EDC 101: The Basics of Everyday Carry

If you’re serious about preparedness, your journey should begin with your EDC: your Everyday Carry. Since starting my preparedness journey back in 2010, I’ve learned that the most practical and used gear is what you keep on you every single day. Before filling up bins of supplies or building an elaborate bug out bag, it makes sense to focus on what’s in your pockets.

EDC is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the collection of tools and essentials you carry with you, day in and day out. Everyone already has some kind of EDC. A wallet, phone, and keys are the basics. Preppers simply expand on that foundation to include a few tools that make life easier and safer in unexpected situations. For me, EDC is where preparedness becomes personal. It fits your environment, your lifestyle, and your needs. And it’s the part of preparedness you’re most likely to actually use.

Because I live and work in an urban environment, my EDC is tailored to city life. I don’t need camouflage or wilderness tools. I need gear that works when I’m downtown, commuting to the office, or at a crowded event. My EDC setup is designed to blend in while keeping me prepared for whatever comes my way. That means avoiding anything that looks overly tactical or threatening and focusing on items that are slim, practical, and easy to carry.

Over the years, I’ve refined my system into what you see today in my latest video. I lean toward a minimalist approach. If you overload your pockets, you’re less likely to actually carry your gear, which defeats the purpose. I use small modules to organize my tools, medical supplies, and electronics. Each module is color-coded and stored in durable little pouches so I can grab what I need quickly and keep my pockets from getting cluttered.

At the heart of my EDC are the core essentials: wallet, phone, keys, knife, flashlight, and multi-tool. I also include a lighter, a pen, a compact medical kit, and a few electronics accessories. Each piece has been chosen because it works for me and has stood the test of time. My wallet is slim and RFID-blocking. My phone case carries bandages and emergency cash. My keys are pared down to the minimum, with a suspension clip to keep them neat. My pocket knife is a blue Benchmade Bugout: non-threatening, lightweight, and perfectly suited for urban carry. My flashlight is a blue Streamlight Wedge, chosen because it is slim, rechargeable, and powerful without looking like a weapon. My multi-tool is the reliable Leatherman Juice S2, which I’ve carried for years.

To keep things organized, I break down my EDC into tiers. Tier one is the bare minimum: wallet, phone, and keys. Tier two adds the prepper tools like knife, flashlight, and multi-tool. Tier three includes extras I carry when I have more pocket space, like a power bank or an Altoids EDC kit. Tier four lives in a backpack or sling bag, building on what I already have in my pockets.

One thing I emphasize is complementary redundancy. Rather than carrying the same tool over and over, I carry items that complement each other. For example, I have a small flashlight in my pocket and a headlamp in my vehicle. Both provide light but in different ways. My EDC should always feel balanced: enough tools to be ready but not so much that it becomes uncomfortable or impractical.

My EDC also includes some thoughtful touches. I keep an Altoids Smalls tin with tiny supplies like mints, safety pins, and a SIM card removal tool. I carry a mini medical kit with advanced bandages and ointments beyond the usual Band-Aids. I even carry a “burner wallet” in certain situations, filled only with nonessential cards in case of theft.

EDC is deeply personal. My setup works for me in my urban setting, but everyone’s will look a little different. The important thing is that it fits your needs and that you actually carry it. If it’s not on you when you’re in the bathroom, it isn’t truly your EDC. You should feel uncomfortable leaving the house without it, the same way you would feel without your phone or wallet.

After more than a decade of refining my EDC, I’ve found that the simpler I keep it, the more likely I am to stick with it. And the more I stick with it, the more prepared I feel, whether I’m lighting a birthday candle, cutting open a box, or handling something more serious.

If you want to see my current EDC in detail, including all the specific items and how I carry them, check out my latest video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP9CpmqjQMA