EDC – Every Day Carry

A couple of posts back, I was talking about Getting Focused. In that post I used the example of a ripple on a pond and the different stages of preparedness that those ripples could represent. The pebble that created those ripples, though, was you. Today I’m going to cover a topic that is very specific to “you”. You are the center of your own personal prepping efforts (Sorry, not the universe. I know that may upset some people but it’s still true.) So, since you are the center of your own prepping, it only makes sense to look at how you are personally geared up for your days.

The term Every Day Carry, abbreviated to EDC, refers to the items that you carry with you every day. Now don’t get super literal with this, sometimes these items change depending on circumstances, but generally, they will be the same. These can be items that a person has found that they need on a regular basis, items that are not regularly needed but are convenient to have on-hand, items that are required for work, health, etc. It really is very subjective to your own life. Today I’ll break down my own EDC and explain how these items got their place.

As for my day-to-day life, I am not hindered by workplace restrictions and the laws in my area are not overly restrictive either. I can more-or-less carry whatever I like. So, in addition to the clothes that are on my body, what else is there? (These are in no particular order.)

Wallet – Of course I carry a wallet. I’m a grown-up. Even the contents of my wallet are limited though. Included in the wallet are: my driver’s license, concealed carry permit, debit card(s), health insurance and blood-type cards, and usually a small(ish) amount of cash. For the most part, all of the contents are pretty well self-explanatory. Cash could be debated. Many people see no need in carrying cash as so many purchases can be made electronically or with cards. I get it, it’s easier… until the power goes out. Cash works without electricity. Some people see a need to carry large amounts of cash, in the hundreds of dollars. I do not. I do like to have a relatively small amount of cash on hand just to be safe. The amount fluctuates but I can say that it would rarely get over $100.00 and sometimes it’s only about $20.00. It just depends on how much I regularly need.

Pocket knife – This is one of those items that I always seem to need when I don’t have one. It is also multi-purpose. For the most part, I use my knife to open packages. I have never had to use a knife for self-defense but it could serve that purpose as well.

Flashlight – As with the pocket knife, I always seem to need one when I don’t have one. The light I carry is fairly small. It takes a single AAA battery and puts out a good amount of light. It is small, and light, enough that I don’t even notice it’s on me. But, when the power goes out or I am walking across a dark parking lot, it is a great tool to have.

Holster, Pistol and Belt – I am a firm believer in the legal concealed carry of a firearm. I also believe that your own personal safety is your responsibility. That responsibility extends also to your loved ones and anyone that depends on you for their safety and security, i.e. your spouse and children, and anyone else whom you care for. It is also your responsibility to take the necessary steps to do so legally, safely, and proficiently. I’ll go into more detail on concealed carry in a future post, but for now, we are simply covering EDC.

Hat and sunglasses – The majority of my time is spent outdoors. I work outside and will get headaches if the sun is beating down on my head and the bright sun is in my eyes for long periods. The sunglasses can double as safety glasses while working or while shooting.

Watch – It’s nice to be able to tell the time. I don’t always wear a watch but do have some method of being able to tell the time; my truck I work out of, a watch if worn, or my phone.

Phone – With all of the different things a smartphone can do these days, your phone is an increasingly valuable tool. Not only does your phone afford you the ability to contact people and services as needed, the apps that are available for download onto your phone can put vast amounts of information at your fingertips. There are scores of apps specifically geared toward prepping, first aid, etc.

For many people, their daily attire is dictated by the jobs that they have or the environment they work in. In my experience, some clothing can be very prohibitive to not only the things that you can carry but also your own mobility. There are more and more clothing companies that have been geared toward “tactical” clothing for years but are now offering clothing that is on the dressier end of the spectrum while very functional and practical.

Your EDC will certainly be very specific to you. It has to fit your needs and your lifestyle. Remember, you EDC is not meant to get you through the end of the world. It’s also not meant to be the gear you rely on to get you through a disaster. EDC is simply the gear that you carry on your person (or in a backpack, purse, etc.) on a daily basis that allows you to tend to the tasks that you run across frequently or that give you an immediate edge in a situation. There is quite a bit of other gear that has its place. Despite the importance of some of that gear, that place likely is not in your EDC. Keep it simple. Keep it practical. Don’t load up a 40 pound pack and think you’re going to carry it around every day. We’ll get into other gear, loads, purposes, etc. in future posts. For now, focus on working out your EDC.