Ideas for Building Your Everyday Carry Kit
Just because you aren’t up for any outdoor adventure like camping, hiking, off-roading, hunting, or something more extreme doesn’t mean you won’t make use of an everyday carry kit even if you’re at home, at a public place, on your way to work or at work. After all, you never know when some emergency could appear, and it’s always better to be prepared for whatever comes your way than to resort to panic.
Sometimes, in situations like during a power outage, an injury, or when you have to do a quick repair time is of the essence, and your preparedness and self-reliance could make a huge difference. Having a reliable EDC tool kit at your disposal allows you to act upon the situation at hand without wasting any precious second until help arrives.
What Should Be in My EDC?
Here are a few ideas.
Multi-Tool
If there’s one item that’s associated with utility and function, it’s got to be a multi-tool. Nowadays, the market is full of this kind of tools, differing in the pieces they’re equipped with, but what’s essential for all of them is the compactness. They’re made to handle a variety of tasks with one simple design, giving you the chance to tackle anything from cutting things and screwing bolts to opening bottles.
Folding Knife
In addition to the multi-tool, it’s still advisable to have that one separate knife designed for precision. Besides everyday tasks like opening packages, it’s a tool that can come in handy with opening cans and prepping food in emergencies. A folding EDC design is especially useful as it doesn’t take up much space.
Flashlight
Sure, we live in a tech world and electricity is a constant in our lives, but who’s to say there won’t be a time when you’d need that extra illumination source? Perhaps you’d find yourself left stranded on the road with the sun going down, and your phone battery can only hold up so long as a few minutes; flashlights can be a true lifesaver in instances like these when your vehicle needs a repair. An LED rechargeable light with solid output becomes must-have. Keychain compact options are especially great if you want to save up on space and cut down on battery waste.
Lighter
You don’t have to be a smoker to find a lighter useful, especially in power outages. At times like these, you’d find it to be just the tool you require to start a fire to warm up, or do the cooking. A muffin tin and a few small candles can be enough to heat up some water, for example. To be on the safe side, though, always make sure the candles are away from any item that can catch fire, and never leave them out of sight.
Notebook and Pen
In this digitalised time we live in, you might find this combo to be obsolete but it couldn’t be further from the truth. You could rely on them to jot down important information or ideas, coming up with a crucial plan for safety or strategy that would save the day. To be prepared in any kind of environment, invest in all-weather products to have the peace of mind they’d be alright even in case of rain. And don’t forget to also pack the pen refill.
First Aid Kit
What happens when there’s no pharmacy or medical facility in sight? You make use of your first aid kit consisting of basics like bandages, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, gauze, and meds. It may seem insignificant but it can prove its usefulness in treating minor injuries like cuts to prevent bigger issues.
Wallet
It’s no fun having to look for your money or cards all over the backpack. To keep things organised, a slim wallet is something to count on; more so if you acquire a multi-use design that also incorporates tools like bottle openers, metric wrenches, and rulers. Now that’s an every day carry financial tool!
Phone
Okay, this one is a no-brainer, but while we’re at the most indispensable tool in this day and age, it’s important to mention you should always be prepared with an emergency charger because you never know when that time you forgot to charge the phone could prove to be a decisive one. And, speaking of phones, having a durable and strong case is another must in case there’s some accident.
When packing all this, be sure to have a reliable, comfortable, and functional backpack that’s weatherproof, and has enough pockets and compartments to store each of the aforementioned items neatly. Organisation is key when reaching for a specific tool, and so is upgrading the setup periodically to get something more up-to-date or in a better condition.
How to Select the EDC Items?
Here are a few extra ideas that can further simplify the selection for you:
Design
While we’re at design, it’s important to pick out a tool that’s not only sturdy and durable to withstand the use, but also one that’s made for a range of tasks so you get more out of a single item. This doubles in efficiency.
Functionality
A tool should be useful to provide you with lots of functionality for the specific tasks you buy it for. Consider the functions you need it for, and look for the most reliable product, checking reviews and brand reputation.
Ease of Use
Whether it’s everyday situations or emergencies, you need to have a reliable tool that’s simple to operate and offers a great deal on practicality.
Lifestyle
Your own lifestyle, profession, and preferences can be crucial factors in the selection of the items. What one finds to be essential doesn’t necessarily make it essential for everyone, so always make sure you choose tools that you find to be useful and must-have.
