I've been in an interior room of a large building during a couple of power failures. The first time, I didn't have a light. No fun. On subsequent outtages, I simply turned on the light and walked out. A tiny little light can make a HUGE difference in capability in the right situation.

You might enjoy some of the stories in this thread from candlepowerforums.com about the use of small LED flashlights during the New York black out a few years back (an urban environment).

I'm with you, groo.

Not only have my Photon II's been handy to have, they have bailed me out of more than a few situations that would have been much worse had I not had them with me.

It doesn't make much sense to not have something about the size of a quarter attached to your keyring - in any setting.

I agree, my little peak led flashlight has come in handy when a woman at work lost the expensive back to one of her earrings under her desk, and when the power has gone off more than once during severe spring storms and to find the lock to my front door this past winter, when the whole neighborhood went dark because someone hit a power pole. I think I use that more than anything--wouldn't be without it.

LOL I was just reading through this thread and saw my own post from a while back where I showed the following pic of my EDC...


.... and I realized that my EDC has come full circle since then. Admittedly I am known to change my EDC more often than my wife changes her purse, and thats a lot. Anyway I noticed that since this post It have...

... traded in my Shadow III for a Shadow IV then gone back to the Shadow III
... traded in my Large Classic Sebenza and tried several different knives and multitools and am now about to go back to a Sebenza (large regular this time)
... tried a couple different micro lights and am looking to go back to a photon (except going to a photon III this time instead of a photon II)
... switched from that great little lightweight LG digital analog phone to a completely worthless digital-only Blackberry and am eagerly awaiting my new job at the end of august so I can get rid of the blackberry and go back to my LG.

A few things have remained the same though...

... still carrying the same watch
... still carrying a minibic lighter (though I have considered switching this also many times to just a ferro rod for the summer)
... still struggling with whether or not it is really worth it to carry water pruification tabs and an oven bag every day (this is not in the pic but i mentioned in the original post that i was debating the usefulness of it)

--------------------------------------

Okay so if you read this you may be thinking "why did I waste my time reading his babble" but for me the rebirth of this thread has taught me several important things. First, it has shown me that the gear that hasnt changed throughout all the recent "evolutions" of my EDC is probably the gear that is without a doubt right for me. Second, it has shown me that the gear that I have ditched and then gone back to the exact same thing or something just slightly upgraded is also probably spot-on right for me. Third, it has shown me that I may never decide if it's worth it to carry water purification on a daily basis. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

---------------------------------------

So I guess I may debate the usefullness of water purification and a multitool in my EDC forever but other than those two indecisions I should probably come to the realization that I have already found the rest of the "right gear" for me.

** Watch - Timex Stainless Steel Expedition ECompass Watch
** Knife - Shadow III (rural) / Large Regular Sebenza (urban) / Spyderco Salt (water) <-- I spend lots of time in the water during the warm half of the year.
** Fire - MiniBic (winter) / Ferrocerium Rod (summer) <-- yes in Texas we only have two seasons, just ask anyone whos ever lived here <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
** Light - Photon III

Oh and I am still keeping my RSK. To me it's like a less durable Sebenza that I am not constantly terrified of losing. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The keyring LED flashlights can be very small. Much smaller than the micra or the car remote. I think light is probably more important in an urban environment than the country, because you are more likely to be inside a building with no windows.

That said, if the Motorola has a decent back-light it might be enough to see you out, especially when your eyes are dark adapted.

"still struggling with whether or not it is really worth it to carry water pruification tabs and an oven bag every day"

That's funny. After our recent conversation I've been thinking about adding water purification. I ordered some tablets last night.

A 1 quart zip lock and $4.95 of h2o tabs in a jacket pocket and you're good to go.

Well it depends.

Do you work in a large building, particularly an older one whose emergency lighting might not be entirely up to speed?

Do you ride the subway?

If so a flashlight is absolutely indispensable. It's one of the single most important items you can carry.

I carry a Pelican M6, and I never leave home without it.

My EDC: (I almost always wear cargo pants, and if I don't I carry a fanny pack or some other pack for gear)

Leatherman Wave plus Tool Adapter

Leatherman MIcra - more PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. friendly than the Wave

Cell phone w/ extra battery and important phone numbers on a piece of paper in my wallet

Yaesu VX-7R quad-band transceiver with broadband receive: AM/FM broadcast, TV audio, SW band, public safety bands, air band, NOAA weather radio, with local police/fire/EMS and NOAA frequencies and local amateur repeaters programmed in). Plus I carry at least one relatively high-gain antenna; on my belt I use a 1.75" stubby antenna so it doesn't poke me in the side.

Two wallets - one with important cash, credit/ATM cards, ID, and so on, and another to hand over to a mugger if necessary. (I'd prefer to fight, and in reality I probably would, but this is an alternative of lesser force). The other wallet contains some expired credit cards, old club membership cards, and about 6' of duct tape folded over a piece of paper.

Notable wallet stuff: A copy of the Bill of Rights stamped on an aluminum card: http://www.securityedition.com One of my favorite pieces of EDC gear! Credit-card size transit information cards and subway map. Emergency contact card. Amateur radio license. Spare (old) Metrocard, in addition to the primary one (carried in a separate pocket), for the bus and subway.

A small change wallet with a couple silver dollars, about $5 in quarters, and about $50 in folded cash for emergencies.

On keychain: bottle opener, JetScream whistle, nail clipper with file.

Cigarette Lighter

Pelican M6 flashlight

Spare pair of glasses / sunglasses

micro AM/FM radio with earbuds (Sangean SR-2Y)

2-AA Minimag with Opalec LED conversion kit

about 25' of Paracord

A few pens, a red sharpie and a red laser pointer.

A small first aid kit, distributed in two Altoids tins and a small plastic bag, containing: A few assorted band-aids, and two 4"x4" gauze pads. A few antiseptic towelettes. Insect sting relief pads. A piece of Dr. Scholl's pad. Cuticle scissor. Tweezer. Assorted Exacto blades and small handle. P-38 can opener. A folded up plastic shopping bag. A few assorted small fishing hooks and a few feet of fishing line. A few feet of dental floss. A few short (4") Ty-Wraps. An eyeglass screwdriver. A small cocktail straw. Mini tube of Krazy Glue. Mini bubble level. Tick remover. Short length of solder. Small book of paper matches, wrapped in plastic. About 6 feet of copper magnet wire - can be used in a pinch as snare wire or for binding. Small tube of Bacitracin. Pills: 50 water purification tabs (Potable Aqua), assorted aspirin/ibuprofen, Immodium A/D, Bendryl, Vivarin, DayQuil, few pills of Rx antibiiotics. Small sewing kit containing a few needles and lengths of assorted thread.

In months other than the peak of summer, I also wear a vest/jacket, which also contains:

Storm Whistle

Small torch lighter (useful for soldering)

FIrst Aid Tape

Additional gauze pads and band-aids

Another 25' length of paracord

small loupe for magnifying

Spare battery and earphone mic for VX-7R and hands-free headset for cell phone

Altoids tin containing extra batteries: AAA, AA, CR123.

small VX-7R instruction manual and printed list of area repeaters

A few folded shopping bags, and one lightweight black garbage bag

in the rear "game" pocket: a 5'x7' space blanket, a folded heavyweight black garbage bag, orange reflective vest.

Area and regional maps and printed transit schedules

Long (8") Ty-Wraps

Additional VX-7R high-gain antenna

That's my usual EDC.

Wow, my first post on this site <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Right now my EDC is a Victorinox Mini Champ SAK and a Photon Freedom LED on my keychain. I also keep a couple of Band Aids in my wallet as well as a couple of Aspirin.

I can't tell you how often I use the Mini Champ. From opening boxes, to trimming loose strings from clothing, to filing a rough fingernail, the Mini Champ has never let me down. Great little knife and by far the best keychain I have ever had.

The Photon Freedom LED is a new addition to my keyring. I picked it up a few weeks ago and am very impressed in this little light. I actually went back and picked up another one to put into my PSK. The amount of light that it puts out for its size is very impressive. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a keychain LED.