The Minimalist Guide to EDC (Every Day Carry) kits

by M.D. CREEKMORE

Your EDC (Every Day Carry) is one of your most important survival tools, because it is the kit that you will always have available and on your person should an unexpected disaster befall you while you are away from your home, or outside your vehicle.

Even though an EDC kit is a much abbreviated version of a larger more and comprehensive kit and is not meant to supply all of your needs long-term, it will drastically increase your chances of getting back home to your main survival supplies or of surviving an immediate threat to your personal survival, such as a criminal assault or natural or physical disaster.

For example; let’s say you have the misfortune of being trapped alive under the rubble after your office building collapses during an earthquake. Because you had your EDC kit you were able to use your cellphone and or whistle to help rescuers to find and rescue you.

Another example could be the use of your handgun or OC spray from your EDC kit to ward off criminal attack. And yet another example would be the use of your multi-tool or Swiss army knife to repair a needed item or fabricate an item from scrounged materials should the need arise.

At the end of the day, the gear that matters most is the gear that you have on you when you need it and that gear should start with your EDC kit. Its use and possibilities for saving your life are interminable and it or its contents should not be overlooked or taken lightly.

What you include in your EDC kit will depend on your personal needs and individual location, but certain items have a universal need and should be included in most kits of this type. These items are what we will consider here and should be used as a modeling for your kit that you can later expand to include other items that are essential to you on a personal level.

Suggested EDC Kit Contents

1. Multi-Tool or Swiss Army Knife (Use: general use, repairs)
2. Handgun, OC spray or Taser (Use: self-defense)
3. Bic Lighter and or FireSteel Miniature (Use: starting fires etc.)
4. Whistle (Use: signaling for help)
5. Small Flashlight with extra batteries (Use: signaling, emergency light, etc.)
6. Cell Phone (Use: communication, calling for help)
7. Money in small bills (Use: general use, paying for emergency services and barter)
8. Large band-aid individually sealed antiseptic wipe (Use: first aid, health and repairs)
9. At least a two-day supply of prescription meds (Use: health)

I consider weight to be one of the most important considerations when considering items for an EDC kit, because, you’ll be carrying this kit with you at all times (or you should be) you’ll want to keep the weight to a bare minimum. The last thing you want to do is to leave your kit behind on the very day you need it, because you thought it was too heavy or bulky to bother with that day.

Keep it light, tight and ready to go… 

Once you decide what you need to carry, you’ll need to figure out how to carry those items in the most covenant and comfortable way. If you’re a female that carries a purse, how to carry your kit isn’t a problem, because you already have a ready-made pack.

Just organize the contents in the purse so that they are easy to reach by their order of immediate importance. For example, you would want to have your handgun, OC spray or Taser in an easily accessible location, inside or in an outer purse pocket.

There are a number of purses available that are designed for concealed handgun carry that have a specially designed pocket for secure and discreet handgun carry with most of these purses also having an assortment of other outside and inside pockets to easily carry the other items that make up the EDC kit.

Men as a rule have a more difficult time of finding a suitable way to carry a kit, but it if the kit is kept small and light as it should be, it isn’t much of a problem. I carry the bulk of my kit on my belt, with the other items distributed in my pockets and on my key ring.

Several companies sell specially designed vests for concealed handgun carry with plenty of pockets, and these work great for carrying and distributing the components of an EDC kit. Because of the general design of this type of vest the weight being carried is adequately distributed making the kit barely noticeable.

Another option for men is a small fanny pack such as the “Uncle Mike’s Off-Duty and Concealment Nylon Fanny Pack Gunrunner Holster” these are great for conveniently carrying EDC contents with a well-designed and easily reached pocket for your self-defense option.