Keeping stuff in your pockets

Rooster · Jun 11, 2008

Some of you guys carry a pile of stuff!lol
For me it's change and gun safe keys in front left pants pocket, pocket knife, nail clipper,10' tape measure , a tiny bore light, and small comb in the right. Nothing in the back pockets, can't stand sitting on stuff.
If I'm actually going anywhere I add the truck keys to the front left and my money clip with DL and credit card to the front right. Cell phone, if I remember it goes in the shirt pocket or inside breast pocket of a jacket if I'm wearing one.
I don't wear any tight fitting pants, even my blue jeans are held up with suspenders.
I do have a couple pair of pants that like to dump their contents if I slouch in a chair, it's more of an annoyance than a major problem.

pgoat · Jun 16, 2008

I long for my teenage days when I had one house key, a few dollars, and my cigarettes and matches - that was it.

Now I carry way too much junk. I hate that.

I recently had a suit made and insisted they leave the rear pockets off the pants. Nothing says sexy like a nice fat wallet in the back of a pair of dress pants

ShoreRoadLady · Jun 16, 2008

Originally posted by pgoat:
Nothing says sexy like a nice fat wallet in the back of a pair of dress pants

And nothing says "pickpocket me!" more than the same.

Tomasso · Jun 16, 2008

pgoat said:
Nothing says sexy like a nice fat wallet

I know many women who would agree.

=ritzy= · Jun 16, 2008

I hate putting things inside my pockets:rage: ..but the only thing I do carry around is my cellphone and my bus pass...If it wasn't for those two things I woulnt carry anything in them.

jgilbert · Jun 16, 2008

I hate carrying stuff. So in right front, key fob only keys stay in car.
and right rear a small wallet. In it: License; cash; debt insurance and library card. Can't see of anything else I would need.

Mahagonny Bill · Jun 17, 2008

Doc Savage vs Batman

Hey all,
I'm new in town, but this is a subject near and dear to me.

I also carry a lot of stuff and don't like to have my pants pockets full. I almost always wear a vest of some kind , usually a ScottEVest, to carry my cell phone, notepad, flashlight, etc. I like this approach better than a fanny pack or belt clip, which I feel gives one a "Utility Belt" look. I call it the Doc Savage (vest) vs Batman (belt) conundrum.

My issue is that coupled with my wide brimmed hat I always look like I'm heading out on safari, although I live in the city. Sure, if any one comments I can say "Well, it's a jungle out there" but it gets old after awhile. I would like to wear a sport coat, but I have trouble finding one with more than one inside pocket. It there a certain style of jacket that has a plethora of pockets, or do you have them customized?

Edward · Jun 18, 2008

You could try a travel jacket type from Orvis, Duluth, or several others - these have multiple pockets by design. I'm trying to minimise pocket clutter myself.... mostly I only have coins and travel card in one front pocket, keys in the other; on days I'm wearing a suitable jacket thewallet goes in there, otherwise it goes on a belt-chain in my back pocket. I used to have separate cash and cards wallets, but it got to be too much of a pain carrying them both all the time...

Another alternative, of course, would be to invest in some British Battledress style trousers, or cargo pants if you prefer, and use the map pockets for storing those bits and pieces you don't want falling out. Definitely practical. and yes, of course the good old waistcoat is definitely your friend here.

Twitch · Jun 18, 2008

I don't carry much but wallets have been the most uncomfortable item ever for me. No matter what shape or size even with very little in them they're just an uncomfotable bulge.

Edward · Jun 19, 2008

Twitch said:
I don't carry much but wallets have been the most uncomfortable item ever for me. No matter what shape or size even with very little in them they're just an uncomfotable bulge.

I often wish my wallet was much more of a bulge than it is!

Hemingway Jones · Jun 19, 2008

As time goes on, some sort of bag makes sense for a man. I would rather a bag than bulky pockets.

As a photographer, I almost always have my camera, so that makes a bag necessary and convenient for what I carry, which is a lot of stuff: Phone, often three sets of keys (my car, house, and scooter keys are on separate rings!), pen, billfold, and notebook.

Mahagonny Bill · Jun 21, 2008

Hemingway Jones said:
As time goes on, some sort of bag makes sense for a man. I would rather a bag than bulky pockets.

As a photographer, I almost always have my camera, so that makes a bag necessary and convenient for what I carry, which is a lot of stuff: Phone, often three sets of keys (my car, house, and scooter keys are on separate rings!), pen, billfold, and notebook.

I also carry a messenger bag with me daily for my laptop and papers, but there are some things I want close by. Phone, keys, and wallet especially. I really like the function of the multi-pocket vest, it's just not very stylish.

Edward said:
Another alternative, of course, would be to invest in some British Battledress style trousers, or cargo pants if you prefer, and use the map pockets for storing those bits and pieces you don't want falling out. Definitely practical. and yes, of course the good old waistcoat is definitely your friend here.

I actually wear these quite frequently for my work as a network technician but I use the map pockets to temporarily hold tools and cables and not for more personal items. I don't like walking down the street with the pockets bulging off the side of my legs. They also tend to reinforce the "Jungle Jim" look I want to avoid.

The Wingnut · Jun 21, 2008

I carry way too much stuff around with me. If I've got a pocket, I'll fill it with something. I'm a bit like Mad Max in that regard...

Jack R. · Jun 27, 2008

I feel for you. I carry a wallet, keys, knife, a pen, and depending on the day, I wear a pocket watch with a special attachment so it will stick to my belt. As for blue jeans, I totally phased them out of my wardrobe in the third grade, the best thing I can think of is carrying a hankerchief in one's pocket, if folded correctly, it can impede things from falling out of your pockets. It works for me.

BegintheBeguine · Jun 27, 2008

The Wingnut said:
I carry way too much stuff around with me. If I've got a pocket, I'll fill it with something. I'm a bit like Mad Max in that regard...

I feel like this kid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwq_x9QsLzg

DominusTecum · Jun 28, 2008

would like to wear a sport coat, but I have trouble finding one with more than one inside pocket.

Every sport coat that I have bought in the last 3 years has been overflowing with pockets. Let's take the one I paid $28 for, on sale, at J.C. Penny's a few months back. (Yes, it was a phenomenal sale.) This bad boy has three inside pockets. One on the right, with a button-closure, one on the left, and another on the left below it. The bottom one is designed for a cellphone, but it has ample room. I have other coats with an additional left pocket, for a pen (also generously sized.) Not only do you have, anymore, at least 3 interior pockets, but you have 2 good-sized exterior pockets, and a breast pocket. Purists will say that the breast pocket should only be used for a pocket square, and if your look compliments that, then fine. However, it can be used with equal efficacy, if you're used to wearing a utility vest, for storage, say, of a cellphone, a box of matches, etc.

I, personally, don't have too much daily ballast. I carry:

wallet -in my right back trouser pocket or my coat pocket, depending on where I am
keys -in my right side trouser pocket
cellphone -in my coat pocket or my left trouser pocket
pocketknife -in my right pocket with my keys
iPod (not for listening to music, it's very handy as a date/address book, and mobile email -in my inner jacket pocket

Sometimes, I also carry a pipe, pipe tobacco, tamper, and lighter with me. They're fit into whatever pockets I have left, but I seldom have difficulty, as long as my pipe tobacco is in something small, and not a large and bulky bag. Most people who see me have no idea that I carry all this around. In addition, I usually have a pocket handkerchief in whatever jacket pocket my iPod's in, serving double duty -I have it when I need it, and it pads the iPod in case somebody or something slams into me, or I into it. Accidents can happen.

John in Covina · Jun 28, 2008

My dad would carry his sun glasses in the outside breast pocket.

Mojave Jack · Jun 29, 2008

Spitfire said:
With all the stuff you guys carry around, may I suggest:

You may certainly suggest! But not without telling us where to find one...

shortbow · Jun 29, 2008

Also check out Duluth Pack. They have all kinds of real nice shoulder bags, I use their #200 shell bag in the field.

Dr Doran · Jun 29, 2008

Fanny Packs?? If you can hold your gorge, the gore classic HOSTEL has the best take on fanny packs ... it's in the beginning before the sickness starts. You'll never wear one again.

One solution no one has mentioned: higher-waisted trousers. The pocket slits won't be vomitting so much stuff out. They won't be parallel to the seat when you sit down.

Another (non-mutually exclusive) solution: carry less ... do you truly need all of that? The pen, for starters, can go in the shirt breast pocket. I have a wristwatch instead of a pocket watch (pocket watch only with vest for me). My "wallet" is a silver cigarette case. I agree that a man needs a knife from time to time; so I have keys with a tiny knife on the keychain. The cigarette case/wallet and the keys are in my front pocket (and it's only one car key and one house key). Since money won't fit in the cigarette case, I have a bill clip in my left pocket, and cell phone. That's all. The only bulge is the cell phone -- sub-optimal, but I don't really want a cell-phone holster on my belt.

I'm fine like this. If I needed to keep around chapstick and moisturizer and other doodads, I'd use a small military shoulder satchel ... these can be gotten for a song.

Once in a while I keep a white handkerchief in the back pocket.

That is what works for me. If I am wearing a suit jacket, I have whatever article I'm reading folded in the inner breast pocket. That's about it.

Not too many rabid dingo-dogs where I live. No bullets or guns necessary on my person. Nor do I want a bigger knife; I'm afraid it would lead to trouble. If I felt like a weapon against the Oakland thugs, I'd probably carry pepper spray in a pen-like format.

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