My EDC for 2023
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Introduction
+This year I have decided to carry more items with me as opposed to going outside with almost nothing. +This means that I will be able to be prepared for more situations, such as emergencies or generally any unforeseen events. +Preparing for simple upcoming events is part of my “prepared for everything” goal.
+I will carry things in two places - on my person (pockets, belt & wrists) or in my bag. I want the most important items +on me at all times, whereas less important items can be put in my bag.
+On my Person
+Sometimes I won’t need to go out with my bag, so I need to be prepared with just the items on my person. Therefore I keep +the most important and quickly accessible items on my person.
+Keys
+
My keys are extremely important - and I must not lose them. That’s why I have an AirTag on them so I know if I’ve left them +behind somewhere or lost them. I also have put a beautiful Lotus badge on them so I know they are mine, and a sim card ejector +tool as a small pin is incredibly useful as I’ve found myself needing it in many situations where I don’t have one. It can be used +to reset devices, eject sim card trays (of course), and get dirt out of annoying tiny holes. Carrying an actual set of keys is very +useful, as I’ve been locked out so many times now.
+Watch
+
I am very reliant on the time, its like how I know where I am in the universe. Therefore I have the most reliable and strongest watch possible, +a G-Shock. It’s a perfect watch that stays perfectly in sync with the time due to it’s Multi Band 6 feature, and will work forever as it recharges +by sunlight. For me, its definitely the perfect watch. It’s also great for travelling abroad as it can easily change timezone and has the ability to +view other time zones with the World Time feature. I wear this day and night on my left wrist, and I absolutely love it.
+Swiss Tool
+
I love carrying a multi-tool - and this one has all the tools I need. I tend to keep this on my belt, which allows quick access +at any time and keeps it strongly attached to me. I opted for a Swiss Tool over an Swiss Army Knife as I needed the pliers, which +are extremely handy in my daily life. It’s brilliant quality and should last for the rest of my life - I’ll replace the components +as and when they break. If you’re wondering - it’s just a Victorinox Swiss Tool.
+Other Multi-Tool
+
I carry this other multi-tool in my back pocket, just because it’s really simple and easy to use and I don’t care if it gets damaged as much. +I want to get use out of my swiss tool, but I want it to last for a long time and not get unnecessarily damaged. Therefore this is what I use +when I want to open boxes and such with the small blade.
+Torch
+
I like to carry a torch, as I could find myself staying away from home for a while, meaning I would have to be present at night time for some +amount of time. The torch I use is a Troika Eco Beam, which is a small however decently powerful torch. It recharges via micro-usb, which is +somewhat annoying as replaceable batteries are much more useful when camping, or I would have preferred USB-C. However, the power in the torch is +amazing especially for the compact and small yet rugged design. It is also magnetic, which means it’s especially suited for dark work on boilers, +or anywhere where pipes are available. I will typically attach this to my belt if I’m wearing one, as it has a clip on the back of the torch which +is great for attaching to a belt. However, I would really like to get an extremely powerful torch if I was to go properly camping or on some expedition, +as this torch is great for day-to-day use but not that great for very long distance or extremely dark conditions.
+Phones
+
I typically carry two phones on me - an iPhone 11 and a Google Pixel 7 Pro. I much prefer the Pixel, however due to my use of a MacBook Pro +for college I find myself doing quick things on the iPhone. If I was to go out without the need to be productive, i.e. on a camping trip +or a meetup with friends where I don’t need my Mac, I wouldn’t bother taking my iPhone. I find the Pixel much more reliable, although it has +a worse battery life. I installed GrapheneOS, the private operating system to try and reduce the tracking that’s done on me - although I still +do not trust it fully (as it still connects to cell phone towers and such.) I try to use it only for emergencies on trips and meet-ups, or as a +communication device through SMS/Phone calls or on my own self-hosted Matrix home-server.
+If I don’t want to be tracked or don’t need my iPhone, I won’t take it with me. So its a completely optional part of my EDC that isn’t a requirement.
+Earbuds
+
Listening to music is something I do constantly, so I like the ease of use of wireless earbuds. Using Bluetooth for everything is also great, +as I can use these earbuds on any device such as my desktop computer, MacBook Pro and both of my phones. These are the best sounding Bluetooth +earbuds, and they really make the music I listen to sound amazing. I use these every day and from their constant use I have realised that these +really are a massive improvement from my previous AirPods Gen 2. Although they don’t sound any where near as good as over ear headphones, they are +the best you can get for wireless, and they really are great. The use of USB-C is very important for me, as almost all of my devices now have it. +In my opinion, they are much better than any AirPods available (even the AirPods Pro model.)
+Music Player
+
Whilst I listen to music on my phones through my earbuds, I also like to bring a music player with me, typically an iPod Shuffle as seen above. +It’s a brilliant simple music player which I load my favourite songs onto before going out. It has a great battery life and is ideal for listening with +using a decent pair of headphones, such as my pair of DT 990 Pros which I keep in my bag. If I don’t have any AUX headphones with me then I won’t need +to bring it with me, so this item is quite optional.
+Wallet
+
Some people no longer carry wallets, as they completely rely on their phones to store their cards and passes. However, I much prefer a wallet, +as there are just situations where phones cannot do the same for me. Phones can run out of battery, but cards can’t, so I always can get the train, +or buy things in an emergency. I also carry my provisional driving licence, which is my ID, and other ID cards (in the back of the wallet) for +places such as shopping centres and member’s cards. There is also an RFID blocker card, which I don’t think really works but is there to fill +the space at the moment. I also carry some cash in-case my card declines or card isn’t accepted. I would prefer to use cash more often to prevent +tracking however I wouldn’t like to lose any cash or carry so much around with me.
+LNR Smartcard
+
In addition to my wallet, I sometimes carry a LNR smartcard, which allows me to load season tickets onto when I’m travelling by train a lot. +Its very useful, however not required all the time as I wouldn’t make use of it if I was doing a single journey, going out with friends, or camping. +I keep it in a taped together ID card holder to keep it safe as it’s flimsy, and I have attached it to lots of things in the past.
+In my Bag
+My bag is the place for items that I want with me but don’t belong on my person, either because they wouldn’t fit or they aren’t important enough. +My choice of bag is a small north face bag, that I got whilst out shopping once, as it’s a very weatherproof bag which is a compact size with a decent +amount of pockets for me.
+Paper Sleeve
+
I store paper in this simple sleeve in my bag to keep it more protected and more weatherproof. It’s great for things that I cannot switch to an iPad for, +or for any bits of paper which I need to scan in or deal with later. It fits great in my bag and gives it some extra support and shape.
+My MacBook Pro
+
My laptop of choice is the 2022 MacBook Pro with 16GB of RAM, and it is a brilliant machine. Although it is not a private or tracker-less machine, +it works brilliantly and is brilliant for my productivity. The battery life is also amazing for doing my work, meaning I can use it as a battery +bank for my other devices, and get work done outside with genuinely 2 days of battery life when I manage it correctly. The continuity between the +Mac and my iPad is also amazing, making it super easy to get work done quickly. The machine also never turns it’s fans on, which is brilliant for +when I’m working with others. I keep it in a sleeve from tomtoc, which protects it in my bag even more, especially so it isn’t scratched. It also +provides the laptop with extra cushioning.
+My iPad
+
I use an iPad for all my work, just by using the iOS Notes app with a few shortcuts I have programmed to make working on it easier. It is a somewhat +older iPad, and I have been hoping to replace it soon as it’s way too glitchy and slow (and sometimes keeps deleting my work.) I enjoy using it over +paper as I know I won’t loose my work as easier (however it does like deleting some, but not enough to warrant using paper) and it is much easier to +take around as it has all of my textbooks and work I need to do, without carrying 3 different folders around.
+A Map
+
I always carry a good map when I’m travelling, as it could definitely be a life saver. These maps also show you the paths and trails for brilliant walks +which you would never find on map apps on your phone as they are more focused on getting the most important things on there. Therefore I carry an +Ordnance Survey map on me for the area I’m travelling around for the duration of the time I’m there.
+Stationary
+
I will make a proper post about my stationary sometime, however I wanted to mention it quickly here. I have selected the perfect stationary for myself, which +consists of mechanical pencils and pens. I don’t carry my fountain pen in here, as it wouldn’t fit and is too risky to carry every day with me. The main highlights +of my stationary are a Rotring 600 and a Pilot V5 Cartidge pen. Those are my favourite tools as they’re the easiest and best feeling for writing and drawing.
+I typically do all my work on my iPad, however sometimes when I’m writing personal documents I prefer paper as I don’t need the ability to sort through all my notes. +I don’t really get much use out of my stationary anymore since I switched to the iPad for my work, but knowing that my stationary is in one compact tin is great.
+Journal
+
I like writing in a physical journal sometimes as its a much nicer experience compared to typing a lot of the time. Getting use out of my stationary is +also enjoyable, and I love getting away from technology sometimes, so I take this notebook with me wherever I go. Personally, I believe that the LEUCHTTURM1917 +is the best notebook out there, with all of it’s great features and extraordinary paper quality. I would like to get more use out of my journal +especially on camping trips where it would be brilliant in nature.
+Original Schott’s Miscellany
+
I carry with me one of the greatest books of all time, a Schott’s Miscellany. It provides so many useful and useless facts, and is just an all-round +useful thing to have. Most of the facts and information are actually very useful and come quite in hand - so I really need to get more use out of it. +I really do love this book.
+Silicone Straw
+
Paper straws are extremely annoying - and nonsensical when they don’t even get recycled by the companies which enforce them. I have to suffer with a +silly paper straw whilst the rich people in the world fly on private jets constantly spewing out carbon dioxide whilst I’m suffering. No longer will +I suffer, as now I take around with me this straw. I love using it when I can, and it’s really small and compact so it fits in my back perfectly.
+Games Console
+
I like to carry a dedicated small console for playing games rather than playing games on one of my phones or MacBook Pro, as it takes any stress or +addiction away from playing games but keeps them fun. I like just playing simple single player games or puzzle related games when I don’t have much +else to do, i.e. I need to kill a few hours on a journey or I’m waiting for someone to get back to me. I typically take this GameBoy Color, as it is +a brilliant simple little console which I enjoy and love learning about the low-level aspects of it such as the hardware and assembly. At some point +I hope to make a little game for this GameBoy.
+Calculators
+
I carry calculators with me everywhere, either for when I’m doing work or when I really need to do a proper calculation. They are brilliant calculators +which I make use of all the time. In their hard cases they are kept securely in my bag so that they don’t get too damaged or lost, and I can keep the +manuals with them so I can always look something up if I need to.
+USB Hub
+
I like to take my MacBook Pro with me travelling, and being able to plug into different devices such as monitors is extremely useful. I also use a lot +of SD cards with my Raspberry Pis and cameras, so this is very useful to have when I’m on the go. I also have some devices where they need USB-A, so +the 2 USB-A ports on this hub is definitely useful for me.
+Hairbrush
+
I really can’t stand annoying, greasy and messy (in a bad way) hair. So I’m constantly brushing my hair trying to keep it perfect. I use a Tangle Teezer +as it’s incredibly effective at getting rid of tangles and knots in my hair. It’s also portable and really quick at getting my hair nice.
+Conclusion
+Some of the items in my EDC will change over time, but for now this is what I have decided I like the best. I enjoy knowing all of the items that I have on me +and being more organised has helped me be more prepared for unforeseen events. I am very happy with how this adventure has turned out and I’m grateful for everything +that I am able to carry with me, every day.
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