I am not a ‘gear guy’, and will always pick a simple, low tech, natural fabric object before a snappy zippy one if it does the job I need it to do. But gosh do I love my Eagle Creek Dopp kit. At 60g it is about as light as it can possibly be. It does an absolutely great job of containing the only creamy/liquidy/oily stuff that I carry, and is perfect for organizing the small items that would otherwise get lost in my backpack. Here is what it holds:
Toothbrush. In the pursuit of ultralight nirvana I used to carry a toothbrush with a sawn off handle. I felt more righteous, but after a while I realized that I was losing joy. Full size makes for a happier mouth.
Toothpaste. I tried out toothpaste powder, to minimize weight and risk of gooey leakage. My experience is that it gets rather ratty and clumpy after a while, so I am back to tube paste. Do not bother with the tiny travel size products – used with consideration, a medium size tube will last two months.
Dental floss. I just cannot make this work for me, and this lack of skill will probably disqualify me from joining a circus. Instead I opt for a flossing tool. The handle is pretty light, and the replacement flossing heads are really light. Disclosure: I have used this to cut soft cheese.
Nail clipper and file. In previous lives, when I was a tourist, I would never have even considered carrying this. But as a full time traveler this is critical. Really look after your feet, because if you do not they will rapidly make fun times unfun.
Soap. I used to rely on the mini bars that many hotels provide. I have gone significantly up market and carry a relatively heavy large bar of soap. Pure quality of life and ease of laundering choice. Carried in a ziplock or a light tin I was gifted from Lush.
Deodorant (not sure if this is the same as antiperspirant). I spend days (and occasionally a week) rotating two clothes sets. I loiter a lot in hot and grimy places and I do get smelly sometimes. I tried out the mineral rocklike products, and they suck. For a while I carried a travel size ‘stick’, which was fine. My current favorite is a super cute, tiny aerosol dry spray. While billed as deodorant I use it as cologne for a big night out (as well as an ‘air freshener’ for when in close toilet quarters).
Three bandaids (because even your happiest shoes can grind you downh in slashing rain), two Benadryl (had a crazy reaction after biking through a cloud of bugs in Toulouse), four Efferdent (to clean my water bottle once a month), three safety pins.
Assets. One credit card, one ATM card, Passport card, $100 bill. ‘If found please return’ card.
Openers. I have a super light crown cap opener to access the brilliant beers in many countries. I carry an insanely light $1 corkscrew. On average this item is confiscated by airport security once every six flights.
Cup. I picked up this Happy cup in Bolzen, Sud Tirol. Pure quality of life carry. Some places I stay have beautiful glassware, some lip ripping plastic cups, some nothing at all.
Pen. Trusty Parker Jotter. Most useful for completing immigration documents and composing love notes to the maid.
Cutlery. A plastic spoon.
Laundry. After the occasional laundry machine cleanse I keep some detergent powder in a ziplock bag for future ‘sink cleanses’.
ByGeorge, The Travel duck. Years ago I swore that I would never again lug around a mascot. Yet this little and light critter made it through the wire, and I cannot rid myself of him. Duck peak joy – floating in the salt sea of the Denakil Depression in Ethiopia. Update….has been put out to pasture (pond?).