Yes, Goody's and BC are the 2 common ones. I'm horrible with taking pills so, I find they do the trick for my headaches.
Just lucky I guess.
Lets see...
nothing to see here, move along.....
Haha. I like that I just glossed over "head-sized" and was nodding along until "plastic tarp"
I actually want to unironically add "zip ties" to my list of things that have proven useful over the years; I never carried them myself, but my friend who always does has temporarily fixed a handful of things over the years (a backpack and a group's hanging flag come to mind) with them.
It occurs to me that my bag is largely boring.
I do have the added advantage of having someone else caring it around for me.
Mike
Don't forget the individually packaged butt wipes. It's always a bad time when you realize that the stall you're in hasn't been restocked...
Yes, it happened one time and I had to ask a stranger in the stall next to me for a roll. Never again.
About the 1/3 the things you can carry in a backpack you slide into a Scott eVest. They are light and make a backpack easier to tote.
I bought one of those vests based solely on your recommendation, Keeper (I even gave your name when they asked if anyone referred me to them, haha). Definitely impressed with the obscene storage on offer there; honestly I could fit everything I "NEED" to carry with me in one, given that would be "some snacks, a drink, and my money." And plus obviously you have room for ... like, anything else you can think of, basically. When I saw it could hold a 15" laptop I both thought "who in the world would need that?" and "I wish I had not bought a 17" laptop"
ALSO related to this topic, one of the things that has kept me motivated while doing this seemingly endless move I am in the middle of (childhood home was sold at the same time as I was already moving, so I am merging an inordinate amount of stuff together) is making a pile of "things that could possibly be Gen-Con related." Any stickers, pins, or buttons I find go in that pile to add to a bag I will bring; any change goes in a Gen-Container; any clothes that are so nerdy I would be unlikely to wear them anyway before September get washed and packed now; oh, what is in my bag is definitely going to bring me joy for months to come!
I have a Bag of Holding Convention Bag and I've managed to pare it down to:
- Battery Pack plus cables for charging stuff - Empty water bottle (ICC has filling stations all over ... actually will they this year with COVID?) - Large pack of throat lozenges (I run demos, you see) - A pen, a pencil & small pad of paper - One or two granola bars - A small bottle with a few Advil, a few Pepto, and few allergy pills - A small pack of wet ones
That's it.
I figure I better reply since I started this thread so that I should at least have the common courtesy to post. For me the right question is what’s NOT in my bag, not what is in it. DECADES ago, pre kids pre move back East, I spent a lot of time hiking in the Cascades and Olympic ranges. The rule of thumb for comfort was to never carry more than 20% of your body weight. I take that rule to heart but I apply a 4-5% rule for Gen Con. For me that means about 8 Lbs max for a day on the floor. Now don’t laugh but I no longer use a backpack. The past 5 Cons/Years has been all Mountainsmith Day Lumbar pack. NO it's not a fanny pack LOL. It has a messenger bag shoulder strap, but if it gets too heavy I can use the padded hip belt and lord straps to wear it on my waist. To be honest I barely know it’s there. Empty it weighs about 1 Lb 6 oz. Quick rundown
I am really counting on the fact that I am always too hot in the convention center (well until things start to empty out around 7-8 P.M.) to carry me through trying out wearing one this year. Though I bet anyone bold enough to just wear the vest would have an easier time! No doubt very drafty.