What’s In My Range Bag?
When I’m just running around town, I rarely have much more with me than my wallet, flashlight, gun, extra magazine, and knife. When I go shooting, though, the contents of my range bag start looking much more like that of a stereotypical purse, if only in the amount and variety of things that can be found inside. What do I drag along with me? Here’s a peek:

Sometimes, I take so much stuff to the range that I need two bags!
Don’t laugh, but over the years I’ve definitely forgotten important parts of range trip packing like: guns, magazines, ammunition, and eye and ear protection. They are the bare minimum to get a little shooting done, but they can still get left behind at home.
My kind of training and matches also require a holster, magazine carriers, and a special, two-layer belt. With all of the horror stories of forgetting them for a match, I always double-check I have those with me.

These are the things I absolutely need to get any work done on the range.
For hearing protection, I like to wear muffs over a set of custom earplugs so it’s hard to forget both, but just in case, disposable foam ear plugs are cheap and don’t take up a lot of space or weight. Meanwhile, I keep a case with extra lenses for my eye protection in my bag, as well as a set of prescription inserts in case my contacts aren’t working out for any reason. If I know I’m going to be on the range for a long day, I keep my regular glasses in the car too.
Tools of the Trade
I maintain my own guns and while I do my best to take care of them at home, things can pop up while I’m shooting. Whether it’s a regular screwdriver, a specialized hex wrench, or a bigger, sharper knife than I normally carry, I’ve needed them all on the range. Multitools can save space if you need to travel light. I also make sure I have a small cleaning and lube kit with me.

While I go overboard here sometimes, these are the maintenance items I always have with me.

Practice is more effective with the right tools at hand.
Almost everyone who spends a lot of time outside knows that they need sunscreen and bug spray. But are you also aware of the importance of staying fed and hydrated? Low blood sugar and dehydration aren’t just uncomfortable; they can also become safety issues as they cause you to become uncoordinated and unfocused. Since I can’t count on having food and water at the range, I always keep snacks in my bag and toss water in the car.

Healthy snacks and a little something to make sure I keep downing water are important for me to always have around.

Being able to treat the little things are just as important as being prepared for the big events.