Replies to This Discussion

FeaturedPermalink Reply by Charles Sample on March 6, 2013 at 22:46

I hope this doesn't sound like overkill, but I EDC a S&W .38 snub in one pocket, a Ruger LCP .380 in a belt holster that looks like a cell phone holster, and a Case Mini Blackhorn and a Leatherman Micra in the other pocket.

Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on May 19, 2017 at 14:15

Picked up a Maxpedition (copy), recently, to carry more "stuff". Foreign knockoff, but it's pretty decent quality. I would have liked to find it in the left side carry, for when I'm using my cane, but it doesn't get too much in the way. It's​ very handy when in the wheelchair.

Permalink Reply by Kevin on April 13, 2021 at 23:10

Hi Guys:

I always carry a knife--in one form or another--ever since I was able to.

I'm an ex-paramedic (I got hurt), and I found that a knife was one of the most useful things that I could carry when I worked on the truck.

I have a small, zipper camera pouch with a belt loop . . . the kind of pouch that tourists use for those tiny digital cameras. See below:

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A small, zipper camera case doesn't usually raise concerns.

FeaturedPermalink Reply by dead_left_knife_guy on April 17, 2021 at 15:06

JJ, Maxpedition used to make their bags for standard (right-side) & "S-type" (left-side) carry.  I'm right-handed but despise having anything in the way of my dominant hand, so I actually preferred the S-type bags.  Maxpedition bags are made in Taiwan, I believe, but frankly I prefer the Chinese knock-offs because they're not as stiff, & they're significantly less expensive.  Unfortunately, none of the knock-offs that I have found made left-hand versions of these bags.

Maxpedition also used to make a bag called the Colossus, which was an ambidextrous bag similar to the Versipack, only larger.  Fortunately, some of the knock-off brands have copied this bag.  I would have bought the Colossus if it was still in production, I really like that bag. 

However, the NCStar First Responder bag still is in production, comes in multiple color options, & at $33 shipping included (on eBay), it's about a fifth the price of the Colossus, with a very similar layout (maybe a bit smaller).  I own this bag & definitely recommend it!

FeaturedPermalink Reply by dead_left_knife_guy on April 17, 2021 at 17:26

Emory, great question!

I've been fortunate enough to have been working from home since March 2020 (& to have been working most weeks since then), so I don't usually carry more than my pockets will hold currently.  There are some exceptions, however.

My wife & I split the dog walking, which gets us outside for at least half an hour, twice a day, regardless of the weather.  For these walks, my current set-up involves a "sling" (fanny) pack made by Cannae Pro Gear (the Belerian).  Before that, I used a similar sling/fanny pack made by Marmot (don't know the name), and before that, a very small messenger-type bag made by Timbuk2 (the Catapult Sling bag).  

For everything else -- taking my kid to school, attending outdoor family gatherings, medical appointments, etc., I currently carry the Mountainsmith Adventure Office Small messenger bag.  Carries everything I need & more -- water bottle, multitool, first aid kit, trauma kit, fidgets, pens & notebook (as in, spiral bound paper), gloves, extra masks, hand sanitizer, snacks, bandana, etc. -- all easy to see because of the yellow lining in every pocket.

My first aid kit is one that I have carried for years.  In it, I carry several sizes of bandaids, different over the counter meds, safety pins, a Victorinox Classic SD, a magnifying glass, tweezers, nail clipper, safety pins, a lighter, dental floss, a small pen, & a small Streamlight flashlight.  I built this around a small Adventure Medical first aid kit I picked up a long time ago (actually, I purchased two, and built two similar but not identical kits).  These kits have come in very handy, & I carry one every time I leave the house.

Before the pandemic, I basically had to carry what anyone else might store in a desk at work, since I often work at multiple locations, even for the same company on the same site.  This was definitely a challenge (& no doubt will be again -- I'm guessing I won't be able to work from home forever).  So I built my EDC on a backpack from Eddie Bauer that I believe is no longer in production -- the Voyager 2.0 backpack.

 It says the capacity is 30 liters, but it looks, & feels, like less.  (It's not uncommon for manufacturers to seemingly fudge this specification; however, it may be from the total sum of pocket volumes -- which also gets dicey if you're doing things like counting pockets within pockets.)  Fortunately, I've made it work, with each pocket becoming its own pouch, so to speak.  I actually use an old neoprene floppy disk pouch (3.5" size) for fidgets, a small polyester canvas pouch for electronic gear (charging cords, batteries, etc.), & occasionally a cheap Chinese Molle pouch for miscellaneous items.

If you carry a messenger bag, tote bag, or even a patrol bag, something I really came to love was the Vanquest Drop-In Organizer for Messenger bags.  Vanquest, given it's utility.  It can act like a lunch bag, or it can act to transfer certain types of gear into & out of your bag quickly.  At $45, it's not cheap enough to have a lot of them, but it's much more affordable than I would have predicted from Vanquest, especially given its utility,

I was actually in the process of experimenting with travel cubes & other pouches when the pandemic hit, largely negating my need to use these items in the same way.  I actually really dig bags and pouches, and really have to start thinking about what a return to the office will require.  Though I'd really prefer to continue working from home & leave the pouches & packs for recreational purposes!

EDIT:  I realize these bags might have been larger than you were posting about, but this is what a lot of my EDC is & has been structured around.  I am hoping to address some of the pouches I like & use, and smaller packs, but this is the first time I've written about bags for a while, & admit I couldn't help getting a little carried away with the topic!

Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on April 18, 2021 at 15:54

I can understand about not blocking your dominant hand, DL.  As I have to use a cane, on my right, I just simply carry mine on the left.  On mine, the only basic difference is the water bottle holder is now in the back.

I've tried other styles, but I like this one the best.