post 1 of 2 today
***
I
always have fun doing mental exercising of “What If?”
Combine
that with everyone’s favorite subject, EDC, and you can have some
real discussions on what a person should be carrying. Of
course, the real answer is, “what works for you”.
I
have always preferred to split up my EDC into several categories. Cat
1 is the things in my pockets that allow me to get by if I get stuck
for a couple days and not able to get home. Since 99% of my time is
urban-ish, I am not worried about carrying tents or camp stoves or
axes or what not. If I am going to be in the woods or anticipate
having to travel a distance, I have a Get Home Bag for those
things. But what I carry should help me if I do not have
my bag with me. In the city you can always find a doorway, parking
garage or empty building to avoid the weather.
The
idea here is, “What if I get stuck for a day or two with just with
what is in my pockets?” When I travel for work, I am more likely to
get stuck in an airport than in the woods. So, what I carry must be
able to go thru TSA as well.
I
like to think I have thought this thru fairly carefully.
But of course I expect others to have different thoughts.
So:
Front
Left Pocket:
---A watertight tube with a key ring (with keys of course) - on the key ring is a small flashlight (Olight 3E EOS good for about 40 min of decent light) and nail clippers (always good for trimming strings too)
Inside the tube I carry 5 days of medications (diabetes, sadly) and some over the counter meds
*2 aspirin - pain relief and heart attacks. If you don't know about this, read up on it.
*3 Imodium - diarrhea is never fun
*2 Pepto Bismal tablets - actually helps fight food poisoning along with its other uses
*3 Benadryl - obvious allergic reaction use, light sleep aid
--- Lever Gear multi tool - no sharp edges, so TSA compliant (I travel for work sometimes) which is also a money clip
---Inexpensive Cree AA flashlight - (day to day use to save the Olight battery)
Rear Left Pocket:
--- Wallet (Pelican watertight just for some cards) and 20x20 bandanna - too many uses to list! water strainer, mask, towel, Furoshiki cloth, etc.
Rear Right Pocket:
--- Pocket knife (if I am flying, it goes in my checked bag)
--- Regular handkerchief (obvious uses)
Front Right Pocket:
--- Maxpedition MX3526KF-BRK zippered pouch. (This pouch setup lets me toss it into the tray when going thru TSA without having to pull it all out.)
Inside is:
*2 USB sticks (1 with bootable Linux & other with personal stuff)
*Lighter/ 1 Tinderquick in small Ziplock (quit smoking years ago, but still useful)
*Burt's Bee Chapstick (obvious use and with a piece of paper or cotton is also a good burning fire starter)
*2 Glucose tabs (in small Ziplock) (that diabetes thing again)
*p38 can opener (if you don't know what it is, you need to get out more)
*4 Aqua Tabs in sealed package (enough to clean 2 quarts of water - I can always find a container on the ground somewhere in the city)
*2 Homey compressed towels (in small Ziplock)(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075RPZCP1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
You really need to check these out... basically a wet wipe without the water until you add it. Only takes about a bottle cap of water
*5 feet of 550 paracord (again, too many uses to list) with split key ring on end (finger grip)
*1 oz silver bullion coin (good luck piece and possible trade/barter/bribe)
*Some cash
---A watertight tube with a key ring (with keys of course) - on the key ring is a small flashlight (Olight 3E EOS good for about 40 min of decent light) and nail clippers (always good for trimming strings too)
Inside the tube I carry 5 days of medications (diabetes, sadly) and some over the counter meds
*2 aspirin - pain relief and heart attacks. If you don't know about this, read up on it.
*3 Imodium - diarrhea is never fun
*2 Pepto Bismal tablets - actually helps fight food poisoning along with its other uses
*3 Benadryl - obvious allergic reaction use, light sleep aid
--- Lever Gear multi tool - no sharp edges, so TSA compliant (I travel for work sometimes) which is also a money clip
---Inexpensive Cree AA flashlight - (day to day use to save the Olight battery)
Rear Left Pocket:
--- Wallet (Pelican watertight just for some cards) and 20x20 bandanna - too many uses to list! water strainer, mask, towel, Furoshiki cloth, etc.
Rear Right Pocket:
--- Pocket knife (if I am flying, it goes in my checked bag)
--- Regular handkerchief (obvious uses)
Front Right Pocket:
--- Maxpedition MX3526KF-BRK zippered pouch. (This pouch setup lets me toss it into the tray when going thru TSA without having to pull it all out.)
Inside is:
*2 USB sticks (1 with bootable Linux & other with personal stuff)
*Lighter/ 1 Tinderquick in small Ziplock (quit smoking years ago, but still useful)
*Burt's Bee Chapstick (obvious use and with a piece of paper or cotton is also a good burning fire starter)
*2 Glucose tabs (in small Ziplock) (that diabetes thing again)
*p38 can opener (if you don't know what it is, you need to get out more)
*4 Aqua Tabs in sealed package (enough to clean 2 quarts of water - I can always find a container on the ground somewhere in the city)
*2 Homey compressed towels (in small Ziplock)(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075RPZCP1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
You really need to check these out... basically a wet wipe without the water until you add it. Only takes about a bottle cap of water
*5 feet of 550 paracord (again, too many uses to list) with split key ring on end (finger grip)
*1 oz silver bullion coin (good luck piece and possible trade/barter/bribe)
*Some cash
*2
flat tooth wipes (mini brushes that fit on your finger) and a little
floss.
*2
Band-Aids.
---Around my neck on chain.
*Allergy identification tag (in case I am unable to tell medical personnel myself)
*1/10 ounce gold Maple Leaf coin (I figure if I am stranded I can always pawn it for at least $100, maybe more)
*Another small flashlight (can never have too many - I think I might have a problem)
I know it sounds like a lot, but most of the small things fit into the pouch and none of it is really very large. Of course, I have not included my cell phone, and I can neither confirm nor deny the presence of any type of self-defense.
Let
the discussion begin.