Everybody likes bags, right? Gun guys, tactical guys, hunters, and hikers all like a good backpack or some type of bag to carry gear in. There are more types of backpacks than there are choices on a McDonald’s menu—get-home bags, bugout bags, survival bags, range bags, and more. Each bag has a purpose and contains specific gear for the task at hand. I have a get-home bag that I keep in my car. It has items that I may need should I get stranded during a trip and need to make my way back home. A bugout bag on the other hand is set up for emergencies when I need to leave the home quickly. Those two bags have some of the same items, but they are different too.
Even though I have those bags, I will admit they are for emergencies, and I will likely never need them. I say likely because you never know what the future will bring. That’s what being prepared is all about. But if you really want to be ready for any type of danger or incident, it takes more than having a bag at home or in the car. There are numerous articles about things you can carry on your person—a gun for self-defense, knife, flashlight, tourniquet, and more. That is a good start to being ready all the time. But do you have a place for one more bag? An everyday carry bag (EDC bag) is a great bag to use daily, and not just for emergencies. Keep reading to see the benefits of having an EDC bag.
What is an EDC bag?
When I set up a bag, I spend a little time making sure it has everything needed for that purpose. Most of the time, the bag ends up with more stuff in it than I had originally planned. It takes careful packing and arranging to make it all fit. The bags I have set up now would work great for their purpose, but if I tried to carry one around with me all the time, it would not be practical. One stays at home, and one stays tucked away in my truck. But I started to see the need to have a bag that didn’t have an exact purpose. Something that could change depending on what I am doing each day.
There are a few basic items I keep in any bag. But the idea for this one is to leave plenty of room for random stuff so you can add or take away as needed. You don’t have to carry the bag on you all the time, but I keep this bag more accessible than I do my get-home bag. If I’m shopping, I can throw purchased items in the bag. I can carry a drink or snack if needed. There have been times I get ready to head out and find myself trying to carry so many things that I realize have to stop and decide what to bring and what to leave.
An EDC backpack is flexible.
We recently took our kids hiking in a local state park. This particular park is not what I would call large, but it does have hiking trails that go for miles away from any roads or civilization. We have been to this park plenty of times and it makes for a fun day trip. While our cars are never more than a few miles away, I realized we would have no cell phone signal on the trail. What if someone was injured or an emergency took place several miles away from our vehicles? So, for this trip, I threw in a few extra medical supplies including items needed for a sprained ankle, snake bite, and extra water.
If I’m going to be in the middle of a town or walking through the mall, however, I won’t need those items, so I switch them out. What I found works best for me is to have an assortment of items on a shelf that work in a wide variety of places. In the city, I may want an extra flashlight or batteries, and some cash in case my debit/credit cards stop working. A power bank, extra mags for my CCW gun, duct tape, a weather radio, and a flash drive are good items to keep in an EDC bag. I like to keep a flash drive with documents I may want to access in emergencies when I can’t make it home. This could be insurance cards for kids, copies of birth certificates, Social Security cards, and banking info.
What size of backpack should you pick out for an EDC bag?
The good thing about an EDC bag is there is plenty of room for other things. Keep a hoodie or jacket in it, a water bottle, or use it to carry things you buy while you’re shopping. If I’m wearing shorts or jogging pants, I like to keep my wallet, keys, sunglasses, and other items in a bag. I prefer to carry my gun, knife, and tourniquet on me, but that is not always possible. The size of bag you pick out will dictate how much you can carry, but most bags will carry the basic items needed.
Selecting the right size of bag is harder than it sounds. If the bag is too large, it becomes a hassle to carry it around. If the bag is too small, it won’t carry as much. One thing to keep in mind is that backpacks are like countertops. If there is space, you will put something there. Make sure the bag will fit everything you want to carry but not so big you look like a wilderness hiker walking through the mall. A small bag looks more like a fanny pack over your shoulder, and you can’t carry needed items. I use a medium size backpack that will hold my essential items for safety and security while leaving some room for those random things I may want on that trip.
Final thoughts on EDC bags?
Some people don’t see the need to have an emergency bag, let alone three of them. If you want to use one bag, then make one bag work. I started with one, but as the contents grew, I realized it would not be a good EDC bag. Every time I look through the bag, I think of more things that need to be added. A small amount of extra ammo turned into a water-proof container with ammo and mags. Once the bag was packed, I designated it for a specific thing. With my EDC bag, I try and limit what I place in there, so I have plenty of room for daily things.
When you start thinking like a prepper, you get lost in the world of survival. The next thing you know, you’re headed to Target with a backpack that weighs 40 pounds and is full of stuff you probably don’t need. I suggest making a list for each type of backpack you want to set up. Revaluate the list regularly. There isn’t a right or wrong way to set up a bag. This is how I set up my bags, and you may find a way you like better. The point is to think ahead and have a plan ready. Take items you need so that if things go wrong, you’re not caught off guard.
