Everyday Carry Bag-What You Need

EDC is an everyday carry bag, unlike our 72-hour kits or bug-out bags. This is not designed to replace your 72-hour kit or bug-out bag, but consider one of these for riding on a bus to work, commuting by train, or one you would carry like a purse or small backpack.

You see a lot of these on college campuses. These are great for commuters who ride the bus or train for transportation to work, many miles away.

I strongly feel the need to update this post today, especially for those who have never heard of one of these handy bags. It’s some gear in a strong bag with compartments, and will typically have shoulder straps.

Mine has several zippers, I mean several. I love it. It has a spacious main compartment, but the exterior has places to store the necessary accessories.

I could even call mine a laptop backpack because I bought it for our trip to Europe and needed to carry some critical items. I call mine my everyday carry backpack because it goes with me when we travel, just like so many people rely on their backpacks for school, meetings, presentations, and sales sessions.

It’s waterproof and has a front zipper that allows me to place my passport or other IDs. It even has a laptop pocket, but my laptop is only 13 inches, so it’s not a large laptop requiring much space.

The main compartment needs sufficient space to carry the majority of the items. Arranging things in a way that helps with internal organization may be difficult, but you may want to put some things in storage bags before putting them in the EDC itself.

We have all heard about cars being stranded on the side of the road or at a complete standstill on the highway due to congestion. We wouldn’t have our 72-hour kits with us 24/7 on most regular days, so this is why I like to talk about these. These bags aren’t designed for long-term survival, but would at least get you through some minor glitches in everyday situations.

Some men and women prefer bags similar to a toolkit/belt that a carpenter would wear. These bags hook to your belt and thigh and can be looped onto a belt buckle and upper thigh to secure the bag while hiking.

This list will get you started, and you can add to it as needed. We usually grab our phone, wallet, and keys to the car, house, and work entrances when we leave home. I have friends who carry their concealed weapons in these as well. You would never know that, but they do it for security.

Items I carry in my Everyday Carry Bag:

1. Multi-tools or Pocket knives are useful for so many things. Our “handyman” son-in-law has his multitool everywhere he goes.
2. Hand sanitizer – keep my hands clean from bacteria.
3. Mirror—If I’m stranded, I can flash this to let people find me or freshen up my hair or makeup.
4. Compass: If I am stranded or lost, I can at least know the direction I am heading when I try to get help.
5. Whistle – I prefer the deafening ones to get people’s attention if I need assistance.
6. Cash—small bills and coins are good emergency cash supplies if the power goes down and you can’t use ATMs or point-of-sale units.
7. Water bottle (with a filter)
8. Lip gloss
9. Small first aid kit
10. Duct tape (small rolls now available)
11. Seatbelt cutter
12. Flashlight–extra batteries
13. A pen and a small paper tablet
14. Folding knife – for protection or other uses when something sharp proves handy.
15. USB charger – for phones and tablets
16. Aspirin, Tylenol, and Benadryl
17. Pepper spray (make sure it’s legal where you live)
18. Black Sharpie
19. Solar cell phone charger

Here is a printable to get you started: Printable. Now, remember, this list is to get you started. You may have an emergency car bag with additional items in your vehicle. I wouldn’t be carrying an ax in my EDC bag; I’m just giving you the heads-up. I do have one in my car, though. Please let me know if you would add any items to this list. I love your ideas!

Other EDC Items To Consider: (if not in your Emergency Car Kit)

• Names and phone numbers of whom to contact in an emergency.
• Battery or crank-powered portable radio with extra batteries.
• Flashlight – preferably one that’s solar-powered or crank-powered with an LED light.
• Compass and maps – not everyone has GPS in their car or phones.
• Can of motor oil.
• Fire Extinguisher (5-pound ABC type)
• Flares and/or orange cones
• Jumper cables.
• Rags/paper towels.
• Shovel/Axe
• Tire gauge
• Toolbox
• Window scraper for ice.

Necessities for survival in your Everyday Carry Bag:

• Water/Granola bars/Jerky
• Blankets
• Jackets/sweaters
• Emergency cash: approximately $100.00 in small bills
• First Aid Kit
• Baby Wipes
• Hand Sanitizer
• Scissors/pens/pencils (not crayons-they melt)
• Emergency snack food and/or MRE meals (items may need to be replaced more frequently if stored in extreme heat conditions).
• Whistles
• Umbrella
• Hand warmers
• Extra blankets
• Diaper rash ointment-zinc in packets
• Imodium or Pepto Bismol tablets
• From Deborah: “One easy-to-carry item everyone should pack is cayenne pepper. Sprinkle it on a minor cut (yes, it burns like the dickens) and the bleeding stops – immediately. Another excellent item for scrapes or scratches is lavender essential oil. Both of these are well worth carrying.”
• From Sharon: “Cornstarch will stop bleeding without the burn. Also good for diaper rash.”
• From Frank: “I didn’t see a bandanna on your list. It seems silly, but they can be used for many things (such as a tie-down, a towel, a sling, a bandage, etc.). Placing one over a metal cup of boiling water will absorb the steam, and when you squeeze the water out, it is distilled. A neat trick when desperate for drinkable water.”

Who Makes The Best EDC Backpack?

Here is one of the EDC bags I recommend: Maxpedition Jumbo Versipack, Khaki. I want my bag to feature good durability. As with other items I buy, I want high quality, so I tell my readers to buy it right the first time. I also want easy access to see what I need without stressing about finding things. You may prefer particular fabrics for comfort, style, or strength. I’ve discovered that nylon tends to have longevity built in.

Here is another one that might work for you, this is the one I have: Maxpedition Fatboy Versipack Black

The bag can hold my iPad, laptop, wallet, and the items in the EDC printable list. It never hurts to be ready for the unexpected. Just think over the last few years, or months for that matter, how many accidents on trains, cars, buses, or other forms of travel where the passengers were stranded for some time before help arrived.

The question here has to be, what is the best bag for you? I wanted one I could travel with and keep in my car.

72-hour kits by Linda

Final Word

These everyday carry bags give you extra comfort when you’re away from home, knowing you can take care of yourself for a few hours if needed. I haven’t traveled on planes since you’d have to check the bag due to TSA restrictions on some of the contents, but unless it were a private plane, you’d be fine. Weapons are prohibited on the aircraft; check with your airline if you carry them. Let me know your thoughts about what I feel needs to be added or deleted based on your own experiences. May God bless this world, Linda

The post Everyday Carry Bag-What You Need appeared first on Food Storage Moms.

from Food Storage Moms