More than once I've gone for my FAK/ cell phone/ multi-tool only to find I hadn't moved it to the right kit...So Here's the question -- Who uses a checklist for prep/ packing? What's on it?

Teacher

Am I the only one here who doesn't have a different EDC for every day of the week?

Nah, I only have one EDC as well. There are certain things that are always in my pockets, and it doesn't matter what day of the week it is, or (unless rare circumstances) where I'm going.

My EDC only changes based on where I'm going to be.

For example Work = No belt stuff and a smaller folder.

I might transfer the Rescue Pouch (photos pending) from my class bag to a plain large backpack if I need lots of packing room, but otherwise it's just what I have on myself plus the class bag full of legally acceptable, but somewhat disconcerting to the untrained eye stuff. No BOB schedule here.

My new "modular" concept is working well. I was getting sick of all the God*****d lists.

I bought a bunch of those plastic drawers(like wal-mart sells) and placed all the contents of my BOB, hunting gear etc in each one clearly labelled, cleaned, sharpened and ready to go. I have a small multi-compartment one in the bedroom in the closet labelled EDC. Every morning when I wake up I grab the items I will need for the day. My EDC slightly changes as I change from civilian clothes to uniform so this system works great for me. At the end of the day each item goes back into its space so in the event of an emergency I know exactly where all these items are. Now I don't need to worry about where the items are all the time, and I eliminate a lot of redundancy as this gets expensive trying to add each item to every bag. This routine eliminate me haveing to wonder what pocket my zippo or surge ended up in because if its not on me then its in this drawer.

When I go hunting I go to the bigger drawers and place the items I need into which ever backpack I choose. The items are cleaned and put back in the drawer at the end of the trip and if I decide to go for a simple hike the next day then I just load up my hiking bag as a lot of the items are multi-purpose.
Furthermore, I took a picture of each item in each of the drawers and placed it on my computer in a folder. It makes it easier when planning a trip to drag the pictures over to an empty file to see what I have and what I need. I like this system a lot better than having bags packed all over the place and not knowing wher stuff was.

My EDC also changes based on what I'm doing:

Work: multitool goes into briefcase along with a few other "just-in-case type things". SAK goes into pants pocket.

Flint and steel is always on my keychain.

It is amazing how, in this society, you can have pagers and cell phones clipped to your belt, but if you were to put on a small knife pouch, you must be looking for trouble. Too bad we can't include knives in business casual dress.

I have more than one kit, but I don't transfer gear between kits, each is complete on its own.

EDC is easy: keys, wallet, cellphone, Mission Wallet, change purse, folder and backpack. Sunglasses will either be on my face or on top of my head -- it's like getting dressed. Moving gear between kits would be too easy to lose stuff.

In the evening, when I underess, my EDC gear goes into the next day's clothing, which hangs on a chair beside the bed. That was, if I have to dress fast at night, everything is already in clean clothes.

Absolutely, I use checklists for kits - especially when I travel.

Not only does it work great when packing, but it also helps when I'm on a trip and I realize I needed item X, and didn't have it.

I have three main lists -
The commuter pack/computer bag
The Carry-On Kit for flying domestically
The Europe Kit for travel to the less enlightened regions (no lock-blades, for example)

I print them on sheets of regular paper, and run down the list now and then.

This is saved me countless dollars by avoiding double buying and also helps if I'm not hope to pack for a trip - my wife can handle some of the packing.

For the fire company side of my work, I have a "jump bag"/"go bag" of sorts and the checklist is written on first aid tape which is stuck to the compartments and sections of bag itself, so I know what should be in each compartment and so do other people who might grab my bag.

I also have a habit of writing down anything I forgot or had to buy, or wished I had more than three times. I figure once is an anomaly, twice is is worrysome and three times means I should have never been without it.

Most recently, that was the addition of some 341, 357, 2032 and 2016 button cells to my go bag. There's just a LOT of stuff out there that uses these cells (garage door remotes, keychain lights, laser pointers, tiny radios) and while I tend toward the AA or no way school, it's very, very useful to be able to help someone else out with batteries for their gizmo.

I have several different "kits" that have always been configured in a modular format, with each kit self-contained for the most part. The two significant drawbacks to this method is that it is considerably more expensive since I often purchase several of the same item so that each kit is stand-alone, and of course the additional space and weight penality due to this redundancy when I carry several different modules.

I maintain an Excel document in order to keep track of everything. The file starts out with my basic EDC items, and then lists each individual module, all the way up to several large backpacks and an expedition level FAK that would be what I would throw in the car if I were planning to leave the house and never return.

There are several (a dozen or so) different worksheets, as each "kit" has its own dedicated section that is made up of several different "modules". At last count the main page (the first worksheet) is now well over 2,700 lines. The other worksheets that follow are considerably smaller, as they only list the individual items that make up the various modules that comprise that particular kit (i.e., Wilderness Survival Kit, Urban Survival Kit, FAK, Vehicle Kit, Camping Kit, etc.).

I generally try to keep a current contents list (printed directly from the Excel worksheet) within each kit, although it seems that I am constantly revising one or two items which renders the whole list obsolete. The other PITA with doing things this way is that if I revise a single item in a particular module, I then need to manually update each of the following worksheets that contain that module.

It's amazing how much time and money actually gets sucked into this "hobby" if you aren't careful.

Jim

This is why I took pics of all my gear, every single piece. It took some time but now I have all the pics in folders like “hunting gear, backpack gear, vehicle items” etc. If I am planning a trip I simply open a folder and look at all the little gear icons at once. I can drag and drop them into a blank folder and then when I think I got all I will need I press print and then bring the paper down to where the gear is stored as a reference while packing. I do have some smaller kits like PSKs, fire kits, FA kits etc but these get listed as a single item with another attached checklist.

For simple minded folks like myself, people who like colorful pictures and stuff I think it works great. Very user friendly with no lists to change and re-write every 5 minutes. Similar to Nighthikers setup, if I double click on a gear picture any other important info is there in a text box(serial numbers, expiry dates etc)

The biggest downside is that I no longer have a dedicated and ready packed BOB, But the risk is VERY low of ever needing to bug out where I live, unless it is with the Army and then all that gear is in a locker at work anyway. If I do need to, I can pack that bag very fast with this setup. Since I use my gear frequently I HATE to have any of it unused and sitting idle when I can be out getting into trouble with it.

I used to have a lot of checklists, backpacking list, car camping list, RVing list, fishing list, hunting list, plinking list, etc etc etc. But I apparently got so good at it that I stopped looking at the lists. When we went from a Class A motorhome to a fifthwheel tlr it was all new to me, so I created a new list. It is still new enough, that I am still fine tuning the list. But a few more moves and hopefully it will all be filed away on my hard drive and I can pitch the list. Only problem is remembering what I had for breakfast...

Like someone else said, it's very easy to waste a lot of precious time fiddling with checklists, always trying to optimize them making sure we are "as prepared as possible".

I've decided to put an end to this never-ending quest and only keep a basic checklist of stuff I usually wish to take on dayhikes or search and rescue missions. I find it much easier on myself to take a look at this list only, and adjust depending on the situation (rather than managing many many lists).

1. I like lists; they are comforting in themselves because their "memory" does not get excited and forgetful as mine does from time to time.

2. If I do not have my lists, then it is sometimes hard to be sure if something neat I just saw isn't already in one of the kits.

3. I do not inventory my car kit or my BOB too often, so having the list / inventory reassures me "it's in there" until next inventory.

4. My checklists include a "wish list" section that becomes a shopping list.

5. Unpacking each kit, each time, is not practical for me. Nor could I be assured the time to repack in emergency, survival, situations.

6. It is esier to share my lists than to unpack for show-and-tell or to take the time to explain it all.

7. Third parties looking at a list have a much better chance of quickly finding things (maybe to help me survive) without having to tear everything apart.

Man, I feel bad for ya, brother!

I've worn a leatherman for many years on my belt in plain view. Never had anyone ask why I was wearing a "knife". It may not be a fixed blade, but hey, it can do in a pinch. I'll admit if I had a 6 inch fixed hanging, I'd get some looks and questions.

EDC only changes for a few (rare) locations unless I have to dress up for something.

I can't figure that out. It's a tool. I find EMT shears work better in an urban environment than a pocket knife but that is what works best for me.

They are both tools so why EMT shears are considered more acceptable than a knife is beyond me.

Jeanette Isabelle

I keep a spreadsheet of lists for backpacks, BOBs, and any time we go travelling. If I check off everything on the list, I know I'm covered. It also has things to do such as turning down the water heater, turning off the water, etc.

It's pretty easy, I just carry a 3 x 5 card with me, and when I forget something, write it down. When I get back home, it goes on the list.