EDC, the popular abbreviation for the common daily practice of carrying stuff. EDC stands for Everyday Carry. To be honest, even when we started using the acronym around the shop here I wasn’t convinced that anyone used the term. Turns out it is very well known and used in all sectors of society today.
That is why this is called the “Noob Friendly Guide”. Because if you weren’t familiar with “EDC” when you began reading this article, just know you are in good company. This is a safe place to learn. Now that we are at least familiar with “what the heck all the kids are saying”. There is only one question we need to ask ourselves.
To Carry or Not to Carry?
This may seem like a question, but it most certainly is not. Not anymore. I mean when is the last time you walked out your door without carrying anything? We don’t even go on a run anymore without carrying some kind of tracker. Rather the question is, how much to carry?
But this question is more than just classic minimalist v maximalist. EDC, in my opinion, is about efficiency. How efficiently can you carry? And the more efficient you are the more you can carry. Meaning, for me, EDC is all about design, utility, and simplicity. If you get caught carrying something every day that… you just don’t need you tarnish the whole carry.
EDC is meant to be thoughtful and specific. We are not talking about bringing every possible thing you think you might need with you everywhere you go. That is a sign that your EDC has swung to one of the two extremes. Winning at EDC is not a backpack full of stuff. Nor is it carrying a single key and debit card loose in your pocket. But the fact of the matter is everyone’s EDC will be different.
What Is Your EDC?
Your EDC is as unique as you are! If that is true, your EDC may also be as boring as you are :grimace face:. Don’t worry, we will address that later. My point is, your EDC should be tailored to your lifestyle and/or career. If you are a bike messenger (dream job!), your carry will be very different from a public defender.
With that said, there are the common elements of the ECD that perhaps we all carry. Those being the: phone, wallet, keys. And if that didn’t just trigger Adam Sandler’s song in your head, then learning about EDC is not the most important thing you should be doing on the internet right now. However, phone, wallet, and keys are not the holy grail of EDC that we are all striving for.
Again, your EDC is about your daily needs and usage. Remember that time you had just the right tool or item you needed to get the job done. Conversely, remember that time that you didn’t have what you needed. Rather, the exact right tool, purchased for just as specific a situation as you encountered was at home sitting right there on the counter. Begging to be taken with you knowing today would be the day it would prove itself and cement its role in your EDC. Remember that? This brings us to the “why”.
The WHY
We’ve touched on a few of the “whys” above, and a few of the why nots. But what is at the core of EDC? Seriously, why carry? In a word… convenience. In two words… self-reliance. Knowing that anything that comes up in a given day can be overcome with little to no effort because we are carrying the right tool is convenient.
In theory, I’m not big on self-reliance. I’d like to think of myself as able to push past this social construct and engage the whole to solve problems. In practice, I rarely ask for help. I like being able to “get the job done” by myself. Again, I don’t recommend that approach.
The final “why” I want to mention regarding EDC is perhaps the most important. It’s the thing that elevates the stuff you simply have in your pockets to an actual EDC. Of course, I am talking about style. Your very own EDC style is what makes it a cohesive unit. The beauty of style is that it is always evolving.
One of 1 Carry
One of the best ways to maximize style in your EDC is to highlight one of your items with something truly unique. Taking an item that most people likely have in their EDC and making yours stand out is a good feeling. That touches on some of the very reasons Carved was started in the first place. To take the same boring and cold technology that we all carry and cover it in something completely one-of-a-kind.
Our wood and resin art is undoubtedly one of 1. Every single piece of wood tells its own story, and no two pieces are ever the same. Each color and swirl of resin will never be replicated. We have worked hard to develop a team that daily creates completely new products, ensuring we are not just adding to everyone’s EDC. But helping all of our customers to carry something as unique as them.
Start Carrying Now
There you have it! The ins, the outs, the whathaveyous of the EDC. You are no longer an EDC noob. While we may have gotten a little too philosophical, a little too ethereal, we now have a complete understanding and newfound respect for the stuff we carry daily. If you need to add to simply add that final piece to your EDC or start building from the ground up, check out our product pages to find some beautiful one of 1 pieces we are confident you will be proud to carry each and every day.
