When I started carrying a Herschel Hank II as a backup wallet, it came with a silicone wristband to hold it closed. I thought it was a little odd. Because it’s a backup wallet, it stays pretty full with spare cards, foreign currencies, and a few American dollars. So I kept the rubber band around it. After a while it kind of grew on me.
Throughout my travels I often buy a box of cereal for breakfast in the morning. At some point I began using the Herschel band to seal the bag of cereal after opening.
Then during a stay at the Bishop Lei International House in Hong Kong I left my cereal behind, with the silicone wristband. And thus, the first piece of neartheelevators blog merch was born.
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Silicone Wristbands: A Multi-Purpose Tool
Not only are silicone wristbands extremely cheap to buy, they’re typically customizable for free. So why not put the name of the site on there?
Now that I’ve got a number of these to play around with I’m starting to realize just how handy they are. One holds the spare wallet closed, and another holds the passport wallet closed. Now the cereal bag has its own wristband, and I’m finding they’re particularly handy for sealing various snack items.
They’re also good for banding similar items together in your bag. They can serve as a luggage identifier. Roll t-shirts or other clothing. Put one on your beverage to identify it at a crowded hostel. Cinch a laundry bag or a glasses case closed.
The longer I carry around a few of these things (which have no weight and take up no space) the more I realize they can do quite a lot. Probably even things I haven’t thought of yet.
