How much is too much for edc

Have you ever thought of cargo pants..?..I was messing around online one day and the next thing ya know im watching a nutinfancy video on cargo pants and it got me thinking...they looked like they could be pretty useful ???
 
I've resorted to making everything that doesn't need to be big or heavy much lighter and smaller. Mini-maglite? Ditch it, so many new and tiny flashlights that are way better. I just got a Zebralight H52W that runs on 1xAA that I use low self discharge rechargeables in and it's brighter and better in basically every way (For me, of course, there are probably 10's of other options out that that may suit you better) and that's just one example. If any of your knives or multitools or whatever have similar blades, you don't need both.

Of course, maybe you want both, and I've been down that road. I don't like using certain knives for certain dirty or disgusting or damaging tasks. That's why I just use one big dirty folder for everything and have a small, light backup that I forget I have until it's time for surgery....
 
That's a lot less than I carry most days. But I do utilize my belt,
back pockets and boot tops as well. Makes a big difference.
From what I'm hearing, sounds like the best answer has been
said a few times: Check out a smaller light.
 
ezmorningrebel said:
Put the aspirin in a pill fob on your keychain and downsize the light.
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Effing Bingo! And pick between the SAK and the Stockman, an easy add is a pair of Uncle Bill's Sliver Gripper Tweezers for your keychain to help deal with splinter or a bottle opener if you want to loose the SAK.
 
Jccrigger said:
I have came to the conclusion that I might carry a little too much for edc. I caught my self today saying I'm gonna start carrying a zippo but then I said where am I going to put it?
Here's my current edc
- byrd cara cara 2
- case medium stockman
- sak tinker
- chapstick
- vial of asprin
- mini mag-lite
- keys
- phone (HTC EVO)
- wallet

I don't carry anything on a belt because i just don't like stuff to dangle so everything go in pockets generally in my left front and right front pockets with the exception of the wallet which goes in back right pocket, has anyone else had this problem or is it just me? It's driving me insane
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I think you carry a totally reasonable amount of stuff. There are a couple great guys that make titanium pill containers / extra battery holders you can put on yours keys. Throw the chapstick on yours keys too! Also, I hear you on the "no-dangly" belt stuff, but maybe a custom sheath with multiple holders for a light/one of your knives / phone would help. Keeping the sheath tight to your belt helps a lot in not worrying about the dangly-ness of it.
 
Mini Mag makes a smaller (~4.5" long) 3-AAA cell flashlight (XL50, XL100, XL200) that are quite powerful and fairly reasonable in price (around $30-$35). I know how it is to not want to buy some of the really high dollar flash lights. These are available at Lowes and Home Depot. It heats up a bit if you run it long, but I use mine quite a lot for work related stuff.
 
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I have a SAK Midnite minichamp on my keychain. The tiny white LED is almost always enough for what I need. If not, I would ditch the Case and use the SAK blades. Then ditch the Mag and get a 4Sevens Atom or Mini and stick it on the keychain. Smaller and brighter than your Mag.
 
I would suggest using more knives with clips and clipping them on your pockets, in your waistband, whatever. I carry one folder clipped in my pocket, and my cellphone in that same pocket. I have on occasion clipped a knife inside my waistband. I think this would work reasonably well if I took the time to get used to it.

I don't have big pockets but they manage to work for what I carry. If I needed to carry more I might be looking for cargo pants. My weekly EDC:
2 ink pens
1 flash drive
1 flashlight
1 large folding knife
1 cellphone
1 wallet
All of this goes into 3 of my pants pockets. On occasion I have carried a small multitool too. I have been interested in carrying a second knife, something like a Delica, and I might try that some day. I might have just enough room to fit one in.
 
I don't think that there is one answer for everyone here. Depends on what you do, where you are, and what you are comfortable carrying. Honestly, I think you should carry as much as you comfortably can. You never know when you'll need it. Here's my setup

Microtech Socom Delta (front right)
Lighter (front right)
Wallet (back left)
Phone (back left)
Kershaw Blur (back right)
Keys (back right)
Gerber Guardian backup (boot knife)
Pen (front left)

In my wallet I have a thing of "weatherproof" matches as well. One thing I learned in scouts is that fire is extremely important.
The reason I carry a Blur and the Delta is that if I ever have to do any prying or something, i'll just use the blur. I should get a multitool and a light, but funds are really tight right now.
 
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I have a fenix e15 coming in the mail. Olight and a bunch of others make nice compact lights. They are extraneous that is of course until you need one. Your phone should have a decent light app though if you are set on ditching it. I'd also consider getting a mini maxpedition pack or something from tumi if you need to haul stuff around. There's also a well talked about leather maker on the forum who makes small bags as well I believe.
 
cchu518 said:
I have a fenix e15 coming in the mail. Olight and a bunch of others make nice compact lights. They are extraneous that is of course until you need one. Your phone should have a decent light app though if you are set on ditching it. I'd also consider getting a mini maxpedition pack or something from tumi if you need to haul stuff around. There's also a well talked about leather maker on the forum who makes small bags as well I believe.
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This is quite a refreshing thread. How interesting to see so many of us stuff our pockets. I had thought maybe something was wrong because I 'needed' so much gear just to go down to the store. Years ago before everyone had a cell phone on them I was in Northglenn Mall with my oldest son who was then maybe 6 or 7. It was during one of those rare Colorado Thunderbangers and suddenly all the lights went out in Sears. There we were in the tools and just like that it was dark. Hanging next to my Buck 110 was my red mini Mag Lite. I had never been so pleased with myself for keeping it handy. The wife and I had just had the "you carry too much junk" discussion. I turned that light on and my son was right next to me. It was a beacon in the storm. We made our way through the aisles towards the front then the lights all came back on. Sears sold every flashlight they had in stock that day. ..:)

Of course you modify your carry based on your enviorment but for me I carry a pair of Weaver Latigo Saddle bags when I lumber around outside. They may not be so appropriate where you live but I take them all over Lyons, Longmont, Ft Collins even in Denver. Just throw em over my shoulder and we're off. From the mall to elk hunting to picking up prescriptions at WalGreens, we're good to go.
 
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Totally agree but just to play devils advocate, my galaxy s3 flashlight app which uses the phones built in led camera flash is really really decent. I'll still have a flashlight on my key chain though!
 
Get some Perry suspenders and a quality belt.With that set up you can edc all your gear plus a 1911 with two spare mags. :)
 
You could probably fit a Zippo in there, depends what type of pants you were. I like to where jeans, cargo shorts, basketball shorts, and 5.11 taclite pants. So basically a little big of everything, but the 5.11 pants make and edc very easy to carry as compared to jeans where I only have limited pocket space.
 
Cmon! Like marcinek mentioned...takes a real man, to be confident enough to carry the man purse! You could always get something a little on the tactical side if it makes you feel better!
 
I have a Peak Eiger AAA on the keychain. It is tiny, but brighter than your minimag light. One knife will do, and today it is the Spyderco Chaparral. I carry a wallet, cell phone, and other junk, but one knife and a small light are normally in my pockets. I don't normally see a need for more than one knife.
 
To me It looks less like to much so much as model inefficiency/redundancy. I'll echo others here but, drop the mini mag for a smaller better model(I recommend a Fenix PD20- very versatile in a size 1/3 the mag), drop the Byrd as well as it sounds like the stockman and SAK have you bases covered. Honestly I'd know what I would do without belt holsters/sheaths but thats me(I don't like my pockets feeling weighed down, so they help distribute weight)
 
I love the mini maglites but thats definitely something you can swap out. You can a keychain or single AA/AAA light for less than $10 that's more than bright enough for normal uses. I'd probably drop the stockman just because the SAK can fill that role, but carry whatever you can comfortably. Sometimes I carry way more than I will probably need but if I can comfortably then who cares?
 
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