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 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 1samurai
Did a bag dump for Strawfoot Handmade. No tools or anything, as I don’t really feel like a need any. Might get a knife eventually but right now this is all I need to have a good day.
From left:
- Blistex(I’m addicted)
- IFA(liquorice pastille)
- LV Wallet
- Keys + Bank thing
- iPhone
- iPod
- Monster Turbine In-ear plugs
- Nintendo DSi XL
- A Good book(1Q84 right now)
- Moscot Lemtosh sunglasses
- Dog(Basset Artesien Normand) tries to fit in the bag
Cheers, Marius
Editor’s Note: I think you’re right, seeing that dog was all I needed to have a good day too. 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 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 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 Ben
Hello Bernard!
I love your blog, and your personal efficient take on EDC. Over the past couple years I have spent hours perusing your archives, and have found out about a lot of great gadgets thanks to you.
I am a 24 year old blue collar kid from Colorado. I have been putting myself through school and am finally about to get my undergraduate in philosophy from the University of Colorado Boulder. I have been collecting knives, flashlights, and fun things since the ripe old age of 6, and have worked very hard for almost every piece in my collection.
Here are a few things that I carry on a regular basis, albeit not all at once :)
-Muyshondt Aeon from Enrique’s last neutral tint run
-McGizmo Sundrop 3S
-Mac’s Customs Copper Tri EDC in neutral.
-Mike Alsdorf custom slipjoint
-Chris English Z automatic
-Spyderco Caly 3
-Chris Reeve large regular Sebenza and sheath made by my uncle
-Handkerchief that I found in my grandma’s house when we moved her out.
-Makr Carry Goods wallet
-MiNI CR2 from the original warm run with a great super warm tint (~3000k) and an orange cadet attached to a split ring with McGizmo clips. I usually have a car key on here too.
-keys
-phone
-not pictured: notepad, pen, or chapstickThanks!
Ben
Editor’s Note: Hi Ben, thanks for the kind words. Lovely collection you’ve got! I see you have discerning taste when it comes to flashlights — great variety of options, and it’s nice to see some love for warmer tints. For most EDCers, I would say color rendition isn’t critically important, but it sure does make real life usage more pleasing, in my opinion anyway. I also like the variety in your knives’ blade lengths, lock types, handle material, styling, and so on. You can’t really go wrong with those. The Mini CR2 x Alox Cadet pairing is great too. I personally find a highly efficient twisty light and a SAK make a great backup system, and you’ve got just that plus some cordage for retrieval and grip retention. Lastly, that wallet looks great — although if I had one, I’d probably experiment with using it as a small gear pouch. Thanks for sharing your collection of high quality, eclectic gear. From a recent graduate myself, congrats on finishing your undergrad! Work hard and save often.
Editor’s Note: Hi everyone, I’ll be going to the Philippines for a couple of weeks to address some family matters and I am not sure of the internet situation yet, so I apologize in advance if the posting frequency on the site becomes less consistent. To try to make it up to you, here’s a little shot of what I’ll likely be carrying overseas:
I’d likely be carrying this pack with my camera, or inside of my RUSH 24. My RUSH24 will keep a compact spare change of clothes, a compact umbrella, my laptop and charger, a book, and so on… I’d prefer to have a less “tactical” look and a more fobby asian look just to blend in better I guess! I don’t anticipate needing too much gear as I’ll be in the city, and as I’m not sure of the knife laws exactly, I’ll play it safe with a SAK.
Anyway, thanks for looking. If I see cool gear during my travels, it’ll likely end up on @carrygram!
submitted by Fredrik
Ever since a buddy of mine came home from Gunsite with a Spyderco and a Surefire - sometime around ‘92 - I’ve been EDC’ing. And finally I have a selection that
actually worksI can manage to carry around each and every day. So:
- iPhone… Good for everything except calling people
- Keys, various. The ragged Ladybug now sports a chisel point. She’ll be replaced eventually.
- Wallet - as I’m in the #1 cashless country, I seldom - if ever - carry cash. For good or bad. Hence the credit-cards-only kind of thing.
- Zebralight H51. He. Hehehe… This thing is simply silly. 200 lumen from a AA battery. Nuff said
- HAK - the cheapest (440 steel) available, but with some ninja sharpening, it gets to hairpopping sharp.
- Snus! FTW! As long as the Brussels-tribe will let us have it…
And there you have it - nothing fancy and no SAK. I’ve messed around with all kinds of multitools in the past and it turns out (empirically/statistically) that, for me, it’s not worth the effort.
Editor’s Note: Pretty interesting carry here… I wouldn’t expect a hideaway knife to be paired with something less tactical like a Zebralight, to be honest. However, it still totally works, and I’m glad you’ve found a configuration that you like. It’s all fairly minimal, right down to the wallet. You could probably go even slimmer with those cards if you used a clip, but at the cost of easy organization. The choice of knives in your EDC — a more tactical, self-defense type fixed blade and a relatively innocuous looking keychain folder complement each other well and serve different purposes, so I like that setup. The Zebralight is a less common option for many EDCers but in my opinion, without good reason. The specs on those lights especially for their size made them very impressive when they first came out. They still stand out as some of the best headlamps around, and are just overall a nice alternative to look for in a light if you’re not looking for something very “conventional” in a light. Nice setup. Thanks for sharing!
submitted by tinycrumb
• Rolex 5513 Gilt Explorer dial. My all time favorite timepiece. Typically on my TAD khaki NATO strap.
• Vintage brass money clip. This clip has an unusually nice shape with a very long backside. It was originally pulled from a leather wallet/clip combo. I lost this once on the train and it was impossible to find a perfect replacement. So lucky I got it back.
• JH Audio JH16 Pro. The nicest sounding ear monitors I’ve ever tried. Case is a black snap case originally sold with Jabra JX-10 bluetooth headsets. I fell so head-over-heels for this case that I’ll often buy an old NIB headset on eBay just for the case and throw/give away the headset. It’s double layerd, rough texture on the outside that keeps it from moving around in your pocket and nylon on the inside which keeps it water resistant. I’ve used this one for a few years and it wears in beautifully over time. Snaps open and shut by squeezing the edges.
• Hinderer XM-18 3” Generation II w/ Brown Micarta scale.
• LiteFlux LF2XT modified by Steve Ku with Berillium Copper replacement body, Moddoo clip, neutral XP-G & yellow trit. LiteFlux stopped making lights awhile back and I can’t figure out why. The LF2XT is the nicest EDC light I’ve ever come across. The UI is great, first press turns on moonlight mode with momentary high available by holding the switch down. AAA cells are also plentiful and easy to find.
• iPhone 4S w/ Titanium Raw Armor replacement back from Más Elements & leather slip case from Makr Carry Goods. The leather case protects the phone well against other pocket items and the titanium back is great for just throwing it down anywhere while using it and not worrying about cracking the back.
Now shown: Keys & wedding ring.
Editor’s Note: Really awesome carry there, but obviously all of that comes with a price… It’s hard to make a recommendation here as it’s clear you know your gear, so instead I’d rather highlight parts of your carry. I like how you’re able to blend vintage and tech gear but keep it minimal and functionally cohesive. There’s very little overlap, and each piece does its job very well (if not the best in its class) and takes up little pocket space. The JH16 Pros are probably the best portable hi-fi IEM solution, the modded LF2XT offers a fantastic UI as you already mentioned in an elegant, sleek package, Hinderer knives can take tons of abuse, the Rolex is classic, and even your phone is well protected with high quality materials. I also like that IEM case.. it seems like a convenient way to carry, protect and access something that doesn’t generally carry well in a pocket. Overall, a carry like this isn’t necessarily what people should strive for (more expensive doesn’t always mean better, depending on your situation and all), but it’s a good example of how you can invest in your EDC to achieve performance and durability in a completely useable system. I would be very satisfied to carry this exact setup. Thanks for sharing.
submitted by Alex
Great site, always finding new things I want. This is my current Everyday Carry, sometimes I switch out the watch. I work as a Display Artist and carry a Scout Book sometimes (not pictured), I’ve been looking for a nice, simple, metal pen to accompany the notebook. Any suggestions?
- Chester Mox Wallet
- Keys w/ Carabiner
- Braun BN-32
- Motorola Droid Razr
- Vintage Handkerchief
- Kershaw Leek
- Jack Black Lip Balm
Editor’s Note: Hi Alex, I would say some safe choices for a metal pen to carry would be a Zebra F-701, which is a sturdy, full-sized pen of metal construction with a pocket clip and rugged body. For a notebook of that size, you might find the Pilot Birdy Mini Stainless Steel Pen [reviewed here] to be a good companion. To comment a bit on the rest of your carry, I like how much of it is very slim and streamlined. I actually prefer the Jack Black lip balm myself — tube balms tend to not unscrew/lose caps/mush up in your pocket as much as traditional sticks. The Leek is a solid everyday user knife without taking up too much pocket space. Vintage handkerchief and Braun watch look cool. As for your wallet, I am partial to its design myself (I have a similar one by Corter Leather) as it’s fairly minimal, but word on the street is that Chester Mox copied some MAKR Carry Goods designs… Lastly, of course it couldn’t hurt to add a small flashlight to your keychain, so long as you keep it lightweight that carabiner should retain everything just fine. Thanks for sharing!
submitted by yana
Cool blog! I came across it while looking for a replacement for a keychain SAK that is now the property of the TSA.
Bag dump:
— LV coin purse: extra contact lenses, band-aids, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, safety pins, q-tips, tiny tube of hand lotion (refillable), feminine supplies.
— handkerchief
— iPhone (Japanese lacquer decals, hand-applied)
— earbuds in little coin case
— Mont Blanc pen
— teeny notepad, 31 very thin sheets, goes in the wallet.
— patent leather card case used as a wallet. Huge wallets are marketed toward women, but all I need is that little case.
— pill box
— key chain: mini e-gear flashlight, USB drive. USB drive has a metal casing; switched out the cellphone charm type lobster clip for a sturdier clip.
— True Utility nall clipper kit. Has a blade, nail file, scissors, and has replaced the above-mentioned SAK and the separate nail clipper I used to carry.
— mini screwdriver set on same ring, with an extra clip to clip to key leash in the bag.
— eye drops (sit in front of a computer all day…), lip balm
— business card case
— watch, bracelet, necklace: everyday wear rather than carry, and I thought the Cartier screw motif and the Tiffany key on a ball chain were thematically appropriate to EDC…
Editor’s Note: Hi Yana, thanks for sharing… I appreciate thorough explanations of your purse contents (most of the time I have no idea what’s going on in a woman’s purse, haha). I can tell your load out is very well thought out and I admire that you still manage to keep things nice and compact despite the temptation of overcarrying, which is common when people have a dedicated bag for EDC (in this case, presumably a purse of some sort). Keeping a shoulder bag, purse, or what have you lightweight is important for comfort and ergonomics too. As for your kit, good job on utilizing the popular ‘pack in pack’ approach with smaller sundry items in your LV pouch, earbuds in a coin purse, separate wallet, etc. This lets you have a more ‘modular’ setup if you switch bags, making adjustments to your EDC convenient and painless. The coin pouch should both protect your earbuds and prevent tangling, improving retrieval out of your bag too. The tools you choose to carry make sense, don’t seem out of place, and offer a good variety of utility. I also like the attention to detail on your keychain, swapping out your USB’s clip for something more sturdy. Retention is key when it comes to smaller, fragile items like that. Overall there are plenty of good concepts going on in this carry and it’s a good example of a nicely planned EDC, with some item choices other people could look into. Thanks for sharing and carry on!
submitted by hans nelson
From left to right:
Luminox 1828 Field Watch
Koyono Slimmy Wallet
Benchmade Emissary 470
Nite-Ize S-Biner Stainless Med.
Fisher Space Pen
Streamlight LED Nano-light
Lacie USB Key
Glock 30SF .45 ACP
iPhone 4
Editor’s Note: I’m guessing that with this carry you’re trying to keep it minimal and lightweight. Your choices of a slim wallet and the Emissary are good for this purpose, as is keeping other gear keychain sized. Your little keyring/space pen clip mod is pretty clever, I’ve never seen one carried that way! I see you keep your gear on clips for that modular versatility. My only recommendation would probably be to replace the old version of the S-Biner, many (including myself) have had issues with its retention strength. Your keychain looks lightweight so items coming loose might not be an issue, but it’s still worth mentioning. You might also find a little Swiss Army Knife to be useful too — a 58mm tool adds some redundancy and incorporates other tools while maintaining a slim, lightweight profile. Otherwise, everything looks nice and solid.
Thanks for sharing!