EDC RE-EVALUATION 2019




Last year (2018) I talked about the GORUCK EDC No3 - 50/50 - RIP-(M) config, I've been using this config for the best part of year and it works well but now I have some real world experience of it under my belt, it’s time to re-evaluate.

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What worked, what didn’t, what stays, what goes! Those of you who adopted the 50/50 config for your own EDC will be relieved to hear that not much is changing but there are a view minor mods to the EDC gear I carry and to my GORUCK (MULE) I carry it in.

EDC No3 - 50/50 - RIP-(M) config (2019 pat) - (AFTER) STRIPPED BACK, CLEAN & USEFUL. IRONICALLY, I CARRY LESS SO I CAN CARRY MORE : )

EDC No3 - 50/50 - RIP-(M) config (2018 pat) - (BEFORE) STUFFED TO THE GILLS WITH GEAR I HARDLY EVER USED & NO ROOM TO CARRY ANYTHING ELSE.

HOW DO I USE MY EDC?
Basically I see it as a way to carry everyday useful gear to and from my place of work. It will include tools for the day and items to make my commute more comfortable. I will also consider if the commute goes bad, so I could also carry gear to cover me if the train is late, the car breaks down or the bike gets a flat tire. Possibly... my EDC is as much about the bag as it is the gear. Gear changes for the days requirements, the bag stays the same. This is how I see and use my EDC.

GEAR NOT USEFUL THAT DAY STAYS AT THE OFFICE, IT'S GOING TO NEED TO BE ORGANIZED... BUT THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER POST : )

THE NEW ETHOS - IF I DON'T USE EVERYDAY DON'T CARRY IT EVERYDAY.
So when planning my original EDC I thought about the gear that I could ever possibly need and carried all of it everyday? now I’ve been using this gear for a while I've a strong Idea that some can stay at the office, charged and ready for when I need it. I think of it like gas for the car. The gas for the week I carry in the tank, gas for the year I leave at the station it’s there when I need it, no need to lug it around. Obviously this requires a little more planning. I think of day as a mission, then decide what I might need for that mission and carry that. It seems obvious really but until I’ve experienced what’s good and what’s not how do I know? I’ve found that arrogance and assumption are not useful traits. Try it and see, then re-evaluate.

THE GORUCK GR1 FIELD POCKET STAYS, THE MORE I USE IT, THE MORE I LIKE IT

BEHIND THE FIELD POCKET IS WHERE I STASH MY LEATHERMAN WAVE MULTI TOOL

1. EDC No3.1 - 50/50 - RIP-(M) config (2019 pat)
Quicker just to say what’s going as for the most part this config just worked really well. I had x2 TAD S2 pouches MOLLED to the Rip-(M) one was for my torch, the other for my multitool I’ve removed these, I carry the multitool clipped to the GORUCK internal MOLLE. This still comes with me. The torch stays in the office. REASON when traveling from A-B I found that the torch on my iPhone worked just fine. I found it easier to grab and use, indeed it’s probably in my hand already.



The admin organizer pouch is removed and stays at the office.
REASON I use mine for cables and some light tools, as long as I have the multitool with me I’m covered. And if I need these items and can just grab and sling in my bag.

THESE IMAGES SHOW NICELY HOW I HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM FOR MY EDC & A 15.4 LAPTOP, IN CASE. THIS COULD ALSO BE; MAGS OR FILES

2. WHAT STAYS
This all leaves me room. Originally I carried my iPhone in a Maxpedition PHP piggy backed to a Vanquest Hydro Pouch these are to stay and are now MOLLED side-by-side. I like this config as it gives me more room in the bag to slid in larger, flat items such as magazines and files. I’ve added a carabiner so I can swing my water bottle from it when the bottle comes with me. This keeps it upright and in place where I need it. The Vanquest Hydro bottle pouch is one of my favourite pieces is gear and I use mine to carry my RAVpower auxiliary power source, this doesn’t come with me everyday but it does quite often so the reason for this pouch and when it’s not in use it cinches down out of the way, just love that.

ROOM FOR A SHELL JACKET (AT THE BOTTOM) WITH CLEAN ACCESS TO MY IPHONE, CHARGER AND FIELD POCKET

The GORUCK GR1 Field Pocket is staying, as the more I used it, on a-day-to-day basis, the more I liked it. This still has the quick release mod which I find more useful for quickly removing the pouch to make room in the bag for bulky items, a jacket for instance, I can then simply MOLLE the Field Pocket to the outside of my GORUCK and I’m ready to go.

WHATS NEW - GEAR?

HELIKON POCKET MED INSERT

1. IFAK
This is packed in a Helikon Pocket MED insert. A small pocket sized pouch, just the size for everyday band aids, pain relief and other meds.

BELLROY A5 WORK FOLIO

2. BUSINESS ADMIN
This is all carried in a more formal and business like manner, within a BellRoy Work Folio A5. This is in back leather and comes with me to meetings. In this way I can pull this from my rucksack when I arrive and have everything I need for the meeting at hand. An A5 Moleskine notebook, my Fisher Space Pen, business cards and Flash drives etc. There’s even room for my iPhone, cables and a charger if I want to go that way.

GORUCK UPGRADES
This title is probably a bit miss leading as I haven’t modded the GR1 as I have the GR2 for instance, what I’m talking about here are little additions to the exterior of the back to make it more useful to me.
I FOUND THE SHOCK CORD TO BE SUCH A USEFUL MOD, UNLIKE ABOVE, MOSTLY USED FOR CARRYING JACKETS ETC

1. SHOCK CORD
Yes I’ve added a length of shock cord, this is woven into the exterior MOLLE and adjust able via a cord lock. As it’s woven I can quick strap item to the front of the GORUCK or I can re-config the weave and cinch quite big, bulky items to the pack. This is really useful.

SIMPLY DONE

2. CARABINER, ANOTHER ONE
A good sized, lightweight carabiner is clipped to the handle. Obviously it can be moved to wherever is useful to swing appropriate gear from the bag but mostly I use it hang my GORUCK from the hooks on the bar of my favourite, after work, Friday night drink bar : ) this is such a good idea, it keeps the bag off the wet floor and make it less likely to be forgotten after a heavy session : )

THE VELCRO AND 511 PATCH HAVE BEEN ADDED VIA PHOTOSHOP, TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT I HAVE IN MIND FOR THIS MODE.
3. AUXILIARY VELCRO FIELD
I’ve yet to do this so no real pictures just yet but will update. But once complete this will be a 2” wide by 6” Velcro field sewn to the inside of the GORUCK next to the bag ID patch. The main idea for this is so I can attached a 511 Light Writing Patch for easier to grab pens business cards and maybe the torch but we’ll see how that goes. Not forgetting, it will also be great for patches, looking forward to having a play with this once done.

EDC OFF SITE
So yes this beggars the question, if some of my EDC gear is carried and some left at the office or home what happens to this gear? How is it stored? How is it organized? In a modular way that means I can grab what’s needed and be gone! This has set my mind thinking??? I think Pelicase may get a call soon : ) but I think that maybe another project and another post in the future. Until then I hope you found this post useful.

EDC GEAR THAT STAYS IN THE OFFICE IS GOING TO NEED TO GET ORGANIZED : )

I've included links to GEAR featured so you can find out more or even purchase. In some cases items have been upgraded or discontinued so I have linked to equivalents, I hope that's OK.

GEAR LIST:

• GORUCK GR1 21L
• GORUCK GR1 Field Pocket
• Grey Man Tactical RIP-(M) 10,75x7in

OPTIONAL:

• VANQUEST Hydra Bottle pouch
• VANQUEST PPM Husky organiser
• MAXPEDITION PHP pouch

• RAVpower Power Bank
• PELICAN 1040 Micro Case
• MAXPEDITION Mini Organizer
• MOLESKINE Note Book
• LEATHERMAN Wingman Multitool
• KLEAN KANTEEN 16 oz Insulated Bottle
• RAY-BAN Wayfarer Sunglasses
• FIELD NOTES Note Book
• WHISKY HIP FLASK
• BELLROY A5 Work Folio
• STM 15.4 Laptop Sleeve
• 511 TACTICAL Light Writing Patch
• HELIKON Pocket MED Insert
• GARMIN Fenix 3 Sapphire

RELATED POSTS:

GORUCK EDC No3 - 50/50 RIP-(M) config - How-To
GORUCK EDC No3 - Modularity Reboot - The X3 Carry Ideology
GORUCK GR1 Rucksack, EDC No1.

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Comments

  1. Nice setup. Rather than sewing loop field into the GR1 or GR2 I'd use self adhesive Velcro either heavy duty 3M stuff or class ohlson sell sheets of self adhesive Velcro that tbh are pretty much impossible to remove without some serious effort. I've used the class ohlson stuff inside a Tasmanian tiger essential pack and a Helikon bushcraft satchel and there's no way it's coming off! Holds firm even with a fully packed out Helikon edc organiser attached.

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