A soldier about to embark on a mission must be properly equipped. Beyond the obvious essentials helmet, gun and boots he’s carrying with him an entire catalogue of tools and devices which will sustain him through any number of situations, and perhaps even save his life. Macks are no different. Experience has taught them that macking opportunities can pop up anytime, anywhere. That’s why they never leave home without being equipped with a certain items. We refer to this arsenal as the Mack Pack.

Lighter. Even if you don’t smoke, you must carry a lighter with you at all times. You always want to be ready with a light if the girl you’re macking needs one. This isn’t just about being a gentleman. It’s about being prepared to sustain the momentum.

Breath mints. You might think breath mints and chewing gum are one in the same. They are not. If you’re a gum-chewer you need to lose that habit. Chomping on a stick of gum doesn’t make you look cool or nonchalant. It presents an air of cockiness, which some women find annoying. Most guys who are serial gum-chewers are using it as a crutch (the same as cigarettes) whether they realize it or not;

it gives them something to do, an excuse not to channel their full attention towards macking. If you want to distract a barking dog and calm him down, you give him a bone to work on. Gum has a similar effect on us. It dulls our edge and gives us something else to focus on.

Cell Phone. In this day and age, everyone carries ‘em. But you need to understand the deeper importance of the cell phone. When you’re trying to get her digits, you’re not going to do it with a piece of paper (or a cocktail napkin) and pen. You’re going to program it into your phone’s memory. As we’ll explain later, you can work this into a move that makes it hard for a woman to say no to. Make sure your battery is charged before you head out!

Lip Balm. Besides your eyes and teeth, women will take notice of your lips. A pair of moistened, fresh lips send a subliminal message to women that your mouth is approachable. Dry, cracked lips are a big turn-off.

Pad & Pen. This is an essential item that is often overlooking. You might think, if you’ve got a cell phone capable of storing number, why bother bringing a little pad of paper and a pen? Because while macking, there are all sorts of instances when you might need to write something down. If you’re conversing with a girl and she mentions a book she’s reading, or a party or concert that is coming up, you’ll say “that sounds really interesting…hold on a sec, I want to make sure I don’t forget this.”

Then take out your pen, jot it down on something (perhaps a cocktail napkin), and put it in your pocket. It shows that you’re sincerely interested and that you take her opinion seriously.

Cash. Always make your entrance with enough cash for the mission at hand. If you’re en route to a night spot, stop at an ATM on the way. Don’t show up low on cash, figuring you’ll find an ATM later. If you run out of cash in the middle of an encounter and have to go looking for one, you might be giving another guy the opportunity to slide in next to your woman. Not to mention the fact that running out of cash raises red flags about your financial situation.

Condom. This one is obvious, but must be noted. Even if you’re crazy enough to roll the dice on unprotected sex with some girl you’re not trying to impregnate, don’t assume she’s going to go for it. If things are getting hot and heavy and she asks you about “protection,” and you aren’t packing any, it could stop the encounter dead in its tracks. If she allows you to go hunt down a condom, consider yourself lucky; you’ve implied that you don’t normally take precautions about safe sex, and this sends a very sketchy message. Pack a jimmy hat, and wrap it up.