When it comes to EDC/survival/emergency kits, I think it is safe to say that many people just are not getting it.
An excellent example was an LBE/webbing pouch designed specifically to carry a survival tin.
What is wrong with that?
One of the likely events that will put you on emergency status is becoming separated from your rucksack, webbing or jacket.
Yes, my rucksacks, coats and jackets contain emergency items.
These are intended as a supplement to my EDC/emergency kit, and are not the primary kit itself.
There is not a perfect answer.
Jackets may be taken off, packs put down, hats get lost.
The clothing item that I am least likely to be separated from is my trousers. Thus, my primary EDC items are in my trouser pockets, or in pouches on the trouser belt.
Luckily, I am not subject to any stupid work dress codes, so trousers means those with thigh cargo pockets.
What, No Survival Tin?
No, I don’t carry a survival tin.
I want my EDC items easily accessible so I can use them if needed. Try wrestling with a yard of tape in the wind with an injured bleeding finger.
The supposed advantage that you can boil a tiny amount of water in the tin to sterilize something is marginal at best.
I do not want a hard item banging against my thigh as I walk, and digging into me if I sit down or fall.
Lid as a mirror? Most survival tin lids that I have seen will require a lot of polishing. You can easily buy a better item, saving you a lot of time for a very small amount of money.
The best thing you can do with a survival tin is empty the contents out and use them to stock a better EDC kit as will be described.
Many of the tin items need to be in karger quantities anyway.
Use the tin to pack something fragile in your backpack.
Practical EDC Kit
Much of this has been covered in previous blogs. There have been some updates, reorganisations and additions since I first wrote those page.
A friend requested I bring the updated information together in one place.
Trouser Belt
The trouser belt that I use is a rigger’s belt. This could be used with the carabineer I carry my keys on.
Main reason for having a rigger’s belt is that unlike my previous belt, it does not have a buckle that damages my tee-shirts.
Left Thigh Cargo Pocket
Within a large zip lock bag, a little zippered pouch, mainly containing medical items.
This pouch also contains many smaller items such as
• Safety pins
• Paper clips
• Two colours of chalk
• A pencil
• Two birthday cake candles
• One sailmaker’s sewing needle wrapped with invisible thread
• Dental floss
• Ultra minimal fishing kit of six spans of braided line and 22 fishing hooks.
• Space blanket. Few traditional survival tins have these, but potentially one of most useful items you can carry in your pocket. Mine fits inside the zippered pouch. If yours does not, put it in a plastic bag or its original packaging.
A good idea is to buy space blankets in bulk and add one to each of your rucksacks and outdoor coats. Keep some in your vehicle and so on.
I have added my little button compass to this pouch, purely because it may be of some use here, while it is of none sitting in my gear box.
The large zip lock bag is reinforced with duct tape so could be used to carry water or for other purposes.
Right Thigh Cargo Pocket
• A zip lock bag of tissues/toilet paper.
• Some additional cordage of various types, since the left side pocket was getting bulky.
• A Sharpie, or some other pen that can write on most things.
• A ballpoint pen. I have a Zebra pen, but any type that will not get broken in your pocket.
• A “thumb” flashlight.
• A pen-shaped window breaker, which includes a handcuff key.
• An insect head net. I use the British Forces Mosquito/Midge Micro Head Net (NSN 8415-99-519-8268), since it is compact, and costs less than a pint of beer. May be used as a carrying bag or a net for shrimp and small fish (bait). This could be an EDC item or part of the up-levelling if heading to the wilds.
• Supply of personal medication.
Left Side Pocket
• One bandanna
• One disposable-type lighter in waterproof case, with some duct tape wrapped around lighter body.
• Two two-metre bootlaces or lengths of paracord.
• Hank of cotton string: conserves paracord and may be used as tinder.
Right Side Pocket
Coins, but seldom enough to buy anything.
Carabiner key ring on belt hanger above pocket.
Key ring includes the “split ring tool kit” detailed in the recent article: SAK Rambler, photon light copy, whistle, paperclip, P51 can-opener.
Small Pouch on Trouser Belt
• Debit card
• Ear plugs in small plastic box they came in
• Small magnifier loupe
• Mirror in case with laminated Morse reminder card and Fresnel lens inside.
• Small set of EDC lock picks.
• Tubular spectacles retaining cord. Moved to this pouch from the left pocket so that it does not get mixed-up with the other cordage.
Because I am a bit of a magpie, a few found hairpins and paperclips have ended up in this pouch.
I used to carry a USB drive here, but use the cloud more these days.
My usual “bug-out coat”, and the soft-core pack in any rucksac I might be carrying, both contain larger baseplate compasses.
It is surprising how often the Clipper compass has proved useful in towns, however.
If you do not have a Clipper, the smaller budget versions of baseplate compasses are more useful than tiny button compasses. A compass is much more useful with a movable bezel.
Repurposed Mobile Phone Case on Trouser Belt
• Mini-Leatherman P4 Squirt
• Diamond impregnated metal sharpening card
• “Widgy” three‑inch prybar.
[I am a tool whore! Guilty]
The Ranger contains a number of useful additional items, including a ferro-rod toggle, sewing needle and line, pen, pin, tweezers, toothpick/tick remover and a magnet.
You could add a wire-saw here. I find it more comfortable to carry mine in a pocket of my bug-out parka.
Mobile Phone
Worn on trouser belt in another pouch.
My phone is pretty useless, but does have a flashlight mode.
If you have a smartphone, it may have useful things such as a compass and GPS. Chances are the reason you are in trouble is you didn’t look up from your phone!
The above is my personal kit and provided for guidance. There is no point having lock picks nor sharpening items unless you know how to use them. [although I have written enough articles explaining how]. Likewise, cordage requires a knowledge of knots.
If you are still in the bloom of youth, you probably do not need a magnifier to read package labels [yet!]
All of this EDC is pretty easily transferred across when I change trousers. Only one pouch needs threading onto the belt rather than clipping on.
Back pocket is a little wallet of cards and useful numbers and a comb. Nothing really of survival use.
The above kit fits any trousers with thigh pockets. No need for extra pockets nor anything fancy.
Up‑Levelling
If I expected to be heading to the wilds, I might add some additional elements to the EDC. These items will mainly go in the right thigh pocket.
A zip lock bag containing a larger quantity of tissues/toilet paper would be likely. This is an additional supply of emergency bumph. The soft-core pack that will be in my rucksack includes a full roll of toilet paper and a bottle of hand sanitizer with it.
If not already there, I would add the insect head net. Biting insects range from nuisance to life threatening. Given the low price and minimal bulk, you would be foolish not to have an insect head net in your EDC if you can.
I would probably expand my fishing capability with several trot lines, each of six spans of braided fishing line with swivels already tied in place. A container of hooks on leaders, some with lures such as mackerel feathers.
One or more ten-metre spools of picture hanging wire for making traps. You could make these up beforehand, but there is a chance you might encounter a cop or ranger who wants to be a dick and classes ready-made snares as intent.
To the above, I can also add the belt holding my kukri, Mora and a pouch holding a fire kit and sharpening stone.
I was intending to attach this belt to my trouser belt using press-stud keepers. The weight probably carries better worn down on the hips, however.
A handgun could be added to this belt where such was permissible.