Introduction

In the bag industry the acronym EDC refers to Every Day Carry. A subset of tactical survivalists coined the term to label all the things they carried in their pockets or on their person that they felt were required to survive the apocalypse.

An Everyday Carry bag is a place where you can store and organize the gear and items you carry with you every day. In preparing for a wide variety of disasters and emergencies, you need to take more items with you than anyone else.

Before we continue, let’s get one thing straight …..

Feature	Bug Out Bag (BOB)	Every Day Carry (EDC) Bag
Designed for	military personnel	civilians
Duration	72 hours	24 hours
Nature	military equipment	survival equipment in civilian / urban environments.

EDC or Backpack, Which One Is Right For You ?

To answer this we need to assess your needs and lifestyle. What kind of job do you have? Do you work from home or from the office? Does an EDC bag or backpack fit into your work environment? Do you travel a lot? Do you live in a city, suburb or in the country?

Are you a man or a woman? What is / will be the corporate culture and the attitude of your colleagues? Do you have like-minded people around you who won’t raise their eyebrows when you start carrying a bag to the office every day? These are the questions you need to ask yourself.

The next step would be to make a list of all the EDC items you might need. This will help you decide how much to take with you and consequently help you make the right choice of EDC bag.

When you’ve done that, it will be time to choose your bag. We’re going to give you a number of EDC bag suggestions below, but before that, there is a useful ‘rule’ to keep in mind as well as considering whether you prefer a shoulder or back version of an EDC bag.

Rule : A Discreet EDC bag doesn’t attract attention !

By “discreet” I imply having a non-tactical appearance.

Assess the dress code and type of bags you see in and around your office when working in an urban area with lots of pedestrians. If all you see is classy messenger bags and leather briefcases, do not expect that you will not attract attention and be incognito with a MOLLE-covered 3-day storm baggage.

You have to belong in order to go unnoticed and inconspicuous. However, some sometimes argue that the majority of people in the world do not even pay attention to what people are wearing around them, as military items and camouflage colours are becoming increasingly popular in fashion.

However, depending on your work environment, you shouldn’t take this risk. You don’t want a nosey and/or co-worker to see your latest tactical bag and make fun of you or worse.

Because you will carry this backpack back and forth every day, even if you only carry it to your vehicle and back, you will not be able to avoid someone seeing it. You want your fellow human beings to be completely uninterested in your EDC bag.

You don’t want to attract the wrong attention, even from friends and neighbours. Be discreet.

Is it important to you to be discreet, to be inconspicuous? If so, dress accordingly and choose your gear accordingly. If you don’t care, then by all means wear whatever you want.

By the way, this whole concept of “not noticing” is also known as “Grey Man”. It is often overused but is appropriate for our purpose.

How To Choose Your Best EDC Bag

There are many brands, styles, features, and sizes of bags out there, and in this article, we’ll help you identify what to look for as well as what to avoid when choosing the right bag for your EDC bag contents which we will now discuss.

Essentially, there are 3 steps to follow as regards the selection of your ‘ideal’ EDC bag.

STEP # 1 = Choosing Your EDC Items :

Before choosing an EDC bag, we need to consider exactly what gear we plan to include in the bag.

Whether you’re new to choosing an EveryDay Carry bag or someone who has had one for years, take this opportunity to re-evaluate your EDC needs.

Let’s go through the EDC list by asking ourselves the following questions:

• What items do you need to take with you to accomplish your basic daily routine? These are the basic items that you cannot leave your home without. These items usually include a wallet , keys, and a cell phone. You may charge more than that depending on where you live or what you do professionally. Keep this list as minimal as possible, this will be the core of your EDC kit, and we’ll add items from it.

• What are the common threats, risks and problems that you are likely to face on a daily basis? This requires you to perform a risk assessment and involves you examining your environment and identifying the potential events most likely to occur. It helps to know and understand what has happened historically in your area as well as paying attention to the changing risks around you.

Once you have a list of medium to high probability risks, add this to the common issues in your daily life such as…..Do you need to open boxes or packages frequently? Can carrying a knife help you? Is it common for you to be in dark places or to be out late at night?

Maybe it would be a good idea to start carrying an  EDC flashlight .What we seek to address here are items that deal with common issues and high probability risks.

Think critically about these two things and be insightful about what you plan to take in your kit.

• What could you take with you that would be universally useful in many situations? This follows the philosophy of wearing versatile survival items i.e. items you carry with you that have many uses

For example, items like duct tape, paracord, and pliers or a multi-purpose knife fit neatly into this category. Is there anything else you could add to your daily carry bag that fits this profile?

• What items do you want to carry with you to help you in a low probability / high impact situation you could may be face? These items are the ones that are nice to have, but not the things you hope you will have to use, except in less common circumstances. They can include emergency tools such as a seat belt cutter / window breaker for crashed vehicles or in an emergency, a pry tool to force doors.

Do you have to walk through a hostile neighbourhood on your way home from work every day? Maybe wearing pepper spray would be safe?

Consider low probability events with high negative impact where you could greatly improve your survivability by having a simple tool.

Carefully consider the above questions when developing your EDC list.

Keep in mind that you are not trying to solve every problem or cover every possibility with your EDC kit, for this you will need a complete Bug Out Bag (BOB).

Keep your EDC kit as simple and efficient as possible. If you intend to carry these items with you EVERY DAY, you don’t want an inflated list of gear that you carry but never use.

Step # 2 = How big should your EDC bag be?

After determining your ideal daily carry list, determining the best size EDC bag to contain the items of this list is relatively straightforward – find the smallest bag that can hold all of your items, so you don’t have any items in your pockets anymore.

Start by measuring the most important element. Its size will be the minimum dimensions of your EDC bag. Also, consider adding items to your EDC kit occasionally, such as rain gear, a water bottle , food , documents, or whatever else you carry daily as a necessity.

You will need additional space or the option of modular additions through a MOLLE system or other method to accommodate these occasional items. EDC bags are available in many styles and sizes, from a small bag that can fit in a cargo pocket to 30 litre backpacks. Something bigger than that is categorize in the Get Home Bag (GHB) or Bug Out Bag (BOB).

NB :

If your requirement is a bag of 30 Litres or more, you will need to reconsider your list because a bag of this size this is not a viable option as an EDC.

Step # 3 = Shoulder or Backpack EDC Bag. How Do You Prefer to Wear Your Future EDC Bag ?

What specific advantages are there actually in the backpack and shoulder bags? 

It should be pointed out that the backpack can adapt to many outfits, not only because of its style, but also thanks to its colours. We should point out that it is possible to choose between simple or fanciful models, according to preferences.

As its name suggests, this accessory is worn over the shoulder, thanks to a strap going from the shoulder to the hips. Like the backpack, the weight carried is fairly well distributed between the back and the shoulders. In addition, it is possible to change shoulders regularly so as not to tire prematurely.

	PROS	CONS
Backpack Bag	(i) Thanks to the specific features of the backpack, you avoid pain in the shoulders or kidneys when you have to carry heavy loads. (ii) this accessory is available in different sizes and dimensions, to meet your needs.  You can then use it for small errands, a hike or even for a shorter or longer vacation.  You can choose the volume according to the space you need. (iii) From a practical point of view, the backpack is the equipment of choice if you have to carry it over long distances, whether on foot or on a two-wheeler.	On the other hand, from a style point of view, the backpack is not always the most stylish and the most trendy.  Most of the time, the practical side negates the aesthetic aspect.
Shoulder Bag	(1) From a design standpoint, the shoulder bag usually has a briefcase-like appearance.  Thanks to this configuration, this accessory is equipped with a maximum of storage for various objects such as books, a computer and many more.  Compared to a backpack, it is possible to organize your things better. (2) You can also easily retrieve the items you have stored there.  Especially since it is quite possible to wear it in front.  This aspect is also very appreciable from a security point of view since you can keep an eye on your belongings which are more secure from possible pickpockets. (3) In any case, the shoulder backpack is particularly stylish.  It goes well with an elegant and neat look.  It is easily worn on various occasions, even for going to the office.	Although the shoulder bag allows for better organization of business, its capacity is generally limited.  In addition, if you are carrying heavy objects, it is an accessory that quickly reveals its limits: the shoulders tire quickly with excessive loads.

Step # 4 = Features You Need & Features To Avoid With EDC Bags

The ‘Golden Rule’ to remember is that you carry the smallest bag that suits your daily needs. Fortunately, many of the best EDC bags come with customization options to add or remove as you see fit via modular MOLLE pouches so your EDC bag can grow as and when you need it to do so.

Whatever style of bag you choose, here is a list of features to look for and avoid when searching the best EDC bag for your particular requirements :

ESSENTIAL FEATURES : High quality craftsmanship If you plan on wearing the best EDC bag everyday, you don’t want something cheap that’s going to go bad on you. It is best to invest in a quality bag from a brand that has a good reputation. MOLLE integration A MOLLE integration is a valuable feature to have in any tactical or prep bag as its widespread use allows for limitless customization options.  Incorporating it into your EDC kit, no matter what size and style of bag you choose, will allow you to flexibly adapt as your needs change. Hydration system This applies to shoulder bags and backpacks.  Having a hydration system built into the bag will save space and reduce the need to carry a separate water bottle. Hydration is essential if you have to cover great distances with your EDC bag. Adjustment Every body is different ! Buying a bag – one sixteen – for all people is sure to give you frustration and discomfort.  Your EDC bag should conform to your body shape and not restrict your movement. This means having multiple adjustment straps and clips at the following points as a minimum: – Shoulders – Hips – Sternum Being able to adjust your bag to these three points will ensure that you have a properly fitted bag that you can wear all day, every day if need be. Ability to run with the bag This goes hand in hand with a ‘well-fitting’ bag :  You never know when to run with your bag, you might have to catch a bus or escape hostile people. In any case, having a stable bag with easily identifiable compartments is an important feature to look for when choosing the right EDC bag for your situation. Pockets to organize your bag A good indication that you have a high quality EDC bag instead of a more general consumer style bag is that it has well-designed, accessible and practical organizational features built into the bag. This helps you find your EDC items when you need them and allows you to organize them in the most logical way possible for your needs. Most quality EDC bags come with a variety of straps, pouches, velcro, zippers, pocket and compartments that allow for secure & efficient storage. Zippers Strong, corrosion resistant zippers is a must have since the zipper is a weak point in any bag.  Since you’ll be using them thousands of times over the life of the bag, it’s important that your EDC bag has quality zippers that won’t get stuck or broken at the most critical moment as what happens frequently with trouser zips !!!! In addition, it’s best to have zippers with pull tabs that are made of a sturdy plastic, aluminum or other rust-proof material : If you wear this bag everyday it will be exposed to the elements a lot. Over time, this will cause corrosion and failure if cheap zippers are in use. The leading EDC bag makers on the market know that a quality zipper can make the difference between a reliable bag and one that isn’t !

Features To Avoid As important as the essential features mentioned above are to include, it is also necessary to be aware of the features to avoid when looking for the best EDC bag for you. A Large Compartment If you need to carry your carefully selected EDC gear in a bag that only has one large compartment, you might as well pack your gear in a burlap bag.  It’ll be cheaper and accomplish the same thing – mixing your gear so you can’t find what you need urgently. This defeats the whole logic behind possessing an EDC Bag. Choose a bag with multiple compartments (i.e.pockets) to optimize the accessibility of your EDC items and better manage the load. Make sure you know what these pockets contain ! Elastic straps This is a common feature of poor quality, bag manufacturers. It helps to to cut their operating costs using cheap /inexpensive materials :  instead of making sturdy, padded and adjustable straps, they will use elastic straps which will make the bag one size fits all.  In addition, the elasticity of these will wear out over time, making the bag lower than desired. If a bag that uses elastic straps to tie it to your body, avoid it – at all costs.  Look for sturdy shoulder and hip straps with adjustable buckles for a comfortable and durable fit. Huge bags Even the best and / or most expensive EDC bag cannot cover every possible emergency / event otherwise one would need a different bag for every kind of possible situation !  This is the purpose of your. ONLY the BOB ( i.e.Bug Out Bag) can get close to this possibility. Therefore, Carefully assess your  daily needs  and include these tips so as to minimize the equipment you will be wearing: – go through your list of EDC items and see what you actually use day in and day out and what you withdraw. – use versatile items  to save space and weight. – try to find lightweight options for the items you wear that are constructed from materials such as titanium, micarta, carbon fibre, and plastics. – If an item is available in multiple sizes, choose the smaller version assuming it does not affect you. As you can see, the path to finding the best EDC bag to meet your daily routine needs is a very personal choice. You will need to balance the threats you are likely to face with what you are able and willing to carry with you every day.  Once you have decided what your EDC kit will be made of, it is best to find a high quality bag that is comfortable and small enough not to overwhelm you if you need to get around quickly. Having a smaller, lighter kit with useful and practical items is more desirable than having a huge bag full of items that you probably will never be able to use. Plan your kit carefully and then choose the best EDC bag to satisfy those needs.

Conclusion

As regards your final decision,, everything depends on your habits and your requirements. If you need to carry rather heavy and / or bulky things, the backpack is best suited. If you carry a minimum of objects while being organized and needing to look classy, ​​the shoulder bag is the best choice. 

In any case, it’s all about preference AND which ideally suits your EDC criteria. Do not hesitate to try different models to find your ‘ideal’ EDC Bag – Part 2 will certainly assist you in this search – ladies as well as gents !

So Let’s go there now – CLICK THIS LINK !

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