This forum represents a community of people that are very well versed on the concept of every day carry. We come from a lot of different backgrounds and have all developed our own assortment of items that we don’t leave home without. There are plenty of threads, forums, and websites devoted to EDC, but I’m curious as to what one item you use the most. I would hazard to guess that most of the people on this forum have a firearm as part of their EDC lineup, but I’m betting most of us don’t end up using it on a daily basis. So what item do you use the most?

For the purposes of this discussion I am not counting things like watches, sunglasses, and cell phones as those tend to be items in general use by society at large. But if you have a special reason for that item, like a watch with an emergency beacon in it, I would consider that an exception.


The item that I use most is definitely my Surefire pen. It gets more time in my hand than any of my knives or flashlights.

1. Knife (skelltool multitool)
2. Flashlight
3. Pen

Knife and light.

While I have collected a few nice knives over the years, Emerson, Reeves, Benchmade Spyderco, etc...

The knife I have carried the most over the past couple of years is a Dayglo Swiss Army Knife. It is kind of like a minivan. It ain't necessarily sexy, but it is so damn functional.

My EDC light for the past 2 years is a Fenix RC9.

Specifically the toothpick from my Swiss Army Knife.

Knife. But, other than phone, wallet, keys, money clip and carry piece: It's my only EDC item.

Light
Multi tool, currently a leatherman charge.

Probably my Benchmade Mini-Grip with my Fenix E12 a close second. Nail clipper gets a lot of use too.

Jim

My Kershaw Leek.
It gets used most for cutting drinking straws for kids cups.

Knife always closely followed by flashlight. I also have a backup single AAA 100 lumen light on my keychain.

Sadly gun not so much, not willing to risk my job.

Flashlight followed closely by my pocket knife, a Gerber.

Knife. Don’t know if wristwatch counts as an EDC item, but if it does, that next.

My county comm single AAA flashlight is my most used item. Followed by my Mauser/Victorinox pocket knife.

Flash light and pocket knife equally.

4 Sevens makes a 2 cell AAA penlight that I carry at work. Use it all the time. 3 brightnesses no silly strobe and on the highest setting I can preflight to the tip of the vertical stabilizer. In other words it’s bright. Then my pocket knife.

Skeletool CX.

I've actually been re-working my EDC set-up for the past few weeks. Before, I would've said my pen (Zebra F701, FYI), but I've stopped carrying it on my person. I keep it in my backpack, but don't use it very often anymore. Been looking for a more compact pen, maybe something that would fit on a keychain (recommendations would be welcome, if you are so inclined).

Currently, I'd say my pocket knife, a Spyderco Delica that's been Wharncliffe'd down to ~2.5". I've been using it as a letter opener as well as a box opener quite heavily lately, and it's still holding a good edge despite being used to breakdown a bunch of corrugated cardboard boxes.

A close second would be my flashlight, a Nitecore MT1A (I also have a Nitecore keychain light that gets some use, too).

My knife and light could easily swap ranks on any given day depending on what I'm doing.

Rarely a day goes by that I don't use it.

Phone. I can't hear, to make calls, but it provides written communication, text and email.

Aside from my carry piece (G26 or P320) and phone, I always have a knife and flashlight on me. Most often-

Vintage Benchmade AFCK
Zebralight SC62

Knife followed up closely by my Fenix flashlight