When you do a troop, you should always have an emergency kit with you. The content of this kit should be everything you need to do quick-fixes that gets you through the day.
In my kit, you’ll find:
- Duct tape
- Masking tape or gaffer tape
- Superglue
- Zip-ties
- Scissors
- ABS plastic strips
- Needle and thread
- Small slotted screw driver
- Needle nose pliers
- Foam padding
- Batteries
- A shoe horn
- A chocolate bar
- Bandages
- Blister pads
I never need most of these items, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Not pictured: a chocolate bar. I couldn’t find it for some reason 😉
I keep the padding with my armor, and it functions as protection during transport. The rest fits inside a small box. This should fix any minor damage or injuries — both on the armor and myself.
The pliers and screw driver is to thighten any loose screws, nuts or bolts. The bandages is in case of injuries from armor bites — or even armor burns, as happened to me on a troop once. Scissors, ABS strip, zip-ties, needle and thread, glue and tape is to keep the armor from falling apart if something like a button or a strap fails. I also use the tape to stick the microphone wire to my face.
Oh, and the chocolate bar is just in case of low blood sugar. A cranky trooper is a bad trooper.
I also always bring a bottle of water, even if the organizers says that there is drinking water on the premises. The armor is not breathing, so your body heat has nowhere to go. You will get hot, and you will sweat.
Take care, stay hydrated, drink water!