Anyone track their EDC carry habits?

[knarfeng]

Sooo...

Does anyone else use an app to track this?

Am I crazy for even having an interest in monitoring my EDC habits?

Would you use a resource to track your EDC carrying habits? I can't be the only nut out there who would.

I've never heard of anyone using an app.
You might be a bit "touched"
No I would not use an app.

I can't imagine wanting such a thing, but if I did want to do such tracking, I would not look for an app. I'd just set up a flat database using Google Sheets or Excel.

 

[BrokenLinx]

I've never heard of anyone using an app.
You might be a bit "touched"
No I would not use an app.

I can't imagine wanting such a thing, but if I did want to do such tracking, I would not look for an app. I'd just set up a flat database using Google Sheets or Excel.

Yeah...Appreciate the input.

 

[skyhorse]

Honestly I never thought about tracking myself.

 

[Kreyzhorse]

I have several possible EDC knives and simply pick what I feel like carrying for the day.

 

[JB in LV]

OP, I would not use an app to track or manage daily carry, however you are not the first person I have heard mention the concept.

I maintain a spreadsheet called “Knife Inventory” with the information below, it is a constant reference, 2/3 of my knives are traditional slip joints.

Make, Model, Description, Keep/Sell (sell, maybe, doubtful, never sell), color, blade steel, handle material, lock type, number of blades, primary blade type, primary blade length, overall length, weight, source (purchased from), cost, date purchased, serial number, amount produced (if small run), misc. notes.

Also tracks sold/trades/gifted/stolen (car broken into), on order, “wish list”, as well as various reference materials. It’s also good to have pics.

 

[Hackenslash]

In hindsight I guess if you’re a novice at EDC, an app might make sense. Tap in your wardrobe, weather forecast, expected activities, meal plans, travel, security and contemporaries. Voila; an app will make the correct EDC choice for you.

This will avoid that awkward moment as you deploy a CS XL Espada at an upscale business luncheon to slice your Baked Alaska. And, of course, no one wants that awkward moment when asked “is that an Espada in your pocket or...”

No, I still can’t picture wanting or needing an app to regulate my EDC....but it might work for someone just starting out. This might be big with the hipster community.

Not for me though. EDC is intuitive.

 

[iareconfuse]

My first thought was: WTF no, why would I?
Then I took a breath and the answer is still "probably not" although with an asterisk attached to it, if somebody were to make an app and had a decent size chunk of the knife community participate to create some larger statistics that could be interesting for research I would participate as well. Maybe to see what blade shapes people prefer, what locks, brands and such. It could be a good tool for that. But to track my own habits? Nah.

An app to gather data on blade shape preference would probably be a pretty useful marketing research tool for a company to create. Probably doesnt even need to be an app, just a daily survey would suffice. This wouldn't really help the consumer though, just the manufacturer.

 

[BrokenLinx]

Have you ever qualified an App for distribution through Apple or Android? You might find you hopes of a "homegrown" App are dead in the water before you begin.

I have. Google is just registering. Apple is a PITA. They require a D&B # and a bunch of BS hoop jumping. I've already got everything to do it if I get to that point.

Once past the seeming initiation and hazing and on board, deployments are not an issue.

 

[BrokenLinx]

Not for me! I don't need something confirming that I don't carry 75% of the knives in my knife drawer that often. That would mean I should probably sell them. Not going to happen! Nope, never.

Funniest thing in this thread!

Genuine. Honest. On point. Without judgement. Funny. Appreciate it.

 

[BrokenLinx]

My thought.... who cares? If you care, write it down and keep a log. What possible use is the information other than some sort of response here on BF.

Yeah man...Seeing the power of AI in my professional life, when it crossed my mind, it interested me and thought it'd be worth throwing out here to the collective.

Definitely regretting that. I'll keep my log, and do whatever I can come up with on my own and go back to lurking.

Cheers all.

 

[BrokenLinx]

that's prolly the best advice, making an app for this, using sql on the backend? omg? - that's really honestly like using a shotgun to hunt squirrels

back in the old days, programmers would make all this stuff work inside of 1k ram - i've written full featured txt editors in less

Best advice?

Yes. For the current defined requirements, SQL is absolutely the appropriate technology for this project. It provides a high-availability backend that can easily sustain any rate of growth thrown at it.

I'm not sure whether you're saying that a SQL backend isn't necessary or that SQL (as in MSFT SQL) is overkill and something like MySQL would be sufficient.

As we see with Moore's Law, everything was done within significantly smaller resource constraints in the "old days". So, not really following the relevance there, although I may well be missing your point though.

 

[BrokenLinx]

These things haven’t changed in a long time except some days I carry a different folder than my almost daily carry of the delica. Sometimes a guy just has to carry a millie every once and a while.

This. You be you brother.

For 20+ years I carried the same hand full of items. It was 100% function and it got carried til it broke or got lost (often the latter). Now, the EDC world has tons of cool stuff out there and I'm fortunate enough to be able to have more than I need. So, I wanna track what I carry and see if I can identify some sort of value from it (apparently only for myself lol).

I don't carry a ton of shit. Same as most I'd imagine...Blade, MT/BU blade, light, wallet (with comb, etc), watch, pen, glasses/sunglasses, keys, and gun.

Ok...So that seems like a lot when I write it out, but (with exception to the gun and MT/BU blade) that has been my EDC for the last 20+ yrs. Now I just have more options for each.

But I certainly respect and appreciate the warmth and comfort of daily EDC familiarity.

 

[stabman]

Well, I don't use an app for anything.
My cell phone has no data plan...and I'm happiest on days when I forget it at home (but I still remember my knife! ).

For me, an EDC app would be useless.
For people who like living the "There's an app for that!" lifestyle, it would probably be great.

 

[BrokenLinx]

Some people just enjoy analytics... I doubt he is incapable of choosing his edc gear without an app... ease up on the OP a lil...

Could be a fun project OP. Side diversions are always a good way to learn a new language/framework/tech stack/etc.

Indeed I can gear all on my own without the help of an app or anything else. I appreciate the empathy Deinos.

I have a tendency to not come across as intended when I write, so I historically do not post in forums. And, that's not accounting for how other's responses come across to me, whether intended or not.

Have always enjoyed deriving value in #s. Was thinking it might be something fun to share with the community.

I've DEFINITELY gotten some good input from it, that I've called out of the madness. So again, I'm obviously shit at doing this, but I appreciate those who have provided constructive input.

 

[BrokenLinx]

Pretty much this everyday. No need to track anything.

Looks good!

Digging the PM9 and the Izula (my go to lil fixed blade).

How's that Maxpedition wallet holding up for you?

 

[BrokenLinx]

Needing an app to track your EDC gear? Someone has way too much time on their hands.

There is no way I would use an app to track EDC usage. To me, that's just useless overkill. I could see some use for a spreadsheet though. Maybe. It could be used to keep track of what I've bought and sold and if an item is NIB or used. Keeping formal track of how often something gets carried or used is just a waste of time in my book. I can do that in my head. I have one knife out on loan and I am finding that I don't really miss it. That tells me that it does not get much pocket time. Why would I need an app for that?

But, if you want to use an app, have at it. The big question is where do you draw the line? Keeping track of what you EDC is just the tip of the iceberg. What is the next step? Counting how many strokes you use when using your Sharpmaker?

I could force a spreadsheet to work for 1 person. My thought was maybe a pay it forward effort on my part if any were interested.

But I definitely get ya. It's not for everyone. You don't have to tell me that I'm not like the others.

Keeping track of what you EDC is just the tip... What is the next step? Counting how many strokes you use when...

I get your point. But it's Saturday night and my head is obviously in the gutter.

 

[BrokenLinx]

I don’t really see the point of it, especially the need for “controlling”
I carry only one knife at a time and I pick the one I think will make the job or simply the knife I want on the moment ...

That being said I have cut down my collection last year and I decided to log into an xls sheet which knife I have carried each days
That is more to analyse which knives I will have carried most in one year and if I can get rid of some of them since I don’t actually use them

It is funny because sometimes your feelings are not reflecting the reality of how frequently you carry one knife

Thanks for the feedback. So, you mention that you don't see the point of it, but then you proceed giving a great testimonial as to how and why you did this. And, to my point, found out something that you didn't necessarily expect to see.

There has to be all kinds of scenarios that fit any number of us. And yes...Visibility to all those who pick up the same this or that every day or who have strong opinions about those who don't. There are plenty of EDC molds to benefit from it.

What did you trackin your spreadsheet?
Just knife and day, or was any additional details logged? Also, out of curiosity, did you enter daily or as you thought about it during the week/month?

 

[BrokenLinx]

Naah.. I know that I have a problem, but I don't want to know how much of a problem I've got.

This is a growing trend of opinion in this thread. A sentiment that I hadn't thought of, but can appreciate.

There's also the whole wife visibility. Face detection would be a must to keep the Mrs out.

 

[BrokenLinx]

So far it looks like it’s only you and 2 other people.

I spend far too much time decidin’ what I wanna EDC, let alone what I actually carry.

Too much money leads to too many knives. This in turn leads too much time spent deciding what to carry.

Now it’s not a far stretch to presume if you have all this time you most certainly have the extra required to document the care and feeding habits of the adult male knife knut. (The previous 4 words bein’ the only assumption.)

Now I do try to keep a running inventory of what I own, when and where it came from and if I have the info how much I paid and how much I think it’s worth. Unless it was a gift or GAW knife. Then I just record what I know.

Keepin’ a daily knife diary of what you edc carry is excessive and just weird.

Because I carry what I like till I like something better I don’t have a need to track my carry habits. The only thing you can guarantee I do habitually in regards to knives is that I always carry one.

Agree with everything but your opinion on the definition of weird.
Appreciate the feedback.

 

[b00n]

You might want to look into an EDC Gear Collection App, it seems like it would have broader appeal and you can always add a function that tracks which of the gear you own you carry and how often. There is a (German?) Knife Collection App but I don't recall it having gotten noteworthy traction. If you add some Instagram integration it would have even more appeal (Like posting your updated collection pictures to your account for example). You could either use manufacturer pictures or have user submitted pictures.
Again, just trying to be productive than just shooting down your idea.