Essential EDC Items (To You)

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Many of us carry way more than we need to use on a daily basis. Some of us are preparing for the end of the world, so we pack things that (hopefully) will never be used. What I would like to know is: What are the essentials items you are carrying that you feel you need to have with you on a daily basis? It is not necessary that you use them every day, but you feel you need to have it with you every day because you are likely to need it.

Those who carry a multi-tool, which tools on the multi-tool do you actually rely on? Do you use the corkscrew a lot or can you do without it? Do you just need the adhesive bandages in the first aid kit, or are you QuikClotting anyone with a runny nose? Are you only using the cash, credit cards in your wallet? How about your smart phone? What apps do you rely on the most? Are you carrying an old rusty knife that your father gave you before he passed away? If it is important to you, it is essential; add it to the list.

In addition, why is it essential to you? Many items will be obvious: cash, credit cards, driver’s license. But what are you using the flashlight for? Why do you have a tube of Vaseline? Why is the Pinterest app on your phone so important to you? Why do you insist on carrying that old rusty knife?

So this isn’t a load-out of everything you carry. You don’t need to write down everything you carry and attempt to justify why you carry it. This is just a short list of the things you find to be essential for you to have with you on a daily basis–for one reason or another, and why you feel it must be a part of your EDC.

For example, on my keychain I have my house key, work key, car key, car remote fob, flashlight, pry tool, tritium vial, SAK Rambler, USB drive. I don’t need to have the remote fob for my car; that is merely a convenience. The tritium vial is only there in case I drop my keys in the dark and I could do without it. The pry tool is only there in case I need to pry or scrape something but I haven’t used it in a long time and I could replace that functionality with another tool if necessary. The USB drive is also non-essential to me as I have a lot of the data on my smart phone as well.

Therefore, only my keys, flashlight and SAK are essentials to me.

Here are my essentials:

Key chain:

Keys: home key, car key, work key (should be obvious)
Flashlight: Quantum D2 (backup flashlight – see Flashlight below)
SAK Rambler:
– Phillips driver: I work on computers and Phillips screws are standard
– Nail file: I use this more than I thought I would. My fingernails tend to get chipped a lot.
– Scissors: Cutting zip ties, removing tags, cutting loose strings on dress shirts

Wallet:

Credit Card: Easier than taking a wad of cash
Cash: Not all places take credit cards
Driver‘s license: Required by law
Medical card: Just in case I have a medical emergency
Band–Aids: I get small cuts on my hands more often than I would like to admit.

Mobile Phone:

Email client: easy access to my emails
Text messaging: my most used form of communication
Weather app: Is it going to rain? Is it going to top 100 degrees today?
To Do List: I have to stay organized

Knife:

Opening boxes: I get a lot of boxes sent to me both at home and at work
Removing tags: Sometimes it is easier to get the knife than the scissors

Flashlight:

See in dark places: I often have to look in dark areas (behind servers) or search in dark rooms
Prepare of power outage: You never know when one may strike!

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