Brenton393

what do you all have on you in your backpack every time you go commuting? I just bought a bike and plan to start commuting to work to save money. For know I'm looking for the bare minimum since I'm tight on money.

mcours2006

Not sure what you mean by gear in your bag, but bare minimum would be a patch kit, extra tube, tire levers, pump/CO2 cartridge, and a multi-tool. Of course, phone and wallet.

If you're commuting in all weather, then a set of fenders would be good. A rack on which you can put a set of panniers, but not necessary. Lights, both front and rear, even you're doing it all while the sun is up.

caloso

The bare minimum is a bike. Everything else depends on your conditions.

Darth Lefty 

We all have the same problems. Solutions vary by rider's situation and preference, and you already probably own a lot of it...

Getting to work on time
Looking (and smelling!) presentable at work
Safe storage for your bike
Carrying stuff
Breakdowns & injury
Darkness
Inclement weather

If you are a backpacker or outdoorsy at all, the last few items overlap with the Ten Essentials.

FBinNY 

each of my bikes is permanently set up with a pump, spare tube, and tire levers. Otherwise the only things I add for the commute, are what I might need for work, which is sometimes a laptop I carry in a messenger bag, or usually only a USB drive to transfer data back and forth. Also, depending on the season and weather, might include some extra clothes, and/or my emergency rain gear cut from a 30 gallon garbage can.

RubeRad

That's a good list. I'd add lock and key, depending on your bike storage situation at work.

For absolute minimum you can chose one: patch kit or tube. On the one hand, the patch kit is probably a little smaller. On the other hand, a spare tube will get you back on the road quicker. On the gripping hand, a patch kit can deal with multiple flats. Depends on how terrible it would be for you to get a second flat. Is it no big deal to grab a bus or uber or phone home for a ride?

Minimum for me is to also carry fresh underwear, socks, and shirt for work. I have a locker at work in a locker room with a shower, I keep jeans, shoes, towel etc at work, don't swap them out every day.

Tiniest jorts

Tube, tire lever, mini pump, rag, multitool, band-aid, bus fare, headlight in case I need it (front and rear visibility lights mounted).

Whynot1999

In my bag (banjobrothers waterproof convertible backpack pannier), I always have a water bottle, phone, sweat towel, set of lights, and safety vest. I generally have a helmet with me too. On my bike, I have just a rack and a lock chained around the seatpost while I'm riding. If it's raining, I carry an extra tee shirt, a folding vinyl poncho, and a jacket I like to use as an extra layer against the water. I live in north texas, so I fenders haven't really been a priority investment for me.

wphamilton

Plastic bag in case it rains, and a sandwich bag for my phone. That's all there is in my commuting bag, other than the clothes I'm going to wear and sometimes a towel.

GeneO 

Poncho, CO2 inflator, mini-pump, small first-aid kit, small cable ties, light and spare battery during short fall days, clothes for work, laptop if I brought it home, phone, all in a waterproof Mission workshop backpack.. Bike tools and spare tube I carry in a small seat bag,

it keeps a pair of street shoes at work.

Papa Tom

My contribution to these lists is always the same:

1. A pair of rubber surgical gloves to put on when you need to do an emergency repair on the road and you don't want to show up at work with grease all over your hands, face, and clothing
2. A rag to wipe down the bike BEFORE you do any emergency repairs

rumrunn6

card with emergency contact information, also your employer's name & #

downwinded

A mirror. It doesn't go "in the bag" but the thread title was "Must have ..." I really do consider the mirror as must have. I know others feel differently.

gregf83 

I try and take 2 or 3 days worth of food at a time. On days when I'm carrying food I'll use a backpack which has a spare tube and pump. On days without a pack I carry a phone, building access card, spare tube, tire lever and CO2.

Daniel4

Aiming to save money? Pack lunch.

harshbarj

Not really much you need other than a bike. But it also depends on distance traveled. If you are only going a kilometer or two, you don't really need anything else other than the bike.

About all I would think a commuter would 'need' is a patch kit, but you should rarely need that. In the 10 years I have been commuting by bike I have only had an issue 4-5 times. Perhaps a kit like this would do, and it's cheep.
https://www.amazon.com/Oumers-Functi...ords=patch+kit


Nice to haves is a good lock, ideally a built in frame lock , or O-lock for quick trips into a shop on the way to or from work. Also fenders, mirrors(motorcycle types work great), and generator lights.

If you plan on doing any kind of shopping, or even picking up a bite to eat while out, get a rear rack, and perhaps even a front one.

Luckily these can all be bought as you have the money and everything but the bike is not needed for commuting. They just make things so much simpler.

flangehead

Lots of good advice above; I'll add just one thing that I learned the hard way.

If you have mosquitoes on your route, have some foils of the repellent towelettes in with your patch kit or inner tube.

I had to fix a tire in a swamp with no wind. Miserable.

Classtime 

Get a pump that will fit in your bag and practice at home a couple times changing a tube in both the front and rear tire. A multi tool that will fit the fasteners on your bike is nice, but most thing can wait til you get home.

mackigator

A "buff," the thin stretchy face cover. At least for the cold part of the year.