Beijing’s an urban jungle, and in any jungle, we need tools to survive and thrive. As urban jungle dwellers, we’ve managed to blend practicality with style, resulting in the modern bag. Here, form meets function, and what looks stylish and fashionable on the outside contains all our essential survival tools on the inside. Inspired by this, we ask expat parents each week, “What’s in your bag?” and get insights into which essentials they keep on hand when out and about in the capital city.
Jeff Layman is a design teacher, coach, outdoor enthusiast, and dedicated grocery-getter. When he isn’t working he’s usually running, riding, or making something. He’s originally from the US but has taught abroad for the last decade; first in Kuwait, and now in Beijing.
“I’m a minimalist, so I want one bag that can function in as many ways as possible. The Black Hole Backpack from Patagonia deserves its name, because I can throw everything I need into it and it doesn’t seem to fill up.”
Some of my most useful items take up the least amount of space. A safety pin, super glue, and multi-tool have come in handy a surprising amount of times, and because I coach boys and girls sports, it’s always handy to have a hair tie. My Heroclip Carabiner is great too if I ever find myself in a place where putting my bag on the floor is a bad idea. A power bank and headphones tend to my digital needs.
My larger items are for commuting back and forth to school. A book to read while I’m on the bus or in a Didi, and a reusable grocery bag for when I need to pick something up on the way home. A sunglasses case and umbrella are useful too, rain or shine.
Want to share your Beijing survival tools with us? Shoot us an email at editor@beijing-kids.com, message our Official Jingkids WeChat account, or leave a comment below!
KEEP READING: What’s In Your Bag? With Drama And Yoga Teacher Hannah Northcott
Images: Courtesy of Jeff Layman
