diff --git a/data/json/player_activities.json b/data/json/player_activities.json
index bb131af919029..4301ab3d826e7 100644
--- a/data/json/player_activities.json
+++ b/data/json/player_activities.json
@@ -1077,5 +1077,13 @@
     "interruptable": false,
     "suspendable": false,
     "interruptable_with_kb": false
+  },
+  {
+    "id": "ACT_RUMMAGE_POCKET",
+    "type": "activity_type",
+    "activity_level": "NO_EXERCISE",
+    "verb": "rummaging pocket",
+    "based_on": "speed",
+    "no_resume": true
   }
 ]
diff --git a/src/activity_actor.cpp b/src/activity_actor.cpp
index 7c34bc7225369..3972129154a55 100644
--- a/src/activity_actor.cpp
+++ b/src/activity_actor.cpp
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include "creature_tracker.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "enums.h"
+#include "enum_conversions.h"
 #include "event.h"
 #include "event_bus.h"
 #include "field_type.h"
@@ -116,6 +117,7 @@ static const activity_id ACT_PLAY_WITH_PET( "ACT_PLAY_WITH_PET" );
 static const activity_id ACT_PRYING( "ACT_PRYING" );
 static const activity_id ACT_READ( "ACT_READ" );
 static const activity_id ACT_RELOAD( "ACT_RELOAD" );
+static const activity_id ACT_RUMMAGE_POCKET( "ACT_RUMMAGE_POCKET" );
 static const activity_id ACT_SHAVE( "ACT_SHAVE" );
 static const activity_id ACT_SHEARING( "ACT_SHEARING" );
 static const activity_id ACT_STASH( "ACT_STASH" );
@@ -5194,6 +5196,140 @@ std::unique_ptr<activity_actor> haircut_activity_actor::deserialize( JsonValue &
     return haircut_activity_actor().clone();
 }
 
+void rummage_activity_actor::start( player_activity &act, Character &who )
+{
+    int moves = 0;
+    if( kind == action::drop ) {
+        for( const drop_location &i_loc : item_loc ) {
+            //Only add the move cost for items inside a container
+            if( i_loc.first.where() == item_location::type::container ) {
+                moves += i_loc.first.obtain_cost( who );
+            }
+        }
+    } else {
+        moves += item_loc.front().first.obtain_cost( who );
+    }
+    act.moves_total = moves;
+    act.moves_left = moves;
+}
+
+void rummage_activity_actor::do_turn( player_activity &/*act*/, Character & /*who*/ )
+{
+}
+
+void rummage_activity_actor::finish( player_activity &act, Character &who )
+{
+    who.add_msg_if_player( m_good, _( "You rummaged your pockets to find the item" ) );
+    // some function calls in the switch block spawn activities e.g.
+    // avatar::read spawns an ACT_READ activity, so we need to set
+    // this one to null before calling them
+    act.set_to_null();
+
+    switch( kind ) {
+        case action::activate: {
+            avatar &player_character = get_avatar();
+            avatar_action::use_item( player_character, item_loc.front().first );
+            return;
+        }
+        case action::drop: {
+            who.drop( item_loc, m_pnt );
+            return;
+        }
+        case action::eat: {
+            avatar &player_character = get_avatar();
+            avatar_action::eat( player_character, item_loc.front().first );
+            return;
+        }
+        case action::read: {
+            avatar &player_character = get_avatar();
+            item_location i_loc = item_loc.front().first;
+
+            if( i_loc->type->can_use( "learn_spell" ) ) {
+                item spell_book = *i_loc.get_item();
+                spell_book.get_use( "learn_spell" )->call(
+                    player_character, spell_book, spell_book.active, player_character.pos() );
+            } else {
+                player_character.read( i_loc );
+            }
+            return;
+        }
+        case action::wear: {
+            avatar &player_character = get_avatar();
+            player_character.wear( item_loc.front().first );
+            return;
+        }
+        case action::wield: {
+            avatar &player_character = get_avatar();
+            player_character.wield( item_loc.front().first );
+            return;
+        }
+        default:
+            debugmsg( "Unexpected action kind in rummage_pocket_activity_actor::finish" );
+            return;
+    }
+}
+
+void rummage_activity_actor::serialize( JsonOut &jsout ) const
+{
+    jsout.start_object();
+
+    jsout.member( "item_loc", item_loc );
+    jsout.member_as_string( "action", kind );
+    jsout.member( "m_pnt", m_pnt );
+
+    jsout.end_object();
+}
+
+std::unique_ptr<activity_actor> rummage_activity_actor::deserialize( JsonValue &jsin )
+{
+    rummage_activity_actor actor( drop_locations{}, action::none, tripoint_zero );
+
+    JsonObject data = jsin.get_object();
+
+    data.read( "item_loc", actor.item_loc );
+    const action k = data.get_enum_value<action>( "action" );
+    actor.kind = k;
+    data.read( "m_pnt", actor.m_pnt );
+
+    return actor.clone();
+}
+
+namespace io
+{
+template<>
+std::string enum_to_string<rummage_activity_actor::action>(
+    const rummage_activity_actor::action kind )
+{
+    switch( kind ) {
+        case rummage_activity_actor::action::activate:
+            return "activate";
+        case rummage_activity_actor::action::drop:
+            return "drop";
+        case rummage_activity_actor::action::eat:
+            return "eat";
+        case rummage_activity_actor::action::none:
+            return "none";
+        case rummage_activity_actor::action::read:
+            return "read";
+        case rummage_activity_actor::action::wear:
+            return "wear";
+        case rummage_activity_actor::action::wield:
+            return "wield";
+        case rummage_activity_actor::action::last:
+            break;
+    }
+    debugmsg( "Invalid rummage_activity_actor::action" );
+    cata_fatal( "Invalid rummage_activity_actor::action" );
+}
+} //namespace io
+
+template<>
+struct enum_traits<rummage_activity_actor::action> {
+    static constexpr rummage_activity_actor::action last =
+        rummage_activity_actor::action::last;
+};
+
+
 namespace activity_actors
 {
 
@@ -5234,6 +5370,7 @@ deserialize_functions = {
     { ACT_PLAY_WITH_PET, &play_with_pet_activity_actor::deserialize },
     { ACT_READ, &read_activity_actor::deserialize },
     { ACT_RELOAD, &reload_activity_actor::deserialize },
+    { ACT_RUMMAGE_POCKET, &rummage_activity_actor::deserialize },
     { ACT_SHAVE, &shave_activity_actor::deserialize },
     { ACT_SHEARING, &shearing_activity_actor::deserialize },
     { ACT_STASH, &stash_activity_actor::deserialize },
diff --git a/src/activity_actor_definitions.h b/src/activity_actor_definitions.h
index 45b12d33392ac..ac1cf9f49b674 100644
--- a/src/activity_actor_definitions.h
+++ b/src/activity_actor_definitions.h
@@ -1571,4 +1571,48 @@ class haircut_activity_actor : public activity_actor
         static std::unique_ptr<activity_actor> deserialize( JsonValue & );
 };
 
+class rummage_activity_actor : public activity_actor
+{
+
+    public:
+        enum class action : int {
+            activate,
+            drop,
+            eat,
+            none,
+            read,
+            wear,
+            wield,
+            last
+        };
+        using item_locations = drop_locations;
+
+    private:
+        item_locations item_loc;
+        action kind;
+        tripoint m_pnt;
+
+    public:
+        rummage_activity_actor() = default;
+        rummage_activity_actor( const item_location &i_loc, action act_kind,
+                                const tripoint &pnt = tripoint_zero )
+            : item_loc( { std::make_pair( i_loc, i_loc->count() ) } ), kind( act_kind ), m_pnt( pnt ) {}
+        rummage_activity_actor( const drop_locations &drop_loc, action act_kind,
+                                const tripoint &pnt = tripoint_zero )
+            : item_loc( drop_loc ), kind( act_kind ), m_pnt( pnt ) {}
+        activity_id get_type() const override {
+            return activity_id( "ACT_RUMMAGE_POCKET" );
+        }
+
+        void start( player_activity &act, Character & ) override;
+        void do_turn( player_activity &, Character & ) override;
+        void finish( player_activity &act, Character &who ) override;
+
+        std::unique_ptr<activity_actor> clone() const override {
+            return std::make_unique<rummage_activity_actor>( *this );
+        }
+        void serialize( JsonOut & ) const override;
+        static std::unique_ptr<activity_actor> deserialize( JsonValue & );
+};
+
 #endif // CATA_SRC_ACTIVITY_ACTOR_DEFINITIONS_H
diff --git a/src/avatar_action.cpp b/src/avatar_action.cpp
index fac065c63d43d..510f160316864 100644
--- a/src/avatar_action.cpp
+++ b/src/avatar_action.cpp
@@ -1080,8 +1080,13 @@ static void update_lum( item_location loc, bool add )
 
 void avatar_action::use_item( avatar &you )
 {
-    item_location loc;
-    avatar_action::use_item( you, loc );
+    item_location loc = game_menus::inv::use( you );
+    if( loc.where() == item_location::type::container ) {
+        you.assign_activity( player_activity( rummage_activity_actor( loc,
+                                              rummage_activity_actor::action::activate ) ) );
+    } else {
+        avatar_action::use_item( you, loc );
+    }
 }
 
 void avatar_action::use_item( avatar &you, item_location &loc )
diff --git a/src/game.cpp b/src/game.cpp
index 1af6c631cf1d3..d3879a0d9ad9f 100644
--- a/src/game.cpp
+++ b/src/game.cpp
@@ -1886,7 +1886,13 @@ int game::inventory_item_menu( item_location locThisItem,
                     if( locThisItem.get_item()->type->has_use() &&
                         !locThisItem.get_item()->item_has_uses_recursive( true ) ) {
                         // Item has uses and none of its contents (if any) has uses.
-                        avatar_action::use_item( u, locThisItem );
+
+                        if( locThisItem.where() == item_location::type::container ) {
+                            u.assign_activity( player_activity( rummage_activity_actor( locThisItem,
+                                                                rummage_activity_actor::action::activate ) ) );
+                        } else {
+                            avatar_action::use_item( u, locThisItem );
+                        }
                     } else if( locThisItem.get_item()->item_has_uses_recursive() ) {
                         game::item_action_menu( locThisItem );
                     } else {
@@ -1898,7 +1904,13 @@ int game::inventory_item_menu( item_location locThisItem,
                 }
                 case 'E':
                     if( !locThisItem.get_item()->is_container() ) {
-                        avatar_action::eat( u, locThisItem );
+                        if( locThisItem.where() == item_location::type::container ) {
+                            u.assign_activity( player_activity( rummage_activity_actor( locThisItem,
+                                                                rummage_activity_actor::action::eat ) ) )
+                            ;
+                        } else {
+                            avatar_action::eat( u, locThisItem );
+                        }
                     } else {
                         avatar_action::eat( u, game_menus::inv::consume( u, locThisItem ) );
                     }
@@ -1906,7 +1918,12 @@ int game::inventory_item_menu( item_location locThisItem,
                 case 'W': {
                     contents_change_handler handler;
                     handler.unseal_pocket_containing( locThisItem );
-                    u.wear( locThisItem );
+                    if( locThisItem.where() == item_location::type::container ) {
+                        u.assign_activity( player_activity( rummage_activity_actor( locThisItem,
+                                                            rummage_activity_actor::action::wear ) ) );
+                    } else {
+                        u.wear( locThisItem );
+                    }
                     handler.handle_by( u );
                     break;
                 }
@@ -1914,7 +1931,12 @@ int game::inventory_item_menu( item_location locThisItem,
                     if( u.can_wield( *locThisItem ).success() ) {
                         contents_change_handler handler;
                         handler.unseal_pocket_containing( locThisItem );
-                        wield( locThisItem );
+                        if( locThisItem.where() == item_location::type::container ) {
+                            u.assign_activity( player_activity( rummage_activity_actor( locThisItem,
+                                                                rummage_activity_actor::action::wield ) ) );
+                        } else {
+                            wield( locThisItem );
+                        }
                         handler.handle_by( u );
                     } else {
                         add_msg( m_info, "%s", u.can_wield( *locThisItem ).c_str() );
@@ -1933,9 +1955,15 @@ int game::inventory_item_menu( item_location locThisItem,
                 case 'T':
                     u.takeoff( locThisItem );
                     break;
-                case 'd':
-                    u.drop( locThisItem, u.pos() );
+                case 'd': {
+                    if( locThisItem.where() == item_location::type::container ) {
+                        u.assign_activity( player_activity( rummage_activity_actor( locThisItem,
+                                                            rummage_activity_actor::action::drop, u.pos() ) ) );
+                    } else {
+                        u.drop( locThisItem, u.pos() );
+                    }
                     break;
+                }
                 case 'U':
                     u.unload( locThisItem );
                     break;
@@ -1948,9 +1976,15 @@ int game::inventory_item_menu( item_location locThisItem,
                 case 'm':
                     avatar_action::mend( u, locThisItem );
                     break;
-                case 'R':
-                    u.read( locThisItem );
+                case 'R': {
+                    if( locThisItem.where() == item_location::type::container ) {
+                        u.assign_activity( player_activity( rummage_activity_actor( locThisItem,
+                                                            rummage_activity_actor::action::read ) ) );
+                    } else {
+                        u.read( locThisItem );
+                    }
                     break;
+                }
                 case 'D':
                     u.disassemble( locThisItem, false );
                     break;
@@ -7892,7 +7926,15 @@ void game::unload_container()
 
 void game::drop_in_direction( const tripoint &pnt )
 {
-    u.drop( game_menus::inv::multidrop( u ), pnt );
+    drop_locations drop_loc = game_menus::inv::multidrop( u );
+    for( const drop_location &d_loc : drop_loc ) {
+        if( d_loc.first.where() == item_location::type::container ) {
+            u.assign_activity( player_activity( rummage_activity_actor( drop_loc,
+                                                rummage_activity_actor::action::drop, pnt ) ) );
+            return;
+        }
+    }
+    u.drop( drop_loc, pnt );
 }
 
 // Used to set up the first Hotkey in the display set
@@ -8738,7 +8780,12 @@ void game::wield()
     item_location loc = game_menus::inv::wield( u );
 
     if( loc ) {
-        wield( loc );
+        if( loc.where() == item_location::type::container ) {
+            u.assign_activity( player_activity( rummage_activity_actor( loc,
+                                                rummage_activity_actor::action::wield ) ) );
+        } else {
+            wield( loc );
+        }
     } else {
         add_msg( _( "Never mind." ) );
     }
diff --git a/src/handle_action.cpp b/src/handle_action.cpp
index 6563a9743b1bc..623f5f7566a17 100644
--- a/src/handle_action.cpp
+++ b/src/handle_action.cpp
@@ -1313,7 +1313,12 @@ static void wear()
     item_location loc = game_menus::inv::wear( player_character );
 
     if( loc ) {
-        player_character.wear( loc );
+        if( loc.where() == item_location::type::container ) {
+            player_character.assign_activity( player_activity( rummage_activity_actor( loc,
+                                              rummage_activity_actor::action::wear ) ) );
+        } else {
+            player_character.wear( loc );
+        }
     } else {
         add_msg( _( "Never mind." ) );
     }
@@ -1338,13 +1343,19 @@ static void read()
     item_location loc = game_menus::inv::read( player_character );
 
     if( loc ) {
-        if( loc->type->can_use( "learn_spell" ) ) {
-            item spell_book = *loc.get_item();
-            spell_book.get_use( "learn_spell" )->call( player_character, spell_book,
-                    spell_book.active, player_character.pos() );
+        if( loc.where() == item_location::type::container ) {
+            player_character.assign_activity( player_activity( rummage_activity_actor(
+                                                  loc, rummage_activity_actor::action::read
+                                              ) ) );
         } else {
-            loc = loc.obtain( player_character );
-            player_character.read( loc );
+            if( loc->type->can_use( "learn_spell" ) ) {
+                item spell_book = *loc.get_item();
+                spell_book.get_use( "learn_spell" )->call( player_character, spell_book, spell_book.active,
+                        player_character.pos() );
+            } else {
+                loc = loc.obtain( player_character );
+                player_character.read( loc );
+            }
         }
     } else {
         add_msg( _( "Never mind." ) );
@@ -2111,7 +2122,13 @@ bool game::do_regular_action( action_id &act, avatar &player_character,
 
         case ACTION_EAT:
             if( !avatar_action::eat_here( player_character ) ) {
-                avatar_action::eat( player_character, game_menus::inv::consume( player_character ) );
+                item_location loc = game_menus::inv::consume( player_character );
+                if( loc.where() == item_location::type::container ) {
+                    u.assign_activity( player_activity( rummage_activity_actor( loc,
+                                                        rummage_activity_actor::action::eat ) ) );
+                } else {
+                    avatar_action::eat( player_character, loc );
+                }
             }
             break;