Paul, let me amplify & clarify.
Ham radio HT: who are you going to talk to over it anyway? A cell phone with SMS is probably more useful.
Have you actually been in a situation where there's a large-scale emergency? Cell phone service quickly get overloaded. Plus, my HT picks up Police FD, and a lot more. It's good to be able to hear what's going on. I use it when I'm stuck in traffic all the time to hear what's going on so I can adjust my expectations accordingly.
AA batteries: why carry them if you have nothing that uses them? Anyway they're the easiest battery size to scrounge.
Well....NORMALLY I have an AA flashlight - that's back in the kit now. And also I have a digital camera that uses AA cells, and a small AM/FM radio - that uses AA cells, and a neat little adapter thing that lets me power the HT off of....AA cells.
Flashlight: Stick a bunch of 50 cent Photon II clones ("Fauxtons") in the bag. Really, in an environment like NYC you don't need a powerful flashlight, you just want one that can light your way around a dark space.
I am not talking about a 4-d maglight, it's just an AA cell LED lamp. Even been in a subway car when the lights go out? I have. It's unfun with a tiny light.
.5 liters water: how much water are you reasonably going to EDC anyway?
I carry 1 full liter because a)I have a brisk 1.4 mile walk each way from and to the bus station, so when I get on the bus I like to have a drink of water. That's the first .5 Liter. b)The other .5 liter is for times when I-78 shuts down and I'm on the bus for 4 hours stuck in traffic. That happens a few times a year.
Previous Topic
Index
