2 EDC Items Everyone Should Own and Carry Daily
When it comes to EDC items everyone should own, there are two that I feel are 100% necessary. It doesn’t matter if you’re a male or female, these two items are everyday day carry essentials. The first one is a good (powerful) flashlight and the other is a quality knife. Both of these EDC items are not only for utilitarian uses but also for self-defense.
Now, I understand that you might not be into “personal protection” but when it comes down to it, we live in a world that is plagued by people who want to do harm and take advantage of the weak. And I don’t want that to be you. So, if you want to make sure you put yourself in a position to have the necessary tools to protect yourself as well as make some of your daily activities easier, this blog post is for you.
Disclaimer: It is recommended that you check you state and local laws before buying the two EDC items listed below. Some states regulate the type and length of knife you may own and carry.
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What EDC Items Should You Have on Your Person Everyday?
Below are two EDC items that should be on you or in an EDC bag that you keep close to you daily.
1. Flashlight
You might be asking why you need a flashlight as one of the EDC items everyone should own if you’re already carrying a phone that includes a light. Well, if you’re walking around your neighborhood at night or you’re out with your spouse for a date night and you need to see what that shadow is moving towards you, that smartphone light is not going to have the power to push through the darkness.
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In fact, you’re going to need to be nearly on top of the object/subject to even see what it is if you’re using your phone. That’s where a powerful flashlight comes into play. There are plenty of examples where you drop something, you’re looking for something outside, etc. where a flashlight makes sense.
It doesn’t stop just there. A good quality flashlight should be extremely bright (the more lumens the better) and should be able to stick out from your palm slightly when you grasp it. The purpose for all the lumens is to be able to temporarily blind a possible assailant as well as use the end of the flashlight as a blunt object to protect yourself and if force is needed to separate you from an attacker, the light will come in handy.
A flashlight that I have personally fallen in love with and use as one of my daily EDC items is the Streamlight HL-X.
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This flashlight has 1,000 lumens and is programmable to suit your individual needs when it comes to using a low, strobe, and high output. Personally, I use the mode that no matter how you tap the tailcap, it’s on full power (1,000 lumens). The Streamlight HL-X literally turns night into day. It’s one of the most powerful EDC flashlights you’ll find on the market these days and for that reason it’s definitely one of the EDC items I use and recommend.
I like to combine my EDC flashlights with a Thyrm Switchback 2.0 accessory. This makes handling the flashlight much easier and gives you great retention should you need to use the flashlight as a blunt object in self-defense. The large loophole on the accessory additionally gives you a point of reference when you are trying to quickly grab your light and helps prevent fumbling and even dropping your flashlight when you need to deploy it.
2. Knife
The second of the EDC items everyone should own is a knife. Now, you need to check with your state and local laws to make sure you are within their requirements and legal limits. But, a knife is a perfect tool to cut boxes, get a splinter out of your finger, cut fruit, cut rope, and just about anything else you need to cut. It can also be used as a self-defense weapon.
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Mind you, should you ever need to use a knife in self-defense, it better be for the reason that your life is in grave danger and there was no way to escape, evade, or get away from a threat. Using a knife as self-defense even if you use it to protect yourself could still cause you to be handcuffed and you could take a trip to the police station until everything gets straightened out and the police have all of the information and details needed. The use of a knife should be as a last resort.
A knife that I carry as one of my EDC items regularly is the Spyderco Yojimbo 2. You can read my review of this knife here.
The Spyderco Yojimbo 2 was created by Michael Janich who is a well-recognized self-defense trainer. The knife contours the hand nicely, making it extremely comfortable to hold and use for utilitarian purposes. The scales (handles) are G-10 material and are very grippy to ensure a secure purchase on the knife, regardless of the task it’s being used for. The knife has a compression lock and nested stainless steel liners. Blade steel is a very high-quality S30V. Additionally, and something that’s very important, there is no play in the blade when you try to move it side to side or up and down.
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However, I must say, I have many knives in my EDC rotation based on where I’m going and things I know I’d need it for (such as the Spyderco Sage). Some knives are more like a multi-tool where others are more for self-defense use. It’s all dependent on my needs for the day and the environment I will be in as to what EDC items I choose before leaving the house.
EDC Items Everyone Should Own — It’s Very Personal
This blog showcases a couple of my favorite EDC items everyone should own. Your mileage may vary and your wants and needs could be drastically different — especially when it comes to the laws where you live. Could I have thrown in a firearm, medical like a tourniquet, pepper spray, etc.? Yes, I could have. However, these two EDC items I recommended are things I feel everyone should carry regardless for their EDC.
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I also have a book that ties all of this into health and fitness as well if you wished to read it. What do you carry as your EDC items? Is it some sort of flashlight and knife? Do you carry more EDC items than just those two? Do you carry less? What would you recommend as EDC items everyone should own? I’d love to hear your feedback. Feel free to let me know on any of my social media platforms!
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