Essentials You Must Carry in a Commuter Backpack
The best commuter backpack is one that fits comfortably everything you need when you’re between home and your school or workplace. It should be easy to carry when you’re commuting, too — whether that means riding a bus, cycling, or driving your car.
However, it’s easy to overfill your commuter backpack or make it otherwise unwieldy. There’s a thin line between being prepared for anything and overpacking. Below is a full list of commute essentials — minus the things that are obvious, like your phone and your keys.
1) Easy-Access Wallet
The essential trio for a commuter is a smartphone, a set of keys, and a wallet. However, the wallet is the first on this list because it needs to be of a specific type. An easy-access wallet can come in many forms, but the point is to put zero effort between you and the contents of your wallet. No one likes to stand behind a person fumbling to find their public transit card or some loose change.
2) Water Bottle
Paying for expensive bottled water can put a dent in your commuting budget. Keep a reusable water bottle in your backpack and save your money and the environment. You won’t often run out of water, especially if you only commute short distances. Refill the water bottle right before leaving your home, school, or office to be sure.
3) Coffee Travel Mug
Paying for expensive coffee can be a ritual for some commuters. Others like to bring coffee they made at home with them, in a leakproof travel mug that can keep coffee hot or cold for hours.
Apart from a coffee travel mug, you may also find it useful to bring along a collapsible mug. With one, you can order coffee at your favorite café and be environmentally conscious, at the same time.
4) Snacks and Packed Meals
If your commute typically takes over an hour, you should consider packing snacks. A granola bar or even a candy bar can help you deal with your hunger. Keeping a bar of some kind in your bag is smart — you never know when traffic will be terrible or when you’ll happen to get hungry.
If you’re packing a lunch or a dinner, find containers that are watertight and stackable. Put them in a separate bag within your backpack and make sure they’re always right side up when you’re moving your commuter backpack. Consider freezing soups if you’re packing them, so they’re less likely to leak. You can always microwave them at school or work.
5) Umbrella
This is crucial, especially if you live somewhere that gets a lot of rain or extreme sunshine. Keeping a small and lightweight umbrella that you can fold is a great idea because you never know when you’ll need protection from raindrops or sun rays.
6) Sunglasses
You really should have a pair of sunglasses in your commuter backpack, especially during the summer. They accessorize your outfit, conceal dark undereye circles and tired eyes, and protect your vision. However, you may not want to have them on while scrolling through your social media feeds or reading a book — so you should always bring a pair in a case that you can put in your commuter backpack.
7) Reusable Bag
If you commute daily, you know that it’s difficult to have a consistent plan when it comes to dealing with your errands. You never know when the mood to go shopping for groceries will hit you. Bring along a reusable bag that you can fold and fit into a tiny section of your commuter backpack. It will come in handy when you find that you need to carry things that don’t fit your commuter backpack — and it’s also environmentally conscious to use a bag like this instead of depending on plastic bags.
8) A Whole Other Outfit, With Shoes
Some commuters — bicyclers, in particular — really need a whole other outfit in their commuter backpacks. This is due to the sweat that accumulates in their clothes as they’re commuting. If you don’t sweat much during your commute, you can simply pack an extra top or extra underwear for emergencies.
Other commuters — women, especially — have different work or school shoes compared to their comfortable shoes. Women often find it so much better to wear flats or sandals while commuting but want to wear heels for most of the day. If you don’t want to bring shoes in your commuter backpack, leave your work or school shoes at your office or locker. Change into them before you start your day, and then change into comfortable shoes before commuting home.
9) Power Bank
Sometimes, you forget to charge your phone or other devices overnight. Because modern devices are typically used for entertainment while commuting, having a power bank on hand just makes sense.
10) Earbuds, Earphones, or Headphones
Wear earbuds, earphones, or headphones when you’re commuting and listening to something on your phone or another device. It’s only polite to do so, and you’ll hear what you’re listening to better than just relying on your device’s speakers. You can take calls, listen to music, enjoy a podcast or audiobook, watch videos, or play games with the sound on while commuting — without bothering those around you.
11) Entertainment Options
You can listen to music, podcasts, and audiobooks on your phone. You can bring along a Nintendo Switch. You can also bring a tablet or a book to read. Whatever entertainment options you bring with you, make sure that there’s at least one thing you can do that doesn’t involve WiFi. If you get stranded somewhere without an internet connection, you want to still have one thing that can take your mind off stressful things.
12) Hand Sanitizer
When you commute, you can’t help but touch things that may not be as germ-free as everyone wants them to be — like public seats, handrails, buttons, and more. Keep a hand sanitizer in your commuter backpack to prevent yourself from getting sick, especially if you want to eat a snack. Sanitize your hands before you use them to touch the food that you’re going to eat.
13) A Pack of Facial Tissues
While some may like bringing a pack of wet wipes with them when commuting, it’s much better to carry a pack of facial tissues and a bottle of hand sanitizer. Wet wipes can be very convenient, but also much heavier than facial tissues. The latter is also much better for blowing your nose or wiping away your tears.
14) Small Skincare Kit
You don’t need to pack everything you use for your typical skincare routine. This skincare kit is simply for commuting — not even for overnight stays. You should pack hand cream, lip balm, and a facial refresher spray. Hand cream and lip balm are especially useful if you’re commuting in dry weather. A facial refresher spray isn’t essential but can be a quick perk when you’re feeling tired.
15) Small Grooming Kit
Whether you drive, cycle, or use public transport, most commuters fall victim to having their hair look significantly crappier than it was when they left the house. If the weather is hot, commuters may even look flushed or extremely tired. A small grooming kit can do wonders. Keep a comb and some hair product in the kit to smooth your hair. For women, a grooming kit can also be a makeup kit — so it should also have travel-sized cosmetics.
Resources— Buzzfeed, Memorandum
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