What do you EDC while hiking?

Shotgun

Shotgun

Joined
Feb 3, 2006
Messages
8,250
There's stuff I edc everyday but I'm finding the more I hike the more I like to put some of the stuff in a daypack and just carry the bare essentials. I'm noticing that bulk in the pockets is annoying when walking a distance. What I'm carrying now on hikes is;
Folder or fixed knife
Bandanna
Chapstick
Key chain which includes:
Photon 2
firesteel
Fox 40 whistle
SAK Classic

So in essence I'm only sticking 4 things in my pockets on a hike.

The stuff I edc that goes into the pack is a full size light, cell phone, and wallet. What do you guys do for "wilderness edc?" Or what do you have on your person when hiking?
 
I carry a fixed blade, a small Ritter survival kit, small 1st aid kit, bandana, emergency blanket, a couple Cliff bars (in addition to whatever snacks I bring), and water.

I've never had to use anything from my survival kit or first aid kit for myself. I have, however, used a bunch of stuff from them for other people on the trail.
 
dextersp1 said:
I think you should read up on the 10 essentials and then go from there.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=812242&highlight=essentials
Click to expand...

That's great but I'm interested in what's on the body not what's in the pack. I'm not going to stuff 2 liters of water in my pockets.

Maybe I should rephrase. What do you carry on your body when also carrying a full backpack? I'm interested in the methodolgy behind what you choose to put in your pack versus what you think is so important that you feel it necessary to have in your pockets or strapped to your belt.
 
My backpack fell off a big hill once. In my mind, I thought about how screwed I would be if it were a cliff.
Since then, I have chose to be more prepared. I've done two things.
I got a TOPS SSS. It's a small knife, that has a paracord handle, fish hooks inside, and the sheath has a ferro rod, signal mirror, and a sharpener. I admit that I have not had to use it, but it's insurance.
I have a small pouch for the other EDC stuff.
I try to keep certain things on my person, just in case. Even if those things ride in the backpack, then go into my pockets once I get to camp.
 
Chapstick and Spyderco Delica4.
If my pants have a cargo pocket I'll put a map and compass, and maybe my Victorinox Hiker in there.

Got a couple of pouches for my different hipbelts that hold stuff like camera, snacks, and compass.
 
OwenM said:
Chapstick and Spyderco Delica4.
If my pants have a cargo pocket I'll put a map and compass, and maybe my Victorinox Hiker in there.

Got a couple of pouches for my different hipbelts that hold stuff like camera, snacks, and compass.
Click to expand...

Good point. If I'm going off trail I pull the compass out and wear it around my neck.
 
Shotgun said:
That's great but I'm interested in what's on the body not what's in the pack. I'm not going to stuff 2 liters of water in my pockets.

Maybe I should rephrase. What do you carry on your body when also carrying a full backpack? I'm interested in the methodolgy behind what you choose to put in your pack versus what you think is so important that you feel it necessary to have in your pockets or strapped to your belt.
Click to expand...

Then you might find this helpful:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=816423

I only keep a bandanna in my pocket since I don't like things rubbing my against my legs while walking.
 
I find basic stuff, if im bumming around camp, or just out on a quick trip in the 4X4.

Spyderco Military
Lighter
Monocular
Wallet
Spare rounds
Rifle of choice (don't leave with out a gun...)
 
At the very least I carry two knives (1 fixed 1 SAK), two methods of fire, flash light, poncho/space blanket or trash bag in the back pocket, paracord bracelet and a container capable of boiling water (typically a stainless water bottle). Cell phone and wallet come with me about 50-50. It's pretty easy to carry all that stuff in my pockets comfortably.

I usually carry a medium sized pack when hiking though.
 
on my body is a leatherman, with zippo in the back pouch, RC 3 or RC 4, the izula is around my neck....other than that keys in my pocket with a fox 40 whistle....rest of my gear is in my pack...
 
When I am hiking in my normal spots I take a chopper, a small fixed blade, and a Farmer. Sometimes I will keep the 'city' folder on me as well. (I swap the folder for a fixed blade when not in the city) Also take the PSK and depending on how long I will be I may take an old pack with a stove (and some other items) in it to make some lunch/breakfast.
 
Belt:
*Fixed Blade Knife w/ Firesteel
*Emergency Pouch (A belt case meant for cameras, filled mostly with first aid and a few other useful things like a mirror, tin foil, water tabs, and duct tape)

Pockets:
*6' Paracord
*Bic Lighter
*2 Bandaids (I play with my knives a lot -- they bite. Quick, easy access for small cuts)
*Keychain w/ Flashlight & Whistle
*Wallet w/ Fresnel Lense & more Duct Tape
*Various tinders that I've picked up and tossed in. Currently lots of Birch Bark.

Mainly I've got fire, water (I can use my tin foil as a cup), signalling, and injury covered with the stuff on my person at all times. I don't like to be bursting at the seams so I keep it fairly minimal.

It's not enough to survive off of, unless weather is favorable or I find good natural shelter. In bad weather? I need the stuff in my bag. Building shelter in an emergency (pissing rain out, dark, getting hypothermic...) with just my knife and whatever else I've got on me is unrealistic. Maybe I'll start carrying an emergency blanket for that in my other cargo pocket...
 
Carry on me? As little as possible, I do not like having my pockets full of stuff, and larger belt pouches get in the way of my padded backpack hip belt.

What I carry is a SAK or slipjoint in a small belt pouch, a small carabiner clip on my belt, and a bandana in my front pocket.
My camera is in a small front waist pouch.
Everything else is in my pack.

When I am in camp, then a pair of leather work gloves goes in each side of my cargo pants, I clip my sheath knife to the clip, and a lighter in my front pocket.
 
I carry a woodjewl pukko on my neck with scout firesteel

in my pockets a vic farmer, my inhailer and any tinder i have scooped up along the way,
also a headlamp or flashlight.
 
I usually have an Izula on my person and a Leatherman in the pack. Works great for my needs most of the time. If I ever go hiking with an overnight camp and I am going to have a fire, I bring a hatchet as well.
 
this is what I've been carrying when multi-day backpacking, simply insurance if I were to ever get separated from my pack (God forbid)

pocket- K&M match safe w/ UCO matches, firestraws, small firesteel and hacksaw knife (the top of the match safe has a Suunto compass), rear pocket- a buff

matchsafecontents.jpg


around my neck is a WM1 w/ firesteel/striker, extra cordage, tinder tabs, whistle, photon light, small water bag, micro pur tabs- secured w/ a ranger band

orangewm1kit.jpg


wm1kitcontents.jpg
 
It's all situationally dependent for me. If I'm going out by myself I'll carry less, but if I'm going Wth my girls I carry more as insurance for them.

If it's just me and I'm familiar with the area:
Right front pocket: Keys with SAK executive, Ferro rod, fatwood, tick tweezers, photon micro, pico pen. This is separate from my car/house keys and is EDC
Emerson A-100
Car keys

Left front pocket: Surefire LX2, hurts bees chapstic, bic

Rear right: wallet

Rear left: RITR pad, AMK heat sheet or nothing

If I'm out with the girls(4,6 & 7) I'll add another heat sheet, a 1qt water bag, aqua Mira in tiny dropper bottles, a cone coffee filter.
And Ill add either a G19 (I carry this by myself too) or pepper spray depending on where we are going.

The girls all carry fox 40 whistles and a small signal mirror on a necklace, and I'm about to upgrade the older two with a knife of some sort... Don't know
what yet though.

As far as it sounding like a lot in the pockets, it is. However it's something I'm used to. And after some very humbling experiences I'm a firm believer in stacking emergency/survival items similar to the way my Mil gear is stacked.
 
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