Minimalist Everyday Carry: Portable, Practical Preparation

Wallet

A wallet is one of those things I can’t do without, and I prefer to use one that’s slim and fits easily in my pocket. Some people use a money clip or rely solely on digital payment tools, but I like to be prepared with a bit of cash, too. I find that a wallet works to hold that, along with my ID and a few cards. The days of pay phones and coin-operated parking meters are behind us, so room for coins isn’t super critical.

Ryan’s Pick: Herschel Minimalist’s Men’s Wallet — This wallet holds the cards I use every day, and it is slim enough that I don’t have to remove it from my pocket every time I sit down.

Pocket Knife

A sturdy pocket knife is an essential in my minimalist EDC gear. I use mine a few times a day, no matter what’s going on – whether I’m camping, hiking, or doing stuff around the house. The key is to find a knife that’s durable, has a lock so it can be safely carried in a pocket, and lightweight so it doesn’t add too much bulk as you’re going about your daily activities. Once you find a good knife, you’re prepared for just about anything, even survival scenarios.

Ryan’s Pick: Benchmade Bugout Pocket Knife — As a minimalist, buying sturdy, high-quality items that’ll last is crucial, and this pocket knife is extremely reliable.

Speaker

You may not initially think a portable speaker should be part of your everyday carry, but that just tells me you haven’t found the right one yet. When it comes to EDC, a small speaker is an essential tool in helping me stay connected and focused. With a good speaker, you can listen while you’re on the go. The right music makes even the most onerous tasks seem a little easier.

Muzen Bluetooth Speaker In Walnut Wood

On the more practical side, having a radio that’s disconnected from phone service is still a very useful tool in today’s world, especially because cell service can be spotty off the grid. I still love to listen to music even if I don’t have a signal or data to spare.

It’s important to me that my daily speaker is waterproof. I don’t have to worry about water damage if I get caught in the rain or when I’m camping or hiking, and I can keep the tunes going while I take a hot shower.

Ryan’s Pick: Muzen Wild Mini (while out and about) — This speaker is small but mighty, weighing only half a pound, so it barely adds bulk to my pack. It also offers features like different levels of light, and an SOS signal. It also provides safety backup outdoors, which brings me extra peace of mind while camping.

I found this portable speaker to be so useful and reliable that I also got their Walnut Wood speaker for my home and use the Muzen Walnutwood to jam through my Sunday reset every week.

Flashlight

For a while, I thought I might be able to get away without having a flashlight on me, but then I realized I was looking for one too often! A flashlight is a key part of my minimalist daily carry because it has a lot of applications inside the home and out. Especially in a tiny home, where every inch of space is put to work, extra illumination comes in handy.

In my work with tiny homes, I often find myself needing extra light in tight spaces, or when I’m working on electrical or plumbing projects. Keeping a small flashlight at the ready stops me from draining the battery on my phone by using its flashlight function.

Ryan’s Pick: Wuben X0 Mini Flashlight — This model is incredibly powerful for its small size, which comes in at under 3 inches. With a powerful floodlight function and an internal magnet, it can be mounted while I do a task requiring both hands in tight quarters.

Pen

I believe having a pen close by is an essential part of preparedness. Yes, our world is highly digital, but, when and if batteries fail, you never know when you’re going to need to make a note of something. I’m also the type of person who likes writing things down, because the act of doing so helps me think things out and fixes them in my mind.

Ryan’s Pick: Kaweco Sport Ballpoint Pen — Ballpoint pens are highly useful, because their ink runs easily and smoothly compared to other pens. This is a brand I’ve used for years that’s smartly engineered for durability and performance.

Notebook

I like to carry small notebooks that fit easily in a pocket, with sturdy covers that help them resist wear. Jotting down measurements, short reminders, or shopping lists often happens at a moment’s notice. I also don’t love to take notes on my phone while using it for audio or video calls.

Ryan’s Pick: Field Notes – These notebooks are great because they fit in either shirt or pants pockets, and they are stapled in the middle so they lie flat. I can be rough on my stuff, and some notebooks I’ve used would nearly fall apart before I filled them up, but not these.

All-Purpose Pouch

A small pouch comes in handy for organizing a minimalist’s EDC. A compact pouch will keep several of the above items together in a backpack or cargo shorts, while also leaving room for a phone or sunglasses. Choose a pouch that’s waterproof or water-resistant to keep your items safe, and you’ll be prepared for a hike close to a home or a trip halfway around the world.

Ryan’s Pick: Modern Coup Flatpack Pouch – A pouch with internal pockets is a great way to stay organized and keep my frequently used items easily accessible. This one has three pockets on the inside and three on the outside, which are great for stowing less-used objects along with keeping small parts from rolling away while I’m engrossed in a task.

Eating Utensils

I find myself eating on the go a fair amount, whether running errands or while hiking or camping. I like carrying utensils with me, instead of using a fork or spoon one time and sending it to landfill. There are a lot of options out there, many of which are made with durable and lightweight materials, so they only need to be bought once, and they aren’t a burden to carry around.

Ryan’s Pick: Humangear utensil set – With a spoon on one end and a fork on the other, you can’t go wrong with a multi-use utensil that’s light enough to keep in your pocket.

Pull-Tab Pen

Frequently used items in a minimalist everyday carry should be easy to keep track of. If you use a pen multiple times an hour, all day, you can attach it to a zipper on your pouch or backpack and never be without a writing instrument.

Ryan’s Pick: Nano Ink Pull-Tab Pen – This is a great choice, made from durable materials. I have one on my backpack, but I also have friends who put them on coat zippers.