Whether you realize it or not, you are most likely already in the practice of Everyday Carry or EDC for short. In the simplest of terms, Everyday Carry is a collection of items a person travels with on a daily basis. These items can be as simple as having your phone, keys, and wallet. That said, most EDC enthusiasts will carry other useful gear to compliment their lifestyle. In this introduction to the Ultimate Guide to EDC, we will briefly go over the history of EDC and some common questions associated with Everyday Carry.
The Brief History of Everyday Carry
EDC Origins
It’s hard to pinpoint the origins of EDC. Humankind has been carrying items every day out of necessity, survival, and protection since the dawn of time. So where do we start? Do we start with the hunters and gatherers of the Paleolithic Age? What about medieval knights from the Middle Ages? Or do we go as recent as the 18th century where it wasn’t strange to find people carrying tobacco pipes, handkerchiefs, pocket watches, and pocket knives?
What made the most sense in my mind is to start with the earliest iteration of the “wallet.” Since the invention of paper money wasn’t until the 16th century, those who had money carried coin purses around their hips. The earliest evidence of a coin purse is estimated to be from 3300 B.C. Pair that with a dagger and what you have is a classic Bronze Age EDC “pocket dump.”
Modern EDC History
Okay okay, I said it would be brief. Let’s skip the rest of the history lesson and talk about the origins of modern EDC. The term “Everyday Carry” can be traced back to the early 2000s. This cultural phenomenon began like any other modern trend, as an idea on the internet. People started to share pictures of their everyday carry in forums and burgeoning social media platforms.
I realize it’s not fair to call EDC a phenomenon, trend, or a new idea. As I established, Everyday Carry has been around for a long time. Just because there wasn’t an official term doesn’t mean it didn’t exist. But since we live in the Digital Age, this old idea with a new name has become a community of millions worldwide. That is to say — It’s not a resurgence in the popularity of EDC, but more so a connection and acknowledgment of like-minded individuals.
Why Do You Everyday Carry?
As I mentioned before, most people Everyday Carry without realizing it. In the culture we live in today, it’s obvious why we would carry mobile phones, wallets, and keys. What’s not so obvious are the peripheral items seasoned EDC’ers consider essential to their daily lives. In no particular order, here are the top reasons why I EDC:
- Self-Sufficiency: I’m not an omniscient being so I can’t predict what life throws my way. Unpredictability is part of living and to EDC means that I try to prepare for the unexpected. While I can’t prepare for every situation, more often than not, I will be ready to tackle life’s challenges. And to be ready means I can rely on myself rather than waiting for someone else to help.
- Life Efficiency: Even when specific items go through a rotation (ie. knives), I’m always carrying the same type of EDC items. Consistency breeds familiarity and being familiar with the tools you carry makes life more efficient. For example, I always carry a knife. The only time I don’t have a knife in my pocket is when I’m sleeping. Therefore I always know I have the ability to perform cutting, slicing, and dicing tasks. I don’t need to rifle through the junk drawer just to open an Amazon package. Amazon packages don’t open themselves (not yet anyway).
- Personal Protection: Some of you may or may not agree with my reasoning here. I have a family and it is my responsibility as a husband and a father to protect what is most precious to me. While most of my EDC does not fall under the “personal protection” category, I do carry a few items for defensive purposes. As much as I like the idea of a utopian society, this is not the case in real life. I hope to never have to use these defensive tools, but I also know safety and protection are my responsibilities as a family man.
- Self-Expression: EDC is a lifestyle. Much like the clothes you chose to wear every single day — What you EDC is a matter of personal preference. Some people are minimalists while others like a certain flair to their EDC. While I do like some panache in my personal EDC from time to time, I’m more of a minimalist. Nonetheless, I respect all my brothers and sisters and what they chose to carry. This is precisely why I love the Everyday Carry community. We are one big EDC family that encompasses all walks of life and each of us has our own unique style.
What Do You Everyday Carry?
Fundamentally, an EDC should be utilitarian and functional in nature. There are exceptions to this rule, but for the most part, utility is king. Having said that, you should carry whatever you feel is necessary for your day-to-day life. There are items in the list that I don’t personally carry, but that doesn’t negate the importance for someone else.
EDC Basics
I’m not going to spend too much time on the basic EDC items listed below. It’s fairly obvious why we would need to carry keys, phones, and wallets in modern society. Regardless, here are the core elements to an EDC:
Keys/Keychains: We all carry keys. We have keys for our home, vehicle, and anything that needs securing. A keychain helps us keep our keys together. Since I’m not a fan of keys jingling and jangling in my pockets, I use a Keybar Key organizer. It’s like a wallet for your keys. If you’re tired of loose keys scratching the screen of your smartphone, I highly recommend some sort of key organizer.
Mobile Phones: As some of you may already know, back in 2007 I spent nine weeks in Kenya, Africa. A significant amount of that time was in the most remote regions of the Great Rift Valley. The journey to my destination involved a full-day bus ride followed by a 4-hour ride in the bed of a Toyota Hilux. What surprised me the most was that, even here, everyone had mobile phones. Fast forward 14 years, mobile phones are smarter, faster, and have become even more of a necessity for everyday life.
Wallets: This is the original pocket organizer. Just think about it – Where else do you keep payment options, identification, memberships, and insurance information in one neat little package? That’s a lot to keep track of and it’s important to have a good quality wallet. I’m partial to Bullstrap or Andar leather wallets. I’m a minimalist, remember? They both offer thoughtful and well-designed minimalist wallets.
Other EDC Accoutrements
With the basic EDC items out of the way, let’s talk about some other modern EDC accoutrements. I will note that I don’t carry every single item on this list all at once. Some I don’t carry at all. What I choose to carry varies day-to-day and is highly dependent on the activities I have planned.
Pocket Knives: I briefly thought about including knives as a basic element in an EDC. But I recognize not everyone can or wants to carry a pocket knife. There’s no denying how useful a knife can be for daily tasks. From whittling to opening packages, a knife is the epitome of practicality. At 16, I bought my first pocket knife (Gerber Paraframe) and haven’t looked back. It’s one of those things that feels so normal and is ingrained into my daily living. I can accidentally leave my phone at home and not feel as naked as not having a knife. Check out my review of the Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight — one of my favorite EDC knives.
Flashlights: The flashlight is a piece of gear you don’t think you need until you need one. As winter approaches and the days become shorter, I’ll add a flashlight back into the EDC loadout. I don’t live in a big city and there isn’t much by way of artificial light. Sometimes I need to light my way down a trail, get back to my vehicle, or down the set of stairs to my home. Also, having two young children means that toys get lost in a deep dark abyss. Having a flashlight makes me a hero to my children. The hero that rescues their toys and brings them back into the light. Check out my review of the Olight Warrior Mini 2.
Coins: I’ll be honest, EDC coins are not something I carry. In my younger years, I would carry a silver Kennedy half-dollar to flip and spin. Now that I’m older, I don’t like having loose items rolling around in my pockets. Nevertheless, I see the merits of having an EDC coin. First, coins make good fidget toys. You can spin, flip, and make decisions with a flick of a thumb. Second, some coins are pieces of art. They can be conversation starters or just something to admire. Lastly, EDC coins can serve as inspiration or as a reminder. Many come with a quote or an inspirational story. I think most of us can benefit from having daily reminders like “Never Give Up” or “Seize the Day.”
Pens: Some of you may call me old-fashioned, but I like physically jotting down notes and ideas. And as a person who has a penchant for creativity, I’ve been known to sketch a thing or two. Therefore, a pen usually sits right next to my knife in the pocket. Besides, it’s nice to have your own pen to give your autograph on credit card receipts. I’m not a germaphobe by any stretch of the imagination, but it does give me a little comfort to not use a pen touched by hundreds before me. You guys know what I’m talking about. We all lived through it for almost two years. My favorite pens to use are Zebra F-701 ball-points. They have full stainless steel construction, write well, and are affordable.
Journals: You can’t use a pen without something to write on. I carry a small journal for the express reason to jot down ideas. Yes, I could use my phone for that task, and sometimes I do. But I enjoy the process and the intentionality of putting pen to paper. When I’m traveling with a backpack, you’re guaranteed to find a larger notebook for sketches. Oftentimes I can’t express an idea with words alone and it helps to quickly sketch my ideas. I exclusively use Moleskine journals. Something about the paper and Zebra pen ink is hard to replicate.
Multitools: If the knife is the epitome of practicality, the multitool is the epitome of utility. Actually, I would consider the multitool the embodiment of EDC. You can’t find a pocketable tool that has more versatility than a Leatherman, Swiss Army Knife, and other multitools. If I was forced to carry only one EDC tool for the rest of my life, it’d be a hard choice between a knife or multitool. In the end, I think I’d go with my Leatherman P2 or Victorinox Swiss Champ.
Handkerchiefs: Is there anything more gentlemanly than handing your wife a handkerchief when she needs it most? I wouldn’t know. I don’t carry or use handkerchiefs. Naturally, I see the benefit of carrying one if you wear glasses. Before I got laser eye surgery, I wore glasses in the days of yore. I understand the woes of smudgy and foggy lenses. On a more recent note, I’ve thought more about the benefits of carrying a handkerchief. My kids are back in school and it doesn’t take a crystal ball to foretell they will get sick. We are six weeks into the school year and they have already been sick twice. It certainly would be nice to have a kerchief handy to wipe their snotty little noses.
Pew Pews: Remember when I talked about personal protection? The firearm is the primary way I have to protect my family. I am fortunate to live in a country that allows firearm ownership and I never leave the house without exercising that right. To own a firearm also means to own personal responsibility. Not only for the safety of my family but also to have the proper firearms training and knowledge. My pew pew has only one important function — To be used as a last-resort defensive tool. Whether you agree with it or not, in the USA, firearms are a part of EDC culture.
Pry Bars: The pry bar is another popular EDC tool. Some are multifunction with pry capabilities as well as being a bottle opener, hex driver, or a makeshift flathead. Pry bars do have some advantages over multitools. They are usually light and compact which makes them ultra-portable. Admittedly, I do not use EDC pry bars. Between my Swiss Army Knives and Leathermans, I never have a multitool too far from reach. While I wouldn’t carry a pry bar that only has pry capabilities, I’d consider one with multiple functions.
Watches: I could go on and on about the benefits of wearing a watch. In my book, the watch falls in the basic EDC category. I’ve worn a watch for as long as I can remember. My first being a Mickey Mouse watch with his arms as watch hands. I’m pretty sure everyone my age started on a Mickey watch. Time is a valuable commodity and being punctual is very important. This means I am respectful of my own time and the time of others. Sure, I can look at my phone, but it’s much easier and more efficient to just flip my wrist. As I said, time is a valuable commodity.
Final Thoughts
What you choose to Everyday Carry is very personal — as it should be. It feels cliché to say, but everyone is different. As a result, what fits your needs in an EDC will be different from mine. For example, if you’ve followed my Instagram account for any period of time, you know I love being outdoors. What I choose to EDC revolves around the usefulness of my tools for outdoor tasks. Consequently, I tend to carry larger pocket knives and a complimentary multitool. Your EDC should be an extension of you and your daily life.
This is just an introduction to The Ultimate Guide to EDC. The purpose was to lay the groundwork for more in-depth articles on the EDC lifestyle. It’ll be part of a broader category I call EDC University. It will be a repository of EDC information for those that are starting out in their EDC journey as well as for EDC veterans. If you think I’ve missed any useful gear, please let me know in the comments or shoot me a message!
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