Andrew, Dappered’s grooming correspondent, is also the editor-in-chief of Electrogent, a men’s interest, grooming, and lifestyle website which squares the modern interests of men with the classic notions of manliness.
Your own bed, your couch, your pillow, your bathroom and your kitchen: all of these are staples of comfort in your home. However, for guys on the road a lot, sometimes the essentials around your bathroom sink are just as desirable as the actual sink itself. Ever forgotten your toothbrush on a long trip to a secluded area? Avoid that feeling by always having your own dopp kit either put together and ready to go, or at least a strategy for putting one together.
Dopp kits gained their namesake from a German immigrant leatherworker named Charles Doppelt. In 1919, he invented a leather case for carrying toiletries, and eventually these were distributed to GI’s during World War II. These days, a dopp kit is a more casual term referring to a travel bag for toiletries. However, despite the dopp kit’s history, the fundamentals are relatively unchanged over all those years.
There are a few essential items that all guys should keep in their dopp kit in order to keep that “home sink” feeling, no matter where you go. The main aspect to consider is the size of the item, followed by the item’s necessity. As shown below, you can pack many useful smaller items in the same amount of space as one bulky item that you might have a special affinity for. Additionally, because you’re going to have limited space, only take what you feel is absolutely essential to your travels. If you’re going camping, you will likely need more utilitarian items than cosmetic, and if you’re going away on business it’s likely you’ll feel the opposite.
Here are some ideas to get you started when packing your next dopp kit:
The Essentials
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Razor blades
- Razor
- Shaving cream
- Deodorant
- Shampoo
- A comb
- Hair product of choice
The Luxuries
- Moisturizer
- Cologne
- Hand lotion
- Aftershave
- Chapstick
- Mouthwash
The Utilities
- A sewing kit
- Fingernail clippers
- Pocket knife
- Aspirin
- Band-aids
- Styptic pencil
Surely, everyone’s list can differ in both content and priority, as it depends largely on your own personality and the nature of your trip. However, almost all dopp kits should contain the essentials, a few luxuries (if you want), and a couple utilities (you never know when you’ll need one of them). So long as you can affirmatively answer the question, “Do I really need this?” before packing it away, then you’ll have a successful dopp kit.
Furthermore, you will need to consider how you’re traveling. If you’re flying and you prefer to go straight carry-on, like me, you might have to ditch the double edge razors and pack some cartridges. A pack of 5 is really small (and cheap) so you could always try and sneak some past TSA, but you don’t want to get tased (bro). I’ve had the TSA take fingernail clippers before, and I surely know they’d confiscate a pocket knife. If you’re driving, you have nothing to worry about; but if you have to fly then make sure you check with TSA regulations to see if your dopp kit makes you a terrorist.
But what to put all this stuff in? Sure you could go the Zip-loc bag route, but that’s not really any fun. Plus it looks terrible hanging out on the bathroom counter at the hotel. A few options worth considering:
Beckel Canvas Small Necessary Bag – $23.00
Clean, inexpensive, and slim at just 4″ tall. For the guys that wants something that looks good, yet doesn’t take up all that much space. 6″ wide and a full 12″ long means you’ll still have space. Made in the USA and three color options.
Izola Apothecary Dopp Kit – $45.00
About double the price of the previous bag, but wider and shorter. This heavy 20 ounce canvas with waterproof lining is exactly what you’re looking for. Izola also has similar bags with different designs on them. This dopp kit also has an exterior pocket, in case you need quick access to something in particular and don’t have time to dig around inside your bag. A solid option, if price isn’t as important.
Pottery Barn Saddle Dopp Kit – $39.00 (add $7 for monogramming)
Dopp kits are one of those rare instances in which Pottery Barn steps up to the plate and doesn’t offer some outrageously overpriced option. I personally use a dopp kit from Pottery Barn (see the featured image), but not this particular version. These make fantastic wedding presents to groomsmen, as the quality is unrivaled and a monogrammed dopp kit is not something you’re likely to buy for yourself. However, gift or not, Pottery Barn’s totally reasonable $39.00 option is one worth considering.
No matter which dopp kit you pick up, make sure it’s something that will stand the test of time. There’s something charming about an old dopp kit–the smell of your old cologne, the knicks and scuffs of travel–and maybe one day your kids will fight over it. Having a plan for a dopp kit, or having one at the ready, will make your travels much more enjoyable, and your ability to look and feel your best intact.
Which grooming items do you use the most and least when you travel? Discuss your experience in the comments.
You know what else Pottery Barn makes (which I hope isn’t too far off topic)..
Leather monogramed Holdall.
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/saddle-stitch-leather-catch-all/?pkey=e%7Cleather%2Bholdall%2Bbags%7C119%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C21&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules-_-
It announces class, quality, great style, affordable.
Nice post Andrew. Thanks for this.
Wow Andrew – great minds think alike!
I saw the picture for the Pottery Barn one and automatically thought that this would be a great present for my groomsmen for my upcoming May wedding. I then read your little summary and boom!
Any advice on whether to put their first initial or just their last initial?
Dopp kits are one of the few gems you can find at Marshall’s or TJ Maxx occasionally. I got this, quite nice leather Original Penguin kit for under $20. http://www.amazon.com/PENGUIN-TRAVEL-TOILETRY-KIT-MUNSINGWEAR/dp/B00ABP1WSS
Just the last initial makes for a better heirloom. (:
Good call. That makes a lot of sense.
I recently ordered the Izola dopp kit and swiftly sent it back. It is very low quality for the price, particularly the low-duty zipper. It’s disappointing because the designs are quite sharp.
I recently bought the Izola dopp kit and swiftly sent it back. It’s very low quality for the price, especially the low-grade zipper. It’s a shame since the designs are quite nice.
Not necessarily… I’ve inherited some monogrammed things, including from my mom’s side of the family, and to me it makes no difference that the initials aren’t mine – they are a reminder of a specific person with whom I have specific memories, not a reminder of how to spell my own surname.
Thanks Andrew- this is a good read for those of us that travel and are always looking for a Dopp kit that’s functional, small and affordable! I’ve been looking at this one: http://www.tommybahama.com/TBG/Men/Accessories/Bags/PRD_4169TM37/Sand++Surf+Canvas+Dopp+Kit.jsp#
but the beckel might be a better idea! I do think the TB is better looking than the Pottery Barn but you can’t monogram the Tommy Bahama one.
Great article on dopp kits. This is perfect timing as I recently picked up an original Dopp brand kit off of Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000XCZJCE) and this thing is amazing. It is perfectly sized, waterpoof lining, flat, grippy bottom, and rigid open-close positioning. It’s by the original Dopp brand which is now owned by Buxton (http://www.buxtonstyle.com/collections/dopp-kits) so if that is any consolation I highly suggest checking it out. It’s super cheap on Amazon too.
Dopp kits are exceptionally useful for travelling. I used to throw all my stuff in a plastic ziploc bag. Now, I have a canvas CK dopp kit and all my stuff is ready to go in a moment’s notice and completely organised to boot.
I got the one from target Joe mentioned a while back. I don’t do a ton of traveling so it works great for a weekend trip.
Don’t forget floss!
Both links give a 404 error…
Thanks for pointing that out. I got them fixed. It seems the end parenthesis’ screwed up the links.
I know it is a bit modern compared to the examples given but I use one of these in plain black
http://www.deutergb.co.uk/accessories/wash-center-ii/
Worked well for me for trips from a weekend to several months and locations from Kabul to Las Vegas. I particularly like that I can hang it up and it has a removable section with a hook I can take into the shower.
I splurged a bit a few months ago and got the De Galle Dopp kit from Blue Claw Co. It’s $80, but it’s made in the U.S. and I’ve been extremely happy with it so far. It’s definitely the type of thing I could see handing down to a grandson when I’m a crotchety old man…
These super-toothpicks are very good as well: http://www.amazon.com/Brushpicks-BRUSHPICKS/dp/B000P1TYEM
It’s true! (Not that I doubted you).
I found one, and took a photo.
https://twitter.com/Electrogent/status/307658479362002945
Looks like the Tommy Bahama one doesn’t ship to Canada for free. I liked that one.
Stick a pocketknife in your dopp kit and check your bag. Or TSA will get another freebie.
I travel for a living and rack up over 100 days on the road every year. Here’s a glimpse of what I take with me in my Dopp kit: http://baltimorestyleguy.com/travel-essentials-the-dopp-kit/
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Colonel Littleton sells a couple of great shaving kits. One all leather and one canvas. They are a bit pricey but way cool.