Almost as compact, and somewhat more sturdy, is the Marmot PreCip jacket. I have seen those on sale at Sierra Trading Post for around $60. Hard to get anything decent any cheaper than that. The PreCip has worked very well for me - I wear it regularly when cycling in wet weather.

That's a lot easier to swallow! Thanks hikermor!

How about eye protection?

Sunglasses? I've ordered a spare pair of prescription glasses to go with the spare contact lenses.

Always grateful for an excuse to get over to REI, I tried on the PreCip today. I liked it too. However it doesn't pack up that much smaller than my Columbia rain shell. The Houdini isn't waterproof, it's "water resistant". I've decided to stick with what I got. I can fit my rain shell and a fleece jacket in my laptop bag and be comfortable in a wide variety of weather conditions.

Just a different angle we might brainstorm. I guess it sort of falls in between being stuck on the train and your office BIB thread.

One likely scenario where you might need to use some of your kit is if you get stuck at the train station before you ever get on the train. I think this situation is more likely than actually getting stuck on a train for an extended time. Perhaps inclement weather, like Snowmaggedon, stops all train service rather suddenly, and also makes it difficult/impractical to get back to your office (I have no idea how far your office is from the station).

So, either sacking out at the station for the night or finding shelter somewhere near the station could be another scenario to throw out there. I have no idea if "station" means something like NY's Grand Central or basically just a covered platform in an out-of-the-way, industrial part of town, so there's a lot we can't really assume without more details.

You should do all right with what you have. Just trying to think of any additional new contingencies that would be prudent to mull over.

Really great point Arney. Around here, most stations connect to some sort of building larger than just a covered shelter but it could get very crowed depending on the time of day. Shelter takes on more importance if you're thinking about a winter storm scenario.

A prybar of some type makes sense to me for a train kit, doors might get stuck/jammed/unpowered.

How about a Mini-Prybar or a Nail Puller ?

A N95 mask would be good to pack, as would some swimming goggles (for dust), but you have a bandana and sunglasses, so should be okay

Some thoughts,

Crowe

This is an excellent point.

Our new office is about two blocks from the train station. It seems doubtful that I could walk to the train station but not be able to walk back -- and my keycard is good for after-hours access. The keycard system is on a UPS so I would presumably be able to get in and out for at least the first few hours of a power outage.

I'm originally from New York City and I know Grand Central well. I can say that my station is closer to Grand Central than to a covered platform.



I've previously been of the opinion that I couldn't afford the weight or space for a prybar big enough to be useful, and that I couldn't afford the cost for a titanium bar. I do carry a Leatherman Wave as well as a very strong screwdriver, both of which can be used for some degree of prying, especially together.

However, that Vaughan-Bushnell Mini-Prybar looks quite appetizing. It's light and big enough to be useful. It's cheap enough for me to throw one in my next Amazon order and check it out. Thanks for the tip!

I have a couple of Nail Pullers, and I'm not convinced they'd be worth the weight -- they're heavier than the Mini-Prybar and not shaped as well.



I do have an N95 mask. Hopefully my sunglasses would suffice for any dust.

The 5.5" Vaughn may be small, but the 7.5" Stanley is much more capable IMO.

The Stanley is still relatively small; the claw is roughly the same length as the Vaughn, but the Stanley is ~twice the width and a tad thicker stock. If you can fit a 7.5" length, go for the Stanley.

I have both and the 5.5" Vaughn is light duty. I'm not sure how much use it would be opening elevator or subway doors. $.02