PDF Viewer

A man’s every day carry is a dynamic situation for the most part. Sure, some aspects of EDC are static, but to tie yourself to a set of items to carry every single day for the remainder of your life is not a workable scenario. Naturally your first thought is “that defeats the concept of every day carry”. You are correct. You are also taking the term EDC far too literally, as I did for almost two decades. Recently I have come to realize that dynamic nature of EDC. 

Having spent 30 years working in kitchens I was accustomed to a very specific EDC. It is far easier to carry heavier items for more rugged use when you work in a kitchen than it is to carry the same items in my current office job (especially considering I work in one of the least preparedness friendly cities in the United States). In fact, when working in kitchens I often found that co-workers and even owners relied on the gear I had stored in my bag and the trunk of my car. Now, on the 25th floor of a major office building in Philadelphia that acceptance is no longer the case.

So, gone from my work EDC are:

- My get home bag. It remains in the trunk of my car at home with a modified, smaller

version under my desk. This obviously reduces the amount of medical and navigation

supplies that I carry on a daily basis

- Spare bottles of water

- Rice and hard tack 

- Tool box

- Small hatchet

- 18” machete

I have carried a Leatherman of some kind since 2000. At times the Surge (there is a long story about what happened to my original Surge), the Original Wave (which was simply called the Wave when I purchased it), the Sidekick, the Wingman, the Super Tool 300, or the Skeletool. I recently have added to my collection the “Leatherman killer” clones of the Surge, the Bibury 21 In 1, and the Signal clone, the Mossy Oak 19 In 1. The Bibury sits on my hip most work days. I have on occasion carried the Super Tool 300, most notably in the last year as my job was moving to a different floor, and the Bond. As I write this, it is the Bibury. I intend to do a full review of the Bibury once trout season begins and I launch the new Galt & Grey channel on Rumble.

As for a pocket knife, not much changes for me. I still carry a Buck 845 Vantage Select flipper in Black Oxide. I have a long history with the Vantage. This current edition is the second that I have owned. The first…well that is part of the story of losing my Surge. As a huge believe in “two is one, one is none” I also supplement both the multi tool and Vantage with a Victorinox Huntsman.

Flashlight? You bet. Strangely enough, I carry a Defiant 500 lumen in a belt holster. For $20 at Home Depot, you cannot beat the value for an EDC.

Pens are a huge part of my EDC. Currently I carry a Bic three color plus pencil, a multi pen with a level, a small ruler, and a small screwdriver which, as a person who wears glasses, is used far more often than one would think. I also typically have a Zebra F 701. Full stainless steel body makes it a great emergency tactical pen. 

Lined note cards carried in an Oxford brand 3x5 card holder. This is a habit I have held onto since 1996. 

Combustion.  I typically have a standard Bic lighter and a Tesla coil lighter on me at all times. 

Always, always have two-way radio on you.  Always. These days I have a Baofeng 888 in my work bag and the standard Baofeng UV 5R at home and on the road.

The most important EDC item I have had to adapt since moving to an office job in the city is this: situational awareness. Yes, in the kitchen you have about a 1000 ways to get injured, maimed, or even die but in the city you add another element. The human element. I spend time on the streets of this city and have realized that I need to know every block, every section, and the direction I am traveling at all times. Situational awareness is important in any setting, but spending 8-10 hours a day on the borderline between gentrified and chaos causes one to hyper-focus on his surroundings.

By: Terry L. Wilkerson

The Terrant took  a trip to historic Valley Forge PA to visit the Headquarters of George Washington.  Click to view the photos of the trip.