Folks,

Here's the question, what's the minimal set of items you would EDC and still be able to enter a secured site?


I spend a lot of work days in facilities where my bags can be/are x-rayed, searched, swabbed for explosives, and I enter thru a magnetic scanner. Normally I carry a pretty complete kit in my travel bag but some days it's not worth the hassle of getting it hand searched and explaining what everything is.

General rules are:

No sharps or blades
No liquids
No defensive aids (pepper spray, batons, etc.)

Most of the sites I visit are in urban areas so resources are readily available. But they are also located 100 miles or more from home and I'm usually traveling by public transportation to get there (can't stash stuff in the car).

So, given the restrictions, what would you carry?

I'll list what I do carry in a later post

I guess the caveat is that security has to recognize an item as fitting one of the three criteria you list for it to be disallowed. There's actually quite a bit that you could edc that would not be immediately recognizable as a defensive aid, at least until it is used as such.

Based on my own experiences, and since I am a licensed IT specialist as well as my regular vocation, there is a whole list of tools I would claim I should be allowed to have with me regardless of where I go to work. Without them, an important aspect of the work I do could not be accomplished, and most all the facilities I've been to, even highly secure areas, will have a provision for tools of the trade. In many cases, as a minimum that means edcing a multi-tool at the least. This includes places like federal courthouses, jails and prisons, and nuclear facilities. While pepper spray or a fixed blade knife would be an obvious no-no, my LT Wave and such have never been a problem.

However, were I to go somewhere I couldn't even bring my Wave, I would get the most powerful laser pointer I could afford and bring that instead. After all, a laser pointer is a fairly common office tool. I'd also consider a double wound piece of stainless steel braided wire used as a necklace (I can't wear any jewelry that has copper or silver in it due to a serious chem reaction). I also like to carry a roll or two of quarters with me in case of emergency vending machine jonesing, and that spare pair of socks in case my feet get wet. I also prefer to keep a bottle of my favorite "Ground Zero" or "Inferno" hot sauce handy, in a convenient squeeze tube dispenser.

Hopefully you get the idea.

Personally I'd keep something basic along the following lines:
- small multitool w/o knife blade (not too many good options there but the LM Knifeless Fuse would be a decent pick)
- LED flashlight
- lighter (BIC, Zippo, whatever you like)
- cell phone
- some cash
- at least a couple of pens or pencils and a small notebook
- small bundle of paracord, twine or rope
- very basic first aid kit (adhesive bandages, painkillers etc.)
- maybe some spare batteries for your flashlight and any other items than run on batteries.

You could add some more stuff but it's good to keep it compact and maintain a low profile. If I were in your situation, my main priority would be a knifeless multitool. If you have any talent whatsoever for fixing things mechanical, you will appreciate having some tools at hand in a possible emergency.

I'm not sure if self-defense is a major concern. If yes, I'd make sure to pick a solid flashlight. I don't buy into the whole tactical flashlight concept because a lot of people tend to overemphasize its effectiveness. But as a fistload it can be a good last-ditch option. So would a well made pen or the good old roll of quarters presuming you can throw a good punch.

While it might be off limits in your situation, I would also consider carrying a decent sized flat screwdriver. Not so much as an improvised weapon but if you ever have to pry anything open it might just come in handy. Then again, it might not be a priority to you.

I'd just carry my "normal stuff" in a small locking case, and when you hit security tell them you're an outside vendor and you need them to secure your case while you're in the building. Pick it up on your way out.

Here's the list of what I do carry when the list of prohibited items is long.

Keyholder (CtyComm 6" ss cable)

car and house keys
Arc Light AAA LED flashilight
Spare AAA battery
ResQme tool
ETS low profile whistle
Pico Pen
Swiss Tech screwdriver set (can't remember the official name)
small SS lighter (again CtyComm)
Photon-like squeeze LED light

I also carry Verizon Smartphone, an ASUS netbook with wireless modem, a small rechargeable Lithium battery pack that re-charges my phone and spare car keys. I use a small CC MPCC case to carry a small FAK, some antacids, pain killers and hand sanitizer.

Leaving a locked case at the front desk is not an option. I'm not too worried about defensive tools, that's what the guys with guns are for. Plus I haven't thrown a punch in anger in about 50 years.

What I leave at home is all the extra stuff that makes me less dependent on others in a "real world event". Bigger FAK with trauma kit, water storage/purification, bigger flashilights, additional tools, etc. So, if they want me to leave all that stuff home, if something happens I'm going to be looking around for help from them.

Ha ha ! Man, People think I am the crazy one. You must live in one rough neck of the woods if you need to EDC that stuff. I am getting a mental image of you in some restricted area scratching your head looking at a piece of stuff that needs cutting and wondering what to do with the roll of quarters, the socks and the hot sauce and going "now what?"

I am fortunate to live in a place where attackers do not suddenly jump at me every day and from every corner I suppose. More of my EDC is geared toward real life use and not the constant fear of being attacked by someone. In a pinch there are always plenty of good things lying around indoors to smash over someones head if they get out of line. If I cannot take a multi-tool somewhere then I take EMT shears. They work very well for most jobs in the absence of a proper blade. I have yet to have anyone question them in even the most restricted areas.

I am only teasing you Ben. I wouldn't want to run across you in a dark alley.

(unless I had a basket of chicken wings)

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm wings

Hey - those wings sound good!! But I don't remember Benjammin saying anything about beer and with all that hot sauce in the quick access containers you are gonna need some beer.

To stay vaguely on topic. I usually have no problems carrying smaller items including a small toolkit through security (except for TSA) as long as it it well organized and everything is clearly visible assuming I have a business reason for carrying it. For EDC I stick to smaller lights (single AA or AAA), and a SAK without a blade (that would be a Swiss Army Klipper ?), my SwissTech screw/all in place of my usual pocket knive / multi-tool. This is along with the usual assortment of less threatening things like bandaids, aspirin etc.

- Eric

I travel pretty much for a living, currently coming at you from the EU. I ALWAYS carry certian items. but it never fails for TSA to catch something.... but it just means they are doing their job, and I dont mind the extra searching one bit, but the last time thru SLC I was stopped and grabbed by TSA, they took my PC Bag and started going thru it, I asked what it was they were looking for. The guy said a grenade, I just shook my head and said it was in the front pocket but your going to be disappointed. It was a spares carrier from surefire. When full and looking down at it from a Xray I guess it looks like one, I would have guessed a revolver cylinder instead.

Items I always have on me. AMK/ doug ritter pocket survival kit, blades removed (added to checked luggage, with carry knife adn leatherman) water purification tablets and Immodiam AD added to it... so be it I have accidentally left the blade in there a few times with no issues, mag block, flint and striker, the striker is from a "light my fire" kit, the thing can shave the mag block with ease and be used as a crude knife if needed I guess. A surefire E2D with tactical night vision 220 lumen LED head and strike bezel. You will not see it coming. I wear a wilderness tactical products instructor belt. Get it swinging and the buckle will rattle your head or drop a jihad. I keep 50ft of 550 cord in the bag and @ 14 ft wrapped around my wrist as a bracelet. I carry a few MRE sides, "THEY" could tell me to toss them and I will, but have not ever been stopped for them. Also carry a bag of mountain house blueberries and granola (since it does not need hot water to taste good) and some clif bars. Last is the pocket version of the SAS survival guide.