Building The Perfect Dopp Kit
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Unlike many women who require a small suitcase for their toiletries, a traveling man needs only a few essentials to be happy. Nevertheless, a man needs a place to stow these items. Enter the Dopp kit.
The History of the Dopp Kit
Charles Doppelt, a German leather-goods maker from Chicago, invented the Dopp kit during the early 1900’s. The small pouches became known as Dopps, in recognition of its creator. Doppelt scored a contract with the US Army during WWII to provide the toiletry pouches to millions of American GIs. The bags became a hit, and demand for Dopp kits soared when American men returned home from war.
My memories of Dopp kits include looking over my dad’s black leather one. It was worn from years of use. As a child, I was always amazed at all the stuff he could put in there. It was almost like a doctor’s old medical bag.
Building your Dopp Kit
The Bag
The first thing you’ll need is the bag. These aren’t difficult to find. You can get a nylon travel bag for under $5 at any big box store like Target or Wal-Mart. They’ll get the job done.
But if you want a Dopp kit with class, leather is the only way to go. Sure, it will cost you more, but it will last forever, age nicely, and become something you enjoy owning and toting around. It’s something you’ll be able to pass down to your sons and grandsons, along with the stories of the places you took it. You can find a nice leather Dopp kit at most department stores. You can also buy nice affordable leather Dopp kit for $35 online. If you’re lucky, you can also score a vintage leather Dopp bag on eBay.
The Supplies
After you have your bag, it’s time to fill it up with the stuff you need to keep you well groomed while traveling. Most of things we suggest are common sense, others you might not have thought of, but will be happy to have on hand during your adventures.
- Travel bottle of shampoo
- Bar of your favorite soap
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss
- Shaving supplies: razor, brush, and cream
- Nail clippers
- Lip Balm
- Band Aids
- Safety Pins
- Aspirin or Tylenol
- Lint Roller
- $20 bill
- Extra pair of contact lenses
Organizing the kit
One of the things I remember about my dad filling up his Dopp kit is the care he took when packing his supplies. Everything had its place. The way you place supplies in the pouch will ensure safe arrival to your destination.
If you will be flying with your Dopp kit, keep in mind that pressure changes on the airplane can cause your shampoo and cream bottles to explode. This will create a big mess and a lot of disappointment, especially if you went ahead a bought a nice leather kit. To avoid a mess, try this hint: Before placing a bottle that holds liquidy materials in your bag, squeeze the air out of the bottle right up until the cream reaches the tip of the hole. Without this excess air, your bottles will be much more likely to hold unto their contents during flight.
What do you carry in your Dopp kit? Did we miss anything that you think is essential to have? Drop a line in the comment box and let us know.
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Good post! Here are a few things that I keep in my kit that weren’t on your list:
-A little black film container of quarters. (For parking meters or emergency pay phone calls)
-Some sort of styptic. (Stop those pesky razor nicks from bleeding in a jiffy)
-Nail or cuticle scissors (to trim up stray nose or eyebrow hairs)
-Gold Bond powder (no need to explain, we are all men here)
I also ALWAYS include some Alka-Seltzer or ENO Antacid caplets. They work for all sorts of upset stomachs (heartburn, indigestion, etc.), plus they last for a long time, take up very little space, and all you need is water.
I’d recommend a comb in there as well. Dopp kits are great for me at college. For the shampoo bottle, I use an old L’Oreal Kids bottle (http://tinyurl.com/2pn3qw) with a much more manly shampoo of course. The it’s thin enough to fit well into the kit and not take up as much room, plus I can go about a month without refilling.
a few items i always keep in my Dopp and find indispensable:
-Purell hand sanitizer. (its a dirty world out there)
-Quality face wash. (you guys are not using regular ‘ole soap on your faces are you?)
-NyQuil and DayQuil. (you can function surprisingly well when sick on a steady balance of these two medications. )
-Condoms and a small tube of lube. (for the bachelor life)
- a comb (or hairbrush, if you can accept the bulk)
- earplugs
- sewing kit (nothing fancy, just to reaffix that button)
good article, however good luck trying to get the aerosols, razor blades, trimmers, and liquids onto the plane nowadays!
Great post. The only thing I would add is diarrhea medicine, especially if you are traveling to somewhat exotic locales.
I second the small sewing kit and would add some sort of anti-diarrheal medication, especially if you’re traveling overseas.
Curse you Matt B! (I bow to your superior posting speed.)
Another quick tip: Any bottles of liquid that might explode I pack in a zip lock bag…That way if they do explode, leak, or just come open it doesn’t make a mess of your case or other supplies.
Another essential: a few q-tips! Coming back from a trip with no q-tips to find an ear full of golden treasure can be quite shocking.
A few additional essentials that come in handy:
1) Condoms
2) Floss (can be used for sewing in a pinch)
3) Teeth Whitening Strips
4) Comb
When flying, I always put my liquids in a little zip-lock bag. Due to the 3-1-1 FAA regulation I have all my things in small bottles in the bag so I can quickly pull it out for security screening.
Don’t forget condoms! Another helpful item is a tin of solid-state hand salve, in case your destination is cold and dry and your hands get chapped.
Always go for a solid rather than a liquid, if the products are otherwise comparable, because solids are so much easier to travel with.
[Women need a suitcase, huh? My dopp kit (always packed and at-the-ready for a last minute trip) is 5" on its longest dimension. http://flickr.com/photos/loxosceles/2155179111/ ]
Great tips everyone!
@Kevan-Ahhh yes, Gold Bond powder. I just rediscovered it a few weeks ago, and now I’m not sure how I went without.
@David-Q-tips! Another good tip! Q-tips are always the thing I forget and then regret forgetting. On a related note, why do Q-tips feel so darn good in your ear?
@Beth-Notice that I said “many women.” Some women can travel light too. They are known as a “keeper.”
A good article, and a complete kit after adding the additional suggested items.
You can get liquids on board planes – in small but sufficient quantities.
A small bottle of mouthwash, and a bottle of multivitamins.
I have the same Dopp bag (not an official Dopp, but good enough) I’ve been using for 20 years, and it still holds up well.
I inherited mine from my grandfather. It’s durable nylon that looks like a folded dress shirt when zipped up. I always pack a tide pen (for those tedious little stains). I also pack a travel version of cologne and gold bond. Rolaids are always handy too. Good post.
I have added 1 K-BAR meal set (folding knive/fork/spoon) and 1 multi-purpose tool (Victorinox) to my kit.
My Dad’s kit (which he called a ditty bag), always had a travel cup that some how sunk into it’s self in ring fashion and two clean and pressed handkerchiefs.
@Carol-
Did your dad have opportunities to use his cup? For reasons I can’t quite explain, I’ve always been drawn to packing a collapsible cup. But I’m not sure I would ever need to use it.
Awesome article, I forward these emails to my friends quite often.
Also, I must inform you of a formatting error in your emails. The full
horizontal length of your articles are cut off almost every time – there’s
no way for me to scrolI to the right to read the remainder of your
sentences.
I use Yahoo! mail, but only Microsoft Outlook and a few other mail
services allow the user to scroll horizontally to read outside of the
margins. I suggest keeping your articles within a normal margin so that
the sentences aren’t cutoff.
Thanks!!
God Bless,
– Jonathan H
Well, I added all the stuff that everyone has suggested putting in the dopp kit and now I have a suitcase size kit. This is a little like building a weapon for the military. The original intent was to build a slingshot, by the time a committee got done with it, it looked like the DeathStar from Star Wars.
Good post. For years I strived for the perfect Dopp kit – spare glasses, bandaids, extra cuff links and collar stays, swiss army knife, etc. But since the airlines have instituted the ridiculous liquids in a plastic bag policy, it means that part of the Dopp kit contents are in the kit and the rest are in a ziploc. It makes the whole concept of having everything in one place impossible. But at least having liquids in a plastic bag is better than taking one’s shoes off!
Thanks for the history behind the name of the Dopp kit.
I always pick up travel size or sample size products and keep the packs to re-use.
I also carry this little lot (deep breath!)
Fuzzy Brushes
Avid Razor
Ultra Shave Cream 50ml (also perfect to use on board in-flight)
Roll-on Deodorant
Shampoo/Shower Gel
Q-Tips
Sewing Kit (most hotels have these complimentary in the room)
Nail Brush and Clippers
Floss + Toothpicks
Tube of antiseptic hand cleaner
Diamond Nail File
Swipes spectacle cleaners (by Scunci.com but not easy to find, I believe Denman Brushes distribute them though)
Shoe Care Kit (again, a lot of hotels supply these)
Cufflinks & Collar Stays
Mini Mag-Lite
Silk socks
Nylon net bags
Copies of any important documents (on a USB flash key)
Fuzzy Brushes are handy to use anywhere and you don’t need to rely on water.
Avid razor blade cartridges are stored in the handle to protect you and the edges.
Ultra Shave is also great for using in-flight to combat the drying effect of cabin pressure.
Silk socks (apart from feeling good) stay looking respectable even if you have to wear them for more than one day. Silk also self-cleans, is cool when it’s warm and warm when it’s cool.
Of all the responses, I cannot find any instance of including TWEEZERS in the Dopp kit. I find them absolutely essential. Having logged over 1,000,000 miles in 40 years of travelling, my kit always includes
Moustache repair kit (scissors, small comb, small brush)
Disposable razors (3 – 4)
Small shave cream – available at Wal-Mart (put in ziplock bag)
Tweezers
Nail Clippers
Hair Brush (not very usefull anymore without hair)
Hair comb
Hand cleaners (handi wipes)
Soap
Deodorant
Q tips
Floss, toothbrush, paste
Glycerin glasses cleaning spray and towelette
(contact supplies if used)
Small Change – although US change isn’t much use overseas
Band-aids
Antiseptic cream
Great web site…. should be essential reading for all young men
Ken
In a few months I am getting married and have been in a quandary as to what to get my groomsman/best-man as gifts. True I could buy the typical monogrammed flask, but I wanted something that they could use for a long time. I finally settled on creating dopp kits for them as they both tend to travel, and too few men these days seem to grasp the value of a good travel kit.
My father bought one of these when he travelled to Brazil in 1990 and eventually passed it down to me when I went away to school in 1997(That’s SEVEN years!). I used it until about 2000 but had to let it go when the leather started cracking.
This brings back a lot of memories and the dopp kit is definitely a man item. I’d only buy a leather one though.
@Tony-Thanks for sharing your list. Are Fuzzy Brushes the brushes you use to get the fuzz off your suits?
@Ken-Thank you for your list as well. What kinds of things do you use your tweezers for? I don’t seem to use them very much,
@Matt-Congrats on your upcoming nuptials. I love your idea of giving dopp kits for a groomsmen gift. We have actually been brainstorming for a post on groomsmen gift ideas, and we’ll certainly add that to the list. Flasks are a common choice, but kind of a strange one. There are not many occasions when a man needs to carry his liquor on his person.
Great article. If you’re looking for more information, I published a similar article back in January on the same topic.
http://jarjac.com/2008/01/physical-self/essentials-the-dopp-kit/
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Brett – No these Fuzzy Brushes are little chewable toothbrushes.
If you mean a clothes brush which I believe K-Tel bought out (remember K-Tel?) sellotape will do that job on the move.
I have a d.fuzz.it which is a sweater and fabric comb – maybe that’s what you meant?
Tony-
I have to admit I had never heard of a chewable toothbrush. So I googled it. They look really interesting. We don’t have Fuzzy Brushes in the US, unfortunately. So when I heard fuzzy brush I was thinking of a lint brush.
Ditto on the Q-Tips.
I like to put anything liquid in a zip-lock sandwich bag, and my toothbrush in another. Even on road trips, it’s a cheap insurance against a lid coming lose.
I got mine from my uncle way back in the 80’s. I think it was new then, and I’ve had to repair the inside linging once. I’ve had it so long, now it’s a friend I can’t part with!
Brett,
Chewable toothbrushes are horrible and don’t work. They used to sell them in a vending machine at a nightclub I used to frequent. Disgusting!
Brett – They are available in the US (I admit not everywhere). I believe the plan is for them to become available at airports. If you forget your toothbrush or need something to freshen breath they are handy. They were invented by a dentist, are handy to have when you go out. As you no doubt know, it’s recommended to brush within 20 minutes of eating and who carries a toothbrush to a restaurant!!
Ian – If they didn’t work they wouldn’t be so popular
There are new flavours on the way. They’re also handy for those with disabilities. Each to their own.
Interesting responses…….Teeth whiting strips? How more metrosexual can you get?
This was brilliant — and needed. I must say though, I’ve never know this kit actually had a name. Live and learn, I guess.
Some of the stuff you included… I mean… do we really need all that stuff?
What are we? Women?
A miniature shampoo? You already have soap.
A shaving brush? Can’t you just use your hands?
And then some of you added more stuff.
Won’t they have some of this stuff where you’re going?
I always pack a couple black tea bags and a couple herbal. They can be very soothing and my wife appreciates them too.
Emergen-c to keep my immune system up.
I like to keep two of everything like razors, toothbrushes, etc. One for home and one just for the kit. That way I’m always ready to go and never have to worry about switching or forgetting anything.
Most of this stuff is completely uneeded.
All you need:
- Bar soap (hair, face, body and shaving cream)
- Comb
- Razor
- Toothstuffs
- Deodorant
- Meds
Most everything else can be done with hands.
As noted previously, q-tips are quite the necessity. But how do you enjoy that “q-tip feeling” away from home?
I purchased the travel-size Johnson & Johnson cotton swabs from Wal-Mart (~$1.00). They come in a nice plastic dispenser of sorts, which when empty, I’ll then refill from my family-size pack of Q-tips
Re: your dopp kit posting from March (sorry I just discovered your blog)
1) For contact lens wearers, there is saline solution and maybe a cleaning agent for them;
2) I would add immodium and some type of antacid. I find stomach trouble far more often in a traveling situation.
3) Soap and shampoo are hardly necessary these days as almost all hotels provide same.
One way to get around the whole liquids problem is to not have any in your dopp at all. Instead of shaving cream, get a round of shaving soap. Instead of regular shampoo, get a bottle of dry shampoo – these are becoming really popular again and so are easy to find online. Instead of mouth wash, Listerine breath strips. There’s an alternative to pretty much every liquid you might need.
Waterproof medical tape: My grandfather always did this and it’s made my life easier for sure. My wife ends up using it for the backs of her heels more than anything, but it has about 100 uses on any trip.
Styptic Pencil: Nothing better than fixing that shaving nic in 10 seconds instead of hoping it fixes itself while you’re having breakfast.
Tweezers: Ingrown hairs or splinters. They aren’t coming out on their own.
TIP: Buy hard sided clear plastic containers (REI.com) which carry less than 50 mL of whatever liquid you need. Liquid soap, shampoo, hair gel. They’re space savers, clear (to see what you have inside), and easy to refill anytime.
Great web site!
All my life I have called my Dopp kit a “housewife” . I always thought that was the accepted name for this traveling essential.
Ummmm
CONDOMS!
no really if your going traveling wouldn’t you need some? i mean even some married couples use them. just a thought
Wow, this is just another example of me being “out of touch” with people my age (mid-20’s). I always thought that Dopp Kits were SOP for Men. I guess being raised by my grandmother rubbed off.
My current kit includes:
Hair Brush
Comb
Toothstuffs (including the Reach Flosser, which is great)
Shave Gel
Razors
After-shave
Pomade (see?)
Spare Contacts
Rewetting Drops
Deodorant Stick
Deodorant Spray
I think I will have to add Q-Tips and Gold Bond, and remember to replace my nail trimmer. Excellent blog, and excellent post!
@Steve-
Re: the pomade. I use Brylecreme. Every time I tell people my age what I use in my hair, I just get funny looks. When I tell older people, they always start singing “A little dab will do ya!”
I’ve always wondered how you should store your soap in the kit. I don’t want residue or such getting on any of my other items. Would a zip lock bag be the most effective method?
@Eugene-
They make plastic containers to hold your soap. They are really cheap at drug stores. The easiest thing to do, however, is simply to use the hotel soap. Of course, you may not be staying at one. And that’s when the container would come in handy.
No Dopp kit is complete for the traveling man without Imodium A-D.
I always pack a small bottle of benedryl. Amazing healing power against allergic reactions (hives, beestings, hayfever) and an effective sleep aid for those times when I need it. I pack my shampoo in one of the nalgene bottles from REI, they are very tough and will hold a full months shampoo, used on my few remaining hairs. I think they are 4 ounces.
I always sing the praises of carrying 2-3 safety pins while traveling. Whether you end up needing them for a random tear or you simply end up providing them to a lady in need, I’ve found that they come in quite handy and take up no space. Totally worthwhile.
As a woman who travels with a small toiletry bag (yes, we do exist!) I would suggest the following items to add to your inventory:
- Shaving oil.
Instead of cream. Comes in a smaller bottle, you’ll need only a few drops and you’ll hardly experience any irritation or razor burn.
- Solid shampoo bar.
Comes in a tin from a place like Lush.com (or google for it). No problems with leaking, airport security or pressure changes while you’re in the air! It’ll also last a lot longer and double as a bodywash, facial cleanser and laundry detergent.
- Condoms
For the obvious reasons (plus they can hold several liters of water in an emergency).
- Prescribed medication
Don’t use strips, they take up too much space. Keep meds in small ziploc bags or tiny nalgene containers. Add a small absorbant package (the ones that come in large bottles of vitamine pills) to keep the meds from getting damp.
If you’re carrying a leather dopp kit I’d also take a film canister with a bit of clear leather wax (beeswax) to keep the leather from cracking (and to touch up your shoes for that important business meeting).
I don’t think my inventory differs a lot from what you suggest. There’s a solid hair conditioner bar thrown in with the shampoo bar and I bring a solid massageoil/bodylotion bar to keep my painfully dry skin in check. I also carry a neti pot, a small pot of salt and a spoon to rinse my nose. That does take up a bit of space but it’s a medical necessity.
And yes, I carry preventatives/condoms. Not that I don’t trust the other person… I just don’t trust their ex(es)
A few years back The Body Shop sold a dopp kit bag made of recycled inner tubes. Not as classy as a leather bag perhaps, but the thing is very durable and easy to clean. I don’t know if they still sell them but I seem to recall that they were a really inexpensive yet rugged option.
I also carry extra ‘mini’ plastic bags, but maybe that’s because I’m anal. I place liquids and my bar of soap in these bags so as to avoid any unfortunate accidents.
Why all the condom proponents? C’mon guys, a REAL man respects women! Any guy who expects to get some “action” while traveling is not a REAL man!
We always called it a ditty bag. Dopp kit is much more manly! I have always had one of these. My dad always had one of these. FYI Campho-Phenique, though good for tick removal will leak.
We modern day men should add a $10 USB flash drive.
I always try to have a few sleeping pills in there too, as well as earplugs. Travelling internationally, the sleeping pills are key to forcing your body to reset quickly to large changes in time zones (ie, flying from Europe or the Middle East to USA and vice versa). Earplugs…well…not all hotels have thick walls.
For shampoo/soap, Neutrogena makes an excellent body wash for all over. Much easier to carry one bottle than two.
Avid razors are excellent. While we’re saving space and weight, how about a bottle of Somerset’s Shave Oil in lieu of shaving cream?
Oh, important lesson from here in Iraq: immodium. Never leave home without it.
When flying, put any bottles or spray cans in a zip-lock bag. If the bottle or can decides to misbehave, it won’t spread discontent throughout your Dopp Bag. It will only embarrass itself!
I agree with some of the above that a sewing kit is essential, but not a whole kit. I keep a needle duct-taped to the inside of my floss container. You can use white floss as thread. It’s much stronger, plus it’s minty fresh.
I got here while researching those classic washbags/shaving bags I now know are called dopp kits
I’m a girl and I’ve always liked these for their shape, especially the really classic design, with the two ‘floors’ and the frame!
Just thought I’d let you know about another product that might be useful for packing: the 3-in-1 shower gels by a brand called Philosophy. The 3 functions advertised are shower gel, shampoo, and bubble bath. They come in lots of different scents, and while many are more girly-type things like vanilla cinnamon and the like, there are so many scents there’s bound to be one to appeal to guys. They’re kind of on the pricey side, but if it’s only for travel and not for everyday use, it shouldn’t cause too much of a strain on the budget.
I second the advice on using solids, but mainly for longer trips, because there’s usually too much products in a full-sized solid item for trips of a week or so, and then it ends up being superfluous. Of course, with a solid you can always get a big kitchen knife (non-serrated), and chop the block in a more manageable piece. And they’re a big help if you wanna do carry-on only plane travel, which is a great feeling, since we now have restrictions on the liquids.
Soaps: Dr. Bronner’s solid or liquid soaps are great for traveling- they smell great and work for almost all cleaning jobs- even shaving. The peppermint is mildly insect repellent and very refreshing, while the lavender is very calming. The solid versions are more packable. (http://www.drbronner.com/DBMS/LS.htm)
OR you can try most brands of ‘camp soap’, or save more money and use a mild, unscented dish soap.
One thing I noticed in the discussions is that different people are using these kits for different purposes- routine travel with style, minimal traveler, camper, ‘Dopp as semi-survival’ kit advocates, etc.
I think the key thing here is to find a kit and packing list that fits your needs and comfort zone. Personally, I will carry the kitchen sink if I can, but enjoy trying to fit everything into a thimble at other times. My current Dopp is aimed at being carried in the car for a quick refresher at work or to serve as the foundation of a quick overnight trip.
@velda – watch out, you don’t want anything to wear or pierce the condom.
Hi, I believe this may just be my naive Englishness but what the heck is Gold Bond powder? It sounds desirable whatever it is.
If you have a shower every morning you can do without deodorant and rely on your natural manly musk…
I am a boater, and my dopp kit is the Counter Top Toiletry Kit by McNett. Its roomy enough for full-size bottles and brushes, has side organizers for small items, and converts to a hanging bag for when counter space is limited (hangs on door knob, hook or towel rack). Check it out… it is the best!!!
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what are you guys doing with your Gold Bond that is so good? I thought that stuff was for really old dudes with fungus or something.