Becker Skills and Information Thread 06 - October 2014 - Urban Survival

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Well, I'm giving photobucket a try for now. Although can I say I hate their interface?

Anyway, back on topic. Here is my EDC setup.

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From top left to bottom right.

  • Wallet: Nothing really notable. A bit of cash, the usuals, and then a neato thing called a "floss card". Business card shaped floss container ftw!
  • Comb: What can I say, real men part their hair.
  • Writing implements: Because writing.
  • 32oz Nalgene: Its gone literally everywhere with me for the past 9 years.
  • Medium sized tuperware: I'm a cheapskate, I bring my lunch every day in the same tuperware. Its not amazing, but it is a container that I have on me every day.
  • 1x6 medium Arkansas stone: Added this after I saw this thread, figured I had it laying around, might as well throw it in.
  • Boker Exskelimoor II: Its been in my RR pocket since the day I ordered it. Great choice for an office worker IMO.
  • Svord Peasant: Some of us can't carry a fixed blade around with us. IMO, the Peasant isn't really a folding knife with an extended tang as much as it is a short rat tail tanged knife with a folding handle extension. Some days this is exchanged for my Peasant mini, or an Opinel #6.
  • SAK Farmer: Nothing else to say, great knife. Folding saw, some tools, a decent blade and a paracord lanyard.
  • Little improvised FAK: Basically all of the contents were pulled from my offices FAK thing. Its got some bandaids, some gloves, some ibuprofen, a few other bandages, all in a career fair swag gift case (as a recently graduated college student, I've got all sorts of random things like this).
  • Hand sanitizer: Because clean.
  • Firekit: Added this as well. Found my first bit of fatwood a few weeks ago, so this tin has some strips of that, and a fire steel blank. Wrapped in some paracord. Maybe 6 ft worth.
  • Another 6ft bit of 550: Because cordage.
  • Headlamp: I use this as a second light. I've mentioned before that I bike to work every day. My bike has a removable headlight that is decent, but the headlamp helps a lot on the turns and for closer illumination.
  • Terrible terrible sunglasses: Had them for 9 years, they cost $9, I figure they're up for a replacement soon. But I grew up in AZ, and sunglasses are a permanent habit now (the important bit is that they have blue lenses when viewed from the inside).
  • 40 cents: It was in there already, and I saw no reason to take it out, and since I don't use vending machines, I have no idea if it will ever get spent.
  • Matches: Added these as well. Because fire.
  • Nokia Lumia 822: Smartphone... Need it for work, otherwise I would probably stick with a dumbphone.
  • Bandana: I play sports a few times a week (futsal and soccer, I've played for over 20 years now, and love playing pickup games). As I mentioned before, I've got a decent amount of hair, and this is usually used like a sweatband.

Out of the picture:
Focus Black Forest 3.0: Its a pretty decent mountain bike, but its taken me to work every day for a year and a half now.
Asus Ultrabook of some sort: Use it for work, decent laptop. Not much else to say.

Anyway, that's about it. Some items fluctuate a bit, but that's been the core for a while now. For instance some days when it rains, I walk instead of ride, and I'll take an umbrella. Stuff like that.

Cheers!
 
No one is out of line posting in here. All info is most definitely welcome. Sorry I had been gone, had some family stuff to deal with and then work stuff that had me in the middle of nowhere as literally as possible. Decommissioned mine site with very little signal. Anywhoosles, the time is soon upon us, so if you want to participate in the contest, get those pics up of your EDC!
 
my EDC is a visa card. what else do you need? :D

j/k

post reserved for a pocket dump later...
 
Here's a cool product:
http://m.rei.com/product/407106/space-all-weather-blanket

Much more insulative than a tarp alone, and more durable than just a space blanket. There have been some tests done recently showing that doubling up tarps with a Mylar space blanket sandwiched between, and suspended over a subject with an air gap between (to prevent body heat from permeating the tarps), will effectively hide one's IR heat signature....
 
Ok, so my urban edc is currently in limbo. I have 3 different bags I rotate in a week depending on work, social outings, ect. Depending on the bag I may have more than what's pictured.
1.Basic first aid: band aides, alcohol wipes, butterfly closures, gloves and pain relievers. If I am carrying my "big" bag, a Rush 12, I have a full first aid kit in it.
2. Leatherman Wave: that's obvious
3. Quark Pro flashlight: It has a strobe setting that is an uber effective people deterrent at night, as well as an SOS setting, a beacon setting, moonlight setting and high beam setting. I have deterred more than one crack head with this on my morning walk to the bus stop.
4. Pepper Spray: I don't carry a gun, so if my flashlight is no applicable, I will spray you.
5. BK11: My folder changes day to day, but I always have this on me. It's an effective tool, and I have sharpened the spine to throw sparks on a fire steel.
6. Pen and paper: sometimes you need to leave a message, or communicate non verbally.
7. Wallet w/cash: I always carry some cash on me, it can get you out of sticky situations.
8. Phone charger: not picutred. You never know when you will have an opportunity to charge your device.
9. Firesteel: Not picutured. I always have a way to start a fire.
10. Tinder box: This usually consists of fatwood and lint, or fatwood and cotton balls. I always carry means to start a fire.
11. Bandana: I usually go for no-tactical high vis on these. They have a million uses and are people friendly.
12. Allen wrench multi tool-I'm on a bike a lot, and need to make various adjustments on the run.
13. Water bottle: I fill it up wherever I am. You never know when you're going to come across "last water"
IMG_0307_zps25ec10c9.jpg

IMG_3396_zps6cee6873.jpg

IMG_0308_zps4b961476.jpg
 
This stuff is in my pockets pretty much all the time:

M390 Para2
HDS EDC Clicky
RazrHd
BigSkinny leather wallet with credit cards, ID, insurance cards, and sometimes even cash
keys
Lamy Swift
Vic Executive (may be a classic in that pic, but it's the Exec on my keychain now)
Thrunite Ti has been replaced with a Prometheus BetaQR:

Also a watch on my wrist, normally a Seiko Solar.



Except for the 16, this lives in the map pocket of my car - which is rarely more than a couple hundred yards from me:
MicroStream
Farmer
Piranha
ExoTac XL
mini Bic
bunch of band-aids
disinfectant wipes
note pad
Stainless Sharpie
F701 modded to all-metal and converted to Fisher Space Pen refill
Ti Whistle
Tweezerman Tweezers

Glove box has:

SOG PowerPlier
SOG Fusion Salute
and Lumintop P2C (Shown here is the long-throwing bigger brother Lumintop Terminator TD-15x. That one lives in my toolbox now.)

Center console has a S'well 17oz water bottle.

In my trunk I carry a Triple Aught Design Dispatch Bag filled to the brim with get-me-home stuff:
Manix2 M4, Scrapyard War Dog, Vic Huntsman, 4Sevens AtomAL with headband, SureFire G2Z with Malkoff, SolarForce L2P, CRKT Neckolas, fire steel, first aid kit, water purifier, spare batteries, Mechanics gloves, trash bags, several yards of paracord, a bandana for each family member, stainless cups, sporks, 32oz Nalgene bottle, I can't even remember what else. I need to get a picture of it all. Also contains a mini sharpening kit with mouse pad and 220-2500 sandpaper, and a mini toolkit with a Case knife, AAA light, leatherman, screwdriver, yet another Exotac and Bic, duct tape, more band-aids and a few other things. I thought I had a photo of it but can't seem to find it.

I'll see if I can get some up-to-date shots this weekend, once I get the kitchen put back together.

In the meantime, I stocked up on gear to make sure I have what I need to get back to my family and keep us all going for a few days - primarily in case of another big earthquake out here, but it should work in a number of situations.

But I really need to work on my skills.
 
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Ok, so my urban edc is currently in limbo. I have 3 different bags I rotate in a week depending on work, social outings, ect. Depending on the bag I may have more than what's pictured.
1.Basic first aid: band aides, alcohol wipes, butterfly closures, gloves and pain relievers. If I am carrying my "big" bag, a Rush 12, I have a full first aid kit in it.
2. Leatherman Wave: that's obvious
3. Quark Pro flashlight: It has a strobe setting that is an uber effective people deterrent at night, as well as an SOS setting, a beacon setting, moonlight setting and high beam setting. I have deterred more than one crack head with this on my morning walk to the bus stop.
4. Pepper Spray: I don't carry a gun, so if my flashlight is no applicable, I will spray you.
5. BK11: My folder changes day to day, but I always have this on me. It's an effective tool, and I have sharpened the spine to throw sparks on a fire steel.
6. Pen and paper: sometimes you need to leave a message, or communicate non verbally.
7. Wallet w/cash: I always carry some cash on me, it can get you out of sticky situations.
8. Phone charger: not picutred. You never know when you will have an opportunity to charge your device.
9. Firesteel: Not picutured. I always have a way to start a fire.
10. Tinder box: This usually consists of fatwood and lint, or fatwood and cotton balls. I always carry means to start a fire.
11. Bandana: I usually go for no-tactical high vis on these. They have a million uses and are people friendly.
12. Allen wrench multi tool-I'm on a bike a lot, and need to make various adjustments on the run.
13. Water bottle: I fill it up wherever I am. You never know when you're going to come across "last water"
IMG_0307_zps25ec10c9.jpg

IMG_3396_zps6cee6873.jpg

IMG_0308_zps4b961476.jpg

BK11..nice edc! Small, compact, but thick!
 
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image.jpg

These. Knipex pliers is what a lot of people call them. Also alligator pliers. Bought a set of two at Sears for $65. These are the smaller ones. Tons of grip. Will hold pipe, nuts, bolts, door pins, screws, nails... With no slip. Hard steel so it will usually damage softer metals but I have not found anything that these pliers can't grab. Much stronger than a multitool. Small and light. I keep the big pair in my jeep and the smaller pair in my work/computer bag.
 
This is what I leave the house with everyday.

**I have a new wallet on the way as well as a new flashlight. I might update this picture when I get those today and tomorrow.

2A7CB79D-5EC0-46BE-AC0F-DE4885C5C713_zpsnmkkipqm.jpg


Victorinox Swiss Army Classic

Fenix E01

Mini Bic

Car + House key

Wallet

ZT 0562.
 
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Final day folks! Last day to post a pic of your edc if you want to enter into the contest for November.

Any last words of wisdom?
 
Final day folks! Last day to post a pic of your edc if you want to enter into the contest for November.

Any last words of wisdom?
 
Alright, these few pictures should cover it. I just realized that a few items are missing, so I'll just list those in italics.

IMG_20141031_225146_961_zps7aeec146.jpg

Here's a good sample of the general pocket dump:
-Watch
-Wallet
-Old bottle opener
-Victorinox Farmer
-BK11 (Alternates with TM Hunt Magua, Izula or even an ESee 3)
-Benchmade Griptilian (Alternates between GEC Bullnose, Spyderco Manix 2 or Case Sodbuster)
-Bandanna
-Ink pen

Here's the pack:
IMG_20141026_161951_728_zpseeb56ce7.jpg

Grey Ghost Gear LW Assailt Pack.

Typical Contents:
IMG_20141031_225610_622_zpsc9ca169e.jpg

-Small FAK with water purification tablets, emergency poncho and superglue stashed away in it
-Koozie
-Water bottle (often paired with a coffee mug)
-Small collapsible stove :cool:
-Server backup tape
-gloves
-Leatherman
-streamlight stylus pro
-small pry bar
-lighter and ferro rod
-Small cellphone battery charger
-Mrs. Tradewater cinch bag
-Kabarley with 710 Kydex
-Another bandanna
-Becker BK16 (alternates with the BK10)
NOT PICTURED
-Glock 22
-Phone USB cable
-small hank of paracord


I also have a full set of tools in the truck as well as an extra hoodie or coat and often a pair of jeans, socks and my hiking boots just incase I'm caught out in slacks and dress shoes. I figured if I ever have to bail and ruck it out, there are three items I will grab from my truck's kit.
-My smaller gorilla bar
-Camo tarp
-vice grip pliers
AND MAYBE the BK4... Because I love my BK4.


What I would like to have is some duct tape, a few zip ties and a map of the city.
 
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