What Do You Carry?

No, this isn't about firearms, but rather about Every Day stuff (or EDC). A firearm might be a subset (and that's certainly okay to list) of what you carry, but the focus here is on the larger picture of your daily "stuff".

Most of us leave the house each day taking something with us. For some it might be a lunch box, or that favorite coin, or a certain jackknife. Some of us take a pack or a purse, or a briefcase or courier bag. For me, I take a small pack (I'm a nut about the perfect pack and I've had many over the years and continue to search for that 'one'). I actually use different packs for different seasons and occasions as each have their own requirements.

In any case, I usually take a select number of things with me each day on my travels to work, to town or just out and about. I'm pretty ritualistic about what I carry with me to the point I feel naked if I don't have it. Some things I carry in my pack, and other things I carry on my person. Over the years I've gone from a whole lot of stuff, down to bare minimalist, back up to more and down again. The goal is to find that perfect equilbrium of things you need and use versus stuff which just adds weight.

There are folks who are completely consumed with EDC, even to the point of entire websites dedicated to the subject. I guess I'm somewhere in the middle and look at it from a more practical perspective (although I will admit to having gone to some of those websites for clever ideas, and they do have some.). My reasoning for EDC is that many years ago I came to the conclusion I always had too much stuff in my hands (going to the car, getting into work, getting out of the car, etc.). I found myself being kind of jealous of my wife because she had her purse which was the catch-all for everything. Obviously, I'm not a purse kinda' guy so I had to find my own kind of "purse" if you will, and for me that was a pack.

Ultimately, I would like to ask you all what types of things you deem essential in your daily travels, but before I do that I will share a list of the things I generally take with me. Here goes:

When I walk out the door in the mornings now days my hands are free. On my person I religiously have my wallet, my phone, a small swiss army knife, a small flashlight (infinitely useful), a small aluminum pill bottle and my car keys (clipped on a belt loop with a carabiner).

In my pack I carry:
- A water bottle filled with fresh water
- Sunglasses (in a case)
- My lunch in a small collapsible lunch bag
- A rain shell jacket in a stuff sack
- Some wet wipes
- A couple full sized carabiners clipped to the outside (really handy items)
- A couple paper notebooks (one large and one small) along with some pens and pencils
- A small ditty bag with various cables
- My laptop and charger
- Some breath mints
- A Sea to Summit insulated mug with coffee, tea, cream and sugar packets stuffed inside
- A general purpose bandana
- A small soft sided first aid kit that I've put together
- Ear plugs (gotta' have ear plugs in my world)
- Some business cards in a card holder
- People will laugh at this one, but I also carry a set of titanium chopsticks (amazingly handy actually) and this aluminum spork like utensil.
- Lastly, and most importantly, I carry with me...some extra room in my bag (an invaluable lesson I've learned). For stuff collected along the way.

Every evening before I retire to sleep I remove any extra items from my bag along with my lunch box and water bottle, so the bag is stripped down to the bare essentials for the next day. I also (once a month or more often) take everything out of my bag to evaluate it's utility and then re-stock. I use this opportunity to shake out my bag, clean it up and inspect it for wear. also My pack is generally a 28-31 liter size which is a little bigger than a typical book bag, but considerably smaller than a trekking 'backpack'.

I can't count the number of times I've been in a situation where I needed something and was so thankful to have just what I needed.

What do you carry?

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

My wallet and cell phone.

Now I do have several items in my truck and wifes car that never get removed.
Flashlight
Toothpicks
Selection of tools like pliers.
Jumper cables
First aid kid, homemade not cheap store bought

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

I carry all of the burdens of modern life and being a federal employee.

In general, though, I always have:

- Kershaw Shuffle pocket knife (the max length that I can legally have in a federal building)
- A Sharpie Pen (not the fine-point marker, but the pen...highly recommended)
- My wallet with only essentials (it's a small travel wallet in my front pocket)
- My smartphone

I prefer to travel light in my day-to-day.

I the evenings and on weekend, add a M&P9 Shield to that. If I'm traveling outside of my normal distances, probably my dual-magazine holster as well.

Phased plasma rifle in the 40watt range.

A leather bag with laptop, some beverages for the day, medications, backup vape batteries, and various files I may have been working on or just wanted off my desk when I left the prior day. My keyboard, too (laptop is small, i need the full sized keyboard, so i tote it back and forth instead of just buying one for home like a sane human would).

I carry my dripper/mod and the juice for it. I also have a pod mod I carry in my pocket for discrete use. And my wallet.

If we want to add in weapons, its typically a .40 Taurus Millenium G2 lately. And typically a Kershaw Needs Work (i like the blade angle for box opening, etc, at work).

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

Phased plasma rifle in the 40watt range.

Only what ya see buddy...

a reply to: Bluntone22

Yeah, the list of items in the car would be a bit longer (especially in winter). But generally that list would include a much larger first aid kit (actually a trauma bag), lights, a solid air compressor, a tool bag, a firearm (can't carry at work) and a couple lights.

a reply to: SlapMonkey

Same here with the Shield M&P9 (on my person) (but not at work). Ruger LCP in the car.

Hot sauce..

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

Location makes a big difference.
I live in a fairly populated area with friends and family literally minutes away.
No need to lug around to much stuff.

Wallet..with cash in it, and keys, maybe a knife if I'm wearing jeans/belt.

a reply to: Bluntone22

True, my commute is 60 miles one way, most of it in the boonies. And my office is about a mile from the car, so it's a hike if I forget something. So yes, location does matter. However, I don't like to depend on anyone else either so I probably carry more in general as a result.

Keys
Wallet
CellPhone
Cigar Cutter
Lighter
3 finger case
flask
condoms
consent forms

a reply to: vonclod

I used to carry a small knife but with my job I go into to many places with metal detectors and it was a pain.

a reply to: notsure1

That's actually a GOOD idea!

I might have to add that!

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
a reply to: Bluntone22

Yeah, the list of items in the car would be a bit longer (especially in winter). But generally that list would include a much larger first aid kit (actually a trauma bag), lights, a solid air compressor, a tool bag, a firearm (can't carry at work) and a couple lights.

a reply to: MisterSpock

Heh, I like the consent form!

LOL!

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
a reply to: MisterSpock

Heh, I like the consent form!

LOL!

I noticed a pen was not on his list...
What good is a consent form without a pen?

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

HA you said chop sticks! I actually carry a pair also, though normally I wouldn’t admit it. I have a med kit that I made myself. Two folding knives, rocks and sand in a bag for emergencies that require water. Wet back that holds my poncho and can be used to keep things dry. A map of the area. A bandanna that is also a map A pair of shades Nemesis v30 safety glasses. And my super awesome watch. Has compass, paracord, fishing line with bait and tackle and I believe also sewing kit.

originally posted by: Bluntone22

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
a reply to: MisterSpock

Heh, I like the consent form!

LOL!

I noticed a pen was not on his list...
What good is a consent form without a pen?

What college girl doesn't have a pen on her?