Early Retirement Extreme Forums

Flashlight - must have. Been caught in the woods at dusk and lost the trail a mere 100' from camp, thus stumbled up/down the hillside for an hour using a cellphone to confirm where I was putting my feet. Never again! Bought a 3-pack of LED flashlights powered by AA cells; one for my friend, one for me, and one for the glovebox. 5 years later, they're still working, with the original batteries, and proved their value.

Multi-tool (knife, screwdriver, pliers, etc.) - hands do not work for tightening a recessed loose Phillips screw on whatever gadget you need for your outing (e.g. fishing reel). If you're not carrying multitool, where the heck are you going to get a knife or scissors when you're in an unpopulated location?

Usually, where I go, cellphone does not work except as a flashlight (see above), clock, and camera. However, usually not waterproof, so often left behind since it won't do me any good as a phone.

@Dave, you're quite right. My philosophy is only to carry the stuff I use daily with the exception for stuff that I would be hugely inconvenienced without (i.e. bike tools).

I recently put some thought into my EDC and added a few things:

• LAMY Safari fountain pen - nothing beats using a real pen for note taking
  Moleskin notepad - conspicuous consumption, maybe, but you need good paper to write with a FP
  Pack of cashew nuts - saves me from moments of weakness where I might be tempted to buy overpriced snack foods at work/out and about.
  Water bottle - hydration is important, and carrying a bottle means not having to buy drinks too .

@GTOO - I agree with everything you said in the context of a hiking or fishing endeavor. What was I was referring to was EDC, which if that means for you being in the woods and camping than your daily life is excellent . What I said applies to my normal "everyday", which is probably similar to most urban and suburban residents.

In a fanny pack:

Folding knife
Multitool
Matches or lighter
LED Flashlight
N-95 mask
Nitrile gloves
Earplugs
Whistle
Tweezers
Cough drops
Aspirin
Toothache gel
Magnifying glass

Dave wrote:@GTOO - What I said applies to my normal "everyday", which is probably similar to most urban and suburban residents.

I like being better equipped than most urban and suburban folks. Most of the people around me go for their cell phones and AAA cards when something goes wrong in the car. With my laptop case of carefully selected tools in my trunk I'm back on the road while they're on their way to the service shop in a tow truck for a first class ream out by an unfamiliar mechanic. Though I only hit that bag once or twice a year to fix my 30 yo car, I've hit it half a dozen times this week to fix a faucet, an intermittent electric range, two messed up TV remotes that needed soldering, a necklace clasp, a pool pump, while I'm staying in a friend's neglected house.

The pocket knife is used all the time. Same with the magnifying glass. I do get your point though. Notice I don't carry/own a forty function Swiss Champion. I use the simple small sized two layer Victorinox Tinker or Wenger Commander. They don't have much more than screwdrivers and a sharp blade which I use often. I can use my teeth or fingernail but I like a tool. Carl Elsener of Victorinox says, "if you don't think you need an SAK just carry one for a month, then stop a month and see the difference." Today I just used it to separate a to go box at Panda Express into two trays for me and SO...I could have torn it but this was neater.

At the end of the day it makes me feel good. And yes I should be asking myself if I ODed on Swiss Army knives. They are TSA seizures and I got them cheap but I think I went overboard on the consumption there. So you have a point...a lot of the EDC folks need to take a look at the psychology that has taken them to this place. But not all of them. Though I lack the dedication to carry a pistol (I think my Colt Mustang and Berretta Jetfire are too big) if I had Riparian's bear I'd lug a govt model around all year long and be happy I've never had to discharge it. I know I know not typical suburban.

I guess it boils down to the degree of preparedness you think you need. And think is the interesting word here.

What's with the whistles in preparedness kits? In case you get trapped under a collapsed building or something?

Edit: isn't a whistle a perfect example of a tool easily substituted by skill?

unno2002 wrote:N-95 mask
Nitrile gloves

Hmm, I only carry these in my medical bag. I wonder if I could fit them into my EDC. The mask can fold down into the plastic that comes with a lanyard--that's how I pack the one that my son carries around (in his pocket, not on a lanyard).

henrik wrote:What's with the whistles in preparedness kits? In case you get trapped under a collapsed building or something?

Edit: isn't a whistle a perfect example of a tool easily substituted by skill?

Haha, yes.

Women are taught to carry whistles in self-defense classes (they call them 'rape whistles'). I prefer an emergency alarm on my keychain but they break easily (mine was dead the last time I tested it), so a quality whistle is more of a BIFL product. FWIW, a prepper friend told me that whistles are easier to distinguish from outdoor background noise than any sound a human can make, so they are better for search and rescue.

[quote="unno2002"]
N-95 mask
Nitrile gloves
[/quote]

This is a great idea. This month alone I've had to dig in a yucky trash can for a lost item. Or, walk through a construction dust cloud, gardeners weed blower cloud, weed killer overspray, roadside dust (yuck clutch/brake dust) cloud. These safety items would have been handy.

Yes I just toughed it out. But it would have been nice to be covered up.

Aww man, I just remembered we had this uninvited guest with a nasty cough visit a few days back. I wish I had an N95 to put on as she came in. She had just gotten off the plane from a third world cesspool and wanted to go swimming. Yuck!

Women are lucky they always have an emergency mask on them. Technically they have two, so make sure you've got a women with you when SHTF.

Latest tin ...

I like the black tape better.

@Sclass--Me, too, but it's a bugger to work with.

I should have listed what's in the tin now. I assume that anyone who carries it also has a multipurpose tool, so things like tweezers aren't necessary. This tin is more of a personal tin than an outdoorsy tin. I picture someone who might be stuck in their office or car overnight as opposed to someone stuck in the woods for days. The later would require a tin with stuff like a bigger bag for carrying water, fishing line and hook, etc.

Most of the stuff is obvious. The two greenish tubes by the safety pins are 8-hour glow sticks, so two is one night's worth of light. They are pretty bright, especially if you surround them with the aluminum foil. The plastic bag contains a cotton ball, Q-tip, bar soap, coffee filter, and a straw with the bendy part so it can be extended. The clear sheet is a magnifying sheet. The yellow fabric is an optic wipe (could be cut in half). The straight pins and threaded needle are stuck into a piece of a glue stick.

Meds should be added to it. I carry ibuprofen, benadryl, and a heavy duty pain killer. I'm considering adding an OTC amphetamine. I also carry a VIA pack in mine. You know, for emergencies.

I really want this for my Every Day Car. I wish it was more expensive so I wouldn't be giving it some serious thought. more info

Man I need to get in on this altoid tin stuff. I currently just carry a gerber multitool with me and my phone. I keep a fair bit of stuff in my backpack but it isn't always with me. Thanks for the inspiration.

This thread reminds me of the "Be Prepared" song in Hoodwinked.

I've slacked. I used to have a SHTF backpack. Now I have a SHTF packing list - which is remarkably similar to my tent-camping list, BTW - and my household supplies of water and such are generally low. I also used to have all kinds of EDC emergency stuff in my everyday bag when I was commuting into the city to work. Most of the time when I leave home now I'm only carrying a small RFID-blocking purse with nothing more exciting in it than my debit card, cash, Kleenex and Excedrin. Occasionally not even those... my driver's license is wedged inside my phone case, so if I know I'm not spending anything, I may just take the keys and the phone and not even bother with the purse.

@jennypenny - I'm sure that once you add on EDD(*) Jankel armouring, the price will have gone out of reach.

(*) Every Day Driving

That's actually a pretty amazing price considering all the after-market accessories and how much they'd cost to purchase & install.

Our lease is finally up on our second car (from around the time when I first found this forum 3 years ago). Our only vehicle will be a 2010 Toyota 4Runner, which is the first year of the 5th generation. It has a 3" Toytec lift, roof rack, heavy truck-rated tires, and a couple other minor things... With the tires and suspension it is effectively pot-hole proof on Michigan roads (not that I can't just avoid them...). We don't drive it very much though so it's "Mustachian" at least, right?

It's funny, the people on the toyota-4runner forums are pretty DIY-er and many seem to be into firearms. Some sort of loose cultural cross over?

workathome wrote:That's actually a pretty amazing price considering all the after-market accessories and how much they'd cost to purchase & install.

I thought the same thing and ran the Kelly Bluebook (it is $19K higher than a very good 4Runner with that kind of mileage) but then I noticed this in the ad....

2013 Toyota 4Runner, Trail Edition

– Silver Metallic, with grey/black interior
– 74K miles
– New windshield, January 2016
– Professionally detailed, February 2016. Clean as new.
– On board navigation
– All options available at purchase

I have a feeling it doesn't include some of the "options".

Clearly looking at some of the EDC the doctors have I am doing it wrong

Steth
House key
Phone
ID

Strictly don't need the steth at the moment but some habits are hard to break.

How much EDC do people actually use? I regularly carry things beyond those (wallet) in different scenarios but not everyday...