EDC Essentials
Every day when I wake up, I go to the kitchen where my wife usually has coffee waiting for me. The house is still dark and the kids are in bed. We move to the couch where we sit and talk about the day to come or reminisce about days gone, but eventually I have to start my day. I get dressed, grab my cell phone, my wallet, and my EDC gear, and head out to wherever it is I need to go. What I take with me greatly depends on where I’m going, and what I’ll be doing when I get there.
EDC, for those who don’t already know, stands for “every day carry”. EDC items are, as the name suggests, things you carry every day on your person. It could be anything from knives and flashlights to a full tool kit that can fit in an Altoids tin. If you were to do a search, it could be overwhelming to wade though the results.
Beware Of Gear Envy
What do you really need in your EDC? Do you often find yourself wishing you had a titanium beard comb that doubles as spatula? There are a lot of gimmicky things offered as EDC items, and it seems that for every ridiculous EDC gadget, there are 200 people telling you why you need it. The reason is mostly because they are getting paid to do so, but some of the options do seem really cool. I often find myself considering buying some odd gadget and have to ask myself if I really need it.
Do not fall into the trap of thinking you need to have every little trinket they offer. The reality is you will almost never use some of those EDC items, and there are most likely cheaper and more practical options available. I added up the cost of one Youtuber’s kit and the sum was well over $500! Granted, the items listed were probably very high quality, but they just didn’t seem worth it. For everything that could be done with that kit, he could have spent under $100 and used the rest of the money for something worthwhile.
I have a short list of things I consider essential for every day. This is by no means all I carry, but could be considered the bare minimum, and is usually all I have on my person. Here are the most important things I think everyone should have as part of their EDC, and why I chose them.
A Good Knife
A pocket knife is usually number one on everybody’s list, and my list is no different. I have never once uttered the words, “I wish I didn’t have a knife”. I use one multiple times throughout any given day, and have found one thing to be true. No matter the specific brand, or size, or material its made from, they are all essentially a pointy sharp stick. People have been using pointy sharp things for as far back as we know. Find a knife in your price range and don’t buy into the hype about which brand or locking mechanism is best.
I have owned knives of varying costs and quality, and I have come to the conclusion that they are pretty much all the same. I had an automatic Benchmade that was an incredible knife. It cost over $300 at the time, and it was no better than the $30 Gerber I bought to replace it when it broke. The knives were similar in size and weight. They both cut things, and neither one made a good prybar. However, the cheaper you go, the more likely you are to find poorly constructed knives. With that being said, I still have a $5 knife that I bought nearly 20 years ago, and used it while I worked construction. It is worn, and banged up, but is sturdy and holds an edge. Use good judgement when picking one out, and you wont be let down.
Here are a few good knife options:
A Flashlight
Having a readily available light source is very important to me. Most of us have a cell phone with us at all times, and you can use that as your light. But sometimes its not enough, or maybe your phone is out of battery. I carry a flashlight because there have been times when I was looking at something under the hood of a car, or in other tight spots where a cell phone was just too bulky. I also don’t want to bang my phone up against something and break the screen. A small flashlight solves the problem and and a good one will come with a pocket clip so you don’t have to fish for it every time you need it.
If you’re like me, and find yourself needing a stand alone flashlight, you may have already looked into the options. There are a lot of good lights that are very affordable. My personal light is a Streamlight Stylus Pro that is rechargeable. It sells for around $50, but the Olight I3T is only $20. While I think the Streamlight is a better light, the Olight gets some good reviews and puts out 200 lumens. That is more light than most people need. There are some lights that look really cool, put out a lot of lumens, and sell for $100 or more, but , if you’re being honest with yourself, all you need is light. Buy the cheaper option. Use the $80 you saved to buy seeds for your garden, or some ammo.
Some good flashlight options:
Fire Starting
Next on the list is fire starting. Things can really start to get gimmicky here. I have seen necklaces with tiny ferro rods on them, and while you can start a fire with it, it is not as easy, or nearly as useful as a classic Bic lighter. On top of that, they cost around $30. A Bic usually costs around $1. That is a %3,000 difference, and you’ll end up with a less useful item if you buy the necklace. That being said, I’m not against ferro rods in general, just tiny ones. I carry one from time to time, like when I’m going hiking or camping, but for every day carry, the Bic wins.
A Multitool
A lot of people in the EDC crowd are suggesting pliers. There are a number of small pliers you can buy and one brand everyone seems to be suggesting that I wont mention here. Don’t buy into it. If you need pliers, buy a multitool. You get so much in a small package, and a decent one will run about the same price as a decent pocket knife. The Gerber Dime comes to mind. I have one and have used it for many things over the years. There are many very good options, all of which are around $30, and can even serve as your main knife.
Some good multitool options
Totaling everything up, my essential EDC, consisting of A good knife or multi tool, a good flashlight, and a Bic lighter is under $100. You can even go cheaper if your budget demands it. The important thing is that you carry what you need, and need what you carry.
Pro tip: The most important tool you carry every day is your brain. Get trained and develop the skills you need to help you stay ready for what life throws at you. Contact us for classes and training in CPR, First Aide and more.