How do you carry it all?

J

Joe Talmadge

Joined
Oct 3, 1998
Messages
4,842
Okay, gadget geeks, how do you carry all your stuff? I mean, there's plenty to carry: knives, multitools, lights, pens, not to mention cell phones, pagers, and PDAs.

I'm typically wearing jeans or dockers. I'm not at all comfortable stuffing my pockets with gadgets and clipping them all over my waistband. I know guys who have a pager and cell phone both clipped to their belt, knife in the pocket or clipped on the waistband, light in the pocket, etc. Man, would I be uncomfortable.

Another option I see people use is either fanny packs, or little bags that clip or slide on the belt. My problem with these is, if you want to look even the slightest bit, uh, un-geekish, most of these options don't work. Plus I find fanny packs a bit uncomfortable. I wish I didn't care about walking around with those packs on the belt, but I like dressing a little sharper.

The option I'm considering trying is the one Ron@SOG recently jokingly referred to as a "man-purse". A small leather book that can hold an electronic gadget or two (cell phone or pda), plus room for a small light, micra, pen, etc. This might get old real quick, because it depends on me carrying something around all the time.

In the winter, my solution is to carry in my pockets whatever few things are comfortable -- pager, micra w/ photon light, calypso jr. And carry in the jacket pockets everything else -- cell phone, SF M-2, Axis.

Joe
 
I don't carry that much stuff, for being a gadget-aholic. Usualy a knife clipped to right pocket, my keys have a Micra and a PrincetonTec Pulsar (their version of a photon microlite). Sometimes, I have a 6P in a vertical kydex sheath (really neat, as it grabs just the head of the flashlight, and clips to your belt).

Where I live, just outside of S.F., Cal, it's always cold and/or foggy, so I almost always wear a jacket of some sort, with big pockets!

--dan
 
I carry knives that I need immediate access to on my person (mini-AFCK or Calypso Jr. Lt, Military, SAK Manager, Starmate sometimes). If it's night, I'll stick a PAL light in my pocket or my three photon chain (red, white, and blue) and sometimes my Surefire 6P in the nylon steel clip holster. I usually carry my Handspring Visor in a Rhodiana PDA belt clip case (see www.the-gadgeteer.com).

I carry my "purse", a YakPak tech sling to hold more knives, flashlights (SureFire, Lightwave 2000), cell phone, keys, pens, extra batteries, eye drops, sunglasses, stereo faceplate, and sometimes a clothing item when I think it'll be cold later. www.yakpak.com They're marketed to teenagers, but I'm still young (in my 20's!).

If I'm hiking, I'll use a Mountainsmith Tour Lumbar pack with the strapettes. There's thread where I describe that one.

gm
 
Hmmm. Good question. The man purse idea is definitely out. Don't think we're there yet culturally, if ever. See those in Japan though. Most look about the size of a hardback book.

I can't do the fanny pack thing. Can't seem to get comfortable in one of those things.

Tried waist band for knives - just doesn't feel right (except for Spyderco Almite Navigator - taht's OK)

I wear dockers all the time. Or other loose fitting pants. I carry my PDA in my left front pocket (weights about 14 - 15 ounces - close to a pound - it was a Day-timer for years before that). Keys, Photon Micro-light and a Dragonfly in the right front pocket. Also change, deliberately go light on this. Knives clipped to both front pockets. Cell phone goes in the right front pocket (gotta get one that clips on the belt).

I must be very careful when undoing the pants - crashes are definitely possible. But after 4 years loaded up like this - I usually don't notice too much.

When I'm wearing a sports jacket, the PDA goes there, as well as the cell phone. Really makes me feel light.

OK, a lot of space to say, "It's possible." I think one must plan ahead. You can't have everything for every contingency (Oh, bandaids in the wallet definitely).

Dean


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"All is well. And all will be well - in the garden." Chance the Gardener
 
Come on Joe, That is what the drawers in your desk are for.

I don't like a lot of things hanging on my belt either. I make an exception for my Startac which rides on my left hip, and my leatherman wave which rides right behind my Startac.

I do not like fanny packs. I have a large one, almost a day pack, that I use hunting but that is about it. Fanny packs to me at least scream either GUN!! or over age hippy. It doesn't take much to figure out which. (I wonder how often I am wrong?) If I am carrying a gun it isn't in a fanny pack, either IWB or in my right front pocket.

Left hip pocket is for primary folder. Left front is lighter, a cute pair of folding reading glasses, and perhaps a small knife without a clip. Right front is for money clip, change purse, and perhaps a small pistol, TPH most often. Some times a second knife clipped to right front pocket or in watch pocket. Right hip is generally empty. when I carry a wallet and or checkbook, that is where they go. Unless I think I need one or both they stay in my brief case, in the car.

Almost the only shirts I wear are long sleeve full button with pocket or pockets, If it is warm I roll up the sleeves. I am not fond of tee shirts. Shirt pocket generally carries a pen or two, a Streamlight Stylus, and a little leather case full of 3 X 5 index cards.

If I need anything else, I look in my brief case, look in the back of the car, or try to remember which drawer in the desk I stuck it in,


Mike

 
Usually on my person I carry the following:

Photon II White, UKE 2AAA and SAK Mini-Champ on my keychain which is kept in my right front pocket.

Swiss Army Civilian Front Pocket Wallet (the thinnest, lightest and coolest small wallet made IMHO)with Black Fisher Bullet Pen attached to it with a pocket clip - in my front left pocket. http://www.swissarmybrands.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=6&User_ID=513460&st=7574&st2=-84614620&st3=32656728&Product_ID=1144&PartNumber=36451&CATID=9&currentpage=1&pcount=34 http://www.spacepen.com/usa/index2.htm

Pam m100 PDA also in my left front pocket as well. http://www.palm.com/products/palmm100/

I also carry my Benchmade 705S on my waistband diagonally. It is hardly if ever noticeable and I can't even feel it's there - until I need it.

A Motorola StarTAC 7768 clipped to my left front pocket or on my belt if need be - although I don't like it on the belt much - I think it looks a little tacky, but really I cannot carry much more in my pockets so sometimes it ends up beltside.

That gives me two knives and two flashlights.
If I ever was out at night when I knew I would need more light I probably would grab my M2 or Scorpion, but that doesn't happen much. Not too times I find myself needing more light than the UKE or Photon provide.

I used to carry a Leatherman often too, but didn't actually use it that much so I don't carry it much anymore.

A "man-purse" and a fanny pack are definitely a no go, I pretty much carry the smallest, most useful things I can in my two pockets, on my keyring and in my waistband. I really have thought about carrying a Surefire but I really have never run into a situation short of camping or etc. when I could have used my Surefire. It would be cool to carry, but would hardly if ever be used.

Oh, by the way, great post Joe - it is interesting to hear how and what everyone carries. I can just imagine people having loads and loads of gadgets on them at all times. I carry as much as I can too, within reason.

Bucky

 
I've got an old Hunter leather pouch that threads on your belt. I used to use it to carry a small flashlight, multitool, sharpening stone, pen, notebook, etc.
It's about 6" wide, 4" tall, and about 1" deep, and has a snap closure. They were really made to carry a box of high-powered rifle shells.
Now it just holds some sharpening stones and oil, and stays in a desk drawer.
I've pared down my stuff so that it all fits in my pockets. Now I carry a knife, keys, wallet, kubotan, and a pen and notebook when I think I'll need it. Tomorrow I'm getting a sapphire blue Photon II micro-light which will go on the kubotan's keyring.
All my junk now goes in the armrest of my truck, and I'd need a backpack to haul it all. Got to get a belt pouch for my cell phone, 'cause I wind up carrying it in my hand half the time. I keep a pair of binoculars, a calculator, pen and notebook, checkbook, organizer, and a camera in the armrest.
 
Excellent question, Joe!

I carry two wallets, one in each front pocket. One has all my ID and some money. The other has spending money for the day, no ID, and a few bandaids.

Left front pocket: Victorinox Craftsman with red and white Photon II MicroLights attached.

Right Front pocket: Lighter, lip balm, and a Suunto pocket compass/thermometer attached to a Mini Fox 40 whistle.

Keyring: Pelican Mini-MightyLite and Victorinox Executive.

Back pocket: Chrome Space Pen with clip.

Other back pocket: Comb. Even computer programmers have to look their best.

Clipped to Belt: Leatherman PST in nylon sheath. I don't use it much, but where more brute force is needed, that suits the Leatherman far better than my Craftsman.

That's about as much as I can carry on me without looking bulky.

I carry a small survival bag in the nylon briefcase I take to the office with me every day. Small first-aid kit, nylon cord, space blanket, duct tape, small sewing kit, another lighter, and a box of matches in a sealed plastic sandwich bag. The brief also carries my cell phone and AA Mini MagLite. I get chronic headaches and migraines so I'm always loaded for bear in the medicine department.

I have battled the fanny pack business myself. My wife doesn't like them at all, and it screams GEEK. My wife gave me a small leather backpack to use. She says it looks much better than a fanny pack. It's not a real backpack. You see women using them instead of purses. They hang down low in the small of your back. The top doesn't really close very well, but it's better than a "butt bag," as my wife says.
 
On me right now is:

LF pocket: cash in money clip, change, Bic lighter, chapstick, change, pen.

RF pocket: keys on a 2.5' metal chain (clipped to belt loop, but the chain stays inside the pocket, not hanging out as a fashion statement; the chain could be used as a weapon or restraint device, but it actually gets used to make sure I never lock my keys in a car or leave them somewhere, and I can unlock my door and drop the keys, and they just hang - good when I have my hands full of groceries or whatever), tiny SAK w/red LED (instead of toothpick) on keychain, pen, mini-AFCK clipped.

Watch/change pocket: Zippo.

BL pocket: notepad/phonebook, CRKT M16-03Z clipped.

BR pocket: wallet (no cash, just cards).

Above BR pocket, either IWB or horizontal in the leather tag of my jeans: AFCK.

No belt.

In the jacket: 2 packs of cigarettes & a cigarette case, small flashlight, Leatherman Supertool, sunglasses, matches, notepad, pen, copy of CA Penal Codes 653k & 12020, usually a few paper clips and/or bobby pins (can be used to pick handcuffs, among other things).

I'm a college student so I often carry a backpack w/water, extra cigarettes, & school stuff.

I've used a waistpack (sometimes worn on the waist, sometimes slung diagonally across the left shoulder) for light hikes, visiting places where it's too warm to wear my jacket, or using as a belt to carry a fixed-blade. It's not the best, but it beats actually carrying a bag, depending on what I need to carry.

If I need to carry other things (water, larger flashlight, etc.), those will go in the jacket, waistpack, or backpack, depending on how much I have to carry.

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Jason aka medusaoblongata
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"I have often laughed at the weaklings who call themselves kind because they have no claws"

- Zarathustra
 
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