To many of us who have made EDC a lifestyle of choice, we may assume that no mistakes are involved. After all, it's just putting together some fantastic and protective gear in our pockets and bags. 

But, sometimes, it's a matter of deciding whether to carry an item because it's cool or because it can come in handy.

However, if you are used to everyday carry, making some mistakes is pretty normal — but also avoidable. 

In most cases, you'll realize your EDC mistakes when you need to use the necessary tools and they are either not there or in poor condition. 

You don't want those moments of  "I never carried my EDC knife!" or "I forgot my phone charger!"

Allowing EDC Weapons to Be Visible to the Public

You may not believe it, but weapons such as guns and knives can be very intimidating to strangers.

You don't want to scare someone just because you were confidently walking around with a gun in hand, pocket, or visibly on your waist — plus completely concealing a gun may be a legal requirement depending on your state's open-carry laws.

Just in case you didn't know, the term "open carry" refers to carrying a gun in public in a manner that it's visible.

Some states define open carry as having the weapon "partially visible," while others may need the weapon to be "fully visible" in order to be deemed openly carried.

Checking with your state laws will help you avoid this mistake. 

EDC pocket knives are also a common culprit in this where people don't think it's important to conceal them.

It's improper to think that no one really cares. Everyone may not care, but that potential attacker cares about your level of defense and may use it against you.

After all, openly carrying a weapon will not necessarily deter an attacker — if it were so, then assault on police officers would be unheard of.

Click on the link to read more about EDC fanny-pack and why it's a good tactical carry option!

Not Carrying Your EDC Essentials

This is a critical EDC mistake to avoid.

Sometimes, you can select and collect items that you deem necessary to carry around but end up forgetting them on the table as you leave; how baffling! In other cases, many of us tend to assume that there are times that we need them and times when we don't.

Well, here is the thing, if you knew you needed to carry a pistol on a specific day, why leave your house to come face to face with danger?

The idea of EDC is that you will have it on you or near you at all times, just in case the need arises.

So, if you need to be ready every day, carry it every day! If you choose to let go of some of your EDC items, have a valid reason.

Neglecting Your EDC Gear

Let's accept it; nothing lasts forever. Things wear out whether we take care of them or not. But, if we entirely neglect our tools, they will wear sooner than we think.

However, to make sure that some of these items last longer, you need to take regular care of them.

The EDC items we carry every day are subject to abrasion, hits, dings, moisture, sweat, and other elements. All of these accelerate the wear and tear of everyday carry gear.

If you have a cool watch that you never leave behind, maybe because of its aesthetics or functionality, you don't want scratches on it — similarly, you don't want to expose your tactical flashlight to adverse conditions such as water and extreme heat.

When it comes to your everyday carry knife, it's clear that exposure to moist conditions will cause rust. These are the little things you should think of as you try to prolong the lifespan of your EDC items.

Using Without Proper Training

Some of our survival kit items might not require much practice to know how to use them before a deadly mistake happens.

For instance, a pepper spray, bottle opener, or an EDC pocket knife - we can try them out once, and we will be ready to use them.

However, some items like guns and complex gear will need some practice before we can use them well. 

Some medical tools or escape tools will also need regular practice. So instead of locking them away or forgetting them in the bag, try them out from time to time and get to know how to use them.

Remember, practice makes perfect, and most EDC tools come in handy when we know how to handle them.

Bragging about it

As an EDC enthusiast, you love your EDC kit, and you know how important they are to you.

But other people, especially those who are not into the idea of EDC, may brand you as paranoid or over-prepped.

The good news is that they don't have to know how "over-prepped" you are. In this regard, there is no point in bragging about your ever-ready nature.

Don't get me wrong, though; it is totally okay to share with a like-minded person you are well familiar with about your EDC life.

As a rule of thumb, sharing will expand your knowledge and allows you to appreciate who you are and what you believe in.

Ignoring the power technology

Since everyone owns a smartphone these days, there are also countless survival kit apps that you can use.

The good thing is that you can load up a smartphone with survival information, tips, and apps and still not add any weight as compared to your EDC backpack.

From first aid apps, emergency call apps, survival articles, maps, clocks, calculators, flashlights, and many more, your phone is an all-inclusive EDC item that can help you more than you may realize.

Final Thoughts

There you have it, the common mistakes we make with our everyday carry kits.

If you did not think of these mistakes before, then this is the time to have this knowledge and up your EDC game. 

Remember, every item in your EDC bag counts no matter your survival situation!

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