Recently I noticed that I've been going on a lot of last minute travel. So much so that I've considered a mostly pre-packed bag. I've been working with this list below, but it's hardly perfect. I think it would be more everyday type stuff, and very minimal survival/bob type things. The contents would be enough to last a few nights out of town. Any suggestions?

Gov't ID
Money
Travel Confirmations
Cell Phone + Charger
Sunglasses
Pen / Sharpie
Toiletries
Clothes Work / Casual
Swimsuit (optional)
Sleepwear
Hat
Jacket
Fleece / Hoodie

Looks like a good kit that won't get you stopped at the gate. Remember to throw a business card or two in the bag, just in case things get lost. When I traveled a lot, I kept the kit to almost exactly what you have, figuring that the hotel or a store close by would always have what else I would need.

Breaking down the toiletries a bit, remember motion sickness meds, even if its for the person in the airline seat next to you. Also cold meds and benadryl. You'll never want a stuffed up set of sinuses when trying to fly, I was on a flight that had to circle for an hour while the meds kicked in for a passenger, he was screaming in pain when they started to land because of pressurization. All meds need to be kept in their original packaging of course...

I see you listed money, and I am assuming it means paper money. I would add a large handful of quarters. They come in handy when everything is closed and you're forced to graze from vending machines. (Been there, hated it) They can also serve as a backup for the cell phone, a way to distract people, and when dumped in a tube sock and swung with some force, they can raise a good knot on someone's head.

I would also add some kind of way to kill time, like a good paperback. Long layovers are effing booooring.

---Ford---

I'll break down the toiletries and meds this evening. I was thinking last night I should have a more standardized "pill pack" Tylenol, Imodium AD, Sudafed, etc. I could see having the pill packs in my bag, at work, in the car, additional to my BOB FAK.

Here's my pill pack:
4 GasX
3 SudaFed
2 Neosporin 2 Go
4 Band aids
6 Floss Picks
4 DayQuil
4 Imodium AD
8 Cough Drops
4 Pepto
9 Tynenol

I'm thinking that'd fix 90% of anything I ran into.

Or 90% of anything that runs out of you.

Holy crap Batman, I just dumped my tolietries bag. I didn't realize all this stuff snuck in there.

Mini Pack of Tums
Bar of Soap (Hotel sized)
Disposable razor
shaving cream
Shoe shine cloth
Ear plugs
Toothpaste
deodorant
Shampoo
Body wash
mouthwash
Body powder
Floss
Blistex
Nail Clipper
Band Aids
-Partial Pill Pack (as listed above)

I like to add a locking carabiner [sp?] and a long nylon strap wit a fastex buckle. You can fix all manner of luggage problem with those.

A stuff sack, never know when you will have more to carry than you thought.

A book of paper matches in a ziplock bag . . .because you still can.

snacks.

I traveled full time for the last 5 years. Looks like universally bad advice in this thread. You're better off making a list of things not to pack. If you want smooth travel, travel light.

Toiletries are the first to go. Pack a stick of deodorant if you're really paranoid, but everything you need is free at the hotel or less than <$10 at walmart/walgreens/cvs or the airport. I threw away a full size tube of toothpaste every week for years. Any liquids will slow you down in security. If you're running late, this is the difference between making a flight, and not.

A checked bag is a lost bag. PERIOD. Never check a bag, there's no reason. At best you now have to wait in line at check-in to give them your bag, then wait for it to arrive (that can take an hour of your time and be the difference between making a flight or not). If you can't fit all your crap into a carry-on, you're carrying too much. You can wash clothes, have them drycleaned, or just wear them again if you are staying > 1 week. Get some exofficio boxers.

Loose change (quarters). What's this metal in your bag? I'll have to rerun it through the metal detector for the next 10 minutes. Oh you missed your flight sorry. No joke, happened to me.

Books and magazines are available in the airport and on the plane.

Matches? Are you insane? Who's butthole is going to get the extra exam? The guy with the matches or the guy without? Also you have to pull your matches out, wasting time. The things you CAN do, the things you will be ALLOWED to do by the retards running the line, and the things you SHOULD do are complete opposites.

Meds are a good idea. A bottle of ibuprofen may be the difference between 6 hours in hell or a nice nap. More important than meds are earplugs (for the screaming children and engine noise next to you). They don't fail when ipods do.

Also get a bag you can run with (good quality wheels). I highly recommend neon barbie pink. Every douche in the airport has a black, then navy, then dark green, then red bag. Hot girls have brought me my pink bag from the back of the plane on several occasions because they remembered me.

The key here is only bring what you absolutely can't buy and must have. The likelihood of a zombie attack (<1%) is much much less than the likelihood of a fucked up flight (95%).