Travel Gear and General EDC

[Archiver]

EDC (Every Day Carry) has become a bit of thing online, with multitudes of YouTube channels devoted to showing various EDC kits. But many of us have been doing this for years, long before EDC became fashionable.

My daily kit when I walk out the door tends to be:

• slim sling bag / fanny pack or shoulder bag
• wallet, phone, keys
• spare memory card and battery
• audio recorder (current favourite is the Olympus LSP2)
• USB drive
• pocket camera like the Sony RX0 and probably the Panasonic LX10
• small bottle of hand sanitizer
• face mask
• bluetooth earphones
• serviettes
• folding shopping/grocery bag

Most of these items are self explanatory.

I like to keep a small high quality audio recorder handy for when I encounter interesting ambiences like airport terminals, hotel lobbies, public transport, anything that can be turned into sound design assets for use in video projects. Buskers are also great to record; there was a time when I was recording audio just as much as taking photos. The USB drive comes in handy if someone wants to give me files. And after having coffee somewhere, there will always be spare serviettes, and you never know when you might want some. The grocery bag is a simple nylon bag from the supermarket that folds up very small, but is useful for impromptu shopping, like at secondhand bookshops.

Travel brings another level of gear, including:

• unobtrusive backpack, like a basic Samsonite or Incase
• a larger shoulder bag like the Crumpler Dry Red Boarding Bag or Alpaka Go Sling Pro
• passport if necessary
• multiple outlet USB charger with cables, to be used for phone and cameras
• digital audio player
• wired earphones/IEM's
• phone cradle
• car socket to USB adapter
• powerboard
• tablet for photo editing
• card reader
• memory cards
• LED light panel that doubles as a USB power bank
• two-camera kit, usually the Leica M9 with three lenses and m43 camera with three lenses
• when traveling for work, I take the Panasonic S5 with 24-105 and 50mm, and the Panasonic G9 with 12-35mm f2.8 and Olympus 25mm f1.2, plus a lavalier microphone
• one camera kit goes in the backpack, the other goes in my shoulder bag
• batteries, but not too many, in keeping with airline regulations
• muesli bars and water if possible

As much as I could and do use my phone for music, I prefer to keep my music separate on a tiny audio player. For the past several years, I've used the Fiio X3 II, a player that is a bit bigger than a Zippo lighter, has awesome sound, and a black silicone skin for protection. The wired IEM's go with the Fiio, and they also block out the sound of the airplane when I'm sleeping. Bluetooth earphones have noise cancelling, but there's nothing like physical silicone or foam earphone tips which block sound.

The phone cradle is for if I rent a car and have to use my phone for GPS maps. The car socket to USB adapter completes this kit.

I try to take as many memory cards as possible and fill them as the trip progresses. Most trips are short enough that I don't need to offload the data, but in that situation, I also bring a portable hard drive with card reader.

Everything valuable goes in these two bags when traveling. I'm sure no one here would put a lens or camera into check-in luggage. The backpack is small enough to fit under the seat in front of me, and I lock the backpack with travel padlocks to deter sticky fingers on the flight.

There are any number of stories about flights being delayed before takeoff, and muesli bars and water are precautionary assets. If I'm flying a particularly cheap airline, I'll buy sandwiches at the terminal before departure so I don't have to buy the overpriced airline food.

Anyone else have EDC kits or travel kits they find useful?

 

[wlewisiii]

EDC?

Lecia M 240 w/ 50mm Sonnar of some type mounted
Another 50mm in the bag
Nikkor 28/3.5 or Kobalux 28/3.5
Nikkor 105/2.5 or Elmar 90/4 (edit: oops. Middle of the night)
USB card adapter
Protein bar
Leatherman PST
Notebook & mechanical pencil
Sensor cleaning sticks & solution
Walther PPK/S

 

[Archiver]

@wlewisiii That's a sweet kit to carry each day. Uncommon vintage lenses, very practical tools, and a nice CCW. Any reason why you chose an auto as opposed to a revolver?

 

[wlewisiii]

It's what I am very comfortable with. I was a tanker in the US Army so Uncle taught me on the M1911A1 back in 1982 and while I've loved my S&W Model 10s & 13s over the years, for something to have with me that is easy to carry, reliable and accurate, I've never owned anything I liked better than my early 80's Interarms imported PPK. It's a stainless steel one and I've shot it enough to know it well.

Fits in the pocket much better than my Cowboy Bebop Jericho 9mm too 😱 😎

 

[Godfrey]

Hmmmmmmmmm.

Wallet, keys, sunglasses, iphone - always.
What camera, etc, depends on the day/moment.

G

 

[agentlossing]

Good idea for a thread! I have a 20 minute bus commute to and from work, so I have taken to carrying a commuter backpack, the Chrome Industries Ruckas 23l, or occasionally the Brevite Runner when I want to carry bigger/heavier photo stuff and need a camera backpack.

EDC items inside the backpack are:

• A book (currently Cultural Cohesion by Clive James - I find nonfiction easier to read on my commute than fiction)
• CRKT Pilar II folding knife
• Field Notes Signature Memo Book (discontinued, I bought up a bunch of them for consistency)
• Kaweco Sport fountain pen, with a spare ink cartridge
• One of those zippered small coin purse/bags you can get from banks, with some business cards, access card etc.
• Sony WF-BX700 earbuds (the "XB" stands for "extra bass")
• Keyring for work
• Ricoh GRIIIx in small zipper case with a bit of padding (protects against dust too)
• Chapstick, tooth flossers
• Water bottle in outer sleeve (Brita filter metal bottle)
• Miir 16oz. coffee mug
• (sometimes) Clif bar for a snack
• (lately) I've been bringing along my Astrohaus Freewrite Traveler, which is an expensive but very handy drafting machine for writing.

In my pockets go the wallet and smartphone (Pixel 6a), and on my wrist is an Orient dive watch. Oh, and there's glasses on my face. I like photochromic so I don't have to carry sunglasses most of the time. Zeiss makes a pretty light photochromic thing which doesn't darken massively but still provides some relief from harsh sunlight.

 

[DownUnder]

After much travel around Europe, North America and SE Asia, I have learned (the hard way!) that less is best.

These days I carry a minimum amount of camera gear (see below for my more detailed list) in whatever cheap and useful bag I pick up at one of our local charity shops. Usually cosmetics bags. Nice, often big enough for a surprising amount of equipment, and they look like what they are, a ladies' bag to carry perfumes and suchlike.

This bag then goes into my backpack (for longer distance travel) or a cloth supermarket shopping bag (for shorter distance or local trips).

Easy as pie. Haven't been hit by any would-be thieves yet. I write this with my left hand tapping my wood desk...

Cameras in my bag are usually a Nikon D800 with two lenses (my prefs are 28/2.8 and 85/1.8 or 180/2.8) of a Fuji XE2 with three lenses (usually 18/2.0, the wonderful 18-55, and either a 24/1.4 or 14/2.8 depending on where I'm going and what I intend to shoot).

At my age, lighter and simpler is best. To date I have never ever missed a shot from not having the right lens with me at the time.

 

[Archiver]

Good idea for a thread! I have a 20 minute bus commute to and from work, so I have taken to carrying a commuter backpack, the Chrome Industries Ruckas 23l, or occasionally the Brevite Runner when I want to carry bigger/heavier photo stuff and need a camera backpack.

EDC items inside the backpack are:

• A book (currently Cultural Cohesion by Clive James - I find nonfiction easier to read on my commute than fiction)
• CRKT Pilar II folding knife
• Field Notes Signature Memo Book (discontinued, I bought up a bunch of them for consistency)
• Kaweco Sport fountain pen, with a spare ink cartridge

For many years, I've carried a Moleskine mini cahier in my wallet, which also contains a Cross slimline ballpoint. It has come in handy for jotting down notes, although this task is now taken by my phone and cloud-based note taking app.

Kaweco make some wonderful pens! My favourite is the Sport in aluminium, and their mechanical pencil with hugely thick lead for drawing.

• One of those zippered small coin purse/bags you can get from banks, with some business cards, access card etc.
• Sony WF-BX700 earbuds (the "XB" stands for "extra bass")
• Keyring for work
• Ricoh GRIIIx in small zipper case with a bit of padding (protects against dust too)

Oh, the days, when I carried a GRD III, then later a GR. If only they didn't die horribly after much use. I loved those cameras, and would often dream that I was using one if I saw something interesting. Taking photos with my Ricohs was so reflexive that it turned up in my dreams!

• Chapstick, tooth flossers
• Water bottle in outer sleeve (Brita filter metal bottle)
• Miir 16oz. coffee mug
• (sometimes) Clif bar for a snack
• (lately) I've been bringing along my Astrohaus Freewrite Traveler, which is an expensive but very handy drafting machine for writing.

I've never heard of this device, and now that I see it, I'm intrigued but not convinced. A smallish tablet with slim keyboard would do much the same thing, wouldn't it?

In my pockets go the wallet and smartphone (Pixel 6a), and on my wrist is an Orient dive watch. Oh, and there's glasses on my face. I like photochromic so I don't have to carry sunglasses most of the time. Zeiss makes a pretty light photochromic thing which doesn't darken massively but still provides some relief from harsh sunlight.

My watch these days is either a G Shock, or a vintage Seiko dive watch designed in the late 70s. Low profile and hardy, that's what I like in my watches right now.

When I upgrade my glasses, I'll go to an optometrist that offers Zeiss photochromic lenses. Seeing as I love Zeiss so much, might as well wear them all the time.

 

[agentlossing]

I've never heard of this device, and now that I see it, I'm intrigued but not convinced. A smallish tablet with slim keyboard would do much the same thing, wouldn't it?

Sort of. The appeal of these devices for me is fourfold: 1. The e-ink screen is nicer to look at than another backlit LCD (it's nice to get away from LCD screens for any amount of time). 2. The keyboards are very nice; it costs a little bit to get one as good as the ones that come in Freewrites. 3. The "non-jankiness" of a purpose built device that's not cobbled together. 4. The biggie: the instant, seamless syncing to Postbox, and the Send button on the device which automatically sends a .txt and PDF to my email when pressed. The confidence of getting a draft to the cloud and my email where I can access it from virtually anywhere.

They're not perfect devices and have some design oversights which annoy me, but when they work, they really work. I used to be a little ashamed of owning a Freewrite, but I've come to realize that I had a hangup about spending money on writing - as if it shouldn't cost anything to write. Well, it doesn't need to, but if it's something I value doing in life, why not spend on something that makes that more fluid?

Edit: oh, and it's hard to explain how much nicer it is to sit in a sunny location and type on this device with its e-ink screen, with zero glare and comfortable viewing. It gives one the ability for sitting outside Paris cafes which is unmatched (not that I've had the pleasure of course, hahah).

 

[agentlossing]

For many years, I've carried a Moleskine mini cahier in my wallet, which also contains a Cross slimline ballpoint. It has come in handy for jotting down notes, although this task is now taken by my phone and cloud-based note taking app.

I like the Moleskine cahiers, but I've grown out of love with the thinness of their paper. It works for some things, not as much for others.

Kaweco make some wonderful pens! My favourite is the Sport in aluminium, and their mechanical pencil with hugely thick lead for drawing.

I'd love to get the aluminum Sport. One thing which keeps me in the regular cheaper Sport models is the ability to buy a replacement nib assembly cheaply if anything goes wrong with mine which I can't easily remedy.

Oh, the days, when I carried a GRD III, then later a GR. If only they didn't die horribly after much use. I loved those cameras, and would often dream that I was using one if I saw something interesting. Taking photos with my Ricohs was so reflexive that it turned up in my dreams!

I have owned a couple of GRIIIs and a GRIIIx, for periods of up to 3 years or so. I have had some issues with sensor dust, and one with a defective scroll wheel (which was never really addressed by Precision Camera), but in general, they've performed very well. I have a bit of a habit of selling models when I've owned them for a while, I guess it's something of an insurance policy. But my GRIIIx has been absent any issues (except for, finally, sensor dust 2.5 years in, which I opened and cleaned myself), so I've held onto it. I love it, but I'm also ready for the next model, if it can address some of the small issues I have.

I've never heard of this device, and now that I see it, I'm intrigued but not convinced. A smallish tablet with slim keyboard would do much the same thing, wouldn't it?

See previous reply 🙂

My watch these days is either a G Shock, or a vintage Seiko dive watch designed in the late 70s. Low profile and hardy, that's what I like in my watches right now.

I have a bit of brand loyalty, as well as traditionalism, in my mind when selecting a lot of items, including watches. I often like to find an offbeat brand, but which still has heritage associated with it, and become somewhat loyal to it. Seiko is an excellent brand, but has enough regular hype that my stubborn nature is a little resistant to it, although the SKX007 is quite an appealing heritage watch. I wear a variant off of the Orient Mako, which itself is another of those low-price but low-key famous entry dive watches. I have a couple of Orient dive watches. I'd like to eventually branch back out to a field watch (had a Timex quartz field watch for a while), and the Hamilton Khaki really appeals to me, though the price is a lot higher than I've been able to afford so far in a watch.

When I upgrade my glasses, I'll go to an optometrist that offers Zeiss photochromic lenses. Seeing as I love Zeiss so much, might as well wear them all the time.

 

[girdwoodINC]

EDC - M7 with 28 elmarit and minilux
Travel - depends but usually M7 with 28 and 50 along with a flash then potentially 500cm with 80

Film - usually portra 160/400 and either HP5 or BWXX

Bag wise - Bellroy slings or wotancraft pilot

 

[Archiver]

I have a bit of brand loyalty, as well as traditionalism, in my mind when selecting a lot of items, including watches. I often like to find an offbeat brand, but which still has heritage associated with it, and become somewhat loyal to it. Seiko is an excellent brand, but has enough regular hype that my stubborn nature is a little resistant to it, although the SKX007 is quite an appealing heritage watch. I wear a variant off of the Orient Mako, which itself is another of those low-price but low-key famous entry dive watches. I have a couple of Orient dive watches. I'd like to eventually branch back out to a field watch (had a Timex quartz field watch for a while), and the Hamilton Khaki really appeals to me, though the price is a lot higher than I've been able to afford so far in a watch.

I'd love to get a Hamilton Murph for a number of reasons: apart from the style and legibility, it's the heritage of being designed for the magnificent movie Interstellar. No one I would see in everyday life would know what it is, either. The Orient Mako is a fine watch, something you can quietly be proud of when civilians gloss over it.

My current most-worn Seiko is a 7548-7000, a quartz dive watch that was released in 1978. The SKX007 looks almost exactly like the 7548, although the finish and machining of the 007 are not as good. The 7548 was priced similarly to the Omega Seamaster of that time, which gives an indication of its quality. Another watch that only an enthusiast would recognize, which I love. The movement in the 7548 is considered one of Seiko's best quartz movements, essentially the mechanical guts of the vaunted 6309, but powered by quartz. It's fully serviceable and very accurate. Mine came with a reproduction of the Seiko Z199 bracelet by Uncle Seiko, the original of which was made along with the 7548.

 

[sebastel]

withdrawn because of the gun discussion

 

[santino]

No Glock of some sorts? But seriously, in Europe it would be quite unusual to carry a gun in your photo-gear bag 😗

 

[wlewisiii]

No Glock of some sorts? But seriously, in Europe it would be quite unusual to carry a gun in your photo-gear bag 😗

Most parts to be sure, though I can think of one or two countries where I might be able to get a license were I to have legitimate cause (the Czech Republic is perhaps the simplest and it is much more restrictive than the US - I like their rules, personally.)

But the US is it's own kettle of fish. And that has it's pluses and it's minuses. As an US Army vet, I have my ways of living with them that would surprise people if they knew more.

Like the "Hello Kitty with an AK" sticker I put on my pickup truck last night 😉