Purchase Urban EDC Gear here: amzn.to/3Okvy2G www.amazon.com/shop/urbanknifeguy bashcraftgear.com If you like the content, you can support the channel by shopping at the Urban Knife Guy Amazon Store and Bashcraft Gear store to buy the knives, gear, and kits for urban EDC and jungle survival that I use and discuss in my videos as well as swag and merch. Thanks!
So happy to see someone saying this. Theres so many things that are just pocket jewelry, needlessly expensive and not very practical for everyday life that is being pushed like its a necessity. If it something people want, I dont have anything against it, but im kinda tired of being told that a pen made of aerogel and titanium, a prybar with 5cm of leverage and cargo pants that turn into a sleeping bag will save my life and its irresponsible for me to not buy it through the affiliate link right now. All of these are good tools for when you need them (or at least the real, standalone tool is), but certainly not something I feel the need to keep on me all day, every day.
@@Leftyotism Honestly I have no issue with that. I buy plenty of things just because I want them too, its more the part where being told that its absolutely necessary to carry these things at any given time and everyone who isnt, is a chump. If you want it, and it brings you happiness I fully support you.
@@kvernesdottenYeah, I was just saying that if someone asks you why, you can say 'Me having many knives is like you having many shoes.', or "It's like you wearing jewellery.' 😊 And also yeah, people who like to tell you what you need and what you don't need, those you don't need to listen to. 🤭👍
for real man bumbs dont have that shit and since i live in seattle they steal whatever they need you got dopeheads knocking over weed stores and corner stores all the time. i wonder what their edc is? steal a kia and smash
I don't understand how some guys need 3 different ways to start a fire for urban EDC. I get it, you might need a lighter once in a while, but flint and 5 different fire starter materials. Really? Outdoor EDC is totally different, and I understand the need, but when do you suddenly need to start a fire in an urban environment.
They probably have the prepper mindset, where they think worst case scenario, if they have to get OUT of the urban and go into the rural, they're prepared. Yes, it's rare, but if they don't mind the weight of extra kit, so be it. They probably did bushcrafting before and are just comfortable with it on them now, even if in city. Or maybe they're practicing bushcrafting techniques in their apartment. Lighters can fall and bust open, but flint cannot break like that. It's just emergency backup. Just my guesses. 🤷♂️ I have a prepper mindset myself, so I'd probably carrying a tiny ferro rod on me, which I do in my multitool 'tactical' pen. 😁 It has a whistle, pen, flashlight, ferro rod, compass and stylus all in one one structure. I love it. I can switch out other tools on it when I need.
What's funny is only 10 minutes after making the comment I did above, I saw a "van lifer" who almost always only drives in the city, she then goes out to the desert and gets stuck in deep sand. She was amazed because she always had traction boards in her van until she stored them away and not in her van anymore. She didn't think she'd need them because she never thought she'd go into the wilderness off-roading... until she went and got stuck in the wilderness while offroading. 🤣 You see, the irony, how people underestimate unexpected SHTF situations, all up until they're stuck in one. And the worst pain is them kicking themselves for not prepping for those unexpected situations. 😣 To each their own. Usually those are the people who need that pain to finally learn their lesson, like the child touching the fire that daddy told him not to. So be it. 🤷♂️ It's nice to learn from our own mistakes; it's far better to learn from someone else's. 😉
Even in the wilderness, I’ll carry 3 baby bic’s before I resort to a ferro rod. I think it’s nothing more than a fun skill to have, kind of like that one piece of trivia that only you know and you carry it around with you for that chance to be important! 😂
I live on a farm and spend a ton of time in the woods. I carry a bic lighter. My emergency fire starter kit in my UTV is an old medicine bottle with a candle a book of matches and… another bic lighter 😂
For most people, if they have vixtorinox scissors they don't even need a knife, even a SAK knife. Literally the only thing I need to cut is shipping package tape and bags of frozen food. Vixtorinox scissors can handle both just fine. Tissues, however. That's a required daily use EDC if ever there was one.
And you dont even need a swiss champ, swapped the normal scales for plus scales on my super tinker and i cant quite think of something better, the best daily carry imo
One thing i found very useful is a folded up plastic bag. It weighs nothing, is super compact, and comes in very useful quite often. Just put it in your wallet like a dollar bill.
Just curious, you spent the entire video talking about things that are not needed, simply wanted, and how they are pretty much useless in an urban environment, but particularly you talked about all these things for the average person, so my question is just who is the average person? What I'd prefer to hear rather than a diatribe on what's not needed, is a fairly detailed description of this average person you keep referring to who is he or she, describe them, where do they live, what do they do, and I contend, that if you're unable to provide a description of this individual with your entire argument is based upon, then I submit your argument doesn't hold water, (which by the way you could use the waterproof notepad to take notes in).
I agree with everything but the handkerchief. I use them to clean my glasses and wipe away sweat. I don’t have the ones like you have but just simple microfiber and they work well.
I have used the expensive hank for emergency toilet paper when I was stuck at a remote storage facility. My companion who lent it to me was very upset and told me to just use my sock next time.
Throw in a mini Bic and I’m right there with you. Can I make primitive fire with my Leatherman and Season 3 Episode 5 of MacGyver? Probably. Is a Bic faster? Definitely 😂
You're right about the fancy EDC hanks, but a plain cotton bandana takes up no space in a rear pocket and is very useful. I've never had a pack of wet wipes that didn't dry out before I used more than one or two.
For me, a hank is very needed. A bandana is too big, but a smaller 12 x 12 or 10x10 hank is very useful. I carry wet wipes, too, but they’re not useful to clean your glasses or blow your nose. Also, if you use them often it means you have to be buying a lot of those packages and creating a lot of waste. But, you can have a few reusable hanks and wash them A LOT of times before they become useless or damaged. Also, I forgot to mention that hanks can also work to save small objects that you need to save for an unexpected reason (save a pill for later or a lens of a broken glasses, things that a wet wipe would not be the best option. This is just my opinion 😄 Cheers!
Surely a sleeve serves the same purpose, supposing you’re lilely to change your clothes daily/not camping out but just out in town/around the house. As if its easier to dig in a pocket for a ‘hank’ than just use your tshirt or a sleeve cuff 🤷🏼♂️
I would add paracord bracelets to the list of rarely ever used urban edc. I carried a self-made paracord bracelet on my wrist for years and have never found myself using it. Why? Because when the need for some cordage appeared (and let's be honest, it happens rarerly in the urban environment), it was not the matter of survival or serious damage prevention. It was always some occasion in which having a cordage might be more convenient, but not enough for me to untie my precious looking bracelet that took so much effort to tie nicely. My advice? Keep your 12ft long bracelet from 550 paracord for your camping. While in the city, just carry a 4ft of 100 paracord as a simple keychain fob. It will cover 95% of your urban cordage needs (which are rare in the first place).
Thanks for your thoughts. I personally do carry the paracord braclet for outdoors but not urban EDC. I do have paracord in some of my urban kits but don't EDC everyday.
As a paracord enthusiast myself, I do have quite a few items I made and carry on a regular basis. One is an arrowhead necklace I made and wire wrapped myself, the rest are various bracelets and useful items disguised as such. To me they're functional fashion and I like the way they look. Would I take them apart to handle the average situation? No. But its nice to know they're on me if needed, and don't really hog up space for essentials.
I carry paracord in one form or another, sometimes a bracelet, all the time. Some of the reasons it’s come in handy include replacing a broken shoelace, securing a load to a vehicle, and making a temporary leash when I’ve caught a loose dog.
One or two 5-7 foot hanks of paracord are more likely to be useful and fit easily in any pocket. Even camping, the typical miscellaneous cord usage is about 7 feet - tie out to a stake, hang tools from a tree, bundle up a sleeping pad or lash a cooking tripod. I always have a couple 6 foot pieces of cord (3mm & 5mm solid braid dacron) in my pocket. They serve two purposes : occasional utility and regular knot practice. When I'm camping, I'll have 5 or 6 hanks of 7 foot 550 paracord in my pockets. They almost always get used up.
Regarding the notebook, i don't carry a whole one, but a few pages of waterproof paper are very helpful. I work outside in all weather, but mainly the ability to for example, leave a note on a parked car i witnessed get damaged, without worrying about it falling apart or becoming illegible in the rain or dew, is very helpful. Has helped me multiple times.
Great use for that! I recently discovered waterproof/outdoor post-it notes. I keep some in all My vehicles. Great for temporary marking and leaving notes in the elements.
A notebook is super-essential to me, especially because you can take note immediately and naturally. Plus, I love writing. A Moleskine notebook has always been with me in the last 15 years or so. On the other side, I still don't understand why I keep buying pry-bars, Gesù Cristo Santissimo... I'm from Rome and don't have a manual job, I purchased 4 of them yet I never never had to use one. Yet they're cool 😅
Working outside in all weather I got into the habit of using all weather notepads, and would also use pens with sealed inserts over pencils for taking measurements in cramped conditions like attics. They aren't very expensive, and I've never had a problem writing on them. No point in a downgrade to standard notepads when the price is right. I guess I can kind of understand the criticism purely from an urban edc perspective, but still the price is so low on RITR/field note pads what's the point in losing out on that functionality?
If I could find a notebook that doesn't crumble after a few weeks I'd carry them as I always write stuff down. They go in my back pocket in my wallet and after a week they take the shape of my butt cheek, and the week after that the leafs are coming loose or the cover rips off. I'm a plumber and crawl around everyday and would love a durable notepad.
I agree on the pry bar and pliers. Have some but never use them. I do like to carry a bandanna. Many is the time I have used a public bathroom to find the paper towel dispenser empty/missing/smashed and no air dryer. It is nice to have something to dry my hands on. I sometimes carry a regular notebook. The waterproof paper does not work with all inks. I like a “good” steel on knives, not a super steel. Too expensive and easy to lose.
Years ago I always cringed just thinking about what is on those public bathroom / toilet door handles, so when I washed my hands, I'd get paper towels or toilet tissue and use that to open the doorhandles with afterward. But if none is there, I'd definitely look into getting isopropyl alcohol wipes and whipping those out there wipe down the place: doorknobs, sink knobs, etc. People would be "germaphobes" if they could see all the CRAP that is on public doorhandles or sink handles. 🤣
When there's no paper or air drier I use the inner of my jeans back pockets. You get your hands dry and anybody can see the water stains when you leave the bathroom.😏 😂😂😂
Bandanas are a great and underrated EDC item. I usually wear one around my neck or toss one in my back pocket, and you'd be surprised how handy they are.
Totally agree with your list. I find the Knipex XS pliers far too small to be practical. I do have a slightly bigger pair (87 01 125) that I carry, as part of a backpack kit of tools, that have come in clutch in the past but even then I feel that's about as small as I could comfortably use.
I with you on all of them except the knipex I’ll give two examples I’m a strictly urban guy . 1. I was a t a bar the tap got stuck and the bartender had no tools I had the knipex fixed the situation and she was so happy she paid my tab later . 2 I was walking down the street guy was trying to change his battery with no tools I stopped and got the bolts off and he was really happy . So great video but knipex or pliers are kinda useful.
very kind of you to help those people! I still wonder how long one has to carry such a tool to finally use it, I myself would not want to carry something on me all the time just to use it every few weeks or months
@@Treman77 but this saying could be applied to virtually anything no matter how absurd it gets, like carrying a whole backpack of first aid supplies would be great if you come nearby an accidents with lots of hurt people, but who would want to do that?
Use Knipex 100 mm (4") to tighten/untighten hoses and as replacement for needle nose pliers for gardening. Weighs next to nothing and highly effective.
I agree with almost everything except the Cobra xs. I can't imagine my EDC without a pliers anymore. SAK is just not enough for me, I need the plier functionality almost daily, even in the urban environment. Sure, you can carry a Leatherman multitool, which gives you decent pliers. But then your SAK becomes redundant, since most of its features are already on your Leatherman. But what if you really love Victorinox SAKs? Well, then you pair them with Cobra xs. These pliers are cool compromise of a needle noose tip with enough wrench strength. What lot of people do not know is you can also fit leatherman bit extender in the middle hole, giving you very nice leverage. I say get one and carry it with your SAK, you won't regret it.
They aren't just pliers. They work perfectly with any bolt, and you can fit screwdriver bits as he says. Are quite useful for a lot of stuff. I carry one, not in my EDC, but in a small pouch in my backpack when I know I have something special to do
Excellent! Whether EDC gear, computer parts, or anything else, it seems there are always some number of people insisting on something you "have to have" in order to be taken seriously.
Very true words. Common sense. I agree with your comments 100% I have found myself buying for WANT and not for NEED. Thank you for your honesty. It was refreshing.
Decades ago, I carried a 4-inch adjustable wrench. Used it daily. A decade or so ago, I lost it, so replaced it. About that time, I picked up a pair of Knipex pliers. The pliers now get used. I can't remember the last time I used the wrench. I carry tissues and dude wipes. My nose runs, so I go through a lot of tissues. The dude wipes get used every few weeks, when there is no TP at work. Sometimes at public restrooms, same issue. I carry 2 handkerchiefs: 1 for a sweat rag, and 1 for drying my hands. Sure, I could use my clothes, but would rather not. Yes, they get used, but are not fancy. I have carried mine for 3 decades. I do carry a notebook. It gets used every week. I buy them 18 at a time. That is a month's supply. I do not recall writing on them in the rain, but they sometimes get wet. I used to carry Post-It notes, but they proved not ideal. I have carried a knife for decades. Years ago, it was more used. Actually, constantly used. Now, maybe only twice a day. I do have and carry a pry tool. I broke too many knife blades and tips by prying. So, I carry a pry tool. After testing a bunch of them, I finally found 1 that works. I use it every week. Things for which I have no EDC use: bottle openers, corkscrews, and, saws. I have occasional use for a can opener. I really have not come up with a genuine use case for paracord. Whatever length, it would be too little or too much. 100 feet would be enough for most things, but then not strong enough. 3 feet would not be long enough. It would be worn out, by the time I needed it. I have nowhere to carry it. There are multi-use types of paracord, but still not useful, for me. Not much use for nail files, toothpicks, or tweezers. My rule is, if it is not used at least once a week, it goes. I don't mean engineered uses. There must be a genuine need. I started carrying the item when a repeated need arose, and generally change my carry when my needs change. My carry also changes for casual and work. I won't carry something that is readily available. I do not have any of that "tactical" junk. My EDC is not color-coded, cool, or in any way attractive. It is functional. My pairings are very tight. There is some redundancy, mainly flashlights and pens, as those items are used heavily. Today, we had a staff outing. A fun exercise that had us pick 3 items from a list for being stranded on a remote island. After looking at the list, I decided I'd stick with what I had. The organizer had to concede that what I had was better than everything on his list. But, my stuff is for me.
I agree with you on this J C. A lot of stuff that people carry in an urban setting isn't needed at all. I know people say to each their own but I think people who EDC need to carry useful things and not just the "pretty" or popular things. Great video. Love watching them!
I pretty much agree. I bought one of the edc prybars because I wanted to be like everyone else. Still haven’t used it. I do use the knipex pliers, but im a tradesman so i end up using tools more than the average urbanite. And im sure some folks may be appalled, but i just carry a regular paisley pattern handkerchief, and use it like a regular handkerchief when i need to wipe my nose or hands off. All in all though i think this was a good list.
Agree on the prybar, super steel, and hank. Like you said, I use my Victorinox bottle-opener to pry. I like some and own super steel knives, but for most of my environment and use, 14C28N, 12C27, 440C, 9Cr18 are more than adequate. I do carry Knipex pliers and use them literally every day, not for plumbing, but for holding things Im adjusting, tightening small nuts, and especially for as a pill crusher. Instead of a hank, I carry plain microfiber cloths. I use them to clean my glasses, wipe screens on electronic devices, dry hands, ets. I also ditched the notebooks a while ago, in favor of noting things electronically.
I agree, mostly. The only thing on this list I carry daily for sure is the Cobra XS and that's because I use it daily but I agree that not everyone should carry one.
I ride a motorcycle daily. I do have a 5 inch Knipex in my toolkit plus a 4 inch adjustable wrench and I have old style thick handkerchiefs as bandannas. Cheap microfiber towels to wipe down the bike and a standard note book for leaving notes (a sticky Post It pad too). Always have a Spyderco in my pocket. So fairly standard versions of what you show here. Pry bars have little use outside of my workshop.
I agree with almost all of what you say, with a couple of mods: * A cotton bandana and/or a microfibre cloth - very low cost, lightweight, small size - and can be very useful in an urban setting. * I always carry a small notebook (not waterproof) and pens. Note to self - I must treat myself to a rainproof bag for urban EDC, or use two or more plastic ziplock bags inside my existing, porous, urban EDC bag.
But you don’t answer the "why and what" of the application. Sure can these items be useful as can some pliers. The prepper mindset is to have all eventualities covered even though it’s unrealistic. So the question this video raises is what are you using the cloth for? Are you writing things down in your notebook? I used to carry a notebook until my circumstances changed and I barely took notes anymore. I still have a pen that I use once in a blue moon as I work digitally and otherwise I just throw things into a draft email. It works and is accessible from other devices as well.
Just found your channel and love what I’ve seen so far. This was a good topic, thanks! Only item I might disagree with is the notebook. I’m not writing in the rain in urban EDC situations, but I like waterproof notebooks because a) I carry them around in a back pocket and don’t have to worry about protecting them if it’s raining out, and b) if I want to leave a note somewhere, I like knowing the ink won’t wash away if it rains. Looking forward to more videos!
Definitively agree with you. Small, Swiss Army Knife, keyring flashlight, Kleenex, Dog bags (as dog owner), glasses wipes (as wearer of glasses) is totally sufficient as EDC - in the sense of wearing it always in my pockets. Pliers, multi tool, bit drivers, a substanial folding knive, flash light, paracord, duck tape, pry bars, etc. are always in my car kit. So it‘s nearby when I might need it, but will not carry this stuff all day with me.
But how will you make that 45 minute walk from the mall to you house when SHTF and the air becomes radioactive and the aliens and zombies roam the earth? You need it all!! 😮😢
I agree that 'hanks' are a useless gimmick. An actual handkerchief or a bandana is a very useful item to have on your person, but 'hanks' are incapable of actually working as a handkerchief. They are almost always a double thickness of fabric, which is not how a handkerchief is made. Not only that, but at least one of those layers is invariably some type of fabric that is unsuitable for use as a handkerchief. I have even seen 'hanks' made of tweed. I posted this opinion before on a forum, and one guy admitted they are not useable for their original purpose, but he liked to carry one to wipe fingerprints off his phone screen. I guess he must walk around naked all the time. To me, things like hanks, premium fidget toys and 'pocket jewelry' represent the darker side of edc, where people get obsessed over expensive but useless nick-nacks. It seems unhealthy to me.
I carry a vic compact, lumintop aa, space pen, and hank. All get used every day. I work in a freezer, so I'm constantly wiping off my beard. I use the pen to write notes for work. I use my light at least at night, to avoid turning on lights and wake up the kiddos. The Compact handles everything else: cutting, slicing, poking, picking, opening, filing, tweezering, cleaning, scraping, etc.
With the Cobra XS I took apart a sofa that had a lot of nuts and bolts... and a big saver was when I changed a leaking sink at a friend's house, if I didn't have it on me I would had to go back home or find a store to buy a small pair of pliers! The wrench we had was good for the other side of the connection, but could not fit to tighten the hot and cold hoses going into the sink battery! Even if you carry something like other multi-tool pliers, most would have broken by now with the force I've put into those small knipex pliers!
I agree 100%. I have bought into the hype for these items myself only to find they don't really do it for me. Only scenario I found an exception is that the knipex (combined with other tools) is lighter than a good sized pliers-based multitool. I'll carry my mini tool pouch more often than my multitool just because it is lighter and arguably more capable. Even then, my tools rarely get used outside of work, so maybe I am just being silly. Just feels weird not having tools after getting used to carrying them.
This is a great video. I have modified my EDC for many years in search of the most efficient kit possible. I have all the items in this video but rarely carry most of it. I work in maintenance for a living and tools are life but I realized over the years that I don't need all the gear on my person at all times. Pulling up the trends earned you a sub sir. 🤘🏽
The "multitool mindset" is representative by the thought that: AT THE MOMENT you don't need a tool but there WILL come a time when the tool is needed, and the complacency of leaving it at home will annoy you when you're out miles away from home and NOW you need the tool, yet don't have it. 😬😋 It's the prepper mindset. I have it myself. There are many situations where I now look back and was glad I had a tool on me that fixed the problem, even if the situation that arose was rare, needing it only once and having it was well worth the years I carried it. 😁
Sure, but a car is different from an EDC. In the car you have actual applications if it needs some fixing or depending on where you are going. Would you carry one in an office setting where you commute on public transport? Like I carry a knife and used to cut down the box of sugar packets in the office kitchen when it was empty but housekeeping would do that as well. When the siphon broke, a pair of pliers could have been useful - but we just shut off the mains and put up a sign with "out of order" and called housekeeping.
Great video. Definitely agree with your picks. I often find it crazy how much people carry around, and claim that they use regularly? I don't carry much and it still feels like too much. Even just a basic knife, I almost never use. So I don't know how people are always finding stuff to cut. And I've always found the 'hanks' hilarious. From what I've seen its more like a cute display cloth for taking pictures of your gear for instagram rather than a useful item.
I agree with almost everything listed, but as a glass wearer, handkerchiefs are absolutely amazing. Specially if you have any special coatings, like blue light filter or transition lenses, cause other tissues might damage them
You don't know what you're missing without those tiny pliers. Six years ago I bought the latest Victorinox Champ that has the pliers and I did think they would be useless and just extra width and weight, but they were so useful and so often that I added the Knipex Cobra XS and a Channellock 424 to everyday carry. The two pliers and a Crescent AT24VS and a Bigidesign Ti EDC wrench all fit together in a Ruko SOG2N sheath. For a prybar around town I carry a James Brand Ellis slim which is a small pocketknife that passes public carry laws in Canada, Germany, and the UK. It has a partially serrated blade and I prefer to use it over the large blade on the Victorinox. What is useful depends on where you go and what you do. Try leaving a note on the outside of something (car, locked door, vending machine) with your phone.
i disagree on all you say you mirror the product on your life style your imviroment buut you should not do that what i mean is some one who drives daily in a car would have a different EDC than some one who ride daily on a bicycle and he would again have a different EDC than some one who use public transport. Same thing where do you live in a city or outskirt makes different EDC setup A reason why the Knipex Cobra XS spiked in august 2022 might also have nothing to do with some one introducing to the community but simply maybe because it might be quit a anew product. Personally i can see a clear use for a knipex over a multitool when you need to use a screw driver in combination with some pliers a multitool wont do the trick but a knipex cobra with a screw driver will You say all these items are useless and like i wrote already it all depends on your personal situation which is not the same for everybody You could put in your list a water bottle is useless YES when you live in a city where you can buy water on every corner but again when your next shop is 1o or 15 km away a bottle of water is a good thing to have
Most people need some kind of wallet. Most don't actually need any kind of knife. Basically nobody needs a 4 inch prybar. Most people would be better off without carrying a phone. The list of edc stuff people don't need contains nearly everything. Carry what you like, but you don't need any of this stuff.
I carry a Victorinox compact. On my keychain is a very simple prybar/boxcutter (no wrench holes or screwdriver bits etc) to not mess up my SAK too quickly. I carry a small pouch in my daily backpack, with a variety of stuff, most of which I’m likely never to use. Keychain flashlight, boo-boo kit, pills, nail clippers, eyedrops, 4 matches, rubber bands, bit of cash, few sheets of waterproof paper, a fisher pen refill (who needs the whole pen?), baggie, whistle, eyeglass screwdriver, tape, and a foldable spork for that salad u buy on the way. Another pouch has some tech/charging stuff. And lastly the backpack has a Leatherman Curl with bitkit, a disposable mask and disposable poncho to complete my default carry. I can take pouches out or add others if needed. But other stuff is either in my car or in my house. I don’t need water purification tablets or 4 ways to make fire with me all the time. Maybe if I lived in a hurricane or earthquake area that would be slightly different.
Bang on: WAYYY too many urban (and some rural) tenderfeet posing as survivalist/bushcraft experts and commentators. They're the same ones who trick out their already-high dollar Jeeps, pickups and SUVs with snorkels, huge off-road tires, multiple gas can carriers, cargo racks and other bling, and then we see them at the car wash or in the driveway washing and polishing the pristine vehicle - not a dent, scratch, or blemish that indicates actual off-road use, EVER.
I have the Cobra XS and it sees alot of use. Most cases I use it at work, I haul dairy products and the locks on both milk carts and the side locks on the ratchet straps often jam, and trying to get them unstuck with your fingers is just going to cost you nails and blood often to no avail. I COULD use a mini pry bar instead, but the pliers is more multi-functional and finds other uses every now and then.
A Multi tool, a keychain flashlight, 2 meters of cordage, and abic lighter wrapped in duck tape. That is my pocket edc configurations. And that would resolve 99% your average dude problems.
Totally agree with you on the wet wipes! I have a small pry bar on my keychain - I do use that occasionally to open bottles. I use a small Olight most often, followed by a small traditional knife (right now a german made okapi slipjoint)
Knipex is a damn good tool if you work around any kind of mechanical equipment. Jammed levers, gas bottle valves etc. I have carried those since about 2017
I mostly agree with you. I do carry a couple or three sheets of wet proof paper, in my EDC kit, but gave up carrying the whole notebook, a year or so ago, & also carry a nice Zebra pen, & a pencil. I live in a rainforest, & on occasion, leave notes for folks! A small set of Knipex, in my EDC KIT & a Leatherman on my belt, allows me to tighten, loose nuts, & bolts. My Kershaw pocket knife, gets a touch up once in a while. As does my Leatherman blade. A pry-bar lives in my vehicle toolkit. I agree with getting rid of stuff you don’t really need. Constantly modifying my EDC! Take care, & keep smiling!
As a person who works in kitchens, I am constantly breaking down hundreds of heavy duty cardboard boxes per week, and the super steals are very useful for me because it means that I don’t have to sharpen my knife for one to two months at a time without having to worry about it. I agree that for the average person on S110v pm2 is absolutely unnecessary, but for me, that level of hardness and edge retention makes a huge amount of difference.
@LegitPrepperGuruNodoubt More than likely an employer will provide what they think is an appropriate tool like a box cutter. But if you want to use something better, then it is probably on you.
@@MementoMori1001 the number of times I have been handed a ceramic “box cutter” because the job doesn’t trust me not to cut myself with a regular one is ridiculous. Plus most kitchens don’t bother to provide any kind of cutting tool aside from kitchen knives
I believe that Zac in the wild was the first UA-camr that started to push the Knipex plyers. Since he started showing those it seems it’s grown almost a cult like group of desk jockeys carrying these tiny plyers around in their pockets.
The answer would be quite nuanced as it depends on whether one EDCs for convenience, emergency, or survival. I discussed it here ua-cam.com/video/asRwu7dfDK0/v-deo.html Thanks for your comment!
Deluxe Tinker (w plus scales) has really become my one and done edc tool, combine it w a small flashlight and its perfect. Those small pliers are very useful and grabbing things my sausage fingers have a hard time with.
You're dead right in every case. A lot of influencers even carry two knives. I don't get it. I have carried the above items and hardly never used them. For most days a Victorinox Compact or a gentleman's knife are al I need.
I carried a multitool for over 1 year and have not used it once. What i use all the time is a sharp blade, scissors und pliers. So the Standard Victorinox models are perfekt for me. In addition i carry some fancy knife and i am done.
Strongly disagree with you on the hank, for several reasons. #1, I really hate single use plastics. They're not healthy for me, they're not good for animals or the environment. A handkerchief made with natural materials looks nicer, and it's better for everyone on this earth. We already do laundry for clothing, throwing a used hank- in there with our next load of laundry and grabbing a fresh one when we're home or a spare from our car is literally as convenient as throwing on another shirt. And I can't even count how many times I meant to replace my last pack of portable tissues and kept forgetting, but that doesn't happen to me with a handkerchief in my EDC. They help me out when I have a cold, when I have allergies, and a few messes too. Just fold up the used part of the hank in on itself and that mess won't get anywhere else either, it's not that hard to do. Lots of people have glasses, and using anything but a microfiber handkerchief on your glasses WILL scratch them up over time. I used to wear a pair everyday and just wipe em on my shirt, after a couple years of that my glasses were unusable. Soon I'm going to need to get reading glasses and i won't be making that mistake again.
I agree with all of these, except the EDC handkerchief. It can be useful for people who wear glasses. You can scratch up your glasses by wiping them on your shirt, so it's nice to have a microfiber cloth handy. It's also useful for people who are bald or who shave their head as they constantly need to have something to wipe off sweat with. EDC handkerchief is also very easy to carry, you can stick it in your back pocket and sit on it without any issues. You can put it in any pocket that you aren't using and it will fit. Also super steel knives. Yes you don't really need them for EDC, but having that higher quality steel means it needs less sharpening and upkeep, so it's more likely to actually be sharp when you need to use it.
Totally agree! A person can’t be prepared for everything. Carry what will get you out of a jam 80% of the time and learn to be resourceful with the other 20. I would agree that the items on this list are for the most part completely useless.
With the exception of super steels since I only use traditional knives I carry all these things but not. I carry a pry bar but it's a regular hand tool made by a tool manufacturer not a gimmicky gadget thing. I've carried a 4" adjustable wrench in my pocket for over 10 years. A 4" pair of slipjoint pliers. A mini notepad but not a write in the rain. And I carry a handkerchief, but it's a regular cotton bandana type not a fancy thing, I use it to wipe sweat off my forehead in the summer and of course at work. With that being said I do live in a small rural farm town not a big city, so maybe things are a bit different for me.
i keep my boxcutter, 6" cobra pliers in my EDC due to work (construction, drywall instalation and more), most needed hexbits and small AAA flashlight. no need for prybar or top tier knives though.
I work outside and carry the Rite-n-rain notepad. Between sweat and rain it makes righting things down super easy. This area is in the city and not southern cali! It rains often. All the others I agree with. My dad carry’s a handkerchief everyday, to blow his nose. It’s pain white and cheap!
If you're a photographer or if you wear glasses, the microfiber cloth should be included to your edc. Wiping my glasses with my tshirt made the coating of my glasses disappear, leaving a scratchy surface. This annoyed me to no end. The microfiber cloth is also great for cleaning your camera lens for the same reason. The pry bar is another handy tool for photographers, as it can help fastening the tripod legs for some tripods. Of course, you won't always need to bring a tripod, so bring it whenever you see fit.
Modified SAK Workchamp OR modified SAK Compact AND Swisstool X. Olight Arkfeld PRO. Ready for anything, maybe not the end of the world but more than enough to overcome lifes tribulations.
@@urbanknifeguy Sure. So, the workchamp, I have removed the corkscrew scale and milled a 2.5mm pocket to fit in the pressurized pen. I also drilled in two holes underneath the corkscrew. 1 to accept the Swiss pin in the normal place but a second, 0.9mm hole to accept a blunt pin of my own. I took some 0.88mm stainless filler wire and mounted vertically in a vice, fizzed the end to form a ball. Then cut to length and trim the end square. It is perfect for SIM trays on smart phones. I have been able to stash some 10x2mm and 7x2mm magnets into the well underneath some of the tools. I also carry a paper clip, trapping it behind the corkscrew. This is the cheapest and easiest mod anyone can do to a SAK and the spirit of your inner MacGyver will be so happy. The Workchamp and the Swisstool live in leather pouches which I fasten to my belt horizontally with cable ties wrapped around twice. On first glance it looks a bit Ghetto, until you snip the tie before the head and push the little bit out with a pin. You now have 2off 4x200mm cable ties. Very handy in any bush fix situation. The Compact has magnets, the paperclip and my pin that lives under the hook tool.
I agree the steels you mentioned are great. However, it becomes a bit of a slippery slope when a new super steel is introduced every year and whether they are necessary for most urban EDC needs. Thanks!
@urbanknifeguy The only new super steel I'd consider(and it seems most feel that way) is Magnatcut. Most others seem to be a pain in the ass to sharpen or too brittle. They're also way to expensive for just an EDC knife.
The only thing here I would disagree with is the super steel point. Some of the budget friendly companies have CPM-3V options for like $10 more than a D2 option (see Kizer Harpoon mini for $65), and there is zero reason to not spend the extra few bucks for the better edge retention and just overall tougher steel. Definitely not necessary to drop $300 on an edc knife, but there are budget friendly options that make sense for under a hundred bucks.
Great video! I’m glad someone is finally talking about what not to carry. I’ve watch quite a few EDC and bugout bag videos and none of them are consistent except they all carry too much or things I wouldn’t carry. I look at it this way. For me, there is no standard EDC, it always depends on what I’m doing. When I’m inside for the day or doing yard work, I’m not carrying anything because all my tools are a few steps away. If I go out shopping or whatever then it’s just my keys, wallet, and phone. That’s it. My keys have a P38 can opener on it that I rarely use but it takes up no space so it stays plus it can be used as a flathead screwdriver in a pinch. My wallet has a tiny Zebra pen and pencil set and a few pieces of paper that I rarely use but again they takeup no space. And my phone is my lifeline in case of emergencies. That’s it. All these other items I’ve seen in videos would simply collect lint and wear a hole in my pockets. At work I would carry the above plus a multitool, flashlight, regular pen and pencil, notebook, tape measure, clipboard with current plans, and gloves. As for bugout bags all the videos I’ve seen simply looked like they were trying to fill them with as much stuff as possible without rhyme or reason. Personally I believe in a modular system that can be incorporated with others. They should be seasonal as well, you don’t need winter gear in the summer and vice versa. Keep the bags to the essentials instead of trying to impress people with a massive collection of things some UA-camrs insisted were necessary. Also, know how to use the gear you buy before you have an emergency.
I agree with most. I do use my pocket prybar. My 4 essential items in order are: 1. Flashlight (I used this item everyday) 2. Bandaba (I always carry a clean bandana, it's very handy when you are a father or to wipe your other tools) 3.Knife (hardly gets some used when in urban environment, just very small tasks) 4. Prybar with bottle opener (I used this more than my knife, is a very useful tool) I love knives, I have a nice collection, but for urban edc is quite hard to find reasons to use them. Nice video!
I bought those weatherproof notebooks but they take up space. I now use Post It 'Extreme' notes. You can carry a pad or just a few pieces of paper. They are waterproof and you can leave a note on someone's front door and know it won't blow away. Good video.
Knife, SAK, flashlight. Thats all you need. If im going out for any period of time, then yes i take gun, pen, marker, microfiber cloth, comb, earbuds. But thats just specific to me, not needed 99% of the time.
On EDC prybars: you can get a small prybar at about 20-30cm in length at your local hardware store. If you need to pry open something or pull a nail, these are functional. The EDC prybars often won't even wor, because they lack the leverage,
i am an average person. retired and just doing what an average retired person would do, nothing. i live in the city and just go out to shop, eat or stroll. i go out one day and a bully started mugging me, without my edc knife, i would have ended up in a worst way. a knife is a must carry especially when you need it.
Once people started carrying Knipex pliers, I knew the EDC genre of UA-cam had peaked. Carrying titanium everything pens, knifes, wallets, flashlights and fidgets just wasn't enough. I live in Houston, Tx and while I dont carry a pocket square daily... Most days I do carry a microfiber cloth to keep the sweat off my face during out hot summers.
Agree on all, except I kind of disagree on the hankerchief. I don’t have a fancy one like you show and see no need for something thick and fancy. However, I do like and use either a bandana or mini microfiber towel. I use these for wiping sweat, if wet drying off, touching something that I think may not be clean, etc.
The average person can get away with a keyring sized multitool like the Nextool mini flagship (knife, pliers, scissors, philips, flat screwdriver, bottle opener, can opener, nail file). The average person carries a phone so does not need a flashlight. Band aids, tweezers, a titanium/stainless steel toothpick, and a cotton handkerchief (plastic/microfiber is trash) are also handy.
Hank comes in handy for me especially for wiping off sweat or rain in your face. My pocket notebook is mainly for back up when and if my phone dies, it has emergency contacts, and other important things I might when I'm traveling.
I actually keep wipes and a regular bandanna. I have a cheap keychain prybar that is very useful and has come in handy on many occasions just to open stubborn things. And my fancy bigger titanium prybar actually is on my bigger pack and I don't use it as much but is also useful. I don't really pay too much attention to the steel in my knives. I care about if the cut and if they are reliable! I think if you are spending too much on an item that is made to cut and kill stuff, you are trying too hard!
Back in highschool we had school bags, and I had a friend that seemed to always have EVERYTHING. After highschool, I always thought of him whenever I was stuck in a situation which required a tool that I didn't have. I wanted that without all the bulk and that's how I found the EDC community. But sometimes it seems some people in the EDC community is like that friend, they're prepared for everything, but they carry so much stuff around. It kinda defeats the purpose/counterproductive. There's so much useless stuff it's hard to filter through the noise and find something that will either reduce the EDC foot print or make access more efficient. There's lots of cool EDC stuff, and I buy a lot just cuz of the novelty / show and tell thing. Sometimes the EDC stuff are legitimately good tools in portable form factor. But actual day to day? I have a victorinox card that goes in my wallet so it doesn't feel like an extra item. A bottle opener on my keychain. A charging cable on a keychain. The only thing "extra" that I carry is a pack with a couple of bandages, heat shrink, An easyflow pen with a fisher pen refill. and A small lighter type object i'm swapping in and out until I decide which will be permanent. The less common tools that are not flatheads and philips heads? (torx, pliers, prybar etc) Unexpected tasks that require those tools, at least for me, seem to happen much more often when i'm there to do a more complex task that requires less common tools anyway. So all that EDC stuff just becomes the tool box I bring around. when it calls for it. (people keep urban and survival EDC sets separate and take whichever one if they are in the wilderness or city, so why not do the same with the toolbox?) The fact that some people have 5 "EDC" packs, none of which they actually EDC... again defeats the purpose doesn't it? Isolate what's common in those EDC packs, make that your regular EDC, and grab the other sets as needed. Like you say, EDCs just need to work for the occasional unexpected task it doesn't even need to work perfectly. If you know you need to do something, you bring the good tool/toolkit that you need, and not your EDC. I would consider many pocket knives and utility knives in this category too. Especially the larger ones. The knife the victorinox card is actually sold on it's own as well for $7 Canadian or $5 USD. I don't expect to cut anything that will ruin the blade, but when the time comes that I do? I'll just replace it. -- another reason why i went with the card rather than a knife, less disassembly to replace a worn tool The latest thing I've seen i'm considering? A flat powerbank/battery that ... fits in the wallet.
Experience has driven me to minimize my EDC loadout. Besides my wallet, keys, phone and watch I am down to one basic multitool with a blade, screwdrivers, a scissors and file. A small flashlight, pocket planner and a pen. I also carry some very basic first aid supplies like bandaids, benadryl, and naproxen. In the summer I have some cortisone for insects stings and bites. I leave the heavyweight gear in a pack in my car which includes a full first aid kit, and a standard NATO entrenching tool. I used to carry a folder but it is redundant for everyday needs. I also carry pepper spray because it gives me a non lethal, standoff self defense option against two and four legged threats.
The only one I'm iffy on is the prybar. Wait till you're about 60years and can just LOOK AT something and split the end of your fingernail and you'll realize something to pick/pry/split/rip to save your fingernails. It can come in handy. The rest . . . yeah: The KNIPEX . . . is in a Ziploc bag in the car console. The handkerchief's never get used. (Kleenex or TP instead.)
Purchase Urban EDC Gear here: amzn.to/3Okvy2G
www.amazon.com/shop/urbanknifeguy
bashcraftgear.com
If you like the content, you can support the channel by shopping at the Urban Knife Guy Amazon Store and Bashcraft Gear store to buy the knives, gear, and kits for urban EDC and jungle survival that I use and discuss in my videos as well as swag and merch. Thanks!
So happy to see someone saying this. Theres so many things that are just pocket jewelry, needlessly expensive and not very practical for everyday life that is being pushed like its a necessity. If it something people want, I dont have anything against it, but im kinda tired of being told that a pen made of aerogel and titanium, a prybar with 5cm of leverage and cargo pants that turn into a sleeping bag will save my life and its irresponsible for me to not buy it through the affiliate link right now. All of these are good tools for when you need them (or at least the real, standalone tool is), but certainly not something I feel the need to keep on me all day, every day.
Glad you enjoyed the video. There are cargo pants that turn into a sleeping bag??! Everyone needs that 🤣🤣🤣
Some people like to wear jewellery, I like to wear knives. haha
@@Leftyotism Honestly I have no issue with that. I buy plenty of things just because I want them too, its more the part where being told that its absolutely necessary to carry these things at any given time and everyone who isnt, is a chump. If you want it, and it brings you happiness I fully support you.
@@kvernesdottenYeah, I was just saying that if someone asks you why, you can say 'Me having many knives is like you having many shoes.', or "It's like you wearing jewellery.' 😊
And also yeah, people who like to tell you what you need and what you don't need, those you don't need to listen to. 🤭👍
for real man bumbs dont have that shit and since i live in seattle they steal whatever they need you got dopeheads knocking over weed stores and corner stores all the time. i wonder what their edc is? steal a kia and smash
I don't understand how some guys need 3 different ways to start a fire for urban EDC. I get it, you might need a lighter once in a while, but flint and 5 different fire starter materials. Really? Outdoor EDC is totally different, and I understand the need, but when do you suddenly need to start a fire in an urban environment.
They probably have the prepper mindset, where they think worst case scenario, if they have to get OUT of the urban and go into the rural, they're prepared. Yes, it's rare, but if they don't mind the weight of extra kit, so be it. They probably did bushcrafting before and are just comfortable with it on them now, even if in city. Or maybe they're practicing bushcrafting techniques in their apartment. Lighters can fall and bust open, but flint cannot break like that. It's just emergency backup. Just my guesses. 🤷♂️ I have a prepper mindset myself, so I'd probably carrying a tiny ferro rod on me, which I do in my multitool 'tactical' pen. 😁 It has a whistle, pen, flashlight, ferro rod, compass and stylus all in one one structure. I love it. I can switch out other tools on it when I need.
I got a little magnet for my SAK, and I wondered about this same question 😂😂
What's funny is only 10 minutes after making the comment I did above, I saw a "van lifer" who almost always only drives in the city, she then goes out to the desert and gets stuck in deep sand. She was amazed because she always had traction boards in her van until she stored them away and not in her van anymore. She didn't think she'd need them because she never thought she'd go into the wilderness off-roading... until she went and got stuck in the wilderness while offroading. 🤣 You see, the irony, how people underestimate unexpected SHTF situations, all up until they're stuck in one. And the worst pain is them kicking themselves for not prepping for those unexpected situations. 😣 To each their own. Usually those are the people who need that pain to finally learn their lesson, like the child touching the fire that daddy told him not to. So be it. 🤷♂️ It's nice to learn from our own mistakes; it's far better to learn from someone else's. 😉
Even in the wilderness, I’ll carry 3 baby bic’s before I resort to a ferro rod. I think it’s nothing more than a fun skill to have, kind of like that one piece of trivia that only you know and you carry it around with you for that chance to be important! 😂
I live on a farm and spend a ton of time in the woods. I carry a bic lighter. My emergency fire starter kit in my UTV is an old medicine bottle with a candle a book of matches and… another bic lighter 😂
in 99% a Swiss Army knife will do the job - especially a model with a pen and scissors.
In doubt, ask yourself: what would McGyver do?
@@leopoldbloom4835 👍
For most people, if they have vixtorinox scissors they don't even need a knife, even a SAK knife. Literally the only thing I need to cut is shipping package tape and bags of frozen food. Vixtorinox scissors can handle both just fine.
Tissues, however. That's a required daily use EDC if ever there was one.
Thanks for your comment!
And you dont even need a swiss champ, swapped the normal scales for plus scales on my super tinker and i cant quite think of something better, the best daily carry imo
One thing i found very useful is a folded up plastic bag. It weighs nothing, is super compact, and comes in very useful quite often.
Just put it in your wallet like a dollar bill.
Good suggestion! Thanks!
I keep one folded in a small section of my backpack and totally forgot about it until I read this. So handy just in case!
Me too - I saw ads for slim wallets and got a slimER using a vertical snack bag from Target.
Walk the shoulder of any road and you will find 2 dozen grocery store bags
Just curious, you spent the entire video talking about things that are not needed, simply wanted, and how they are pretty much useless in an urban environment, but particularly you talked about all these things for the average person, so my question is just who is the average person? What I'd prefer to hear rather than a diatribe on what's not needed, is a fairly detailed description of this average person you keep referring to who is he or she, describe them, where do they live, what do they do, and I contend, that if you're unable to provide a description of this individual with your entire argument is based upon, then I submit your argument doesn't hold water, (which by the way you could use the waterproof notepad to take notes in).
I agree with everything but the handkerchief. I use them to clean my glasses and wipe away sweat. I don’t have the ones like you have but just simple microfiber and they work well.
Thanks! I'm all for a regular hank or microfibre cloth. Not just an EDC-specific one like the one shown in the video.
I have used the expensive hank for emergency toilet paper when I was stuck at a remote storage facility. My companion who lent it to me was very upset and told me to just use my sock next time.
@@seanbautista2606😂😂😂
I carry a folded up microfiber cloth that I got for free with my glasses and it cleans my glasses just fine while not being pretentious.
I carry a buff, thinner and can be used for more things.
A knife, a multi tool, and a flashlight. That's all I will ever need to carry in non emergency situations.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I got a new red Leatherman Raptor ✂️ . I put it in my car, sometimes in my patrol 🚓 security SUV. I rarely carry it.
And a pen.
Throw in a mini Bic and I’m right there with you. Can I make primitive fire with my Leatherman and Season 3 Episode 5 of MacGyver? Probably. Is a Bic faster? Definitely 😂
why a multi tool and a knife? what does a pocket knife do that a leatherman blade can’t? I have the LM Arc and no longer carry a pocket knife
You're right about the fancy EDC hanks, but a plain cotton bandana takes up no space in a rear pocket and is very useful. I've never had a pack of wet wipes that didn't dry out before I used more than one or two.
I carry one every day and I guarantee it takes up space.
Thanks for sharing! Yes, wet wipes do dry out if opened and not used within a week.
@@urbanknifeguy Put them in a zip-lock bag. They don't dry out then.
For me, a hank is very needed. A bandana is too big, but a smaller 12 x 12 or 10x10 hank is very useful. I carry wet wipes, too, but they’re not useful to clean your glasses or blow your nose. Also, if you use them often it means you have to be buying a lot of those packages and creating a lot of waste. But, you can have a few reusable hanks and wash them A LOT of times before they become useless or damaged. Also, I forgot to mention that hanks can also work to save small objects that you need to save for an unexpected reason (save a pill for later or a lens of a broken glasses, things that a wet wipe would not be the best option. This is just my opinion 😄 Cheers!
Surely a sleeve serves the same purpose, supposing you’re lilely to change your clothes daily/not camping out but just out in town/around the house. As if its easier to dig in a pocket for a ‘hank’ than just use your tshirt or a sleeve cuff 🤷🏼♂️
I carry a set pliers and mini pry bar. I have developed weakness in my hands. ( I'm old). I do use them. Plus the wipes are great.
Thanks for sharing! A good reason for the EDC.
I used to think pry bars were dumb until I was gifted a Gerber Chonk for Christmas this last year and find I have a use for it at least twice a week
@@circlingoverland4364 I just got one now have both. When you have it you will have a need.
I would add paracord bracelets to the list of rarely ever used urban edc. I carried a self-made paracord bracelet on my wrist for years and have never found myself using it. Why? Because when the need for some cordage appeared (and let's be honest, it happens rarerly in the urban environment), it was not the matter of survival or serious damage prevention. It was always some occasion in which having a cordage might be more convenient, but not enough for me to untie my precious looking bracelet that took so much effort to tie nicely. My advice? Keep your 12ft long bracelet from 550 paracord for your camping. While in the city, just carry a 4ft of 100 paracord as a simple keychain fob. It will cover 95% of your urban cordage needs (which are rare in the first place).
Thanks for your thoughts. I personally do carry the paracord braclet for outdoors but not urban EDC. I do have paracord in some of my urban kits but don't EDC everyday.
As a paracord enthusiast myself, I do have quite a few items I made and carry on a regular basis. One is an arrowhead necklace I made and wire wrapped myself, the rest are various bracelets and useful items disguised as such. To me they're functional fashion and I like the way they look. Would I take them apart to handle the average situation? No. But its nice to know they're on me if needed, and don't really hog up space for essentials.
I carry paracord in one form or another, sometimes a bracelet, all the time. Some of the reasons it’s come in handy include replacing a broken shoelace, securing a load to a vehicle, and making a temporary leash when I’ve caught a loose dog.
One or two 5-7 foot hanks of paracord are more likely to be useful and fit easily in any pocket. Even camping, the typical miscellaneous cord usage is about 7 feet - tie out to a stake, hang tools from a tree, bundle up a sleeping pad or lash a cooking tripod.
I always have a couple 6 foot pieces of cord (3mm & 5mm solid braid dacron) in my pocket. They serve two purposes : occasional utility and regular knot practice. When I'm camping, I'll have 5 or 6 hanks of 7 foot 550 paracord in my pockets. They almost always get used up.
I agree, I use paracord to do improvised rigging on occasion. Dismantling a bracelet is completely impractical.
Regarding the notebook, i don't carry a whole one, but a few pages of waterproof paper are very helpful. I work outside in all weather, but mainly the ability to for example, leave a note on a parked car i witnessed get damaged, without worrying about it falling apart or becoming illegible in the rain or dew, is very helpful. Has helped me multiple times.
I think this is the best use-case for waterproof notes. Thank you.
Great use for that! I recently discovered waterproof/outdoor post-it notes. I keep some in all
My vehicles. Great for temporary marking and leaving notes in the elements.
A notebook is super-essential to me, especially because you can take note immediately and naturally. Plus, I love writing. A Moleskine notebook has always been with me in the last 15 years or so. On the other side, I still don't understand why I keep buying pry-bars, Gesù Cristo Santissimo... I'm from Rome and don't have a manual job, I purchased 4 of them yet I never never had to use one. Yet they're cool 😅
Working outside in all weather I got into the habit of using all weather notepads, and would also use pens with sealed inserts over pencils for taking measurements in cramped conditions like attics. They aren't very expensive, and I've never had a problem writing on them. No point in a downgrade to standard notepads when the price is right. I guess I can kind of understand the criticism purely from an urban edc perspective, but still the price is so low on RITR/field note pads what's the point in losing out on that functionality?
If I could find a notebook that doesn't crumble after a few weeks I'd carry them as I always write stuff down. They go in my back pocket in my wallet and after a week they take the shape of my butt cheek, and the week after that the leafs are coming loose or the cover rips off.
I'm a plumber and crawl around everyday and would love a durable notepad.
I go through my EDC bag every year. If I haven't used an item, I most often remove it.
If I did that, I would be left with an empty bag.
Must be empty by now
I agree on the pry bar and pliers. Have some but never use them. I do like to carry a bandanna. Many is the time I have used a public bathroom to find the paper towel dispenser empty/missing/smashed and no air dryer. It is nice to have something to dry my hands on. I sometimes carry a regular notebook. The waterproof paper does not work with all inks. I like a “good” steel on knives, not a super steel. Too expensive and easy to lose.
Years ago I always cringed just thinking about what is on those public bathroom / toilet door handles, so when I washed my hands, I'd get paper towels or toilet tissue and use that to open the doorhandles with afterward. But if none is there, I'd definitely look into getting isopropyl alcohol wipes and whipping those out there wipe down the place: doorknobs, sink knobs, etc. People would be "germaphobes" if they could see all the CRAP that is on public doorhandles or sink handles. 🤣
Thanks for the comments! I think antiseptic wipes are a good urban EDC item, especially post pandemic.
When there's no paper or air drier I use the inner of my jeans back pockets. You get your hands dry and anybody can see the water stains when you leave the bathroom.😏
😂😂😂
Bandanas are a great and underrated EDC item. I usually wear one around my neck or toss one in my back pocket, and you'd be surprised how handy they are.
Thank you for putting out content on things that I have been rolling my eyes at for years....Great video and perfect topic! Thank you again.
You are so welcome! And thank you for watching and commenting!
Totally agree with your list.
I find the Knipex XS pliers far too small to be practical.
I do have a slightly bigger pair (87 01 125) that I carry, as part of a backpack kit of tools, that have come in clutch in the past but even then I feel that's about as small as I could comfortably use.
Thanks for sharing!
I with you on all of them except the knipex I’ll give two examples I’m a strictly urban guy . 1. I was a t a bar the tap got stuck and the bartender had no tools I had the knipex fixed the situation and she was so happy she paid my tab later . 2 I was walking down the street guy was trying to change his battery with no tools I stopped and got the bolts off and he was really happy . So great video but knipex or pliers are kinda useful.
very kind of you to help those people! I still wonder how long one has to carry such a tool to finally use it, I myself would not want to carry something on me all the time just to use it every few weeks or months
Thanks for sharing!
@@Treman77 but this saying could be applied to virtually anything no matter how absurd it gets, like carrying a whole backpack of first aid supplies would be great if you come nearby an accidents with lots of hurt people, but who would want to do that?
Leatherman
Use Knipex 100 mm (4") to tighten/untighten hoses and as replacement for needle nose pliers for gardening. Weighs next to nothing and highly effective.
I agree with almost everything except the Cobra xs. I can't imagine my EDC without a pliers anymore. SAK is just not enough for me, I need the plier functionality almost daily, even in the urban environment. Sure, you can carry a Leatherman multitool, which gives you decent pliers. But then your SAK becomes redundant, since most of its features are already on your Leatherman. But what if you really love Victorinox SAKs? Well, then you pair them with Cobra xs. These pliers are cool compromise of a needle noose tip with enough wrench strength. What lot of people do not know is you can also fit leatherman bit extender in the middle hole, giving you very nice leverage. I say get one and carry it with your SAK, you won't regret it.
Thanks for the comment. The SAK and Knipex seems to be a fav pairing with many.
I find it a highly unlikely that you actually need to edc pliers unless you have a job that requires them.
They aren't just pliers. They work perfectly with any bolt, and you can fit screwdriver bits as he says. Are quite useful for a lot of stuff.
I carry one, not in my EDC, but in a small pouch in my backpack when I know I have something special to do
Excellent! Whether EDC gear, computer parts, or anything else, it seems there are always some number of people insisting on something you "have to have" in order to be taken seriously.
Thanks for your comment!
Thats the Reason why it’s called EDC and not EDU (every day use 😂). I stick with my EDU and that’s enough 😉
I love that distinction! I must think about this more. Thank you.
Very true words. Common sense. I agree with your comments 100% I have found myself buying for WANT and not for NEED. Thank you for your honesty. It was refreshing.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
@beausmith6010, Oh YES! Right now I am dying Francis Barker compass. LOL
Decades ago, I carried a 4-inch adjustable wrench. Used it daily. A decade or so ago, I lost it, so replaced it. About that time, I picked up a pair of Knipex pliers. The pliers now get used. I can't remember the last time I used the wrench.
I carry tissues and dude wipes. My nose runs, so I go through a lot of tissues. The dude wipes get used every few weeks, when there is no TP at work. Sometimes at public restrooms, same issue.
I carry 2 handkerchiefs: 1 for a sweat rag, and 1 for drying my hands. Sure, I could use my clothes, but would rather not. Yes, they get used, but are not fancy. I have carried mine for 3 decades.
I do carry a notebook. It gets used every week. I buy them 18 at a time. That is a month's supply. I do not recall writing on them in the rain, but they sometimes get wet. I used to carry Post-It notes, but they proved not ideal.
I have carried a knife for decades. Years ago, it was more used. Actually, constantly used. Now, maybe only twice a day.
I do have and carry a pry tool. I broke too many knife blades and tips by prying. So, I carry a pry tool. After testing a bunch of them, I finally found 1 that works. I use it every week.
Things for which I have no EDC use: bottle openers, corkscrews, and, saws. I have occasional use for a can opener. I really have not come up with a genuine use case for paracord. Whatever length, it would be too little or too much. 100 feet would be enough for most things, but then not strong enough. 3 feet would not be long enough. It would be worn out, by the time I needed it. I have nowhere to carry it. There are multi-use types of paracord, but still not useful, for me. Not much use for nail files, toothpicks, or tweezers.
My rule is, if it is not used at least once a week, it goes. I don't mean engineered uses. There must be a genuine need. I started carrying the item when a repeated need arose, and generally change my carry when my needs change.
My carry also changes for casual and work. I won't carry something that is readily available.
I do not have any of that "tactical" junk. My EDC is not color-coded, cool, or in any way attractive. It is functional. My pairings are very tight. There is some redundancy, mainly flashlights and pens, as those items are used heavily.
Today, we had a staff outing. A fun exercise that had us pick 3 items from a list for being stranded on a remote island. After looking at the list, I decided I'd stick with what I had. The organizer had to concede that what I had was better than everything on his list. But, my stuff is for me.
I only carry a Victorinox compact around town..and when semi rural area's a huntsman. All good out here I Australia it works for me.👍
Sounds good! Thanks for sharing!
Compact is illegal to carry whilst in public in a lot of Australia if you don't have an approved reason.
@@Liquid_Peopleabsolute rubbish.
NO SIR! NO! I need my folding knife to have kriptonian steel with beskar scales and tactical glow in the dark para cord lanyard 😢!
Haha thanks for sharing your need!
I agree with you on this J C. A lot of stuff that people carry in an urban setting isn't needed at all. I know people say to each their own but I think people who EDC need to carry useful things and not just the "pretty" or popular things.
Great video. Love watching them!
Thanks for watching and thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I pretty much agree. I bought one of the edc prybars because I wanted to be like everyone else. Still haven’t used it. I do use the knipex pliers, but im a tradesman so i end up using tools more than the average urbanite. And im sure some folks may be appalled, but i just carry a regular paisley pattern handkerchief, and use it like a regular handkerchief when i need to wipe my nose or hands off. All in all though i think this was a good list.
Thanks and thanks for watching!
Agree on the prybar, super steel, and hank.
Like you said, I use my Victorinox bottle-opener to pry.
I like some and own super steel knives, but for most of my environment and use, 14C28N, 12C27, 440C, 9Cr18 are more than adequate.
I do carry Knipex pliers and use them literally every day, not for plumbing, but for holding things Im adjusting, tightening small nuts, and especially for as a pill crusher.
Instead of a hank, I carry plain microfiber cloths. I use them to clean my glasses, wipe screens on electronic devices, dry hands, ets.
I also ditched the notebooks a while ago, in favor of noting things electronically.
Thanks for your detailed sharing! Appreciate it!
I agree, mostly. The only thing on this list I carry daily for sure is the Cobra XS and that's because I use it daily but I agree that not everyone should carry one.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I ride a motorcycle daily. I do have a 5 inch Knipex in my toolkit plus a 4 inch adjustable wrench and I have old style thick handkerchiefs as bandannas. Cheap microfiber towels to wipe down the bike and a standard note book for leaving notes (a sticky Post It pad too). Always have a Spyderco in my pocket. So fairly standard versions of what you show here. Pry bars have little use outside of my workshop.
Thanks for sharing!
I agree with almost all of what you say, with a couple of mods:
* A cotton bandana and/or a microfibre cloth - very low cost, lightweight, small size - and can be very useful in an urban setting.
* I always carry a small notebook (not waterproof) and pens.
Note to self - I must treat myself to a rainproof bag for urban EDC, or use two or more plastic ziplock bags inside my existing, porous, urban EDC bag.
Thanks! I'm all for a regular hank or microfibre cloth. Not just an EDC-specific one.
But you don’t answer the "why and what" of the application.
Sure can these items be useful as can some pliers. The prepper mindset is to have all eventualities covered even though it’s unrealistic.
So the question this video raises is what are you using the cloth for? Are you writing things down in your notebook?
I used to carry a notebook until my circumstances changed and I barely took notes anymore. I still have a pen that I use once in a blue moon as I work digitally and otherwise I just throw things into a draft email. It works and is accessible from other devices as well.
@@PH4RXI find both cloth and notebook very useful. Enough said.
@@TheTerryMarsh1 Yeah, enough to add nothing to the discussion. Not that you have to but still rather uninformative.
Just found your channel and love what I’ve seen so far. This was a good topic, thanks! Only item I might disagree with is the notebook. I’m not writing in the rain in urban EDC situations, but I like waterproof notebooks because a) I carry them around in a back pocket and don’t have to worry about protecting them if it’s raining out, and b) if I want to leave a note somewhere, I like knowing the ink won’t wash away if it rains. Looking forward to more videos!
Thanks for watching and thanks for sharing!
I put forward that most $20 knives now are much better than $200 knives 40 years ago. The same is true for many products.
Definitively agree with you. Small, Swiss Army Knife, keyring flashlight, Kleenex, Dog bags (as dog owner), glasses wipes (as wearer of glasses) is totally sufficient as EDC - in the sense of wearing it always in my pockets. Pliers, multi tool, bit drivers, a substanial folding knive, flash light, paracord, duck tape, pry bars, etc. are always in my car kit. So it‘s nearby when I might need it, but will not carry this stuff all day with me.
But how will you make that 45 minute walk from the mall to you house when SHTF and the air becomes radioactive and the aliens and zombies roam the earth? You need it all!! 😮😢
@@NJRey For aliens and Zombies, the SAK should be enough, only for radioactive I‘m loosing 😜. But you can‘t survive everything 😎😉
@@NJRey Isn't that the USA already?
Thanks for sharing!
Zombies more likely than aliens IMO
I agree that 'hanks' are a useless gimmick.
An actual handkerchief or a bandana is a very useful item to have on your person, but 'hanks' are incapable of actually working as a handkerchief.
They are almost always a double thickness of fabric, which is not how a handkerchief is made.
Not only that, but at least one of those layers is invariably some type of fabric that is unsuitable for use as a handkerchief. I have even seen 'hanks' made of tweed.
I posted this opinion before on a forum, and one guy admitted they are not useable for their original purpose, but he liked to carry one to wipe fingerprints off his phone screen. I guess he must walk around naked all the time.
To me, things like hanks, premium fidget toys and 'pocket jewelry' represent the darker side of edc, where people get obsessed over expensive but useless nick-nacks. It seems unhealthy to me.
*applauds wildly* finally, I totally agree. Brilliant choices, the one missing for me was the lucky coin/charm etc.
Thanks! I can't say much about the coin as I have designed a challenge coin 🤣🤣🤣
I carry a vic compact, lumintop aa, space pen, and hank. All get used every day. I work in a freezer, so I'm constantly wiping off my beard. I use the pen to write notes for work. I use my light at least at night, to avoid turning on lights and wake up the kiddos. The Compact handles everything else: cutting, slicing, poking, picking, opening, filing, tweezering, cleaning, scraping, etc.
Thanks for sharing!
With the Cobra XS I took apart a sofa that had a lot of nuts and bolts... and a big saver was when I changed a leaking sink at a friend's house, if I didn't have it on me I would had to go back home or find a store to buy a small pair of pliers! The wrench we had was good for the other side of the connection, but could not fit to tighten the hot and cold hoses going into the sink battery!
Even if you carry something like other multi-tool pliers, most would have broken by now with the force I've put into those small knipex pliers!
Fair enough! Good use cases in favour of the Knipex!
In the UK where carrying a fixed blade is illegal, a leatherman is ruled out as edc, hence a SAK and the Knipex XS covers the bases of a leatherman
I agree 100%. I have bought into the hype for these items myself only to find they don't really do it for me.
Only scenario I found an exception is that the knipex (combined with other tools) is lighter than a good sized pliers-based multitool. I'll carry my mini tool pouch more often than my multitool just because it is lighter and arguably more capable. Even then, my tools rarely get used outside of work, so maybe I am just being silly. Just feels weird not having tools after getting used to carrying them.
Thanks for your thoughts!
This is a great video. I have modified my EDC for many years in search of the most efficient kit possible. I have all the items in this video but rarely carry most of it. I work in maintenance for a living and tools are life but I realized over the years that I don't need all the gear on my person at all times. Pulling up the trends earned you a sub sir. 🤘🏽
The "multitool mindset" is representative by the thought that: AT THE MOMENT you don't need a tool but there WILL come a time when the tool is needed, and the complacency of leaving it at home will annoy you when you're out miles away from home and NOW you need the tool, yet don't have it. 😬😋 It's the prepper mindset. I have it myself. There are many situations where I now look back and was glad I had a tool on me that fixed the problem, even if the situation that arose was rare, needing it only once and having it was well worth the years I carried it. 😁
Thanks so much and thanks for sharing!
I agree with all but the knipex- I have in my car and have used several times in urban setting
Thanks for sharing!
Sure, but a car is different from an EDC. In the car you have actual applications if it needs some fixing or depending on where you are going.
Would you carry one in an office setting where you commute on public transport?
Like I carry a knife and used to cut down the box of sugar packets in the office kitchen when it was empty but housekeeping would do that as well. When the siphon broke, a pair of pliers could have been useful - but we just shut off the mains and put up a sign with "out of order" and called housekeeping.
Great video. Definitely agree with your picks. I often find it crazy how much people carry around, and claim that they use regularly? I don't carry much and it still feels like too much. Even just a basic knife, I almost never use. So I don't know how people are always finding stuff to cut. And I've always found the 'hanks' hilarious. From what I've seen its more like a cute display cloth for taking pictures of your gear for instagram rather than a useful item.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I agree with almost everything listed, but as a glass wearer, handkerchiefs are absolutely amazing. Specially if you have any special coatings, like blue light filter or transition lenses, cause other tissues might damage them
Fair enough! Thanks for sharing!
You don't know what you're missing without those tiny pliers. Six years ago I bought the latest Victorinox Champ that has the pliers and I did think they would be useless and just extra width and weight, but they were so useful and so often that I added the Knipex Cobra XS and a Channellock 424 to everyday carry. The two pliers and a Crescent AT24VS and a Bigidesign Ti EDC wrench all fit together in a Ruko SOG2N sheath. For a prybar around town I carry a James Brand Ellis slim which is a small pocketknife that passes public carry laws in Canada, Germany, and the UK. It has a partially serrated blade and I prefer to use it over the large blade on the Victorinox. What is useful depends on where you go and what you do. Try leaving a note on the outside of something (car, locked door, vending machine) with your phone.
Thanks for your input and sharing your EDC!
You seem like the guy who doesn't need all that.
i disagree on all you say
you mirror the product on your life style your imviroment buut you should not do that what i mean is some one who drives daily in a car would have a different EDC than some one who ride daily on a bicycle and he would again have a different EDC than some one who use public transport.
Same thing where do you live in a city or outskirt makes different EDC setup
A reason why the Knipex Cobra XS spiked in august 2022 might also have nothing to do with some one introducing to the community but simply maybe because it might be quit a anew product.
Personally i can see a clear use for a knipex over a multitool when you need to use a screw driver in combination with some pliers a multitool wont do the trick but a knipex cobra with a screw driver will
You say all these items are useless and like i wrote already it all depends on your personal situation which is not the same for everybody
You could put in your list a water bottle is useless YES when you live in a city where you can buy water on every corner but again when your next shop is 1o or 15 km away a bottle of water is a good thing to have
@@willidevegt8831 Thanks for your opinion!
very good points. I use a 100% cotton bandanna daily to clean glasses, watch face and phone screen. It's generally handy and very affordable.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing!
I feel like carrying a sheet of high absorbent paper towel would be useful for many situations, but I hardly ever remember to carry one.
@@ToolTechGeek there you go, a practical solution
Most people need some kind of wallet. Most don't actually need any kind of knife. Basically nobody needs a 4 inch prybar. Most people would be better off without carrying a phone. The list of edc stuff people don't need contains nearly everything. Carry what you like, but you don't need any of this stuff.
I carry a Victorinox compact. On my keychain is a very simple prybar/boxcutter (no wrench holes or screwdriver bits etc) to not mess up my SAK too quickly.
I carry a small pouch in my daily backpack, with a variety of stuff, most of which I’m likely never to use. Keychain flashlight, boo-boo kit, pills, nail clippers, eyedrops, 4 matches, rubber bands, bit of cash, few sheets of waterproof paper, a fisher pen refill (who needs the whole pen?), baggie, whistle, eyeglass screwdriver, tape, and a foldable spork for that salad u buy on the way.
Another pouch has some tech/charging stuff. And lastly the backpack has a Leatherman Curl with bitkit, a disposable mask and disposable poncho to complete my default carry.
I can take pouches out or add others if needed. But other stuff is either in my car or in my house. I don’t need water purification tablets or 4 ways to make fire with me all the time. Maybe if I lived in a hurricane or earthquake area that would be slightly different.
That is quite a bit of gear for EDC! Thanks for sharing!
Bang on: WAYYY too many urban (and some rural) tenderfeet posing as survivalist/bushcraft experts and commentators. They're the same ones who trick out their already-high dollar Jeeps, pickups and SUVs with snorkels, huge off-road tires, multiple gas can carriers, cargo racks and other bling, and then we see them at the car wash or in the driveway washing and polishing the pristine vehicle - not a dent, scratch, or blemish that indicates actual off-road use, EVER.
Thanks for your comments. I have to go polish my SUV now.
I have the Cobra XS and it sees alot of use. Most cases I use it at work, I haul dairy products and the locks on both milk carts and the side locks on the ratchet straps often jam, and trying to get them unstuck with your fingers is just going to cost you nails and blood often to no avail. I COULD use a mini pry bar instead, but the pliers is more multi-functional and finds other uses every now and then.
Thanks for sharing!
A Multi tool, a keychain flashlight, 2 meters of cordage, and abic lighter wrapped in duck tape. That is my pocket edc configurations. And that would resolve 99% your average dude problems.
Good selection of kit items. Thanks!
Totally agree with you on the wet wipes! I have a small pry bar on my keychain - I do use that occasionally to open bottles. I use a small Olight most often, followed by a small traditional knife (right now a german made okapi slipjoint)
Thanks for sharing!
I use my Hank everyday to clean my glasses, my red dot. Very handy.
@@urbanknifeguySAK, Spyderco Delica, & small pocket flashlight, & pen will suffice in pretty much every urban day...
Great video, so many sheep are influenced by youtubers,, imho,,
ps,, subbed on the strength of this video,, 👍👍
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much!
I have to agree.
I've greatly reduced my urban edc.
Got tired of carrying all those items I never actually needed.
Thanks for watching!
Knipex is a damn good tool if you work around any kind of mechanical equipment. Jammed levers, gas bottle valves etc. I have carried those since about 2017
I mostly agree with you.
I do carry a couple or three sheets of wet proof paper,
in my EDC kit, but gave up carrying the whole notebook,
a year or so ago, & also carry a nice Zebra pen, & a pencil.
I live in a rainforest, & on occasion, leave notes for folks!
A small set of Knipex, in my EDC KIT
& a Leatherman on my belt, allows me to tighten,
loose nuts, & bolts.
My Kershaw pocket knife, gets a touch up once in a while.
As does my Leatherman blade.
A pry-bar lives in my vehicle toolkit.
I agree with getting rid of stuff you don’t really need.
Constantly modifying my EDC!
Take care, & keep smiling!
Thanks for sharing the continued evolution of your EDC Kit!
My EDC base is the knife/multitool, the flashlight, and the pry bar.
Thanks for sharing! But what are you prying? 😁
As a person who works in kitchens, I am constantly breaking down hundreds of heavy duty cardboard boxes per week, and the super steals are very useful for me because it means that I don’t have to sharpen my knife for one to two months at a time without having to worry about it. I agree that for the average person on S110v pm2 is absolutely unnecessary, but for me, that level of hardness and edge retention makes a huge amount of difference.
Fair enough. I agree on the need for good edge retention for that much cutting!
Blade geometry is more important for edge retention than steel hardness
If you work for an employer then your employer should provide you with cutting tools. I never used my personal tools for work related tasks
@LegitPrepperGuruNodoubt More than likely an employer will provide what they think is an appropriate tool like a box cutter. But if you want to use something better, then it is probably on you.
@@MementoMori1001 the number of times I have been handed a ceramic “box cutter” because the job doesn’t trust me not to cut myself with a regular one is ridiculous. Plus most kitchens don’t bother to provide any kind of cutting tool aside from kitchen knives
I carry a full size crowbar daily and usually a 36” bolt cutters… always be prepared, you just never know…😂
Coincidentally, so does my bank robber friend.
I believe that Zac in the wild was the first UA-camr that started to push the Knipex plyers. Since he started showing those it seems it’s grown almost a cult like group of desk jockeys carrying these tiny plyers around in their pockets.
I think I will research this! Thanks for the tip!
Okay, so what are the five pieces of Urban EDC that you think people *should* have?
The answer would be quite nuanced as it depends on whether one EDCs for convenience, emergency, or survival. I discussed it here ua-cam.com/video/asRwu7dfDK0/v-deo.html Thanks for your comment!
Have to say I use Knipex Pliers all the time. I'm getting arthritis in my hands and find these great for opening stuff
Thanks! That is a good reason!
A knife, 18650 Flashlight, lighter, small microfiber cloth and 2 piece keychain screwdriver set. That's all I carry and all I really need.
Thanks for sharing!
@@urbanknifeguyGreat topic and review. I also fully agree with you on the unnecessary edc gear.
Deluxe Tinker (w plus scales) has really become my one and done edc tool, combine it w a small flashlight and its perfect. Those small pliers are very useful and grabbing things my sausage fingers have a hard time with.
Thanks for sharing!
Another great vid JC thanks man ✌️
Thank you!
I've listen to you, in my key chain I've got a Spyderco Ladybug, a smaller and simpler pry-bar and a flash light (a Photon), together with my keys 😇😇
You're dead right in every case. A lot of influencers even carry two knives. I don't get it.
I have carried the above items and hardly never used them.
For most days a Victorinox Compact or a gentleman's knife are al I need.
Thanks for sharing!
I carried a multitool for over 1 year and have not used it once. What i use all the time is a sharp blade, scissors und pliers. So the Standard Victorinox models are perfekt for me. In addition i carry some fancy knife and i am done.
Thanks for sharing!
Don’t get a fancy microfiber Hank then, but a normal handkerchief has many, many practical uses friend.
Strongly disagree with you on the hank, for several reasons.
#1, I really hate single use plastics. They're not healthy for me, they're not good for animals or the environment. A handkerchief made with natural materials looks nicer, and it's better for everyone on this earth.
We already do laundry for clothing, throwing a used hank- in there with our next load of laundry and grabbing a fresh one when we're home or a spare from our car is literally as convenient as throwing on another shirt.
And I can't even count how many times I meant to replace my last pack of portable tissues and kept forgetting, but that doesn't happen to me with a handkerchief in my EDC.
They help me out when I have a cold, when I have allergies, and a few messes too. Just fold up the used part of the hank in on itself and that mess won't get anywhere else either, it's not that hard to do.
Lots of people have glasses, and using anything but a microfiber handkerchief on your glasses WILL scratch them up over time. I used to wear a pair everyday and just wipe em on my shirt, after a couple years of that my glasses were unusable. Soon I'm going to need to get reading glasses and i won't be making that mistake again.
I agree with all of these, except the EDC handkerchief. It can be useful for people who wear glasses. You can scratch up your glasses by wiping them on your shirt, so it's nice to have a microfiber cloth handy. It's also useful for people who are bald or who shave their head as they constantly need to have something to wipe off sweat with. EDC handkerchief is also very easy to carry, you can stick it in your back pocket and sit on it without any issues. You can put it in any pocket that you aren't using and it will fit.
Also super steel knives. Yes you don't really need them for EDC, but having that higher quality steel means it needs less sharpening and upkeep, so it's more likely to actually be sharp when you need to use it.
Totally agree! A person can’t be prepared for everything. Carry what will get you out of a jam 80% of the time and learn to be resourceful with the other 20. I would agree that the items on this list are for the most part completely useless.
Knowledge Before Gear! Thanks for commenting!
With the exception of super steels since I only use traditional knives I carry all these things but not.
I carry a pry bar but it's a regular hand tool made by a tool manufacturer not a gimmicky gadget thing.
I've carried a 4" adjustable wrench in my pocket for over 10 years.
A 4" pair of slipjoint pliers.
A mini notepad but not a write in the rain.
And I carry a handkerchief, but it's a regular cotton bandana type not a fancy thing, I use it to wipe sweat off my forehead in the summer and of course at work.
With that being said I do live in a small rural farm town not a big city, so maybe things are a bit different for me.
Thanks for sharing! Makes perfect sense!
i keep my boxcutter, 6" cobra pliers in my EDC due to work (construction, drywall instalation and more), most needed hexbits and small AAA flashlight. no need for prybar or top tier knives though.
I work outside and carry the Rite-n-rain notepad. Between sweat and rain it makes righting things down super easy. This area is in the city and not southern cali! It rains often. All the others I agree with. My dad carry’s a handkerchief everyday, to blow his nose. It’s pain white and cheap!
If you're a photographer or if you wear glasses, the microfiber cloth should be included to your edc. Wiping my glasses with my tshirt made the coating of my glasses disappear, leaving a scratchy surface. This annoyed me to no end. The microfiber cloth is also great for cleaning your camera lens for the same reason. The pry bar is another handy tool for photographers, as it can help fastening the tripod legs for some tripods. Of course, you won't always need to bring a tripod, so bring it whenever you see fit.
Modified SAK Workchamp OR modified SAK Compact AND Swisstool X.
Olight Arkfeld PRO.
Ready for anything, maybe not the end of the world but more than enough to overcome lifes tribulations.
May I ask what Mods you do for your SAKs?
@@urbanknifeguy Sure.
So, the workchamp, I have removed the corkscrew scale and milled a 2.5mm pocket to fit in the pressurized pen. I also drilled in two holes underneath the corkscrew. 1 to accept the Swiss pin in the normal place but a second, 0.9mm hole to accept a blunt pin of my own. I took some 0.88mm stainless filler wire and mounted vertically in a vice, fizzed the end to form a ball. Then cut to length and trim the end square. It is perfect for SIM trays on smart phones.
I have been able to stash some 10x2mm and 7x2mm magnets into the well underneath some of the tools.
I also carry a paper clip, trapping it behind the corkscrew. This is the cheapest and easiest mod anyone can do to a SAK and the spirit of your inner MacGyver will be so happy. The Workchamp and the Swisstool live in leather pouches which I fasten to my belt horizontally with cable ties wrapped around twice. On first glance it looks a bit Ghetto, until you snip the tie before the head and push the little bit out with a pin. You now have 2off 4x200mm cable ties. Very handy in any bush fix situation.
The Compact has magnets, the paperclip and my pin that lives under the hook tool.
I think you do need older super steel. Such as M390, S30VN or S35VN. 154CM is nice too.
I found that 420HC or VG10 dulls out too quickly.
I agree the steels you mentioned are great. However, it becomes a bit of a slippery slope when a new super steel is introduced every year and whether they are necessary for most urban EDC needs. Thanks!
@urbanknifeguy The only new super steel I'd consider(and it seems most feel that way) is Magnatcut. Most others seem to be a pain in the ass to sharpen or too brittle. They're also way to expensive for just an EDC knife.
Agreed and I look forward to seeing more content. 8:44
Thank you very much!
A leatherman and a cheap bandana solves most of these needs
Sound advice!
EDC I use :phone, credit card, pen, kleenex, keys
Gerber folding box cutter I have the black and silver. Perfect for the ladys.
You have a knife dedicated to cutting ladies?? 😬😰
@@urbanknifeguy most have tiny pockets it's compact design fits the watch pocket very well.
The only thing here I would disagree with is the super steel point. Some of the budget friendly companies have CPM-3V options for like $10 more than a D2 option (see Kizer Harpoon mini for $65), and there is zero reason to not spend the extra few bucks for the better edge retention and just overall tougher steel. Definitely not necessary to drop $300 on an edc knife, but there are budget friendly options that make sense for under a hundred bucks.
Aside from keys, wallet and phone, all I carry is a SAK Cyber Tool L. I feel like some people are preparing for the end of times😆
With a Cybertool you actually are ready for the end of the world (somebody has to dismantle the AI)
EDC companies and marketers count on people thinking that they are preparing for the end of days
Prepping against zombies...
Great video! I’m glad someone is finally talking about what not to carry. I’ve watch quite a few EDC and bugout bag videos and none of them are consistent except they all carry too much or things I wouldn’t carry.
I look at it this way. For me, there is no standard EDC, it always depends on what I’m doing. When I’m inside for the day or doing yard work, I’m not carrying anything because all my tools are a few steps away.
If I go out shopping or whatever then it’s just my keys, wallet, and phone. That’s it. My keys have a P38 can opener on it that I rarely use but it takes up no space so it stays plus it can be used as a flathead screwdriver in a pinch. My wallet has a tiny Zebra pen and pencil set and a few pieces of paper that I rarely use but again they takeup no space. And my phone is my lifeline in case of emergencies. That’s it.
All these other items I’ve seen in videos would simply collect lint and wear a hole in my pockets.
At work I would carry the above plus a multitool, flashlight, regular pen and pencil, notebook, tape measure, clipboard with current plans, and gloves.
As for bugout bags all the videos I’ve seen simply looked like they were trying to fill them with as much stuff as possible without rhyme or reason. Personally I believe in a modular system that can be incorporated with others.
They should be seasonal as well, you don’t need winter gear in the summer and vice versa. Keep the bags to the essentials instead of trying to impress people with a massive collection of things some UA-camrs insisted were necessary.
Also, know how to use the gear you buy before you have an emergency.
I agree with most. I do use my pocket prybar. My 4 essential items in order are:
1. Flashlight (I used this item everyday)
2. Bandaba (I always carry a clean bandana, it's very handy when you are a father or to wipe your other tools)
3.Knife (hardly gets some used when in urban environment, just very small tasks)
4. Prybar with bottle opener (I used this more than my knife, is a very useful tool)
I love knives, I have a nice collection, but for urban edc is quite hard to find reasons to use them. Nice video!
I bought those weatherproof notebooks but they take up space. I now use Post It 'Extreme' notes. You can carry a pad or just a few pieces of paper. They are waterproof and you can leave a note on someone's front door and know it won't blow away. Good video.
Knife, SAK, flashlight. Thats all you need. If im going out for any period of time, then yes i take gun, pen, marker, microfiber cloth, comb, earbuds. But thats just specific to me, not needed 99% of the time.
Unfortunately most ppl's EDC is based on what they were told to buy instead of what they really need. Ppl just dumb nowadays.
On EDC prybars: you can get a small prybar at about 20-30cm in length at your local hardware store. If you need to pry open something or pull a nail, these are functional. The EDC prybars often won't even wor, because they lack the leverage,
i am an average person. retired and just doing what an average retired person would do, nothing. i live in the city and just go out to shop, eat or stroll. i go out one day and a bully started mugging me, without my edc knife, i would have ended up in a worst way. a knife is a must carry especially when you need it.
Thanks for sharing!
how legal is it to carry edc tools like a folder, or even a sak in malaysia? fellow malaysian asking here😊
I did a video on this subject here ua-cam.com/video/wifFv_Zq1UQ/v-deo.html
From a close neighbour Singaporean living in Malaysia 😁
@@urbanknifeguy thanks alot:))
Once people started carrying Knipex pliers, I knew the EDC genre of UA-cam had peaked. Carrying titanium everything pens, knifes, wallets, flashlights and fidgets just wasn't enough.
I live in Houston, Tx and while I dont carry a pocket square daily... Most days I do carry a microfiber cloth to keep the sweat off my face during out hot summers.
Agree on all, except I kind of disagree on the hankerchief. I don’t have a fancy one like you show and see no need for something thick and fancy. However, I do like and use either a bandana or mini microfiber towel. I use these for wiping sweat, if wet drying off, touching something that I think may not be clean, etc.
The average person can get away with a keyring sized multitool like the Nextool mini flagship (knife, pliers, scissors, philips, flat screwdriver, bottle opener, can opener, nail file). The average person carries a phone so does not need a flashlight. Band aids, tweezers, a titanium/stainless steel toothpick, and a cotton handkerchief (plastic/microfiber is trash) are also handy.
Thanks! Very sound advice.
Hank comes in handy for me especially for wiping off sweat or rain in your face. My pocket notebook is mainly for back up when and if my phone dies, it has emergency contacts, and other important things I might when I'm traveling.
Fair enough! Thanks!
💯 agree. I just need to get home from an 18 mile commute. Worst case I'll sleep in a park but I doubt it. Good shoes, some water and get to walking
I actually keep wipes and a regular bandanna. I have a cheap keychain prybar that is very useful and has come in handy on many occasions just to open stubborn things. And my fancy bigger titanium prybar actually is on my bigger pack and I don't use it as much but is also useful.
I don't really pay too much attention to the steel in my knives. I care about if the cut and if they are reliable! I think if you are spending too much on an item that is made to cut and kill stuff, you are trying too hard!
Thanks for sharing! Appreciate it!
Back in highschool we had school bags, and I had a friend that seemed to always have EVERYTHING. After highschool, I always thought of him whenever I was stuck in a situation which required a tool that I didn't have. I wanted that without all the bulk and that's how I found the EDC community. But sometimes it seems some people in the EDC community is like that friend, they're prepared for everything, but they carry so much stuff around. It kinda defeats the purpose/counterproductive. There's so much useless stuff it's hard to filter through the noise and find something that will either reduce the EDC foot print or make access more efficient.
There's lots of cool EDC stuff, and I buy a lot just cuz of the novelty / show and tell thing. Sometimes the EDC stuff are legitimately good tools in portable form factor. But actual day to day? I have a victorinox card that goes in my wallet so it doesn't feel like an extra item. A bottle opener on my keychain. A charging cable on a keychain. The only thing "extra" that I carry is a pack with a couple of bandages, heat shrink, An easyflow pen with a fisher pen refill. and A small lighter type object i'm swapping in and out until I decide which will be permanent.
The less common tools that are not flatheads and philips heads? (torx, pliers, prybar etc) Unexpected tasks that require those tools, at least for me, seem to happen much more often when i'm there to do a more complex task that requires less common tools anyway. So all that EDC stuff just becomes the tool box I bring around. when it calls for it. (people keep urban and survival EDC sets separate and take whichever one if they are in the wilderness or city, so why not do the same with the toolbox?) The fact that some people have 5 "EDC" packs, none of which they actually EDC... again defeats the purpose doesn't it? Isolate what's common in those EDC packs, make that your regular EDC, and grab the other sets as needed.
Like you say, EDCs just need to work for the occasional unexpected task it doesn't even need to work perfectly. If you know you need to do something, you bring the good tool/toolkit that you need, and not your EDC. I would consider many pocket knives and utility knives in this category too. Especially the larger ones.
The knife the victorinox card is actually sold on it's own as well for $7 Canadian or $5 USD. I don't expect to cut anything that will ruin the blade, but when the time comes that I do? I'll just replace it. -- another reason why i went with the card rather than a knife, less disassembly to replace a worn tool
The latest thing I've seen i'm considering? A flat powerbank/battery that ... fits in the wallet.
Aaand you lost me at not carrying a hankey and instead carrying wet wipes...
Experience has driven me to minimize my EDC loadout. Besides my wallet, keys, phone and watch I am down to one basic multitool with a blade, screwdrivers, a scissors and file. A small flashlight, pocket planner and a pen. I also carry some very basic first aid supplies like bandaids, benadryl, and naproxen. In the summer I have some cortisone for insects stings and bites. I leave the heavyweight gear in a pack in my car which includes a full first aid kit, and a standard NATO entrenching tool. I used to carry a folder but it is redundant for everyday needs. I also carry pepper spray because it gives me a non lethal, standoff self defense option against two and four legged threats.
Thanks for sharing! Practical and functional!
The only one I'm iffy on is the prybar. Wait till you're about 60years and can just LOOK AT something and split the end of your fingernail and you'll realize something to pick/pry/split/rip to save your fingernails. It can come in handy. The rest . . . yeah: The KNIPEX . . . is in a Ziploc bag in the car console. The handkerchief's never get used. (Kleenex or TP instead.)