Everyday Carry or EDC is a popular term you may have come across when you are looking for gear or accessories. But, what is everyday carry? You may not realize it yet, but things you bring with you daily is considered your everyday carry gear. In our everyday carry guide, we will look at the recommended beginners EDC essentials to help you pick the most important things suited for your personal lifestyle. These best EDC items are convenient and make it easy to accomplish your tasks for the day.
What is EDC
What does EDC stand for? Everyday Carry, or EDC, refers to the items that you carry on a daily basis. These are the collection of things that you need to have with you and make your day to day life easier. The items are carefully selected and are either kept in your pockets, bag, or backpack.
Whenever you go out of the house, these are the stuff you never leave without. Even in the house, you may find yourself having a few items kept in person like a small flashlight and a multi-tool.
An everyday carry is also intended to make sure you are prepared for various scenarios, including survival or emergency situations.
How to Choose Your Everyday Carry Items
There are a lot of items that you can carry, and all of us different needs. You pocket space is limited so picking the right items is important. However, finding the best everyday carry gear is not that easy as our personal situation vary. To start building a great EDC kit, consider your personal circumstances first.
When choosing a good quality EDC gear, base it on what you need, what you do, and where you are going.
You should decide if you are carrying for work or recreation, and going to an urban environment or the outdoors. Do you live in the city or a small rural area? Are you going out camping, hiking, our just out for a short walk? This will help you in narrowing down your personal choices based on what is most important and the level of preparedness you require.
It is a misconception that you need to carry a lot of stuff for EDC. That is not really the case, you can always get the bare minimum or opt for a minimalist option when choosing items.
Remember that you can always switch up what you are carrying depending on the tasks you need to do. Your EDC essentials should some basic items that you always need to have, but eventually it’s all up to you. Any item on your EDC should serve a specific purpose. Eventually, you will be upgrading your EDC arsenal as you learn more about yourself and your ever changing needs.
Our guide to everyday carry should help you in choosing the right items to start with.
What are the Advantages of Having an Everyday Carry Gear
Being aware of what is everyday carry, and getting the proper items have it’s advantages.
Be prepared – Having a variety of tools available means that you are ready to face whatever tasks you have for the day. In the long term being prepared is a great skill to develop in the long run.
Save time – No more wasting time looking for the right tool if you need a screwdriver or a pry bar. A swiss knife on your keychain will do wonders.
Style – You can mix and match your EDC in order to fit your own personal style. People have our own distinct experiences and needs. So be creative with your choices and express yourself in the things you should carry every day.
The Basics: Essential Everyday Carry Items
We have limited space in our pockets, so it is important to get the essentials. To help you out, our here’s a collection of the most important items you need to have on you. Start working on your EDC gear list now.
Mobile phone
Mobile phones are a must-have in our daily lives. At this modern day and age, it is a great communication tool that all of us cannot do without. It keeps us connected and aside from allowing you to contact someone, a modern mobiles works as a camera, gps, internet access, and also useful for entertainment.
Knife
A good pocket knife is one of the most useful EDC item. You can do a lot of cutting and slicing with a knife, from opening packages, food preparation, outdoors and survival, and even self-defense. It is a functional item that can also serve as a defensive tool if needed.
Getting a folding knife is recommended due it’s small and compact size. A fixed blade knife is also a popular option if you prefer. You should have a small and durable knife to carry on a daily basis.
Flashlight
One of the primary tools in your EDC kit, and no everyday carry guide will be complete without it. A flashlight is something that you cannot do without. There is almost always a need for a light in everything that you will do. There are many flashlight type, with different sizes, batteries, and specific use.
For the ideal everyday carry, it is recommended to get a compact flashlight, using readily available batteries. Getting two of them is even better, a small one for your keychain, and another for your pocket or bag.
Wallet
A wallet is a cornerstone of everyday carry and this is one accessory that you cannot be without. A good wallet keeps your cash and small paper documents organized, easy to access, and secure. Other things commonly found in a wallet are identification cards, shop cards, and frequent flyer cards. A good wallet discretly carries these most important items.
Wallets come in different types, material, and sizes, choosing the perfect one is based on your style and preference. You may look into getting a slim card wallet, a bi-fold wallet, or a minimalist wallet. It all depends if you do not like a big bulky wallet, or have more stuff to stash that you need for your day.
Watch
I love having a quality timepiece on my wrist. A wristwatch may seem antiquated due to the popularity of mobile phones, but that’s really not the case. Having a watch on your wrist is still one of the most functional accessory that you will have. A dedicated timepiece is useful to have at all times. It not only tells the time, but also work as a stylish accessory. Watches are a status symbol that’s sure to be noticed. Besides, it is more quicker to glance at your wrist rather than pulling out your mobile phone just to tell time.
Choose a nice watch based on your activity, attire, and where you will go. Some may prefer an heirloom piece like a vintage dress watch, which is best suited for more formal occasions. For everyday use, a chronograph watch, field watch, or an inexpensive quartz watch will do. So start wearing a watch now if you aren’t, and be mindful of the time to have a more productive day.
Notebook
There is still value with carrying a notebook despite having the convenience of technology. Being able to compose your thoughts and have a place to write things down helps you to think better.
A small notebook with good quality paper is useful for jotting notes, todo lists, journalling, doodling, drawing diagrams, and capturing ideas. Pair a notebook with a high quality leather notebook cover to protect your notes and look more stylish.
Pen
A good solid pen is a practical tool for everyday carry. Pens are very useful and convenient to have. I consider it as a personal tool and it is better to have your own, specially if you love fountain pens. Pair it with a good notebook and you’re all set to write down your ideas, drawing diagrams, or signing important documents.
There are a variety of pens to choose from to match your style and preference. They are small, lightweight, and doesn’t take that much space in your bag or pocket.
You can get a full sized or small compact pens. Fountain pens, tactical pens, bolt-action pens, or even a basic pen, you are sure to have something that you will like.
Multi-tool
Another solid piece of EDC gear that you will find in any guide to everyday carry is a multi-tool. There are advantages to having a collection of tools in a single piece of equipment. No need to carry around a separate tools which will mean added weight and will take up more space.
A multitool will typically have a folding design so it is more compact. It will have a scissor, pliers, knife, screwdrivers, saw, can opener, bottle opener and others. They are versatile for doing quick fixes, tinkering, and other small jobs. A swiss army knife is good for starters as it can have just a few basic tools for those who prefer lightweight carry. Better yet, get a full sized Leatherman which packs more tools in. Having one is useful for wwork, outdoors, emergencies, survival, or even for home use.
Keychain
Keys are necessary items that we carry whenever we go out of the house. Most of us will have a whole bunch of household keys we keep along with our car keys. It is important to keep keys organized to avoid losing them and ensure that we can easily find the right key when needed.
We typically keep our keys in a keyring, but there are other methods of keeping them organized when carrying. Using a keychain organizer is a good way of keeping your keys arranged and grouped properly.
Lighter
Carrying a lighter is not only for smokers. It always comes handy depending on your everyday tasks. You will never know when you need a small flame, and a lighter is a simple way make one.
Having a lighter with you is also a good way to engage with others in a social setting. You will never know when someone else needs a light.
Start Choosing the Perfect EDC Items
By now you know more about EDC basics and building a solid EDC kit is easy enough to do. By following our beginners everyday carry guide, you should have a more concreate idea on what items you need to prioritize in getting. It is not necessary to have everything in our EDC gear list, just choose what you consider the most important. Get high quality gear that will last for years.
Remember that your daily carry evolves as your needs and interests change. In the end, have the best EDC gear, and once you get more experience, review and refine your loadout and upgrade to new and better gear.
