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As the name suggests, the most vital aspect of being a prepper is being prepared at all times. Unfortunately, many people who are fully prepared to deal with a disaster at home don’t give much thought to how they will deal with a disaster while they are away.
While it may not be possible to carry a full stockpile of survival supplies with you everywhere, there are a number of easy-to-carry items that could prove incredibly useful in a disaster situation. Below, we’ll take a look at 10 everyday-carry (EDC) items that you should have on you at all times.
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1. Lighter
The ability to start a fire is something that can be incredibly valuable in a disaster scenario. While carrying a lighter is much more essential in a wilderness environment than it is in an urban environment, a lighter is still something worth carrying with you everywhere. It’s a small item that won’t take up much space, and it’s something that can be lifesaving in certain situations.
If you would like to purchase a high-quality lighter that is both durable and reliable, check out this refillable torch lighter. The large torch that this lighter puts out makes it far better for starting fires than your average lighter, while the fact that it is refillable means it's a product that you can carry with you for many years to come.
2. Multitool
You can’t carry an entire toolbox with you everywhere you go, but you can carry a multitool. High-quality multitools often contain dozens of different tools in one compact package, including knives, pliers, scissors, saws, sockets, various screwdriver heads, and more. In the event that you ever have to make emergency repairs while away from home, a good multitool can prove invaluable.
If you’re looking for the best multitool to buy, we recommend checking out the Gerber Suspension Multi-Plier.
3. Pocket Tool
If you don’t want to carry a multitool, a pocket tool is another great option. Unlike multitools which can be a little bulky, pocket tools are about as slim as a credit card, making them easy to carry in your pocket or in your wallet. Pocket tools also contain a number of different tools, including bottle openers, saws, sockets, and more.
If you are looking for a great pocket tool, we recommend checking out the Wallet Ninja. This credit-card-sized pocket tool contains 18 different tools, including a ruler, a box opener, a can opener, various screwdriver heads, and more.
4. Flashlight
In the event of a major disaster, electricity is often one of the first things to go. While this presents a number of major problems, one of the most immediate issues that a loss of electricity presents is a lack of light. If you happen to be inside an unfamiliar building when the lights go out, finding your way out in the darkness and the chaos can be incredibly difficult.
Of course, this is just one of many scenarios where having a flashlight on you is useful. In the event that you are caught away from your home during or after a disaster, a flashlight is certainly something that you will want to have available.
If you would like to carry a flashlight that is both bright and compact, we recommend checking out the Streamlight 66118. This powerful flashlight is the size of a pen, making it plenty small enough to carry with you at all times.
5. Paracord
On the list of most versatile survival supplies, paracord ranks near the top. Thanks to its extreme strength and durability, paracord can be used for a wide range of emergency applications, from crafting a makeshift splint to creating a shelter.
While paracord may not seem like something that is convenient to carry around on a regular basis, there are a number of products on the market designed to convert paracord into an EDC item. This paracord survival bracelet, for example, contains nine feet of paracord as well as a built-in wire saw. Simply clip this bracelet on your wrist and you’ll be able to take an emergency supply of paracord with you everywhere you go.
6. Pepper Spray
If you aren’t able or willing to carry a firearm for self-defense, pepper spray is the next best thing. Pepper spray is available in canisters small enough to carry on your keychain, and you don’t need any kind of special permit to carry pepper spray.
Most importantly, a blast of pepper spray to the eyes and face will almost always stop even the most determined attacker. Pepper spray is also easy to use and aim, making it an ideal means of defense for someone who does not have any firearm or self-defense training.
Having the means to defend yourself is a key component of disaster survival, and carrying pepper spray ensures that you’re never caught defenseless. If you would like to start carrying pepper spray with you, we recommend this keychain pepper spray canister from Sabre.
7. Pocketknife
A pocketknife is the quintessential EDC item, and its reputation as being one of the most useful things that you can carry is well-earned. The number of situations where a pocketknife can prove useful in a disaster scenario is too many to list, and simply having a small knife on you at all times can make you better prepared for a wide range of obstacles. In addition to being a useful tool, a pocketknife can also serve as a means of self-defense in an emergency.
While there are a large number of high-quality pocket knives on the market from an equally large number of manufacturers, we recommend checking out the Cold Steel Voyager due to its sharp edge and ultra-strong locking mechanism.
Small, cheap pocket knives such as what you might find for sale at the convenience store are much more likely to break at the worst possible time than they are to save your life in a disaster scenario. The Cold Steel Voyager, though, is a knife that is built to last.
8. Watch
Time, as we know it, may be a human construct, but it’s something that will continue to be vitally important even if society collapses. Today, most people rely on their phones to tell them the time, and wearing a watch has simply become a fashion statement. If you want to be able to tell the time in the event of a disaster, though, you’ll need something that doesn’t rely on cellphone towers and electricity.
Of course, you’ll also need a watch that is tough enough to stand up to the demands of disaster survival and keep on ticking. With these qualifications in mind, we recommend the Casio G-SHOCK.
Popular among military personnel due to its durability, the Casio G-SHOCK is the perfect EDC watch for disaster preparedness. It’s both waterproof and impact-resistant, meaning it can stand up to the elements as well as take a beating. As an added bonus, the G-SHOCK is also a fine-looking watch that easily pairs with most outfits.
9. Survival Pen
Pens are popular EDC items due to the fact that they are something most people use on a daily basis. However, a pen is probably not the first item you’ll be reaching for in a disaster scenario.
Survival pens are different, though. These pens serve as a sort of multitool that includes things such as a flashlight, compass, window breaker, self-defense tip, and more. If you carry a survival pen, you’ll have a fully functional pen for day-to-day use as well as all the other tools that a survival pen includes for emergency use.
If you would like to purchase a great survival pen, we recommend checking out the YOSMO U2 Tactical Pen.
10. Compass
At a time when everyone has a powerful GPS in their pockets at all times, using a compass for navigation has largely become a forgotten skill. If you are trying to find your way around after a major disaster, though, relying on your smartphone’s GPS likely won’t be an option. In emergency situations such as this, having a compass on you can prove to be invaluable.
Perhaps the most convenient way to make a compass part of your EDC list is to purchase a small keychain compass such as the AceCamp Munkees compass that you can easily attach to your keyring.
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