I'm interested in what kinds of EDC items people have chosen not to carry. I love all kinds of gear, but EDCing one of everything isn't all that common, I imagine. So if you have consciously chosen to forego carrying one or more of the common or uncommon types of items that are discussed on EDCF, and you have something to say about why not, please share!
I'll start things off: I don't carry a fire source unless I'm out in nature, because I don't see the point. I also don't have anything but keys on my keychain because I don't like a lump in my pocket.
I answered with on body stuff in mind. I almost never wear a watch as I'm pretty unconcerned about time. No pen and/or notepad never need 'em. No fire source as I don't smoke. None of the basics; I don't carry a wallet, own a phone, and the keys are either in the house or in the truck. Pry bar/Atwood? I have yet to understand the fascination.
Yeah, if you carry a bag everywhere it probably changes the equation, but I posted this with on-body in mind.
Over the last 4 years, I have been adding items to my EDC. I think the next 4 will be spent making my carry more minimalist. But who knows where it will go.
I don't carry a sledge hammer any more, I never used it it was just drag. But seriously, I don't carry a mini pry bar. I have a pirahna but only carry that when I'm geocaching
- No lighter. I don't smoke and people I hang around either don't smoke or if they do, they have their own lighters. I might carry a fire source but only if it is mission specific (camping, etc.) - No lip balm. I stopped using it since most of them have ingredients that dry your lips out, forcing you to use more lip balm. - No trinkets, toys, jewelry, fiddle factor, sentimental or decoration type items. I don't really use bags except when traveling so pocket space is at a premium. Bulk and weight is reduced. - Phone. I still use an old flip phone on a prepaid plan. I'll sometimes take it with me when driving in bad weather, but otherwise it stays home. When home, I am normally not near it and I'll only check it once or twice a day. - Keychain backups other than the Quantum Ti flashlight, of course. I found the small pens to be uncomfortable to use, the small blades of keychain knives/tools too impractical for most tasks, and the wrenches on OPMTs are never the right tool for the job. I'd rather just use good full-size versions than worry about keychain backups for those once-every-ten-year moments when I could get 30 seconds of use out of a backup. (Like forgetting a pen)
I don't carry a prybar, as I can use my Swiss army knife's flathead screw driver for those needs. I've used it several times lately to help open my frozen truck door, lol. I also selected other as I don't carry a gun, yet. Would like to get a concealed carry eventually.
Watch. I don't own one that works. I keep meaning to get a cheap one like a Timex weekender, but it's not a priority. Pry bar. I used to have the boker one, and it was sometimes handy. But the usefulness vs hassle of carrying equation didn't balance out in it's favor. Other. There's lots of "other"gear I don't carry. And there see lots of reasons why I don't carry such things.
I never carry a large knife. Never found a need for one. I actually find a smaller knife is much more useful.
Prybars, trinkets beads, lanterns, glow fobs, guns, large knives, ferro rods, quick clot, all these things have no place in my day to day existence. I have a SAK, a small OHO, and a flashlight or maybe 2 (again, small). A Bic for my tobacco, and that's about it. Maybe a small pen and pad. You have to know when to say when. I am a minimalist of sorts, and use all of my gear.
Since my daily carry consists of my keys, phone, wallet, chapstick, a SAK Classic, a small flashlight, and a bandanna, I get by with my pockets. I don't carry a bag, unless going somewhere overnight, or hiking, or something of that nature. No bag translates into no lighter, no toys, no FAK, no MT (the Classic is the only knife I take to my cube-job), no prybar, no tool kit, no meds, no just in case food, and no tinder. I'll throw a few odds and ends into a backpack if I know I'm going to be somewhere overnight, along with clothes, but the contents of my pockets get me by in my day to day rather nicely.
I picked multi tool and Atwood, MT's are just to heavy to carry on person and I find that most of the tools on them are pretty useless, I also dont have/carry/desire for an Atwood, they are way over priced for what you get and too much hype surrounding them, for what people pay for them I would much rather have a nice knife.
I'm now rarely without a minichamp or similar, a AAA torch, watch,phone and pen and notebook. Depending on what I'm doing other stuff comes into play so a choice of a variety SAK and a couple of leathermans. The leatherman get the most use is the wingman because it sits WITH me rather than pocketed then the skeletool because it's the lightest. I can admire the wave and the charge but if I'm honest they're probably going to be too heavy to lug about regularly - time will tell. Same with torches really. I can't think where the AAA I'm carrying is ever out gunned for my needs but I carry them anyway. I was eyeing up a Boker Vox access tool and a crkt kert just in case I find my self in a position where a SAK isn't an option and I might need to open a bottle, break a window and cut a seatbelt. I then started reasoning how I must need a tritium something. So whilst I ticked a couple of boxes I could soon convince myself I need them after all. I don't of course It's the first 6 mentioned I need - and they do help. If they didn't they stay in a drawer.
No multitool due to weight and materials. No phone because I've never needed one. No keys yet, but soon. No fire because I'm getting annoyed with my lighter.
i dont carry a fire source on my person* , maybe carry some free matches from casinos in my backpack but its an item i use the least out of my EDC.
No fire source or multi tool. Just have no room or use for them. Also no pry bar. I do usually have a edc bag in my automobile when I leave my town, if I'm just driving locally the bag stays home.
I've started keeping my pen (Zebra) at work since that's about the only time I use one. Don't carry fire as I don't smoke or am I out in the outdoors.