15 Insanely Useful Items For Your Everyday Carry Collection

If you aren’t yet a member of the everyday carry crowd, consider looking into this interesting and often community-oriented hobby. The concept of “everyday carry” is straightforward enough—it’s a collection of items intended to be carried with you every day. Fans of the hobby try to find the most effective, compact items which can easily be stored in pockets or bags. They’ll also often share everyday carry (or EDC) lists and pictures with one another and exchange ideas.

Typically, everyday carry kits consist of items like small tools, knives, lighters, and all manner of other useful items. Most of the time you probably won’t need a waterproof lighter or a tiny can of WD-40, but the spirit of everyday carry is being prepared for anything, all with items that can fit in your pockets. If you ever watched Macgyver as a kid, your head is probably spinning with possibilities already.

Think of everyday carry as convenience meets survivalism. After all, you never really know when you’re going to need that credit-card-thin pocket knife, right?

#15 – A Sturdy Yet Compact Multi-Tool

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There’s nothing more handy than a durable multi-tool. A multi-tool allows you to solve problems and make small repairs in a snap, and no everyday carry kit is complete without one. However, the problem with a lot of tools is that they’re quite large and, unless you need them for your line of work, would likely be pretty impractical to carry around with you at, say, the grocery store. For an everyday carry friendly multi-tool, you’ll want something that packs a lot of functionality into not a lot of space. The Leatherman Tread fits that description admirably—it’s a multi-tool in the form of a bracelet. This travel-friendly wearable multi-tool has 29 tools and has been designed to be compliant with TSA guidelines.

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#14 – A Waterproof Lighter

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Lighters are an important part of an everyday carry kit. They can provide you with a light source when you need one, heat, and of course, the ability to easily build a fire if and when that ever would be necessary. This orange lighter from Ultimate Survival Technologies isn’t just waterproof—it floats. If you’re the boating and/or fishing type, this is the ultimate combo to have. The lid closes over an o-ring with a locking clasp, so as long as you keep the lid tight it’s going to stay dry, even if submerged. The flame is also windproof up to 80 miles per hour.

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#13 – A Folding Knife

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Before getting a folding knife for your everyday carry kit, double check that it complies with the laws of your state or country—many everyday carry enthusiasts have bought blades online which, even though they might have been quite small, they later found out were quite illegal to carry depending on where they lived. An excellent folding knife which matches many states knife carry laws is the M21-02G from Columbia River Knife & Tool. This blade is 3 inches, made of an AUS-8 and 58-59 HRC alloy, and has a non-reflective frost finish. It is durable, sharp, affordable, and when properly cared for will last for years—everything you want out of a folding knife for your everyday carry kit.

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#12 – A Canister of Long-Range Pepper Spray

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Again, please confirm your local laws before carrying pepper spray with you—some states like Massachusetts consider it to be ammunition, and you’re required to have a license to own it. However, assuming you’re in accordance with your local laws, adding a small (perhaps key chain sized), long-range canister of pepper spray to your everyday carry arsenal can be a smart choice. Useful not only for fending off potential human attackers, pepper spray is a valid form of self defense against wildlife and your neighbor’s personal version of Cujo. Pictured is SABRE’s compact, police-strength pepper spray which has a range of 10 feet and up to 25 bursts.

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#11 – A Nite GlowRing – No Batteries Necessary

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The Nite GlowRing is another key chain accessory which (probably) won’t require you to check up on your local laws—it’s a useful tool which can provide you with a light source that doesn’t require a battery. Generally used to mark locations in the dark, this tool still does a great job of providing enough light to, say, quickly find your car key in a dark parking lot. GlowRings use GTLS (gaseous tritium light sources) which last for up to ten years and are visible from up to 50 meters away.

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#10 – A Mobile Power Bank

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For the technologically advanced everyday carry enthusiast, a mobile power bank can be a very handy inclusion into your kit. If you haven’t looked into this kind of technology for a few years, you might be surprised by some of the developments—particularly in the form factor department. Strong power banks are now available in surprisingly tiny sizes, like the Anker Astro which at 3.78 inches by 1.81 inches can be comfortably held in the palm of your hand. This power bank can charge most smart phones one or two times and can be used to charge any USB-compatible device.

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#9 – A Compact Flashlight with Excellent Battery Life

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Perhaps the centerpiece of many everyday carry kits—and where many enthusiasts begin their collection—a small, high quality flashlight is an absolute necessity. You’ll likely want to focus getting a flashlight with a slim form factor that can toss a lot of light. The Streamlight Stylus Pro fits into both of these categories. Roughly the size of a Sharpie marker, this LED flashlight can output 65 lumens and has a continuous run time of about 6 hours. The clip is handy for securing it to your shirt or pants pocket. This flashlight takes two AAA batteries—which is actually quite nice, since a lot of flashlights in this size range require non-standard batteries which might be more difficult to replace.

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#8 – An Ultra Durable Protective Phone Case

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We’re assuming your smart phone is already part of your everyday carry collection, but if you want to give it the ruggedness and durability that appeals to enthusiasts of this hobby, consider upgrading the case to something that can actually protect your phone. While of course your phone model will determine the kind of case you can use, pictured is the DEFENDER line from OtterBox. This specific case is for use with iPhone 6 or 6s models, and offers more-than-standard protection against scratches and shocks with its 3-layer design. Similar cases exist for most models of mobile phone, so seek one out which will keep yours safe instead of just looking cool.

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#7 – A Miniature Notebook & Pen

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Have you ever tried to make a note on your smart phone when you were in a hurry? Even if you text with the speed and proficiency of a Japanese schoolgirl, you’ll still probably find it far faster and more convenient to (gasp!) physically jot down your note with a real live pen and paper. Yes, people still use them. Pictured is a flip notebook from wellspring with a “crocodile” texture. The main feature of this notebook isn’t just its attractively low price point—it’s the fact that it has a holder for a pen built into the notebook. If you want to avoid ever having to search for a pen again (thus nullifying the convenience of having a notebook in the first place) this is a must-have feature of your everyday carry notebook.

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#6 – A Hidden Money Belt, Especially When Traveling

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You might not want to include a hidden money belt into your everyday-everyday carry kit, but if you’re traveling—even for a day trip—it’s an excellent item to have. Money belts are intended to keep your cash, credit cards, and other small personal items safe and hidden from view. This money belt from Ody Travel is ridiculously affordable and, despite its low price, offers all of the features one could want in a money belt. It has an adjustable elastic waistband, measures 11.5 by 2.5 inches with two zipper compartments and four hidden pockets, each of which has been sized to hold items like cash, credit cards, passports, and smart phones. If you’re willing to spend a little more, you could upgrade to a money belt with RFID prevention, but the price vs. performance of this little belt is so good that you should definitely consider it.

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#5 – A Durable, Waterproof Watch

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A good watch can last you decades, especially if it’s been designed for functionality rather than simply to look nice. The Casio GA100SD does both—sporting a rugged, military-inspired design, this watch is loaded with features like both analog and digital time displays, a stopwatch and countdown timer, and an automatic LED light so that you can see it in the dark. The GA100SD is shock resistant and waterproof down to 660 feet. This watch has everything an everyday carry enthusiast could want and looks good to boot.

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#4 – Miniature Can of WD-40

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Did you know that WD-40 is ridiculously useful? It’s not just good for getting the squeak out of a noisy door hinge, it can do a lot, lot more. Here’s something you’ve probably never thought of: WD-40 can be used to remove gum from the bottom of your shoes… or just about anything else, like carpet, or your hair. As with most WD-40 instructions, all you do is spray it on and wait a few minutes. You know those really annoying price tag stickers they put on everything? WD-40. Spray it on, wait, pull them off. If you have kids, WD-40 can remove their beautiful crayon murals from the wall in your kitchen. It can remove glue and other adhesives from your hands. And the most important reason to keep this 3oz can of WD-40 in your everyday carry kit? It can loosen your zipper if it ever gets stuck.

#3 – Sinclair Cardsharp4 Wafer-Thin Metal Knife

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While we’ve already recommended a great folding knife on this list, Sinclair’s Cardsharp line of ultra-thin yet durable metal knives are absolutely worth a mention. You’ve likely heard about these products if you’ve been interested in the everyday carry scene for any length of time, and there’s a good reason for it: they’re fantastic. These aluminum knives are CNC machined and have safety child locks. As we’ve recommended with some of the items on this list, please confer with your local laws before purchasing, but as long as you’re in the clear this is an excellent addition to any wallet, even if you already have a folding knife. Plus, let’s be honest—it’s just really, really cool.

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#2 – A Durable, Dedicated Camera

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While your cell phone is likely part of your everyday carry kit anyway (yours and everyone else’s too!), if not, you’ll want a camera—the uses for which are practically endless. Whether someone hits your car and you need to make visual documentation to report to your insurance company or if you’ve spotted a rare member of the wildlife family, a small, fast-acting camera is a great part of any everyday carry collection for those who choose not to carry smart phones. The Olympus Tough TG-860 is a compact and extremely durable digital camera with a surprisingly long feature set which rivals cameras twice the price and with none of the durability. This camera is shockproof up to seven feet, functions in temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit, and can withstand up to 220 pounds of crushing force. In addition to pictures, it can also shoot movies.

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#1 – A Paracord Bracelet

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Perhaps one of the most frequently overlooked element of a really solid everyday carry kit, a paracord bracelet is a very handy and easy to carry item. It’s wearable in the form of a bracelet and, assuming you have two arms, you can wear it on the opposite wrist as your Leatherman Tread from earlier in this list. Paracord bracelets are essentially a thin-yet-incredibly-durable cord which has been tightly wrapped for emergency use. Typically these cords have a weight rating of 550 pounds (you may see the term “550 cord” used) and have a wide variety of applications. Popular among survivalists, they can be used as makeshift traps, bow-and-drill fire starters, tourniquets, and more. Pictured is the “Extra Beefy” paracord survival bracelet from The Friendly Swede, which comes in a variety of colors and has a length of 11.5 feet.

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