Welcome!

Welcome to thirty-two eleven (”3211”). This newsletter will be a bit different from the usual programming - Gear Post 2024.

introduction:

Some may know I am interested in the most efficient and productive setup when it comes to the gear I use. I often read the following subreddits for ideas when browsing the internet.

r/onebag - an 'urban' travel community devoted to the idea of helping people lug around less crap; onebag travel. Fewer items, packed into a single bag for ease of transport to make traveling simpler with more focus on the experience than the logistics.

r/ultralight - the largest online Ultralight Backcountry Backpacking community! This sub is about overnight backcountry backpacking, with a focus on moving efficiently, packing light, generally aiming at a sub-10-pound base weight, and following LNT principles. Join us and ask yourself the question: Do I really need that?

r/ios - A great subreddit for finding the best apps for your iPhone or iPad.

Similar to Tynan’s Gear Post or Jeremy Maluf’s Indefinite Backpack Travel, I am going to go into detail about some of my favorite gear I use these days.

The goal for these products is efficiency, organization, and ease of use. The onebag community is big on avoiding having to check a bag when traveling, whereas the bag fits all budget airline requirements while maximizing the space you have.

The Kit:

Each numbered box signifies a different portion of my gear. The corresponding letters below then dive into each product.

0 - ULA Dragonfly Ultra with Challenge Sailcloths Ultra 800 Fabric

A bit of the “holy grail” in the onebag community (Are there better alternatives to the ULA Dragonfly? ), I purchased this from someone in the Carryology Facebook group at a good price. They are almost always sold out and drop every Wednesday on ULA’s website.

1 - Top Pocket Gear

A:

• Bala Workout Weights Pouch - Workout weights came in this pouch, I now use it for this gear.

• Pilot G2 Pen - Best in the game.

• Warby Parker Sunglasses - Interchangeable, often I buy sunglasses off of Amazon due to the likelihood of losing them.

• Small Advil Pill Bottle - Smallest for potential need.

• Burt’s Bees Lip Balm - Also interchangeable, no specific brand.

• Apple Wired Headphones - AirPods are great, but not for phone calls. These are the best when you do not need noise cancellation but want your voice heard on the other end.

B:

• TOAKS Titanium Long Handle Spoon - I once picked up Sweetgreen before taking a bus from DC to PHL, unfortunately, they do not provide a fork in the to-go bag - never again.

2 - Front Pocket Gear (1 of 2)

A: AOHI 4ft USB C to USB C LED Display Cable - This came with an AOHI 65W charger I once owned. Unfortunately, that charger was lost. This cord is used to charge my computer, the cord has an LED display to monitor the charging speed while charging. It is wrapped in a velcro tie that came with an old Comcast Wi-Fi Router’s Cord.

B: 5 FT / Two Prong / Male to Female Extension Cord - No one likes reaching behind a hotel bed every time to plug something in/out. This is small and just long enough for all charging needs.

C: Nite Ize 12 Inch Gear Tie - Reusable rubber twist tie for holding the extension cord wound up.

D: Custom Small Pouch - I received this for free from @packstuff_ideas on Instagram with the purchase of my Shimoda Camera Cube.

3 - Front Pocket Gear (2 of 2)

A: USB Apple Watch Charger.

B: Apple USB-C to Lightning Cord.

C: Amazon Kindle 10th Generation - Best for reading in the sun.

D: 128w Charger - Most computers need 65w to charge, an iPhone and iPad need 20w. This charger can charge all of my devices for a small size. I use this with the extension cord when I travel.

4 - Inside Zip Pockets

A: Hydration Packets, Snacks, etc.

B: Small Bug Spray.

C: Small Hand Sanitizer.

D: WAOAW Sleep Mask - found through Tim Ferriss.

E: Harmonica - I have a theory that if one day I get stranded on an island with my backpack, this will come in handy.

F: Playing Cards.

G: Poker Dice.

5 - Shimoda Camera Cube // 7 - Gonex 9×12 Packing Cube

The Shimoda Camera Cube is used for further organization in the bag. Often I put shoes there in a shoe bag. Inspired by the following post.

The Gonex 9×12 packing cube is the best fitting for the ULA Dragonfly. I plan to acquire a few more over time for full load-outs. (Research)

6 -Water Bottle + Lock (Left Water Bottle Pocket)

• Standard Water Bottle

• Master Lock Combination Padlock - Used for a locker at the gym.

8 - Toiletries (Right Water Bottle Pocket)

I recently upgraded to this roll-out toiletry bag. I do not use the hanging shower bag portion, but is good to have for potential use one day. Each product I use has been sized down to travel bottles, for most trips no person needs the size of the container a product is sold in.

A: Foldable Toothbrush - bought at Safeway.

B: Philips OneBlade - No need or shaving cream, best electric razor I have found.

C: Travel Toothpaste.

• Potential Upgrade: Toothpaste Tablets.

D: Nail Clippers.

E: Tula Hydrating Eye Balm - Stuff that makes your eye bags not look tired (I think it works?)

F: LiteSmith Pump Bottle (1oz) - Face Wash.

G: LiteSmith Mini Dropper Bottle (0.5oz) - Face Medication.

H: LiteSmith Mini Dropper Bottle (0.5oz) - Face Medication.

I: LiteSmith Mini Dropper Bottle (0.5oz) - Dr. Bronner's - Pure-Castile Liquid Soap 18-in-1 Uses: Face, Body, Hair, Laundry, Pets and Dishes.

J: LiteSmith Pump Bottles (2oz) - Hair Gel.

K: LiteSmith Mini Jar (0.35oz) - Hair Gel.

L: LiteSmith Mini Dropper Bottle (0.5oz) - Aftershave.

M: Small Cologne.

N: Philips OneBlade Charger.

O: Floss Picks.

9 - Extra Bag (Right Water Bottle Pocket)

• This is from some grocery store a while back.

• Potential Upgrade: NanoBag - This 19 liter bag weighs only 24 grams and can carry up to 66lbs.

10 - Hat + Carabiner Clip

• Richardson Outdoor U.S. National Whitewater Center Hat - Lightweight, great for working out.

• Nite Ize Locking Carabiner Clip - Lightweight Carabiner for holding my hat when not in use.

Tech:

A: MUZEN Wild Mini Rugged Outdoor Portable Bluetooth Speaker - This speaker won the 2017 CES Innovation Award for the small size and loud sound. Water resistant and a long battery life, love this thing.

B: Goji 9000 mAh Portable Charger - Standard portable charger with 2 USB ports, charges an iPhone about 2 times.

C: Apple Airpods Pro - Working out, noise cancellation, best in the game.

D: Work Laptop.

E: Apple iPad 9th Generation.

Daily Carry:

A: Keys on Chicago Screw - Featured in Newsletter #004 - Pale Blue Dot.

B: CHAFON All in One Cable - This can charge my iPhone, Computer, Kindle, or Speaker.

C: MOFT Snap-on Phone Stand & Wallet - MagSafe Compatible - Holds all of my cards and a little bit of cash. This can also turn into a phone stand for watching movies or sports (below).

D: Apple Airpods Pro

E: Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) - Great for tracking workouts, deleting spam email quickly, etc.

Cheers,