Yep!

Well, I try to anyway... there are a few exceptions. I don't carry it around the house, but if I'm going to the store down the street, I will.

A couple more examples-
When the zippo isn't charged, sometimes I don't carry it for a few days until I can get around to refilling it, but I always have a lighter on me (usually the mini bic, sometimes both the mini bic and the zippo)

The first aid kit is currently under repair; my OC decontamination wipes leaked all over everything <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I should have that back up in a day or two

And finally, I do sometimes slip up some days and leave without an item, but like you, I always carry a knife and a source of fire as a minimum

Since I attend a university and carry a backpack, some of the load can be transferred to it. Mostly the multi-tool, first aid kit, and sometimes the flashlight. Because of theft issues in general ($300+ worth of textbooks in there too) I always have the backpack within arms reach, even if just getting up for a minute to go across the room or down the hall.

When I'm not at the university (weekends, evenings) I just transfer the stuff mentioned above to a belt.

It's pretty evenly distributed, not too bulky, although it looks like it would be. I find that I generally look for carpenters pants or cargo pants now, because the one or two extra pockets really do help. Notice I'm not carrying a PSK. That's one of the reasons I carry so much EDC is that I decided to try a decentralized approach and carry equivilent PSK items about my person. Each item is easier to access individually and most of the stuff will find some use during a week. I do carry a PSK in my backpack, in my car, and if I know I'm going hiking or something I do carry it on my person.

I started carrying the other wallet because I was listing 20 degrees starboard when I sat down when I only had one <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I suppose it also has a use as a travellers wallet if I ever get mugged. I was wondering what to put in it. I ended up putting in some basic boo-boo stuff (band aids, hand sanitizer wipes, antiseptic wipes, gauze pads, duct tape) and I also have 4 gerber babymilk bags (laying where paper money usually goes in a wallet) and 4 micropur tabs. Of course, the micropur would have to be cut down since the bags don't hold a liter of water, but it shouldn't be too big a problem. The first aid pouch holds field dressings, gloves, medicine (tylenol, etc), squishy things like antibiotic ointments, and (up until recently) decontamination wipes for the OC spray.

The handkerchief I started carrying after dons article about the hunter who had to use his underwear to signal for help. It goes with the spare wallet in my right back pocket. The wallet also keeps the OC spray standing upright so it can be accessed quickly. My regular wallet goes in the other back pocket. The multitool and first aid kit go on my belt. The meerkat goes inside the waist band at 4 oclock (it's got it's own belt clip). The mirror, mini bic, and small keychain with P38, LED, and spyderco ladybug go in my watch/coin pocket. The flashlight usually goes in the leg pocket of carpenters pants. The 550 cord goes around my ankle, and the rest of the items go in my two front pockets.

I'm about to have more stuff to carry once I get my concealed carry permit <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> then I'll be really bulky!

Heavier too. You're going to need suspenders and a belt. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Seriously though, thanks for the detailed explanation of how you carry when not equipped with backpack. That is very helpful.

lets see some more pictures!

Wallet:

• Diamond coated knife sharpener (looks like a credit card)
• Bandaids, various sizes (I've cut myself with my knife. Messy)
• A couple of Tinder Quick tabs folded up in Write in Rain paper (The green paper below the bandaid)
• P-38 can opener

Keychain 1:

• Arc AAA LED light
• Miltary fire steel
• Fox 40 whistle

Keychain 2: Leatherman Squirt

Chris Reeve Sebenza (knife)
HDS Systems EDC Ultimate 60 (large flashlight) with paracord lanyard

This is always on me. Except at home, when I just carry the Ultimate 60 and the Sebenza. I have more stuff in a Maxpedition bag in the car, and in a backpack, but this is my EDC.

As I mentioned in a previous post, this isn't all I'd like to have, but I've found it's all I'm willing to carry.

After browsing ETS site every now and then I got inspired to add a little plastic survival bag in a steel cigarette case which I use as a sort of a wallet.

So here's my everyday carry from now on:

• Nokia N-Gage (Loaded with mini-GPS Base station Tracker & SSH client)
  
• UK 2xAAA flashlight / Keyring + Keys
  

Cigarette case containing:

• Credit Card
  
• Driver's License
  
• Gym Access Card
  
• Currency
  
• Public Transit Keycard
  
• Credit card size multitool (love it)
  
• --- An old anti-static bag with:
  
• A single band aid
  
• Prophylactic
  
• Ketoprofen pill (painkiller,anti-inflammation drug)
  
• 6 matches (flat wooden variety)
  
• Striking surface
  
• 3 meters of nylon thread
  
• Metal saw blade
  
• Stanley blade
  
• Safety pin
  
• 5 cm of steel wire
  
• Wrigley's Eclipse Flash (breath freshener)
  
• Steel needle
  
• All attached to the bag with electricians tape
  

I also have a miniature compass attached to my backpack.. I think I'll get a smaller one and put it in the cigarette case. If I had had water treatment pills I would have included one as well.

Any comments?

Hi,
Here is a photo, dont know if this is going to work. I EDC my:
wallet-reticulated python (gift from my wife)
knife-BladeTech Pro Hunter in S30V w/ G10 handles
Inova X1 light
Jetscream whistle
Leatherman Micra
BSA Hotspark
Sears Pocket screwdriver
Lighter

[img]http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/fordwillman/detail?.dir=737b&.dnm=88f3.jpg&.src=ph[/img]

Your picture didn't show up. You need to edit it down to the following code to get the link to work:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/fordwillman/detail?.dir=737b&.dnm=88f3.jpg

Groo,

Do you think the HDS is worth the money? Is it all it's cracked up to be? Thanks.

YES! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

First, it's definitely small enough for EDC. It's much, much brighter than, say, an Arc AAA or Photon. In my opinion, the killer feature is the variable brightness. It allows you to trade brightness for runtime. Not all tasks require the brightest setting. By just using the amount of light you need, your batteries last longer.

For example, the lowest setting on the 60 will just let you see your wrist watch in a dark room without disturbing those around you (movie theater), the brightest setting easily lights up the shadowed areas on the house across the street. The lowest setting would last for 100's of hours, the brightest setting only lasts 20 minutes. HDS Systems Runtime Chart

I bought the Ultimate 60 just because. Really, the Basic 42 would be fine. The biggest difference is that you can't change the factory presets, but this shouldn't be a problem. I've changed the brightness of my "primary" and "secondary" settings a few times, just playing around. Didn't really need to, though.

If you have any specific questions, let me know.

My urban environment EDC is my tri-fold leather wallet, a Motorola V400, keys and car remote on a keyring with a Leatherman Micra attached to it. The thing I use the most on the Micra are the scissors and the Philips screwdriver. I've recently added two medium-size Band-aids to my wallet.

I don't believe in carrying flashlights, large knives and other gimmicks on a day-to-day basis. The annoyances of carrying them largely outweigh the benefits, IMHO. I don't think not carrying a flashlight is "unsafe", in an urban environment that is.


Bee