Mon 18 November 2024

My EDC is kind of boring, but sometimes even the most boring items have an interesting history.

I used to carry around a Photon Microlight, but haven't needed a pocket light since 2010, thanks to modern phones.

I also used to carry a mini Swiss Army Knife in my pocket, but I save weight by just leaving it in the center console of my car, and it's about 90% as accessible to me as if it were in my pocket.

So, what do I actually keep on me all the time?

Keys

I have my car key, mailbox key, home key, and a key to my mom's house on a keychain with no fob (for compactness). I always know which key I'm holding based on position: the key to my mom's house is separated from the others by my car key on one side, and a bit of broken chain which used to attach a TV-B-Gone to my keychain (a very nice device, but far too bulky a package for the actual size of the PCB) on the other.

Wallet

I'm a big fan of bifold wallets. They're larger than tri-folds, but much thinner. I always keep my wallet in a front pocket, as reaching behind me is physically uncomfortable for me. I've tried 3D printing my own wallets, and using alternate (hard shell) wallets, but a standard, boring old bifold is still my favorite. A friend of mine once had a very interesting wallet: it was a bi-fold in the aspect of a tri-fold (so, basically two-thirds of a tri-fold wallet). That would be great for someone who wanted the smallest wallet possible with the most utility. I'm not at all sold (pun intended) on these fancy hardshell wallets like the Ridge wallet. Seems like a glorified money clip to me, with very little utility beyond an ordinary money clip.

Phone

This has changed a good bit over the years. I'm currently rocking a Pixel 7 with CalyxOS. I was still very happy with my Pixel 4a 5G (except that it was starting to develop dust under the lens, but it wasn't too hard to occasionally blow it out with an air duster), but I unfortunately baptized it in a saltwater pool early last fall, so I've been on the Pixel 7 ever since.

I've used both Android and iOS for many years (each). I don't honestly like either platform very much, but I find that using a privacy-oriented FOSS Android build like CalyxOS is... tolerable. ;)

Before I got my first smartphone in 2010, I used to carry an iPod Touch (Third Generation) along with a Nokia clamshell phone. (PSA: your old phone likely wasn't a "flip phone," it was a clamshell. Flip Phones were exclusively bar phones with a flip-out guard or keypad, where the guard didn't cover the entire front of the phone.)

Bonus

For a very brief period of time nine years ago, I carried a lighter with me. It was a replica of an Eastern European post-World-War-Two lighter which was originally made of spent cartridge casings. It held some sentimental significance to me (I don't smoke), but I realized rather quickly that carrying a cheaply-made sheet metal container of liquid naphtha in my pocket with me everywhere was Not A Good Idea.

What's your every-day carry?

Note: This article has a Part II!

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