A couple of years ago, I put together a bag for my car so I would have things handy for unusual situations. I say “unusual situations” and not “emergencies” because, realistically, I will probably die in any real emergency, and it won’t be for lack of a signal whistle or can opener.

I recently beefed up my every-day carry kit and am now very happy with it. It’s in three major parts:

1. Things I carry on my person.
2. Tools I keep in a backpack in my car.
3. Personal items I keep in a satchel in my car.

The satchel and backpack are usually in front trunk of my Tesla, along with a portable tire pump. In a later post, I’ll address what I carry in them.

On My Person

I naturally carry a wallet with cash and cards, my iPhone, and–almost always–my iPad. The iPad cover has an exterior pocket that is good for keeping a couple of documents handy as well as a bit of extra cash, in case I leave the house without my wallet.

I wear a very simple Timex wristwatch with the date and nightlight. I didn’t wear a watch for a long time, but a few months ago, I decided I missed having the date and time at a moment’s notice instead of having to call it up on my phone. I also wear Foster Grant progressive reading glasses. These are cheap and great for close up, medium, and distance with my dumb eyeballs. I’d be practically helpless to do any reading or manual work without them. As a result, I also have an extra pair in my car.

I carry a Sencut Crowley flick knife with wooden scales. It’s a beautiful knife, easy to use, and great for opening packages and cutting straps. I use it almost every day.

I also carry an Olight Baton 4 and keep the charging case in my car’s console. (With a USB-C cable, it can charge a phone or tablet on its own.) This is a terrific little flashlight with moonlight mode (for complete darkness), low, medium, and high modes, double-tap turbo mode, and triple-tap strobe mode.

In my jeans’ 5th pocket, I carry a Victorinox Rambler Swiss Army knife. Don’t imagine that a bigger Swiss Army knife will be more useful. They always have serious drawbacks from trying to pack too much into a pocketable device. (The same is true of Leatherman-style multitools.)

The Rambler features just what I need:

• File with small flathead screwdriver (good for picking and prying)
• Bottle opener with small Phillips screwdriver (great for opening battery covers)
• Little scissors (perfect for cutting your nails; stop using nail clippers)
• Tweezers (of dubious utility)
• Toothpick (which I whittle down a bit to sharpen)
• Knife blade (which I’d only use if I loaned out my flick knife)

This is the first thing you should buy for EDC. Everyone should have one.

Then, I also carry a small belt pouch full of gadgets. It started life as some sort of electronics pouch I never used, probably a digital camera case.

A really small belt pouch with separate compartments like this has is a bit hard to find. Your best bet is an electronics case, which will dangle from a carabiner or clip on your belt. Maxpedition makes good tactical pouches, especially if you like one large enough for regular tools. I wouldn’t carry a large one everyday, but it would be great for first aid and tools on an excursion.

This little guy contains:

• A mini-Post-it Notes pad
• A mini-Sharpie marker
• A cut-down ballpoint pen
• Coarse sandpaper (to take the edges off things that shouldn’t be sharp)
• A USB drive (added after I took the picture)
• 30 inches of paracord
• A baggie containing a microfiber cloth and OTC medicines.
• Band-aids (for life’s little mistakes)
• A $100 bill and two $1 bills (for serious purchases and a tip)
• Two screwdriver bits that, taped together, offer the torque I need for large screws.

The screwdriver bits and the small screwdrivers on the Swiss Army knife solve 95% of my screwdriver needs. And I can remove the gaffer tape to use it for something else.

What I Don’t Carry (But Maybe Should)

• My daily medicine
• Anything perishable (foodstuffs, wet wipes, etc.)
• Rubber bands, paper clips, or binder clips
• More or different tape or glue
• Mini Leatherman-style multitool