Another in my series of seeing how things change year over year. I tend to carry a lot of stuff. Here are my previous posts:
2018 post.
2019 post.
2020 post.
2021 post.
For 2022, there’s been significant changes to my EDC. Shortly after my 2021 post, I had trouble finding the cargo jeans that I normally wore. Plus, they weren’t holding up to my normal wear and tear. So after much discussion with The Wife, I decided to go from carrying a bunch of stuff in various pockets, I started carrying a bag with many of the items. Further, after nearly two years of full-time telework, I don’t go out as much. So, most days, I’m just walking around my house.
Just Around The House
This is the EDC I will carry most days that I don’t go outside the house.
Phone
I’m using an iPhone 12. I have the 128 GB model. I used to need to have all teh space, but since I work from home, I can manage more under Wi-Fi and need less space. I use a simple case that has the texture of a MagPul P-MAG.
Earbuds
I’ve recently switched to a pair of Jabra Elite 75t earbuds. They’re still in the “testing” phase. If these don’t work, I’ll probably go back to my Apple AirPods Pro. I particularly like Apple’s “transparent” mode which allows more of the outside sound through. I’ve been having battery issues with them though. which prompted the switch to the Jabra’s.
Pocketknife
I carry a Leatherman Skeletool for just around the house. Much to The Wife’s chagrin, I’ve found I need a knife or one of the myriad of little tools far too often.
Flashlight
For walking around the house, I carry an older Streamlight ProTac. It’s good for quickly looking in shadowed and/or darkened areas. Like under the bed. It’s also surprisingly good at finding where one of the cat’s decided to mark its territory.
Watch
I’m using a 44mm Series 5 Apple Watch. I like the always on feature.
Going Out Of The House – On Person
Additional stuff when I’m going out.
Wallet
I use a Saddleback Large Leather wallet.. I keep a Tool Logic Credit Card inside it. It’s not that I use it that much. Mostly, it’s because I’ve had the damn thing for probably twenty-five years, and my wallet feels empty without it.
Keys
My brother picked me up a Lifelong Ring 300 key ring system. I mainly use the main big ring and have all of my keys on the wire key rings. In addition to my keys, I have:
-
Kingston 32GB Flash Drive – Because you never know when someone has a file they want to give you
-
Gerber Artifact – I’m not sure if Gerber is still selling these, but their Shard would be a good substitute
-
Surefire Sidekick – Of course, I have to have another flashlight. It doesn’t get used as much as it did when I was commuting in the dark early morning, but it’s still come in handy a couple of times.
Pocketknife
If I’m out of the house, the Leatherman gets switched out for a Kershaw-Emerson CQC-10.
Flashlight
For going out of the house, I carry a Streamlight ProTac 750 lumen flashlight. It’s too big to really be a pocket flashlight, so I carry it in one of my IWB spare magazine holders.
Pepper Spray
I carry a small Sabre Pepper Spray for when I need something between strong words and deadly force.
Pen
I carry around a CRKT tactical pen.
Sidearm
Unless I’m going to someplace I’m not legally allowed to carry, I generally have my Smith and Wesson M&P9 (First Gen) equipped with a Streamlight TLR-1 and Trijicon night sights. I keep it and the spare magazine loaded with 124-grain Speer Gold Dots (since that’s what the local cops use). I’ve switched to using a Bravo Concealment kydex IWB holster after the leather on my hybrid started folding over and preventing good holstering. I’ve started using a pair of IWB kydex magazine holders for a spare magazine and my flashlight. When I can finally do some test firing, I’ll be switching out my sidearm to an M&P9 M&P2.0. The new one has an upgraded TLR-1 (all the lumenz!).
Going Out – The Bag
After much discussion with The Wife, I switched to carrying a 5.11 LV10 Sling Pack for carrying all the bits and bobs I normally carried in the pockets of my cargo jeans. Since I switched out to the bag, some of the items I normally carried were switched out for bigger items.
Electronics Support
In addition to the spare batteries for all my various items, I make sure I have the needed cords for all my devices. For charging, I use an Anker PowerCore I also keep a spare set of Apple Earpods in case my wireless earbuds aren’t working or out of power.
First Aid Stuff
-
The “Boo-Boo” First Aid Kit – Coleman Mini First Aid Kit– This handles handles minor emergencies, and I like the tin as a container. It generally has band-aids, disinfecting wipes, and small antibiotics.
-
The “Oh-Shit” First Aid Kit – ResQue 1st Trauma Kit – It’s a small kit that has QuikClot, gauze, tape, bits and bobs, and a spare tourniquet. I’ve supplemented with scissors and tweezers and additional bandages.
-
Tourniquet Right the Fuck Now – Phlster Flatpack with CAT Tourniquet – I picked the CAT because that’s what I was trained to use.
-
Spare Meds – I generally keep small bottles of ibuprofen and Pepcid AC. Because that’s generally what I need to deal with the aches and pains of going outside.
Tools
-
Bic disposal lighter – Must Have Fire
-
Gerber Dime – This is a good little multi-tool for quick jobs. And the purple one I have is just cute.
-
Leatherman Skeletool – This is not the one I carry around the house. This is another that I happened to have. It lives in my bag since this one came with all the little bits Leathermen made to fit into the modular screwdriver.
-
Mini Tape Measure – I think mine is actually from Tractor Supply, but running around with The Wife necessitates having a tape measure when she finds stuff for the house.
-
Reusable twist ties
-
Smith and Wesson M&P tactical pen – Because writing. And tactical. And there may be more than one.
-
Streamlight Polytac X Flashlight – Yes, I have another flashlight. Don’t judge. I like this one because it has a rechargeable battery, but will also run on a couple of CR123’s.
Odds and Ends
-
Amazon Microfiber Cloth – These are really handy for cleaning my eyeglasses and my electronics’ screens.
-
Handkerchief – General purpose cotton handkerchief. This may get switched out for a shema (I can never remember how to spell that).
-
Hand Sanitizer – I prefer the small little bottles from Bath and Bodyworks.
-
Post-It Notes – Because you never know when you’ll need to write something down or leave a note for someone. I like the vibrant colors in case I need my note to draw attention.
-
Travel Pack Tissues – Because allergies. And occasional cleaning.
-
More magazines – Since I had the space, I figured I could keep a couple more spare magazines in a Blackhawk Double Magazine Pouch. Yes, the likelihood I’ll need these is very low. It’s still comforting to have another thirty-four rounds available.
-
Emergency cash – No, I’m not going to say how much