The term 'everyday carry' or 'EDC' means something different to everyone. In its simplest form it may mean all of the things us ladies carry in our purse, or for men the things they carry every day in their pockets. Some would say it's that item they feel naked without or never leave the house without.  I'm sure nowadays though most people would probably say their EDC is their phone. However, I want to share with you an EDC item from the preparedness side of things. For most of us ladies, it's an item that you may not have thought about or even think you may need. An everyday carry knife. Yes, I said knife. It's not as harsh as it seems. This may not be something new to you as I'm sure some of you have Dads, boyfriends, husbands, or partners that carry some form of pocket knife or utility tool around. There's a reason they do this. It's functional and practical...two things that scream fashionable, right?! LOL. But honestly, a pocket knife can help with some of your daily routines/tasks but also for some of those unexpected situations.

When used responsibly, a pocket knife can handle many of your cutting needs that are usually done with your house keys, hands, or even worse, your teeth (#guilty). Just think about some of the items you pick up at Target or Nordstrom that you want to use immediately?! Oftentimes those items have hard plastic tag holders or seals that require a sharp object to cut. On the flip side though, a pocket knife can also be used in emergency situations, or if you need to defend yourself. 

Whether you've thought about carrying one or are new to the thought, here are a few questions to ask yourself before selecting a pocket knife:

How will I use it? Figure out the purpose of why you want an EDC knife & how you plan on using it. Is it related to your job? Are you going hiking or camping? Opening packages? Extra tool for self-defense? 

Where will I carry it? There are multiple places one can carry a pocket knife.  In your front pants pocket, back pants pocket, inside your pants waistband (my preferred position), in your purse/bag, or the inside pocket of a blazer/coat. The majority of people carry their EDC in their front or back pockets.  Keep in mind that if your intent is to use this as a self-defense tool then you'll want to have it easily accessible and you’ll want to train on how to draw it, open it, and how to use it to defend your life.

Where am I going with it? The whole point of an everyday carry knife is to, well, carry it every day. So with that said, one important thing to think about is, where are you going while your EDC is on your person.  While you may think of your EDC as a tool used in your daily life, most people see a knife as a weapon. So for instance, it's obviously a terrible idea to carry your EDC when going through TSA.  Will you be going into buildings where metal detectors are being used? Will you be carrying it to work? Does your workplace have a weapons-free work policy? Think about where your days take you and assess from there.

{Knives Pictured} SOG Ultra XR, SOG C-Ti Blackout, SOG Terminus XR, CRKT Cobia, CRKT M16, SOG Vision XR
{a few other brands to checkout Benchmade, Kershaw, SpyderCo}
(check out the discount code page for discounts)

Once you've considered the above, you can move on to selecting an EDC that fits your needs. There are several factors to consider:

Opening style: Do you want a fixed blade or folding knife? Does it require two hands to open? Can you open the knife with one hand should your other hand be injured? The most common style of EDC is a folding knife. 

Color: Knives come in every color & if you can't find it in your favorite color, you can get it painted. However, a bright pink knife might not look good clipped to your front pants pocket. Also, you don't necessarily want to draw attention to it. The most popular color knives are black, stainless steel, and olive green. However, keep in mind your use of the knife here. If you plan on camping with it, it might not be a good idea to get a black or olive green knife.  Why? Because should you drop it, it will be much harder to find. 

Blade Size: The common blade size for EDC knives average around 3.5" as one of the main features of an everyday carry knife is to be compact. However, be sure to know your local state laws & regulations when it comes to knives. As I mentioned before, they tend to be categorized as weapons. Many states have regulations on blade size, knife style, and so on. The last thing you want is to end up getting arrested for carrying a knife you categorize as a tool.

Once you've purchased your EDC & have been living with it for a few weeks, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. I notice more and more people with EDC knives clipped in their pockets now that I know about them. There is really no right or wrong knife. Select one based on what meets your needs and your intentions, but it really boils down to preference.  I've seen people use their EDC to open mail/packages, to cut zip ties and wire, even using it to eat their steak. Personally, I'm not using the same knife I open packages up with to also carve up tonight’s dinner but that's just me.