Stuff that I don't carry with me, or why I tried EDC and decided that it's not for me.
I'm guilty of being a nerd and I admit that listening to music, reading, and annoying random strangers on the internet is far more interesting to me than climbing hills, or wrestling with crocodiles.
I used to lead a more active life but now I keep finding excuses to spend most of my time away from the great outdoors. I'm pretty sure that it's due to the negative influence of SmallCat™ who infected me with his laziness, but maybe this is just another excuse. I'll have to ask him about this one day just to be sure but I can't find the energy to do it right now. Weird.
Anyway. I did try to carry a lot of "cool" stuff with me, but I found that I seldom used it and that it was just cluttering my pockets. For example I have a few pocket knives, such as the Spyderco shown above, or the Opinel 8, but I seldom used them, and the last time I really needed a knife or a multitool was in the army, which was a long time ago. I still keep my Leatherman in the car's glove box, but that's about the most "outdoor" it ever went since 2013.
I did try one of the smaller key ring multi-tool, and it's still on my car's key ring, but it's only because I'm too lazy to remove it. I thought that it would be a great (and cool) way to open boxes and amaze the people surrounding me during these momentous events, but (a) I have a perfectly serviceable pair of scissors in a drawer and (b) nobody was really amazed.
But nerds are supposed to carry stuff in their pockets, right? Well I don't, so maybe it's time for me to give back my membership card.
What about small flashlights? OK, it's a valid EDC with a clear and logical purpose, but after a lot of deliberations I decided that they are better kept in the car or at home where I'll really need them, because they are not going to help me a lot if a werewolf decide to eat me in a dark underground parking. And yes, I do think that werewolves are a parking issue, and no - the small silver bladed "tactical" EDC isn't going to help because silver allergy is just a myth. I guess that werewolves are not really impressed by the word "tactical" so we have that's much in common apparently.
The most nerdish thing I carry with me these days are wristwatches, and they are worn on the wrist instead of collecting lint in my pockets.
But maybe not all is lost? I mean isn't wearing a relic of the Soviet empire a thing only a nerd would do?
I'm a big fan of watches that are interesting because they are either unique, have interesting features, well designed or simply offer a great value for their price.
EDC kinda sucks for my lifestyle and society now. Lately I've had less instances where carrying a small knife was useful than made my life more complicated because I forget I'm carrying & have to either run back to my car to leave it there or just give it up, depending on the scenario.
Flashlight? Got one on my phone.
Pen? I'm not famous enough for people to ask for my signature and if some uppity bank manager or gov official needs it, well they have pens for me to scribble it on their forms.
I like the idea of being ready for anything, but I also like empty pockets. I balance these by not carrying a pen or light, but I often have a knife. For some reason I’ve found that when I carry a knife I find lots of uses for a knife. I guess I could skip the knife and I’d have less to do.
Also, I don’t believe anybody human or feline is unimpressed by “tactical”. If not being impressed were an option, every single damn thing in the world wouldn’t have a tactical version. Oh, you think I’m exaggerating? Here’s a tactical toothpick, and please note it’s sold out.
Having been issued plenty of equipment, some of it downright weird, I became an expert at identifying military (and pseudo military) crap, and take it for me: Tactical is the word that you use when you want to sell useless stuff to clueless customers.
Cards and keys. I can count the number of times I've unexpectedly needed a knife on the fingers of no hands.
Try a Leatherman Tread, their multitool bracelet. Only EDC I have, & then only worn occasionally (there's virtually zero need for any EDC stuff in my life tbh)
I am going to be contrary and suggest there is a place for “holiday/vacation edc”.
I have been away for the last 2 weeks and been carrying my Victorinox Spartan. It has been useful for: opening cans of tuna, opening beers, opening bottles of wine, smashing apart a block of ice, picking out sand which had clogged up an inflatable ring air inlet and cutting various things (including cooking because the knives you get in a chalet are useless).
But I agree with the above when at home.
Having been issued plenty of equipment, some of it downright weird, I became an expert at identifying military (and pseudo military) crap, and take it for me: Tactical is the word that you use when you want to sell useless stuff to clueless customers.
Useless? People in wars have teeth, and sometimes those teeth need picking. Should they ignore food stuck in their teeth and later succumb to gingivitis? They should not. Should they rely on wooden or plastic toothpicks which are probably made in China? I think not. Should they rely on shiny metal toothpicks that will flash and give away their position to the enemy? Of course not. What is needed is something TACTICAL.
My EDC:
Watch
Wallet (contains my transit card)
Phone
Airpods
Keys
That’s it.
I have found my tactical abilities to be greatly improved by not carrying around 40lbs of trinkets everywhere I go.
I don’t do much adventuring these days either, but I use my flashlight and pocket knife multiple times a day, even if it is just for cutting stray threads, opening mail, and looking under the couch for cat toys. I can’t not have them in my pockets!
I tend to agree but I have a big difference in my life. I don’t own a car. As a modern urbanite I carry a backpack with me everywhere. I do not have a car with a trunk to keep some basic stuff. I see my bag as more akin to a man-purse, after all what else is EDC?
I keep a small towel (Hitchhikers Guide was right) a flashlight, some advil, floss, clif bars, a battery pack with a few cables to charge various mobile devices, a opinel pocket knife, a notebook and a pen, and of course an F-91 Casio.
Most of this is keep in a little doo-kit type bag in my backpack.
Nearly everything gets used during any given week.
EDC is just a man purse. I don’t need a compass or water resistant matches so much as a credit card and a few cough drops and maybe a snack.
You sir could be the forerunner of the Anti Nerd Revolution. While Jimmy is screaming at his Game Boy for crashing out on Level 3 you could be winding your Vostok amazed that it still works. And take satisfaction knowing that if and when the energy and cell grids go down all the cute girls will be asking you for the time.
Useless? People in wars have teeth, and sometimes those teeth need picking. Should they ignore food stuck in their teeth and later succumb to gingivitis? They should not. Should they rely on wooden or plastic toothpicks which are probably made in China? I think not. Should they rely on shiny metal toothpicks that will flash and give away their position to the enemy? Of course not. What is needed is something TACTICAL.
Oh tactical, right. How could I forget about the idiot who fixed a hand grab handle to the front of his rifle despite us telling him it was a stupid idea. It got caught in his harness the first time he had to use his rifle in a hurry and he was so busy tugging it free that he almost face planted into the ground when he tripped.
Maybe he could have released it faster with your TACTICAL toothpick.
You sir could be the forerunner of the Anti Nerd Revolution. While Jimmy is screaming at his Game Boy for crashing out on Level 3 you could be winding your Vostok amazed that it still works. And take satisfaction knowing that if and when the energy and cell grids go down all the cute girls will be asking you for the time.
Sometime I'm a amazed that it still work even when the system apocalypse isn't doing its things.
The problem with these Amphibia is that it's like winning the Vostok QA lottery. This one came with a loose wheel in its automatic module and it took me a week to get the courage to open it and see why it didn't wind properly when I wore it on my wrist. It took just one look to see a loose wheel floating free in the case. Getting it in place with the help of a (not tactical) toothpick was child play and we were back in business.
I tend to agree but I have a big difference in my life. I don’t own a car. As a modern urbanite I carry a backpack with me everywhere. I do not have a car with a trunk to keep some basic stuff. I see my bag as more akin to a man-purse, after all what else is EDC?
I keep a small towel (Hitchhikers Guide was right) a flashlight, some advil, floss, clif bars, a battery pack with a few cables to charge various mobile devices, a opinel pocket knife, a notebook and a pen, and of course an F-91 Casio.
Most of this is keep in a little doo-kit type bag in my backpack.
Nearly everything gets used during any given week.
EDC is just a man purse. I don’t need a compass or water resistant matches so much as a credit card and a few cough drops and maybe a snack.
Well I didn't say that EDC doesn't work at all, just that it doesn't work for me.
I don’t do much adventuring these days either, but I use my flashlight and pocket knife multiple times a day, even if it is just for cutting stray threads, opening mail, and looking under the couch for cat toys. I can’t not have them in my pockets!
The last time I went toy hunting for the cat I asked him to hold the flashlight so I could contort myself and pull a ball stuck under the fridge.
He is completely useless. Not only he can't hold a flashlight for shit, but even the birds are flipping him from the balcony window.
I get asked often by Vostok purchasers “How do I know if this is a genuine Vostok or a Chinese fake?” Simple, if it’s accurate by 3 minutes a day and runs fine then it’s a fake.
That was a funny read, thanks guys. 😊🤣
Now that I have a small, emotionally charged human being rampaging around in public with me, I find it not only hilarious but AWESOME that I can use a fanny pack and/or sling bag and not look like a complete hipster 😂.
Which is used to carry all sorts of fun things, emergency blow out kits (diaper/wipes/hand sanitizer wipes all bagged up and GTG in single use ziplocks) a pen, travel towel (Hitchhiker's Guide), light, knife, non squeeze everywhere pouch lids (trust me you only forget these once), food pouches, boogie wipes, and still have room for other items ( 🤔🫣😎).
Dudes posting pictures of their every day carry makes me laugh.
I really dont get it. Nobody wants to see my sat-on looking wallet, cellphone and pack of darts 😂
Wallet
Watch
Keys
Phone
Smith&Wesson 642 Airweight
When criminals start making appointments, I'll stop carrying my revolver all the time.
Dudes posting pictures of their every day carry makes me laugh.
I really dont get it. Nobody wants to see my sat-on looking wallet, cellphone and pack of darts 😂
You must have balls of steel, if you carry a pack of darts in your pockets as your every day carry.
As someone who tends to forget to bring up something in his own pocket, wristwatches are enough for me lol
Nice
I was just helping set up at a wedding this weekend and needed a knife but didn’t have my fanny pack near by. Yes we survived after someone ran in the building and got a blade but it was inconvenient
I was just helping set up at a wedding this weekend and needed a knife but didn’t have my fanny pack near by. Yes we survived after someone ran in the building and got a blade but it was inconvenient
Or you can look at it as a sign from above that you do not need a fanny pack.
This is it for me, I don't even carry a phone usually.
Which reminds me that I was stuck for two weeks with the cigarettes that cause impotence. It stressed me for days until I managed to get those that only cause defects in embryos or premature births.