Everyday Carry Basics: What Is the Most Essential EDC Gear?
Just like you shouldn't head out on the trail without gear and unprepared, heading out for the day without some minimal gear isn't a great idea. We're all about preparedness, even if that means being prepared for those small things that can ruin your day. While plenty of gear can be carried in your pockets, a pack or pouch is usually easier, and you avoid the tedious load/unload cycle when you swap out pants.
Personalize Your Everyday Carry
Now, this is probably a good time to admit that Everyday Carry, aka EDC, can get out of hand. Not everyone needs a backpack full of gear or five ways to cut, pry, or tighten a screw at all times. However everyone can find that balance between under-prepared and over-burdened. Here are five kinds of EDC gear that are important for a fully equipped everyday carry kit:
- A blade: a folding or fixed blade knife.
- Small tools: a multi-tool and/or pliers and screwdriver.
- A flashlight: keep it compact but versatile.
- Firestarter: whether it's a lighter or ferro rod or both.
- Misc: earbuds, pen, you choose how to round out your kit.
Now let's break it down:
Blade
For starters, we're big fans of carrying a knife. While it isn't legal everywhere, we rarely find ourselves in those places, not even airports. You never know when you'll need to cut some cordage, half a sandwich, or whittle some shavings to start a fire in order to stave off the chill when you spend an unexpected night in the wilderness. There are literally thousands of great knives out there that fit every budget, but our team appreciates blades from LT Wright. They're handmade and available in dozens of sizes and styles, plus the LTWK stands behind their work. You can pick up a folding knife at the local gas station, but we'd suggest you aim a bit higher in terms of quality. The Swiss Army Knife is a timeless design that not only takes care of a blade, but you can select a model with a screwdriver, bottle opener, or a countless variety of options. As a matter of fact, we like to pair a Swiss Army Knife or a multi-tool with a small fixed blade.
Tools
Beyond a blade, a couple of tools can come in incredibly handy. What you carry should be dictated by what you most often run into. For many, a simple Swiss Army Knife or other quality multi-tool will get the job done. That will give you access to a secondary blade, a couple of screwdrivers, maybe a bottle opener, and/or a can opener. However, there are plenty of specialized multitools that add specific tools, bit kits, and even sockets to your EDC. We've been particularly intrigued by Knipex pliers that come in a variety of sizes and styles. They seem to be extremely popular with folks who do lots of mechanical work.
Light
What a time to be alive! Your phone is also a calculator, a GPS, and a truly terrible flashlight. When you drop a bolt in the darkest recess of your engine bay, or something goes bump in the night, you want something brighter than that tiny LED on the back of your phone. This is truly a rabbit hole with nearly countless options, but as a general rule, we try to carry lights that are compact so we aren't tempted to leave them behind, and we prefer they have at least a couple of brightness settings. Better yet, if they have a clip that works on a hat bill or a headlamp mode, we're more likely to use them for vehicle maintenance and wilderness trips where hands-free operation is a huge plus.
Two popular models include the Fenix HM50R and the HM61R. The HM50R is a bit smaller and includes an updated operation system, but the HM61R is brighter, has a longer battery life, and includes the magnetic tail cap. Both include a pocket clip, can charge the batteries without removing them from the light, work as headlamps, and operate in a number of brightness settings, including red modes for night vision.
Speaking of a cell phone and EDC lights, a small power pack to keep these items charged is a great addition to your EDC bag. They've available from a variety of companies with varying capacities, so choose one that meets your form factor and battery capacity needs.
Fire
You may not need it much, but when you do, a ferro rod - or at least a Bic lighter is super handy. Burn a cut rope, lighting a birthday candle, and, you know, starting a fire, are all things that don't happen frequently, but when they do, the alternative to a handy fire source is work intensive. If you want to take it a step up in terms of style, you can grab a Zippo, a peanut lighter, or even a trench lighter. However, a simple Bic can be upgraded within minutes by wrapping it with duct tape and adding a piece of bike inner tube. Not only are these items handy for everyday carry, but they also make great fire starters in a pinch.
Miscellaneous
While the basics above will cover day-to-day carry needs for most people, there are a few other options. If you're taking calls on the go, some sort of Bluetooth ear buds / headset is handy. If you frequent loud areas, ear protection is a must-have. If you take notes at all, a decent pen is a nice addition to your carry.
As your EDC grows, a pouch or pack to organize everything is a worthy addition to your daily gear. This can be an organizer that stays in your bag or console or something wearable. Either way, you aren't left with overloaded pockets or constantly gathering your gear while you're on the move.
Final Thoughts
Your everyday carry should fit your needs and balance somewhere between those items you need all of the time and those you want to have handy when an emergency situation occurs. Plus, if you use your EDC gear frequently, it makes sense to invest in quality pieces.
In another blog entry we will focus on expanding your EDC into your truck carry for a layered approach.
