What Goes In The Ditty Bag? | Best Made Co.

Pictures by Best Made Co.

Pictures by Best Made Co.

Pictures by Best Made Co.

The Best Made Ditty Bag Origins

Originally a ditty bag would most commonly store the tools of a sailor’s trade, typical contents might include: beeswax, varied needles, buttons of different types, pins, white tape, Dutch tape, thimble, whited brown thread, black thread, worsted blue and scraps of light duck, his marlinspike, a fid, a palm and needles, a bullock’s horn, and personal sundries. As wind was eventually replaced with gas and nuclear power, the sailor’s ditty would contain uniform and personal effects (see above diagram). Since its nautical origins, the ditty has been adopted as an effective all-purpose utility bag for other trades including space exploration, forest services, the boy scouts, sea scouts, etc.

Some say the ditty bag got its name from from the word “dittis” (a derivation of the Saxon word “dite” meaning “tidy”), others say that because a sailor would spend great lengths at sea he needed two of each item (hence it derived from “the ditto bag”).  Here

My Camping Ditty Bag Picks:

I'm no sailor so these are some essentials that I think every camper's "Ditty Bag" should have:

Details: New Balance Trail Runners  |  Outlier Waterproof Jacket  |  Dr. Bronner's Peppermint soap (shampoo, cleaning dishes, laundry)  |  Ziplocks Double zips  |  Gravity-Free Pen  |  Field Notes or Any small notepad  |  Film Camera: Pentax K1000  |  Kershaw Leek Knife  |  Tough Hatchet  |  Insect Repellent  |  Collapsible Kites and Fishing Rods

The Best Made Co. Ditty Bag $118.00

Summer Picks

The Black Watch

First time wearing the wool blazer this season.  I know it will be 56 degrees this afternoon, but what the hay.  The last picture makes the fit look really bad, but it's just me extending my arms to take a shot.  I love Black Watch probably has something to do with my affinity for all things Scottish.  Check out more about this at Valet Mag.  Also, if you're not into the whole blazer look, try this scarf found from SuitsandBoots and The Black Watchman.  

Black Watch: The regiment's name allegedly came from the dark tartan that they wore and from its role to "watch" the Highlands. "Black Watch" was originally a nickname for the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot, but was used more and more so that, in 1881, when the 42nd amalgamated with the73rd Regiment of Foot, the new regiment was named "The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)". The uniform changed over time, but the nickname has been more enduring. The regiment adopted the royal motto of Scotland's Stewart monarchs, Nemo me impune lacessit (no-one provokes me with impunity).

Ah, the windowpane detail.  It's getting colder here in the northeast and there's nothing like seeing a great pattern on a blazer, 'specially the windowpane.  By far, the Isaia Jacket on the bottom is my favorite.  There's so much you can do with the pattern, gingham, plaid, plain, unbuttoned casual and the list goes on.  

For men, the choices are endless, women not so much...unless you want to go custom.  Either way, I can't wait to dive into winter and see what patterns the season inspires everyone to wear.  Oh and to see who does it right, visit this guy here