What do you carry daily in the city?

O

outofgum

Joined
Dec 31, 2004
Messages
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This for people who live in, or have lived in, a major city.

I've seen what a lot of people on this forum carry daily, either on their person or in their PSK, and though I'm sure its useful for where they are, much of it has no application, or is not allowed in the city. For instance fishing line, hooks, fire starters, have little use and firearms, fixed blades, even slingshots, are not allowed. To tell the truth, if there is a major disaster in the city, I'm staying at home, because, there is no way to mass evac NYC. As such, my home is pretty well stocked with food, water, and emergency gear. If I was traveling by car somewhere, or going to the backcountry, water purification, mylar blanket, FB, tinder, etc would be with me, but in the city, its not necessary, and just constitutes extra weight.

I usually carry a shoulder bag with me, and this is what I have with me at almost all times:
Wallet, keys, cell phone (of course)
Spyderco Calypso Jr. (sheeple friendly)
Small LED light - either Fenix L1P or Jetbeam CL-E
Water in a medium sized Nalgene
Pen and pad
MP3 player
Paracord (even useful in the city)
Duct tape (also surprisingly useful)
Book/Magazine (reading on the subway)
Compass (this is actually really useful when getting out of an unfamiliar subway station, but I look like a dork when using it)
Tissues
A snack
Matches
Advil
Mini umbrella

You might notice that I don't have any FAK, and that's because there is literally a drug store on every other block (at least in Manhattan) and a hospital is usually no more than a mile away.
I'll also carry some other things depending on the weather like sunglasses, umbrella, windbreaker, etc.

So, city people, what do you have with you on a daily basis?
 
I would consider some water treatment such as Iodine tablets. While there may be water everywhere, in an emergency it may not be the safest thing unless treated. Just a thought.

Also agree on a multi-tool, also very sheeple friendly.

Road maps with alternate routes outlined.

Sounds like your kit is intended to get you home so focus equipment in that direction. Would also consider a bit brighter flashlight such as the Surifire G2 so you can illuminate larger spaces if needed.

Unfortunately I don't live or work in a major city so I can't comment on that aspect. I carry a 4" fixed blade pretty much all the time, sometimes even to church.

Charles
 
I work in the city and live in the suburb. 3 hours commute daily. I carry a gerber pro-scout, and a mini manix on me.

In my bag today:
Lunch
gortex windbreaker
work gloves (for work, but I use them to change a flat 2 weeks ago)
water
an extra lighter (for smoking)
change of socks.

PS- I drive and there are lots of useful bits of garbage in the bed of the truck.
 
What city are you in? NYC proper? I carry all of those "banned" items everytime I go in a city. In fact, that's the one time I trade my roof rack shotgun out for a semi auto.
 
Well, I live in a small town with forests all around and this is my pack plan.
Trip on asphalt (work, shopping, laundry building etc). LM Fuse, Fallkniven U2, whistle, firesteel, MRE matches, LED light.
Any other type of trip I bring the whole shebang, FK F1, laplander saw, FAK and the lot, except water, since there is water everywhere, and you can drink most of it right away anyway.
People look at me when I pull out loads of stuff from my pack, but its always useful :) I feel like the turtle "Skalman" in the swedish kids comic books "Bamse".
For some reason though people around me is starting to get sloppy, they know I always bring about ten kilos nice to have things so they dont need to :) I even brought into a football stadium once. The security people looked at me but they didnt bother. I guess since they saw that everything is quality equipment they felt that I would behave :)
Well, over here people are not that freaked out on security.They have laws that say that you are not allowed to bring knives and such to schools and similar places. But there is always a but, if you need it to do your job its ok. They keep telling me that my Fuse and U2 is verboten, but I kindly inform people that I use it in my work, and that there are better knives to hurt people with.
I should get survey tape as well, nice to have. Orange paracord might serve the same purpose.

I am going to Gothenburg in a week, and the lot goes with me as well. Maybe I can prune some trees in a park or something :)
 
I also carry a shoulder bag wwhich usually contains
1) roll of duct tape
1) detailed FAK
1) 50 ft roll of para cord
1) 1 small adjustable wrench
1) small note book
several pens and pencils
a nalgene
an umbrella
1)mini mag flashlight w extra batteries
whateve I have to be reading

on my person I carry
Victornox fieldmaster sak
mag solitaire light
1 bic mini lighter
wallet
keys
sunglasses
non-logoed baseball hat
watch
work and personal- cell phones
1 pack of motrin (I get random killer headaches)
 
Spent the first 25 years of my life in NYC. EDC was a Puma Prince or Buck 110 in my back pocket. I rode the "F" Train twice a day so I usually carried a small penlight of some type in case of getting stuck in the subway tunnel which wasen't all that uncommon. I smoked back then so I always had Zippo for fire.Didn't carry water or pack, wanted my hands free in case of the need to fight or run.iIthink what ever you decide to do or carry in knives ,or other weapons remember, The first rule of survival is to survive if you don't ,do the rules or laws matter.
 
Thanks for the responses.

I live in Manhattan, which is considered NYC proper. To get an idea of how close everything is, within a 5 minute walk there are about 7 supermarkets, 20 small grocery stores, 9 drug stores/pharmacies, 40 restaurants, numerous small shops. I'm not too worried about getting water in an emergency. In the city, I'm not even sure where I'd get water for iodine tablets. The rivers are toxic, and I'm not going to gather from a standing puddle.

I guess I multi tool would be a good addition. I forgot to mention that on my key chain I have a SAK classic and a photon micro light.

I might consider a light like a G2, but the CL-E actually puts out a very good amount of light. Plus, it can run on alkaline AAs which are available on every block.
 
Although I live in a fairly rural area I commute daily to a small town, and should be moving to a city (Manchester with any luck) later this year. Currently my "always on" kit comprises of:

On my person:
Water purifying tablets
Lighter
Storm matches, sealed
Fuel block (Trioxane)
Fire-steel
Plasters

In my bag:
FFD
TCP
Paracetamol

I live in the UK, where a fixed/locking blade is illegal- am not really sure if the survival benefits are worth the risk of arrest? Any advice?

Like others I think it is unlikely I will have to use the water purifiers. However, they slip neatly into a credit card slot in my wallet so there's no real reason for me not to have them. The items I feel are missing in my PSK are a quality multi-tool, paracord and a torch- soon to be remedied.
 
Umbrella ?? Like Mike I spent the first 25 years of my life in NYC. My memory of umbrellas is not good. The average height woman with umbrella put the edge of the umbrella with it's points exactly at eye level for me !! Walking down the street made me dodge and weave to avoid losing an eye !!...A good LED light might be handy [remembering the blackout of the 60s ] .I always carried a pocket knife .Up to 4" blade is OK there....A knowlege of the city -where to go , where not to go .The ability to WALK distances rather than depend on NYC's normally excellent public transport system.From downtown Manhattan near the Brooklyn Bridge to home near the Verazzano Bridge was about 7 miles , did that more than once.
 
I carry a laptop case with me in the office so that holds all but a small Sebenza I wear. In it are a Surefire light w/ extra batteries and my car keys.

In my car is a bug-out kit aimed at getting me home from the office.
 
Wallet
Keys
Spyderco Police
Katz large folder
lighter
change

sometimes a fixed blade when I can wear a jacket
 
I work around the city all the time, I carry a colt's combat commander. a Al Mar Eagle automatic, two spare mags, a huntlight 180 lum pocket LED. and assorted pocket junk. The commander means in the event of an emergency I go to the head of the line,
 
outofgum...may I also suggest a washcloth and bandana.

Countless uses for both, most notably something to cover your mouth with during those "smoke conditions" on the C train.

Also, some back-up cash can get you out of just about any trouble in any major metripolitan area.
 
No bag, pockets only

Wallet
keys w/ photon, Vic classic, kubaton, and Utili-key. (No more Micro-tech, long story)
Sig 229 (# of spare mags depends on dress, but always at least one)
Vic Rucksack
S&W auto (I'm a LEO/EMS and have lost one too many good autos)
matches (usually paper type, in a plastic pouch)
CPR kit with Microshield, gloves, and I added some alcohol swabs and band-aids.
cellphone
bandanna (usually, not always)
MacGyver's outlook on stuff
Spidey-Sense on high

knowledge can help replace equip. Equip cannot substitute for knowledge.
 
Guntotin_fool said:
I work around the city all the time, I carry a colt's combat commander. a Al Mar Eagle automatic, two spare mags, a huntlight 180 lum pocket LED. and assorted pocket junk. The commander means in the event of an emergency I go to the head of the line,
Click to expand...

Unless there's somebody in the line with a hide out that ya did'nt see, and they get you in the back!

A J-frame snubby hides real well.
 
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