EDC: Top 8 Must have Items

Emergencies have a tendency to happen when least expected. If we had more of a warning we would of course be able to prepare for them better, but in general what you have on you is all you have to deal with whatever life throws your way.

This is why every day carry items (EDC) are so important. More often than not, whatever you bothered to carry that day will be all you'll have at your disposal to deal with problems.
There are three main characteristics that define an effective EDC setup:
Regularity: Occurring with normal or healthy frequency. Your EDC must be carried, and carried every day. The day you don’t carry it with you will be the day you need it the most.
Capability:The capacity to be used, treated, or developed for a specific purpose. Within reason, you must have the basic tools to cover some of the most likely and most crucial scenarios. A phone will be carried and likely used every day, but you may also need it for making a life-saving emergency call. A gun may be carried for years and never using it on the streets, but the day you do use it, it wil most likely save your life. A flashlight can be used for searching under a desk, walking in a dark parking lot or finding your way through a dark building after a disaster.
Adequacy: Your ED should besufficient to satisfy your requirements and meet your needs. The tools you carry should be capable enough. A 22LR derringer is better than no gun, but I’d rather carry a Glock 357SIG. A $1 button cell LED light is better than no light, but a +200 lumen torch with different modes can perform better in more demanding scenarios. A Victorinox Classic can be used for opening mail, but a larger multitool can be used for prying doors open, cutting wire and various other tasks beyond the limits of a smaller tool.
So as to cover a broad specturm of possible scenarios, both everyday use and emergencies, you should carry the following items with you:
1)Cellphone
If you don’t have comms, then you have nothing. Its as true in the military world as it is in the civilian one. A working cellphone alone is a valuable enough asset as it is, but smartphones basically give you a mini computer with various other tools such as the ability to use wifi signals where available, go online, make bank transfers, hotel reservations, buy plane tickets, and carry important data just to mention a few. The latest Samsung Galaxy S5 is both water and dust proof, IP67 certified. The Moto G 4G LTE is a fantastic option if you're on a tighter budget and also has some water resistance.
Recommended: Samsung Galaxy S5- Moto G 4G LTE

                                                                            Samsung Galaxy S5

2)Wallet
Cards, cash, ID. These alone should be reason enough. Small survival kits can be included as well, just make sure you don’t end up with a wallet that is too bulky.
Recommended: Spec-Ops Brand T.H.E. Wallet - Columbia Men's RFID Security Shield
3)Keys

House keys, car keys, work keys, you pretty much wont leave your home without them if you want to open your front door when you come back. Keychains can also be the core around which you can build and lightweight EDC system, covering the basics with minimalist tools. I use Lobster Clasps clips for quick access to my keychain tools.

4)Multitool
This is the first item most people don’t usually carry even though they should. It can be something as simple as a Victorinox Hiker to a more full size mulittool such as a Leatherman Wave. Most quality multitools will include a folding blade of some sort, so it can double as a pocket knife as well. The multitool is perhaps the most useful tool you can carry outside the first three basic staples no adult is ever without.
Recommended: Leatherman Charge Tti-Leatherman Wave-Leatherman Sidekick

                                                                   Leatherman Charge Multi-Tool TTi
5)Flashlight
In average, you need artificial light to see 12 hours out of the 24 hs per day. Still, so few people carry a flashlight. Utility use, emergency signaling, lighting after disasters, tactical use, you simply should carry one. With lights becoming more efficient, more powerful and more compact there’s no excuse  left to not carry one.
Recommended: Surefire Defender E1D -Eagletac D25C

                                                                     SureFire E1D Defender

6)Knife
Although multitools will usually include a blade of some sort (in some cases very good ones) you should also carry a dedicated folding knife. A larger more solid folder will be suited for tougher tasks, maybe even prying and defense use if called upon. The knife is the quintessential survival tool, so it makes sense to have two of them.
Recommended: ZT Zero Tolerance 0561 - Cold Steel Vaquero  - Spyderco Endura 4

                                                          ZT Zero Tolerance 0561 Hinderer

7)Lighter
Maybe one of the least carried items among non-smoking modern survivalists, the ability to make fire is generally more associated to wilderness survival. I still believe that it does have an important place in your EDC setup. Like the knife, the ability to make fire has always been one of our greatest achievements and every once in a while I find it very useful, one of those things you take for granted and don’t really appreciate it until you need it.
Recommended: Clover Zippo with thunderbird insert
8)Gun
Hopefully you will never have to use it, but in an increasingly unstable world, it makes sense to be armed. My advice is to carry a Glock and spare magazine, either 9mm or other bigger caliber you’re capable of controlling well. When firearms are not an option, OC spray can be very effective for controlling violent confrontations.

Recommended: Blade-Tech Phantom IWB Holster

Although these are the basics you should strive to cover, everyone being different and having difference personal requirements and limitations there can be variations within each tool to have, but these should be the basics you should look to address.
FerFAL

Little Gadget Worth the 2 Bucks.

$2.29 actually, and free shipping world wide.

White LED
Red LASER
UV Light

Bought two from DX (LINK) and so far I like it a lot. Both my wife and I added them to our keychains.(mine is getting a bit too big, but I've seen worse)
Has a laser for pointing out stuff or giving classes or lectures if that's your thing, an emergency LED white light(not great, a bit bluish) and finally the reason why I bough these: The UV light. Not too powerful but enough for a quick check looking for funny money. Even though its just one of the safety measures (made a post about this before, LINK), its quick and helps detection, since counterfeit bills are pretty common.
I had such a key chain UV light and it served me well for many years.
Again, no relationship with DX whatsoever, I don’t get a single cent out of it just think its a nice bargain. DX isn't the most reliable seller, but this time they delivered a good product (batteries placed the wrong way though)
Check these or find a keychain UV light locally. There's going to be a lot of counterfeit money out there soon.
Take care.

FerFAL

Review: Victorinox Midnight Minichamp II

I meant to do this review some time ago but other issues always came up first.
Tonight I gathered a bit of extra will and actually sat down to write it.

Why the Minichamp?
I own several Vicotrinox pocket knives and the minichamp has always been one of my favorites. The amount of tools that fit into the small package surprises most guys.

I used to have another minchap many years ago, loved it, but my brother “borrowed” it and lost it in no time.

When I set myself to find the ideal keychain accessory/gadget thingy the Minichamp quickly came to mind.

I had been carrying the Spartan as a keychain knife so far, but while very useful for most tasks, it was a bit too bulky to just drop in the pocket. Specially since I also had a AA 1 Watt LED light attached as well.

I got online and found that my favorite mini vicotrinox had changed a bit since I last owned one. Now it included a LED light and a pen.

Placed the order and almost four weeks later the package arrived to Argentina. (the mailman just threw the package over the fence, landing on my wife’s favorite flowers)

The Midnight Minichamp II

This small wonder includes

1. Small blade

The Minichamp is barely 2.28 in long. So I wasn’t expecting a sword of a blade, but the main blade is still very small, just 3,5 centimeters.
It certainly does not allow you to do the kind of work the classic Spartan Victorinox can perform, but it’s still a small sharp little blade.

2. Scissors

These, like all other Vics I’ve owned, are sturdy, well made and work well for the intended purposes.

3. Retractable stylus pen

This is something you’ll end up using a lot, I sure do. It’s not comfortable and sometimes it takes a few lines before the ink flows freely, but it’s ideal for that quick number you need or address, and no other pen or writing tool seems to be near by.

4. Nail file with nail cleaner

The nail file works well, and I’ve used the v shaped nail cleaner as a Philips screwdriver successfully a number of times.

5. Emergency blade

This is very comforting to have since the main blade is kind of small and thin.

6. Cut and picker blade with scraper

Not as useful as some of the other tools, but the scraper can come in handy for… scrapping, and I’ve also used it to punch a hole into a thick leather dog collar.

7. Cap lifter with magnetic Phillips screwdriver tip and wire stripper

This tool is pretty neat. The magnetic screwdriver is well designed for smaller screws. For larger ones I use the nail cleaner.

8. Mini Red LED light

Little red led that activates by pressing and keeping the Victorinox shield down.
Why red? Because it seems that red is the most power efficient variety. It’s not very powerful but you can see with it.
At first I was disappointed with it, but then I understood.
It’s the kind of light that barely allows you to see, but at least you can see!
A white, more powerful lead would run out much sooner, but this one will be there when you need it the most.
The red light does not ruin night vision or reveal your position when reading maps in the dark… …and it doesn’t bother people when you walk into the theater after the movie started and you can’t see where you are going.:)

9. Ruler with engraved screwdriver

The small screwdriver is ok, the ruler is only good for measuring small screws and such. Not much use but still nice to have.
10. Cuticle pusher

This is the kind of thing that makes you wonder what where they thinking. Cuticle pusher…
I’ve seen a guy on youtube that uses it like a spoon, but it’s too small if you ask me. I mostly use it as a large plain screwdriver. Works well for that purpose.

11. Key ring

What I did was add an easily detachable latch, so as to quickly remove it from the keychain when I need to use it. Makes things easier, and it’s still securely attached.






Propper use of the pen, using the nail file as an extension


The bad

The main blade is small. It’s clear that you can’t expect it to do the work larger Vic knives do.
The scrapper and cuticle pusher aren’t the tools you go for most often, but at least you can use them for the things I mentioned.

The good

Small, light, not an anchor to carry around.
The red LED works well for it’s intended purpose
The pen isn’t perfect but often comes in handy.
You have small, thin blades, but at least you have two.
Between the different tools, you cover Phillips and flat screwdrivers of various sizes.
You can use the LED and pen at the same time to write in the dark. Nice.

Overall, it’s not a heavy work knife but I find it to be the perfect keychain tool and I assure you I use it almost on daily basis, sometimes several times. It’s just so handy, and can do so many tasks.
Very pleased with it.
I have it linked here somewhere in the bottom for 33 bucks from Amazon.
In my opinion it’s worth every cent.
Hope that was useful.

Take care everyone and good night.

FerFAL