Summary: You never know when emergencies will happen that require you to be prepared with your everyday carry essentials.<br> <br> Daily life can turn from happy and fun to disastrous and deadly in the blink of an eye. When that happens, all you will have to face a possibly fatal situation are your wits and the gear you have with you.<br> <br> This guide will discuss the mindset behind your everyday carry essentials and provide a strategy for how you should consider adding to your everyday carry (EDC).<br> What Is Everyday Carry (EDC)?<br> Everyday carry, also known as EDC, refers to the items you carry daily. This can include everything from your wallet and keys to your phone and sunglasses and personal protection gear.<br> <br> While the specific items that make up your EDC will vary depending on your lifestyle and needs, there are a few essentials that everyone should consider carrying, which I'll cover later.<br> <br> By carefully choosing the items that make up your EDC, you can be prepared for anything life throws your way.<br> Why Should You Practice an Everyday Carry Kit?<br> Most people don't think about what they would do if suddenly faced with an emergency. However, those who take a moment to imagine being in a dangerous situation with no help in sight quickly realize how important it is to be prepared. That's where everyday carry comes in.<br> <br> Everyday carry, or EDC, refers to the items you always have on you, such as your wallet, keys, and phone. But EDC goes beyond just the basics. An EDC lifestyle means being prepared for any situation, whether it's a natural disaster, a power outage, or an attack by a crazed lunatic.<br> <br> By carrying everyday carry gear such as a flashlight, a pocket knife, or a multi-tool, you can be ready for just about anything. And even if you never find yourself in an emergency, there's no harm in being prepared. After all, when it comes to preparedness, as the saying goes, it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.<br> What is Gear?<br> Before diving into the specifics of EDC gear, we must be all operating off the same definition and understanding of gear. By understanding what gear is and how it's categorized, you'll be able to make a more effective decision regarding your everyday carry.<br> <br> Merriam-Webster defines gear as, among other things, clothing, garments, goods, and equipment.<br> <br> For our purposes, gear is anything we use to help succeed at the goals of preparedness, survival, less unwanted struggle, and living your best life.<br> Types of Gear<br> There are three types of gear within the seven levels of gear. Those types of gear are passive, active, and hybrid.<br> <br> <br> Passive Gear<br> Passive gear consists of things that operate without our direct, active input. For example, passive gear includes the clothes we wear that protect us from the environment. It also consists of the body armor we wear and the alarm systems we install to stop an opponent's attack.<br> Active Gear<br> Active gear includes all the things we have to actively be involved with to operate. The flashlight and firearm you carry are active gear. So too is your GPS, hand-pump water filter, and anything else that requires your time, attention, and proficiency.<br> Hybrid Gear<br> Hybrid gear consists of everything that can be passive and which you can take over control of. For example, some drones can be pre-programmed to fly set routes. However, a drone pilot can take over control and fly the drone on his chosen spur-of-the-moment way.<br> What are the Seven Levels of Gear?<br> The first step in organizing your EDC gear is understanding the seven survival gear categories. The seven levels of survival gear mirror the Survival Pyramid and consist of:<br> <br> Immediate Survival Gear<br> Imminent Survival Gear<br> Emergent Survival Gear<br>
