Everyday Carry, or EDC, generally refers to small items or gadgets worn, carried, or made available in pockets, holsters, or bags on a daily basis to manage common tasks or for use in unexpected situations or emergencies. In a broader sense, it is a lifestyle, discipline, or philosophy of preparedness.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
submitted by lillesiim
Hi. Here’s my first EDC photo.
- Fuji X10 with Gordys strap
- iPhone 4
- Moleskine notebook
- Shkira horween wallet
- Sterile submariner homage
- Fenix LD01
- Leatherman Style CS
- Kingston SE9 usb stick
- Uniball Signo
- Keys, lighter etc
submitted by matt h
Great site you have here. I can’t tell you how much interesting kit I have discovered browsing through the photos. Thought I would finally post my own. There are many things a person owns, but the most valuable and useful is what we carry daily. The design of these items is important. They must not only perform, but in my opinion be unified in form and aesthetic.
These are the items I depend on, be them in my pocket or the glove box (other than maybe the German Chocolate.) I don’t go anywhere without it this stuff:
- Leuchiturm 1917 Gridded Notebook
- Lamy 2000 Fine Nib Fountain Pen (black ink)
- OBSTRUCTURES// Plate Wallet prototype
- Iphone with Magpul Case
- Fenix E15 with sandblasted clip
- Swedish Military Cigarette Case for odds and ends
- Laco WUS-LE Handwind watch
- Military earplugs
- Scho-Ka-Kola energy chocolate
- OBSTRUCTURES// Pry-Open Tool & Stainless cable ring
- Titanium toothpick case
- Emerson A100 Knife
A good watch is critical; especially one I can find joy in winding even in a dull meeting or boring moment. Toothpicks are a vice of mine, and on Ebay there are many compact toothpick containers that were most likely designed for pills or matches. This one was flat bead-blasted titanium and just the right size.
A knife is always useful and the Emerson A100 is a simply designed indestructible piece, but I ended up making my own pry-open tool to save it from the torture I usually attempt to put it through. The wallet is also a design I am working on in response to some of the other plate wallets out there that are either way too expensive or do not have flexibility in terms of the amount one would like to carry, or user serviceable bands- nothing like a black rubber o-ring that you can order for a buck. As an architect, I have to wait a long time to build a building. It is inherently a slow process. Critically considering the problems of design concerning the everyday tools of life fills the time and always gives me an excuse to constantly refine them and experiment with design and fabrication.
Since I do so much designing, the right notebook and pen is imperative. The Leuchiturm’s kill the Moleskines. They are thinner, cheaper and have a subtle grid of dots instead of course lines. For extra ink, sd-cards and other bits live in the Swedish Military Cigarette case: it’s aluminum and incredibly thin. I wish I could find more of these.
Editor’s Note: Hi Matt, thanks for the thorough, detailed explanation of your EDC and what you use it for! The context lets us appreciate your carry that much more. I agree with much of your thoughts on EDC gear and design. I personally try to choose gear with a good balance of design and performance, and form that improves function is often the case. I can see your love of design reflects in your carry — from the notebook and pen to your custom made tools, well done! I like how your carry has some less common gear choices but together, they’re cohesive and make sense for your job (earplugs for construction sites, and so on). I haven’t used one myself but Emerson has a reputation of making some well-built knives, and it’s nice to see that ruggedness translate to a more minimalist design in the A100. Good job on adding that clip to the light and bead/lanyard to your knife for better retrieval and some spare cordage, too. Thanks for sharing!
submitted by noahshark
Taxi driving loadout. From left to right (roughly):
- Shuron Ronsir Revelation polarized clip
- Seiko Professional Diver’s 200m on NATO
- Driving gloves
- Custom monogrammed leather card holder by my buddy Paul
- Benchmade Sequel 707
- Tiffany&Co. money clip
- Fenix PD20 R5
- iPhone 3G
These are the items I carry on my actual person while working. Not pictured are the backup tools I always have handy in my satchel under the seat:
- Leatherman Juice XE6 (pliers, utility blades, screwdrivers, etc.)
- Petzl Zipka Plus-2 Headlamp (three brightness modes +strobe, auxiliary red LED)
- Moleskin notebook and Uniball Vision red and blue pens
- Extra batteries, chapstick, glasses cleaner, etc.
This kit has served me well, although I’m always refining my loadout. Follow my taxi adventures on Twitter @noahcab.
Editor’s Note: Hi Noah, very nice kit! You say you’re always refining your loadout and it definitely reflects in your carry. I like how your gear has elements of quality, style, cohesiveness, personalization and practicality for your occupation, so well done. I’d also say your extended kit does a good job of complementing your on-person carry too. One thing I’m curious to see is how you manage your keys, being a cab driver and all, but for all I know there might be restrictions on that. But anyway very nice carry, thanks for sharing.
submitted by crankafreak
My EDC:
- Fallkniven F1 Custom Kydex
- Gerber Covert F.A.S.T 3
- Gerber Multi-Plier 600 + bits0
- Ultrafire WF-501B
- BIC Lighter
- Pendrive
- BIC pens
Editor’s Note: I always like to see how people decide to set up their pocket organizers. Yours actually looks less “stuffed” compared to other setups I’ve seen, however. In accordance with the rest of your carry, I think adding a weatherproof notebook in one of the larger pockets, some paracord, a capsule lighter, and some small first aid essentials would help round out your carry as it seems you have sort of a survivalist theme going. Otherwise your carry looks good and very cohesive! If your Ultrafire ever bites the dust or doesn’t work out for you, I think a Zebralight or similar right angle/headlamp light might synergize well with your carry too. Thanks for sharing!
submitted by gary
Great website.. I’ve learned from looking at others posts. I only carry 1 of each item, but decided to show alternates/backups.
- Leather iPhone 4 case and wallet.
- 4Sevens quark MiNi AA squared R5.
- Seiko Dive Watch (SKA413).
- Seiko Diver Watch (SRP043K2)
- Victorinox Pioneer (black alox scales).
Editor’s Note: Thanks for the kind words, Gary. I’m glad you’ve learned a thing or two from the site. It’s interesting to see the “two is one, one is none” adage taken quite literally here, but I do agree it’s worth investing in backups especially if the gear is affordable and works really well for you, like these items here. I’ve always been a fan of the Quark MiNi paired with some kind of Swiss Army Knife for an affordable, versatile and minimalist EDC option, and I think Seiko makes some great affordable watches for EDC as well, so I’m glad to see those in your rotation. Despite owning backups for your core EDC I find it interesting that you don’t carry backup tools on your keychain for added redundancy, but that also contributes to streamline your carry overall (as does the wallet/phone case combination). Thanks for sharing!
submitted by pjdunn
I primarily work from home, so EDC is a little different for me. I keep it pretty simple (and cheap). Would like to upgrade the pen. Suggestions?
- iPhone 4
- Panerai “homage” with tan croc strap
- Jfold wallet
- Zebra clicker with 0.7mm gel
- Car, house keys, leatherman multi
On night walks with the pooch, I will take my sog knife with me JIC.
Editor’s Note: Hey there! Your carry seems to be off to a good start if you prefer simple and cheap. As for your pen situation, you’ve already got one of the best budget pens for EDC. You could look into a very similar pen, the Zebra F-701, which features more stainless steel in its construction. Pilot pens are also a popular alternative (G2, Hi-Tec, etc) and could probably handle home office wear and tear. I personally really like the Uniball Power Tank line too. If you’re willing to splurge, keep your eyes peeled on kickstarter campaigns, there are usually some really nice pens in the works there. Lastly, for your nightly dog walks I’d maybe recommend keeping a flashlight on you as well! Thanks for sharing.
submitted by shelt
Love your blog! Here’s my EDC, after many generations…
Bladeart Mission Wallet containing:
- Spyderco Dragonfly2
- Swisscard Pen
- Swisstech 4-in-1 screwdriver
- cards & cashiPhone 4s in Ikonic Edge case (with eBay folding reading glasses)
Lummi Raw NS 250/40 Lumen with green tritium
Rolex Submariner
small keyring with house and car key - not shown
Editor’s Note: Thanks for the love! Your carry looks to be well organized — good use of those multipurpose pouches for your gear. It’s always interesting to see those urban wallets and how people set theirs up. I also wanted to highlight that awesome Lummi light and how the Dfly is a good EDC blade. I see you want to keep your pen as barebones as possible (as do I), but for something a little sturdier and more comfortable (but still very compact) take a look at the Pilot Birdy Mini SS. I reviewed it here. Otherwise nice setup, thanks for sharing!
submitted by rick
- Fossil trifold wallet with moleskine volant hidden inside.
- Maui Jim Stingray Sunglasses.
- Sanrenmu 704 with black blade.
- Fixed snap shackle/county comm cable keeping essentials together.
- mini maglight, Alox Rambler and County Comm delrin $20.00 keeper.
- Classic Zebra 701 and Rotring Trio Essential multi pen with stylus.
- Iphone 3gs cased in Mophie Juice Air.
Editor’s Note: Hey Rick, you have some good ideas in this carry here… It’s good to pair your pens with a moleskine, but also clever to tuck it away in your wallet (I’d just advise against sitting on it with that added thickness!). Good looks on opting for an inexpensive and practical snap shackle as your keychain, and I like that you separated the tools from the keys in a modular way. I have had some issues with cable rings carrying heavier kits, so beware of that. Lastly I wanted to highlight that SRM 704. It’s not the highest quality but it is still a really good value for under $10 or so as a beater EDC knife. My only issue with it is how quickly it gets dull… Thanks for sharing and carry on!
submitted by cosplayshots
I organized and changed up my EDC stuff today and thought it’d be cool to share. I’ve always struggled with not having enough pocket space for the stuff I want to carry, and I finally found the right small bag to clip onto my belt, at a Japanese bookstore, of all places. I use two #3 S-Biners, attached to D-rings on the back, to hang it from two belt loops over my front right pocket, which actually looks pretty decent despite how dorky it sounds in concept.
So here’s the true pocket stuff:
-Dosh Wallet
-iPhone 4
-Citizen Watch (Special edition based on the Navitach)
-Spyderco Ladybug Salt
-8GB Sony Flash Drive
-Leatherman Micra
-County Comm LED
-County Comm Split Pea lighter
-Car/house keysAnd then in the pouch:
-Canon S90 w/ CameraLeather.com griptac kit
-Leatherman Monarch 300
-Lenspen MiniPro III think the cheap pen, battery, etc are pretty obvious. I also keep my phone in the pouch when I’m carrying it.
I’d really like to get a different light. I’m thinking Maratac AAA. I’d also consider a different main knife since the Spyderco is pretty small, I’d be interested to hear suggestions on a relatively affordable (not much more than $50) knife, which ideally would be one-handed openable, but wouldn’t have the kind of “tactical” look that freaks people out. I’ll also probably buy a short Space Pen and a very small notebook.
Oh, and I’ll see how the S-biner on the keys does. I’m not too worried since I carry in the pocket.
Editor’s Note: Hey there! Your carry looks to be pretty thorough and it covers most functions you’d need as a cosplay photographer. Good job keeping it all organized in that pouch too (I have a similar one for my SD780 that I got at a bookstore inside a Mitsuwa as well). I like that grip mod on the S90. As for any upgrades to the carry, the Maratac should do fine and will keep your carry fairly light, but I think the newest models have done away with the ‘mid’ output mode and kept it high/low (but with better output). If you find your Ladybug too small, there’s always the H1 Dragonfly 2 which is slightly bigger but otherwise very similar to your current knife. Hope that helps, thanks for sharing!
submitted by jamesmattison
My everyday carry:
- Fifth&Brannan pocket square
- Marlboro Lights
- Vintage Dunhill lighter (eBay)
- Montblanc wallet with money clip (personalised by my three-year old daughter)
- Kaweco AL Sport fountain pen
- Car park gate pass
- Work entry card
- House key
- 2 x Lacie USB iamakeys
- Volkswagen Golf GTI key
- iPhone 4
Usually no knife or torch, but I have two Victorinox swiss army knifes; in my desk drawer at work and next to my bed at home.
Love the site and now definitely thinking of investing in an Al Mar pocket knife
Editor’s Note: Hi James, thanks for the support! You’ve got a good carry going with some great pieces — love the Speedy, vintage lighter and Kaweco. I see you have to deal with carrying those bulky key cards, I wish I knew of a better solution to slim that down. Otherwise, your carry is pretty streamlined albeit lacking a primary blade or multitool as you mentioned. Your phone should do okay as a torch in a pinch, but it couldn’t hurt to invest in a small 1xAAA light to throw onto your keys. Lastly, if you’re looking at Al Mar, I say go for it! I think they would fit into your carry quite nicely, functionally and aesthetically speaking. Thanks for sharing!
submitted by Andy Z
Recently stumbled upon this awesome site. Here’s my simple yet effective solution for my EDC:
-Samsung/Google Nexus S
-Dockers Tri-fold Leather Wallet
-Zebra G-301
-Keys (along with LaCie iamaKey 8GB flash drive)
-Maratac AAA LED Flashlight
-Benchmade 551 Griptilian
Editor’s Note: Hi Andy, I’m glad you enjoy the site. Taking a look at your loadout, I’d say you definitely got it right in your “simple yet effective” approach. You’ve made plenty of good choices here — a notably popular EDC light that weighs very little and uses common batteries, a great EDC blade, a simple but sturdy pen, and an uncluttered keyring with some sturdy hardware. I think you could refine the EDC a little more if you went for a slimmer wallet (see if you can get away with just carrying cards and cash!) and maybe try modding your Zebra to all stainless steel parts (I’m not sure if the G-301 is compatible with this popular mod, and you might be trying to preserve the black/steel scheme)… Otherwise, good job and thanks for sharing with us.
submitted by Tim
Love the site. I check it out daily. Here is my EDC:
Sunwayman V10R Ti Flashlight - This is a great little light. It has variable brightness from 1-210 lumen. I also have the AA extender so it can use AA or CR123A. It is tough, light and looks great.Saddleback Leather Wallet Sleeve - I am always on the lookout for a slim wallet and have gone through quite a few and this is my favorite so far. The leather quality is fantastic, and I only carry 4 cards with me so it is barley noticeable in my pocket.
iPhone 4 - Can’t live without this, connects me to the world.
Benchmade Doug Ritter Mini-RSK Mk1 Knife - Basically a mini Griptilian with S30V steel and a great handle. Stands up to anything I throw at it and looks good doing it.
Omega Speed Master Professional Watch - I’ve been through a few watches but I think I have finally found my “one”. I love the tough hand wound movement, great looks, classic lines and feel on the wrist. It’s designed to go to space so I am sure it can handle anything I can throw at it.
Editor’s Note: Hi Tim, thanks for your support. I just want to say you have an excellent EDC, and I appreciate your taste in both aesthetics, practicality and quality. The V10R looks to have a great user interface, the battery versatility as you mentioned, and it sure is a looker. The Saddleback is renowned for its durability and opting for a slimmer type of wallet is better to carry, especially if you keep it in your back pocket. Good choice on the Ritter minigrip as you get a premium steel on a great EDC knife (its blade shape, length, lock, handle and clip). The scale color is perhaps not as low key but at least it’s got a friendlier, colorful appearance that should also help with visibility if you need to grab it quickly. Lastly, gorgeous watch… Wear it well and in good health! Thanks for sharing.
submitted by derwal
Damn, looking at all that EDC pics, I bet Sherlock Holmes could read it all.
Seems like some guys are pretty knive-obsessed, I really wonder why no one seriously carries a straight razor…
This is the EDC of a german Industrial Designer/Photographer/Musician:
- Ray Ban Clubmaster - classic eyebrow glasses
- Zippo lighter - great beer bottle opener for a Gentleman
- Moleskine Sketchbook - quite essential for a creative dude, I use it heavily during my daily commute for doodling all types of thoughts
- Lamy 408 pen - contains 3 colors; I love sketching w/ a ball pen, because you can start doodling very light and get bolder lines by pushing the pen harder
- ring - boy I left that one at someone’s house recently and was dogged by bad luck ‘til I got the ring back…
- Carhartt wallet - threw away the original chain and replaced it w/ this anchor chain I bought at some biker store 15 years ago
- Seiko SKX007K - apologies for the NATO strap. Change it to a shark mesh bracelet from time to time tough. Never been happier w/ a watch.
- AKG In-ears - ‘cause that Apple headset is pure crap…
- Leatherman Micra - not enough knife for a proper picnic, but just perfect for my EDC; love the scissors
- LiteXpress Mini Palm 101 light - 21 Lumen of awesomeness, uses standard batteries
- bike and house keys - all w/ light ‘n Leatherman it’s barely suitable to carry in your pant pocket without looking like a pusher…
- Fuji X100 camera - I taped the cam black, so it looks crappy and less like a show off
Editor’s Note: Derwal, knives are incredibly useful tools for many contributors here (although for others, their admiration and passion for knife collecting might outweigh the actual practical need for a knife, but no problem with that). I know you’re joking, but carrying a straight razor is illegal pretty much everywhere and one wouldn’t be practical for EDC use (lack of a hard lock, weird grip ergonomics for cutting like a knife, blunted tip, etc). I don’t mean to knock SRs though, I will admit I’m personally a fan of gourmet wet shaving! It’s just not suitable for EDC.
Anyway, onto your carry — the loadout is very coherent and appropriate for your line of work, so good job for putting all that thought into it. I like the notebook and the multipen, especially for creative work. Nice keychain setup too, but if you find yourself struggling to tame your pocket bulge, consider a P7 suspension clip. It lets you hang your keychain, suspended in your pocket, so it doesn’t bunch up at the bottom of your pocket and carries a little slimmer and more comfortably. Lastly, nice touches on the X100 with the gaffer tape and the black strap on the watch. Makes for a more subdued look! Thanks for sharing.
submitted by Jamie
MY EDC right to left…
- Springfield XD .45 (w/thumb safety)
- Uncle Mike’s Clip-in IWB holster (Surprisingly comfortable for a cheap holster)
- SOG Access Card 2.0 (Great Knife, Mediocre Clip)
- UltraFire C3 (Rides in holster, need to replace with something more reliable)
- iPhone 3GS in $5 Incipio Leather case (protects great in front pocket)
- Keys: Leatherman Micra (backup knife) Fenix E01 (Backup Light)
- Basic Wallet with minimum of CC’s and cash.
Editor’s Note: First of all, thanks for sharing what holster you use — a lot of my readers complain that other contributors tend to overlook that piece of gear. I like how you opt for a backup light and multitool on your keychain, that’s a great spot to put them, and you’ve picked very reliable items that serve that purpose. As for your primary light, I echo your sentiment that you could use a more reliable brand. Luckily, there are plenty of options out there. I like Fenix, EagleTac and 4sevens personally, as they put out some high quality, fairly affordable lights for EDC. Beautiful wear on that SOG, nice to see it getting use (I wouldn’t be surprised, I love the action on it and if I had one I’d use it plenty). Good job keeping the wallet slim and minimal too. Overall, you’ve got a strong carry. Thanks for sharing!
submitted by Sergiu M
This is what I have in my pockets today:
*Samsung Galaxy GT-I9000
*Fossil tan bi-fold wallet
*Spyderco Dragonfly VG10
*Marcello C Nettuno 3 watch on a Shell Cordovan nr. 8 leather NATO strap
*Zippo lighterI recently repaired my Olympus DSLR and even though I have yet to learn how to use it properly, I hope this picture is a bit closer to the high standard of the great submissions on your blog.
Editor’s Note: Nice carry here — albeit even more minimal than most (no keyring?). The Dfly is a nice little EDC knife, I love the blade shape on it. I don’t see leather NATO straps very often, but the pairing of the cordovan and that dark green bezel is awesome! That finish on your Zippo looks great too. I’ll assume your smartphone has an LED flashlight in it, otherwise a light could help round out the rest of your carry. Thanks for sharing!