5 Bits of Essential Kit to Round Out Your EDC Loadout

So you’ve selected the perfect carry gun and found a holster that fits your lifestyle. If you’re wanting to be a real problem solver though, there are some items that, in most situations, are more useful than a firearm. Why not consider carrying them all, or at least have them handy?

Here are a few of my own everyday carry (EDC) add-ons, and how they fit into my life.

1. Tourniquet

Here’s a lifesaver that virtually anyone can learn to use, including folks who want to be helpful in an emergency but dislike guns. Although there are still some stalwarts that preach against tourniquet use, there should be no controversy between the relatively small risk of losing a limb due to wearing one for many hours (we’re talking two digits; opinions on time vary beyond that), versus death.

There are several different types of tourniquets. The one that lives on the back of my driver’s seat headrest and either inside my front door or in a cargo pocket when I’m on the range is a SWAT brand. It’s just a simple rubber strap, about four inches wide and four feet long. The name describes its application: stretch, wrap, and tuck.

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SWAT_tourniquet_in_place_on_my_arm.

SWAT tourniquet in place on my arm. (Photo: Team HB)

I choose the SWAT for EDC for a few reasons: First, it’s compact and very easy to carry. It doubles as a compression bandage if need be, and it can be snuggled down on the smallest of limbs if a child or canine is in need. Every choices has a drawback, and the SWAT’s is that it takes extra effort to secure on extremely bloody and bare limbs. SWAT-T Tourniquet, Bla... Buy New $11.00 (as of 12:40 UTC - Details)

A more popular choice among current and recent military operators is the CAT, or combat application tourniquet. It misses the above-named advantages of the SWAT, but there is no slip factor. Beware of off-brand or aged knock-offs, on which the plastic windlass has been known to break, making it impossible to keep the device tight.

Training, practice, and thoughtful selection of your tourniquet are not to be underestimated. While it’s true that improvised tourniquets made of whatever’s in the vicinity have saved lives, it’s a tough task to secure such a device and keep it tight when hands need to be free to do other things.

2. Extra magazine

There is no guarantee that the five to nine rounds most concealment guns hold will be enough to mount an effective defense. An extra magazine offers more rounds while keeping gun bulk at a minimum.

My extra mag usually rides in my left front pocket, indexed with bullets pointing down and toward the front, ready to retrieve and load. I try to make it the only object in that pocket to keep things simple under stress. Most women wouldn’t be happy with the slight increase in profile. For me, it’s a matter of priority: safety before fashion.

Yes,_I_am_happy_to_see_you._And_that_s_a_mag_in_my_pocket.

Yes, I am happy to see you. And that is an extra mag in my pocket. (Photo: Team HB)

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I never knew how much I needed a knife until I started carrying one a decade ago. On a near-daily basis, it saves time and effort. While it’s a folder and not ideal for self-protection, it serves as a measure of last resort for that as well.

The Columbia River Knife & Tool Company (CRKT) plain edge Pazoda is my EDC blade. Its slim profile is comfortable to wear and the subtly colored, brushed stainless clip doesn’t scream “knife” across the room. The 2.13-inch blade is long enough for most daily tasks. This inexpensive knife isn’t going to win any cutlery contests, but it’s proven itself serviceable and durable.

There are good reasons to carry a fixed blade. Many people carry the folder for chores and a fixed blade for emergency work. A meticulously researched and field-tested model like the spear point Rat Blade by Harley Elmore of Warrior’s Way is the choice of many professional operators. They’re made to order, so don’t plan on this one as a last-minute purchase.

The_Rat_by_Warrior_s_Way,_a_serious_fighting_knife.

The Rat Blade by Warrior’s way, a serious fighting knife. (Photo: Team HB)

Effective knife defense skill development is not unlike shooting. It requires ongoing training and practice, and is a perishable skill. Whatever your blade choice, it’s wise to reserve some time and resources for good training.

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