Where does the little stuff live?

[Eric Woodbury]

When I travel, camp, and photograph, I always have boxes of stuff that need to go that have no place. I'm using food storage containers made by Sistema to contain little things. I have one with camera tools (lens wrench, little screw drivers, allen wrenches, etc.), one with spare glasses, lupe, stuff, and one with spare ground glasses, big center filters, polarizers, et al. The containers are then cast adrift about the van without a home.

Where do you carry all this stuff? I seldom use it but would be lost without it when needed.

Thanks,
--ejw--

[John Kasaian]

Maybe a small tackle box? Cigar box? Crown Royal ditty bag? Empty prescription pill bottles? An empty pipe Tobacco tin? Igloo Lil' Playmate cooler? .30 or .50 or Fat .50 ammo can? Plano plastic wannabee ammo can? Tool box? You may also find an old Samsonite "Train" or cosmetics//Make up bag at a thrift store.
They look something like this
172562

[David Karp]

When I travel by car, I throw stuff like that into an insulated lunch box. I leave that box in the car. I like the lunch boxes because they don't look like they are filled with anything valuable. If I travel by plane, I have a pared down kit that fits in the front pouch of my Cabela's carry bag. It fits in a Rubbermaid container that slides into the front pouch of my the bag.

[stawastawa]

Milk Crates!

[Doremus Scudder]

At home I have a junk drawer. For my mobile photo "junk" I have a junk bag. It's just an old over-the-shoulder cloth camera bag with a couple zipper pockets and one large compartment. All my misc. junk goes in there; everything from cigar trimmer to spare darkslides to spare gel filters to tent repair kit to extra cable releases to lenses I don't carry in my normal kit. I know where to find things... generally; sometimes I have to spend a few minutes rummaging to get what I want, but at least everything is centrally located.

Best,

Doremus

[Graham Patterson]

A lot of my small items go into one or two clear resealable bags that live in whatever bag I am using. Keeps the dust and debris off, and helps isolate logically similar items. Some things with sharp ends need extra protection.

Some odds and ends need to move bags from day to day, while others are equipment specific and stay put.

[Jim Andrada]

A couple of Eagle Creek bags like these. I use the small ones for most little stuff - the mid sized ones are big enough to hold a Technika.

https://www.ebags.com/product/eagle-creek/pack-it-cube-set/271310?productid=10296804

[Tin Can]

Soon this will be full of stuff...

It already moved a lot of stuff, but I am organizing...

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4574/38899950651_cb9c5db9fa_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/22gsq5k)IMG-0518 (https://flic.kr/p/22gsq5k) by moe.randy (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

[Alan Gales]

In my camera bags of course.

Well to be honest, my camera bags were not originally camera bags. I use a Klein cordura wheeled tool bag for a main camera bag. It's got pouches in it to hold tools, I mean some photography odds and ends. The rest I zip lock bag and put in the front zippered part. :) https://www.amazon.com/Klein-Tools-55452RTB-Tradesman-Organizer/dp/B00BZXA35I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1512761880&sr=8-3&keywords=klein+rolling+tool+bag

I also use a cheap folding vinyl cooler for any extras like my 8x10 film holders and such. I can set the filled cooler on top of the Klein bag for wheeling around.

You might not like my wheeled bag but there are other smaller cordura tool bags out there. Cheap vinyl coolers are very light weight.

[Tin Can]

Alan, how big is the pouch? Or what camera fits in there?


In my camera bags of course.

Well to be honest, my camera bags were not originally camera bags. I use a Klein cordura wheeled tool bag for a main camera bag. It's got pouches in it to hold tools, I mean some photography odds and ends. The rest I zip lock bag and put in the front zippered part. :) https://www.amazon.com/Klein-Tools-55452RTB-Tradesman-Organizer/dp/B00BZXA35I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1512761880&sr=8-3&keywords=klein+rolling+tool+bag

I also use a cheap folding vinyl cooler for any extras like my 8x10 film holders and such. I can set the filled cooler on top of the Klein bag for wheeling around.

You might not like my wheeled bag but there are other smaller cordura tool bags out there. Cheap vinyl coolers are very light weight.

[Alan Gales]

Alan, how big is the pouch? Or what camera fits in there?

Hi Randy!

The front pouch is large enough to hold two fold out cordura filter cases which hold my twelve 77mm filters, torpedo level, small flashlight, loupe, cable releases, lens wrench, tape measure, etcetera. As far as a camera I can put my little Fujifilm x100s digital camera in there also.

The main area holds my Wehman 8x10 camera, 3 film holders, two lenses, Pentax digital spot meter, and Black Jacket dark cloth.

I use the vinyl cooler if I want to bring extra film holders and/or my third lens. I put my third lens in the main section of the bag and then put my dark cloth in the cooler with extra film holders. I keep my lenses (Kodak 14" Commercial Ektar, Fuji 250mm F6.7, and 19" Red Dot Artar) in lens wraps if you are wondering. Things are snug but they fit.

[Tin Can]

Hi Alan,

You must be very strong. I read the case itself is 31 lbs

I’m not sure if I could get that kit in my truck. The roller is very nice.

Perhaps in the Spring we may meet. I am near SIUC. Last time I was in St Louis it looked very interesting. If you ever have time, I do.

[HMG]

There are a number of "soft" tackle bags (like these (http://www.cabelas.com/product/fishing/tackle-storage/tackle-bags/pc/104793480/c/104777280/sc/104619780/cabelas-advanced-anglers-tackle-bags-without-utility-boxes/1391169.uts?slotId=7)) that are designed to fit off-the-shelf Plano boxes of various sizes. Some are small and some are massive.

These (http://www.cabelas.com/product/hunting/hunting-bags-packs/pc/104791680/c/104392080/cabelas-catch-all-gear-bags/753422.uts?slotId=2) bags are handy and always seem to be on sale. (If they're always on sale, are they really on sale?)

Those old style plastic suitcases and attache cases are nice if you want a bit of protection. No one would bother to steal them.

For small "ditty" bags, there are cheap bags intended for eyeglasses on ebay. But not see though so need to be labeled.

Of course, there's always the diaper bag route.

[Alan Gales]

Hi Alan,

You must be very strong. I read the case itself is 31 lbs

I’m not sure if I could get that kit in my truck. The roller is very nice.

Perhaps in the Spring we may meet. I am near SIUC. Last time I was in St Louis it looked very interesting. If you ever have time, I do.

;)

Randy, if you scroll down on the Amazon link I gave, it lists the weight of the empty tool case at 19 lbs. I weighed mine on the bathroom scale loaded up with gear and it weighed 41 lbs.

It's not light but I only lift the bag in and out of my Jeep. The rest of the time I'm pulling it by the handle and wheeling it around. If you like to hike over rough terrain in the woods then I wouldn't recommend it but for around St. Louis it works fine for me. Of course I don't get that far from my Jeep anyway because my fused together back won't let me. Back in August I was diagnosed with Acute Rheumatoid Arthritis. I'm not 100% yet but I am doing much better. The medicine that I'm on takes a long time to build up in my system. I see the doctor again in February. By spring I hope to be back to normal. It would be fun to meet up with you, Randy!

[Tin Can]

I'll put the bag on my Amazon list. Right now I need to start converting the trailer into something...

I also have RA, 2 bad attacks with cellulitis last summer. And complications. I had a rough summer. But since I moved to this area I'm ok for now and need to wait 6 months to see the local RA specialist or run to Chicago. My big toes are fused and my wrists lock up and cannot move, but only every few years. Very painful. I blame heridity and power tooks. My father had exactly the same.

So let's get our winter work done and see you in the Spring!


;)

Randy, if you scroll down on the Amazon link I gave, it lists the weight of the empty tool case at 19 lbs. I weighed mine on the bathroom scale loaded up with gear and it weighed 41 lbs.

It's not light but I only lift the bag in and out of my Jeep. The rest of the time I'm pulling it by the handle and wheeling it around. If you like to hike over rough terrain in the woods then I wouldn't recommend it but for around St. Louis it works fine for me. Of course I don't get that far from my Jeep anyway because my fused together back won't let me. Back in August I was diagnosed with Acute Rheumatoid Arthritis. I'm not 100% yet but I am doing much better. The medicine that I'm on takes a long time to build up in my system. I see the doctor again in February. By spring I hope to be back to normal. It would be fun to meet up with you, Randy!

[Alan Gales]

I'll put the bag on my Amazon list. Right now I need to start converting the trailer into something...

I also have RA, 2 bad attacks with cellulitis last summer. And complications. I had a rough summer. But since I moved to this area I'm ok for now and need to wait 6 months to see the local RA specialist or run to Chicago. My big toes are fused and my wrists lock up and cannot move, but only every few years. Very painful. I blame heridity and power tooks. My father had exactly the same.

So let's get our winter work done and see you in the Spring!


Yeah, we both had a bad summer. I started having problems in mid July and eventually ended up in the emergency room two days before my Rheumatology appointment. Thank God for morphene, huh? My back fusion was due to the combination of an unknown birth defect and construction work.

Since you are not in a hurry, I can show you my bag when we hook up if you like. Your trailer looks like fun!

[Tin Can]

Thanks! It will be a usable project. I dislike regular RV's.

I may make it a darkroom and camera obscura.