EDC KIT – Top 10 Best Everyday Carry Tools

Last Updated: September 11, 2022
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A good EDC kit will contain must-have survival items and items that you actually use on a regular basis.

A major disaster strikes while you are coming home from the store.

You can’t go home, the world is in turmoil, and you have to survive with just what you happen to have on you…

These “what if” urban survival exercises are fun – like when you figure out that the lint building up in your pockets would make a good firestarter or you could make rope from plants.

If you want these “what if” games to have any merit, you’ve got to use them to better plan your EDC survival gear.

Related post: Top 50 Bug Out Bag List Essentials

Most people aren’t going to carry around a bunch of EDC tools on the off-chance that a nuclear bomb might drop that day.

Instead, it is better to keep a complete Bug Out Bag in your car and at work (or wherever you spend a lot of time).

So, that means…

Since everyone has different survival needs, I decided not to give an EDC Kit checklist​.

But first you might be wondering…

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EDC KIT

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  • BLADE MADE FROM AUS 8 STAINLESS STEEL

  • BLACK TEFLON COATING ON EACH BLADE

  • SCALED G-10 HANDLE

  • MADE OF SOLID ALLOY CONSTRUCTION

  • WELL DESIGNED GRIP

  • DISCRETE

  • MADE OF 600D POLYESTER

  • HEAVY DUTY ZIPPER AND CLIPS

  • PADDED SHOULDER STRAPS

What Is An EDC Kit

EDC KIT

EDC Everyday carry or every-day carry are useful items that are consistently carried on person every day

. The main reasons for having EDC are utility and preparedness; to help individuals overcome simple everyday problems, and to prepare someone for unexpected and possibly dangerous situations.

Ok. fine but…

Why Do We Need EDC Kits For Survival

So, what should be in your EDC kit?

Well, it can be pretty much anything you can imagine.

Some people just stick to the basics and others carry purpose made gear to solve specific problems they expect to face.

No matter what you currently carry these 5 EDC Tips will help you make an objective assessment of your needs and improve your kit to best meet your specific challenges:

EDC KIT Tip #1

What Are The Types Of Threats You Are Likely Going To Face

Just because every kit you see online seems to have a notepad or particular gadget doesn’t mean yours needs to have this as well.

Tailor your ideal kit to YOUR specific needs.  This is done by looking at the threats that are present in your local environment (earthquake, terrorism, mugging, etc) as well as problems you are likely to face frequently (walking in a dark parking lot, needing to open packages/boxes at work).

Make a realistic assessment of both the probability of these challenges occurring and the potential impact they will have on you.

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EDC KIT Tip #2

Begin With What You Already Carry

Everyone already has some items that they carry with them that are essential to their day-to-day.

This may be the basics of wallet, keys, and phone that I mentioned above or a full blown get home bag, depending on how much thought you have put into it at this point.

Take a good look at what you are already carrying with you and think of what you can remove or upgrade to better address the challenges you identified above.

EDC KIT Tip #3

What Can You Add To Your EDC Kit

When people start seriously thinking about what to add to their EDC kit the most common items that they add are:

  • A quality, reliable knife
  • A bright, compact flashlight with good battery life
  • A tactical pen

The reason why these are popular is that they are all compact, light weight, and can be used across a HUGE variety of situations.

When you are thinking about what to add to your EDC kit look back to your initial assessment above to see what you need to address those challenges.

Some other items that are commonly added to EDC kits are:

  • First Aid Kit
  • Camera
  • Rain Gear
  • Water Bottle
  • Fire starting kit
  • Survival Whistle
  • Compass
  • Notepad
  • Paracord

EDC KIT Tip #4

How to Carry Your EDC Kit

So, you have removed things you don’t need from your EDC kit and added some useful tools as well.

If you have done this based on the threats and challenges you identified above you should have a lean kit that is optimized to meet your individual needs.  ​

Now consider how you are going to carry it.  Remember, this is an EVERY DAY Carry Kit.  So you will have it with you whenever you step out your front door.

If your kit is awkward to carry around you will want to leave it behind and it will then be USELESS when you need it!

  • A small kit it should be able to fit in your pockets or purse
  • A medium sized kit can be carried and organized in a shoulder bag or pouch
  • Many people carry larger kits in small backpacks

If you do decide to carry your kit in an EDC bag make sure you choose one that allows you to organize your gear in a way that makes it easy to find.

EDC KIT Tip #5

Review Your EDC Kit Regularly

Once you have chosen your EDC kit and are carrying it around for a while it is wise to review it periodically.

You will want to review what you are carrying and make sure every item is still relevant to your needs.  In the modern day world threats change rapidly:

  • If you are facing a new challenge you may want to add gear to help overcome it
  • If a threat has changed you may want to remove gear to lighten up your kit

This is a long term tip but if you want to set it into action RIGHT NOW you can set a recurring reminder on your phone or calendar to remind yourself to review your EDC Kit in a couple months.

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Now that you know why an EDC kit is important for your survival, here’s…

What Should You Carry In Your EDC Kit

TOP Ten EDC Kits

EDC TOOL #1 – Cold Steel Recon 1 Knife
EDC Kit
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The Cold Steel Recon 1 is one beefy EDC knife. It’s blade is made from AUS 8 stainless steel that has been vacuum heat treated and then cooled in sub-zero temperatures for unmatched strength.

Additional features include a black teflon coating on each blade that resists rust and glare while providing a consistent lubrication during cutting tasks, a scaled G-10 handle, and Cold Steel’s Tri Ad locking system.

EDC TOOL #2 – Tactical StrikePen
EDC Kit

Everyone want’s to know which is best. Once someone decides carrying a self defense pen makes sense, they want the best.

The key features to look for in the best tactical pen are:

  • Made Of Solid Alloy Construction
  • Well Designed Grip
  • The Pen Functions As A Pen
  • Discrete

If the tactical pens feature has each of these qualities then it’s one of the best. You want it made from solid alloy to ensure it won’t break even under intense pressures.

The grip must be designed to prevent the pen from slipping in your hands when using it for self-defense.

The pen needs to be discrete and be an actual functioning pen. You also want the pen to have replaceable ink cartridges for long-term usage.

It’s also a nice bonus feature if it includes a carbide tip glass breaker.

After these hurdles have been met, the best self defense pen is one that is affordable and one you will carry every day.

That’s why I recommend the Tactical StrikePen.

EDC TOOL #3 – Evatac CombatBag
EDC Kit

The EVATAC™ Combat Bag is a badass bug out bag and an ideal pack for anyone serious about putting together a legit tactical backpack.

It’s constructed of 600D Polyester which makes it tough as nails.

The Combat Bag’s zipper and clips are heavy duty and long lasting.

The padded shoulder straps make carrying this bug out bag very comfortable and there is a chest strap that can sinch this bag down tight to keep it in place if/when you need to run.

There are a total of 10 compartments that can help keep you and your survival gear organized. By the way, these compartments are waterproofed to keep your gear dry.

There’s even a padded compartment that can fit a laptop or other sensitive gear.

The best news is that, at the time of writing, this tactical backpack sells for a fraction of the price of similar bags.

Want to know how to build the perfect EDC Kit for you? Then have a look at our EDC Kit Report below.

EDC TOOL #4 – Dango Tactical Wallet
EDC Kit
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This highly functional wallet features all of the things we prefer in a quality wallet — a 6061 aerospace grade aluminum construction wrapped in genuine leather, RFID-blocking capabilities, and enough room for 12 cards and some cash — along with a removable carbon stainless steel multi-tool with over 14 different functions.

EDC TOOL #5 – Gerber Ghostrike Fixed Blade Knife
EDC Kit
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Gerber’s Ghostrike Fixed Blade Knife features a 3.3-inch fine edge drop point blade knife made from ceramic-coated, corrosion resistant 420HC steel, a rubberized over-mold handle with a diamond texture grip, and is easily concealable via the included sheath.

EDC TOOL #6 – Gerber Impromptu Tactical Pen
EDC Kit

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Gerber’s Impromptu Tactical Pen is crafted from machined steel and features a tempered steel tip that not only shatters windows with ease, but can also be used as a self defense weapon when the need arises.

A simple, reliable push button mechanism reveals an ink cartridge that can effectively write in all positions and in wet or dry weather.

EDC TOOL #7 – Condor Pocket Pouch
EDC Kit

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Measuring in at 7.25 inches long and 5 inches wide, this pocket-friendly and bag-friendly everyday carry pouch features a fold-out vinyl storage sleeve with a padded back, three internal storage pockets, and a velcro USA flag patch.

EDC TOOL #8 – 5.11 Tactical Rush 12 Backpack
EDC

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A slimmed-down, everyday carry version of their larger Rush 72, 5.11’s Rush 12 Backpack is made from water repellant 1000D nylon and features an integrated MOLLE compatible platform for attaching extra gear and pouches.

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EDC TOOL #9 – Peak LED Flashlight
EDC

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Built in the US by a small family-run operation, the Peak LED Flashlight is ideal for everyday carry in even the harshest of conditions. Slightly larger than some of the other options on the list, the Peak delivers an impressive 235 lumens of light with fully adjustable intensity through the twisting on/off mechanism. –

EDC TOOL #10 – Gerber GDC Money Clip
EDC

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Money clips are a great way to slim down the contents of your pockets and have been an integral part of the everyday carry community for many years. Gerber has put a tactical spin on the money clip with their GDC Money Clip.

True to the Gerber way, the GDC money clip houses a 1.75-inch stainless steel blade inside its 3.6-inch Titanium nitride coated steel body, complete with a safe thumb grip and enough room for 5 cards and some cash.

Conclusion

Choosing an EDC (Every Day Carry) kit  is no easy task.

This investment will contain most of your critical survival gear, so don’t skimp. Get the most durable and comfortable pack you can afford.

Then you’ll find you’re much more prepared to face the challenges of an emergency situation

In the past, we’ve covered most of the obvious survival gear we think everyone should own, such as:

What other EDC (Every Day Carry) Gear would you add to this list?

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