It’s taken a few years to build a solid EDC system that works for my everyday needs. I don’t need much and have such a minimal setup, but I love it!
When choosing my items I had to focus on four factors that would determine what I would carry.
Comfortability: In warmer weather I always wear running shorts and a tee shirt and needed a system that is lightweight and something very low profile to accommodate my attire. I only have two, maybe three pockets, if there is a back pocket on my shorts. So there are limited places to store items. The pockets that I do have cannot store much so I’m limited and can’t carry a lot. I need to have items that are not heavy and are smaller in size so that it’s a more comfortable experience when carrying daily.
Application: What are my daily needs? what does my profession, my job call for? I am an educator and full time musician. I teach drum lessons and perform live so I need a blade for opening things and cutting, a screwdriver and pliers to fix equipment from time to time like microphone stands, drum equipment, etc… I need paper and something to write with for notes and reminders. Lastly I need a wallet for my cards, license, money.
Durability: With any tool or product, you want things to last. You want to know that tool or item will withstand multiple uses and be there when you need it most. For my multitool I wanted something that was built tuff and had a warranty. What better company than Leatherman. They have a 25 year warranty on all of their tools. For my wallet I watched Taylor Martin from Best Damn EDC show off his Chums Daily Wallet and he had mentioned he had his for a long time and it was still holding up and was only $6!
Price: In the world of EDC you can spend a lot of money. I don’t mind paying a fair price for something that will last a lifetime but I also want it to be reasonable. The most expensive item I have is my Leatherman. I still didn’t pay full price though and was able to pick up a display model in the box for $80 back in 2019 on eBay. The rest of my gear is less than $20 each. $6 wallet, $4 pen, and a $9 Chums Surfshorts wallet to hold my post it notes.
Let’s take a look at each item.
This multi tool is my favorite knife and tool that I’ve ever owned. It goes in my pocket every day since I bought it in 2019. Before I would buy a new knife every so often and carry it for a while and then spend more money to find the next best thing. When I saw this one on YouTube and learned how it uses magnets to open and close and being it’s a one handed operation had me sold. I use the knife a lot for cutting tasks like opening packages and prepping food. The pliers come in handy more times than I count when I’m working on my truck or setting a small screw in place. My favorite tool though without a doubt is the Phillips head screwdriver. The Phillips head on the free P2 fits snuggly in almost every Phillips head screw. It’s probably the best Phillips I’ve ever used. The other feature that’s most important is the pocket clip. The P2 Stowe’s away without hardly being seen with its deep carry pocket clip. You can barely tell that it’s there once you carry it for the first couple of days. It’s considered heavy cause it’s a multitool but it’s really not bad at all. It doesn’t drag down my shorts and it stays put even if I have to jog into the grocery store when it’s raining. I have tried carrying other knives and I just feel naked without it. It really does go with me everywhere.
This wallet is so thin and lightweight! When I first saw this wallet on Best Damn EDC I thought man that thing is tiny but I would love to try it since it’s so cheap. I had been using the Herschel Charlie front pocket wallet, which is also slim and made of cloth and is just a bit bigger than the daily wallet. The Chums Daily wallet is perfect for me. It’s lightweight and doesn’t have a big footprint. It fits my license, health insurance card, my CCW, and room in the back for a few bills. I usually carry a $20 and a couple of $1 in case I need to leave a tip or pay cash for gas. This wallet holds it’s shape and it’s not a hassle to remove and replace your cards or credentials. The Chums logo on the front is made from some type of soft material that will scratch off over time but that’s not a deal breaker for me. As far as the stitching and material it’s very strong and holding up nicely after a year of ownership. If you’re looking for a small front pocket wallet that dissapears in your pocket that won’t break the bank then look no farther.
The Surfshorts wallet was a purchase to a question I had… How could I carry Post It Notes in my pocket without having them get bent all out of shape? I looked at multiple wallets and edc packs on Amazon and etsy. This one stood out to me with it’s measurements and the zip up pocket. And it also has a see-through back where you can carry a special picture or store your fishing license or drivers license. I don’t carry much other than a picture in the rear, a few bills stashed away, and my Post It Notes. It’s a soft wallet and will flex a bit but it’s never bent my Post It Notes. There is a benefit to the softness of the wallet though.. Once in the pocket it forms to your thigh and disappears. Even in running shorts you can’t tell there is something in your pocket from the outside. This was perfect for my needs.
These Post It Notes are very unique because of the size. I was lucky enough to acquire multiple packs of them to last me. I looked online for them to post a link and could not find them at this size (2.5″x3″) so Iposted a link to some that are 2″x3″. They fit perfectly in the Chums Surfshorts Wallet. The color grey also is a very unique color for Post It Notes. I use these on a weekly basis. I write reminders for myself, love notes to my girlfriend, funny notes to leave for my students at the end of lessons, and sometimes I sketch on them.
When I was looking for a small compact ink pen I found numerous pens that were anywhere from $50 up to $100 and more! No way was I going to pay that much for a small pen that I may lose. I looked on Amazon and found the Zebra F-301 Compact and it was super cheap at only $4. If I was to lose it I could easily purchase another one and it would’t hurt my feelings. It comes with a .07mm size tip but I found a larger refill with a 1.6mm which is very bold that I replaced the factory size with. This pen is used to write music with, fill out deposit slips at the bank, and to sign off on receipts and leave tips at restaurants. When I take the cap off I usually don’t put it on the top of the pen like you’re supposed to, I just hold the cap in one hand and use the smaller pen in the right hand. I know that’s quirky but It’s how I like to write with it. I enjoy this pen.
If you have any questions about my EDC setup or any of the items please comment below and lets have a discussion. I hope this can help you start your journey to putting together a system that will fit your daily needs.
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