Wallet, keys, hat, & a tactical flashlight. I can’t get the pocket knife on a commercial flight but that and a lighter is definitely part of my 10 essentials if I’m going for a hike.
My tactical flashlight is useful if I need directed light. I use it when traveling to signal to buses, taxis or an Uber driver I want to be picked up and to notify other drivers at night of my presence. Both ends have a sturdy beveled construction sufficient to facilitate an escape by breaking a vehicle’s window.
For self defense, it has a strobe that would disorient an attacker and those beveled ends leave a serious impression when used to strike an attacker in the throat or face.
Add my Sig Sauer P365XL and my Kimber Pepper Blaster II whenever I visit Centralia. ;-)
I always check bags, so a small pocket knife in my dopp kit seems to be A-OK.
I've never considered a flashlight for EDC, I can see where one would be handy, particularly as you mention here, a signaling device. I've always just figured that they were too heavy, but maybe I should rethink that.
Having been hit with the spray once long ago, I lack much faith in its abilities to stop an attack. But the Sig would certainly take care of things! When it comes to the mean streets of Centralia, I worry more about getting run down by a drunken moron than harmed in a mugging.
When I do go where the drug addled people congregate (and I have to go there from time to time) I carry a blackthorn stick from Ireland. Looks like a cane normally, but change the grip to bring it into a ready position and those folks seem to notice.
The Centralia comment was for the benefit of Clayton. He once asked me if I conceal carried lethal force in downtown Seattle and I replied rarely. I’m often going to places where conceal carry is illegal and the tactics of deploying lethal force in an urban environment are complicated.
He asked me where do I usually carry and my response was “always in Centralia.” A more accurate and less snarky answer would have been usually in rural and exurban areas.
Have you been hit by a Pepper Blaster II. I have a couple units that need to be replaced (every two years) that I’m happy to demo for practice. Volunteers?
“He asked me where do I usually carry…” That’s an awfully prying question; I don’t ask hardly anyone that question. If I did indeed ask it, my apologies.
If anything concerning “Packing” in Seattle, I might have asked you the first question Brother-to-Brother as to how a citizen in a large Metro city defends himself against sudden incidents, probably citing the people I run across in Centralia and their answers. But yeah, that second question is out of character for me. I do my best not to ask questions that are that personal. Again, my apologies.
You were not prying at all, my brother. We were at the Grand Masters in North America at the Westin Seattle and we were discussing my CPL and the relative safety of downtown in the late days of the pandemic.
Your question was relevant to our conversation and quite diplomatic. My response was snarky.
Melinda and I had quite an interesting experience one day during that event. The sun was out, so we wandered down to the market. We found an interesting Honduran (if memory serves) restaurant overlooking the market below. We sat on the balcony, and that was quite wonderful until a protest went by and a couple of the protestors decided to protest on the balcony.
So, we settled our bill and wandered off. That wandering took us to a really wonderful French restaurant, so all worked out perfectly. Amazing food following a Seattle show.
For all the problems in downtown Seattle, only once did I truly wish that I had been carrying. We went out for dinner one night near the market and walking down the street I didn't feel that I could protect my daughters. That was quite a few years ago, we haven't returned to that area after dark.
I was hit by whatever your SPD issues its officers. It was not effective enough. Long story I may have to bore you with sometime. 😎
Yep, it is an ever changing thing. I don't like places I used to love anymore, but new places spring up. The best change I've seen recently is the area around the train station (Clayton was with me.) Not long ago that wasn't much at all, now it has wonderful hotels and restaurants.
Agreed! The restoration of King Street Station (Great Northern) is quite impressive. We also stopped at the Canadian Pacific Train Station in downtown Vancouver (which seems to be nearing completion of a renovation) and it's also beautiful. It's a tossup as to which one's better. And I'll also note that Centralia's Train station is quite cool for its size, and since they relocated the bums to another hangout, it's a safer place to visit downtown.
I always carry a Swiss knife with me. It's a handy tool. I have a bigger knife in my car that is good for absolutely everything. A friend of mine that has a hunting store claims that a good knife is the one you can skin an animal with, but is able to peel a cucumber.
For self defense, a small Glock, and a pepper gel when I'm on a bike.
I don't currently own one, but I too carried a Swiss Army Knife for a long time. I agree, they are excellent. Sharp and easy to sharpen. Back when I carried one, I found the little scissors and the tweezers a lot more handy and helpful than I would have ever imagined. I used the little saw once to good effect as well.
To my mind, the ability to resharpen is really important in selecting a knife. Some of the really modern steels may hold an edge for a really long time, but when they do go dull might well be beyond my patience (and equipment, and skills) to bring back.
For me, wallets are almost buy it for life items. I'm only on my third one of my adult life. All three have been super quality from Europe and seem to last just about forever. My thought has been that it's cheaper in the long run buying one that lasts decades.
That said, I keep thinking that maybe I need to ditch the fancy leather and buy one of the RFID blocking ones. Gotta change with the times I suppose.
Like you, I still use paper for my appointments. Not a day timer, but a cheap mobile calendar book. At work I see that everyone uses electronic calendars on their phones, but honestly that seems more work than they are worth. Plus, I never have to worry about accidentally deleting anything.
I always carry my wallet, keys, pocketknife, lighter, small flashlight (I use it the most out of anything listed here.), handkerchief(bandanna-type), pen and a small waterproof notebook, but most importantly, I carry a 1972 silver dollar that my dad gave me when I was a boy. It has been in my pockets since his death in 2004. You can hardly make out Dwight Eisenhower's head anymore.
I use a standard Bic lighter for my EDC. I've tried carrying a Zippo, but they seem to leak a lot. (Probably user error.)
The silver dollar from your dad is a wonderful tribute to him.
You and Dean may convince me to give a small flashlight a try. And I should EDC both a pen and a handkerchief, as both are useful often. Alas though the pen always slips my mind (actually, honestly, thinking about it this morning, I think it may more be a case of not having what I think of as a good place to carry it.) Maybe I should buy a little one like the Fisher Bullet to just drop in the bottom of a pants pocket.
Zippos will leak if overfilled. Less juice should completely solve that problem. But nothing will solve the evaporation problem, so they have to be refilled probably at least once a week. The Bic is probably a much better option for EDC because of that. The reason I prefer the Zippo is that they tend to stay dry inside with the lid. I've had a rough time with wet Bics in the past, and of course it rains a lot where I live.
Front pocket wallet, keys, phone, customized benchmade bugout mini, rovyvon A8 flashlight and a hat. I always carry a firearm if I am going in the woods but rarely otherwise.
Thanks for the flashlight brand recommendation. I'll check those out.
I know that it's a lot more secure, but I've never been able to comfortably carry a wallet in my front pocket. I jam them full of too much stuff I guess. So, when traveling to tourist areas I always wear pants with some kind of security for the back pocket. A button or a Velcro flap or whatever, something to make it just a touch harder on a pick-pocket.
I too add if going out to the woods. An effective first aid kit and a non insulated metal cup being most important in my mind.
Yes, using the front pocket wallet took some serious reassessments of what I actually needed to carry. IDs, some cards and emergency cash only in there.
I love that little flashlight and I use it pretty much every day. The clip works so you can put it on your hat bill like a headlamp and it has UV as well. It's very small, I carry it clipped right next to my knife.
Going into the woods I have a much bigger list of things I always take.
Yeah, I imagine that if I could convince myself to not carry every damn thing that I'll never actually need in my wallet I could make the switch to front pocket carry. Maybe I'll give it a try one of these days, I do have a nice one still new in the box.
Of course that would mean that the dip has to move to a back pocket though. Haven't carried it back there since I was in school and thought the ring was cool!
I believe Brother Benjamin Franklin might disagree with you here MWB. "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." It appears it is indeed a Masonic topic... 😜
We are generally homebodies for the most part and Bear keeps the house pretty well handled. Phones to support emergencies given health concerns, wallet and petty cash should the need arise, and a CPL more recently with the state of things being as they are. For a number of years I stopped with this last one, however the world has gotten a lot more interesting as of late, and I am less capable than I once might have been.
I picked the habit back up after a late night in a parking lot where a Brother and I felt called to intervene in an uncertain circumstance involving a young lady and her partner not too far from my home Lodge down in Centralia.
I didn't know that you had a run in near the Lodge. You'll have to fill me in on that one of these days!
As I get older, I am certainly aware that I am much less physically capable than I was when young. I'd like to think that I've offset that weakness though by becoming more capable mentally. Better situational awareness, greater care, things of that sort.
Yeah, Thomas, Garri, and I saw a less than favorable situation unfolding next to the Lodge after one of our events. It turned out to be a couples dispute, but initially appeared to be a more serious matter. It resolved after some deescalation but the little lady didn't like the idea of me being in that situation on blood thinners with my physical limitations and not having something to level the playing field had things turned out differently.
"God made man, Sam Colt made 'em equal, and John Browning made 'em civilized" - Unknown
I switched to a Ridge wallet about a year ago and I’ve found that I like not having a wallet in my back pocket. I’m somewhat superstitious and I carry a Masonic challenge coin that has a square and compass in a police badge on one side and a square and compass on the other side with the words; Brotherly Love Truth & Relief. I also carry a St Christopher coin (my confirmation name) for safe travels. Depending on what I’m doing, I carry a nice Gerber pocket knife and if I’m traveling by car I’ll conceal carry. I’ve never thought about carrying a lighter but that sounds like a good idea. This would certainly be an excellent lodge discussion or something for “man school”.
I too was thinking that this might make for an interesting discussion in Lodge. Sort of a Round Robin - Show and Tell thing. I'd be especially curious as to how things might be different depending upon generation.
I don't actually carry anything Masonic, beyond the Zippo, it's got the S&C on it. But I rarely leave the house without wearing my Masonic rings.
1. Hat: yeah, that’s a no-brainer, as I’m bald and many of my family members have had run-ins with skin cancer, including one with Malignant Melanoma. To be fair, the brim is also key, as I’ve seen many cancers develop on ear lobes as much as on scalps. I don’t clown with that, as I have indeed badly burned my scalp in a fire back about 10 years ago. I’m surprised I didn’t burn my hair in that incident.
2. Wallet: It’s a given, although I think your idea of paying more for a good one that last longer is a better idea than trashing cheap ones. The RFID blocker idea is also something to look into. And as WB Shawn mentioned, you might want to keep it up front. If it’s in your back pocket and you drive a lot, it WILL catch up with you. And if it’s in the back, it’s more likely to be pick-pocketed.
And ALWAYS. Carry cash. I don’t mean $200+, but enough to get you out of a bad situation. The card doesn’t always work for you in emergencies. I am floored at how many of the younger generation don’t have any cash in their possession. That small amount of cash can be every bit as important as a knife or flashlight.
3. I’ve never carried something that produces flame unless I’m out during hiking, hunting, etc. The only time I’ve needed flame for my everyday commuting, errands, etc. is when I need to unfreeze the locks on my car/truck. Not nearly as often, as I lube the locks in the fall as a preventative measure.
4. Although I have many knives, I don’t pack one on a regular basis. But I do have a Machete in my truck. And, as always, in the woods.
I ALWAYS have my house keys on hand as well as at least one pair of vehicle keys. I take the phone as I use it a lot, and it has the flashlight that, while not perfect, it’s good for emergencies.
I get laughed at because I almost never “pack” a pen. But all of my vehicles have one in them.
On the note of Dean Willard’s tactical flashlight, there have been times where I’ve taken my MagLight that has a strobing option. The strobe WORKS. It will blind anyone temporarily, giving you an opportunity to take action to protect yourself. And yes, the MagLight has that strong housing and the D cell batteries that can make that flashlight a very capable weapon. Depending on the situation, you can actually kill someone by blinding them, then blunt force trauma with the light being used as a club.
If you use a flashlight on a regular basis, make sure you keep up on its batteries!
Concealed Carry: I’ll be reticent with that answer. Let’s put it this way: I might tell people I usually don’t pack, but most of the people who I mingle with on a regular basis have seen me holding a firearm of some sort. Of course, out in the woods, I’m always with a firearm.
A couple of times in these comments you will hear the city of Centralia, WA. Some people from the larger cities will pooh-pooh the problems that Centralia’s downtown and some districts have, but you have to look at it in relation to the size of the city. In that case, Centralia ranks up with Lakewood and Yakima as one of the more dangerous cities to live and work in. I feel much safer on my afternoon walk up in University Place (including the occasional venture downtown) than I do in my morning walks in downtown Centralia. I was used to it, but when I started the walks in U.P., then I started realizing what I had gotten used to. That route I walk in the morning includes places where stabbings, death by blunt force trauma and open prostitution have occurred, and yes, that drive-by shooting a block from my work. True, mostly at night, but some was during the day. The blunt force incident was less than an hour after I walked that block. People think I’m nuts, but I still do that walk. I’ll be doing it tomorrow.
Yep, I joke about the hats a lot, but consider them pretty serious business. And to me the full brim is vital, to protect against sun coming down at an angle. For men with really fair skin, I just figure it a simple choice, a hat now, or cancer later.
I try to not have my wallet in my pocket while in the car. I most always shove it in the door handle well. Otherwise, as you rightly point out, it'll do hell on the spine.
Agreed, Re: Cash. Sometimes it is truly vital. Sometimes, like at my Tower for lunch yesterday, there is a discount for cash.
I'd imagine that I use my pocket knife at least once a day. Much more when I had a physical job of course, but even now I still find plenty of occasion for it.
I too end up not carrying a pen. Even though I should carry a pen. I end up borrowing frequently. There's just no good way to hold a full sized pen in a pocket. Not that I've found anyway.
I do have a large D Cell Maglite at the house, and I do view it much as you mention.
Keys in weak hand pocket. Cellphone on weak hand side. Knife on strong side. 2nd knife where I can easily get to it. Two is one, one is none. I also carry a zippo but with a butane insert.
I carry concealed only if I’m out in the woods now though. My dog has been taught to heel on the left, so I don’t draw over his head.
If I’m going out to do shoot astrophotography then I carry a flashlight and other items depending on the time of year. I have a winter bag and a summer bag in the vehicle depending on the season.
I've thought about a butane insert for the Zippo. It would be nice to not have to give the thing a squirt every couple of days. I've still got a leftover thing from my adventuring days though. Even though I no longer live where it gets bitter cold, or willingly go exploring in the outdoors in the bitter cold, I can't quite get over the fact that butane and propane won't work in extreme cold. Honestly it even still squicks me a little bit when I use a modern propane Coleman stove and lantern instead of the old white gas ones. It sure is a lot more convenient though!
in an urban area I carry only the legally required identification and some plastic
pointless to rob me ... someone would get nothing but an old ratty wallet
and some plastic what would be cancelled immediately.
out of urban safety corridor i carry what is appropriate
that might range from just a passport and small cash
to whatever is appropriate ...
approriate could range from laptop to sat phone to long rifle with scope to gee ... most anything appropaite to the situation ...
generally my view is "less is more" the less you pack or carry the more freedom and flexibility you have ... the more you carry ... the more the expensive gear owns your behavior and choices .. as it is natural to not discard expensive gear ...
however ... most everywhere i go
I aalways pack id, plastic , cell phone or two, tracking chip or device, and some form of basic defense ... a 4 foot walking pole can equally provide a lethal defense if needed ... insert through a temple or eys socke or heart and it can end an assault rather robustly ... and effectively. so far i have only had to use it to deter a dog that seemed to want to pee on my leg ...rofl ... he left with an injured tail that probably hurt a bit ... but will probably life a long life peeing on other people ... since he did not seem an especially bright minded poodle dog.
I too used to carry a concealed firearm most of the time. Still keep my licenses active in case i want or need to carry ...
However my life is pretty tame and I go only low risk areas these days ... and the odds of my needing such a weapon visiting costco or qfc or the public library seems pretty low ...
I DO however encourage everyone to have a robust BUGOUT pack you keep fully packed and ready to go ...
The best way to do this is in a SUB_SET method ...
make a small one with just the bare essentials ... think of that as the 10 essentials with some extra water and food ... spare id and cash and passport and critical documents ... and backup plastic and your book of knowledge about your life ... etc. and maybe an encrupted usb drive with other info ... and your sat com unit ...
that can then ... if a sitation warrants it ... be put in your larger backpack ...
add another module or small pack with your handgun, ammo, clean kit, etc. and another for survival rifle and ammo etc...
make everything modular so you can pack and unpack whole systems to bug out with what is appropriate to the situation ...
obviously different if you are doing a bug out to a hotel due to a house fire
than if you are doing a bug-out to remote woods due to a nuclear explosion nearby ...
if headed to the woods i have a second backpack / huge duffle with the extras ... traps , wire, wood tools, fire starters, etc. etc.
So i think of the carry kits ... as just another sub-set of the bug-out kits ...
remember folks ... no power ... none of your electric gear works ... so always good to have a solar panel in your bug out kits ...somewhere ...
my personal kits always include my ham radio stuff, sat com stuff as well
my daily carry
as said ...go light ... less is more
overseas ... i go very light ... and make a point of looking so poor that the street people offer me survival food ...
security through obfuscation and deception works better than carry a firearm
I strongly agree about the value and usefulness of a walking stick or cane for defense. Great for dogs, not bad at all for random harassing drug addict on the street. Maybe not so much with a determined and skilled attacker, but how often are we faced with something like that?
i might add that my preferred defensive weapon for much travel is a simple SOLAS (safety of life at sea) internationally legally treaty compliant 37mm or 40mm flare gun ... or floating flares
a 37/40 mm magnesium / phosphorus flare blinds folks totally ... and if fired into their chest or other body part ... is disabling or even lethal ... but by law legal to carry as safety device ...
besides ... someone looking down a 37.40 mm barrel ... of device that looks like a grenade launcher to most folkd ... due to movies ... tends to decide that there are easier pickings elsewhere ...
when i first lived far north ... i noticed in the summer that all the locals had a couple flashlights on their belts ... seemed as odd to me as londoners carrying umbrellas ...
however ... once it was dead dark 90 percent of the winter ... it dawned on me why they had two flashlights with an exta pouch full of batteries ...rofl ...
long before i had a bum hip and needed to use walking sticks ... hiking poles ... i used to carry a nice wood cane that was a "sectional" ... meaning it broke down ... unscrewed ... into smaller 14 inch segements that would fit nicely in my briefcase ... and had a huge brass duckhead on the "handle-end" ... to hold onto ... orginally purchased simply as an "image-thing" to go with my pipe and sweater with elbow patches ... when i was young and wanted to look the "old wise academic" when i was a new faculty member ...rofl ... i grew to realize that it was just darn handy ... the duckbill end allowed me to pull down books and stuff too high or low for me to otherwise reach ... was handy to drag things from afar across large conference room tables or work tables ... and was great for dragging those pesky tools that are just out of reach when you are under the car ... and the brass end ... surely detered dogs and miscerant anoyances of all types ... even used it to whack the devil out of an insistant bear in waterton park when he wanted to debate my right to my steak and eggs breakfast ...
i am not sure about the current regulations but last time i flew ... neither my walking sticks or cane were denied carry on access for the airliner ... and i can tell you for sure ... that the pointy brass spike on the bottom or their 2 lb brass duck on the top ... either ...would end a hijackers day rather robustly ...
i flew with both my aluminum and my carbon fiber walking sticks and both seemed ok with the airline and tsa folks ... although in both cases they made me put them thru the scanner ... just in case they were filled with something untoward ...
TSA can be funny though ... my friend who just flew to France for a conference ... got more concern from TSA as to why he was carrying two different pairs of hearing aids ... than over why he was transporting a suitcase full of computer chips ... weird
Wallet, keys, hat, & a tactical flashlight. I can’t get the pocket knife on a commercial flight but that and a lighter is definitely part of my 10 essentials if I’m going for a hike.
My tactical flashlight is useful if I need directed light. I use it when traveling to signal to buses, taxis or an Uber driver I want to be picked up and to notify other drivers at night of my presence. Both ends have a sturdy beveled construction sufficient to facilitate an escape by breaking a vehicle’s window.
For self defense, it has a strobe that would disorient an attacker and those beveled ends leave a serious impression when used to strike an attacker in the throat or face.
Add my Sig Sauer P365XL and my Kimber Pepper Blaster II whenever I visit Centralia. ;-)
I always check bags, so a small pocket knife in my dopp kit seems to be A-OK.
I've never considered a flashlight for EDC, I can see where one would be handy, particularly as you mention here, a signaling device. I've always just figured that they were too heavy, but maybe I should rethink that.
Having been hit with the spray once long ago, I lack much faith in its abilities to stop an attack. But the Sig would certainly take care of things! When it comes to the mean streets of Centralia, I worry more about getting run down by a drunken moron than harmed in a mugging.
When I do go where the drug addled people congregate (and I have to go there from time to time) I carry a blackthorn stick from Ireland. Looks like a cane normally, but change the grip to bring it into a ready position and those folks seem to notice.
The Centralia comment was for the benefit of Clayton. He once asked me if I conceal carried lethal force in downtown Seattle and I replied rarely. I’m often going to places where conceal carry is illegal and the tactics of deploying lethal force in an urban environment are complicated.
He asked me where do I usually carry and my response was “always in Centralia.” A more accurate and less snarky answer would have been usually in rural and exurban areas.
Have you been hit by a Pepper Blaster II. I have a couple units that need to be replaced (every two years) that I’m happy to demo for practice. Volunteers?
“He asked me where do I usually carry…” That’s an awfully prying question; I don’t ask hardly anyone that question. If I did indeed ask it, my apologies.
If anything concerning “Packing” in Seattle, I might have asked you the first question Brother-to-Brother as to how a citizen in a large Metro city defends himself against sudden incidents, probably citing the people I run across in Centralia and their answers. But yeah, that second question is out of character for me. I do my best not to ask questions that are that personal. Again, my apologies.
You were not prying at all, my brother. We were at the Grand Masters in North America at the Westin Seattle and we were discussing my CPL and the relative safety of downtown in the late days of the pandemic.
Your question was relevant to our conversation and quite diplomatic. My response was snarky.
If anyone owes an apology here it’s me.
Melinda and I had quite an interesting experience one day during that event. The sun was out, so we wandered down to the market. We found an interesting Honduran (if memory serves) restaurant overlooking the market below. We sat on the balcony, and that was quite wonderful until a protest went by and a couple of the protestors decided to protest on the balcony.
So, we settled our bill and wandered off. That wandering took us to a really wonderful French restaurant, so all worked out perfectly. Amazing food following a Seattle show.
For all the problems in downtown Seattle, only once did I truly wish that I had been carrying. We went out for dinner one night near the market and walking down the street I didn't feel that I could protect my daughters. That was quite a few years ago, we haven't returned to that area after dark.
I was hit by whatever your SPD issues its officers. It was not effective enough. Long story I may have to bore you with sometime. 😎
Many areas downtown have improved, some have not. Looking forward to hearing the details.
Yep, it is an ever changing thing. I don't like places I used to love anymore, but new places spring up. The best change I've seen recently is the area around the train station (Clayton was with me.) Not long ago that wasn't much at all, now it has wonderful hotels and restaurants.
Agreed! The restoration of King Street Station (Great Northern) is quite impressive. We also stopped at the Canadian Pacific Train Station in downtown Vancouver (which seems to be nearing completion of a renovation) and it's also beautiful. It's a tossup as to which one's better. And I'll also note that Centralia's Train station is quite cool for its size, and since they relocated the bums to another hangout, it's a safer place to visit downtown.
I always carry a Swiss knife with me. It's a handy tool. I have a bigger knife in my car that is good for absolutely everything. A friend of mine that has a hunting store claims that a good knife is the one you can skin an animal with, but is able to peel a cucumber.
For self defense, a small Glock, and a pepper gel when I'm on a bike.
I don't currently own one, but I too carried a Swiss Army Knife for a long time. I agree, they are excellent. Sharp and easy to sharpen. Back when I carried one, I found the little scissors and the tweezers a lot more handy and helpful than I would have ever imagined. I used the little saw once to good effect as well.
To my mind, the ability to resharpen is really important in selecting a knife. Some of the really modern steels may hold an edge for a really long time, but when they do go dull might well be beyond my patience (and equipment, and skills) to bring back.
When I leave the house I usually have:
Wallet (with RIFD blocking material)
Keys
Phone
Daytimer (yes, still old school for me)
Either my Benchmade Griptillian or Spyderco Native
Kimber Ultra Carry II and an extra magazine
For me, wallets are almost buy it for life items. I'm only on my third one of my adult life. All three have been super quality from Europe and seem to last just about forever. My thought has been that it's cheaper in the long run buying one that lasts decades.
That said, I keep thinking that maybe I need to ditch the fancy leather and buy one of the RFID blocking ones. Gotta change with the times I suppose.
Like you, I still use paper for my appointments. Not a day timer, but a cheap mobile calendar book. At work I see that everyone uses electronic calendars on their phones, but honestly that seems more work than they are worth. Plus, I never have to worry about accidentally deleting anything.
I always carry my wallet, keys, pocketknife, lighter, small flashlight (I use it the most out of anything listed here.), handkerchief(bandanna-type), pen and a small waterproof notebook, but most importantly, I carry a 1972 silver dollar that my dad gave me when I was a boy. It has been in my pockets since his death in 2004. You can hardly make out Dwight Eisenhower's head anymore.
I use a standard Bic lighter for my EDC. I've tried carrying a Zippo, but they seem to leak a lot. (Probably user error.)
Thanks for sharing.
The silver dollar from your dad is a wonderful tribute to him.
You and Dean may convince me to give a small flashlight a try. And I should EDC both a pen and a handkerchief, as both are useful often. Alas though the pen always slips my mind (actually, honestly, thinking about it this morning, I think it may more be a case of not having what I think of as a good place to carry it.) Maybe I should buy a little one like the Fisher Bullet to just drop in the bottom of a pants pocket.
Zippos will leak if overfilled. Less juice should completely solve that problem. But nothing will solve the evaporation problem, so they have to be refilled probably at least once a week. The Bic is probably a much better option for EDC because of that. The reason I prefer the Zippo is that they tend to stay dry inside with the lid. I've had a rough time with wet Bics in the past, and of course it rains a lot where I live.
Front pocket wallet, keys, phone, customized benchmade bugout mini, rovyvon A8 flashlight and a hat. I always carry a firearm if I am going in the woods but rarely otherwise.
Thanks for the flashlight brand recommendation. I'll check those out.
I know that it's a lot more secure, but I've never been able to comfortably carry a wallet in my front pocket. I jam them full of too much stuff I guess. So, when traveling to tourist areas I always wear pants with some kind of security for the back pocket. A button or a Velcro flap or whatever, something to make it just a touch harder on a pick-pocket.
I too add if going out to the woods. An effective first aid kit and a non insulated metal cup being most important in my mind.
Yes, using the front pocket wallet took some serious reassessments of what I actually needed to carry. IDs, some cards and emergency cash only in there.
I love that little flashlight and I use it pretty much every day. The clip works so you can put it on your hat bill like a headlamp and it has UV as well. It's very small, I carry it clipped right next to my knife.
Going into the woods I have a much bigger list of things I always take.
Yeah, I imagine that if I could convince myself to not carry every damn thing that I'll never actually need in my wallet I could make the switch to front pocket carry. Maybe I'll give it a try one of these days, I do have a nice one still new in the box.
Of course that would mean that the dip has to move to a back pocket though. Haven't carried it back there since I was in school and thought the ring was cool!
I believe Brother Benjamin Franklin might disagree with you here MWB. "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." It appears it is indeed a Masonic topic... 😜
We are generally homebodies for the most part and Bear keeps the house pretty well handled. Phones to support emergencies given health concerns, wallet and petty cash should the need arise, and a CPL more recently with the state of things being as they are. For a number of years I stopped with this last one, however the world has gotten a lot more interesting as of late, and I am less capable than I once might have been.
I picked the habit back up after a late night in a parking lot where a Brother and I felt called to intervene in an uncertain circumstance involving a young lady and her partner not too far from my home Lodge down in Centralia.
I didn't know that you had a run in near the Lodge. You'll have to fill me in on that one of these days!
As I get older, I am certainly aware that I am much less physically capable than I was when young. I'd like to think that I've offset that weakness though by becoming more capable mentally. Better situational awareness, greater care, things of that sort.
Yeah, Thomas, Garri, and I saw a less than favorable situation unfolding next to the Lodge after one of our events. It turned out to be a couples dispute, but initially appeared to be a more serious matter. It resolved after some deescalation but the little lady didn't like the idea of me being in that situation on blood thinners with my physical limitations and not having something to level the playing field had things turned out differently.
"God made man, Sam Colt made 'em equal, and John Browning made 'em civilized" - Unknown
I switched to a Ridge wallet about a year ago and I’ve found that I like not having a wallet in my back pocket. I’m somewhat superstitious and I carry a Masonic challenge coin that has a square and compass in a police badge on one side and a square and compass on the other side with the words; Brotherly Love Truth & Relief. I also carry a St Christopher coin (my confirmation name) for safe travels. Depending on what I’m doing, I carry a nice Gerber pocket knife and if I’m traveling by car I’ll conceal carry. I’ve never thought about carrying a lighter but that sounds like a good idea. This would certainly be an excellent lodge discussion or something for “man school”.
I too was thinking that this might make for an interesting discussion in Lodge. Sort of a Round Robin - Show and Tell thing. I'd be especially curious as to how things might be different depending upon generation.
I don't actually carry anything Masonic, beyond the Zippo, it's got the S&C on it. But I rarely leave the house without wearing my Masonic rings.
Let’s see how I stack up against your list:
1. Hat: yeah, that’s a no-brainer, as I’m bald and many of my family members have had run-ins with skin cancer, including one with Malignant Melanoma. To be fair, the brim is also key, as I’ve seen many cancers develop on ear lobes as much as on scalps. I don’t clown with that, as I have indeed badly burned my scalp in a fire back about 10 years ago. I’m surprised I didn’t burn my hair in that incident.
2. Wallet: It’s a given, although I think your idea of paying more for a good one that last longer is a better idea than trashing cheap ones. The RFID blocker idea is also something to look into. And as WB Shawn mentioned, you might want to keep it up front. If it’s in your back pocket and you drive a lot, it WILL catch up with you. And if it’s in the back, it’s more likely to be pick-pocketed.
And ALWAYS. Carry cash. I don’t mean $200+, but enough to get you out of a bad situation. The card doesn’t always work for you in emergencies. I am floored at how many of the younger generation don’t have any cash in their possession. That small amount of cash can be every bit as important as a knife or flashlight.
3. I’ve never carried something that produces flame unless I’m out during hiking, hunting, etc. The only time I’ve needed flame for my everyday commuting, errands, etc. is when I need to unfreeze the locks on my car/truck. Not nearly as often, as I lube the locks in the fall as a preventative measure.
4. Although I have many knives, I don’t pack one on a regular basis. But I do have a Machete in my truck. And, as always, in the woods.
I ALWAYS have my house keys on hand as well as at least one pair of vehicle keys. I take the phone as I use it a lot, and it has the flashlight that, while not perfect, it’s good for emergencies.
I get laughed at because I almost never “pack” a pen. But all of my vehicles have one in them.
On the note of Dean Willard’s tactical flashlight, there have been times where I’ve taken my MagLight that has a strobing option. The strobe WORKS. It will blind anyone temporarily, giving you an opportunity to take action to protect yourself. And yes, the MagLight has that strong housing and the D cell batteries that can make that flashlight a very capable weapon. Depending on the situation, you can actually kill someone by blinding them, then blunt force trauma with the light being used as a club.
If you use a flashlight on a regular basis, make sure you keep up on its batteries!
Concealed Carry: I’ll be reticent with that answer. Let’s put it this way: I might tell people I usually don’t pack, but most of the people who I mingle with on a regular basis have seen me holding a firearm of some sort. Of course, out in the woods, I’m always with a firearm.
A couple of times in these comments you will hear the city of Centralia, WA. Some people from the larger cities will pooh-pooh the problems that Centralia’s downtown and some districts have, but you have to look at it in relation to the size of the city. In that case, Centralia ranks up with Lakewood and Yakima as one of the more dangerous cities to live and work in. I feel much safer on my afternoon walk up in University Place (including the occasional venture downtown) than I do in my morning walks in downtown Centralia. I was used to it, but when I started the walks in U.P., then I started realizing what I had gotten used to. That route I walk in the morning includes places where stabbings, death by blunt force trauma and open prostitution have occurred, and yes, that drive-by shooting a block from my work. True, mostly at night, but some was during the day. The blunt force incident was less than an hour after I walked that block. People think I’m nuts, but I still do that walk. I’ll be doing it tomorrow.
Yep, I joke about the hats a lot, but consider them pretty serious business. And to me the full brim is vital, to protect against sun coming down at an angle. For men with really fair skin, I just figure it a simple choice, a hat now, or cancer later.
I try to not have my wallet in my pocket while in the car. I most always shove it in the door handle well. Otherwise, as you rightly point out, it'll do hell on the spine.
Agreed, Re: Cash. Sometimes it is truly vital. Sometimes, like at my Tower for lunch yesterday, there is a discount for cash.
I'd imagine that I use my pocket knife at least once a day. Much more when I had a physical job of course, but even now I still find plenty of occasion for it.
I too end up not carrying a pen. Even though I should carry a pen. I end up borrowing frequently. There's just no good way to hold a full sized pen in a pocket. Not that I've found anyway.
I do have a large D Cell Maglite at the house, and I do view it much as you mention.
Yep, I'm one of those 'bag' people LOL I'd have to write a entire essay to cover my idea of what is vital for an 'EDC'.
Which - thanks to your inspiration - I just might do... :-)
Excellent! I look forward to reading it!
Keys in weak hand pocket. Cellphone on weak hand side. Knife on strong side. 2nd knife where I can easily get to it. Two is one, one is none. I also carry a zippo but with a butane insert.
I carry concealed only if I’m out in the woods now though. My dog has been taught to heel on the left, so I don’t draw over his head.
If I’m going out to do shoot astrophotography then I carry a flashlight and other items depending on the time of year. I have a winter bag and a summer bag in the vehicle depending on the season.
Jim
I've thought about a butane insert for the Zippo. It would be nice to not have to give the thing a squirt every couple of days. I've still got a leftover thing from my adventuring days though. Even though I no longer live where it gets bitter cold, or willingly go exploring in the outdoors in the bitter cold, I can't quite get over the fact that butane and propane won't work in extreme cold. Honestly it even still squicks me a little bit when I use a modern propane Coleman stove and lantern instead of the old white gas ones. It sure is a lot more convenient though!
well ...geeh whiz and jokkikers ...
in an urban area I carry only the legally required identification and some plastic
pointless to rob me ... someone would get nothing but an old ratty wallet
and some plastic what would be cancelled immediately.
out of urban safety corridor i carry what is appropriate
that might range from just a passport and small cash
to whatever is appropriate ...
approriate could range from laptop to sat phone to long rifle with scope to gee ... most anything appropaite to the situation ...
generally my view is "less is more" the less you pack or carry the more freedom and flexibility you have ... the more you carry ... the more the expensive gear owns your behavior and choices .. as it is natural to not discard expensive gear ...
however ... most everywhere i go
I aalways pack id, plastic , cell phone or two, tracking chip or device, and some form of basic defense ... a 4 foot walking pole can equally provide a lethal defense if needed ... insert through a temple or eys socke or heart and it can end an assault rather robustly ... and effectively. so far i have only had to use it to deter a dog that seemed to want to pee on my leg ...rofl ... he left with an injured tail that probably hurt a bit ... but will probably life a long life peeing on other people ... since he did not seem an especially bright minded poodle dog.
I too used to carry a concealed firearm most of the time. Still keep my licenses active in case i want or need to carry ...
However my life is pretty tame and I go only low risk areas these days ... and the odds of my needing such a weapon visiting costco or qfc or the public library seems pretty low ...
I DO however encourage everyone to have a robust BUGOUT pack you keep fully packed and ready to go ...
The best way to do this is in a SUB_SET method ...
make a small one with just the bare essentials ... think of that as the 10 essentials with some extra water and food ... spare id and cash and passport and critical documents ... and backup plastic and your book of knowledge about your life ... etc. and maybe an encrupted usb drive with other info ... and your sat com unit ...
that can then ... if a sitation warrants it ... be put in your larger backpack ...
add another module or small pack with your handgun, ammo, clean kit, etc. and another for survival rifle and ammo etc...
make everything modular so you can pack and unpack whole systems to bug out with what is appropriate to the situation ...
obviously different if you are doing a bug out to a hotel due to a house fire
than if you are doing a bug-out to remote woods due to a nuclear explosion nearby ...
if headed to the woods i have a second backpack / huge duffle with the extras ... traps , wire, wood tools, fire starters, etc. etc.
So i think of the carry kits ... as just another sub-set of the bug-out kits ...
remember folks ... no power ... none of your electric gear works ... so always good to have a solar panel in your bug out kits ...somewhere ...
my personal kits always include my ham radio stuff, sat com stuff as well
my daily carry
as said ...go light ... less is more
overseas ... i go very light ... and make a point of looking so poor that the street people offer me survival food ...
security through obfuscation and deception works better than carry a firearm
I strongly agree about the value and usefulness of a walking stick or cane for defense. Great for dogs, not bad at all for random harassing drug addict on the street. Maybe not so much with a determined and skilled attacker, but how often are we faced with something like that?
i might add that my preferred defensive weapon for much travel is a simple SOLAS (safety of life at sea) internationally legally treaty compliant 37mm or 40mm flare gun ... or floating flares
a 37/40 mm magnesium / phosphorus flare blinds folks totally ... and if fired into their chest or other body part ... is disabling or even lethal ... but by law legal to carry as safety device ...
besides ... someone looking down a 37.40 mm barrel ... of device that looks like a grenade launcher to most folkd ... due to movies ... tends to decide that there are easier pickings elsewhere ...
when i first lived far north ... i noticed in the summer that all the locals had a couple flashlights on their belts ... seemed as odd to me as londoners carrying umbrellas ...
however ... once it was dead dark 90 percent of the winter ... it dawned on me why they had two flashlights with an exta pouch full of batteries ...rofl ...
carry what is approriate
simple
Makes sense!
long before i had a bum hip and needed to use walking sticks ... hiking poles ... i used to carry a nice wood cane that was a "sectional" ... meaning it broke down ... unscrewed ... into smaller 14 inch segements that would fit nicely in my briefcase ... and had a huge brass duckhead on the "handle-end" ... to hold onto ... orginally purchased simply as an "image-thing" to go with my pipe and sweater with elbow patches ... when i was young and wanted to look the "old wise academic" when i was a new faculty member ...rofl ... i grew to realize that it was just darn handy ... the duckbill end allowed me to pull down books and stuff too high or low for me to otherwise reach ... was handy to drag things from afar across large conference room tables or work tables ... and was great for dragging those pesky tools that are just out of reach when you are under the car ... and the brass end ... surely detered dogs and miscerant anoyances of all types ... even used it to whack the devil out of an insistant bear in waterton park when he wanted to debate my right to my steak and eggs breakfast ...
i am not sure about the current regulations but last time i flew ... neither my walking sticks or cane were denied carry on access for the airliner ... and i can tell you for sure ... that the pointy brass spike on the bottom or their 2 lb brass duck on the top ... either ...would end a hijackers day rather robustly ...
i flew with both my aluminum and my carbon fiber walking sticks and both seemed ok with the airline and tsa folks ... although in both cases they made me put them thru the scanner ... just in case they were filled with something untoward ...
TSA can be funny though ... my friend who just flew to France for a conference ... got more concern from TSA as to why he was carrying two different pairs of hearing aids ... than over why he was transporting a suitcase full of computer chips ... weird
apparently he had paperwork for the chips
but not a prescription for his hearing aids ...
gads ... wacko stuff ...