Non-Camera Gear Essentials

I don’t really like the way I phrase the title of this blog post, but I can’t think of a better way. What I’m trying to say is this will be about the gear essentials that I carry in my camera bag that don’t include my camera, lenses, or spare batteries.

Every Day Gear Essentials

The first thing I have is my hand sanitizer. I got it, along with my “caticorn” key chain holder from Bath and Body Works. The horn lights up and I’m in love with it. I was quite sad when I saw that the horn was starting to break, but that’s what I get for not putting it in my bag when we traveled.

The second essential item I carry is my pepper spray. I go out alone in the dark a lot and I want to be safe from wild animals and other people. You can never be too careful these days. Thankfully, I haven’t had to use it, and I hope that I never do. But my husband and I both feel better that I have it.

I am a writer in another life, so I tend to carry pens and paper with me wherever I go, and my camera bag is no exception. In addition to writing stories, I tend to come up with to do lists, content, or other random thoughts that I want to remember, when I least expect it and my memory isn’t that good. So, I just got down my thoughts and try to decipher my chicken scratch when I get home.

When I plan on going out all day, or if my location is further away from home than the Fox Valley, I pack a few snacks. It’s usually just a couple of granola bars, or something else light, but it’s enough to keep the hanger away until I get home for a more substantial meal.

There are also random toiletries in my bag. Hear me out. I have a couple of packs of Kleenex, a tube of chap stick, a toothbrush, a travel wipe from the airline (mainly because I haven’t taken it out yet), a spare hair tie, and a bunch of band-aids.

To be honest, these are only in my bag because I haven’t taken them out from our recent travels. But I’m thinking about keeping them in there. I have seasonal allergies, my immune system is garbage, and my nose randomly runs when I come in after being out in the cold. I’m addicted to chap stick. After I eat, I like to brush the food out of my teeth. It’s an old habit from when I had braces. And band-aids are always a good idea to carry. I could honestly probably ditch the travel wipe and the hair tie. I have hand sanitizer so I probably don’t need a wipe. My hair is usually up before I leave so I shouldn’t need a spare one of those either.

Seasonal Gear Essentials

One seasonal essential that I carry in my bag is my gloves and my hat. I carry them in the spring and autumn months just in case the weather turns. I live in Wisconsin, so that happens often and I don’t like to be cold.

Another seasonal essential is sunscreen. I have fair skin and I burn easily. I need to wear sunscreen often. Although, thinking about it, I should put sunscreen on in the winter months too, not just in the summer.

why my bag is always heavy. I feel like I should try and take some things out, but I’m not quite sure what. Do you want to know what camera gear I carry? I can turn that into a blog post later this month if you’re interested.

Essentials I Should Have But Don’t

Even though I need to ditch some things out of my bag, there are a few essentials that I don’t have that I would like to include.

The first is a camera cleaning kit. Or even just a microfiber cloth. I really should get one to include, in case it rains while I’m out, or the waves splash really high, I just haven’t gotten around to it yet.

The second is a multitool. I took it out because I didn’t want it to get confiscated by the airport and I haven’t put it back in yet. However, the one I have doesn’t have a sharp edge to it, and a blade might be helpful.

What do you carry in your bag? What are your essential items that you can’t go on photography adventures without?