A new year is upon us, and it\u2019s time to steer people into enlightenment and out of the old ways. While fate looks after some who do not wish to be bored with the facts, the facts are not in your favor \u2014 if you don\u2019t consider your everyday carry (EDC) gear and learn to use it well. Gear should be chosen after more than a 15-minute investigation.<\/p>\n
I am certain some of you are fearless young pagans who wish to see what happens when you pull a tiger\u2019s tail, while the rest of us find comfort in arriving home, starting a fire in the hearth, and relaxing in comfort. It takes mental stimulation to enjoy life. After some of the incidents I\u2019ve survived, I find comfort in what I have learned and am able to teach.<\/p>\n
![\"firing](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.cheaperthandirt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/EDC-11.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\")
<\/a>While such incidents may do more than lower the golf handicap, I do not jerk and gasp when someone slams the door too hard \u2014 but I have not forgotten. There are incidents that come upon you in the night and keep you company until the morning. They are best avoided. So, let\u2019s pull ourselves together, confer rationally, and find a skein of thought.<\/p>\n
Decisions, Decisions<\/h2>\n
What do you carry every day? What should you carry? Everyday carry means you carry it at the least on a consistent basis. Our needs and worldview affect the EDC gear. Our capabilities are not measured by what we carry, but in a real sense, the limits of our capabilities are found in the EDC gear. Every day we deal with the mundane. The extraordinary should not be left to deal with us. We should be prepared. We have to consider the available space.<\/p>\n
Most of us have about a yard of belt space, some less, some more. We have to use this space wisely with a proper allotment and balance. A good gun belt<\/a> is essential. This is the primary load-carrying device and not the place for false economy. Next, we have the pockets. All gear should be chosen on a basis of quality and reliability, though a light weight is also important. Just do not lose your life for a few ounces of comfort.<\/p>\n Some vote for versatility, others as much specialization as possible. The knife<\/a>, as an example, should be dedicated for personal defense and need not be a multitool<\/a>. For some, a multitool is essential for their daily walk. There is no single solution for everyone, but there are tools and weapons that most of us will be able to use well. There is a balance between weight, effectiveness, and expense. We are dealing with the meanness and sordidness of life and the former or future denizens of the 51st<\/sup> state (the U.S. prison system). Let\u2019s look hard in order to improve our situation.<\/p>\n The bad guys, in my experience, carry situationally. Very few carry a gun every day and every time they leave their home. They do, however, put a handgun in the belt \u2014 usually behind the belt buckle without a holster<\/a> \u2014 just before they commit a mugging, robbery, or assault. The rub is that we cannot see it coming and must be armed at all times. <\/p>\n This doesn\u2019t mean only packing the iron when traveling, going to the corner stop-and-rob<\/em>, or when out late at night. This means carrying the handgun<\/a> at all times every day, not just when the idea strikes us. Only then will you be prepared to face an assault.<\/p>\n What do you carry every day? Your wallet, keys, cash, credit card<\/a>, perhaps eyeglasses, and a handkerchief most likely. What if you left your wallet at home? How would your day go? Not well, probably. You might miss lunch for want of cash or not be able to badge into work. A license check would be bad news. Have you ever wished you had brought less gear with you during the day or on a trip? Probably not. A plan and commitment are vital. Start planning today and make everyday carry gear second nature.<\/p>\n I recommend researching the daily routine and likely scenario, and carrying everything you need and nothing you don\u2019t. As an example, a spare magazine<\/a> or speedloader<\/a> is important. Two spare magazines, probably less so. If I felt the need to carry two spare magazines for a Smith & Wesson<\/a> Shield 9mm, as an example, I would probably think I need a Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm compact with a higher magazine capacity than the Shield. (I subscribe to making the rounds in the gun count. The fight will probably be over in the first three shots, and you either got your man or he got you.)<\/p>\n While probabilities of certain problems are low, possibilities are limitless. EDC must become part of the daily routine and the gear and its deployment second nature. You will practice accessing the gear and the items you deploy most often will have the strongest muscle memory for rapid acquirement. <\/p>\n You will reach for your wallet many times during the day, and it is thus second nature. The handgun and holster combination must be learned by practice, as you will not be drawing it as a matter of course during the week. Keys, cell phone<\/a>, and other gear also have a high likelihood of strong muscle memory. Consider the circumstance of the typical day and do not arrange your EDC gear in such a way that it will interfere with your emergency gear.<\/p>\n EDC gear may vary from time to time. Whether you are in an urban or rural environment, traveling or seated most of the day must be considered. Evaluate your needs and make the EDC as simple as possible. As an example, a ring of keys is simpler than a number of loose keys, and if your job demands it, a ring of keys on the belt makes sense. <\/p>\n While repeatability is important, the climate introduces variations. Your covering garments affect your EDC carry, at least the mode of carry. Do you leave your gear in the vehicle at times? Is the EDC handgun too valuable to lose? (All are too valuable to lose, but a Glock is more easily replaced than a custom-grade handgun or Grandfather\u2019s Detective Special.) Some tools are an acquired taste and others are easily used by the majority of trained people<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are other items. Some will add some form of pepper spray<\/a>. From hard experience, I prefer the knife. However, non-dedicated attackers can be dissuaded by gas.<\/p>\n The handgun is often a compromise of weight, caliber, and size. Quality should never be compromised. The Glock 19 is a baseline and a very good one. The Glock<\/a> is affordable. You can spend more \u2014 a lot more \u2014 but the Glock is reliable. You can spend less and get a lot less handgun. The Glock is useful for a trained shooter. The 9mm cartridge<\/a> is the baseline for defensive use. The Glock 19 9mm, in the opinion of many, is the baseline for comparison. Compare your EDC carry with this piece, and make an honest appraisal.<\/p>\n![\"Man](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.cheaperthandirt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/EDC-12.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Do Not Carry Situationally<\/h2>\n
![\"Galco](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.cheaperthandirt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/EDC-6.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\")
<\/a>![\"Keys](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.cheaperthandirt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/EDC-9.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Everyday Carry Checklist<\/h2>\n
\n
Conclusion: Everday Carry<\/h2>\n