EDC - what is it and what does it include?
Our backpacks, bags, briefcases, and purses are filled with essential items for daily functioning. You probably always carry things without which you can't imagine leaving home—wallet, phone, keys to your home and car, maybe tissues, a water bottle, or one of a thousand other items. As each of us has our preferences and requirements, the items we always have with us also depend on the situation. We take different things when moving from home to work or the store, and different ones for a trip, survival, or airsoft games. Creating such sets applies to everyone, and often we don't even realize it has its name and definition - Every Day Carry.
EDC Kit - What Is It?
EDC stands for Every Day Carry – the name for a small set of accessories that make our daily lives easier, so we make sure to have them with us at all times. However, the entire philosophy of EDC is not just about them being useful in ordinary activities but also in emergency or even crisis situations. Therefore, an EDC kit should consist of small-sized items, and their high functionality is crucial. It's best when they prove useful in various applications while not taking up much space or causing too much weight since comfort is also essential in EDC.
You can and should create your own EDC kit, including items essential to you. The choice depends on your personal needs and lifestyle, but we can also highlight very basic EDC accessories that will be useful to everyone. They form a base that you can expand with additional elements.
EDC Accessories – What Can Be in Our Kit?
The EDC kit can include many accessories, some more useful in daily life, while others prove valuable in crisis situations. Today, we will discuss less obvious items that can be part of our EDC organizer. This equipment can be taken on survival trips, mountain hikes, or camping expeditions—anywhere without access to modern civilization amenities, such as running and potable water, electricity, a pharmacy, or even a regular store. In such situations, our EDC kit should be supplemented with many additional items, not used daily but essential in those conditions.
EDC Organizer and Its Basic Equipment
For the Every Day Carry kit, it's best to choose accessories designed for survival, tactical/military tasks, or EDC itself. They usually feature high functionality and compact dimensions, fitting easily into a backpack or even trouser pockets. The most useful items that prove effective in various situations include a knife, a multi-tool or Swiss army knife, a first aid kit, a flashlight, a fire starter, a compass, extra clothing, and a rope/cord. Why are these considered basic EDC accessories? Let's discuss.
Pocket Knife, Multi-tool, and EDC Knife
The universal application of a knife makes it one of the most crucial EDC accessories.
It can be used for cutting food, slicing through a rope, or sharpening a stick. It should be extremely sharp and compact, making a folding knife an excellent choice. A multi-tool can also include a corkscrew, small scissors, a screwdriver, or a bottle opener. A multitool is an even more advanced tool in the form of multifunctional pliers, which can be essential when building or constructing something in the field.
Small Flashlight
A flashlight is a fundamental EDC item, but the choice of a model with the right parameters is crucial. It should be powerful and compact enough to fit in your pocket continuously. Whether you opt for a handheld flashlight or a headlamp depends on your preferences, but the type of power supply is crucial. Batteries are not the best solution as they can discharge at any time, and their supply may quickly run out. Therefore, a dynamo-powered flashlight or a USB-port flashlight that can be connected to a power bank is a better choice.
EDC First Aid Kit and First Aid
When heading into the wilderness, we must assume that at some point, first aid skills may be needed. To make this possible, we need an EDC first aid kit. Its very basic version should include band-aids, a first aid kit, a small gauze bandage, and everyday medications. It's also good to have a small wound disinfectant solution, as well as pain relievers and NRC foil.
EDC Clothing – Do We Need It?
Clothing usually takes up a lot of space, so EDC clothing includes items such as thermal underwear or a lightweight rain jacket. They will provide comfort in various weather conditions and are crucial, especially when heading into the mountains, where the weather changes rapidly. Both of these clothing items are made of lightweight materials, taking up only a small part of the backpack.
Other EDC Accessories
Now let's move on to other items worth using as part of EDC. A power bank will allow us to charge our phone when we don't have access to electricity, and a smartphone is a very useful and versatile tool in itself. In addition to obvious functions such as maintaining contact with the world or calling for help, it can also serve as a compass, map, or flashlight. It should always be ready for use, so it's best to place it in a waterproof case to minimize the risk of potential damage. This case can also hold a credit card, documents, and money. Even in a survival EDC kit, these accessories must be considered, but it's better to take only a part of the wallet contents into the field. There is a risk of loss or damage, so it's better to have a limited amount of cash or one card with a small balance. We probably won't need all documents - an ID or driver's license is sufficient.
EDC Kit – How to Carry It?
If our EDC kit includes many different accessories and we can't fit them all in the pockets of a jacket or pants, a backpack or EDC organizer will undoubtedly come in handy. Manufacturers specializing in designing backpacks for military or tactical purposes often offer EDC backpacks that we can recommend. Their application is very versatile, although they usually have all the features and characteristics of specialized military backpacks. They are suitable for survival but can also be used at work, school, or during sightseeing trips.
What Should Characterize an EDC Backpack?
Special-purpose backpacks are made of durable and damage-resistant materials. They are often waterproof, so the contents of the backpack won't get wet in the rain or snow. For user comfort, contoured back panels are used, and a specially designed carrying system allows the backpack to be comfortably worn for many hours. Many smaller or larger compartments, side pockets, and handles are also equipped, and an additional EDC organizer will help us keep the contents of the backpack organized. This is a very convenient option because we can take it out of the backpack at any time, reducing the weight of the whole.
However, a backpack is not always necessary. If we have prepared a small EDC kit, it can fit in a pouch or a bag. We can secure it comfortably on the belt, sling it over the shoulder, hang it around the neck, or attach it to a backpack. This is also a good way to store our everyday accessories because all the essential things will always be in one place. This minimizes the risk of forgetting an important element of the collection.
How to Prepare Your Own EDC Kit?
The most important assumption of EDC is that our kit should be as small as possible and fit in pockets—after all, it's designed to be carried with you every day. However, you must remember that we have different lifestyles and engage in various professions. This is the main factor determining the appearance of our kit. If you work in an office and, after work, go shopping, hit the gym, or meet friends, you'll need slightly different ASG accessories than if you primarily work outdoors. Therefore, consider what situations you might encounter and evaluate the usefulness of individual tools based on that.
This assessment is often possible only after some time when it turns out that for weeks we haven't used a particular item even once. Then it's worth considering whether it's really necessary. You will probably continue to add new accessories to your EDC kit on the same principle. You can also create several versions of the EDC kit designed for different circumstances.
Every Day Carry in Theory and Practice
EDC is supposed to make our lives easier, but you may wonder if carrying so many accessories is genuinely comfortable. Each of us, more or less consciously, adheres to this. We won't leave home without money and documents, keys, and a phone with a charger. Therefore, sometimes adding a few plasters and a flashlight is enough to complete your EDC kit. Daily life shows and verifies what accessories are essential for us, and we really don't need to accumulate dozens of tools right away. This is not what it's all about. A backpack filled to the brim is not mandatory equipment for most of us, but it can be useful when camping or working in the field. It's also good to have EDC kits prepared for special and crisis situations. Then, indeed, no sudden event will be daunting.
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