Plan to Stay Dry All Day: Steps to Arm Yourself with a Portable Sweat Preparedness Kit and the Tools You Need

Packing a sweat go bag can make living with hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating much easier. Sweating through your clothes is nerve-wracking and embarrassing, especially when it happens at work or in public. For people who sweat excessively, the fear of potentially sweating through your clothes provokes intense anxiety. Sadly, this fear, may even intensify the likelihood of perspiration.

One of the best ways to alleviate the fear of sweat marks and stains is being prepared for it. We suggest assembling a “sweat preparedness kit.” Just knowing you have the necessary tools to dry off, refresh and prevent sweat leakages relieves some of the fear. In addition to alleviating your apprehension, a sweat go bag also allows you to freshen up mid-day and prevent or treat common skin irritations associated with heavy sweating.

One of the best ways to alleviate the fear of sweat marks and stains is being prepared for it.

For your sweat preparedness kit, we recommend preparing for 12-15 hours at a time, depending on your commute, your average workday, etc.

People sweat in different areas of the body and in various amounts of volume. Moreover, everybody’s body is unique and may respond to treatments differently, which is why we offer a buffet of suggested products and supplies. We encourage you to select the supplies that work best for you.

Plan for the worst case sweat scenario. Consider a day that has all your sweat triggers: a hot, humid commute; long meetings in close quarters; stuffy office spaces; crowded elevators and subways; whatever makes you sweat.

Now, think about how often you would need to wipe down, freshen up or change your undergarments/outer garments during a 12-15-hour time frame in which most of those scenarios occur.

Once you determine your particular sweat pattern and volume, start adding items to your list.

Create a master list. Start out by thinking about your daily activities at work and during your commute.

• Write down all the tools you use to combat sweat daily. Do you keep a handkerchief tucked away to wipe off before you shake hands with a client? Do you keep a backup undershirt at the office in case your commute to work is especially hot and stuffy?
• Write down everything you wished you had during a recent sweat crisis. Soft paper towels to pat down your butt and legs after the three-hour mandatory training in a stuffy conference room? A Ziploc bag or plastic grocery bag to stash your sweaty undershirt after a hectic morning of meetings?
• Consider what items can be refillable or travel sized. This will greatly reduce the size of your kit.
• Consider how you will pack your kit, how large it will need to be, how you will transport it during your commute and where you will keep it once at work. It’s possible that your kit will be small and fit in a desk drawer. However, if it’s larger and comprehensive, it may fit better in a gym bag.

Pro Tip: Use a small packing cube to help keep all your items in one place and compact. Using a packing cube makes your kit easily transferrable from your messenger bag to your gym bag. It’s also much less conspicuous carrying to the bathroom. Look for cubes without the peek-a-boo tops for added privacy.

While you may have some of the items already in your house, we recommend that you shop specifically for your kit contents so you don’t diminish your necessary supplies at home. We've even put together an Amazon list of sweat proof essentials if you want to purchase them there.

Depending on your specific sweat-care needs, you may want to shop for:

• Antiperspirant or deodorant
• Baby wipes
• Cotton balls, if needed to apply astringent
• Dry shampoo, if you have a sweaty head
• Ejis sweat proof undershirts, sweat proof boxer briefs and/or antimicrobial dress socks 

• (buy in our shop or on Amazon)
• Gallon-sized Ziploc bag(s) or a reusable, waterproof drawstring bag, to keep wet or soiled items
• Handkerchief(s)
• Medicated / talc powder
• Natural astringent
• Packing cube
• Refillable bottle for drinking water
• Small hand towel(s)
• Soft paper towels

After you initially pack your sweat preparedness kit, you will want to set up a schedule to replenish it. At the end of the day be sure to remove any wet or soiled items and replenish supplies.

Consider the sample schedule below for restocking your kit.

• Clean hand towel or soft paper towels
• Clean handkerchief(s) Refillable bottle for drinking water
• Clean gallon Ziploc or reusable, waterproof bag
• Clean undershirt, boxer briefs, socks, shirt and/or pants

• Antiperspirant or deodorant
• Baby wipes Cotton balls, if needed to apply astringent
• Dry shampoo, if you have a sweaty head
• Medicated / talc powder
• Natural astringent

Set up a schedule to replenish your kit. Identify the items you will need to replenish or swap out daily, and the ones can be checked on weekly.

To ensure the proper upkeep of your kit, replenish any supplies you used during the day. Remove any wet or soiled towels or articles of clothing; and hang to dry before tossing in the laundry basket. To keep your kit smelling fresh, stash a scented dryer sheet in your bag; it will help eliminate any odors from soiled items.

By assembling a sweat go bag, you are actively facing the fear of your worst-case sweat scenario. Only now you get to create a new scenario in which you are armed with the tools you need to immediately respond with confidence.