Now that I'm in an office every day, the question of where to put stuff I like to carry really becomes an issue. The Pockits pouch used to be a favorite, it's also not "office-appropriate" attire. I've experimented for a while with the various combinations of pockets, pouches and packs, and some were too lumpy, some tended to get left behind when I ran out for a bit, and others just didn't seem to work.

So, after a number of experiments, the EDC has adapted to the situation quite well.

LIGHT. At Radio shack and Wal-Mart, they have this flat Garrity LED light:
[img]http://s7ondemand1.scene7.com/is/servlet/izoom/DoItYourself/8781429?wid=200&hei=200&fmt=jpeg&qlt=75,0&op_sharpen=0&resMode=trilin&op_usm=0.0,0.0,0,0&iccEmbed=0[/img]
This is on a necklass.

KNIFE: I actually wear my leatherman Wave pouch, but I blacked out the yellow "LEATHERMAN" writing on it with a black marker, and it looks like a phone case. I have the enire set of extra bits in the same pouch.

WHISTLE - on the keychain

Bandanna - in the pocket

LEG POUCH - Found a great leg puch at an army navy store. In it is a very simple FAK - Gloves, Medic Shears, Bleeding Stopper and a bandanna. There's still room in there for more, but I am happy as it.

Why not put your PSK items in a briefcase or book bag? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I've found its as much attitude as it is attire. If you project confidence in having your EDC available, you'd be amazed what people will ignore. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> It also helps if all your gear is in good order, polished and shiny. You're right about darkening out the Leatherman lettering on the sheaths though, I've been doing this since Doug pointed it out on one of his LM reviews. Another thing I've found that helps is to wear the LM sheaths sideways, it blends in more (especially if you suffer from Dunlap disease as I do).

During the day I'm usually either in a full suit or "business casual". My EDC is the same for both:

# Ironman watch (these things are 100-meter waterproof and nigh-indestructible) - left wrist
# "Lucky Secure A-Key" clip - on front left belt
# Inova Microlight - on keys
# Inova Microlight - on ring with work badge
# Tornado whistle - on keys
# Comb - front right pocket
# Leatherman Squirt S4 - left front pocket
# Wallet - left rear pocket
# Handkerchief - left right pocket (need to get some bandanas)
# Leatherman Charge Ti with two bit trays - in sheath on front right belt
# Blackberry (I hate the thing) - rear right belt

When in suit:

# Leatherman e306x - in sheath on rear left belt
# Compaq iPAQ h4150 - in right breast jacket pocket

When not in suit:

# Leatherman e306x - in sheath on front right belt, next to Charge sheath
# Compaq iPAQ h4150 - in left cargo pocket, or in coat/jacket pocket
# Work badge - on front right belt


All this stuff is actually much less conspicuous when I have my suit jacket on. The only thing you see is my keys on the clip. If my EDC seems a little light, its because it is. I'm usually never more than 500 feet from my car, which has a full-size FAK and lots more gear.

By always being prepared in my urban office environment, I've actually worked up a good reputation for always having tools and odd items available. I also have a couple of coworkers who regularly come to me for knife sharpening and cleaning. Go figure.

So how are YOU adapting to office life?

One road warrior I know is happiest when she's traveling. Loves going places and meeting new people. My idea of traveling is walking to the local pizza place for takeout. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Since you're "grounded," so to speak, I guess there won't be any more "Equipped - To Fly Coach" messages from you. I liked those. I have them archived somewhere.

-- Craig [still apprehensive about flying]

What, no SwissTool Spirit? It's perfect for wearing under a suit jacket.

-- Craig

I fully understand your pain Martin. The office is no place to be openly prepared.

I am lucky in that I can dress business casual most of the time.

I always have the following with me at all times. I have more gear in my computer bag, but that is not always with me.

- Benchmade 730 Ares inside my waistband right side
- Left Rear - Wallet, with bandaids, razorblade, paper clip, safety pin, duct tape, and wallet stuff
-Left Rear - Fenix L1P in sheath next to wallet
-Left Rear - Space Pen and mini Sharpie pen next to Fenix L1P
-Right Rear - "EDC wallet", this is a zippered Eagle Creek Wallet that has 12 ft of 550 cord, Leatherman Micra, spare AA battery, Mini-Bic, BSA Ferro Rod, Meds, sewing kit, duct tape, P38, Sliver Gripper tweesers, spare 2016 batteries for Photon. This is standard wallet size and less than 3/4 inch thick.
- Right Rear - Leatherman Juice KF4 in a cut down mini-mag nylon sheath, with 2 cotton balls at the bottom for padding.
- Left Front - Red Bandana
- Right Front - Key chain, including; keys, truck remote, whistle, photon freedom, compass, BSA ferro rod, P38, safety pin.
- Belt - Cell phone

This all rides very cleanly and does not look like I have a Bat belt on.

Ready

Craig/Craig

Actually, I'm a Director at this company, which means there's travel again, not as much as in the past, but it's sill there.

I do carry a bag - actually it's a laptop backpack - it was a freebie at a trade event, and it's pretty good. The backpack is full of all kinds of doo-dads, including a VX-5 ham radio, more FAK stuff, some tools, a snack or two, plenty of water (2 liters, in 2 containers), a book to read, a small towel - all the stuff you need to spend 4 hours stuck in traffic on a bus.

However, the bag isn't always with me - sometime I run out for a bit to eat, sometime I have a meeting nearby. The basic scenario is something blowing up near me, a blackout, a As far as N-B-C attacks, you're not getting away from that, I'm not kidding myself.

But a dusty, messy building going down, well, my n95 mask and a bandana is handy for that, huh?

You got any pics, Ready? I'd like to see how thick that zippered wallet is. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Martin,

Sitting here at my desk, I have on me (in my business-casual attire):

Left Front Pocket: Keychain with Sliver gripper tweezers, small whistle, bison capsule with 4 Advils

Right front pocket: Leatherman P4 Squirt, Swissmemory 1G knife/USB drive, Peak Matterhorn flashlight, L.A. Wallet (from CountyComm) with a fresnel lens, cut-down featherweight mirror, Fisher pen refill, Rite in the Rain paper, titanium credit card knife, contact list

Rear pocket: Wallet with a Flosscard, small ferro rod, piece of hacksaw blade, tinderquick tab, wax paper, couple feet of mason's twine, bandaids, Pocketwrench, sewing needles and thread, safety pins, paper clips, small piece of duct tape, and a folded up garbage bag.

My coat has a couple extra knives and flashlights, as well as a real PSK in a Witz container.

There's just something about the way gear rides in the pockets of slacks that makes it very uncomfortable to cram alot of stuff in them. Plus I would be walking around with big bulges in my pockets.

My keychain has a Leatherman Micra, Inova, p-38 can opener and keys. But keys for two vehicles, house, safe, tire lock, work drawers tend to take up space.

I have always carried my wallet in my front pocket after a trip in the 80's to NYC. I was cautioned to "watch out for pick pockets". I put my wallet in my front pocket and never looked back. But I am curious where all these people with wallets stuffed full of gear carry things that would normally be in the wallet? Credit card, atm cards, gas cards, health cards, SS card, voter registration, blood doner, video rental, day care security card(lets me in to get my kid), money, business cards and the rest of those daily important items. I don't have room for paracord in my wallet. I'm just curious.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to have a wallet with paracord in it...but there's just no room. I do have a briefcase from Duluth Trading Company that I love.
The Fully Evolved Briefcase

It sits right beside me. But I understand where Martin is coming from...when I go out at lunch..I don't carry the whole bag. It's tough to be prepared and fashionable at the same time. Jeans aren't an option where I work, so I will just have to keep looking for the perfect set up. I do like the idea of a leg holster or pouch to hold gear. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I fear for anyone carring their Social Security card with them. Not only is that simply inviting permanent pain if lost or stolen, they aren't "supposed" to be laminated, and paper IDs tend to wear down over time.

I carry my EDC stuff in a Leatherman Charge sheath, it's got a bunch of nifty internal pockets:

(I cut the metal tag off mine.)

This sheath holds the following:

• Leatherman (old Wave)
• Bic mini
• Fisher Bullet Space Pen (tactical skull-crusher black <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)
• Peak LED light (1xAAA, 3xLED)
• whistle from REI (like that one but smaller)
• 5x$20 emergency cash
• emergency phone/contact list

All this stuff fits neatly & discreetly into the Leatherman sheath.

In addition I have some "overflow" stuff in my pockets:

• folding knife (mini-RSK, Native, or Lil' Temperance)
• tweezers (Uncle Bill's, of course)
• nail clippers
• minimal FAK (in wallet)
• combined cell phone/pda/mp3
• sun glasses
• 1L nalgene water bottle

Yeah, that's it.

Although I've never owned one I've always thought slim money belts might help with office style carry. On this link is something called a 'shoulder wallet'. Not for me but others might find it to their liking. money belt

Marty,
We never DID get together for that lunch - we should sched a contact on the 147.00 repeater ( minus shift, 136.5 PL - WB2ZSE - main NYC ARES box)

And only ONE HT? I've trained my office mates to ignore my WAY over sized backpack, and the stuff in the office drawers - I have 3 HTs in the backback on most days!! Icom T90A (It's OK - better as a scanner than an HT IMHO - but handy), and a pair of GE MRK commercial rigs - one for UHF, one for VHF - and that way I can swap batteries (plus there are a few GE rigs around at work, so I can "borrow" a charger)

JoeGreen,

The "EDC" Wallet I was talking about is not my standard wallet, it rides in my other rear pocket and is a zippered travel wallet. Here is a picture of it on it's side:



Here it is open:


Here is the Leatherman Juice KF4 with the mini-mag sheath it rides in, next to the wallet above:



Here is all my EDC stuff that I carry on my in my "business casual" or even a suit (if I have to):



I hope that helps to explain. It works for me.

Ready

"But I am curious where all these people with wallets stuffed full of gear carry things that would normally be in the wallet?"

The L.A. Wallet

Keeps your credit cards separate from your "real" wallet. Follows the don't-put-your-eggs-in-one-basket thinking.

Nice Pics Ready! Thanks for the info. I find that if things are too bulky, I tend not to carry, but you've got it slimmed down a bit there... very nice.

great kit, Ready. i was thinking you might store that extra AA in a backup light, like a classic style CMG infinity. it looks like you'd have the room for it if you hacked off the lanyard attachment nub, taking up the same space as the battery but slightly longer.