Category Archives for gear

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The Everyday Carry Manifesto

EDCmanifesto

I’m just a sucker for a good manifesto. I was inspired by some of my favorites, including the cyberpunk manifesto and the self-repair manifesto, to write this one. I looked on the web for other EDC manifestos and didn’t really find one, so I’m hoping this will suffice for now.

In the spirit of open source and everything else I value, you are welcome to publish this manifesto on your blog/website/publication without credit to me (although it’s always appreciated :) ). You’re also welcome to edit, add, omit, etc. any of it. Like all writing, this is a work in progress. I hope to make a nice graphic for it, but if you have ideas for one, please feel free! I just ask that you send me a link to where you’ve shared it because I’m curious. Enjoy!

The Everyday Carry Manifesto

While a person’s everyday carry—EDC—may be first and foremost a collection of items, what we choose to carry every day signifies the way we choose to live our lives. An EDC represents a sense of ownership, personal responsibility, and the baggage we choose to maintain to improve and enrich our day-to-day existence.  A proper EDC should be comprised of items with the following characteristics:

Functionality

Each EDC item should be functional, and should serve a clear purpose, such as convenience, preparedness, or entertainment.

Quality

Selecting EDC items is not about materialism or consumerism. On the contrary, curating an EDC means to find items that will last for a lifetime. Quality includes aesthetic appeal, but should first and foremost mean that an item will be durable and reliable. Items that can be repaired easily by the owner should be encouraged to reduce unnecessary economic and environmental waste.

Preparedness

EDCs should aid in preparedness depending on the potential crises in one’s daily life. For some, this may mean preparation for large scale catastrophes like natural disasters; for others, this may mean having necessary tools to use for small occurrences at work or home.

Minimalism

Striving for minimalism means to weed out the unnecessary. An EDC should not cause burden, but rather, should aid in a feeling of completeness. Only essential items should be carried, and should be selected thoughtfully with the above purposes in mind.

Community

Having a strong EDC is helpful in aiding an individual, but should also be evaluated by the ability to help others when needed. This does not mean loaning out sacred or beloved items, but should represent a desire to aid others in tasks or emergencies.

Ultimately, a person’s EDC is more than just a collection of items—it’s indicative of one’s personality, professions and priorities. Above all, an EDC should be chosen with the discretion of the person who will carry it.

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My everyday carry: Updated

EDC1

I updated my EDC recently and I’m finally really happy with my lot. One of my goals was to minimalize. While I generally have a few extra items that aren’t pictured here, this really is an accurate representation of what I have in my bag at all times. (Now, if I could accomplish this in other aspects of my life, that would be great. ;) )

Here’s what I have now:

  • Leatherman carabiner accessory (I love this thing and use the bottle opener all the time.)
  • Fiat 500 Sport key
  • Swiss Army knife (I used to have these as a kid and was feeling nostalgic. I still use my Leatherman micra sometimes, too.)
  • 4GB key USB
  • Eos chapstick ball
  • Spyderco Tenacious
  • Lockpicks
  • Reporter’s notebook (I get these free from work since I go through them like crazy. I love them.)
  • Moleskine cahier (I got a pack of 3 and these are great little notebooks. I’ve been using them as my personal journals.)
  • Gel pens
  • Timex Weekender
  • HTC EVO phone
  • Timberland wallet

I feel like I’ve finally accomplished a streamlined EDC with sturdy, neutral gear and a few fun, colorful accessories. I especially love my new Timex which I’ve worn pretty much non-stop since I’ve gotten it.

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Raspberry Pi time!

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One of my Christmas presents this year was a Raspberry Pi! A Raspberry Pi (also referred to as a RasPi) is a credit card-sized computer that costs around $35. It’s intended to inspire people around the world to learn programming, which I think is a great mission. The possibilities with computers like these are truly endless.

For the technical folks, here’s a diagram of the parts (from the official RasPi website).

RaspiModelB-1024x902

I’m not sure exactly what I want to make with it yet. People have made some amazing projects. In fact, Wired just posted an article the other day about some new cool RasPi projects, including a musical instrument (using beets!), a voice-activated coffee maker and a media center, among other things. I’m thinking about making a really awesome mobile hackerbox, using my materials from my PirateBox, and getting a USB monitor and a wireless keyboard/mouse. I’d love to build it all into a cyberpunk book or something just to make it really 1337. ;)

First, I’ll be putting Linux on it (the Raspbian distro seems like a logical first step). I need to make a prototype of my hackerbox before I start putting everything together. I’m looking forward to embarking on a new project!

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Every day carry wishlist, pt. 2

wishlist

Once again, I’ve been needing to re-evaluate my EDC gear. Lately, my bag has been a disaster, and have discovered a need for particular items. Using everyday-carry.com and the Reddit EDC forums for inspiration, here are some items on my wishlist.

1. Moleskine Notebook. I’ve always loved how versatile, iconic and minimal Moleskine notebooks are. I always have a reporter’s notepad in my bag for work, but in an effort to rekindle my love for personal journaling, I really need a good quality but small book to keep with me at all times.

2. Gal Spanish Lip Balm. Currently I have a lip balm tin in my bag that I love, but the label wore off and I don’t remember where it was from because my grandmother gave it to me. I like having a tin rather than a tube of lip balm because I can use the tins once they’re empty. Also, I think this tin is really pretty and provides a pop of color in my otherwise uniform EDC.

3. Kaufmann Mercantile EDC Tool Kit. I really like this little tool kit because it means I don’t need to carry these items separately. Plus the titanium finish is a nice touch. I just really love titanium.

4. Pilot Choose Gel Ink Pen. These kinds of pens used to be really popular when I was a kid (is that weird?) and I’ve always liked them because they write well, they feel nice and they look pretty.

5. Super Talent 16 GB USB Drive. For a while I’ve wanted an external hard drive so that I have my work and school files with me on all times, but I think a flash drive is much easier to transport and just as effective. I like how small this one is because I could keep it on my keychain.

6. Vintage Revival Crossbody. I’ve been in need of a good, sturdy but small bag for a while. I love Fossil bags for their quality and their style (although they are often far out of my price range). I did find one at Marshall’s last week with a huge discount… buuut I didn’t buy it because I was getting Christmas presents for my family. Sigh.

7. Fossil Georgia Leather Watch. Since I have a smartphone, I use it to check the time, but I think there’s something classy and timeless (no pun intended) about wearing a watch. I love this watch from Fossil (can you tell I love that brand?) because it’s a little rugged but it’s very easy to dress up or dress down.

Adventures in knifemaking

Hey, guess what? I made my first knife this weekend! I posted about the process at Wildflower Magazine for my Girlhacker column, but I wanted to share photos here, too.

Knifemaking is a fascinating, but difficult, process. Now that I’ve made one, I’m excited and inspired to make more, but I have a lot of practicing to do!

I haven’t decided what I’m naming this one yet. I’ve been envisioning a collection based on fantasy archetypes. This one feels like a ranger’s knife–at least, that was kind of what I was thinking about when I made it.






Color Me Rad 5K | Running gear: Shoes

I’ve been training for my first ever 5K in September–Color Me Rad–which is pretty out of character for me since I hate running. I kind of figured it’s something I should try sometime in my life, and I thought it would be fun to actually invest in some workout gear and try out some new technology. Plus, doesn’t this look fun?

For the next few days, I’ll post some of what I’ve found, starting today with arguably the most important running gear–shoes.

I don’t really have a good reason for liking Nike, but I do (even though I know they have a record of having some sketchy labor practices, which from what I could tell has been somewhat worked out… I hope). I went on their website to browse for shoes and they had a custom shoe builder. I’m a sucker for these kinds of features on websites (I could spend all day designing cars on car websites). When looking for a running shoe, I had a few requirements:

1. Good support for flat feet

I have the flattest feet ever. Every part of them touches the ground when I walk. I was not blessed with an arch. Doing ballet sucked. Running puts a lot of stress on my feet but I can’t wear normal arched athletic shoes because my feet will hurt for days–and not that good, strengthening ache, but a serious pain. I like to avoid that when possible.

2. Durable

If I plan to train and then run a race in them, they needed to last longer than the cheap pairs I had been buying from Target for the past few years.

3. Stylish

I figure if I’m going to invest in good athletic shoes, they should probably be cute enough to wear to work or out and about. My last workout shoes were pretty funky looking (in a bad way), and I like my gear to be multifunctional.

I also really wanted shoes that look like Faith’s from Mirror’s Edge. It’s my favorite video game which happens to be about running. The shoes I designed are loosely inspired by that. I actually really want a whole running outfit based on hers in the game since it’s pretty badass.

(There are actual running shoes that are much closer to what she wears in the game, meant for freerunners or parkour enthusiasts. I wanted pretty normal shoes so I stuck with my choice.)

I used the Nike Free Run iD Running Shoe creator to make my shoes. I picked the Free 5.0 for both the upper and midsole. I also added the word “Runner” in bright green (Runners are the group of messengers in Mirror’s Edge) for a bit of geeky inspiration.

The verdict:

I love these shoes. I want to wear them all the time. I never realized how helpful having a great pair of athletic shoes can be. That’s no surprise for experienced runners but it’s something I never really thought much about until recently. I like how light they are and how cool they keep my feet while working out. I can feel my soles strengthening quite a bit–they ache a little after running, which I think is inevitable, but they feel like they are toughening up. I like how much give the midsoles provide–when I land, it’s much more of an ease into the ground, springing me into the next step, rather than just letting my feet stomp. Plus, they are made with durable materials and withstand dirt/water/grass well, so that’s nice.

The design has some nice detail, but these shoes feel great and have helped make running an activity I actually look forward to now. Investing in good, customized gear really does go a long way.

Gear review | Kershaw Rake

My boyfriend and I are awful at being patient when it comes to giving each other presents. Andrew’s birthday isn’t until August 4, but I bought him this Kershaw Rake a week ago and couldn’t contain myself from just giving it to him. So I did, which was fun for me too since now I get to play with it. :)

This knife has been on Andrew’s EDC wishlist for a long time. I’m not really a huge fan of composite blades, just aesthetically, but this may have changed my mind.

Knife stats:

  • G-10 handle
  • D2 steel on the blade edge
  • 14C28N steel on spine
  • 4.8 ounces
  • 4 5/8 inches folded
  • Spring assist

The Rake is a bit bigger than a standard EDC knife, particularly width-wise, and it’s also heavier than most standard knives. Andrew carries it in his pocket and says that it’s not much heavier than his last EDC knife, the Kershaw Shallot.

Andrew says he likes it because it fits well in his hands, and the jibbing and choke make it easy to hold firmly. And the fact that it is spring assist means it’s easily usable with one hand. (This definitely makes me want a spring assist knife again.)

In terms of design, Andrew and I both love the G-10 handle (which is similar to what I have on my Spyderco Tenacious), the composite design on the blade. We also like that it doesn’t have an ultra shiny finish like many knives have.

I’m impressed with how well designed this knife is–it’s practical but stylish, and the G-10 and composite design give it some nice detail. It’s weighty, with a thick blade, but the spring assist makes it easy to use. I got this on Amazon for around $80, and I thought it was well worth the price. It also comes with a lifetime warranty!

Every day carry wishlist

I’m in the process of streamlining my EDC gear, but I’m trying to save a bit of money so I can invest in the stuff I actually want–some of which is a bit pricey. So, for fun, I put together my ideal EDC that I can work toward acquiring. I’m going for a rugged, industrial look, with strong metals and sturdy materials. I want to stick to mostly neutral colors but I might incorporate something high contrast just for fun.

Here’s what I’ve been working with lately. It’s not terrible, but it’s pretty, well, feminine. As you’ll see in my wishlist pics, I definitely prefer more muted, rustic patterns, but my current EDC is a result of having a lot of things on hand already. And I do have a soft spot for hot pink.

From top:

1. Spyderco Tenacious. A pretty sexy (and inexpensive) Spyderco, I think. I love the matte black. I wish it were spring assist, but that’s okay.

2. Leatherman multitool. My boyfriend passed this along to me. It was his grandfather’s so it’s very old, but it’s in great shape. I love the case it comes with, too. This is definitely going in my ideal EDC kit, so it’s one less thing I have to buy.

3. Columbia Blue Carabiner Keychain. This carabiner works well enough–for $5–but the pain it starting to chip, which is kind of annoying.

4. Zippo. Got this at Walmart for like $10, since I’ve wanted a Zippo for a long time. But I plan to switch it out for a different colored one.

5. Sunglasses. I think I got these in Paris three years ago? They are kind of crappy, but they were only a few Euros. They are also too dark so I don’t like wearing them while driving. Which kind of defeats the point of having sunglasses, I think…

6. Wallet. This is probably from Claires, but I’ve had it for a long time so I don’t remember. I’m using it because I like that it is sturdy, and the colors go better with my gear than the PacSafe wallet I was using. It’s honestly not a bad wallet at all, but I’d like to have something with better material.

7. Eos chapstick. I am addicted to these little chapstick balls. They smell good and they look really cool. I’m in love. I could have done an entire post just on these, but that may have been silly.

8. HTC Evo phone and case. The case is from Best Buy and I think it’s just a generic brand. I had been using the Ottercase which I liked a lot but it was a little bulky. Plus, I liked the pop of color this case provided to my EDC. But it’s starting to chip as well, so I might start looking around for another one.

Not pictured: Small faux leather bag from TJ Maxx, reporter’s notebook, bobby pins, lockpicks.

Out of my current EDC, I plan to keep the Leatherman, chapstick and most likely phone case. All of my other stuff I’ll definitely use around the house or while traveling, but it won’t be what I have on me at all times.

So, here’s what I’m looking at getting:

1. Alex Polarized Aviators by Fossil. I just ordered a pair kind of like this a few days ago but they were out of stock so I’m getting these ones instead. I’ve wanted a pair of aviators for a while since everyone in the post-apocalyptic movies I like seem to enjoy them, and you know, I have to be one of the cool kids. ;)

2. Albatross by Boker. Ideally, I want an actual Anso Mojo (so. awesome. drool.), but Anso knives are rare and freakin’ expensive, so I like this cheaper model by Boker (and designed by Anso). I love the style and size, and I get a little giddy about titanium. This is very high on my wishlist.

3. Carabiner Accessory by Leatherman. This is only $5 ($2 shipping)! I just ordered it. I’m thinking about blasting it with a faux titanium finish to make it match the knife and pry bar I want. What do you think? In any case, I really like this one! I like that it’s square, rather than round–it looks more finished. And I like that there is a separate hole for keyrings. I use my keys a lot so this is a necessity. Plus, I love Leatherman. Score! I guess I can check this off the list, technically…

4. Orange Matte Classic by Zippo. I guess I don’t really need a new Zippo, but they are pretty inexpensive and I thought it would be nice to have a bit of color. I can’t decided between this one or the green one.

5. Ti-Pri Titanium Pry bar by George Knives. This is a little pricey so I might keep hunting, but it’s by far the best size and design I’ve seen. I really want a decent sized pry bar since I have room in my bag for one, and I’d like it to function as a bug out tool, so as much as I like the mini-ones, this is more what I’m looking for. I’ll keep my eyes out for one a bit cheaper. I might just splurge, though, once I get the rest of my EDC gear and if I can’t find anything else. Have I mentioned I like titanium yet?

6. Fairfax ID Bifold FPW by Fossil. I really like that this wallet is a bifold and money clip. I like the combination of materials, too. I think it fits the aesthetic of the rest of my picks. Fossil makes some awesome stuff. This is part of their men’s line, but their women’s wallets are very nice too.

7. Solid Titanium Pen + Stylus by chadwick parker & joe huang. This is freakin’ genius. It’s no wonder they made so much money on their Kickstarter project. As a journalist and a techie, it’s important for me to have good writing gear and a good stylus. Refillable pens are awesomely sustainable. These are sleek and simple and I’m pretty much in love. I should contribute to their Kickstarter to grab me a few…

8. Trail Messenger by Fossil. I could easily buy all of the bags on Fossil’s site. They are all very stylish but still practical. I love this particular bag, but it’s definitely more than I would normally ever spend on a bag. This will probably be the last purchase I make out of all of this EDC stuff, so I hope it stays on their site for a while. I love the size and the pockets–I need a bag that fits my DSLR, my notebooks, the rest of my EDC and sometimes extra things like my tablet or books. This would serve me well for both work and grad school, and it’s not quite as bulky as the tactical bag I was using.

Some other things I’m on the lookout for: sunglasses case, a new reporter’s notebook with refillable paper, and perhaps a bottle opener or something fun like that.

What’s in your bag? (Or pockets, for you truly minimalistic fellows!)

Gear review | The Clip by LittleBonsai

This is actually my boyfriend Andrew’s latest EDC acquisition, but he let me check it out so I could do a write-up. The Clip is essentially a multitool keychain that works as a money clip, bottle opener, earphone holder, and yes, keychain. It’s made by LittleBonsai, a new company that held a Kickstarter fundraiser for the Clip. I like that they make environmental sustainability a priority, too.

First impressions: this is a pretty sleek little keychain. I’m always amazed by great engineering–making a tiny item so versatile and useful. I also thought the packaging was simple and well-designed, which aligns with their sustainability mission.

The clip is made out of stainless steel and feels both light and durable. I’m a big fan of titanium so I would love a titanium version, but the stainless steel works well. I don’t wear jeans very often so I would probably clip it to my bag or maybe to the band of my skirts, and on LittleBonsai’s website there is a picture of someone wearing it on their pants while jogging, which is pretty clever since I hate bringing bags with me to the gym. This would also be useful while travelling, since the clip holds tight around material but not so much that it will tear through pockets (which some knife clips are known to do).

Summary:

For just $15, this is a nicely designed keychain multitool and great for those who don’t like to carry a lot of things in their pockets.

New everyday carry knives

So, I’m kind of on a knife kick lately. In the past month and a half I’ve acquired more knives than I have in the past few years or so. I’m developing a pretty nice every day carry collection. What I like about my new toys is that they each serve a different purpose, and they each have very different stylistic elements.

This Buck Paklite skeleton fixed blade was an impulse purchase for $20, but I love it. I bought it since I had been lusting after Izulas for a while. I think I may like this one even more than an Izula now that I’ve had it for a few weeks. It came with a black finish, but I sanded it down so it was just the stainless steel. I then paracorded it and added a few beads just for fun. I’m going to build a little sheath into my combat boots to keep it in there.

I got this Spyderco Wayne Goddard from a friend who felt like it was too big of a knife for an EDC. I do agree that it’s bigger than what I’m used to, but I really like the half-serrated blade. I used this knife a bit when I was working on my PirateBox, and I’ve also used it to cut fabric and things like that, and it’s a pretty solid knife. I like how sleek the blade is.

My other new Spyderco was also an impulse buy. When I was in San Francisco this past weekend, we went to Pier 39, and they had a knife shop there! Andrew and I were nerding out. I wish I could have spent more time looking at everything. As soon as I spotted this Spyderco Tenacious I fell in love with it. I like the blade shape better than a lot of other Spydercos I’ve seen (although I’m generally a Spyderco fangirl). Plus, it was pretty inexpensive. This will probably be my main EDC for a while.

Andrew wanted me to include his new Kershaw Shallot–half-serrated with speed safe–since he says it’s half mine anyway. ;) We went to the gun show in Reno a few weeks ago and he managed to snag this one for like less than half of its regular price. MSRP is $109, and he got it for $30. It’s hard to tell from the photos, but it has a great finish on it, different than any others we’ve seen. It also has a really unique body and blade design.

I’m pretty excited about my new knives! I’ve been thinking about changing up my EDC so I may re-paracord my fixed blade, and I might add a paracord knot to my Spyderco Tenacious. In any case, I might hold off on buying any more new knives for the time being to play around with the ones I have now… although, Andrew just bid on a Kershaw Leek, so we’ll see.