I was just curious what everyones views on EDC capabilites are...what do you consider the "MINIMUM basic every day carry" and what should you be able to accomplish with what you have on you...I am thinking of the "every day carry" in a normal everyday urban situation, NOT necessarily a wilderness survival situation and NOT convenience items. What would you consider the absolute basic minimum everyone should have in their pockets every day and why?

I would appreciate any thoughts or comments.

I appreciate everyone's comments on their own personal EDC but that is not what I'm looking for...(thats another post <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />)...I am just interested in knowing what you consider the minimum basic gear everyone should have in their pockets...kinda' like Doug's "don't leave home without it" gear.

I look at the EDC as a way to defend myself, take care of minor emergencies , the "nice to have" stuff and some capability for disaster. Defence is a Ka-Bar/Dozier folder and
B&K neck knife. Sometimes I add OC spray. Minor emergencies is migraine meds , a couple of knuckle band aids, a large band aid , antibiotic ointment, cortisone cream, betadyne wipe, alcohol wipe. Nice to have stuff is buttons needles, floss, backup $1.00 keychain light, whistle, SAK card, swiss tool, P-38, $1.00 mini strobe. Also carry a surefire light and SOG multi tool as well as cell phone, $ wallet and keys with the usual compass, Photon light, whistle. The EDC stuff fits into what is at work and what's in the mini van. So all together I could camp for a couple of days.

Interestingly, I was just thinking about this. Today is Day 2 wearing slacks with no pockets. I don't normally wear a belt, and considering the weather, no blazer either. In doing an inventory, it appears that the only piece of emergency equipment I have physically on my person is my cell phone. Mind you, my purse with all of my gear is within reach, but I'm not going to have that with me when I'm walking through the office.

My EDC items are moronically simple and most of them stay in my purse. But I do like to have my lighter, mini-mag and pocketknife on me at all times. Of the three, the knife; a simple 2" pointed blade lockback folder, gets the most use opening containers, cutting the strapping on copier paper boxes, and so forth.

Now I'm looking at a way to modify the plastic spring-clip cell phone holder so that I can attach the mini-mag and lighter to it and make it more useful.

The items I carry in my pocket are tools with immediate use; a blade for cutting/opening, a flashlight for illumination (I've been caught in the bathroom during blackouts. It gets DARK in there!) and the lighter for not only basic firemaking but also for any of the other uses to which lighters are put. Well, except for smoking, which I do not do. My only addiction is chocolate and as far as I know that indulgence is still legal.

If I change my cell phone carry case (suggestions welcomed!) to be able to carry other items, a band-aid or two would certainly be included as well as something for pain. Anything more than that and I may as well bring my purse, which has more gear and supplies.

If you count the stuff in my purse, I can do the following:

Treat minor injuries
Repair clothing/sew buttons
Take notes (pens and paper)
Save computer files (USB drive)
Work miracles with clear duct tape
Take notes and look up information (Palm Pilot)
Manually cut and paste (ruler and X-acto blade)
Wash (Purell/handy wipes/PocketSuds)
Open cans and eat (P38 with spoon)
Repair/open things (multi-tool)
Entertain (travel chess set)
Buy things (cash/cards)
Save my life (firearm)
Set things on fire
See in the dark
Cut things

And this is a small purse. I used to carry even more things until my chiropractor told me to cut it out. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

~Sarah

If the average person carried some type of light and knife,they would be miles ahead of where they are now.

For me light,knife,cell phone,plenty of cash.Now I often have more but those are the minimum for me.

Some scoff at cell phones because during 911 they we're of little use to most.Remember this most things you'll face will be along the lines of putting your car in a ditch,getting stuck in an elevator etc.and yor cell will work fine.

We get 1/3 of our 911 calls come from cells.This means help comes quicker(nobody has to go home to make the call)we now get many back up calls.This means better info on location,number of people involved,type of injuries etc.

Sarah,

Excellent post !! That is exactly what I was looking for... <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I was also thinking along the exact same lines...a knife, flashlight and fire...these three things should be a MINIMUM basic trio to assist in MANY of our day to day routine "emergencies". I was also wondering if maybe a multitool such as the Wave might be a "better" basic item than the knife...I feel that as long as I had a Wave, a good small flashlight, like a small SureFire, and a quality lighter I would have the best "basic" tools necessary to see me through many situations.





My IDEAL "Basic-3" Set-up <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Let's look at this as Army Basic Training -- what would your basic issue be? Not all of the other personal things you would add, but the beginning basics to your EDC...I think these 3 would be the perfect basics to build on...

my keychain is edc consist acr whistle,swiss tech utilikey,screwall,photon,pulsar(in case someone else needs it),and mini buck plus a wave and princeton attitude

Dan-e-boy,

With my EDC, I should be able to:

Start a fire (lighter, matches, mag bar, tinder tabs, trick candle)
Sew on a button (needles, dental floss)
Get drinking water (Potable Aqua, aluminum foil, oven bag)
Pay for a cab ride (cash)
Order off of the internet (credit card)
Get cash from an ATM (ATM card)
Tighten a screw (Wave)
Cut paper (Wave)
Shelter from a rainstorm (garbage bag, paracord)
Open a can (P38)
Signal for help (featherweight mirror)
Keep dust out of face (dust mask)
Light my way in a movie theater (flashlight)
Dress appropriately for a Sex Pistols concert (safety pins)
Pay a bill (checks)
Post a letter (stamps)
Read fine print (fresnel lens)
Write in the rain (rite in the rain paper, pencil stub)
Trim nails (nail clipper)
Take out a splinter (tweezers)
Do expedient repairs (duct tape)

I'm sure I could do more, but that's a start.

I always have pockets. Stuffed pockets.

The wallet contains cash, cards, and ID; in addition to a 1/8" x 2" ferro rod, several bandaids and a packet of antibiotic ointment, a Brunton Survival Card, and several pieces of TinderQuik.

Next to the wallet rides a Victorinox Pioneer w/ saw, tethered to a belt loop with a homemade watch chain. If I'm headed into the city, the Pioneer might get replaced by a Leatherman Pulse multitool on my belt, opposite a charged Glock M27 and beside a spare Glock magazine.

One front pocket carries a BIC or Cricket lighter and a small vial with a couple days worth of essential personal meds and a bottle of breath freshener.

Another front pocket carries a Victorinox Classic and a pocket clip equipped locking folder du jour. Sometimes the Classic will be replaced with a slipjoint folder with significant olde time appeal.

The remaining back pocket carries two bandanas; one bright colored, the other earth toned.

If I have a watch pocket, there rests an ARC AAA and a Fisher Space Pen.

My key ring holds a Traser Glowring, Photon III, and a whistle.

I have a Suunto compass on my watchband and my cellular in a Maxpedition CP-S pouch on my belt. A pair of sunglasses rides on an EK strap around my neck.

Whatever jacket I have with me will have a minikit and a pair of leather gloves in it's pockets.

That's when I'm traveling light ...

M <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I have had many many knives and continue to have a loving fascination with bladed weapons. My mother gave my my first mother-of-pearl handled pocketknife when I was around twelve years old with the admonition that "a lady always carries a blade."

I love my mother!

The three things I carry in my pocket are specifically selected to be unobtrusive and lightweight. In a corporate environment, hauling out a Leatherman can make the administrative types start looking askance and that can be detrimental to my continued employment.

I prefer the subtle. My pocketknife is silver and black, the lighter is black, and the maglite is black. Very "executive" looking and all three can be easily concealed in my hand.

~Sarah

Sarah,

Read some of the stories of WTC survivors and you'll see why I carry the gear I've selected.

One of the new Leatherman Juice models; in a "friendly," non-threatening color format might be a good choice as a knife supplement. A Swiss Army Knife, with appropriate tool selection, may also be a good non-threatening choice to supplement your well thought out handbag supplies...

M