This is Part 4 of my self-reliance series.  I hope that you’ve enjoyed the first 3 parts.  If you haven’t read them, you can do so by clicking on the following links:

Self-Reliance Series #1: A Personal Survival Kit (PSK)

Self-Reliance Series #2: An Office Survival Kit

Self-Reliance Series #3: An Automobile Survival Kit

I like being prepared in general, so carrying around some extra stuff is no big deal.  Think of it as disaster insurance.  This brings us to today’s topic: My Every Day Carry, or EDC.  My EDC is comprised of the stuff that I have in my pockets whenever I leave the house.  Some of the items might be familiar to you; others may leave you scratching your head.  I’ll provide an explanation for them all.  Without further ado, here’s my EDC:

Flashlight - I carry a Peak Matterhorn LED flashlight at all times.  Not that I’m afraid of the dark, but working in a building with no windows to offer even a sliver of natural light has led me to take precautions.  The power has gone off several times since I’ve been here, causing many of my coworkers to freeze in place, lest they trip over each other.  Emergency lighting does provide a tiny amount of light, but I think it’s only good until the batteries discharge.  The Matterhorn provides plenty of light in a small package that’s less than 3.5 inches long and about a half inch wide.  This isn’t some cheesy Maglite that will be scratched up in a month; the Matterhorn’s paint is hard anodized.  But don’t take my word for it, read an expert’s review: Peak LED Solutions “Matterhorn”

Leatherman P4 Squirt - I’ve mentioned this multitool in Part 1 of this series. It’s replaced the small Swiss Army Knife that I used to carry because it has pliers.  It also sports a knife, wood and metal files, wire cutters, 2 slotted screwdrivers and 1 flat Phillips screwdriver, an awl, and a bottle opener for those times a car door or the edge of a table aren’t available.  It’s only 2.25 inches long, so it fits easily in my pocket.

Whistle - this is attached to my keychain, and it’s very loud.  I cover my ears when I blow into it.  It’s a signaling device,and I’ve used it many times to summon my kids at the park.  They know it’s dad when they hear the whistle.  I mean, what other idiot blows a whistle? ;-)  You can get a similar one here.  There are many styles on that website; I chose this one because of its small size.

Small Metal Capsule -I suffer from migraines, and therefor I carry Advil around (actually, it’s store-brand ibuprofen, because I’m frugal).  I can stash 4 round pills in one of these capsules made by Bison Designs.  There are different sizes available, and you can use them to store a rolled up $20 bill if you like.  This is also attached to my keychain.

Tweezers - I have kids, and kids get splinters.  Lots of splinters.  So I carry a set of Uncle Bill’s Sliver Grippers.  These also attach to my keychain, and are less than 2.5 inches long, including the attachment for the keychain.  They also let me take care of any rogue hairs between my eyes, lest I sport a unibrow.

Wallet - this is my second wallet.  My big bi-fold wallet contains my PSK.  This wallet holds my driver’s license, debit and credit cards, medical insurance cards, and a few other things.  It’s called the L. A. Wallet, and you can get one here.  It’s very low-profile, and I keep it in my front pocket.  Be warned: this is no George Costanza wallet.  The L. A. Wallet forces you to embrace minimalism.  There’s limited room, but enough for the essentials.

P.S. Shopping at Countycomm can be very addictive to gearheads!

Titanium Credit Card Knife - I bought this because of the coolness factor.  It’s a backup to the Leatherman.  Made by Nemesis Knives, it’s the size of a credit card, and fits neatly into the outside slot in my L. A. Wallet.  It even has a bottle opener!

Watch - I got this Citizen Eco-Drive watch for Father’s Day a couple of years ago, and I couldn’t be happier.  I think my favorite feature is the alarm.  It looks good, too.

Throw in a comb, handkerchief, and a cellphone, and there you have it - my EDC.

What do you carry around every day?  Let’s here it in the comments!

Check out Part 5A: Prepping Your House for an Emergency

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