http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Force-Carabiner-Compass/dp/B000COYKL4) - One of my most usefull travel tools for navigating a strange city. I have it clipped to my shoulder straps so I can quickly get my bearings when getting off a subway, while in a taxi to make sure you're going to your destination, or just walking around. Highly recommended for all travel

6. GPS - Sometimes I carry one, sometimes not. I've used it to mark my hotel locations in foreign countries, because there have been times I've been lost and haven't been able to find my way back. Especially useful if you don't speak the native language, you can at least point the direction to the taxi drivers






That answers my question about a compass. Come to think of it there would have been some times I've emerged from the subway in NYC and been disoriented - it's an easy city to navigate assuming you can keep N and S straight so that would have been helpful - quicker, easier and less conspicuous than a GPS as well (Unless it's one in your phone...).

[Bolster]

Outstanding post, Inthedark. Very informative. Making me rethink some of my travel EDC. (TDC? Travel Day Carry?)

A couple comments on reflection:

Cash: I agree 100% about the importance of small bills. I hoard $5s and $10s for a week before traveling. I've found that if you pay with $50 or $100 bill, you'll get the "are you an alien" stare, the "I think you're a forger" glance with the pen test and squinting, and sometimes anger for the "inconvenience" of breaking a hundie. Also EXACT CHANGE is important with cabbies. Most things (and meals!) I buy on business travel trips are in the $5-$10 range: toothpaste, sammitch, a beer on the plane, etc. And I tend to bleed them, leaving $5s and $10s like footprints.

Ipod: have you tried audiobooks? Radio podcasts? They’re great, and you can do something else with your hands and eyes while you listen. (I tie lanyards.)

Pocket Power: Fresh batts in your cell might be best; should last a week per charge. The power supply shouldn’t be much larger than your pocket power device.

FAK: Super important. Probably the most important part of my travel kit is my medicine bag. If something can go wrong with your health, it WILL go wrong during travel. I "believe" in Zicam, but use the throat spray because I read an MD who said nasally administered zinc ions can damage nasal nerve tissue. Also I carry a 1 oz squeeze bottle of alcohol-based hand cleaner. I have heard that using anti-bact Handiwipes on your airline seat hand rests and tray is a good idea. I have also started to carry a surgeon-type mask (folds flat) in case I sit next to a serious sickie, or am sick myself, but have not yet worked up the nerve to use it.

Socks: Good point. Long ones are important for air travel; the AC gets blown around the floor and can make you miserable with cold legs.

Camera: Super important piece of kit, if not for entertainment, then for documentation. Your camera is also your “attorney in a box” so you can photograph accidents, assaults, cab drivers, etc., and sort it out later. Also important for noting dents on rentals, broken stuff in hotel rooms to negotiate lower prices, etc. Often those in authority become very compliant when they see you have documentation.

Shirt: I travel in a white button-down oxford because people just treat me better if I do. For looks, I recommend the LL Bean 100% Cotton Wrinkle Resistant Oxfords because they miraculously defy wrinkles like no other cotton shirt I’ve ever seen. However they feel stiffer than other 100% cottons. Another item that greatly increased my travel comfort were thin long-sleeve T-shirts under the main shirt, such as the C-IN2 shirts sold on Amazon (for a princely sum).

Flashlight: I use CR123s at home but not travel, ‘cause a dead battery is way expensive in CR123. Also matching the charge of your CR123s is more critical, so you don't get that inconvenient "venting with flame" thingy. I’m standardizing on Eneloop AAs for travel: razor, flashlight, alarm clock. (I travel with 2 alarm clocks and an alarm on my watch. I sleep better, not worrying if one will crap out on me...chances of all 3 failing are slim to none. REDUNDANCY is the traveler's friend.)

Finally, an odd comment: When I'm on a plane and I see a serviceman or woman, I always try to buy him/her a beer...I give $5 to the fight attendant and say, "Would you please buy the guy/gal in the uniform a beer, and tell them thanks." I have noticed that I am treated like a king after that by the attendants. That's not why I do it, mind you, but it does seem to be a rather reliable side benefit.

[Bolster]

Yes, all this stuff actually fits in the vest.

http://www.cmp-usa.com/ebay/xTravel%20Vest.jpg

[inthedark]

Bolster,

I just noticed your keychain screwdriver. I have a couple of those, also from my dad. I used to carry it on my keychain, but haven't carried it a while. But they are great tools, they just don't make them like that anymore, the updated versions here (http://www.stanleyproto.com/default.asp?CATEGORY=PROTO+STANDARD+SCREWDRIVERS&TYPE=PRODUCT&PARTNUMBER=J100&strSiteName=PROTO&strDefaultCatalog=PROTO&SDesc=20%2D1%2F4%26quot%3B+x+3%2F16%26quot%3B+Stan dard+Tip+Key+Ring+Screwdriver) are crap. I think I'm gonna dig it back out and start using it again.

Also, I'm glad you brought up the coin purse, I haven't seen one of those for decades. I remember everybody used to have one when I was a kid. I've been looking for a good way to carry change in my new backpack since it doesn't have a coin pocket anymore, all my change is just scattered about a large pocket. I had forgotton all about those pouches, one of those would be perfect for coins and other small items.

I also noticed your lead holder. I also used to carry one of those just because I like the way the grippers looked when grabbing the lead, they looked like a little claw. Brings back memories from high school. "They're called lead holders, not pencils!" My drafting teacher would drill that into my skull every time I called them pencils, which was pretty often. I guess my skull is thicker than he realized, because I still refer to them as pencils.

I have a very similar IDL T7 tool that you mentioned, although I have an old one called Sebertech (http://www.botachtactical.com/sebm3sebdel.html). I think they're the same tool under different brands though. The quality's not bad, but I don't really like it all that much for some reason. I think I would prefer even a SAK to one of those. What I would really want is the discontinued Mini-Leatherman tools, with the full size pliers but in a Micra-sized package.

[parnass]

Bolster,

Also, I'm glad you brought up the coin purse, I haven't seen one of those for decades. I remember everybody used to have one when I was a kid. I've been looking for a good way to carry change in my new backpack since it doesn't have a coin pocket anymore, all my change is just scattered about a large pocket. I had forgotton all about those pouches, one of those would be perfect for coins and other small items.



I bought a soft plastic coin purse from a local Ace Hardware store. It is similar to the one shown in the photo. They are located near the key and keychain accessories.