Introduction to EDC Basics on a Budget

Everyday Carry...a topic of endless discussion. I am going to come right out and say it. Not every EDC setup will work for every situation. I will say it again, NOT EVERY EDC SETUP WILL WORK FOR EVERY SITUATION.

Ok, now that I got that out of my system, let's dive right into what I believe are the essentials for a basic EDC kit.

EDC Basic List:

• Wallet

• Writing Utensil

• Defensive Tool/s (worded like this on purpose)

• Quality Belt/Pouch/Holster

The Wallet

Now this one is kind of a given. You need some way to carry your money, cards, Identification, etc. There are more than enough options out there to choose from so I am not going to try to push one specific brand/wallet onto you. Instead, I am going to mention the points to consider when choosing one.

First you want to look at the overall size of your wallet of choice. Not every outfit will have space for a large wallet that can hold everything in your possession. So, you really need to consider the items you want to carry on you. You have your identification card/s (including CCL depending on your state of residence), at least one or two reliable credit/debit cards, and a little cash (in case you are stuck somewhere, and your cards aren't accepted). You really don't need any more than those three things. With that in mind you can go with a simple leather bi-fold or a money clip. Either way, the wallet shouldn't take up much room in your EDC kit with only those three items (4ish cards and a couple bills). This then means that the wallet doesn't have to be crazy expensive as long as it does what you need it to (just be mindful of the quality to determine how long it will last).

The Writing Utensil

This one is kind of a forgotten item in most EDC kits. With today's technology it is easy to think you won't need either a pen or pencil with you. I firmly believe that everyone should have at least a pen on their person in the event that their smart device dies/fails. Nothing will test you more than trying to remember details of something that you can't write down. In my personal experience I find that remembering details is actually easier if I write them down first (whether I look at my notes or not). Think back to your school days. Did you perform better on a test/quiz if you took notes in class or on what you were reading at home? It was easier to remember things later on that you had written down in your notebook (yeah, yeah, showing my age) versus trying to just remember the things you read/saw/heard in class.

So, in short, carry at least a pen on your person, because you never know if your technology will stay functioning at all times. It can be a simple disposable pen you get in bulk at Office Depot. You can even group your writing utensil into the defensive tool category if you get yourself an EDC pen like the one pictured below (yes this can be a budget friendly option since there are simple EDC pens out there that are sub $50 but will endure a good amount of abuse).

Skallywag Tactical EDC Pen

Defensive Tool/s

Now this one is the hottest topic of debate among EDC "professionals" (I know I know, I am essentially claiming to be one with this blog article). So, let's get started on this.

I am going to ruffle some feathers with this next sentence. YOU DON'T NEED TO CARRY A FIREARM WITH YOU EVERYWHERE YOU GO. Ok, let's break down why I said that. Not everyone is comfortable with firearms, so we don't have to keep telling people they HAVE to own a gun and carry it around with them (unless they desire to overcome that lack of comfort). In the case that you are not comfortable with owning and operating a firearm, there are more than enough options out there to choose from. They can be a blade/pocketknife, pepper spray, or even a small taser.

Let's talk about blades/pocketknives. There is no shortage of products out there to choose from. The key factors you want to consider when choosing a blade to carry as your defensive tool are the following. Your choice in attire is the biggest one and the second is the environment you will be in. If you are planning on heading out in gym shorts and a t-shirt, then you probably won't want to carry a knife that will weigh your clothes down. You will probably want to look at something lightweight like a small folding pocketknife. Another one you could look at is a small punch dagger that you can attach to your keyring. If you are going to be "dressed up" in a pant/jean with a belt, then you have more options to carry larger/heavier blades.

The versatility of a blade as a defensive tool will also come in handy in the event you need to cut something (bindings, clothing to use as a first aid item, etc.). This is why I call it a tool and not a weapon. Most of the time you will not find a need to defend yourself (it can still happen at any given moment), instead you will find yourself in need of a tool to help you get through your day.

In short you don't need to go out and get yourself a $200+ crazy high-quality blade. A simple $25-$60 pocketknife will absolutely suffice in almost any scenario. Just make sure that you take care of it and not abuse it (use it for something outside it's intended design) because those cheaper blades won't last as long if you treat them like garbage.

Moving on, there's not much to say about pepper spray or tasers so I will keep it simple. If you choose to carry a pepper spray device or taser you will want to do plenty of research on the various options. Not all tasers will incapacitate and not all pepper sprays are effective (some drugs can effectively numb a person's nerves causing them to not feel these devices). So, I would heavily recommend that you carry a blade/tool at the ready to deploy in the event your pepper spray/taser fails.

And now to mention firearms. There are just as many options of firearms as there are blades. The above-mentioned factors regarding blades will also apply to firearms. You aren't going to carry around a full-size race gun with optics and 20+ round magazine capacities while wearing shorts and a t-shirt (unless you are wearing some kind of pack/bag which we will get into next).

Ultimately you want to look at what you are wearing and how you are planning on carrying your EDC kit. That way you can determine what type of firearm will work for you. Above all else, you NEED to train with your firearm of choice along with your method of carrying. If you don't, then you will trip up and make mistakes when it counts. Do as much live fire training as your finances and time will allow, so you know how your firearm operates (tease out any and all ways that your firearm can malfunction). Also, do as much dry fire training as well to make sure you are comfortable with retrieving your firearm from your selected carry method (holster, bag, etc.).

Regarding your options and pricing. There are plenty of firearms that are sub $400 that will function just as well as the expensive ones (NO that doesn't mean you go out and get a HI-Point...I will never recommend that one to anyone in any scenario. That one is more reliable as a blunt object than a firearm.). The key factor is how much you train with your firearm. The person who trains properly with their $300 gun will always shoot better than the person who spends $1k+ and never touches it (I will fight anyone on that).

Top to Bottom: IWI Masada - Sub $500 MSRP without optic, Skallywag Tactical Aluminum Dagger - $60, Taurus PT111 G2C - Sub $300 MSRP, Skallywag Tactical Aluminum Dagger - $60

Quality Belt/Pouch/Holster

Now this topic here is one that I will lean more outside the budget friendly bubble and here's why. Your belt/pouch is going to be the cornerstone of your EDC kit. These ones are 100% essential to the success of your overall kit. You want to make sure that while you are out and about, your belt/pouch will not collapse/fall apart on you when you need it most.

I personally have had a belt fail on me while I was carrying a holstered firearm (thankfully I was at home) and it made me panic a bit because I had to use one of my hands to hold up my pants rendering it useless until I could swap out my belt. The same goes for your pack/bag. You don't want to be walking around and then have your strap break, or a zipper fail while trying to open it. This is why I will say that you need to make sure that you spend just a little bit extra on a belt/bag that won't fail you.

Now when you are looking at holsters for your firearm, you also need to make sure you consider spending that little bit extra on a holster that will be strong enough/designed properly to not only retain your firearm properly (safely), but also allow for quick access to your firearm. You also need to take into consideration how you will be carrying it. Will you be in jeans and able to carry on your waist? Will you be in shorts/sweatpants and need to wear a bag/pack? There are plenty of options out there for holsters for every scenario. Inside the Waistband (IWB), Outside the Waistband (OWB), Appendix Inside the Waistband (AIWB), and holsters meant for bags. (You can see a couple holster options pictured below)

Top Left: AIWB style (appendix carry), Top Right: Minimalist Style IWB (Inside the Waistband)

Center Bottom: Hook Backed (Velcro) Holster for inside a bag/pack.

Holster maker: Greyman Solutions

Summary

The sky's the limit when it comes to various configurations of a proper EDC kit. You just need to remember that your outfit and your intended location/environment will determine how you build it. Also, remember that when it comes to cost, you don't need to spend an arm and a leg on the best of the best. Your true value comes with extensive training and planning on the various scenarios you can encounter in the world.

The other thing to mention is that I did not go into the addition of medical supplies. The reason behind this is because just about anything around you can be used as a temporary medical tool. You can use your belt, bag straps, or even a torn piece of clothing as a mock tourniquet. You can even use the fabric from clothing or nearby furniture as a makeshift bandage/patch until proper medical devices/tools can be acquired.

I do hope that this article helps you out in your EDC decision making! Follow me for more budget friendly topics in the future.

Note: Images courtesy of Rex's Insights