The first lesson of edc might be- you can't prepare for everything. I see some kits weighing in at 10-20 pounds. And this is before any day-to-day stuff like lunch, laptop, papers to read, etc.

There has to be a compromise between luggability and prep.

Got the same problem. Some if it is from duplication - for example: 2 lighters, a firesteel and a brass matchcase. Some of it is from gear that weighs too much - a D cell flashlight for example.

I'm in the process of paring down my kits and replacing some heavy stuff with lighter stuff. The brass matchcase goes, the plastic one goes in.

I gotta remember, I know how to do without some stuff. DW not so much.

Pairing down the EDC is a never ending battle. Add in smart phones, laptops, iPads, Kindles, ALL the charging cables and adapters, and you've got an EDC nightmare LOL.

+1
you are now entering "the professional zone".
you can't take everything :-)

Pete2

Taking a seat in the over-packers section of the room and paying close attention.

My edc pack weighed 15 pounds last week, including a full water bottle, snacks, ereader, and my polyfil vest with my usual out-of-the-house edc gear in pockets. I removed the big FAK this week but hardly noticed a difference. In my defense, I rarely carry it. I usually leave it in my Jeep unless I'm a fair trek away. (i.e. when I take the subway.)

My usual edc rides well in my vest jacket pockets. It's a bit heavier thsn most people's jackets but, in my defense, I do not carry a purse in the winter. I prefer pocket carry most of the time as long as I'm wearing a vest/jacket/coat. (Less likely to get seperated from me or forgotten by me.)

My absolute bear minimum is my wedding rings, watch, a couple of hair elastics, and a micro photon II that I wear on a 3 ft paracord necklace.

Hey bacpacjac,

Just a quick note- paracord has a much higher tensile strength than the human neck does. You may or may not prefer another material. Just something to consider.

I recently got a GR1 as my laptop bag and I love it. I've been planning to write a review if it here but I've been too busy. Briefly: it's awesome, the organization works better than I thought it would, it's super comfy to wear all day, and the $15 pouch from Voodoo Tactical works great in place of the $95 Goruck Field Pocket.

For me, it's not a good "one bag" solution for trips longer than overnight, as my laptop, iPad, tools and so on don't leave enough room for clothes. I want to get a GR2 for those trips.

What about neckties, long hair or rings on fingers? At least an EDC necklace is usually tucked inside your shirt and out of harm's way. I'm not trying to single you out Barbarian but every few months someone creates a thread about EDC necklaces and someone always slams them as being life threatening (without mentioning neckties or long hair).

It's easy enough to use a break free knot for neck carry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=864FSx_cTYQ

Personally, I don't think the overhand knot in the above video is strong enough and I use a nail knot instead but basically the same overall principle as shown in the video.

Here's a link to the nail knot.
http://www.animatedknots.com/nailknot/index.php?Categ=fishing&LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg

Thanks barbarian. I use that little light just about every day, and I wear mine inside my shirt so it's not dangling. I also don't have a high risk environment for snags, expect with I'm in the bush and, again, I keep it inside my shirt.

This isnt a criticism,its just I dont understand?

Why would you bring a bunch of electronice or such if you have to hoof it home? For that matter I think I'd stay at work..

Bearing in mind my trip would be 35 miles,last part a twisty mtn likely covered in snow so the circumstance a little different,but I would travel extremely light and a laptop???? Again,I dont get it.

Personally, I've got a significant commute via public transit once every two weeks. On those two or three days a month, my EDC goes up significantly. I guess, to be fair, it really isn't edc then, is it? I do take that pack every day but it stays in my Jeep except on subway days.

I was thinking along those lines too,car carry.

So this would be more like car breaks down and not leaving valuables behind then?

And just a couple days when you need to carry a load? I get that,thanks,If Im reading you right.

Thanks for reply,often times folks get insulted or think youre trolling when legitimately trying to grasp a concept.

I've made an honest attempt to downsize, but like most, get caught up in the "what if "...this pic is a repost, but might be useful... broken down to 4 carry area... originating with the

key ring...pill vial with aspirin, immodium, and ibuprofen..Fenix E01 with lithium...P38 more for nostalgia...brass whistle (lost the Fox)

in a small multi tool pouch...Leatherman Juice S2... Streamlight TacPro 1L... taped together, a section of hacksaw blade, heavy needle, couple of safety pins, LMF Scout w/o handle...petroleum cotton ball in straw...tweezers

in wallet..water transport bag..blood stopper...card with micropore tape...Telfa pads...cloth knuckle bandages...dental floss...4 pack of quarters...chlorine dioxide tabs

pockets...Vic 4 pin Executive, Benchmade Axis lock, LCP

I always give the benefit of the doubt, Spuds.

You read me right. I only carry it a couple of days a month. Otherwise it's there if I need it. I do have a comprehensive kit in my Jeep if I need to bug-in there, but I can grab this pack to crash at a friend's house overnight (or the maternity ward) if I need to.

Depending on the client site I'm on, I will often bring my laptop to & from work with me daily. If I had to hoof it home, I'd be very reluctant to leave the laptop behind unless I had I very compelling reason for doing so (I can't think of one off the top of my head).

In my recent attempt at trying this out, my pack weighed a bit over 17 lbs (after stowing my leather jacket when I got too warm).

Part of this is the assumption that whatever emergency I'd be facing would be a short-term one. By having my laptop at home with me I'd have the ability (in most cases) to work remotely as things were stabilizing and getting back to normal - reducing my exposure any potential additional risk or headaches.

I'd be reluctant to stay at work in such scenarios, assuming I though getting home was a realistic option, primarily due to family responsibilities. That said, I have a shorter distance to cover than you so, like most things, individual circumstances need to be taken into consideration.

izzy and chaosmagnet,

Are either of you GRT yet, signed up for a Class, or just like the product? I was in Class 113 and signed up for Flagstaff and Phoenix, both coming up in a couple months? I ruck with my GR1 several times a week. love it.

I love the subdued design and size of the Echo, the US-made ethic and quality, Java, and the company's charitable contributions to military organizations. But the Challenge would be a long ways off for me. If I bought a GoRuck but haven't done the Challenge, would I be regarded as a "poser"?

This topic is my biggest hurdle for my EDC manbag. I have some gear that I love, but it's bigger and heavier than other gear that will get the job done adequately. For example, I love my Fenix LD10, but my Fenix LD15 will get the job done most of the time and it's twice as small. However, I have decided to carry my Fenix LD10 in my EDC manbag. A flashlight and a whistle are two things I've decided don't need to be the smallest things on the market.

I'll compromise on everything else if I must. For example, instead of carrying a P51 can opener, I'll carry a P38 or none at all. Instead of a large Widgy, I'll carry a Pic Widgy or none at all. Instead of carrying a spare AA battery and case, I'll carry a fauxton light or none at all. Instead of carrying a bandana, I'll make sure my knife can cut my T-shirt. You get the idea...

I recommend using a breakaway even if you're using weaker boot laces. Any cord that's worth a damn can strangle you. There's a thread dedicated to breakaways.

You imply breakaways are unnecessary, and then you provide two solutions (?). I just prefer to say breakaways are necessary. It's a personal decision if someone wants to take the chance to strangle themselves with a lanyard, a necktie, hair or whatever. However, it's fact that it's possible to strangle yourself with a lanyard or a necktie. Hair is a new one. Do you know any accidental instances? Anyway, I'm bald. So, this doesn't concern me personally.

My bigger concern is getting in an altercation with someone, and they obtain control over my head and body by using my lanyard or necktie. There's the common case on TV where a little woman is mad at a large man, and is able to take control over the man's whole body by yanking the man's necktie. So, I can make a breakaway to eliminate that risk on a lanyard. I just take a chance with a necktie.

If it doesn't fit on my keychain it doesn't get EDCed (urban environment). That being said, my keychain is kind of huge.

Stuff on my keychain:
Leatherman Squirt
Tiny Doug Ritter flashlight
P-38 can opener
CountyComm peanut lighter
Large fishing swivel
Hair elastic (for DW/DD1/DD2)
AAA LED flashlight (EOS brand)
Pill case
Kershaw small locking folder (don't remember model)
Assorted keys

Other than those things, the only other item is my TracFone and cash. When out and about on weekends and after work I add either a Sig P938 or a S&W 351PD but I can't have those at work.

In most cases my truck is within a block and it's ready for any apocalypse Hollywood has come up with. My office at work has plenty of food, water, a radio, and toiletries stashed away to keep me clean, fed, and informed for several days.

I used to EDC a Maxpedition bag with EVERYTHING in it (bug spray, 1st aid kit, silcock key, assorted tools, duct tape, etc) but I never needed any of that stuff so quickly that going to my truck was a problem. Heck, if I weren't a pyro I'd dump the lighter but I can't quite drop below a caveman-level of preparedness (fire and something sharp).
-Blast

I'm at the tail end of recovering from a significant injury, and only just really getting back into shape. Next year I'm doing a half Marathon, most likely several shorter races, and hopefully another Sprint triathlon. Perhaps, after I've done those things and gotten my conditioning where it should be, I'll start training for a GRC. My wife (the half-Iron Man finisher and multiple marathoner) wants to do it.

My on-body EDC has to be light. I do carry a Ritter mini-grip and a pocket-sized flashlight, but otherwise my keychain looks a bit like Blast's. My laptop bag is somewhat stripped down from when I was commuting by train, but still has most of what I'd like it to have. My car kit attempts to be comprehensive, and I'm rarely more than a few minutes from my car.

My biggest concern with facial hair, neck lanyards, and ties is their potential interference with rappelling - getting caught in the rappel device and bringing progress to a halt, perhaps quite painfully. At that point you generally have to reach something sharp and start cutting. Be sure to cut the hair or lanyard (I have never rappelled wearing a necktie and I don't expect to..) and do not cut the rappel rope, which is very easy to do since it is under tension. There has been at least one fatal accident some years ago because of this, and my wife just told me of a recent incident where Santa Claus rappelled into the mall, got his beard caught, and was dangling for about half an hour before being extricated. Hanging in a harness for that long can cause problems as well - impairment of circulation with a potentially fatal outcome.

Clip on ties are pretty standard in the LEO community, for obvious reasons....

His stuff is the absolutely first rate, very well-designed and built to the highest standards. Be ready to wait a bit for your order, but also be ready for excellent customer service.

Damn, those are some nice stuff for a gearwhore like me. I really like his Smartphone case.
-Blast

For the record, I'm not slamming anything. Lots of folks obviously prefer neck lanyards. If you like EDC necklaces, that's your call to make.

I wear clip-on neck ties, no jewelry, and an army style haircut. My own preference.





That's my reasoning as well. I would definitely use an opponents neck tie or lanyard to my advantage, if violence became necessary.

How is it I didn't know about the Skinth cases??? Gotta get 'em gotta get 'em gotta get 'em. How can I possibly survive without proper cases to keep all my stuff neatly organized?

I haven't been active there for the last few months but I found ETS via EDCF. I've also cross-posted some of my reviews between the two.