How to carry something with a shinuy

Question

In certain instances, a person who must carry something with them on Shabbos is allowed to do so, but should try to do it by way of shinuy (שינוי), a way different from the norm, in order to minimize the amount and seriousness of prohibitions done*. (see, eg, שמירת שבת כהלכתה לב:נד, about bringing medicine that is critical [but not necessarily urgent])

Since that is so, what shinuyim can be done? I'm looking for practical suggestions on unusual ways to carry an object in public, not necessarily for a halachic discussion; the definition of shinuy is here.

Every person should consult their own rabbis as to whether they are allowed/required to carry with a shinuy**, as well as to whether any of these answers count as a good shinuy, before implementing any of them.

A good answer to this question will be practical, easy, concealable (who wants to look funny?), and not cause pain*** to the carrier.

---

* For more discussion about the precise definition of "shinuy," see What constitutes a shinui?
** Assuming the situation isn't critical or urgent to saving life, in which case השואל הרי זה שופך דמים (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 328:2)
*** See my answer

Answer 1

I've seen and done many shinuyim in my time.

The easiest that I could think of, if you're the black hat type (or heavily involved in Winterbash ;-), is to put something under your hat. There's usually plenty of room in there.

Another shinuy could be to put something in your sock, though if you'll be walking for a while, expect blisters on your ankle (that's what I did this week).
Also, you won't want to do this with things that you'll want to eat ( I threw out that candies that I walked ~two miles with this week, when I got back home :P)

Another thing you might try is to put something in between the waistband of your pants and your hip....though you should be careful that it doesn't fall out, which might cause problems with picking it up after it falls. ( *if it's needed, it's needed....but the point of the shinuy was exactly to avoid איסורי תורה, which you can get pretty easily by picking something up in רשות הרבים* )

If you're carrying something small like Winkies (also called "Rockets"), they'll sometimes fit inside the belt loops of a pair of pants. I've found that two to three of them will fit nicely in a belt loop together with a belt, and will not fall out easily.

For whatever it's worth to you, these shinuyim all passed by my rabbi.

Answer 2

When I've needed to do this (which isn't often thankfully), it's usually a short distance inside the house, and for whatever reason it's also usually in the kitchen. Therefore I use what's available and carry the object with another object - I use salad tongs.