Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Preppers talk a lot about survival kits and bug out bags, but not enough attention is paid to EDC kits. A lot of us spend a big chunk of our time at work or school, and disaster can easily strike while we're away from home. If something terrible happens while you're away from your house or family, would you have the tools you need to survive until you can get home or find them?
It doesn't have to be an end-of-the-world type disaster. Sometimes you just need a few reliable tools to get through an unexpected situation like a car breakdown in winter, a sudden power outage at work, or getting stuck overnight somewhere with no supplies.
Over time, I’ve built a few of these kits myself, but I’m always curious how others pack theirs. One of the best setups I've ever come across is on the Kitbashed Survival YouTube channel, where Eric Siegel walks through his favorite homemade compact kit.
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This EDC pocket kit is impressively well-thought-out for something that fits in a small metal tin. Below, I’ve listed the full contents and setup so you can recreate it. You can also watch the video below:
Step-by-Step: What to Pack in Your EDC Pocket Kit
1. Choose a Durable Tin
- Recommended: Best Glide ASC Survival Tin (available on Amazon)
- Add a ranger band around the outside to keep it sealed tight when packed full.
2. Fire-Starting Essentials
- Mini Bic lighter
- Ferro rod and striker
- 2 stormproof matches + 6 regular matches
- Match striker strip
- 2 trick birthday candles (great for longer burn times)
- A piece of fatwood
- Some jute twine (can double as tinder)
- Small bottle of hand sanitizer (flammable)
3. Water & Purification
- Aquamira Frontier Straw Filter (filters up to 30 gallons)
- 6 water purification tablets
- 1L Whirl-Pak stand-up water bag
- 2 coffee filters (pre-filter sediment)
4. Shelter & Warmth
- Emergency bivvy sack (Mylar)
- Space blanket (52″x82″)
- Wire saw
- 15 feet of 275 paracord
- 2 ranger bands
5. First Aid Mini-Kit
- 4 regular bandages + 1 large bandage
- 1 gauze roll
- 2×2 sterile gauze pad
- Antibiotic ointment packet
- Butterfly closures
- Alcohol wipe
- Scalpel blade
- Hand sanitizer
- Meds: 6 Ibuprofen, 2 Benadryl, 2 Imodium
6. Cutting Tools
- Victorinox Classic SD (mini Swiss Army Knife)
- Victorinox One-Handed Trekker (larger multi-tool with locking blade, saw, screwdrivers, and more)
7. Light & Signaling
- Small LED flashlight (momentary or steady beam)
- 2 mini glow sticks
- Signal mirror
- Whistle
- Button compass
8. Fishing & Small Repairs
- Mini fishing kit (line, hooks, sinkers, swivels, safety pins)
- Needle and thread
- 2 bobby pins
- Length of snare wire
9. Hygiene & Comfort
- MRE tissues
- Mini compressed towel
- Coffee (Taster’s Choice)
- MRE lemonade packet
- 2 Jolly Ranchers (morale + energy)
10. Extras
- 2 sheets of aluminum foil (12″x12″)
- Waterproof notepad + pencil
- Duct tape
- ESEE survival card (tips, unit conversions, signal info)
Final Tips
This compact kit is packed to the brim, and that’s the point. It’s small enough to carry every day but powerful enough to cover the core survival needs: fire, water, shelter, first aid, light, tools, and morale.
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