Home worker’s survival bag
Rambling around on Facebook the other day I stumbled on a mention of a designer ‘survival bag’ (thank you, Emma Cossey!) Not exactly the kind of thing used by a hearty outdoor type on the top of a mountain, a designer’s idea of a survival bag is an It bag filled with expensive toiletries and girly accessories.
Although I rather liked the Phillip Lim Olympic version, in which the bag apparently converts into a sleeveless jacket. Clever, as long as it’s got plenty of pockets to hold all those costly cosmetics! And I’d need a whole library in there to see me through all that sport.
The Mulberry urban survival backpack comes in at an eye-watering £1500, and will not be on my shopping list for my next trip to the city, but it did get me thinking about a home worker’s survival bag, for those times when we leave our cosy home offices for the world outside.
We’ve talked before – at great length – about the ideal bag for working away from home, but let’s forget the laptop for a minute, what do you need to survive a day out?
I think the designers are right in one respect – I’d go for a backpack too and leave my hands free. Into my fantasy survival bag I’d pop a sturdy brolly, a spare pair of pumps to change into after one of this summer’s torrential showers, a pair of sunglasses for when the sun comes out, and a large scarf to alternately keep me warm/cover up from the strong rays.
Then I’d need a bar of Green & Blacks cherry chocolate, in the sad belief it’s better for me than other chocolate, a travel spray of refreshing citrussy perfume in case survival gets a bit pongy, and Philosophy lip balm. Plus an Oyster card loaded with £50 of credit and a wad of gift vouchers magically redeemable in all coffee shops.
Which bag would you use and what would you put in it? And what’s in the men’s version, chaps?
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Definitely a rucksack, yes.
I’d include a fully loaded zone 1-3 Oyster card, my agenda, business cards, Lara Bars, a pencil, a pen and an eraser, my journal, and phone.
In fact, that is pretty much what I carry around with me when I go out. The question only comes to which laptop to bring, my large old one with more memory and all the fixin’s (Which weighs a ton and causes my shoulders to ache after thirty minutes) or my sleek little Macbook air which has less memory but access to drop box and hardly weighs a thing?
Thanks for introducing me to Lara Bars, Kaitlyn, will look out for them. If I had the choice I think I’d go for the MacBook Air, dragging around a heavy computer gets wearing.
I’d go for a messenger bag if I were using public transport, but a rucksack if I travelled on the fold up bike.
I’d have to add in a Kindle, Nexus 7 (when it arrives!), mobile, business cards, Oyster card, a Nature Valley bar, banana, and good old fashioned pen and paper. Oh, and headphones. Can’t go a day without music.
I may need a bigger bag….
Ah, a bike, excellent survival equipment with that sporting thingy coming up, can’t remember what it’s called…
I never feel secure with a rucksack – although I believe you can get little locks for them.
I love my SeV jacket which is a bag alternative. I have this one in stone for summer, the sleeves detach.
I want to get one of the other jackets in black for winter. It’s surprising how much they hold and everything can be nicely balanced.
Android tablet, tissues, inhaler, phone, brolly, note/sketch pad, pencil case, business cards, money – I’ve had all of these in my jacket and you couldn’t notice.
I’m a shoulder bag kinda lady – it’s just a bit more versatile. For me the survival kit is as follows; a camera (my blackberry’s camera is never enough) for spotting inspiration as I travel about my day. An ideas book also as I have crazy lightbulb moments too, which I like to draw out and spider diagram. Like you I have the usual biz cards, purse, make-up bag, brolly, sunglasses, mobile, oyster. Bit strange but I also have a few earrings and rings in my bag…lol…good to jazz up a day to night outfit if I have an adhoc meeting or spot of networking or just to go with my changing mood in the day. Scarf is a necessity for warmth and a bit of glamour also 🙂 I don’t always need to travel with laptop it’s a hassle when I do (hoping to do away with that and invest in an iPad) Foldable flats are a saviour for me…Bag of nuts (almond or pistaschio) 🙂
Very organised and ready for anything, you could survive for a long time on the contents of your bag!
I’m with Samantha above. I’m a shoulder/tote girl and, funnily enough, we seem to carry very similar stuff in our ‘survival kit’: a camera to capture any interesting/inspiring things I may come across; my Black’n’Red notepad to jot down any ideas; mobile (fully charged), sunglasses (especially when I meet with the team in Spain!) and a bit of cash (I tend to rely on plastic way too much and I’ve been caught out a few times trying to buy snacks or other small things that cost only a few pence).
I never carry my laptop if I’m out just for the day. My mobile is good enough to do emails on it and to connect remotely to my admin stuff.
I love the way technology is making it easier to be mobile, even if I’m trailing behind as usual!
I go for a big tote bag that I can put my 2 celphone, charger,laptop charger,wallet,makeup kit and snacks. ,, its very comfortable for me to carry.