Bushcraft Stuff

There seems to be a huge interest in the subject of Every Day Carry or EDC. Youtube is full to the brim of videos of people showing off their EDC equipment. All manner of different bags, packs and pouches crammed with diverse equipment ranging from cotton balls soaked in vaseline to the latest technological breakthrough in GPS systems.

People seem to love discussing the contents of their Bug Out Bags, Woods Bag, Survival Kit, Car/Boat Kit and all manner of other types of kit in-between. I’ve seen fanny packs/bum bags, rucksacks, gearslingers and all sorts described as EDC kit. There of course is a place and a time for these kits. However, I personally don’t think you could class them as EDC.

To me EDC is the stuff that you carry Every Day without thinking about it. I personally wouldn’t carry a bum bag full of kit each and everyday. How could you? Without getting strange looks anyway. Most people I imagine do jobs where I guess it would be inappropriate to turn up for work each day “fully kitted out”. There are many other day to day situations, to numerous to mention when it would be awkward, difficult or perhaps even impossible to keep a fully kitted bag or pouch of any description on your person or at least within arms reach.

As I’ve mentioned already. I look at EDC as exactly what those three letters stand for Every Day Carry. Those items you have on your person each and every day. Those items that you are so used to carrying you almost forget about them, until you need them.

I pretty much carry my EDC items in my pockets. And, yes I honestly do carry them each and every day (unless I’m flying somewhere) and then my EDC kit goes into my main luggage that goes into the hold of the plane, ready to be collected when I land.

So, what do I carry. Well, here’s a list of items I have on my person while I’m sitting here writing this:-

1.   Pocket Knife – Spyderco Endura FFG.

2. Torch – Leatherman Serac S3.

3.  1 x CR123 Spare Battery (for the Serac S3).

4  Short length of Paracord (roughly 5′).

5. Multi-tool – Leatherman Surge.

6. Butane Lighter – Wenger.

7. Wallet containing notes, bank cards, postage stamps, band aides and puri tabs.

8. Merino Wool Buff.

9. High Energy Chews – Shot Bloks.

10.  Wristwatch (not in photo).

11.  Mobile Phone.

Added to these items when I leave the house will be:-

1. House Keys – attached to these are a small ferro rod, acme dog whistle (my dog is trained to whistle commads as well as verbal and hand signeal commands) and a CRKT EatNtool.

2.  Leather Dog Lead.

3. Roll of black plastic dog bags.

4. Can of Bite Back (anti dog attack spray).

5. Small plastic bag of dog treats (training rewards).

6. Last but not least my dog Walker.

And, that is it. These are the items that fit in with my daily schedule that I EDC. Obviously, if I were doing something different to my normal routine then items would be added or subtracted as necessary.

Maybe it’s time you looked at and re-evaluated your Every Day Carry system. I know that if my system was too bulky and cumbersome, sooner or later I would get lazy and leave it at home. And, no matter how well thought out and comprehensively stocked my EDC kit was… If it’s at home and not with me. Well, it’s less than useless.

5 Responses to “Every Day Carry – Some Thoughts.”