For a while now I only take my phone and sometimes wallet while out and about on a daily basis. I’d like to be more prepared for things so I’ve picked up some kit, some of which I already had:
- A UK legal knife
- A multitool (screwdriver bits, bottle opener, pliers, etc)
- Emergency foil blanket
- Tinder starter/whistle
- Two gas lighters
- Keychain flashlight with integrated USB A port
- Field notebooks and fountain pen
- Lockpicking set with a pouch and a concealed credit card set
- Slimline 65W 20000mAh USB A+C battery bank
I’ve got a messenger bag I can fit this stuff in, which will also fit my laptop so I can carry that around more often too when that would be useful. Obviously some things like the foil blanket and tinder starter probably aren’t valuable in an urban area but they are so small and light I may as well include them. I plan to hang the messenger bag on the back of the front door with all this kit in so I always pick it up whenever I go out.
I wear different trousers every day and I’m useless for remembering to put stuff in my pockets so in terms of the pocket stuff it’ll just be phone, keys (with shopping trolley key, bottle opener, USB A+C drive, Yubikey), and a metal wallet with some cards, the card lockpicks, and some cash.
Does this make sense? Is there anything I’ve missed?
Bags get searched or checked in some venues. Otherwise, they’re bulky and twist your spine up over time.
You’ll find the knife more generally useful for its weight than a multi tool. I never reached for the multi tool first in the several years I carried one. I did, however, catch it on an hilariously large count of seatbelts and door knobs.
Aside from the notebook & pen, also the charger, I don’t think most of the rest would be useful on the daily. Especially in the metro area.
As for changing trousers: use a valet tray of some kind for your EDC items. Make it your routine each evening to empty your pockets onto the tray, and to load your pockets from the tray each morning. This worked for me for years, before kids. Now I can’t leave anything out.
Anyway, I’d pare list that back a lot. There are many ways to make fire. Maybe also as many to alert to one.