What is Everyday Carry?
Every day carry (EDC) are items commonly carried on your person on a daily basis. These would be items you use and carry for their convenience and utility. EDC items are kept in your pockets, purse/bag/backpack, belt loop, etc.
Why Carry an EDC?
There are some big advantages to carrying some items, depending on what you do every day for work/play, etc. If you’re a general contractor, chances are your EDC might be a little different than a stay-at-home mom. People choose certain EDC items because they need something often enough, that keeping it on you saves time and effort (finding one at your house, office, or in your car). I literally started carrying a knife because of the amount of Amazon packages I was receiving. At some point, it just becomes easier than going into the kitchen, pulling out a steak knife, and using it to saw through cardboard.
Besides their convenience, EDC items can be easily concealed. Conceal-carry definitely means something different country to country or even state to state. Living in Canada, the thought of someone concealing a handgun is a mind-blowing concept. But if you go on YouTube, you’ll see a lot of people very proud of how discrete their EDC Glock is. In Canada, maybe a small pepper spray or taser will suffice.
What are popular EDC Items?
As I said, EDC really depends on what you do day-to-day and where you live. A lot of people have some emergency items that I personally don’t think are necessary.
A Wallet will be in everyone’s EDC. Not a lot to explain here; as everyone knows how a wallet works. Some people like to show off their RFID blocking, hidden screwdriver, feats of engineering. Personally, I want the smallest possible wallet. Mine is a piece of fake leather, a hair elastic and a fabric pull strap. It cost me 4$ to make and has lasted 5 years.
I remember carrying a solar panel cell phone charger thinking it was so cool and Hi-tech. A lot of people still like carrying one. And sure you can carry one if your phone is old and has a broken ass battery. But most businesses have charging stations, or at the bare minimum USB outlets. Pretty soon, all tables will have built wireless charging; so I think this can be scrapped.
As LEDs evolve, flashlights get smaller and brighter. When you watch EDC on YouTube, I think a lot of people put a flashlight as if you’d be shunned for not having one. “You never know when you need it”. It’s a pretty common expression when describing it. But the point of EDC is keeping things you use every day. Chances are the time you’ve wasted taking out your flashlight instead of your lip chap is greater than going to get the flashlight the odd time your phone just won’t cut it.
This depends on where you live, but in Canada’s dry winters, if you don’t carry a lip chap, you’re going to be in trouble. Everyone has that memory as a kid when your lips were so dry they started to crack. You didn’t know what to do so you licked them to help the pain for 3 seconds until they dried out again. It’s a vicious cycle. Burt’s Bees is the good stuff, but it’s pretty pricey. If you lose lip chaps a lot, I would recommend something cheaper.
A lot of people keep a notepad and pen for writing down their thoughts and random ideas. Personally , I can’t read my own writing. A note pad does me no good. I make reminders on my phone like the modern man I am.
What is the Modern (Corona Virus) EDC?
The point of this article isn’t talking about everyone else’s EDC being mostly bullshit. The point was to talk about how EDC has recently been thrown out the window. The modern EDC has changed a bit, and by modern, I mean the past month. There are certain items you shouldn’t leave your house without. Corona Virus has changed the game.
I have a little tray at home that I keep my normal EDC on. The tray is pretty big so it fits my wallet, keys and lip chap pretty easy. But that little tray is at full capacity now.
If you’re not carrying Hand Sanitizer, you don’t value your life. I’m trying my hardest to use my sleeve to touch any doors and buttons, but sometimes you forget. You need to stay strapped in these odd times.
Know one knows if you’re supposed to wear a face mask in public. Every week it changes. I get it. Wearing it may give you a false sense of security and then you forget to wash your hands. But if you have a mask at the ready, why not wear one. Shit, making a mask at home will kill an hour or two. It’s a win, win.
I had to run to Home Depot yesterday and they had non-slip gloves for 1$. What a steal. Hand sanitizer is harder to come by then re-usable gloves, so I made the switch. I keep them flipped inside-out between uses to stay safe, and they always stay away from my other EDC items.
I feel bad for the people that already have to carry a flashlight, bottle opener, pliers, multi-tool and now have to add these to their EDC. Cargo Pants might be making a comeback. For me, it’s a pretty simple addition. Hopefully, it won’t last much longer.
