A Note To Our Fellow Adventurers
Just in time for the Inaugural Gear Swap in Vancouver, we're sharing an article from our friend Wesley, an active member of the local Watch Hang community, and strong supporter of the Form & Function Podcast, as well as The Grey Nato.
In this article, Wesley shares his personal EDC, curated for an urban adventurer lifestyle. We're proud to part of his everyday carry with the Blackcomb 2.0, but read on for how he spices it up. You'll see signs he's a real Alberta boy at heart when you find out how he starts his campfires.
- Huiy Tang, Co-Founder
Building EDC for the City and the Outdoors
Living in Downtown Vancouver and being an EDC enthusiast can pose certain challenges when making your EDC kit for the day. For my everyday, I work in an office and spend most of my day inside the downtown core. A big advantage to being in Vancouver is that the wilderness is only a quick drive away. I want my EDC to be able to carry within the city and be able to throw in a backpack and be ready for an adventure.
This list will break down my choices that I strike the perfect balance to bring to both.
First: Knife (duh)
I think every EDC build should start with a knife. A knife can be useful in both scenarios, in the city for everyday things like opening boxes, or in the outdoors for making kindling. My choice of knife would be something like this Kershaw Shuffle, which has an insert for a Phillips and Flathead screwdriver bit.
Fun anecdote; I was working the other day and someone asked if I had a screwdriver. I pulled out this knife to help with their monitor and they said my kit gives ultimate dad vibes. I am only 27, but the sentiment was nice.
Second: Flashlight
A flashlight is always a welcome addition in an EDC kit. My choice would be this O-light Arkfeld Pro. With a strong main light, it serves great for finding that earbud you just dropped under your desk, or walking back to the campsite after a long afternoon hike. This model has a UV light, which is awesome for charging up the lume on my favourite watches.
Third: Pen and Notebook
A pen and notebook are great for jotting down notes and thoughts without reaching for your phone. I find the practice of putting pen to paper to be a very grounding experience that reminds me to slow down a bit. It goes without saying that this works in the city/office, but I think it works even better being out in nature and using a notebook to scribble and draw the things around you. My choice for these would be the O-light Pen Mini because of its dual functionality as pen and pencil, and its fun fidgety bolt action style selector. As for notebooks, I really enjoy these cheap little notebooks from Muji. They cost nothing, and they really do have a nice feel to them; plus they make lots of sizes.
Fourth: Lighter
A lighter might not be what pops to your mind immediately when discussing EDC, but hear me out. In the city, lighters can be a great tool for fixing loose threads on a garment, and make you “that guy” when asked in a group if someone has a light. To make this suitable for both the city and the outdoors I have gone with this torch style DUCO lighter, which has seen lots of use at the campsite when starting a fire.
Fifth: Microfibre Cloth
If you are like me and are blind as a bat, you know the struggle of your glasses getting dirty. A micro-fiber cloth is a underrated, compact, and cheap addition to your kit that will have so many great benefits. From cleaning glasses, to wiping off the crystal on your watch, the use cases are pretty far reaching. I use this awesome cloth given to me last from Isotope watches last year at the Vancouver Timepiece Show, though I imagine any eye-glass microfibre will do.
Sixth: Paracord
Paracord is one of those things “take it or leave it” things. Beyond their practicality, I just find them fun to play with. While on work breaks, if I want to go sit by the water and do something with my hands (instead of doomscrolling), I like to tie patterns with some paracord and get better at using it in general. One of my favourites recently has been making mini monkey’s fists so I can have something to play around with. Really any old paracord works for this, so choose at your own discretion.
Seventh: Hot sauce
How many times have you grabbed take-out at work and thought, man, this is bland as hell. Well I sure don’t, ‘cause I keep hot sauce on me at all times. Let’s be real, the practicality of this one is a bit ridiculous, but I thoroughly believe if everyone had a bit of hot sauce on their meals, they would be happier. If I don’t have something locally made on me, I usually have some sachets of Cholula or Tapatio stashed away. This definitely deserves its spot in the outdoors as well, to jazz up those freeze-dried meals we all love making on the trail.
Eighth: RZE Blackcomb Pouch 2.0
I curated all of these items based on what I actually carry, and of course I toss all of these into my RZE Blackcomb pouch. This bit of my kit brings it all together for me. No more scrambling looking for where I left my knife last. I can just pick it up, toss it in my bag, and head out the door. Made from durable ballistic nylon, and having a plethora of internal storage space with elastic holders, I know I can depend on this pouch when I need it. My favourite part is the Velcro backing where I can personalize the pouch with all the patches I have accumulated. This pouch is arguably the most important part of my kit.
Each piece of my EDC kit performs its own role in a meaningful way, earning their place in both my outdoor and city needs. Since it all fits nice and compact, I can just pick it up and throw it in my bag. If I prepare my kit like this all the time it can seamlessly transition from weekday workhorse to weekend warrior, just like yours truly.
To follow Wesley as he shares is love for watches, photography and his perspective on Vancouver, Canada, check out his Instagram.
