For a while now I only take my phone and sometimes wallet while out and about on a daily basis. I’d like to be more prepared for things so I’ve picked up some kit, some of which I already had:
- A UK legal knife
- A multitool (screwdriver bits, bottle opener, pliers, etc)
- Emergency foil blanket
- Tinder starter/whistle
- Two gas lighters
- Keychain flashlight with integrated USB A port
- Field notebooks and fountain pen
- Lockpicking set with a pouch and a concealed credit card set
- Slimline 65W 20000mAh USB A+C battery bank
I’ve got a messenger bag I can fit this stuff in, which will also fit my laptop so I can carry that around more often too when that would be useful. Obviously some things like the foil blanket and tinder starter probably aren’t valuable in an urban area but they are so small and light I may as well include them. I plan to hang the messenger bag on the back of the front door with all this kit in so I always pick it up whenever I go out.
I wear different trousers every day and I’m useless for remembering to put stuff in my pockets so in terms of the pocket stuff it’ll just be phone, keys (with shopping trolley key, bottle opener, USB A+C drive, Yubikey), and a metal wallet with some cards, the card lockpicks, and some cash.
Does this make sense? Is there anything I’ve missed?
An EDC should take into consideration what your average day consists of, and I’m getting some conflicting messages about that from what you’re carrying.
The tinder fire starter and emergency blanket kind of suggest a lot of time spent outdoors to me. Sensible enough things to carry if you’re out in the woods or whatever. But one thing I don’t find a lot of in the woods is locks, so one or the other is probably unnecessary, especially with 2 sets of lockpicks.
Also always be careful if you carry lockpicks, know your local laws, especially if you’re carrying anything else that may paint a funny picture to the police like a knife. Just having lockpicks on you for any reason may not be legal, cops may be able to assume that you have intent to use them in a crime, etc.
Realistically, what kind of situation are you going to use an emergency blanket in around town that you couldn’t just as easily duck into an open convenience store to get out of the weather?
Similarly, when around town are you going to need to start a fire? Sure, if you’re going hiking, 2 or 3 ways is probably a good idea in case you get stuck in the woods, but beyond lighting cigarettes and such and maybe fusing the frayed ends of some synthetic rope/string, I’m pretty hard pressed to think of reasons to carry more than a lighter around town, you probably don’t need the tinder, leave that in your hiking pack.
2 lighters can be fine though, I tend to have one in my pocket and one in my bag, but I’m a smoker.
Depending on what you mean by a multi tool, if it’s something like a Leatherman, I don’t think there’s really a reason to carry one and a knife, but if it’s some other keychains gadget type thing I think that’s a fine way to carry things, though I’d probably lean more towards a Swiss army knife personally.