help school me w/ urban survival edc

[mtwarden]

I live in a very rural area and most of my recreation takes place in wild areas, but I do hit the "big" city on occasion and the boy scout in me wants to be prepared where ever I roam.

When thinking about the two environs there are similarities, but clearly some differences too. A cell phone is almost useless where I hang out, but I can see it being a high priority item in a urban area. I almost never carry a sidearm when hiking, hunting or fishing; but a city ..........

A small fixed blade (and normally a folding saw) is de rigueur for my outdoor endeavors- is this still the best choice for a urban environment?

Quality clothing for the season is quality clothing for the season and should apply to either (maybe not???)

A light might be more of a priority, maybe one a little more potent

A first aid kit- might be some differences here???

I think a map would be as handy in either, a compass???

some water purification perhaps, bottled water should be rather plentiful

some cordage (probably not to the same extent as you'd carry in the woods)
ditto for fire starting

money, not much use for in the wilds (but I usually stash a couple of $20's even when in the most wild of areas)- what denominations are used in vending machines- do you even need change anymore?

I'd think a whistle would still be useful for signaling, mirror probably not so much

anywho I know there are some folks well schooled in this area and would love to hear some thoughts about what is necessary, what isn't for urban carry and any other tips/tricks for hitting the "big" city

tia

 

[WJC01]

My equipment consist of handgun, spare ammo, any knife of the day, cell phone,water bottle,first aid kit, and enough fuel in vehicle to leave said urban area!

 

[mdauben]

A cell phone is almost useless where I hang out, but I can see it being a high priority item in a urban area.

I would consider a Cell Phone a required item of urban EDC these days. Another potentially useful "communications" item could be a portable AM/FM/Weather Band radio, to keep informed on local emergencies.

I almost never carry a sidearm when hiking, hunting or fishing; but a city ..........

Obviously a very useful item in some circumstances. Carry of course depends on state and local laws, and whether you have a CCW permit or not.

A small fixed blade (and normally a folding saw) is de rigueur for my outdoor endeavors- is this still the best choice for a urban environment?

From a practicaly viewpoint, it should work fine. From a legal veiwpoint its harder to offer advice, as laws varry so much from state to state and even city to city. There are places where you could carry a substantial folder, where any fixed blade could be trouble. Best bet is to check the local laws.

Quality clothing for the season is quality clothing for the season and should apply to either (maybe not???)

I dress pretty much the same for walking around town as I do for walking in the woods, unless I'm going somewhere that I have to "dress up" (like work). Rain protection (folding umbrella or poncho) is always useful, and a spare sweater or jacket is nice insurance against a sudden cold snap.

A light might be more of a priority, maybe one a little more potent

Light it always useful. I like the same sort of headlamp I use in the woods, but lots of people swear by pocket sized LED lights.

A first aid kit- might be some differences here???

I think a FAK is a FAK, unless you are talking about an expidition sized kit for wilderness use. Cuts, scrapes, insect bits, sunburn, headaches, etc., are all the same whether in the woods or on the street.

I think a map would be as handy in either, a compass???

In the woods I alway scarry a good quality compass and topo maps. In the city a cheaper compass (where simple direction is what you need, more than orienteering) and street maps are good. Perhaps rapid transit maps, too.

some water purification perhaps, bottled water should be rather plentiful

I generally carry a bottle of water, and some snacks. They might be readily available, but maybe not, and in any case it saves me the trouble of tracking some down when I might be in a hurry.

money, not much use for in the wilds (but I usually stash a couple of $20's even when in the most wild of areas)- what denominations are used in vending machines- do you even need change anymore?

I try to carry some cash just in case a power failure or computer downage makes my ATM or credit card useless. Some places like rapid transit ticket machines will take $5, $10 and even $20 bills, most regular vending machines only take $1 bills or change, so I like to have some of both.

Of course much of what I say here is predicated on the idea of an urban EDC bag (book bag, messanger bag, breifcase). If you are limiting yourself to what you can comfortably carry in your pockets, you need to trim back some.

 

[mtwarden]

and enough fuel in vehicle to leave said urban area!

good idea- keep that fuel toped off

I would consider a Cell Phone a required item of urban EDC these days. Another potentially useful "communications" item could be a portable AM/FM/Weather Band radio, to keep informed on local emergencies.

do they make a "walkman" size radio that fits that criteria?

Light it always useful. I like the same sort of headlamp I use in the woods, but lots of people swear by pocket sized LED lights.

I usually carry a very small headlamp in the "woods" (petzel e-light), I'm thinking a something a little more potent might come in handy

I think a FAK is a FAK, unless you are talking about an expidition sized kit for wilderness use. Cuts, scrapes, insect bits, sunburn, headaches, etc., are all the same whether in the woods or on the street.

my "woods" fak is on the minimal end of the spectrum, I was thinking more along the lines of sustaining "bad" wounds in an urban environment- care should be much closer at hand (should being the operative word), but something along the lines of an israeli bandage or the like

In the woods I alway scarry a good quality compass and topo maps. In the city a cheaper compass (where simple direction is what you need, more than orienteering) and street maps are good. Perhaps rapid transit maps, too.

good point, a small button compass shouldn't be too difficult to fit in (I have to admit my directional sense in the city seems to go down the tubes)

I try to carry some cash just in case a power failure or computer downage makes my ATM or credit card useless. Some places like rapid transit ticket machines will take $5, $10 and even $20 bills, most regular vending machines only take $1 bills or change, so I like to have some of both.

good to know, I haven't used a vending machine in years- sounds like they haven't changed too much

Of course much of what I say here is predicated on the idea of an urban EDC bag (book bag, messanger bag, breifcase). If you are limiting yourself to what you can comfortably carry in your pockets, you need to trim back some.

a small bag is probably a given (either environ)

thanks for all the input

 

[BigNate]

I look at urban issues from the whats the most common problem. To me my most likely situation is a two legged varmint getting a bit snippy.
Survival wise, a natural disaster would be my scenario and drinking water and navigation are top two. I carry a knife always. I like a small light, money, cell, chapstick, and water. depending on what I'm up too i carry a bic. I have been thinking I should add water purifying tabs to my pocket stuff even in the city. My thought was to seal some in a straw.

If i can make it to my vehicle I'm golden, if I can't, purifying water would be my first worry.

 

[canadiantrailman]

registered user

 

[rdgarbo]

:thumbup: I spend time in the outdoors hiking, hunting and camping; but I also drive into Atlanta everyday for work. The first and most important thing I do is to keep my gas tank full and my .45 full...including extra clips. It's a mean city, I've seen it all in 27 years, that's one reason I do prepare myself for certain things...remember 911 and the Rodney King riots(yes we had riots in Atlanta). Now to my Survival/Bob bag. I pack the same things for Atlanta as I do going hiking or any outdoor stuff...with the addition of my weapon and extra ammo. You can pack what you feel you need, get a good pack. I use a Maxpedition Falcon II... Pack wise. I take my bob with me every day, it stays in my trunk. Don't forget water and some food.

 

[Shotgun]

I limit myself to what fits in my pockets.
Firestarter
Tweezers
Safety pins
Few bandaids
Immodium, just in case
A little duct tape
Light, usually just a Photon but if I'm going out at night or think I'll need a light I take a Nightcore LED that's capable of 130 lumens
Fox 40, I put this on my key chain thinking wilderness signaling but soon realized how much it could come in handy in the city in an emergency. Think being trapped under a building after an earthquake.
Knife, usually just a SAK but sometimes I add my Izula to my belt.

 

[martino910]

1. i would say cash is king...
2. wud be a "goodie tin"
3. protection of some sort...


and all this would lead you to your BOB...assuming you cud get there....if u cant, thats YOUR three items.

its WSS that keeps my thinking limited to threes...lol... rule of threes...

 

[wildmike]

As far as flashlights go. Get a Good tactical flashlight with at least 180 lumens and a push button swith on the back of it. They are small and very capable. Especialy useful to temporarily blind assailants. My Olight is only 3 1/2" long or so and puts out more light than a 4 cell maglight.

Carry a water bottle holder/carrier with a Guyot stainless bottle etc. (whole threads on that here). You can boil water in them if needed.

If you carry a backpack/daypack then the knife can be carried inside it without too much problem in most areas. Some areas even limit folders to less than 3 1/2" blade length. Most areas have no arguments with a walking stick.

It is a good idea to carry edibles which don't require cooking. Starting fires to cook on is generaly frowned on in the city. Though one may find secluded areas where it can be done. The inclusion of a small lightweight esbit stove or such may be a good inclusion.

I use my clothing layering system as my first level shelter. Many other shelters can be easily improvised in the city environment due to an abundance of materials to improvise with. However one thing I learned in several years of homelessness was that good locations/sites to build that shelter have to be very carefuly sought out. Keep an eye for concealment. Bad things happen to folks who don't know and sleep in the open.
A couple contractor trash bags thrown in amke it possible to improvise basic shelter. a couple 30" hanks of paracord is a must as well.

 

[pitdog]

A Victorinox Swiss Spirit and a ferro rod is usually all I take !

 

[texastonydobbs]

Urban EDC
1. LM Wave
2. SAK Hiker
3. Zippo in belt sheath (non smoker)
4. Cash from $1-20 bills
5.Cell phone
6. Streamlight Micro LED( small ,bright,single AAA battery)
7.small firesteel
8.Whistle
9. Izula w/scales in leather belt sheath
10.Ball cap & Oakley Half Jackets

 

[akennedy73]

get a Sony pocket radio

http://www.google.com/products?q=Sony+ICF-S10MK2+Pocket+AM/FM+Radio&hl=en&aq=f

when large scale emergencies happen the cellular networks fail since they were never designed for everyone to attempt to make a cell phone call simultaneously

it's the same reason why cars make terrible bug-out vehicles - the highway system was not designed for everyone to simultaneously decide to hop in their car and head for the highway

also why the supermarket fails as a food-storage system since it wasn't designed for everyone to simultaneously decide to go out and stock up on supplies

ditto for the banks...

 

[mdauben]

do they make a "walkman" size radio that fits that criteria?

I've got a Sangean model. Reasonable size, good quality, readily available for between $50-60US. There are smaller AM/FM radios available, but this was the smallest weather band I could find.

Don't forget some extra batteries for any battery powered equipment you have (radio, light, etc.), too!

my "woods" fak is on the minimal end of the spectrum, I was thinking more along the lines of sustaining "bad" wounds in an urban environment- care should be much closer at hand (should being the operative word), but something along the lines of an israeli bandage or the like

I guess I think the other way, for my urban FAK I generally think of everyday type injuries, and acutally carry less than I would in the outdoors where I might need to deal with more serious injuries just so I could get to help. Of course, my "urban" wanderings these days are generally limited to fairly benign areas. I suppose if you are frequenting dangerous urban areas, some military style wound management supplies might not be out of order.

 

[PayetteRucker]

Just grab a schrade extreme survival, the daggerish one with the brass knuckles built in. You'll look so corny and rediculous noone would want to screw with you.
Realistically, my around town daily EDC is a zippo, a Victorinox Officer Suisse, a Buck Paklite Skinner or HEST, my smoking pipe, my camera, my wallet (2-3 dollars in it in case I get mugged, I won't cry over that amount. Anything more I carry goes into the zipper pocket of a jacket, coin pocket, etc) cell phone and MP3 player. I carry my laptop and leather zippered portfolio with a notebook, pen, pencil etc. in a 12 dollar Eddie Bauer collapsable daypack. It's pouring rain today and after a 2 mile walk everything is bone dry.

 

[Mistwalker]

Mine varies depending on the circumstances, but add the safety sunglasses, bandanna, and water bottle that are out in the truck to this and that's my edc base of gear that I add other things to in my pack.

 

[mtwarden]

thanks for all the great input!

I found this little radio- has AM/FM and Weather, runs on a single AAA- supposedly for up to 40 hours, roughly the size of a pack of smokes

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...oductId=8198552921665363986#additionalImage1"

^ on fak's, not that I'm intentionally headed for dangerous areas (although I have inadvertently ended up in dangerous places a time or two- typical tourist! ), but managing a gun or a serious knife wound is probably more likely in a city vs the mountains

as I do carry a sidearm, the first aid could very well be rendered on the person (read perpetrator) on the receiving end- while I probably wouldn't carry anything extra for this purpose alone, it does add one more reason to at least consider it

 

[canadiantrailman]

registered user

 

[Mistwalker]

It might also be helpful to have shortwave reception on a radio since a nationwide circuit outage would provide little local or country news and information. Shortwave would at least allow you to stay connected to the world (at night). The Eton Grundig Mini 400 Super Compact AM/FM Shortwave Radio would work for this purpose although it does not have weather frequencies.

Eaton makes a number of great radios. The one I want has a small handset so you can go out to gather whatever and maintain contact with camp. I also now like the idea of that mini 400 though.

 

[mtwarden]

cool little radio- I like the idea of short wave, wish it had weather though

here's another item that wouldn't take up much room (and weigh nil), but might prove handy- small dust mask (or two)- a lot of different scenarios where there may be particulates in the air- a bandana/buf would help, a mask in addition to a bandana would help more