keys: very handy for when you need to unlock the door to your apartment. If you add car keys you can also drive somewhere which is very helpful. I use mine pretty much every day
cellphone: it's like a multitool with a camera, flashlight and a phone. If it's a smartphone you can all use it to access internet. Saved my life many times when I was bored and had to look at some videos online or check the news
wallet: great for carrying cash, ID and credit cards. It's good to have your ID with you when people ask for your name but you live in a foreign country where no one speaks Polish. You can use cash or credit cards to buy other stuff you need like a bottle opener
Multi tool wallet or include a multi tool credit card in the wallet. I have a wallet that is two pieces of metal with a rubber strap holding it together, with 2-3 cards in between. The wallet has a frequently used bottle opener and a pointy bit meant for screws that I use to cut tape.
Keys for opening doors, driving etc. Also for defense…My brother got jumped by a group of teens in college. They came up behind, shoved him down. To defend himself, he pulled out his keys and slashed one in the face. They didn’t expect him to do that and took off running. They only got a cheap phone from the ordeal and not his backpack which had expensive books and a laptop in it. I always have my keys on me now.
"Any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through, and still knows where his towel is, is clearly a man to be reckoned with."
Damn sorry to hear that. I got mugged when I was going through my photographer phase. Recommend pepper spray since its a lot more effective and gives you distance to run. My knife is more for everyday use in my case
A tiny keychain tape measure. It's one of those things you have no idea how much you'll use until you have one on you all the time.
Looking at something online? How big exactly is it? It says 16.5" but can you picture that in your head somewhat accurately? It's just easier to pull out your tape measure and see.
I've also started carrying around a small flashlight everywhere I go. I have an Imalent LD70 Mini. It's small enough to fit in my change pocket and it'll put out a blinding ~4000 lumens on turbo (for about a minute before it gets too hot). I do admit that it's not the best flashlight ever. It has a ridiculous magnetic proprietary charger that will short on whatever if you leave it plugged in but it does what I need it to do.
I have to admit I don't get the flashlight, unless you don't have a phone. Tape measure is funny though. I have to admit I've been in that position many times about ordering online, but usually I wait till I'm home to measure 🤣
Don't discount the flashlight so quickly. I avoid an excessive amount of shit in my pockets and it's always the same. Money clip, knife, truck key, pen, phone and my flashlight. The Flashlight is fairly small, takes a AAA and is slightly bigger than an AA battery with a pocket clip. It gets used multiple times a day. Makes small print in dimly lit areas easier to read also. Honestly for some reason I despise using my phone as a flashlight:)
My tiny flashlight will light up my whole yard and then some like it's day. I do admit that's a little bit excessive but it's great for when I hear something out there at night. I don't exactly live in the best neighborhood.. Makes clearing the property a hell of a lot easier and when that things pointed right at you, you can't see shit.
Even on the lower settings though it's far better and faster than using your phone. Also I guess it's a little bit more specific to my needs because I am a machinist, it's a lot easier for me to just pull out a flashlight than to strain my eyes trying to see something.
I was the guy with all my keys and fat wallet with all cards and phone + Multitool knife.
Then I got inspired by my sister that travels a lot and tries to optimize for what she REALLY needs.
First I realized that most of my wallet is useless. I started carrying a smaller flip style one with my most used cards and some cash.
Then I reduced my keys to a carabiner with sorted keysets on keyrings, so I carry only the needed ones. Home + bike + cellar for daily use. Home + family keys for vacations. Home for going out. Added a very small key knife and a bottle opener that is part of my daily driver but left when not needed/forbidden.
The current setup is a phonecaee with space for 4 cards and maybe 3-4 bills. And my key setup.
Yes you have to remember to take some Special thing. But usually I have my old wallet in my backpack when traveling or when needed.
I actually use an Orbitkey holder to keep things neat and less bulky. Strongly recommend adding their multitool to that too, which I find super helpful.
I have a Secrid Miniwallet for cards and some cash, but usually I just use Google Pay so rarely even have that with me now.
I think they were freezing and somehow got incapacitated. Thankfully they had a whistle, so they blew into the whistle and someone heard it and came for the rescue. I think that may be the story.
I used to carry a bottle opener but it had been YEARS since I used it and decided that 99% of the time that there’s bottles that aren’t twist, that it’s at my house and I have to walk further to get my keys than the opener that is attached to my fridge.
I don’t know about pockets, but my bag usually has(besides the usual stuff) a tiny sketchbook with a pencil. I use it as an alternative to browsing my phone whenever I have time to kill.
Mostly because I feel I spend way too much time on this thing.. like now..
Leatherman. I carry a Wave. Got a Gerber and a couple others, but the original (this replaced my 1st gen) is best.
Pen & notepad. Always having your own pen that is kept full, and some paper to write someone a physical note, is an amazing superpower.
Face masks. COVID is still a thing, don't be dumb. Also carry hand sanitizer or alcohol wipes.
Flashlight. I have a small tube 9-LED that's usually in there, but also a 1-LED watch battery thing for the keychain, and I've got a few more around here. Yes your phone has a flash that can be kept on, but it burns battery, and is often awkward. Having light whenever is magic.
Switchblade, survival knife, folding knife, etc. Defensive uses, but also heavier utility knife than the Leatherman.
Pepper spray, derringer, etc. if you live in a dangerous area.
Survival kit. This is more of a backpack item. Get a tiny survival, first aid, etc. kit, there's a million uses for having some cord, bandages, shiny foil blanket, etc.
Cigarette lighter or box of matches. Even if you don't smoke, being able to make fire is another magic skill. I keep this with the survival kit.
Headphones, I have slightly-better-than-earbuds tucked in my coat. Noisy annoying people just stop being a problem.
And then my phone, keys, wallet, shades. Yes, I buy clothes with a lot of pockets.
I haven't figured out how to keep a lifejacket in my pockets or pack yet. Perhaps a puffy coat that doubles as a flotation device? Good idea, keep workshopping it.
Leatherman and Gerber are the 2 major brands in the multi tool world and have been for 30+ years. The posters are definitely not ads, just people into EDC who are used to people knowing those brands.
I'm not a sponsored read, or I'd've linked and not included Gerber as well! It's pretty common, but prob. could've said "multitool" there too, so: A multitool. A folding pliers, knives, screwdrivers, files, etc. gadget.
Leatherman to me is synonymous with "multitool with foldout pliers" as I believe they popularized if not invented the form. I think if you're into multitools you know the name, up there with Victorinox and Gerber. It's my preferred form factor for a multitool, I get way more use out of the pliers/wirecutters than pretty much anything on a Swiss army style multitool. Leatherman had an amazing tiny keychain model, the Squirt PS4, that I would recommend for keeping in your pocket but it was recently discontinued, and their other keychain tool, the Micra just isn't as good imho
I have a tiny led light that fits on my keychain that I find really useful. It's better than the light on my phone and is a good backup light when I go camping. I also really like the Victorinox Rambler knife. It has a Phillips screwdriver, bottle opener, and scissors.
I have foldable scissors that are always attached to my keys. They're useful for, well, cutting stuff.
Safety pins. Not only that you can use them for clothes (for example if your coat's button decided to detach), you can use them for self-defense if you can't have weapons or pepper spray.
A small notebook and a pen. You can write down important things or just doodle out of boredom.
How often is that bootable Linux drive useful to have on hand though? I can't imagine it being useful more than once a year or so, but maybe I'm not thinking creatively enough.
It's nice to have when a system breaks, to test stuff or when I'm at a new computer but want to use my current distro of choice. But yeah, I don't use it on a daily basis or anything.
Leatherman Skeletool and a bullet space pen pretty much cover all my day to day needs. I used to carry a bootable flash drive with all the software tools I used frequently but haven't needed that on the go since I changed jobs so it lives in my desk at home now.
Everything on that list was added because I needed it and didn't have it on multiple occasions. There have been plenty of other things that I would love to carry, but found too bulky to justify.
A note to everyone recommending condoms: they do expire, and can wear through if carried in an environment with friction (wallet, pocket, etc). I prefer to play it safe and make a stop at a drug store should the need arise.
I actually fit it all in my blue jeans! I have a pocket organizer that holds the small stuff and it all works out spacewise. Heavy though, have to wear a belt to keep everything in place.
This feels less like a pocketable list and more solidly in purse territory. Not that there's anything wrong with carrying a purse, but I would struggle to fit all this stuff in even my most pocketed cargo shorts.
I have an awesome pocket organizer thing I was gifted that holds all the small stuff. So I'm really only putting like 5 things in my pockets when I'm getting ready to walk out the door.
Haha I was trying to figure out what the battery was for, if it had a flashlight built in or something. Finally figured out it was sitting on a bolt head.
I’ve found a Gerber Dime to be really handy when I can’t carry my Leatherman. I usually carry a lockblade knife, multitool, and Fischer space pen. Also have a USB drive on my keychain partitioned with NTFS (bulk storage) and Tails with persistence.
For anyone thinking about carrying lock tools, watch some of Deviant's videos about everyday tools - he recommends like 10 things that are more useful for opening locked doors (that you don't have a key for) than lock picks.
They make belt buckles that double as bottle openers for roadside Topo Chico and tacos, or beer (not roadside, don't drink and drive).
I have a tough little metal USB drive with a size A jack on one side, whatever fits my phone on the other, and firmware to be able to plug into said phone.
Musicians ear plugs in a tough metal keyring pill case.
I've carried a Swiss Tech Utili-Key on my keychain for 20+ years now. It's got a knife, a flathead screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver, an eyeglass screwdriver, and a bottle opener. It's the same size and shape a regular key and security never notices it.
Streamlight is good but pricey. I've got one of their rail-mount lights and it is great.
I found an excellent pocket LED flashlight on eBay called "Boruit" for under $20. That little bastard will blind you on max brightness. Also has other lights on it and a magnet to mount it on things
I was gifted a tiny refillable keychain lighter. I didn't think I needed it at first but it's turned out invaluable to always have some fire handy. I don't smoke so I don't normally have a lighter with me otherwise.
Certainly similar. Major difference between the two is that the Gerber has pliers in place of my scissors, and your scissors are in place of my tweezers.
The pliers would be nice to have, but I definitely use the scissors quite a lot. Surprisingly super strong. I've never used the tweezers before.
A Victorinox Manager. It contains a small blade, a bottle opener with a magnetic Phillips screwdriver, a pen, a nail file, scissors and tweezers, all in a very compact form factor.