One person's everyday carry objects in 2009, laid out in a knolled arrangement

Everyday carry (EDC) or every-day carry is a collection of useful items that are consistently carried on person every day. The main reasons for having EDC are utility (usefulness), self-sufficiency, and preparedness: to help individuals improve simple everyday problem solving, from the mundane (opening packages, minor repairs) to possible emergency situations such as first aid or self-defense etc.

Content

Some of the most common EDC items are watches, pens, wallets, knives, firearms, flashlights, lighters, car and home key rings, mobile phones, multi-tools, tissues, medications, and personal care items.[1]

The choice and priority/ranking of which items to carry, and how or where to carry them, vary according to each person's needs depending on their occupation, avocations, lifestyle, and similar factors of everyday life. Goals include being able to solve everyday problems more efficiently and to be an asset instead of a liability or helpless bystander when a problem arises.[2]

While often distributed among pockets in everyday clothing, carry options are frequently expanded by the addition of clothing accessories like a fanny pack, purse, EDC pouch, small daypack, sunglasses, bracelets, or even footwear like long boots or a vest with pockets. How EDC items are stored, though, depends on the purpose and intentions for their use.[3]

As a subculture

The optimization of everyday carry (kit/layouts and carry modes) has become an internet subculture, which goes by the name EDC as well. The hobby overlaps with collecting, as many EDC enthusiasts are drawn into collecting EDC items in the quest for finding which one works best for their current EDC needs or for imagined scenarios, such as a light-duty day, a heavy-duty day, etc.[4] The collecting of tools takes on an art appreciation component as fans appreciate the design cues, material choices, and craftsmanship that went into each model of tool, including trade-offs of costs versus benefits for each aspect of it. Accessories manufacturers like The Ridge, KeySmart and Big Idea Design have capitalized on the trend and often describe their products in terms of EDC.[5][4] "The best tool is the one that you have on you when you need one," is a common aphorism which argues against excessive optimization of the tools carried, due to diminishing returns.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kellerman, Aharon (Winter 2019). "Everyday Carry for Mobile Individuals". Transfers. 9 (3): 61–76. doi:10.3167/TRANS.2019.090305. S2CID 226785404.
  2. ↑ Richard, Mike (10 April 2023). "From the right wallet to a versatile pocket knife, your personal EDC should be practical, functional, and even a little stylish". The Manual. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  3. ↑ Perez, Danny (17 October 2022). "These EDC Essentials Will Keep You Well-Equipped for Anything". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  4. 1 2 Hassan, Mohamed (24 March 2023). "What's in Your Pocket? Obsessed Hobbyists Judge What It Says About You". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  5. 1 2 Wright, Steven T. (24 July 2019). "Meet the men obsessed with carrying all the right stuff". Vox. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
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