My wife and I are going out for a group date with a couple of her ex-coworkers and their spouses. I have met one of her friends a couple of times, briefly, but not the other or either spouse. Plans are to go to a movie and dinner afterwards. I don't know if we're going someplace like McDonald's, Olive Garden or something more fancy.

Tonight my wife told me, told me that I would wear khakis or nice jeans, but no cargos. I simply said that I was okay with that, but I wanted to take my Maxpedition Proteus, which holds all my EDC belt and cargo pocket carry items. She asked if I would be willing to leave it in the car.

She claims that her friends are more business casual kinds of people. I get the fact that she doesn't want my habits to embarass her in front of her friends. She asked if she could carry my things in her purse, so I didn't have to carry an "embarassing man bag". It seems to be a reasonable compromise, since two Spec Ops mini pocket organizers ride in my cargo pockets, my wife's purse is big enough to add those for a night and most importantly, I don't want to cause unnecessary friction in my pregnant wife's life.

She knows that I like to dress casually as much as possible and I do have some sense of what kind of clothes are appropriate for certain situations, but this seems like a judgement call. Baring the option of khaki cargos, what would other people do in this situation?

Go staright for the Gilly suit! Just kidding......... I think it's great that your wife offered to carry your kits ....(I'd have to sneak mine into my wife's purse). Be ageeable with your pregnent wife, kindness always pays back.......

Do like I do mate. Wear a smart cargo vest. Something like the one North Face makes. Make sure that it is pressed. Go for minimum carry.

Have your wife take the larger items that you feel you really must have in her purse, and perhaps make yourself a small PSK that would fit into a surplus compass pouch - I can fit an altoids (wrapped in 550, orange contractors flagging and a couple gerber bags) and a medium sized SAK in one. If you wear a sport coat, or a vest that overhangs your belt, I doubt if anyone would be the wiser.

Go full minimum. Get your gear down to the bare necessities for the evening. Let her carry a few of the bulkier/more embarassing items. And get some of the hidden pocket pants like the Dokker tech khakis or like SeV pants.

Put the rest of your gear in the car... it's like 50 yards away right? Make it a situation awareness exercise and look around you for items that you could convert to your needs in haste. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I love having to modify my kits or sometime create whole now ones. Take this chance to really "figure out" what is really needed. Make sure to have the items that will score some points with the wife and the ex-coworkers. i.e. tissue, gum, small first aid, etc. If you have theses things then maybe next time you can carry a little more.

Do not forget to tell you wife thank you for understanding about your preparedness mind set and leting you use her purse. that will get you like A Million pionts. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

A well pressed pair of decent cargo khaki's is pretty classy for the business casual scene where I live. A good pair like Trailhikers from Cabela's takes a good press and looks really good with a polo or oxford style button down shirt.

Regardless, I'm in nearly the same boat on any given work day. Hence, I put together a mini kit in a Witz See-It-Safe. It's more compact than a pack of cigarettes and carries well (read unnoticeable) in the front pocket of any (except for skin tight) pants pockets...



As stated in an earlier thread, the one shown above was confiscated by my S.O. My current version has the basics of fire, first aid, water, signaling, direction finding, and cordage for shelter building...

M

Okay, here's the unveiling of my current version:



Here's the packing list:

Mini Witz Kit Contents

01. ID Card (1)
02. Bandaids (2)
03. Steristrips (2)
04. Alcohol Prep (1)
05. Antibiotic Ointment (1)
06. Sting Wipes (1)
07. Pepcid (2)
08. Gas Relief Tab (1)
09. Sliver Gripper Tweezers (1)
10. Large eye needles (3)
11. Dental Floss (25’+)
12. MicroPur Tabs (2)
13. Water Bag (1)
14. 2x3” Fresnel Lens (1)
15. Mini-Match Firestarter (1)
16. Jigsaw blade Striker (1)
17. TinderQuik (4)
18. SAS Compass (1)
19. CR 1220 PicoLight (1)
20. Bison Small Cylinder Whistle (1)
21. Mini Lock Ring (1)
22. Electric Tape (18”)
23. Ranger Band (1)
24. SA Match Striker (1)
25. Neck Carry cord (24”)

The design can be copied for personal use...

M

Gilly suit while going out with her friends+pregnant wife=serious flogging <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />