EDC Summer 2015 – (Compendium)

Alright, it’s been half a year and my EDC has changed, probably much more than enough to warrant an update, but creating an itemized list and finding all of these product links takes time, so I only want it done when I feel it’s changed enough.

In the time since I last did an EDC update, I’ve been thinking a bit about what “EDC” is. Obviously, the words mean something by themselves. But on the internet they mean different things to different people. It’s hard to carry around the same things day-to-day for years, especially if you care about what you carry. You always want the best, and that requires you to keep searching and trying new things. But if something is changed often is it EDC? Can you “EDC” something for a couple of days?

Another problem is how to define when something is “EDC” or when it is carried infrequently enough to not qualify. This also changes depending on the scenario. If one is on a vacation their EDC may vary wildly from in the city, but if they only have it for a couple of days is that really every day? Or in my case, is it really EDC when you go most of many days without “carrying” it?

Thinking about these questions, and how I used my previous EDC items and tiers has led me to the following system. It still has tiers, but only 3 this time for simplicity. And the functions of each system has now changed.

Tier 1, which will be covered in this article, is my Person, Pockets, and Belt. This stuff is on me most of the time, and always when I leave my living area (i.e. out the door for more than to check the mail). When I’m in my home it is always at hand as well. If you catch me, I’m 99.9% likely to have these tools at hand. This could be considered my real “EDC”.

Tier 2, which will be covered in the next part, is my backpack. It is also close-by when I’m inside, and with me 9 times out of 10 when I leave the house. Occasionally, when I’m just going to the store, or in a car packed with people, it will be left behind, but this is rare. This is bordering on the edge of EDC. It isn’t always on me, but I feel it is around enough that I can consider it in that category.

Tier 3 is my travel and “other” section. There are many tools I use every day, or specifically want when I’m traveling, that I don’t necessarily always carry with me, but in some situations they will be integrated. For instance I use my notebook every day for at least one drawing (That’s a personal challenge of mine) and while I don’t always carry it with me, I can easily do so if I need to, and I use it more than some of my “real EDC” gear. So it gets put in this category with several other items used in similar ways.

With that in mind let’s take a look at the first tier (Specifications and Comments on gear in parentheses):

POCKETS/PERSON

DSC01956

  • Wallet (Book Book Phone Case) (A bit beat up at the moment, I need to upgrade my phone and this case at some point.)
    • Cash
    • Cards
    • Business Cards
    • Phone (iPhone 4s)
  • Knife (Ontario Rat model II) (I have a few other knives I carry, {Victorinox Super Tinker, Sanrenmu 7010, Rat I, etc} But I feel this one work the best for me in a myriad of fields.)
  • Watch (Armitron Face, Timex band) (The original band for this watch was a stretchy kind, and I break those quickly, so I replaced it with an all-metal band.)
  • Shirt Pocket
    • Pocket Book (Bull&Stash) (This notebook is currently in for testing. I use Field Notes and Rhodia more often than not.)
    • Pen (Zebra F-301) (It’s not my favorite, but it’s very solid, cheap, and easy to find. For most places I go, my favorite Cross pen seems a bit too flashy.)

 

BELT

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Knife (CRKT SPEW {also on neck sometimes}) (A nice blade shape for both general package and letter opening, and emergency self-defense.)

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Pouch (Case Logic DCB302) (Completely stuffed. I’m looking for a new pouch currently, but this one is still the best I’ve found for me.)

  • Outside
    • Flashlight (Coast A5) (Attached by a Velcro strap) (This light has no frills, it’s a cylinder, with no modes and a button.)
    • D-Ring
  • Front Pocket
    • Multitool (Leatherman Juice S2) (Mainly used for the scissors and the pliers. It replaced my Micra because it’s easier to hold in the hand.)
    • Measuring Tape (3ft) (Surprisingly useful, but I love to rearrange furniture and I understand that most people don’t, so that’s 50% of the times I use it gone for most people.)
    • Lighter (BIC Mini)
    • Whistle (My particular whistle was owned by my grandmother and is from a car dealership in California. It’s not the loudest, but I like having it around as an heirloom type of thing.)
    • Nail file (Attached to knife) (Victorinox Companion) (I love the knife, so any excuse to have it around. A nail file is something that other items can’t really make up for.)
    • Worry Stone (I talk with my hands, and they go all over the place far too much. This prevents me from looking like an idiot, and Goldstone is an amazing color.)
    • Altoids Smalls Tin (I almost never use this, but it’s nice to have around.)
      • Flash Drive (Patriot Tab) (Another item that can’t really be replaced by other items. I’ve never “needed” it, but it’s been useful when others are farther away.)
      • Knife (Opinel #2)
      • Cord
      • Cotton Ball
      • Ziplock Bag
        • Matches
        • Striker
        • Kleenex
      • Nail
      • 4 Straight Pins
      • Paperclip
      • Electrical Tape
      • 2 Migraine medications (Relpax)
      • Butterfly Bandage
      • Cash ($10)
  • Main Pocket
    • Keys (Key Pouch) (It is a bit bulky, but I love it, and it keeps my keys nice and organized.)
    • Work Phone (Samsung S125G TracPhone)
    • Mini First Aid/Hygiene (Ziplock sealed with Electrical Tape.)
      • GUM Soft Picks in Travel Case (Toothpicks are gross, but I do really need something for my teeth, this was the compromise.)
      • Electrolyte Tablets (Can be really good if you need them, and in Texas they might be needed a lot.)
      • 6 Alcohol Swabs
      • 1 Alcohol Towelette
      • Bandages
        • 2 Knuckle
        • 2 Fingertip
    • Mini Tool Kit (This isn’t the best toolkit ever, but it works in a pinch, and is mainly geared toward glasses, which can be a real pain if they start to have problems.)
      • Razor Blade
      • 5ft of wire
      • Mini Pen (Cut Down Bic Pen Sealed with Electrical Tape)
      • Second Bag
        • Snare Wire (From Bear Grylls survival kit)
        • Glasses Screwdriver
        • Glasses Pads
        • 4 Glasses screws (2 sizes)
        • 4 Paperclips (1 insulated)
        • 3 Straight Pins wrapped in Electrical Tape
    • Cash Bag

The backpack has moved up from my previous EDC iteration, from tier 4 to tier 2. It’s still between 10-15 pounds, which is not too heavy, but can get uncomfortable at times. I’ve condensed the items contained within it to eliminate redundancy, and added a few more that are specific to the urban environment that I live in. There isn’t as much room to expand since I got a new, smaller backpack, but I’ve found the need to put things I haven’t planned on carrying in my pack to be minimal, and I have a shopping bag if the need arises. So without further ado, let’s take a look at what I carry in my backpack.

14556691_201310251329

BACKPACK (Swiss Gear CityPack)

DSC01974 DSC01973

  • Outside
    • Pepper Spray (Sabre Red, Held in a Leatherman case by Velcro) (It’s attached to the strap for quick access in an emergency.)
    • Paracord Zipper Pull (In a helix shape, it really serves no function, I guess it could be an emergency paracord supply, but there’s hardly any there.)
    • Water Bottle (Sometimes)
  • Glasses Pocket
    • Tide-to-go pen
    • Hand Sanitizer (Germ-x) (Really good to have around, especially when getting fast food in a car, or eating appetizers when stuck back in a booth.)
    • Pain and Itch Relief Liquid (This stuff really helps with sunburns and mosquito bites that can ruin your day.)
    • Lighter (Bic full size)
    • Lip Balm (Chapstick)
    • Multitool (Leatherman Juice CS4) (A bit more bulky than the S2, with a few tools I don’t think I’ll ever use. But it’s still compact and well built.)
    • WD-40 No Mess Pen (You can never go wrong with some WD-40.)
  • Main Pocket
    • Bag (HEB {Texas Grocery Store Chain} Cloth Shopping Bag) (The thin disposable shopping bags are illegal in my city, and I find the cloth bag far superior to reusable plastic or paper bags. It’s almost a “must carry”.)
    • Device Pocket
      • Bandanna
      • iPod (Sometimes)
    • Toiletry/Hygiene Bag (Case Logic TBC403)
      • Outside Pocket
      • Main Pocket
        • Medicine Bottles (Fortunately I don’t have many prescriptions, so I can carry supplies of what I need with me at all times.)
          • Pain Meds
          • Sleep Meds
        • Med Bag
          • Migraine Meds
        • Pill Container (Altoids tin wrapped with Electrical Tape) (Some spare over-the-counter medicines that most people can use are helpful. Not that I’d just be giving them out: I use them mainly for myself, but still…)
          • Diphenhydramine
          • Acetaminophen
          • Tryptophan
          • Meclizine
        • 2 Packets of single-use toothpaste (Freshmint) (These things are surprisingly cheap and easily have enough gel to last 3 or 4 brushes!)
        • Tweezers (Uncle Bill’s Sliver Grippers) (An EDC standby for many people, I don’t have to explain how well they work, but I’ve never really had to use them.)
        • Folding Nail Clippers (Bluecell) (The construction might not be as sturdy as it is in some other brands, but it’s good, and I don’t see them breaking any time soon.)
    • Mini Kleenex package
    • Change Purse (Don’t want that change banging around!)
      • Change
    • Onn Emergency Charging Kit (Modified) (All of this stuff can be summed up pretty simply as phone protection. I have a few extra items in here for other devices, if anyone I’m with has problems. Keeping electronics charged in this day and age is very important, though I’ve never “had” to use the kit. An additional piece of the kit is stored in the pack organizer pocket.)
      • Dry Bag (For restoring Electronic Devices that got wet.)
      • Emergency USB charger (2AA)
      • USB to Wall Adapter
      • USB to Car Adapter
      • Mini USB to USB
      • iPod to USB
      • iPhone to USB
      • Samsung Phone Charger
      • Samsung Phone Adapter for Car Charger
    • Glasses Case (Self-explanatory)
      • Glasses
      • Cleaning Cloth
    • Paracord (40ft Bright Orange) (I don’t know how to tie many knots now, but I’m learning, and having it around is better than not. Though I don’t expect to be in any “survival” situations where it would be necessary, it’s a backup to the cheap twine that is in the organizer pocket.)
    • First Aid Kit (CVS All-purpose Kit with Modifications) (This is a particularly stuffed kit that I’m contemplating taking some of the bandages out of. It’s made to not need restocking for some time, it would appear, but I don’t need as many bandages as it comes with. I have rearranged this bag into Ziploc bags instead of the 5-pocket container it came with to slim it down a bit. I also feel the kit is pretty self explanatory, so I won’t go into too much detail except about the items I added.)
      • Quick Access
        • 2 Tampons (For impromptu bandages, nosebleeds, and potentially deep puncture wounds. I wouldn’t recommend it for that last purpose and don’t go taking medical advice from an idiot on the internet, but I’d say it’s better than dying if it does indeed inhibit death.)
        • Israeli Bandage (I’m not comfortable using a tourniquet, and while this is much larger and not as good at stopping blood, I feel much more able to use one of these.)
        • Snake Bite Kit (Coghlans) (These have been proven many times to not be effective. But the main killer in snake bites is not remaining calm and allowing the venom to spread more easily. This kit acts as a placebo to keep calm, for both me and the people I’m with. It also has a few other useful items like a scalpel and disinfectant.)
          • 2 Large Suction Cups
          • Small Suction Cup
          • Lymph Constrictor
          • Snake Bite Instructions
          • Glass Iodine Vial
          • Scalpel Blade
        • CPR Breathing Barrier (I have an idea of how CPR works, but I am by no mean qualified to administer it. If someone else has to {or the situation is bad enough that I have to} this is a nice thing to have at hand quickly to protect the administerer.)
        • Triangular Bandage
        • Bandanna
        • Red Cross First Aid Guide
      • Tools Bag
        • Vinyl Gloves
        • Plastic Tweezers
        • Bent Scissors
        • Flat Thermometer
        • Safety Pins
        • Paper Tape
        • Tongue Depressors
        • Cotton Swabs
      • “Pre-Treat” Bag
        • Instant Cold Pack
        • Chloride Wipes
        • Electrolyte Tablets
        • Alcohol Wipes
        • Ibuprofen
        • Aspirin
        • Acetaminophen
        • Pill Fob
          • More Acetaminophen
          • Migraine Medication
      • “Treatment/Bandage” Bag
        • Gauze Bandages (2 Sizes)
        • Gauze Pads (2×2 to 5×9)
        • Finger Tip Bandages
        • Knuckle Bandages
        • Circle Bandages
        • Spot Bandages
        • Butterfly Closures
        • Elbow Bandage
        • Knee Bandage
        • Eye Pads
        • Standard Size bandages (Plastic and Woven)
        • Mini Size Bandages (Plastic)
      • “Post/In Addition to Bandages” Bag
        • Neosporin Tube
        • Die cut Moleskin
        • Space Blanket
        • Insect Bite Relief wipes (Maybe these two {this and the one after)should go in the Pre-Treat Bag?)
        • After Burn Gel
        • Single-Use Triple Antibiotic ointment
    • Back Pocket
      • Poncho
      • Guest parking pass
      • Gloves (In Ziplock Bag, Wells Lamont Suede Cowhide 1012) (I’ve forgotten gloves so many times when I needed them, and just bought another pair. Now I have so many pairs I find them popping up everywhere. I guess I reached my saturation point.)
  • Organization Pocket
    • Cash Wallet (Flex By Filofax) (This can be used in so many different ways, and I love the versatility and high-quality construction)
      • Cash (However much I want that day)
      • Business Cards
      • Pen Loop
      • Pen (Monteverde Poquito Stylus) (Combo phone and paper use is very handy in a backup pen)
      • Flex by Filofax notebooks
        • Notebook
        • Jot Pad
    • Key Chain Dangle
      • Knife (Pittsburg Mini Utility Knife) (Not the best quality, but much better than nothing, the mini utility blades are super sharp, and it’s attached to the pack to prevent it from being lost)
      • Flashlight (Maglite Solitaire) (Strategically placed to allow for easy viewing of the Organization pocket when turned on)
    • Maps Bag (For some emergency navigation and making notes on said navigation)
    • Water Filtration Straw (A present from my brother. I never intend to use it, but it doesn’t take up much space and could be very handy.)
    • Checkbook
    • Earplugs (I was reminded of how noisy things can get when I went to an Independence Day festival. I was never uncomfortable, but I realized it could quickly escalate to that.)
    • Flat Sewing Kit (This is super handy and the size of a credit card, but a bit thicker. I have a few hotel sewing kits that I ordered to refill it with, just in case.)
    • Hand Warmers (It’s not winter, but they take up almost no space, and will be there when the cold jumps on me.)
    • Cheap Plastic Twine Wrapped around Gift Card (If I need to tie some things together, I’ve got something, and it’s cheap and easy to use.)
    • Pen (Bic Tech) (Like the Monteverde, but larger, and not as well constructed.)
    • 3 Small Zip-Ties (Another form of lashing things together.)
    • Business Card Holder
    • Notebook (Moleskine Volant)
    • Car Charger Adapter (For use with Emergency Charging Kit)
    • Red Electrical Tape (The red color has no real purpose, it’s just what I had.)
    • Battery Cases (These cases link together and hold 4 of either type of battery, or 5 batteries if you stuff it. All of my flashlights use the AAA, and the emergency charger uses AA.)
      • 5 AA
      • 4 AAA
    • 2 Small Ponchos (Can’t have enough rain protection!)
    • 2 Bandannas
    • Strap For Belt Pouch (for over the shoulder carry.)
  • Small Back Pocket
    • Bicycle Cards (Games are important for eliminating boredom when something is delayed, or just when you’re around people who like to play games. Everyone knows card games, and Love Letter is simple to teach and only has 16 cards.)
    • Love Letter Card Game (minus the Bag)

DSC01979 DSC01975 DSC01976 DSC01977 DSC01978DSC01980 DSC01981

And that’s the second, and by far the most expansive tier of my EDC.

And now it’s time for the final part of my EDC. This tier might be straying from the “EDC” mentality, and instead of everyday carry, it might be more everyday use, like EDU, but that’s already taken. I use my computer, notebooks, fountain pens, and many other things every day, and they can integrate into my EDC when I need to carry them, for travel or work purposes. I feel that while they are outside of the normal EDC realm, I should still include them. The various items will be shown here mostly without comment, but the uses of each section will be talked about. Let’s take a look at what I have here.

OTHER/TRAVEL

Emergency Satchel (Unknown source Map Bag) (This satchel is close by but not right next to me in most places. It’s more like an emergency car bag. It isn’t a survival kit. It’s meant to get me through one emergency situation and one only, not many days and not after the apocalypse. But if my regular EDC stuff is lost or isn’t handy, I strive to keep this one near as a backup.)

  • Emergency/”Survival” Pouch (Maxpediton Barnacle Pouch)
    • Outside
    • Front
      • 1ft of Dental Floss
      • Bear Grylls priorities of survival guide (For a bit of fun)
      • 3 Toothpicks
    • Inside
      • Altoids Tin
        • Cotton Ball
        • Fire Steel + Striker
        • 10ft Cord
        • 8 Waterproof matches and striker
        • Small vial
        • AAA Battery
        • Electrical tape
        • Flattened Produce Bag
      • 3″ Glowstick
      • Lighter (Bic Mini)
      • Whistle (Cheap, flat. Gerber from survival kit.)
      • Flashlight (Maglite Solitaire)
      • Knife (Gerber Mini Paraframe, partially serrated.)
      • Multitool (Leatherman Micra)
  • Mini First Aid Kit (Bear Grylls Water resistant Bag/ziplock {With a red cross added})
    • Forceps
    • Gloves
    • Tissue
    • Johnson and Johnson first aid guide
    • Waterproof Ziploc
      • Paper medical tape
      • Electrolyte Tablets
      • Single Use Neosporin
      • Motrin
      • Hand Cleansing Wipes
      • Butterfly Closures
      • Small Gauze Dressing
      • Medium Non Stick Pad
      • Band Aids
  • Emergency Firearm (Walther P22 with second magazine)
  • Pen (Paper:Mate Write Bros)
  • Pencil (Half of a Sanford Eagle)
  • Pencil Sharpener (Unnamed Cheap)

Fountain Pens (I love fountain pens and use them every day. I believe they are the perfect writing experience, but not the most practical, since my regular EDC doesn’t include them. But when I have a bit more luxury room I always try to fit one or a few in.)

Notebooks (I always need to jot things down, and replacement books for my standard pocket notebook are common. I also try to come up with a cartoon idea and a drawing every day, making my notebooks very important to me.)

Toiletries bag (Not in extreme detail) (This bag I have arranged so that I use it every day, and when I need to go on a trip I can simply zip it up and have all of the things I normally use around my sink right there with me.)

  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Tissues
  • Nail Clippers
  • Scissors
  • Comb
  • Floss
  • Trimmer
  • Deodorant
  • Mouthwash
  • Shampoo
  • Medicines
  • Petroleum Jelly
  • Bulb Syringe
  • Stain Remover

Computer Bag (I don’t use this bag every day, but the items in it are in almost constant use, and if I need to go somewhere you can be certain I’ll pick it up.)

And that’s it for my summer 2015 EDC. I’ve slimmed the main parts down some and added a few more. I think that EDC is ever-evolving for most people, and for me it’s no different. Sometimes it changes day to day, and I want to try and get what is best for me specifically. I hope I’ve given you a few ideas, or showed you some things you may have forgotten about. And even if I didn’t, I hope you enjoyed reading it. I’m almost positive I’ll be doing it again in another 6 months.

EDC Summer 2015 Part 2 – Backpack

This is part 2 of my summer EDC kit.

The backpack has moved up from my previous EDC iteration, from tier 4 to tier 2. It’s still between 10-15 pounds, which is not too heavy, but can get uncomfortable at times. I’ve condensed the items contained within it to eliminate redundancy, and added a few more that are specific to the urban environment that I live in. There isn’t as much room to expand since I got a new, smaller backpack, but I’ve found the need to put things I haven’t planned on carrying in my pack to be minimal, and I have a shopping bag if the need arises. So without further ado, let’s take a look at what I carry in my backpack.

14556691_201310251329

BACKPACK (Swiss Gear CityPack)

DSC01974 DSC01973

  • Outside
    • Pepper Spray (Sabre Red, Held in a Leatherman case by Velcro) (It’s attached to the strap for quick access in an emergency.)
    • Paracord Zipper Pull (In a helix shape, it really serves no function, I guess it could be an emergency paracord supply, but there’s hardly any there.)
    • Water Bottle (Sometimes)
  • Glasses Pocket
    • Tide-to-go pen
    • Hand Sanitizer (Germ-x) (Really good to have around, especially when getting fast food in a car, or eating appetizers when stuck back in a booth.)
    • Pain and Itch Relief Liquid (This stuff really helps with sunburns and mosquito bites that can ruin your day.)
    • Lighter (Bic full size)
    • Lip Balm (Chapstick)
    • Multitool (Leatherman Juice CS4) (A bit more bulky than the S2, with a few tools I don’t think I’ll ever use. But it’s still compact and well built.)
    • WD-40 No Mess Pen (You can never go wrong with some WD-40.)
  • Main Pocket
    • Bag (HEB {Texas Grocery Store Chain} Cloth Shopping Bag) (The thin disposable shopping bags are illegal in my city, and I find the cloth bag far superior to reusable plastic or paper bags. It’s almost a “must carry”.)
    • Device Pocket
      • Bandanna
      • iPod (Sometimes)
    • Toiletry/Hygiene Bag (Case Logic TBC403)
      • Outside Pocket
      • Main Pocket
        • Medicine Bottles (Fortunately I don’t have many prescriptions, so I can carry supplies of what I need with me at all times.)
          • Pain Meds
          • Sleep Meds
        • Med Bag
          • Migraine Meds
        • Pill Container (Altoids tin wrapped with Electrical Tape) (Some spare over-the-counter medicines that most people can use are helpful. Not that I’d just be giving them out: I use them mainly for myself, but still…)
          • Diphenhydramine
          • Acetaminophen
          • Tryptophan
          • Meclizine
        • 2 Packets of single-use toothpaste (Freshmint) (These things are surprisingly cheap and easily have enough gel to last 3 or 4 brushes!)
        • Tweezers (Uncle Bill’s Sliver Grippers) (An EDC standby for many people, I don’t have to explain how well they work, but I’ve never really had to use them.)
        • Folding Nail Clippers (Bluecell) (The construction might not be as sturdy as it is in some other brands, but it’s good, and I don’t see them breaking any time soon.)
    • Mini Kleenex package
    • Change Purse (Don’t want that change banging around!)
      • Change
    • Onn Emergency Charging Kit (Modified) (All of this stuff can be summed up pretty simply as phone protection. I have a few extra items in here for other devices, if anyone I’m with has problems. Keeping electronics charged in this day and age is very important, though I’ve never “had” to use the kit. An additional piece of the kit is stored in the pack organizer pocket.)
      • Dry Bag (For restoring Electronic Devices that got wet.)
      • Emergency USB charger (2AA)
      • USB to Wall Adapter
      • USB to Car Adapter
      • Mini USB to USB
      • iPod to USB
      • iPhone to USB
      • Samsung Phone Charger
      • Samsung Phone Adapter for Car Charger
    • Glasses Case (Self-explanatory)
      • Glasses
      • Cleaning Cloth
    • Paracord (40ft Bright Orange) (I don’t know how to tie many knots now, but I’m learning, and having it around is better than not. Though I don’t expect to be in any “survival” situations where it would be necessary, it’s a backup to the cheap twine that is in the organizer pocket.)
    • First Aid Kit (CVS All-purpose Kit with Modifications) (This is a particularly stuffed kit that I’m contemplating taking some of the bandages out of. It’s made to not need restocking for some time, it would appear, but I don’t need as many bandages as it comes with. I have rearranged this bag into Ziploc bags instead of the 5-pocket container it came with to slim it down a bit. I also feel the kit is pretty self explanatory, so I won’t go into too much detail except about the items I added.)
      • Quick Access
        • 2 Tampons (For impromptu bandages, nosebleeds, and potentially deep puncture wounds. I wouldn’t recommend it for that last purpose and don’t go taking medical advice from an idiot on the internet, but I’d say it’s better than dying if it does indeed inhibit death.)
        • Israeli Bandage (I’m not comfortable using a tourniquet, and while this is much larger and not as good at stopping blood, I feel much more able to use one of these.)
        • Snake Bite Kit (Coghlans) (These have been proven many times to not be effective. But the main killer in snake bites is not remaining calm and allowing the venom to spread more easily. This kit acts as a placebo to keep calm, for both me and the people I’m with. It also has a few other useful items like a scalpel and disinfectant.)
          • 2 Large Suction Cups
          • Small Suction Cup
          • Lymph Constrictor
          • Snake Bite Instructions
          • Glass Iodine Vial
          • Scalpel Blade
        • CPR Breathing Barrier (I have an idea of how CPR works, but I am by no mean qualified to administer it. If someone else has to {or the situation is bad enough that I have to} this is a nice thing to have at hand quickly to protect the administerer.)
        • Triangular Bandage
        • Bandanna
        • Red Cross First Aid Guide
      • Tools Bag
        • Vinyl Gloves
        • Plastic Tweezers
        • Bent Scissors
        • Flat Thermometer
        • Safety Pins
        • Paper Tape
        • Tongue Depressors
        • Cotton Swabs
      • “Pre-Treat” Bag
        • Instant Cold Pack
        • Chloride Wipes
        • Electrolyte Tablets
        • Alcohol Wipes
        • Ibuprofen
        • Aspirin
        • Acetaminophen
        • Pill Fob
          • More Acetaminophen
          • Migraine Medication
      • “Treatment/Bandage” Bag
        • Gauze Bandages (2 Sizes)
        • Gauze Pads (2×2 to 5×9)
        • Finger Tip Bandages
        • Knuckle Bandages
        • Circle Bandages
        • Spot Bandages
        • Butterfly Closures
        • Elbow Bandage
        • Knee Bandage
        • Eye Pads
        • Standard Size bandages (Plastic and Woven)
        • Mini Size Bandages (Plastic)
      • “Post/In Addition to Bandages” Bag
        • Neosporin Tube
        • Die cut Moleskin
        • Space Blanket
        • Insect Bite Relief wipes (Maybe these two {this and the one after)should go in the Pre-Treat Bag?)
        • After Burn Gel
        • Single-Use Triple Antibiotic ointment
    • Back Pocket
      • Poncho
      • Guest parking pass
      • Gloves (In Ziplock Bag, Wells Lamont Suede Cowhide 1012) (I’ve forgotten gloves so many times when I needed them, and just bought another pair. Now I have so many pairs I find them popping up everywhere. I guess I reached my saturation point.)
  • Organization Pocket
    • Cash Wallet (Flex By Filofax) (This can be used in so many different ways, and I love the versatility and high-quality construction)
      • Cash (However much I want that day)
      • Business Cards
      • Pen Loop
      • Pen (Monteverde Poquito Stylus) (Combo phone and paper use is very handy in a backup pen)
      • Flex by Filofax notebooks
        • Notebook
        • Jot Pad
    • Key Chain Dangle
      • Knife (Pittsburg Mini Utility Knife) (Not the best quality, but much better than nothing, the mini utility blades are super sharp, and it’s attached to the pack to prevent it from being lost)
      • Flashlight (Maglite Solitaire) (Strategically placed to allow for easy viewing of the Organization pocket when turned on)
    • Maps Bag (For some emergency navigation and making notes on said navigation)
    • Water Filtration Straw (A present from my brother. I never intend to use it, but it doesn’t take up much space and could be very handy.)
    • Checkbook
    • Earplugs (I was reminded of how noisy things can get when I went to an Independence Day festival. I was never uncomfortable, but I realized it could quickly escalate to that.)
    • Flat Sewing Kit (This is super handy and the size of a credit card, but a bit thicker. I have a few hotel sewing kits that I ordered to refill it with, just in case.)
    • Hand Warmers (It’s not winter, but they take up almost no space, and will be there when the cold jumps on me.)
    • Cheap Plastic Twine Wrapped around Gift Card (If I need to tie some things together, I’ve got something, and it’s cheap and easy to use.)
    • Pen (Bic Tech) (Like the Monteverde, but larger, and not as well constructed.)
    • 3 Small Zip-Ties (Another form of lashing things together.)
    • Business Card Holder
    • Notebook (Moleskine Volant)
    • Car Charger Adapter (For use with Emergency Charging Kit)
    • Red Electrical Tape (The red color has no real purpose, it’s just what I had.)
    • Battery Cases (These cases link together and hold 4 of either type of battery, or 5 batteries if you stuff it. All of my flashlights use the AAA, and the emergency charger uses AA.)
      • 5 AA
      • 4 AAA
    • 2 Small Ponchos (Can’t have enough rain protection!)
    • 2 Bandannas
    • Strap For Belt Pouch (for over the shoulder carry.)
  • Small Back Pocket
    • Bicycle Cards (Games are important for eliminating boredom when something is delayed, or just when you’re around people who like to play games. Everyone knows card games, and Love Letter is simple to teach and only has 16 cards.)
    • Love Letter Card Game (minus the Bag)

DSC01979 DSC01975 DSC01976 DSC01977 DSC01978DSC01980 DSC01981

And that’s the second, and by far the most expansive tier of my EDC. Next, I’ll be looking at the “Other” and “Travel” sections, which are not strictly “EDC”, but I feel like they fit into the system well enough to be included.

EDC January/February 2015 (Combined Article Parts/Tiers 1-5)

Well, it’s the New Year, and what better way to start off than by looking at the system I’ve developed for carrying around things that I need, and describing what the things that I need are? (I could’ve just made a resolution, but I don’t like to do those).

I’ve divided my system up in to what amounts to tiers. And while sometimes these change, based on my needs when I leave the house, for the most part they remain the same.

In the first part, I’m going to be talking about what is always with me in my pockets. I’ve also included the belt pouch here for two reasons: first, is that it doesn’t have many items, so making it its own post would be silly; and second, because I have it on me almost every day. Since, for the most part, the lower tiers will be placed inside the higher tiers of my EDC, many of the things I would normally have in my pockets are simply kept in my belt pouch, allowing me to easily access them and to free up my pockets for other things. (When I was a kid I thought pockets were for carrying back home the things you found or bought, not carrying around things you already had, and I prefer that function.)
Here’s the list of what I carry, with a little bit about the more important items:

Taken with my iPhone, so that's not pictured.

Taken with my iPhone, so that’s not pictured.

POCKETS

  • Phone/wallet: iPhone 4s. (I really like this phone, and have liked the later models less and less. This model, and a slim leather wallet case, have held up for me almost since the phone’s release. There’s nothing special about the wallet, except that it has very little room for cash or band aids.)
  • Knife (Sanrenmu 7010: A cheap Chinese knife that works very well and I’m not afraid of losing. I do occasionally swap out the knife I carry.)
  • Altoids Smalls Tin. (This is more of an emergency McGyver kit, and has all of the things that I want on me, but won’t use very often. It fits nicely in a watch pocket or a change pocket in jeans and slacks.)
    • Knife (Opinel No. 2:  Soooo Small).
    • Matches and striker.
    • Cotton Ball.
    • String.
    • Nail (A small, finishing-type nail.)
    • Paperclip.
    • Electrical Tape.
    • Migraine Medication. (For me this is one of the most important things, hinted at by the fact I have it everywhere!)
    • Band-Aid.
    • Cash $10 American.
  • Keys
    • Key Pouch (a very nice, handmade thing I found on Etsy, from Bulgaria. I hate keys rattling around and possibly scratching things. The screws in this will still scratch, but more predictably. And it does make the keys quite a bit larger so it’s not for everyone)
    • Multi-tool (Leatherman Micra) (I considered the Leatherman Style CS or PS, but the scissors were the most important part for me, and in the “other tools” department the Micra is more robust than the CS {and I certainly don’t need the knife on the CS}, plus I like the look of the Micra more.)
    • Whistle (Nothing special. I’m looking for a more flat whistle as the irregular size of mine makes it hard to fit in most places.)
    • Flashlight (Maglite Solitaire) (This one I found broken in a drawer in my house and fixed it. Other than that, the only reason I use it is because it is completely flat and round, with no protruding mirror, grip, or button. It’s great at fitting anywhere, and being easily retrievable. Next, I need an LED one.)
    • Tape Measure (This is the first extra item I carried on my keys. I have no idea why!)
  • Pocket Book (Field Notes/Rhodia).  I always wear shirts with a breast pocket, so a notebook is always a nice, useful thing to put in there.
  • Pen (Zebra f-301) (A good pen. I use a lot of pens, but usually this one if I’m going outside, just because it’s both sturdy and unassuming.)
  • Watch (Cheap Armitron, Walmart Band). I hate stretching watch bands, so I replaced the one that came with my watch. (Also, this is not technically in a pocket.)
  • EDC Altoids tin. (Sometimes, see later post.  It depends on how large my pockets are.)

BELT POUCH

  • Keychain and Altoids tin (For the sake of pocket space).
  • Second (work) phone (Samsung Tracphone). (The minutes cost more than this phone did. The only problem is texting {unless you need apps}, but since I only use it for work calls it’s great, and really robust for how cheap it was)
  • Bic Mini Lighter (I don’t smoke, but fire is useful, and sometimes I’m unfortunately around people who smoke.)
  • Bandages (More of these to come).
  • Alcohol Swabs.
  • Electrolyte Tablets (dehydration is a real problem in Texas, less so where I live now, but when I visit my family back in the desert, having these with a large amount of water could save quite a bit of trouble.

photo 4

Most people find that the pocket EDC is the most important part of their systems, and I am no exception. What you always leave the house with is the only thing that will matter in many situations. And while I usually leave with one of my higher tiers of EDC equipment, I can say that I never leave without my pocket EDC. Since I developed it, I haven’t left without my belt pouch, either. I put this stuff in my pockets every day, and while I don’t always need to use it (phone wallet is the most used thing, for sure) it’s great to have it there. Just today I needed my knife to cut some rope, the lighter to burn the ends and prevent fraying, and my Micra scissors to cut paper.

I’ve used almost every item in this set, and what I haven’t is stuff that I know I will be super glad I have when I need it. These are things that most people carry around because they are so handy, and I would recommend that most people carry around such things, though perhaps not as extensive an array as mine (I have three blades and two ways to make fire just here). Pocket EDC is super important, and it’s great to have an organized one.

The second, and likely the least worn, tier of my EDC is the fanny pack, though the items contained in it are still used quite often as they are moved into my satchel and backpack as I go to larger EDC carry cases. The fanny pack is a problem in some ways. I use a Custom LeatherCraft bag to store the items inside the pack, and there is little room for both those items and the lower tiers of my EDC. My phone, pocket book, and knife generally stay in my pockets. But the items in my belt pouch might be more difficult to store in the pack and may have to stay on my belt or be attached to the belt of the pack. For this reason, and the stigma attached to fanny packs in general, I tend not to use this system very much. It is still very handy, but I find slightly smaller and/or slightly larger containers to be a bit more handy.

photo 1-3

FANNY PACK

    • Coleman Poncho (Sometimes rain surprises me, and I don’t want to be caught out in it if I can help it, or to have all my stuff get wet. This doesn’t take up much space and would work in a pinch.)
    • Stylus Pen (Bic Tech. With all this technology I get tired of using my thumb to operate screens all the time. So a stylus is nice for me, though not something I use that often. I have a few combo stylus/pens, and swap them out. I find there isn’t much in the way of difference.)
    • Notebook (Moleskine. it’s always nice to have something to write on so you don’t forget what you’re shopping for, or what you should be doing. If I don’t have my pocket book I like having one in the fanny pack. Moleskines are just what I happened to have, I could also use a Rhodia or Field Notes book.)
    • Business card holder.
    • Bic Lighter (I have another in the Altoids tin for when I’m just carrying that in my pocket, but this one is larger and easier to use.)
    • Multi-tool (Leatherman Juice S2 – The most stripped down multi-tool I could find, and no one beats Leatherman quality. I use the scissors most, so it’s slightly frustrating to have to lift up the can opener every time, but for the amount of function that’s a minor complaint.)
    • Glowstick (Just in case I might need some extra light, this one is a “take it or leave it” item.)
    • Chapstick (Lots of uses there, but I almost never use it because I find Lip balm more uncomfortable than chapped lips unless I have some specific reason.)
    • Tape (Scotch brand red tape.)
    • Bear Grylls Survival Guide (Just for a bit of fun!)
    • EDC Altoids Tin (This is sometimes carried on its own in my pocket with the lower EDC tier.)
      • Tissue
      • Toothpicks
      • Bic Mini Lighter
      • Knife (Victorinox Midnite Manager – I like the red LED for preserving night vision, and the pen as a backup is useful if not comfortable. I think overall this is such a good toolset that it could replace quite a few other things here, but for the moment I haven’t streamlined it.)
      • Light (Maglite Solitaire – Same things as in the last post, but this one I got fairly new.)
      • Container (I have no idea what this thing was or where it came from, but it’s a small cylinder and is handy for liquids. I use fountain pens a lot, so it’s good for ink and such.)
      • AAA battery (New, for replacement.)
      • Electrical tape
      • Eyeglass repair kit (A combination of several kits, and a mini screwdriver that was compact enough to fit inside. The driver used to be on my keys.)
      • Paper Clips (Super Tools.)
      • Twine
      • Alcohol swabs
      • Migraine medication (can’t have too many!)
      • Electrolyte tablets
      • Headache pills
      • Band Aids
      • Cash $20 (For those miscalculations.)

photo 3-3

photo 4-3

I really do like the amount of things that can be carried in a fanny pack, and the robustness of some of the larger tools like the Leatherman Juice. But there is something that is just a bit off about carrying them. It never feels like it’s in the right place, and everything feels more like a compromise. I love having these items with me and find uses for them all the time, but I find having them in a different case works out better for me.

The satchel tier of my EDC was once the most carried tier in my EDC. That has likely been replaced by either my belt pouch or backpack tiers, depending on how you look at it. I like the ease of carry, as well as the relative security, the satchel provided for my items. They are close to me at all times, and as long as the strap is good, they won’t likely fall or get snagged. Even with a filled satchel, it is easy to slip by people in tight spaces, whereas a backpack is more bulky and easier to steal.

Still, I just didn’t get the feeling that I was carrying all I wanted to, and what really killed it for me was the fact that there was no more room. I wanted to be able to bring home things I bought at the store, etc. And since I don’t use a car, something more substantial than the small satchel was necessary. I still do bust it out upon occasion, as it is a great little bag, but it just doesn’t hold up for me.

All of the items in both the belt pouch and the fanny pack are contained in the satchel as well as…

photo 1-4photo 2-4

SATCHEL

  • Coleman Poncho (a second one, in case the first fails or I’m with another person.)
  • Checkbook (Sometimes a check is a handy thing. I don’t use them very often, though,
    due to time)
  • Bandana(In Texas, the main use is sweat clearance, but it has a thousand other functions)
  • Survival Tin (Bear Grylls kit minus some stuff. This is just for fun, I have no intention of “surviving” with this stuff. But it could help me get out of a bad situation, or even a mildly unpleasant one)
    • Knife (Gerber Mini Paraframe, partially serrated)
    • Cord
    • Waterproof Matches + Striker
    • Cotton balls
    • Whistle
    • Flint + Steel
    • Copper Wire (Snare Wire)
  • Small First Aid Kit
    • Bear Grylls Water resistant Bag/ziplock (With a red cross added)
    • Forceps (I have a problem with splinters)
    • Medical Gloves
    • Tissue (For nosebleeds and such)
    • Johnson and Johnson first aid guide
    • Waterproof Ziplock (I think most of the items in this bag are fairly self explanatory in their uses, this is really just a boo-boo kit, and has very little expanded capabilities. But I have been stranded an unfortunate amount of times away from home with a bleeding finger, and I guess I have thin blood because I bleed a lot.)
      • Paper medical tape
      • Electrolyte Tablets
      • Single Use Neosporin packet
      • Motrin
      • Hand Cleansing Wipes
      • Butterfly Closures
      • Small Gauze Dressing
      • Medium Non-Stick Pad
      • Band Aids

photo 3-4photo 4-4

The satchel is still my favorite method of carry, but not the most practical. I like what it brings to the table in my system by way of emergency items. However, not much of necessity is contained within. More survival-y items are in the lower tiers, and more first aid is in the higher. It would appear that It’s just the wrong size, and people keep calling it a purse, which I’m fine with, but it still feels weird.

And now I’m up to either the 4th or 5th tier of my EDC (depending on how one looks at it). And that is my backpack. I do live in an urban environment, so none of these items are directed at a survival situation. It seems slightly less modern than it should, and that’s more because I don’t feel the need to carry as many of the more modern tools of the world with me. That’s just my problem.

Fully loaded with all of the items from the lower tiers (which unfortunately or fortunately often create redundancies) it’s about 10 pounds, which I would consider a good middle ground between what should be carried at maximum, and what must be carried at minimum. It is still heavy enough to get tiresome, but not too bad, in my opinion. I can carry on a lengthy conversation while wearing it before my shoulders get sore.

It is also a bit bulky when filled, though I don’t fill it all the way in case I need to get groceries or something. It adds about a “me” again in depth to my person, and when fully filled, it ends up being “me and a half again”, and is quite silly looking. I try and keep it at a reasonably fashionable size, though I don’t end up doing that all of the time.

While I have organized the lower tiers of my EDC for convenience of carry, it seems that I prefer having all of my tools at the same time. So instead of carrying the lower tiers, I am much more likely to just carry around my backpack, even in social settings. I just don’t like only having the satchel or the fanny pack and the fewer flexible options they provide. Of course, my pockets and belt pouch are with me at all times, so my tiers end up being that, and then adding the backpack. So it is definitely my most important tier in that regard.

photo 4-2photo 5-1

BACKPACK

  • First Aid Kit (most of this is fairly ordinary, but important stuff, so I won’t go into too much depth. A lot of this is from an off-the-shelf first aid kit, so I’ll mostly talk about what I added.)
    • Over 100 Various Adhesive Bandages(Plastic and Woven)
    • Butterfly Closures
    • Gauze Pads of Various Sizes (nonwoven and/or nonstick)
    • Eye Pads
    • Bandage roll
    • Medical Gloves
    • Moleskin (for blisters)
    • Burn Cream Single-use pouches
    • Insect Bite relief cloths
    • Tweezers
    • Cotton Swabs (applicators)
    • Finger Splints
    • Triangular bandage
    • Safety Pins
    • Paper Medical Tape
    • Instant Cold Pack
    • CPR barrier (surprisingly, this is from an off-the-shelf kit. I keep it right by the zipper so it can be accessed quickly.  It’s one of those items that only matters if you can get it out quickly.)
    • American Red Cross First Aid Guide
    • Space Blanket
    • Emergency Scissors (the crooked kind)
    • Antiseptic Towelettes
    • Antibiotic Ointment (Single Packs)
    • Alcohol Pads
    • Thermometer
    • Aspirin
    • Ibuprofen
    • Non-aspirin pain killer
    • Neosporin (tube) (Lots of that can be needed, and it’ll last for a long time)
    • Electrolyte Tablets
    • Pill Fob
      • Migraine Medication (more of those)
      • Pain Killers
    • Bandanna (always handy)
    • Israeli Bandage (for something slightly more serious than the rest of the kit will handle. I’m not thinking I’ll be good enough with any of the tools to be the greatest help ever, but I do want something for the “oh my God, the blood” situations.  I’d really hate to have absolutely nothing in that situation. It still wouldn’t help with the “Oh God, there are parts of you everywhere!” situations…)
    • Tampons (for nosebleeds, something I have far too often)
    • Snake Bite Kit (This one’s a bit controversial. I really have it to keep someone uneducated in the workings of snakebites calm. Having someone say “this will help you” is quite a calming thing. And the non-suction cup parts of the kit could be useful in other things. I’d never consider incisions or restricting blood flow to be an option)
      • Suction Cups
      • Scalpel
      • Constriction Band
      • Antiseptic
  • Camera Bag Strap (For my belt pouch, and for the camera bag with a camera in here. In case I want to carry either on my shoulder for a time)
  • Cord (Some inexpensive stuff, just in case)
  • Poncho (This is a much heavier poncho than the other small ones I have. As you can tell, I hate to be stranded in the rain)
  • Gloves (It’s cold out now, but even in the summer I carry some work gloves most of the time. I can never tell when I’m going to be called off to work on something. And in the winter I’ve taken to carrying both work and warm gloves. Some hand warmers are good things to carry too, but I’m not entirely convinced of their effectiveness.)
  • Heavy-duty grocery store Bag (My city has outlawed disposable grocery bags. So I’m forced to carry a reusable plastic one. It’s not like I never re-used the disposable ones, so I guess it isn’t much of a hassle)
  • GermX (The world is covered in Germs, especially cities. I always want to sanitize my hands before a snack or an appetizer, hopefully when I’m eating a meal I can wash them)
  • Leatherman Pouch (It was what I could affix to the pack strap)
    • Sabre Red Pepper Spray (Just in case I’m in a scenario where escape is difficult. Dissuading pursuit is at least an option. And with my pack on, using a knife for defense would be difficult. And since I can’t carry a firearm at the moment, something in between the two seemed necessary)
  • Glasses Case (Self explanatory)
    • Glasses
    • Cleaning Cloth
  • Cash Wallet (sometimes a Flex by Filofax) (My phone wallet doesn’t have much room. if I know I’m going to be spending money, I bring along some cash in another wallet, so that I won’t lose my phone and ID card if my wallet gets lost or taken. I’ve also experimented with using it to carry cards and notebooks, which is fun)
  • Change Purse (I don’t like clanky, scratchy change)
  • Fixed Blade Knife (Mossy Oak) (cheap, but better than a folder in some situations)
  • Map of the local area (Austin TX) (my phone works as a map, but a backup is nice)
  • Bandanas (can never have to many)
  • Monocular (Golf Rangefinder) (just for some fun, bird-watching etc. Easier to carry than binoculars, and if someone’s golfing I’m the guy to talk to)
  • Camera Pouch (Extra camera just in case something goes wrong with my phone {storage used up} and I want to take a picture, or someone else does)
    • Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W1
    • AA Batteries
  • Game Pouch (I like games, and I feel weird in some situations where people are looking for something to do without them. I vary the card games sometimes)
  • Multi-tool (Leatherman Juice CS4) (I keep the heavier corkscrew and saw model in an easy-to-access compartment at all times.  It’s so handy I almost wouldn’t believe, except for those added tools, that a Juice S2 would work just as well here)

photo 3-2photo 1-2photo 2-1photo 4-1

So that’s (almost) the end of my EDC. My backpack contains quite a few items, and many of them have been used (thankfully, not the first aid kit). Many of them are more emergency items, though, and could be pared down considering how infrequently they are accessed. Still, I don’t want to be unprepared. I do enjoy having all of the tiers will me at all times, and tend to not find them too cumbersome, though there are times when they definitely need to be pared down to a level below. I’m still quite happy with the setup of my pack at the moment, though it is always in flux.

While I have been making this EDC series of blog posts and videos, it usually only occurred to me to put in things that I carry a majority of the time. For me, while other people carry iPods or notebooks, or candy or something else to eat, I like to just keep things down to the basics. I usually find the places I’m going to be more engaging than whatever I bring with me. iPods and iPhones might be great for listening to music and watching videos, but for me they are temporary distractions. Even on long car trips when I’m alone in the back I prefer to shout up front than sit and listen to music. That’s not to say I don’t carry them. But they are far from the things I would like to have with me at all times. It can also be noted that I carry card games in my EDC backpack. I find these more useful than a music player or such. If I’m by myself I usually have a notebook I can doodle in, but if I’m with other people and perhaps we’re bored, everyone knows at least a few card games.

Still, it was certainly an oversight to not include some of the items that are quite important to me in the last articles, but I usually pick and choose which I carry at what time, varying wildly on the situation. Here are a few of the items I carry sometimes that I really like having when I need/want them.

BITS AND BOBS

  • Phone Charger (many people seem to carry a charging cable, and backup battery. I find that even with heavy use, my old iPhone 4s can easily get through several days without being charged, and my small phone even longer). So I only carry around a cable when I’m on trips, but when I am, it’s always at hand.
  • Fountain Pens (I love fountain pens, mainly for the writing experience they provide. They’re just fun for me to use. I have a couple of cases that hold 3 or 4 pens that I stick in my bag every once in a while when I’m going out for some time. It’s great to pull out a nice pen and write with it from time to time.)
  • Notebooks (These go with pens for the most part. I carry around a small and large Moleskine book quite often to write my ideas down in, and I try to create one drawing a day. I also carry around more fountain-pen-friendly notebooks sometimes, like Rhodia, or Leuchtturm)
  • Sketchbooks (These are rarer. Strathmore or Picadilly are what I usually go with. These are thicker and generally only for the days where I’ve already been drawing or am trying specifically to create something new. They’re rare enough that I thought they needed their own category.)
  • Pencils (A similar deal to the pens. Having a few pencils around is nice, as I prefer to write/draw with them to ballpoints. But if I forget them it’s no big deal)
  • Flash drive (This used to be an occasional thing, though now I have a dedicated EDC flash drive. I have yet to use it. I’ve just never been in a situation where I’ve thought, “man I need a flash drive right now” or “Man I would have stored that info on an emergency flash drive”, but I suppose when I need it there’s no replacement)
  • Altoids/gum/candies (these seem obvious to me, just for a bit of appetite suppression/ breath freshening/ though provoking. I like mint flavor and can eat what I want)
  • iPod (This is something many people {not in the EDC crowd} carry around that I absolutely loathe. I have never once ever felt it appropriate to use an iPod in public. Perhaps on a plane or bus, but even then I haven’t. That’s just me. I’m not a fan of this as out-in-the-world technology. Despite that, I do carry it sometimes, especially on trips. Mine being the classic model it is quite large and often relegated to a secondary bag.
  • Laptop and Accessories (This is one that a massive number of people have, and that I understand much more. Many people EDC a tablet of some kind, especially in an urban environment. I don’t own a tablet, nor do I want to, so that’s not an option for me. I’ve never really found places outside of my home a good place to work or browse on a laptop, but I suppose they work in a pinch. It’s never something that I want, but again, mainly on trips, I do sometimes carry around my laptop for general use.)

And that’s it. The last part of my EDC (the sometimes/maybe part). I hope you enjoyed reading this series if you have, and that you maybe got some ideas from it. It was fun to write, and I’ll likely be updating in the future with more recent developments. EDC always changes. Until then, I hope you have a good time.

EDC (Everyday Carry) Part 4 – Backpack

And now I’m up to either the 4th or 5th tier of my EDC (depending on how one looks at it). And that is my backpack. I do live in an urban environment, so none of these items are directed at a survival situation. It seems slightly less modern than it should, and that’s more because I don’t feel the need to carry as many of the more modern tools of the world with me. That’s just my problem.

Fully loaded with all of the items from the lower tiers (which unfortunately or fortunately often create redundancies) it’s about 10 pounds, which I would consider a good middle ground between what should be carried at maximum, and what must be carried at minimum. It is still heavy enough to get tiresome, but not too bad, in my opinion. I can carry on a lengthy conversation while wearing it before my shoulders get sore.

It is also a bit bulky when filled, though I don’t fill it all the way in case I need to get groceries or something. It adds about a “me” again in depth to my person, and when fully filled, it ends up being “me and a half again”, and is quite silly looking. I try and keep it at a reasonably fashionable size, though I don’t end up doing that all of the time.

While I have organized the lower tiers of my EDC for convenience of carry, it seems that I prefer having all of my tools at the same time. So instead of carrying the lower tiers, I am much more likely to just carry around my backpack, even in social settings. I just don’t like only having the satchel or the fanny pack and the fewer flexible options they provide. Of course, my pockets and belt pouch are with me at all times, so my tiers end up being that, and then adding the backpack. So it is definitely my most important tier in that regard.

photo 4-2 photo 5-1

BACKPACK

• First Aid Kit (most of this is fairly ordinary, but important stuff, so I won’t go into too much depth. A lot of this is from an off-the-shelf first aid kit, so I’ll mostly talk about what I added.)
◦ Over 100 Various Adhesive Bandages(Plastic and Woven)
◦ Butterfly Closures
◦ Gauze Pads of Various Sizes (nonwoven and/or nonstick)
◦ Eye Pads
◦ Bandage roll
◦ Medical Gloves
◦ Moleskin (for blisters)
◦ Burn Cream Single-use pouches
◦ Insect Bite relief cloths
◦ Tweezers
◦ Cotton Swabs (applicators)
◦ Finger Splints
◦ Triangular bandage
◦ Safety Pins
◦ Paper Medical Tape
◦ Instant Cold Pack
◦ CPR barrier (surprisingly, this is from an off-the-shelf kit. I keep it right by the zipper so it can be accessed quickly.  It’s one of those items that only matters if you can get it out quickly.)
◦ American Red Cross First Aid Guide
◦ Space Blanket
◦ Emergency Scissors (the crooked kind)
◦ Antiseptic Towelettes
◦ Antibiotic Ointment (Single Packs)
◦ Alcohol Pads
◦ Thermometer
◦ Aspirin
◦ Ibuprofen
◦ Non-aspirin pain killer
◦ Neosporin (tube) (Lots of that can be needed, and it’ll last for a long time)
◦ Electrolyte Tablets
◦ Pill Fob
▪ Migraine Medication (more of those)
▪ Pain Killers
◦ Bandanna (always handy)
Israeli Bandage (for something slightly more serious than the rest of the kit will handle.  I’m not thinking I’ll be good enough with any of the tools to be the greatest help ever, but I do want something for the “oh my God, the blood” situations.  I’d really hate to have absolutely nothing in that situation. It still wouldn’t help with the “Oh God, there are parts of you everywhere!” situations…)
◦ Tampons (for nosebleeds, something I have far too often)
Snake Bite Kit (This one’s a bit controversial. I really have it to keep someone uneducated in the workings of snakebites calm. Having someone say “this will help you” is quite a calming thing. And the non-suction cup parts of the kit could be useful in other things. I’d never consider incisions or restricting blood flow to be an option)
▪ Suction Cups
▪ Scalpel
▪ Constriction Band
▪ Antiseptic

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• Camera Bag Strap (For my belt pouch, and for the camera bag with a camera in here. In case I want to carry either on my shoulder for a time)
• Cord (Some inexpensive stuff, just in case)
• Poncho (This is a much heavier poncho than the other small ones I have. As you can tell, I hate to be stranded in the rain)
• Gloves (It’s cold out now, but even in the summer I carry some work gloves most of the time. I can never tell when I’m going to be called off to work on something. And in the winter I’ve taken to carrying both work and warm gloves. Some hand warmers are good things to carry too, but I’m not entirely convinced of their effectiveness.)
• Heavy-duty grocery store Bag (My city has outlawed disposable grocery bags. So I’m forced to carry a reusable plastic one. It’s not like I never re-used the disposable ones, so I guess it isn’t much of a hassle)
GermX (The world is covered in Germs, especially cities. I always want to sanitize my hands before a snack or an appetizer, hopefully when I’m eating a meal I can wash them)
• Leatherman Pouch (It was what I could affix to the pack strap)
Sabre Red Pepper Spray (Just in case I’m in a scenario where escape is difficult. Dissuading pursuit is at least an option. And with my pack on, using a knife for defense would be difficult. And since I can’t carry a firearm at the moment, something in between the two seemed necessary)
• Glasses Case (Self explanatory)
◦ Glasses
◦ Cleaning Cloth
• Cash Wallet (sometimes a Flex by Filofax) (My phone wallet doesn’t have much room. if I know I’m going to be spending money, I bring along some cash in another wallet, so that I won’t lose my phone and ID card if my wallet gets lost or taken. I’ve also experimented with using it to carry cards and notebooks, which is fun)
• Change Purse (I don’t like clanky, scratchy change)
• Fixed Blade Knife (Mossy Oak) (cheap, but better than a folder in some situations)
• Map of the local area (Austin TX) (my phone works as a map, but a backup is nice)
• Bandanas (can never have to many)
• Monocular (Golf Rangefinder) (just for some fun, bird-watching etc. Easier to carry than binoculars, and if someone’s golfing I’m the guy to talk to)
• Camera Pouch (Extra camera just in case something goes wrong with my phone {storage used up} and I want to take a picture, or someone else does)
◦ Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W1
◦ AA Batteries
• Game Pouch (I like games, and I feel weird in some situations where people are looking for something to do without them. I vary the card games sometimes)
Deck of Cards
Love Letter (Card Game)
• Multi-tool (Leatherman Juice CS4) (I keep the heavier corkscrew and saw model in an easy-to-access compartment at all times.  It’s so handy I almost wouldn’t believe, except for those added tools, that a Juice S2 would work just as well here)

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So that’s (almost) the end of my EDC. My backpack contains quite a few items, and many of them have been used (thankfully, not the first aid kit). Many of them are more emergency items, though, and could be pared down considering how infrequently they are accessed. Still, I don’t want to be unprepared. I do enjoy having all of the tiers will me at all times, and tend to not find them too cumbersome, though there are times when they definitely need to be pared down to a level below. I’m still quite happy with the setup of my pack at the moment, though it is always in flux.