5 EDC Items Every Man Should Carry With Them

I always wanted to write a list like this one. Just a quick disclaimer, I will not include basic things here like your car and house keys, wallet, and cell phone.

Also, in the future, I will publish a more complete EDC list that will include things you should carry when you take a backpack with you. For now, let’s just focus on those small items that you should keep in your pockets at all times.

Starting with number 1:

1. A nice and reliable watch

I shouldn’t have to tell you that a watch is a must-have for any serious man. Besides the obvious telling time thing, a watch can be seen as an important part of any complete wardrobe, and also a legacy piece or an heirloom.

Now, I’m not talking about those smartwatches with tons of cool features.

I’m talking about the classic, analog timepieces. These are the ones that were in style 50 years ago and will be in style 50 years into the future. Contrary to the best smartwatch being sold today which will be completely obsolete in 5 years.

Plus, everything you do on a smartwatch you can do much better on your phone, so it’s just redundant and kind of pointless to carry a smartwatch around.

The other thing is, “old school” watches are reliable. Smartwatches are not. Just facts. Quartz movement will not fail you, on the other hand, electronic devices probably will at some time.

2. A sharp pocket knife

This one is all about versatility. If you were stranded on a desert island, what would be that one item you’d carry with you? A knife!

A pocket knife can be useful in any kind of situation. Whether it’s for cutting food in a pinch, cutting a piece of rope or open a package. A pocket knife has got you covered.

My brother got me a Swiss Army Knife as a gift last year and I’ve been carrying that puppy around everywhere I go. Here in Portugal, we can only carry a blade that is 10cm maximum (in public spaces. when I go fishing I take my hunting knife with me), so my knife is the perfect fit. Plus, it packs all kinds of features like a sowing needle, a can opener, a smaller blade for more delicate jobs, a file, and even some tweezers!

By the description, I bet you can now think of 100 times when a pocket knife such as mine would have been handy.

3. A reliable lighter

People always tend to assume that you’re a smoker if you carry a lighter. Not entirely truthful though. For instance, I’ve never smoked in my entire life but I have been carrying a lighter every day for years.

Fire is one of mankind’s greatest discoveries. Maybe even the greatest discovery of all time. The ability to carry fire in your pocket and have it there ready and available for when it’s needed is a superpower.

Imagine the middle ages if they had lighters back then. I bet history would have been slightly different.

A lighter has a multitude of applications including obviously starting a fire, burning the ends of a nylon rope, and sterilising a needle…just be creative! But not too creative.

4. Cash (just like grandpa used to do)

You should carry 500.000$ dollars in singles with you at all times.

Not really, but you should carry some cash with you so you can have quick access to it in case of an emergency. Debit and credit cards will fail, Google Pay and Apple Pay will also fail. Heck, some places don’t even take card payments.

Cash is the basic currency we should carry at all times. Just a small amount to cover a basic necessity. The exact quantity depends on location. So you figure out how much you should carry and get that sum into your wallet.

Avoid carrying too much, besides the possibility of losing it, you can also get mugged which is totally not cool.

5. Pen

An actual pen, not a Pendrive. Like a ballpoint of something of sorts.

Imagine a situation in which you need to sign an important document but you don’t have a pen with you and no one else around does. Happened to me the other day and I had to drive home to get a pen and back to the place I was at first to sign and submit a document.

Now, I simply carry a small ballpoint pen with me at all times.

Plus, it’s the sign of a man that has his life in order. No one carries pens around anymore, allowing you to differentiate yourself from the crowd.

In order to conclude, I would say that a man should carry at all times:

1. A watch;
2. A pocket knife;
3. A lighter;
4. Some cash;
5. A pen (those you write with, not those you plug into a computer);

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