4 Tools A Survivor Should Carry EVERY DAY!

Awesome, so you're a prepper, oh sorry, thats not right because you're not the crazy redneck yelling about the end of the world, Let me correct myself.

You are wise enough to realize that bad things happen, and you want to have the skills and tools to be prepared.

Anyway, you want to be ready, but how can you be prepared when your away from your house? That is, when you're driving to work, when your at the grocery store, and other miscellaneous times when you're not expecting s*** to go down?

This is what I call your everyday carry kit or EDC kit. This is usually composed of a few necessary and convenient items that are just enough to get you out of a tight spot.

So what should be a part of your EDC kit you might ask. Well, read on because I am going to tell you about a few basic item you should never leave your house without.

A Knife:

I knife is an amazing and simple piece of technology. It has been around since the dawn of time and there is a reason it is still issued and carried today.

A knife serves as everything from a fire starter to a defense weapon.

An EDC knife should knot be crazy or overboard. I don't go to the grocery store carrying my Ka-Bar because this would put me square in the category of a crazy pepper.

An EDC knife should be small, versatile and convenient. It should be made of high quality steel and be well made. Don't use a cheap China knife as an EDC! I did this and nearly los my pinkie finger when the lock failed and the knife closed of my hand.

You can carry one of those all-in-one Swiss army things if you want but I find these to be annoying and cumbersome.

A simple, string liner lock or lock-back is a great choice and will serve you well. If you want to learn more about this checkout my video on EDC knives.

A Light:

A light source is a must have in your EDC kit. I am not talking about the stupid flash on your iPhone. I am taking about and honest to goodness flashlight.

You may ask why not use my phones light. The answer is simple, it is a small low quality light source. The battery will die fairly quickly and there are times you will need to use your phone and have a light at the same time. The list goes on but I will leave it at those three reasons.

This is something that annoys me a lot is the people who say, “Oh I don't need a flashlight, I have my phone” With todays LEDs and rechargeable batteries you can get an incredibly powerful light in a very small size for a really good price.

Go with a Chinese made light if your low on funds, but I would recommend a high quality light that is waterproof and shockproof. Your life may depend on it at some point.

A TRUE multi-tool:

I say a true multi-tool because I am not talking about those stupid little Swiss army things with no lock and a plethora of useless item…who needs a damn nail file on their knife???

I am talking about a fold out pliers style multi tool. My dad gave me a buck-tool when I was 14 and I have carried it ever since.

I cannot tell you how often I use the thing. I mostly use the pliers and in truth there are countless reasons you would want pliers to get of any number of tough situations.

A multi-tool can serve as a knife as well and if you done mind a relatively small blade then you can lump knife and multi-tool as one item. But my buck-tool is something I never leave my house without.

(Optional) Pen and Notebook:

One of the first things you learn in the Corps is to always carry a pen and writing material and at first I thought this was dumb. “why should I carry a pen and paper when I have a phone that does everything”

I quickly realized however that this analog item known as paper can be everything from a fire source to a map diagram.

I now carry a pen and notepad everywhere I go because whether I get a great idea I need to note down, or need to map out a route as I go, I always have material to use.

Oh and a notebook does not have a battery that will die just when you get an awesome idea!

These are the basics, But there is so much more!

Aright, these are a few of the things I find most needed everyday, but there are so many more I could not get into it without having a 42 page post.

In the end however, what you need everyday is up to you alone. Everyone has a different lifestyle and makes different choices. Just remember, being prepared is a mindset and a daily activity. Make wise choices and carry smart items.