For some, the concept of everyday carry (EDC) is akin to a sacred ritual, an important part of their lifestyle that they wouldn't feel the same without. Others may not even be sure what the term every day carry even means.

This is a guide for people on both ends of this spectrum and at every point between. In it, we'll define EDC and its importance, discuss the advantages of making the concept of EDC a part of your life, and cover the items you may wish to include as part of your EDC kit.

What Is Everyday Carry?

Everyday Carry, or EDC, refers to a list of items that a person carries with them every time they leave the house. These are the items that you double check your pockets for before you walk out the door, items that make you feel almost anxious if you don't have them on you, and items that are always at your disposal should you need them.

The concept of EDC is rooted in one part preparedness and one part tradition. It's both a method of keeping the things you may need handy as well as a sort of ritual that defines a small part of your personality.

Ideally, the items that make up your EDC kit will be items that serve a functional purpose. They may be items that you use on a daily basis such as your phone or keychain or they may be items that you hope you never have to use such as a handgun. As a whole, though, your EDC items help prepare you for the worst situations while at the same time helping you be your best in everyday situations.

How Everyday Carry & Concealed Carry Go Hand-In-Hand

Everyday carry and concealed carry are different but they share a great deal of similarities. Your handgun, holster, and concealed carry permit are essentially just a part of your everyday carry kit - a highly important part if you value the ability to defend yourself, but a cog in the wheel just the same.

Incorporating other items into your everyday carry kit to go along with your handgun and holster can leave you even better prepared for emergency scenarios as well as better prepared for ordinary, everyday scenarios such as using a pocket knife to open a package. In summary, incorporating the concept of everyday carry to go along with concealed carry makes you even more well-rounded and better prepared every time you leave the house.

The Benefits of Everyday Carry

Having a comprehensive kit of everyday carry items that you never leave the house without offers a number of benefits. These benefits include:

Convenience: When you carry with you all the items you are likely to need, you don't have to scramble at the last minute asking to borrow a pen or run to the store to buy a flashlight when you need one. Having an EDC kit that you take with you everywhere you go offers a lot of convenience and ensures that whatever tool you are likely to need is always within arms reach.
Preparedness: There's something to be said about having the tools necessary to be prepared for a wide range of unexpected situations with you at all times. For example, if your car breaks down in the middle of the night and you have to walk to the nearest gas station, you're likely to be very thankful that you have a flashlight with you. Or if you need to make a quick DIY repair, the multitool in your pocket could come in very handy. In short, having a comprehensive EDC kit leaves you better prepared and more self-reliant, which is a big benefit.
An Expression of Your Personality: In many ways, the items that you choose to include in your EDC kit are an extension of your personality. After carrying them for years, you'll grow attached to each one of them, and people may even come to know you at least in part by the items that you always have with you. Like a car or the clothing that you wear, your EDC kit provides another opportunity for you to express yourself through the items that you own.
Saving Money: Many times, buying a high-quality item that will last for years saves you more money in the long run than continuously buying cheap items that have to be replaced ever so often. For example, if you buy a high-quality pen and carry it with everywhere you go, you won't be frequently spending money on cheap packages of pens that wear out after the first few uses. While EDC kits can indeed get expensive really quickly, you can actually save money if you go for quality with the intention of your items lasting a lifetime.

Items to Consider Including in Your EDC Kit

There's a wide range of items that have a place in an EDC kit, and no two EDC kits are the same. With that said, here are some of the items you may want to consider including as part of yours.

Wallet or Purse: A wallet or purse is something that is most often a part of everyone's EDC even if that's the only thing that they carry. Nevertheless, having a place to store your cash, ID, credit cards, and other essentials is still an important part of an EDC kit.
Pocketknife: Pocketknives have a wide range of uses that vary even more widely depending on the type of knife that you choose to carry. Pocketknives may be used for day-to-day tasks such as opening packages, and larger, more combat-oriented knives may be used as a backup to your handgun in self-defense scenarios.
Cell Phone: Another item that people almost always carry, a cell phone is an essential part of an EDC kit. If you have a smartphone, you're essentially carrying a miniature computer in your pocket that gives you access to an almost limitless number of apps and tools. And, in an emergency situation, a cell phone is certainly something that you want to have available.
Pen: We may live in a digital world, but there are still plenty of times where you have to put ink to paper. A high-quality pen that you carry with you is not only a functional tool but also a work of craftsmanship that you can be proud to own.
Flashlight: You never know when you might need a good flashlight. From power outages to walks outside at night to working underneath something that blocks the light such as beneath your car or under your desk, there are plenty of scenarios where having a quality flashlight as part of your EDC kit could come in handy.
Watch: Sure, you can tell the time using your smartphone, but there's something classic about having a quality wristwatch. Not only will you not have to dig in your pocket for your phone every time you want to know what time it is, you'll also have an interesting fashion statement and conversation piece that will become an essential part of your attire.
Keychain: Of course, you'll want to take your keys with you everywhere you go, and having a quality keychain is a great way to keep track of them. Given the limitless number of keychains available - all in a wide range of sizes and styles - your keychain can also be an expression of your own interests and style. Lastly, there are plenty of other tools that you can fit on your keychain including flashlights, folding knives, and more.
Multi-Tool: Carrying a multitool is like having access to a miniature toolbox at all times. You never know when you might need a screwdriver, or a pair of pliers, or a bottle opener, or any of the other many tools that a multitool provides. If your multitool comes with a knife (as most multitools do) you may wish to use it to replace your pocketknife in your EDC kit in order to save space.
Handgun & Holster: At Urban Carry Holsters, we're a big believer in the security that having a handgun and holster as part of your EDC kit provides. Carrying a concealed firearm gives you the peace of mind that you will be able to defend yourself and others if the worst possible situations come to life. When you pair a handgun that you are familiar and accurate with along with a quality holster that allows you to conceal your firearm in a way that is comfortable and easily accessible then carry this combination with you everywhere you go, you'll be able to take the defense of your life and the lives of those you care about into your own hands. Few EDC items offer more preparedness and security than that.
Pepper Spray: Not every self-defense scenario calls for the use of lethal force. For the same reason that police officers often carry either pepper spray or a taser along with their sidearm, you may wish to carry pepper spray as part of your EDC kit as well in order to have the ability to neutralize threats in a non-lethal manner. Of course, deciding whether or not a threat calls for the use of lethal or non-lethal force in the few seconds that you have available is often a challenge, but at least if you have pepper spray on you you'll have the option of non-lethal force should you decide to use it.

Do I Have to Carry All of These Items?

Just the list of items above may be more than you're able to carry at one time, and that's not even counting the whole range of other EDC items you may consider carrying. However, no two EDC kits are exactly alike, and an item that one person may never leave home without may be an item that you don't wish to carry at all. Decide for yourself your own priorities and needs, and customize your EDC kit to fit them. There's certainly no requirement as to what has to be in an EDC kit and what doesn't belong. In the end, it's up to you.

How to Make EDC a Part of Your Lifestyle

Once you've chosen which items you want in your EDC kit, make an effort to never leave home without them. Check your pockets or purse for each item before you walk out the door until doing so becomes a habit. It won't take long before carrying the items in your EDC kit with you everywhere you go becomes second nature and a part of who you are.

Conclusion

There are a lot of benefits to having an EDC kit, and putting one together is something that everyone should consider. An EDC kit may or may not be a part of your life right now, but once it is, you'll likely wonder how you ever got by without it.

Do you have a preferred EDC set up? Share it with in the comments!

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