Ask HN: What do you carry in your backpack?

not in a backpack... A Leatherman Squirt ES4 is my keychain, laser engraved with my phone number in case my keys get lost, but now that this model is discontinued, the tool is far more valuable than the keys.

To save you a few clicks: It's a miniature hobbyist/electronics multitool built around foldable pliers, where the inner part that usually grips different bolt heads is replaced with wire strippers 12 to 20 AWG. With a bit of angle and speed you can cleanly strip to 24 AWG stranded or 28/30 solid (although I'd just use teeth for the latter). You can still grab reasonably small & loose bolts with the end. It also has a knife, one-handed scissors, file, bottle opener, and flat as well as flat-sized-for-Phillips screwdrivers. I probably use this every single day at work and at home: opening packages or beers, making XLR cables, prototyping with microcontroller EVBs, trimming loose threads/tangled hair ends/a rough nail/tag wire, tightening drum heads when the keys are all missing, scraping/filing dirt from suede, slicing food, turning screws.

When I carry a bag it's a giant diaper bag with all that this entails or---more rarely---my camera bag which has a laptop pocket and a drink pocket for an insulated metal flask. Otherwise, a slim wallet and phone completes the ensemble.

Don't use a backpack for every day carry, but a heavy cloth shoulder bag containing;

* folding umbrella

* mosquito repellant

* baseball cap

* string bag for shopping

* blue pen

* small plastic pack of dry wipes

Some of this may seem odd to many, but I live in Thailand and all items are handy, though some rarely. Clothes pockets contain the usual phone, money, keys, documents.

In order of surprise

* Towel small (no kidding; but have only used it a couple of times in ten years)

* Harmonica

* Kindle

* Fountain pen and notebook

* Water bottle

* Regular electronics/chargers

Not contents, but I recommend an internal frame daypack. I got one made by Osprey. I find that it greatly reduces discomfort caused by oddly shaped items or heavier loads.

Nothing too interesting, Steam Deck, s8 ultra tab + keyboard cover, wacom pen and glove, usb hub, charger, old 2fa phone, water bottle, spare tote bag, spare IEMs and umbrella.

Of course the expensive electronics only go out if I expect to have time for them.