Every Day Carry - How Much Is Too Much?

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AWorthyOpponent

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I have recently spent a lot of my down time watching videos on YouTube. I notice that there are a lot of people that want to show you everything that they carry on a daily basis, their "Every Day Carry (EDC) Systems". There are a lot of people that carry, or claim to carry a little bit of everything. 2 guns, 2 knives, a flashlight, wallet, decoy wallet, multiple spare magazines, asp, 2 multi-tools, emergency lighter (non smoker), camera, etc...

Am I the only person that thinks this is ridiculous? I mean, I can see if you need to carry keys, wallet, phone, gun, and a knife on a daily basis, or specialty items for certain situations. Beyond that, isn't it a bit excessive? At what point do these people stop being prepared and start becoming become mall ninja material?


Last two I watched:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC-8yvtmMcA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4P0qQz5cpI&feature=related
 
overkill? yes.
However they can carry whatever makes them feel comfortable. If you want to have the capability to repel a foreign invasion by yourself, then go right ahead.

I will just carry and gun and 3 spare mags, thanks.
 
I know what you mean and I don't understand how people arry so much "gear". I tend to be kind of minimalist off duty and with my job I don't add a whole lot of stuff on duty.
Off- gun, spare mag, knife, badge, wallet, keys, phone
On- 2 guns, 2 spare mags for primary, 1 reload for BUG, knife, cuffs, wallet, keys, phone

Everything else - flashlight, radio, OC, rifle, etc, is in my vehicle and goes with me as needed. I hate being loaded down with a bunch of stuff.
 
Am I the only person that thinks this is ridiculous?
Click to expand...

No I agree.

I carry my CZ 75 compact - no spare mag - if I cant solve it with 15 I dont belong there or my situational awareness failed.
Small flashlight and Pocket knife, Spyderco endura or native, wallet, keys, and cell.

PS - I am retired LEO, and then an RN, I work P/T in a gun store - I hate the mall ninja, tactical, SHTF, morons that come in ready for Red Dawn.

Better they should think about avoiding, situational awareness, and layered defence.

Just my .02 rant :)
 
I personally go out with a knife, keys, lighter (I am a smoker) and my wallet on my person. I don't have a CCW permit yet that's why I don't carry a gun.

Everything else that I won't need immediately I keep in my man-purse aka messenger bag.

As for the Mall Ninja/SHTF/Zombie Outbreak people. They're just good Boy Scouts. :p No seriously though it just gives them a sense of purpose, and it gives Bikerdoc a few bucks in his pocket.
 
it gives Bikerdoc a few bucks in his pocket.
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Too funny gunslinger!!

Especially the ones that got to have the tactical vest, Yep, they are prepared. ( sigh)

Me, I went into combat with less equipment than some of these carry around.

And why do thier trucks resemble urban assault vehicles?
 
I agree. Rather than spending time and money posting BS on flutube go to the range, hire a different instructor, get into re-loading, volunteer to work in Scouting and get the next gen. into re-loading. Better yet, do some old fashioned PT. The mall ninjas are thick nowadays. Great entertainment though. :D
 
I thought most hired guns try to blend in.

Since I retired, iI have downsized and carry my S&W, one or two reloads, my Barlow knife, a handkerchief, DL, and cash.
 
I had to laugh after watching those videos. To each is own I guess. If it makes you feel safer then so be it. You must need a backpack to carry all that stuff.
 
I don't go to and I try to stay out of places where bad thngs happen. But since I never know when bad things might come to me I carry my wallet, car keys, folding lockback knife and a P-11, no spare mags though. Nothing against those who choose to armor up and be prepared for anything, to each his own.
 
I don't how many flashlights a person needs to have on them. Personally, I keep one in my car and I have a carry flashlight for night time carry. My normal carry is.

M&P 9C (or Sig P220)
folding knife
cell phone
wallet
sometimes a spare mag (always with the P220)
flashlight (at night)
I have a spare mag and another flashlight in my car.

I don't see the need for the spare weapon. I'm not against it, but its just overkill for me.
 
Every time I go anywhere, I do a little pre-mission inspection: phone, wallet, keys, knife weapon. Those 5 things, no matter what. There's OC spray and a small Streamligth Nano on the keychain. I do also have a small messenger bag that has other things in it that almost always rides in my car, but I don't walk around with it. Inside that is:
Reloads for all 3 weapons I might be carrying
Multi-tool
Another knife
A small 1AA flashlight
Small first aid kit, tylenol, tums, gum, Axe spray
Rite in Rain notepad
Pen/pencil/sharpie
Lighter
2 5hr Energies
My Oakley shades (with clear lenses as well)
Some disposable ear plugs

Various electronic components such as
Portable phone charger
Thumb drive
USB cables for phone and iPod
Spare AA and CR123 batteries
iPod
Headphones

A Blackhawk paddles holster with a Surefire G2LED and a universal mag pouch with another reload for the weapon I am actually carrying. No I generally don't carry that on my person, but it is in the bag and I do put it on whenever I think it might be prudent, such as 2am trips to get gas, etc. I also usually keep my netbook in there as well. The bag doubles as a school bag when class is going on, but generally I'll just toss it in my car when I'm going someplace and leave it there in case I need something. A lot of that stuff has come in very handy when I least expected it. It's most all come from past experience. A lot "damn I wish I had ______" moments.
 
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Am I the only person that thinks this is ridiculous?
Click to expand...

Ridiculous, no overreaction, most times, yes. I like the KISS theory. If I’m going someplace where I felt the need to carry 5- 10 pounds of armament, then I ‘m going to the wrong place.
 
Worked for N.S.A. for awhile which certainly has it's fair share of paranoid skitssoes. These guys make them look almost normal. In a free country, if they want to carry 80 pounds of stuff it should be their choice regardless of how I might feel (or anyone else) about their excesses.

I would prefer people did not feel they had to carry "anything" but looks like that ain't the case in their world.
 
I have slimmed the profile a bit since entering civilian life, for some reason, I think an m1a1 would draw too much attention at the local mall...... me, I keep my 1911 with a couple of spare mags (my pistol doesnt hold half a box of ammo) I have some friends that think that they are under gunned without their complete mall ninja/batman belt, but I just encourage the habbit. Maybe if they carry all that stuff long enough, the excercise might slim them down to a healthier size.
 
Wow... without a "tactical vest" Im not sure how they could possibly carry that much gear.
Im fine with the thought of carrying a sidearm, knife, wallet, phone, keys,and a cash clip. Beyond that, my pockets would be bulging and I would look like a goon.
I have even tuned down my keys so that I have 3 keys and my fob and that is it.
The one guys keychain had 30 keys, flashlights, knives, etc. I can imagine the 6lbs of keys hanging from his ignition everyday are really great for it!
In all seriousness, these folks need to work on other aspects of protection, like common sense and awareness.
 
I didn't watch the videos, but I do wanna say I'm uncomfortable with criticizing people who have gear with them just for that shear fact by itself. I really have no idea what their skill level may be. Preparedness is not a zero-sum game. More gear does not subtract from mental skill. I think too many of us see it that way. It seems to be a fairly popular opinion that the more tools a person has, they must in turn have less ability to use them. That is a falsehood. The best mechanics are not people who use their bare hands. The best doctors are not people who use a knife and hacksaw. Tools have their place. It is true that training and a proper mindset have more important places, but to discount someone purely because they use more tools than you is an error. I would prefer to be trained and equipped well over just trained well any day.
 
Lets see I carry my cell phone, wallet, keys if I'm driving, and once in awhile my knife if I'm working and think I will need it.

The world is not a dangerous place, sorry I don't drink the cool-aid. If I had a job that required me to deal a lot with public or section 8 housing I would consider carrying a small pistol like a PPK. But my job doesn't, so I don't need a gun. We live in a very safe country.

Even guys I knew who actually lived in more dangerous country's, (no place in the US is that dangerous) like South Africa or other even more unpleasant country's in Africa or South American rarely carried guns, or when they did they were small. The one in South Africa carried a CZ82 and had to use it twice. Other than that its not worth it since if the other guy has a gun they are more likely than not the police or armed like them, so no pistol is going to help you. When you live in a place like that you buy armored cars and hire body guards who carry AK's, a Glock on your ankle holster isn't going to do much.

http://www.youtube.com/user/kiwitedferny#p/u/71/_HQMdlO0pEI
I like Ted's vid's he is the anti nutnfancy.
 
One gun and a pocket knife....no extra mags or speed loaders. But, if I am going somewhere like St. Louis, the pistol is usually a M&P 9 with 17+1 of 124 gr +p.

I think some people watch too much "Walker, Texas Ranger".
 
i only carry a g19 with +2 extension plus a extra mag (35 rounds total), a folding knife and a small light.

i dont need a camera because my cellphone have one... and the multitools are in the glovebox of my car...alone with a big light first-aid kit another big knife.
 
No matter how much capacity your autoloader has, an extra mag is worth carrying.

It's the least durable part of your sidearm, and the most likely to fail. Without a functioning mag, you're set back either 150 years to single loading, or 10,000 years to club wielding.
 
I can't CC (stupid Illinois) but I tend to be a minimalist as well. I normally carry wallet, keys, knife, cell. I used to carry two knives, one on each side, but it was more of a work thing. If, Lord willing, Illinois ever allows CC I will be packing the above mentioned items, a full size 1911, and maybe one spare mag.
Don't have anything against anyone packing more, just not my style.
 
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