This is my current setup, all contained within the crossbody bag on the left. I’ve had more or less the same stuff, in the same bag, for about three years before, but the zipper on the bag was breaking, so I replaced it. I decided that would be a good time to rethink what I’m carrying.
Currently, that is (clockwise from top left):
- wallet
- some spare cash, just in case
- a microfiber cloth
- lockpicks and a small box of lock pins (I have a practice lock that I often carry around in case I get bored)
- bandaids
- the bag is a Pacsafe GO Crossbody
- glasses cleaning swabs
- USB sticks (two with data, one with Ventoy and Linux ISOs)
- USB C-to-C cable to charge my phone
- a mechanical pencil
- keys, on a chain
Now, I’m looking for suggestions as to what else to put in the bag. Its gotta be thin and flat if possible.
My ideas so far are an appropriately sized notebook and a thin pocketknife.
What do you think? Have you got any ideas/suggestions?
a torchlight maybe, which can help with your photos too 😅
no edc is complete without a multitool. A small victorinox at least or a leatherman micra &c
if you want “a thin pocketknife”, 1 alox is relatively cheap and trustable. I love higonokamis though, if you’d prefer something more interesting
Things that proved useful in my edc:
- some kind of OTC painkiller like ibuprofen or paracetamol
- a light foldable shopping bag in case you need to carry more. These can be clipped to the outside or your bag or stored in your pants pockets.
- Water. Don’t really see that as an option with this bag though.
For the knife also consider a fixed blade without handlescales. These can be more versatile and thinner than folding knifes. Check your local laws before buying anything.
Notebook wise I carry a moleskine A6 and a pilot g2 pen, its nothing fancy but works for me.
Edit: Can’t believe I forgot this: Flashlight! Probably the most used item of them all.
UK laws here so knives must be folding and must NOT have a safety lock, also under 7.62cm.
Which is a shame because a lot of knives like that are kinda shit or extremely expensive. I don’t want to spend more then a Mora on a worse knife. But with the mora I would need to convince a court that I have a good reason to carry it - just in case is not a good reason, self defence is even worse.
Look at Opinel knives. Cheap and super sharp.
Got one and agree they are sharp. Handle feels so tiny though. Tempted to just get a Swiss army knife again, plus the other tools can be useful too. Still cheaper than the higher end Moras and other tools can help justify it.
i love opinels but they’re bulky
It’ll be hard finding a folder without a lock on it that is super sharp for the Mora price tag.
most of my “folder without a lock on it that is super sharp” knives that are accessibly priced (or were accessible when i bought them years ago (with the exception of the moing on right top))
Take a look at the real steel Luna lite. That should check all boxes and can be found for under 30€ regularly.
I don’t own this specific knife but others from real steel and I have handled the original luna, which is more of a premium offer. My experience is that their knifes are good value for the money.
Tbh leaning towards Swiss army knife. More tools on it make it more useful for an every day tool anyway.
Then when I do know I need a proper knife I can take the Mora. At that point I should have a good reason.
SAKs are awesome. I generally prefer standalone knifes but the SAK scissors are super useful and if the blade fits your usecase its a nice choice. Also surprisingly customisable!
For daily general use the knife on them should be good enough. Anything that needs a better knife isn’t EDC legal here anyway.
A reusable face mask with a filter perhaps? If the air quality is unexpectedly poor you’d have a little protection.
A needle preloaded with some thread stuffed into a pencil lead case. Could throw in some small safety pins. I’m thinking in prep for a wardrobe malfunction of sorts.
A lighter.
Sharp pokey thing and writing surface are always solid choices however.
Face mask is a good idea. I don’t have any reusable ones, but I do have some single-use masks left over from COVID-times.
I honestly have no knowledge of sewing, so I think I’d have to learn that before a needle is useful, but I might see if I can find some safety pins.
I’m not sure about a lighter… I don’t smoke, so it would only end up being used in the very rare case of having to light a fire, I think it might be too thick to fit properly, and I’m a bit uncertain about carrying something full of flammable fluid with me all the time.
Looks good, I edc an emergency blanket, a brick? to use with the usb-cable and a multitool.
By brick, do you mean a powerbank? I used to have one in the old bag for a while, but it doesn’t really fit (it fits in the bag, but it’s a bit too thick, so it prevents you from putting any other slightly thicker things in without putting serious strain on the seams), and in my experience, I didn’t end up actually needing it most of the time. I’m kinda trying a compromise with the charging cable, in the hopes that if I do have to charge my phone, I can find someone with a charger/powerbank/laptop/etc. (or use my own laptop) and don’t need to figure out if they have the right cable.
Do you have any suggestions for a small/flat multitool? (my guess is, pretty much everyone in this community has their own suggestion for a multitool :) )
How big is the emergency blanket folded up?
Honestly don’t complicate the multitool. Nothing wrong with a basic Swiss Army knife. The blade is the thing you will probably get the most use out of, because when you need to cut tape or a package or something, nothing else but a knife will do. After that, flathead / Phillips screwdriver, and personally I end up using the little metal tweezers in the Swiss Army knife a lot, but that’s probably not a universal experience. Everything else you might have in a multitool will rarely get any use.
I meant a charging block, I use a small one. I also carry a kiss of life and a ChapStick I don’t really use. I have ditched the emergency blanket. It folds really flat. Maybe I’ll put back in in autumn/winter. I love my skeletool. But any can work, IF it suits your needs. And I carry my earbuds, to block out the noise if needed.
Sub-compact double stack 9mm pistol, natch
