Only second ever post but spent most of my time on here lurking.
I thought I would put up my EDC as I am looking to improve it but unsure where to go next.
Bit of background first that might help with any direction or guidance you can all offer. Most of my travelling is done in the car so the bag is usually looped over the head rest of the passenger seat next to me, I will take it out and carry it on me if I am spending an extended period of time away from the car however this doesn't happen very often as I am no more than 5 minutes away from it. I work outdoors from time to time as well, hence the travelling. In my spare time I am quite often outdoors with horses. When I say outdoors, I do mean rural and not urban. I'm not looking for a complete SHTF carry just one that is useful but has the beginnings of a SHTF bag.
The Bag
My bad is the 5.11 Tactical Bail Out Bag. I bought this on eBay second hand and got it for around £25 (if my memory serves correctly). It's deceptively large in the main pocket as well while mainting a smaller over all size. It allows me to store it away in the car over night in the boot without taking up too much room as well, and isn't really visible from outside if I were to leave it in either of the rear footwells.
Paracord Bracelet
I picked this up again on eBay for some knock of price thinking "I like the colour blue" and wanted something for my wrist. It turns out I am not a fan of that kind of blue and also I have girlier arms than I thought... To that end I put it around the pocket flap just for somewhere to keep it and also to identify it as my own along with the other uses paracord can have!
Front Right Pocket
In this pocket I just carry a small packet of tissues, which came in handy the other day when I had to check the oil in my car after the warning light came on. The headphones are just there if I am walking anywhere for music. The little pad is the most recent addition, I found myself making notes while out working and the pad I carry in the main pocket was a bit cumbersome everytime I wanted a quick note. Also once it's out, I can slip it into my pocket while I am still out and about. Both the tissues and the paper from the pad could double as an emergency tinder/kindling as well.
Front Middle Pocket
This houses one of the two light sources I carry on me. When I am out and about in the winter, the light goes quite quickly. I have used this torch countless times. It is very very bright as well. Unfortunatly I can't give any of you the name of it as it was issued by my employer a couple of years ago and it just came in a plain white box. It has a solid light, a flashing light, strobe light and SOS in morse code settings. The other item here is a spare buff. I usually always carry a buff on me as I find them better than scarves and this one is a light weight back up to the main one that I wear. Still some space in this pocket that I would like to utilise better.
Front Left Pocket
This pocket has the the only pieces for the beginning of a SHTF kit. As you can see I carry a fire steel, this one is from a basic kit from Light My Fire along with a lighter in a metal tin. I have practiced a couple of times with the steel with varying degress of success so I am getting to know my kit before having to use it in anger. The rest of the pocket is just for pens which come in handy when I am working.
Left End Pocket
The end pockets are where I begin to struggle and have a lot of room left over. The only thing that is stored here is my Petzl head torch. I use this more often when I am in the dark outside as I need my hands free for work/horses. Very happy with this lamp and no complaints as well.
The Right End Pocket is usually empty unless I am storing my smokes and another lighter in there depending on what trousers I have on. Sometimes my keys are put in here as well.
The Main Pocket
I carry a very basic first aid kit. I have also added a pair of tick tweezers having picked one of the little buggers up and my girlfriend freaking out about lyme disease...
Where I end up in the countryside there is usually some level of midgie infestation so I carry some repelant on me. I find that pulling my hat on down and my buff up helps a lot as well.
Just some basic Paracetmol/Ibuprofen which has come in handy when a night of drinking happens and I am out in the fields early.
The gloves are sharp proof gloves that I have gotten from my work and the sunglasses are also rated safety specs that they issue as well.
The pad of paper just contains notes that I require for my job and again would be used as emergency fire starting. In the summer I have been carrying a bottle of water with me as well which seems to disappear by the end of the day.
Still has plenty of room left in it but I prefer this for anything I pick up when I am out and about but if anything drastic is missing I would sacrifice the space for that.
I also carry a leatherman wingman on me most of the time as well. Unless I am heading into the city.
So that's my EDC as it stands at the moment guys and girls, I still have quite a bit of space left so any suggestions you can offer on what to add or what to replace would be appreciated.
Shrimpy
if your letting the oil drop to a point the red light is coming on unless its got a catastrophic fault you should catch the oil level long long before it puts the light on (the light isn't low oil its low oil pressure if the light comes on the Engine is been damaged due to lack of oil circulation...