When you break it down, the whole point of EDC is to make your life easier, right? Sure, the pocket jewelry and such are cool and all. But from a practical standpoint, the reason you’re carrying EDC gear is to solve problems you might run into throughout the day.
This is made infinitely easier if you can actually find what you need when you need it.
On-Body EDC Organization
I know a few people who carry pretty much the same things every day, such as a flashlight, pocket knife, wallet, and cell phone. The problem is they’re often in a rush when they leave the house, so everything just gets crammed into the nearest pocket on their way out the door.
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When their phone rings 20 minutes later, they’re patting every pocket and checking their satchel, desperately trying to find it before they miss the call.
If you can’t think of a single person in your life who is like that, maybe it’s you?
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A better approach is to get in the habit of always carrying certain things in certain locations on your body. For example, your wallet and cash go in the left front pocket of your pants. Knife and flashlight go in the right front pocket. The back left pocket is your cell phone. The back right pocket is a handkerchief.
Be intentional about where you carry your EDC items on your body. Doing so means you can double-check everything with just a quick press with your hand on each pocket. And when your phone rings, you know exactly where to find it.
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Off-Body EDC Organization
To be clear, with off-body EDC I’m referring to things like satchels, backpacks, and such. The Transit Bag from Woods Monkey is a great example. Utilizing these sorts of conveyances allows us to increase the amount of EDC gear we can carry with us.
While there’s no need to take this to a ridiculous degree, the more gear we have with us, the higher the number of problems we might be equipped to address.
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While many packs and satchels are equipped with built-in pockets and sleeves, they might not be enough for everything you’re bringing with you for the day. One great option for expanding your organizational capabilities is an aftermarket organizer panel.
This one from Tuff Possum Gear is a great example. It has a hook panel on the back, so it attaches to any loop field you have available inside or outside your bag. This particular one adds several pockets and sleeves to the equation.
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Another option is to use pouches to keep your gear separated and organized. Just tossing everything into the main compartment of your bag is a recipe for disaster. Put your fire kit in one, your med kit in another, that sort of thing. When you need something, you just grab the appropriate pouch.
You can find the right one quicker if you color-code them in some way. Using different colored zipper pulls is one option. Another is to source pouches that are different colors.
Spend less time searching for your EDC gear and more time actually using it.
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