What to Have in Your EveryDay Carry (EDC) Kit

by Megan

If you are new to prepping and interested in it but not sure that it’s for you, a great place to start out is with what to have in your EveryDay Carry (EDC) kit. Your EDC kit is made up of items that you commit to carrying with you every day, at all times. The only time you might not have these items on your person might be at home in bed.

The main purpose for having an EDC kit is so that if you are trapped and unable to get to any other form of help, you will have some basic tools and resources on your person. In the event you find yourself trapped beneath the rubble of a building after an explosion, trapped in a conference room with a hostile or aggressive person, trapped in a car because of a jammed seat belt, or forced to flee to the woods, you will have at least some tools on hand that could help you survive.

Some people mingle their EDC items with their Get Home Bag (GHB), a bag with supplies to get you home in a crisis and meant to be accessible to you at all times. You will also want to put together a bug out bag (BOB) for your home and car as well as an I’m never coming home” (INCH) or „Get Out of Dodge” (GOOD) bag. All of these bags together with your stockpile at home and at your bug out location (BOL) will greatly increase your chances of survival when things go wrong.

For this article, we’re going to focus on those things you can keep on your person that could be the difference between life and death. The items that could be crucial to your survival if you are trapped without any other resources. Imagine that you were one of those people working in or near the twin towers on 911 when the planes hit.

Now that we know how important your EDC kit can be, let’s talk about the kinds of things that need to be in it and how you’re going to fit all these items on your person without looking like the terminator as you come into work every day.

We’ve said that your EDC kit is made up of items you carry with you at all times so this means they need to be stored on your person. Every morning when you wake up, you will make sure you have these items with you. You’re going to store them in your pants pockets, shirt pockets, a lanyard around your neck, your key ring, etc.

For women, your purse is considered an extension of your person since there are very few times that you don’t have it in the room with you. For men, your wallet can also be a place to store items.To put together your EDC kit, think about both the little inconveniences and minor emergencies that can come up at any time.

It could be as simple as being able to open that impossible plastic packaging or put that tiny screw back in someone’s glasses. You will need to cut things, tie things, perhaps do a quick repair on a regular basis. But your EDC will also contain items that come in handy for more serious emergencies too like explosions, fires, natural disasters, and yes a SHTF or other event that warrants martial law.

Take an objective look at your workplace and any other location where you spend time for any potential crises that might be specific to those locations. The items that make up your EDC kit should reflect your typical situation. If you or a family member have any chronic medical issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or acute allergic reactions, you will want to include the necessary medications in your EDC.

Urban EDC

If you are in an urban situation, think about the types of obstacles you might come up against. Looting, rioting, and dangerous debris on the ground will be more prevalent in urban areas so items for self-defense and first aid care will be more critical. There will be more people within close range, so creating a smokeless fire that won’t draw attention to your location is important. Think about the scene during and immediately following the Boston bombing.

In an urban area, you may also more frequently come in contact with people who are panicking and behaving irrationally. Loose dogs who are scared by the noise and chaos maybe be a challenge so you may want to carry pepper spray or a small baton. Proper waste disposal, good hygiene, and protection from communicable diseases is more of an issue in crowded areas. Remember what followed Hurricane Katrina?

Rural/Remote EDC

For rural or very remote areas, you may want to focus your EDC so that you have more of the items you need to live off the land. Protection from wild animals will be a bigger issue in a rural area and being able to identify edible plants would come in handy.

In addition to finding clean water, you will need to be able to cut firewood, start a fire, trap and hunt small animals for food, navigate wooded terrain, cook outdoors, and erect a temporary shelter as protection from the weather.

Carry on Your Phone

If you’re like most people, you are already in the habit of carrying your cell phone with you everywhere. You can begin your EDC kit by simply expanding what you have available there. Some times knowing how to react in an emergency can make a huge difference in your chance of survival.

There’s no way that you can learn every technique and procedure in detail, memorize it, and be confident you can recall it when needed. But there are tons of survival apps, that have detailed information about all kinds of topics, which could be very useful if you are stranded in an expected emergency situation.

Below are just a few apps to consider adding to your cell phone or smart phone:

SAS Survival Guide app

This handy app provides information on everything from making fires, to how to survive in even the worst weather conditions. The app even includes a sun compass and an encoder that changes text to morse code. No internet connection is required so all you have to do is make sure you keep your phone charged and you will have an invaluable resource at your fingertips. Android Users Download SAS Here or  iPhone Users Download SAS here

First Aid App from American Red Cross

The best way to be prepared is to become certified in first aid/CPR skills but if you haven’t had time to do that or just in case your skills are a little rusty, this handy app can truly be a lifesaver. Download this app to your phone and you will have detailed instructions and video demonstrations of how to do first aid for many different types of situations including heart attacks, drowning, choking, etc.iPhone users can your copy here or Android users can download it here.

Weatherbug app or Emergency Radio Apps

To keep up to date with important weather related information try the Weatherbug app  for iPhone or  Android and to stay abreast of what’s going on in your area, do your research and select one of the many emergency radio/scanner apps.

MotionX GPS App

One of the best outdoor apps is MotionX GPS which features worldwide topographical maps that you can download MotionX has a feature that lets you track your journey so you can re-route if you get lost and get back to your previous location. It’s available for both iPhone and Android users.

The apps above are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to information you can include on your phone as part of your EDC kit. There are apps available for just about any kind of information or instructions you could need in an emergency. Just make sure you have enough storage on your phone and that you include a way to charge your phone in your EDC kit.

Carry on Your Keychain

Next look for mini items that you can simply add to your keychain. This could be things like a small screwdriver and pliers or multi-tool if you prefer, a mini-flashlight, a button compass, keychain money holder, cutting tools, a bottle opener and can opener, etc. For those who feel they may get caught in the wilderness, a waterproof cyclinder with some tinder inside and a firesteel will come in handy. Some people feel that having a small thumb drive or flash drive on their keychain where they can keep copies of important documents, inventory lists of household valuables, contact information, and field manuals or survival e-books, is also worthwhile.

Once you have your cell phone and keychain organized, you can begin to think about other items you need to carry. Always factor weight and bulkiness as it’s important for your EDC items to be something you can carry with you everyday. Your EDC items will do no good if you get in the habit of leaving them home because they are too burdensome.

Wearable Items

The next thing to consider are the discreet items that you can wear everyday without calling too much attention to yourself. Paracord always comes in handy in survival situations so replace your shoelaces with some or get a paracord bracelet to wear on your wrist or around your ankle covered by your pantleg. Wear a watch, get one with multi-functions if you can.

Pin some safety pins into the sleeves or collars of your shirts so you always have one on hand when needed. A long lanyard can hold a whistle and even a waterproof pouch with spare ID, cash, “rite in rain” notebook, and space pen, etc. discreetly beneath your shirt or blouse. Wear several bobby pins in your hair or slide them into your wallet if you’re a guy.

Carry in Your Pockets, Belt, or Purse

Think about your everyday clothing and the total number of pockets you will have most days. If you carry a purse or wallet with you, some items can be carried there. Factor frequency of use, weight, shape into your decision about where to carry each item. Below are some additional EDC items you’ll want to consider carrying in your pockets or on your belt:

• Your gun, spare ammo, and EDC knife
• Non-lethal weapons such as pepper spray or mace.
• A Bic lighter, waterproof matches, and some kind of tinder
• Water purification tables
• A Bandana
• Mini fishing kit (includes hooks, fishing line, etc and pack into an altoid tin)
• One pair of medical gloves and an N95 mask
• A small but high quality flashlight and extra batteries
• Portable water filter like the LifeStraw
• Extra batteries and a small phone charger
• Duct tape or electrical tape wrapped on a piece of cardboard.
• An Altoid tin with a fishing kit and/or mini first aid kit inside.
• Zip lock bag with jerky or pemmican, nuts, energy bars, etc.
• Personal hygiene items such as chapstick, nail clippers, tweezers, and dental floss.

The EDC Bag (If You Must)

For those who want to have more on them they can be carried or worn, or for those whose everyday clothing doesn’t include a lot of pockets, you can consider carrying an EDC bag. The key thing to remember is that it should be on your person at all times. So if you choose to use a bag, use one that you can carry or wear every day.

An EDC bag should definitely be discreet, and not draw too much attention, especially if you will be carrying it to an office or school environment. Use an EDC bag whenPack what you feel you can’t do without in an emergency but remember not to get the bag too heavy. Ideally your EDC will be something you can wear on your back, cross body, or aroud your waist so that your hands are free to defend yourself and you can move quickly.

The discreet EDC bag can be one of these small messenger bags, a laptop bag, camera bag, or even a fanny pack. If you work in a more rugged environment such as in construction or maybe as a first responder, you may be able to get away with something like the Maxpedition Proteus Versipack.

The most important things about your EDC kit items are that they are comfortable enough for you to get in the habit of carrying every day and that you know how to use them for whatever situation might be likely to occur in your area. Customize your EDC to meet your specific needs and keep it with you at all times and it will serve you well in any crisis situation.

What else do you include in your EDC kit?