Introduction to Everyday Carry
Everyday carry or EDC for short (not to be mistaken for the Electric Daisy Carnival) has been around in some form or fashion for ages. Everyone does it to a degree, but as a hobby it has surged into mainstream popularity with the advent of social media and online subculture communities. At its base, EDC just means a collection of objects you carry with you daily, also known as a kit. Primarily the focus is on being prepared for a variety of different situations and the utility of the objects you carry. This can range from the classic "Phone, Wallet, Keys" basic necessities to carefully curated items for luck or reminder tokens, self-defense, first aid, or specialized gear relevant to your job or lifestyle. Pictures of your EDC are commonly shared on sites like Instagram and Reddit and it's very common to share your reviews, tips, or mods with each other. We love being tagged in EDC posts - it's awesome seeing how people are carrying their coins and in such a wide variety of kits!
Here's is an example of my own everyday carry which has been knolled out. You may have heard the phrase "always be knolling" which refers to an organizational style of placing objects at right angles on a surface, which allows the viewer to see all the objects at once. Anything not in use gets put away, all similar objects are grouped together, then aligned square on the surface they're on. It's a popular arranging style for EDC pictures.
Items Commonly Found in an EDC kit
-Pocket Knife
-Flashlight
-Keys
-Wallet
-Headphones
-Watch
-Pen/Pencil, Notebook
-Self Defense items
-Multi-tool
-Headphones
-Lighters or firestarters
-Medications
-Personal care items like lip balm or toothpicks
-Worry stones or reminder tokens
-Tech Gadgets
-Repair kit
-Organizers
Important traits to consider:
-Practicality
-Utility
-Multifunctionality/Versatility
-Weight (often the lighter the better!)
-Durability
-Convenience
-Minimalism
-Efficiency
-Applicable to your specific applicable situation
-Comfort/Ergonomics
What's to like about EDC?
There's a psychological element wherein EDC enthusiasts may find joy in problem solving or being of service to others and being perceived as reliable in a pinch with the tools they carry. If a box needs to be opened, a wire cut, or if the power goes out - you're the person to go to. Being helpful to your community and having the right tool at the right time is always a little dose of happiness. It brings peace of mind in periods of uncertainty to feel self-reliant, in control, and having confidence in oneself to handle emergencies.
There's also a strong theme of self-expression through your EDC kit versus (or in addition to) self-expression through fashion, which may carry additional issues like self-esteem, body dysmorphia, or fear of judgement. Your kit allows you to show your personality, interests, and lifestyle without necessarily putting yourself wholly out there, which can be a comforting amount of distance. Some people get into it just for the artistic element - focusing on specific design themes, colors, materials, or aesthetic. The possibilities for personalization are limitless!
There's also a sense of pride in the quality of the items in your kit - there's a distinct purpose given, thoughtfulness entailed with each item. Many people, myself included, spend a lot of time picking out an optimized item - with a finite amount of money, what is the best thing I can get of this type? Is it light? Slim? Multifunctional? Rechargeable? Accessible? Once you have those carefully selected items in hand, you want to share them with others who similarly appreciate quality and craftsmanship. While everyone has a different budget, by far and large the community is welcome of EDC kits at all price points and hobbyists love to share what high-quality, durable goods have the most bang for your buck. It can be an exercise in almost meditative mindfulness or ritual to select your EDC for the day. One really nice side effect of the proliferation of EDC is the growing market change towards better ergonomics, higher quality materials, and durability over planned obsolescence/race to the bottom cheapest products. Hopefully less will end up in the landfill if we buy quality up front!
There's a fun collector element in EDC, with many enthusiasts motivated by the quest to find the perfect EDC tool for a specific need. Something I appreciate about EDC versus other collection hobbies is it's not generally motivated by rarity or scarcity, but specifically reliability, efficiency, and personality. While there's definitely big dollar baller products, by far and large it's a glimpse at everyday people. I find myself so interested in looking at EDC through an anthropological lens - when you look at some random person's kit what does it say about that person? It's like people watching, puzzle solving, and window shopping all in one!
Many people benefit from carrying fidgets or stim toys to help manage sensory input, improve focus or concentration, and provide a calming outlet for restlessness. Far from the connotation of being childish, fidgets can be a tool for people to self-regulate and better be able to engage with their environment. You've likely seen the fidget spinner fad from years past, but there are also stress balls, tangle toys, chew necklaces, sensory bracelets, coins, or even pain fidgets.
A number of people also keep tokens in their EDC for specific causes. They're often used as decision makers, to remember loved ones, challenge coins from service, sobriety coins, coins expressing philosophy or used in meditation. These are often lightweight and need to be durable after getting jostled around in a pocket.
One can extend the self-preparedness element to also encompass knowledge and skills, in addition to the physical objects themselves. EDC has a significant overlap (one might say a circle) with the survivalist or prepper communities for whom proactive preparation for emergencies and disasters means stockpiling necessary physical goods and learning the survival skills necessary in an emergency situation. To quote our friends the Green Brothers at Crash Course, "Knowledge Weighs Nothing, Carry All You Can." So you might also add training on First Aid, Navigation, Self Defense, Foraging/Gardening, Sewing, and Fire Starting in addition to your kit. The most important thing is being able to proficiently use the tools you carry with you, and here practice makes perfect! You may keep firestarter on you every day but not knowing how to properly prepare firewood, tinder, and kindling won't help much in an actual emergency!
Concerns of EDC
While there's a lot to like about EDC, some things to be aware of are the environmental concerns (particularly with ethical production and disposal of batteries in an ever-expanding tech landscape), premium prices being inaccessible to some, competitiveness or toxicity, and turning into over-commercialization. As in most things, we should try to keep a balance - not just physically overburdening your everyday carry by veering into overspecialized tools, but also in the impact we have on the environment and in mindful and kind engagement with the hobby.
Remember: "The best tool is the one that you have on you when you need it!"
We hope you have learned a little bit about a new hobby! Click here to check out our most popular EDC coins and follow us on Instagram to see examples from our community of EDC enthusiasts!
Catch you next time! - Ryu, Shire Post Mint
