When traveling, there are many essentials that everyone carries with them whether traveling overnight for a business meeting or packing for an exotic vacation. Without question, every man needs a Dopp Kit to carry around his toothbrush and cologne.

The Dopp Kit made its way into commonplace when first issued to millions of soldiers during World War II to conveniently carry a GI’s essentials. Its name derives from its creator Charles Doppelt, who manufactured these small bags in Chicago from leather.

This Dopp Kit from Crabtree & Evelyn came stuffed with travel products from the Nomad product line for men.

While leather is a resilient and sturdy material, one should not simply purchase the first leather bag he sees. Here are some things to consider when adding one to your travel luggage:

Material: While leather is nice, after having a small bottle of cologne shatter on one of my overnight trips, I now see the benefit of having a bag made out of synthetic material like nylon, which can be washed. I much prefer throwing my Dopp into the wash on gentle cycle and letting it air dry than having to sponge the mess off the inside of the bag. A sponge will never get the bag fully clean, or in my case, smell free.

Opening: Generally Dopp Bags are opened with a single zipper. I prefer a double zipper opening for 2 reasons. First, two zippers offers a larger opening allowing one to keep all items easily organized and easily grabable without having to fiddle around for your toothbrush. Second, generally, when there is a wide opening on the top of the bag, the bag sits flat rather than tall. I prefer a flat bag because I find it easier to stack when placing in your overnight bag. An alternative to the double zipper is the bag that has a folded opening. These bags resemble a brown paper bag when opened, in essence removing the top of the bag when open.

Items Every Dopp Kit should include the following to prepare for travel emergencies without packing the kitchen sink:

1. Collar Stays: most button down shirts require collar stays to keep the points nice and crisp. Because it is a last minute packing item, its more likely to be forgotten. Keep a pair or two on hand when you forget to pack them in your suitcase.

2. Safety Pin: Possibly the most McGeyver-esque product ever created (save the paper clip) this little buddy can be used to zipper a fly on a malfunctioning pair of pants, fasten a shirt that lost a button, or can work similar miracles for a lady friend.

3. Twenty Dollars (A $10, $5, and 5 $1 bills): Storing a few extra bucks in your carry on is always nice if you need to tip a concierge or bellhop and realize you have not yet cashed your traveler cheques. In your hotel room, a few extra dollars can come in handy to tip for room service when you cannot locate your wallet in the evening, or even allows you some security if you’ve ever lost your wallet.

4. IB Profen: A life saver for those morning-after hangovers before a business meeting, or to cure you of your headache after the meeting.

5. A Fabric Softener Sheet: Packing has the side effect of getting clothing wrinkled as well as leaving them statically charged. This sheet is much more compact than a static guard and has the added effect of making you bag smell good. When in a bind, it can be used as a rudimentary lint remover.

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