After some hand-on experience, here is another combination.
Illumination:
Leatherman Serac S2 (1 AAA) led light
Leatherman Serac S3 (1 CR123A) led light
Tool:
Leatherman CS Style multi-tool
ZT 0400 folder
VSA Swisstool
Writing:
CRKT Tao Pen
Fisher Space Pen
Uni-ball Vision Elite Pen
Watch:
Movado Square white dial with roman numerals and blue hands.
Or
Citizen Ecolite black round dial with glowing in the dark arabic numerals and black hands.
To be continued….
A brief EDC update
Firepower: has been CCW the baby glock for quite some time so there is more firepower and less mobility in the current system.
Multi-tool: has been carrying the SOG Powerlock multi-tool.
Knife: has been carrying experimentallly the Columbia River Ignitor folder.
Flashlight: has been using the Sure-Fire G2X-Pro with dual mode: a high 200 lumen and a low 15 lumen.
Other than that: just had been swarmed with projects at work.
Part 2: The Last Five Observations:
6. Capability focus: Instead of just copying the setup from another EDC, ask yourself these simple questions:
What kind of capability or utility do I want to have in my EDC kit?
What is my primary, utmost goal in my EDC kits?
Once you reach your final answers on these questions, then you can easily assemble your own EDC kit.
For example, the capabilities that I strive in my kit are:
A. Time: always wear a wristwatch to tell time by simple glance at the wrist. Of course, you can always check time on cell phone or at a computer.
B. Redundancy: always have at least two items that can carry out a few functions. For example, a combat folder and a multi-tool
C. Mobility: always try to carry light by decreasing your load because it is up to your body and you to carry all of that gear around.
D. Firepower: always try to have enough firepower to get you through a potential lethal encounter.
7. Be original and creative: each person has different needs and constraints to work with. A case in point: since I work in a white collar office environment, I cannot walk around with too much items on my body. Things will make noise and noise will surely attrach unwanted attention and scrutiny from other people (in my case, my superior and his underlings)
So I carry the least amount of tools that I anticipate that I will need to handle those daily tasks or foreseeable emergencies.
Of course, when I am not at the office, I can carry more than my basic load.
8. Learn and learn: continue to learn today and keep on learning by reading up or watching what other EDC people is doing.
9. Be aware of what work best for you: not everyone can or should have to pack the same gear or setup as the next man.
10. Have fun: the art of EDC should be a avocation (aka a hobby) not a job or a chore.
The 10 Points on EDC:
Part 1: the first five observations.
1. Weight control: learn to carry light weight and tough gears (for example, titanium alloy watches are light but tough to face off against daily wear and tear).
Bear in mind: the less weight we carry around, the faster and more mobile we are, especially in escape and evasion scenarios.
2. Noise control: learn to wrap your item or place your gear into positions where they make less or no noise as you move around. Bear in mind: the more noise we and/or our items make the more attention we draw to ourselves and our gears.
3. Durability control: learn to acquire and carry highly durable items although we are more or less financially constraint by how much we can spend on each item. Bear in mind: having highly durable items means less chance of failure or broken gears, especially in case of emergency. Likewise, it may reduce the need to carry two or more items with the same purpose or utility.
4. Profile control: learn to use and carry items with slim/narrow profile. We can certainly carry/pack more items together if they have a slim/narrow profile. Bear in mind: with having a slim profile item, we can greatly enhance concealment and in turn, increase the surprise factor, especially in case of any deep drama, if any, may arise.
5. Utility control: learn to use and carry items with multi purpose and can do multi task. For example, we can use and carry a knife that we can use for a self-defense role as well as fill in for a utility/field use (such as sawing wood). Likewise, we can do more with a multi-tool item (i.e. Victorinox Swiss Army rescue tool come to mind) than a single blade folder with a tanto point design.
More to come on part 2 on the last five observations.
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Here is a sample of my EDC:
Work Tools:
Victorinox Swiss Army (VSA) Soldier multi-tool .
Gerber Mini-Covert FAST folder with combo edge.
Work Lights:
Sure-Fire E1L (outdoor man edition with 1 CR 123 cell) LED flashlight
Energizer 1W LED flashlight (1 AA cell).
Carry Philosophy: some may ask why there are two units of items for illumination and knife. The answer is simply practical and logical. Following and practicing the philosophy of “three is two, two is one, and one is zero,”, I strongly believe that redundancy is good, especially if you view them in the following perspectives:
A. Redundancy: any item can and may be lost or broken-hence, it is good to have a spare unit for back up just in case.
B. Utility and purpose: each item has its own merit, utility, purpose, and role in my EDC system.
For example, the regular AA (energizer) led flashlight is use daily and more frequently for daily use due to its economical cost (AA battery is cheap and more readily available to obtain) and ease of purchase. Further, the AA fits quite well in the palm of my hand as an impact weapon, if needed.
On the other hand, the Sure-fire E1L flashlight is here to serve in case of extended hours of darkness (for example, a power outage due to weather). The E1L has dual mode, and I can use the high energy mode to stunt any attacker (a defensive and offensive capability) and the low energy mode for long hours of illumination, if neeeded.
Similarly, the VSA Soldier is a multi-tool so I can use it to field and service a variety of need. Vice versa, the Mini-Covert deploys quickly so I can use as a defensive or offensive tool if needed.
Work Two Key Rings:
Car Key and alarm control fob.
Gerber Artifact (mini pry bar).
Victorinox Swiss Army Classic (red).
Swiss Tech Utility Key.
Nite-Ize Spotlit LED light.
Nail Clipper.
Fenix LD01 (1 AAA cell) LED flashlight.
Carry/Connection method: using a Nite-Ize S-biner No. 2 double-gate carabiner to connect the two key rings together so there is no strain on the ignition when car key is in place as I can easily separate the two rings.
Black Bi-fold Kenneth Cole Reaction Leather Wallet:
Business Cards.
Driver License.
Credit Cards.
Other Membership Cards
Bar Card.
Building and parking garage access card.
Watch:
Usually, a Citizen Ecolite (solar powered) Diving watch on a silicone-rubber strap or a regular Swiss Made quartz (battery powered) watch on either leather or silicone-rubber strap or a stainless band, depending on the mood for that day.
Communication:
Iphone 3GS for cellular communication and Internet access, if needed.
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