What Is Your Personal Every Day Carry

I guess this depends on what you consider "every day carry" and how you carry it.

I define it as what I carry on my person (not requiring a backpack or similar accessory) whenever I leave the house even if just for a short errand. This does not include specialty items that I may want for a specific purpose or activity, or for my job.

My nugget of wisdom is: The more tactical gadgets and/or dozens of extra rounds of ammo one lugs around for nebulous "in case SHTF" purposes, the more likely it is they have crossed from prepared to paranoid. Their over the top choices are frequently rationalized with a variation of the tiresome "Better to have it and not need it..." cliche. What else could explain the thought process of a person who wears a paracord bracelet to run out to Walgreens? Yes I'm being a smartass, but seriously, I personally know a few folks who won't go to the mailbox without bringing enough gear for a full season of Survivor.

As for me, my EDC is a Leatherman, a flashlight, a S&W 9mm compact with one 12-round mag installed, and the usual wallet, keys, phone, etc. That's it. And much of the time I blow off carrying the gun.

When the need warrants it, I have a backpack that can be set up in numerous configurations. I don't consider it "every day carry" but more like "sometimes carry". Options include a 2-meter ham radio, a police scanner, bottled water, first aid kit, snack foods, change of clothes.

I like to travel light and take only what I realistically think I might need to bail me out of a problem. The backpack is used only when I'm going to be more than a short distance from home.

 

smith and wesson M&P VTAC 9mm
esee IZULA
Leatherman MUT

 

I've heard so many different stories about Mace and pepper spray that I don't know what to believe. Some people say that the "civilian" versions are useless, others that it's better to use Bear Spray, some that only a Taser is effective.

Have you ever used the type you have? Was it effective?

William Warren

 

You can't get a carry-permit for a handgun here because of regulations.
Yeah, my daughter loves making bracelets and stuff and she keeps making stuff for me to wear although IMHO paracord is highly overrated.

 

Here is a few items anyone can carry no matter where you work.

Cell Phone - extremely useful

Bandana - Can be use for many different things.

Pen - Can be used as a self defense weapon as an improvised Kubotan if of course you are trained.

Key Ring - You need to be creative here to think of items you could attach to your key ring. This would be a great place to carry your Whistle or your key chain flashlight.

Wallet - You should have a prepaid calling card, phone number list, spare keys, emergency cash.

 

Ok I'll play:


Clockwise from top;
Colt1991 rebuilt by someone unknown who replace all the internals, Dead nuts accurate and has not malfed in the time I've had it. My favorite pistol. Carried condition one in a Tucker coverup +IWB. 8+1, Hornandy Critical defense loads.
Buck 110 folder
NAA .22Magnum, I added the boot grip for better control. The pistol and holster fits right into a shirt pocket and with the flap buttoned, you'd never know it's there. (I don't wear dress shirts)
Wallet; Id & FRN's
Sabre OC/CS stream
Spare mag with 8 rounds as above.
I-phone usually in airplane mode unless I am making a call
(Left in secure location when not at work)
Analog writing device.

 

Ruger SR1911.

If dressed lightly, Ruger LC9.

 

Being in a high profile job... but still exposed to a lot of people when no one elses is around... I feel the need to be armed... (everyone should be!) IF I am out at night or going to be in a bad area... I cary my 40 or 45, most of the time I at least have one of them in my auto... but always if I am dressed... I have my little North American 5 shot 22LR revolver in my right front pocket...

Its un detectable! Its in the same area I cary my waist pouch and keys
waist pouch carries (Letherman super tool, mini Mag flash light, electrical scisors, bick lighter, 20 ft para cord, 3 ft tape mesure, and permant marker, in a small zip lock in the pouch $200 in small bills, and a thumb drive with copies of all my licances, deeds, account numbers, files collections, small dowl with 50 ft fishing line,in a second small ziplock, hooks, splitshot, suture kit, h20 tretment tablets.

keys have small flashlight, mini Letherman, keys

wallet contains normal stuff, another stashed hundred in small bills ( I find I hardly ever use cash... use my debet card) an old gas card wrapped with 20 ft duct tape, 10 extra rounds for my 22.

Folks may look down on my lil 22 revolver but, it has given me good service for 25 plus years of everyday cary! 5 22 snapper HP at close range would discorage anyone! Killed a big GS dog trying to bite me, and a 700 lb bull (one shot behind its ear) my budy was about to process. At close range its effective and a gun I can have on me no matter what the occation or place

One time I forgot about it on a comersial flight pre 9-11. When the mettle detector went off in Denver lay over palmed it under my hands on top of my head, while the wond discovered the metal in my legs from a fall, while telling about the fall and mettle in my legs I stuck my hands back in my pockets and droped my pistol back in my pocket... no one knew the Diff... In an emergency the best in in the world is the one you have with you!

 

My every day is a toy water gun, a lighter and a ink pin.( I am yet to see a man pull a gun on me, and me pull mine, and have him shoot me before I light his @$$ in fire! And I assur you once he is on fire he cares little about robbing or shooting anything!!

I feel people over expect and prep for things, when common knowlege and balls of steel is all that's needed.

 

I'm disappointed to note that hardly anyone has any form of first aid on them.

My EDC is krazy glue.

I cut my thumb off once (well, the bone was still there), through the nail and everything. $2.99 medical expense with krazy glue:

 

MikeH- you might want
To rethink the .22, I know everyone handles the idea of using a firearm differently and it leads some to believe a caliber is acceptable, I assume both animals were head shot and if you ever have to use your sidearm on a 2 leg you can get a good round off.
I was shot 3# times at 6 feet one evening as I stood in check out at a gas station, wrong place, wrong time, after the initial burn and impacts I turned disarmed and fed him his gun.
I was with my team, between deployments and we all had sidearms. After the perp was neutralized I waited for the ambulance and talked with the law At 6' and his arm out( 3-4' off the gu
his sub compact .22 did not penetrate a shoulder blade, this is not to say a hyper velocity would act the same.
Yes I was lucky, but if your life depended on it, would you want him to be lucky?? I wouldn't !

 

I generally carry a large folder and a multitool of some flavor. I also carry a small flashlight, my wallet, a pen and a hanky. I always wear a watch. Then I add my iPhone. In my bag is my laptop, iPad, pads of paper, more pens and pencils, another flashlight, a small PSK and FAK and another multitool. Wow, I carry too much stuff...