Is Your Every Day Carry (EDC) Relevant To What You Do Everyday

Is Your Every Day Carry (EDC) Relevant To What You Do Everyday

If you do a search on the Internet for Everyday Carry (EDC) you will get over 5 million results. Overwhelming to say the least, and with so many choices it may be hard to choose, or so you think.

Start thinking about what you do every day and tailor your EDC to your lifestyle, occupation, and even tailor it to how you commute back and forth to work and commute to after work activities.

Should you carry everything on your person, in a briefcase, satchel, or purse or in your vehicle? Once you have analyzed your situation you will be better able to determine what to carry and where to carry it.

First, there are some common items that virtually anyone would need at some point. Maybe not need every day, but when you need something you want it available.

1.) Penlight Small Flashlight

This item is handy for searching in your vehicle trunk, glove box, or center console even during the day. You can even use it to check the room temperature on your home thermostat that may be in a dark hallway or corner. If you start carrying a small flashlight, you will use it, and then you will realize how much you really do need one.

2.) Pen Knife, Jackknife, or Small Folding Knife

If for nothing else use one to trim or clean your fingernails instead of biting them when anxiously waiting on an email or phone call. Open packages that arrive, or use as a letter opener. The uses for a sharp blade during the normal course of a day are endless. However, in some states or local jurisdictions there may be restrictions on blade length and type of knife so do some research first. Typically a small pen knife or small jack knives are not prohibited.

3.) Spare Glasses and/or Contacts and Include Sunglasses

Anyone that wears eye glasses has probably broken a pair and then realized they do not have an extra pair. Even a pair that may be a few years old and not as strong is much better than not having a pair at all. The same with contacts, you can be out somewhere and develop a problem with the pair or just one of the contacts you have in and you simply have to take action. The lens may be torn or simply dirty, so what do you do if you do not have a spare set. Sunglasses can double as emergency safety glasses and of course can be used as intended.

4.) Multi-Tool

Who has grabbed a desk drawer handle and realized the handle is loose or it falls off in your hand. The only way to fix the problem is with a screwdriver, which you do not have. Any number of small problems like this can crop up during the day, so instead of hunting around for tools at the office or even at home carry a multi-tool to handle the small things that aggravate us all during the day.

Typically a multi-tool will come with a set of small pliers with wire cutters, knife blade, awl, file, possibly scissors, saw blade, bottle and can opener, and a flat head as well as a Phillips head screw driver tool.

Certain tools are dedicated to specific tasks so pick one that suits your needs. Some tools have sight adjustment tools for firearms, for example, and some have tools for those that may need to work on their bicycle and so on. For general purposes the prices are relatively inexpensive and some are small enough so they can be carried on a keychain.

5.) Spare Communication Device

In today’s world a communication device is usually a cell phone or even a tablet. Normally people never leave home without one, but what happens if it is lost, stolen or otherwise fails to work, do you have a backup. You can purchase a pay-as-you-go phone that usually comes with minutes or you can load 300 minutes or so for emergencies. Keep in mind with some phones you may lose the minutes after a certain period, so keep track so you know you always have so-called emergency minutes available.

Specific Items In addition To What Has Been Listed Above

If you ride the subway, bus or take a taxi to work you probably do not need fire starting materials in your EDC, so what would you need.

Several prepaid Visa or MasterCard’s for emergencies. Keep the amounts low, just enough to pay for a taxi ride home, for example, from various areas of the city or for emergency funds if your wallet or purse is lost or stolen

Obviously carry emergency funds in other than your purse or wallet

Map of the entire city so you know how to get home from any area. The boss may send you on an errand or you simply end up in an unfamiliar section. Know the routes back home or back to your work, so you do not get the tourist tour from a taxi driver or you know what bus or train to get on. Of course you can access maps and train or subway schedules on your phone, but what happens if you cannot

Pepper spray or stun gun but know the laws as to what can be legally carried in your area

If you commute to work every day by vehicle then having a few items in the car makes sense. Even if you commute through built up urban areas you should still have certain items you carry everyday

• Carry enough water for 24 hours
• Mylar blankets
• Work Gloves
• Snacks
• Tools for changing tires, battery cables, jump box
• Spare phone battery and charger
• Pepper spray and/or stun gun
• Prepaid cards for emergency funds if you have to leave your vehicle and take a taxi or even a bus home

For those that have long rural commutes you have the worry of not getting home at night if something were to happen. Weather events and mechanical problems can leave you stranded. Of course, if you have a working cell phone you can call for help, but dead spots are common in some parts of the country, and thus you may not have cell service where you are at the time. You need a plan and some supplies.

• Food for 24 hours such as  MRE’s, canned foods, beef jerky, crackers and peanut butter and so on
• Water for 24 to 48 hours
• Multi-tool and if for nothing else use to open up canned foods
• Tools for minor car repairs and keep in mind unless you have extensive training and the tools there is not much you can do in some cases, but you can repair a blown radiator hose or vacuum hose and perform a few other repairs that can get you home.
• Battery cables, jump box or even a spare battery and the tools to change the battery if needed
• Antifreeze/coolant, extra motor oil
• Serviceable spare tire and tools for changing
• Mylar blankets for every season and during the winter months carry sleeping bags and/or blankets for the cold
• Spare cell phone and batteries, having an extra phone means you have a greater chance of making contact with someone
• Small shovel and in snowy weather traction material such as tire chains, sand or kitty litter
• Seasonal clothing in particular for cold weather, hat, gloves and coat for example
• Work gloves
• Fire starting materials
• Signal flags or flares so your vehicle can be seen in snow or rain and have light sticks for at night
• Flashlights and batteries
• Walking shoes/boots and possibly a change of clothes better suited for walking and for rough terrain or brush
• Backpack to carry items if you have to leave the vehicle, and at this point certain supplies would be get home supplies

Typically, when you research EDC you will find that there is a firearm or some other sort of self defense item included. This is a personal choice and in some cases, certain laws may dictate what you can carry. If you have a carry permit then there is no reason not to carry a firearm, but keep in mind some establishments and governmental buildings prohibit the carrying of a firearm inside.

If you are on foot and have to enter a building that prohibits a firearm what are your plans for securing your firearm. Certain buildings will have metal detectors so simply keeping your firearm hidden may not be an option.

What it boils down to is what do you want to carry, and what do you need to carry to accomplish certain tasks throughout the day, and do you have the means to carry all that you want and need.

Typically, what is needed can be carried on your person or in a briefcase or purse. You want to make sure the items are accessible at all times so if you have to lock up your purse or briefcase at work consider other options for carrying certain items. Tool carries can be fitted on your belt, so you may be able to carry multiple items in one place. Give it some thought, and come up with ideas. Do not make your EDC so cumbersome however, that it becomes a burden, because, then you will tend to leave it behind occasionally, and then not carry it at all.

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