This post on EDC Tools is a list of items that did not fit in other areas. Some of these are gadgets, some are smaller tools that don’t contain knives.
This list is not all inclusive, I am sure there are useful EDC tools that I skipped or are unaware of, also this is not a buy everything and be safe list. Some of the items below are redundant and are left to your own taste and judgement.
I like to have a small screwdriver/multi-tool on my key ring. so that I can always have the ability to unscrew things. However, about the only thing on this list I can take to work is the P-38 can opener down at the bottom of the page – BUT you would be surprised at just how much you can do with one of those old military openers if you have the desire to force something open.
I encourage you to look down this list and see if any of the items would be useful to you on a daily or weekly basis – if they look cool, but you never use them, after a while they will end up off your key-chain and stuck in a drawer. Besides my list you can find some great tool ideas at ToolsSpecialist Blog
Like all my other posts, you can click the picture to view this item on Amazon. I do make a small commission if you purchase from this link, but it does not cost you any more money and the commissions pay for the hosting of this site and a small amount of the time it takes to find the information I share here.
Nite-Ize DoohicKey Multi-Tool
$3.98
Hexflex Multi-tool STANDARD/METRIC BLUE
$17.86
TOTOONE Compact Multi-Tool Keychain
$11.99
Keychain Multi-Tool EDC Mini-Tool 10-in-1 Key Tool
$6.99
Maxcraft EDC Portable Screwdriver Set Tool
$5.99
Keychain Multi-Tool
$24.95
Tactica Multitool M100 – TSA compliant
$39.95
Dkka Outdoor EDC Stainless Steel Tactical Multi-functional Pocket tool
$12.99
Waterproof EDC Keychain Capsule Tube
$8.99
(I used to keep a capsule like this on my key-chain = it held OOOO steel wool and a small DIY Keychain ferrocerium rod)
Mini Pocket Monocular Binocular
$12.50
Heavy Duty Pocket Wrench
$7.99
Uncle Bill’s Sliver Gripper Keychain Tweezers
$9.78
Stanley 39-130 3 x 1/4-Inch PowerLock Key Tape
$5.92
Mini Pocket Slide Switch 20x 21mm Magnifier Loupe
$2.89
Geekercity EDC Wrench
$8.99
Multi function signal mirror
$5.99
(This is my true EDC – I use it at the prison when searching to ensure I don’t get stuck by a homemade drug needle or a razor)
Commando Wire Saw
$2.09
P-38 Can Opener and P-51 Can Opener
$4.45
(I’ve had a John Wayne Can Opener on my key-chain since the early 1990’s, its a military thing – but these sure are handy)
I have been thinking about everyday carry for a few weeks now, normally its just something that I do – but as my life changes and jobs evolve so does what I can carry. When I was in college working at a liquor store in a rougher part of Jackson TN, my EDC included a Beretta 92 and lots of magazines, at TEMA it included a CRKT neck knife, but in corrections my everyday carry is much more restricted. In an environment where multi-tools, lighters, knives, and even click pens are forbidden, I had to be more creative.
This is my EDC for corrections, and due to my specialized job, this list is not the exact list of a correctional officer working security. They can’t have cell phones or flash drives, and the radio holder is too small for their issued duty belt. However, for investigators or others that can have these things this is (in my humble opinion) are pretty darn useful.
For your convenience, I will link to the items in the video below. However, if you work in a more permissive environment, you can check out my Amazon Influencer EDC page to see lots of small knives, lighters, multi-tools and gadgets that I think are great EDC options.
Seeshine Multifunctional 3 in 1 USB Cable Keychain
Some people can aim and shoot flawlessly, hitting their target instantly. Other people have hands that are so shaky; they will hit a target five-feet-away just a bit to the left.
“Steady as a rock” doesn’t always apply to everyone. While a little bit of shakiness might not be such a great deal, it is still bothersome.
The stronger the “shakes,” the higher are the chances of you missing your target – even if you previously locked on it.
Seems familiar to you?
If so, you probably want to know some tips on how to deal with this. It won’t be easy, as shakiness and tremors can have various causes – but as long as you narrow down on the cause, you should be able to make it more manageable.
In this article, you will find some tips on how to deal with tension and shakiness when shooting, whatever the cause of it.
Understanding the Shakes
The shooting shakes can have various forms. You can have steady hands when locking in on your target – and simply flinch when you pull the trigger. That is simply your body trying to anticipate what’s going to happen, preparing you for the shot. It may be because you’re nervous, so your body is trying to make you adjust.
The second type of shakiness is a bit more troublesome to deal with: shaking uncontrollably at all times. You may be shaking this way no matter if you are holding a gun or a sandwich. That’s just your body trying to give you a signal – one which you have to listen to.
What to Do About the Shakes
If you have ascertained that your shaking is not related to your inability to hold onto a target, then you might have a slight problem. Regardless of the causes, here are some ways for you to reset your ability to hold your target.
Learn the Fundamentals
You may not want to admit this, but if you continuously miss your shots, it may not be because you have shaky hands; you may just be very bad at trigger control or gripping the gun. In this case, you will simply have to work on the fundamentals.
This will take a lot of focus and practice (with your favorite pistol, every day perhaps). If you are practicing with a gun that has a laser target, it might give you a better idea of where your target is going – and what kind of tremor you have.
Focus on your target instead of the gun. Don’t turn shooting into a competition (hitting more targets that your friends do) and train your body to hit the target as much as possible. It won’t be easy, indeed – but none of us is born a genius.
Ignore the Shakiness
We know, easier said than done – but have you noticed that the more you focus on your shakiness and hand tension, the worse it gets? The more focused you are on your wobbling hands, the more focus you will lose on the target.
And considering that we are all human beings, we can’t really focus on more than one thing at once – at least not properly. So, to get a better, steady shot, you need to stop caring. You have to stop thinking about your hands going crazy, and you need to focus on the target zone. If you execute a good trigger press, the rest will eventually come.
Slow Down on the Caffeine
Caffeine will keep you awake and alert, so it’s understandable why you may want to have a cup every now and again. However, caffeine is also a stimulant – which will make you shake, no matter if you have regular tremors or not.
This may be bad news for you if you are a coffee addict enthusiast, but try limiting your caffeine intake. Instead of drinking 3-4 cups per day, keep it at just one cup. Ideally, you should quit completely – but if you don’t want to live in a world without coffee, a morning cup is just enough.
Strength Training
If you have weak arms, it’s obvious that you’ll start missing your targets. Shooting produces a lot of tension around the arms – so without the proper strength, you won’t be able to hold it steady.
Don’t just go with bench presses all the time. Train your arms, your shoulders, your hands and your core. Shooting requires that all your muscles “mingle” perfectly, reducing the tremor and providing you more balance. Regardless of the cause of the shakiness, strength training should make your core stronger – and it should make it much easier for you to hang onto your target.
Drink a Lot of Water
This is something that many of us tend to forget, but water helps our body function properly. If you already have tremors, dehydration will only make them worse – so make sure that you always have a water bottle at hand.
Reduce the Stress
Stress and anxiety can make anyone’s hands start shaking. While not all of us have the luxury of being completely stress-free, you can still make it more manageable.
First of all, try to get enough sleep. Most of the time, stress and sleep deprivation go hand in hand – and those two combined will lead to very shaky hands.
Secondly, you might want to try other alternative methods such as meditation. It has been proved that meditation can help reduce stress and calm your mind – no matter the cause. And all you will need is to practice it several minutes a day.
Final Thoughts
We all have good days and bad days – and we need to be at peace with that. Some days you feel steady, and other days you’re shooting at an object two feet from your target. You just need to understand that this can happen – and try to find the cause.
Take care of your body and make sure that you always practice. If you’re competent in handling a gun, eventually the tension and shakiness when shooting will go away (at least reduce to a unnoticeable amount)– which means no more missed shots.
When working in the security industry, whether in the business or private sector, there are times when a security guard, bodyguard or a bouncer will not be able to carry a gun for protection. In reality, however, while a gun may certainly be the top choice for a weapon when working a security detail, most people already have weapons to use even if they might not realize yet how strong they really are. When faced with a situation where you need to survive or face a possibly fatal situation, it’s amazing how a person can find their inner strength.
If you are ever faced with a situation in a public place, one of the first things to remember is that you have a voice, so use it! Be loud and make as much noise as possible to get attention from anyone within earshot. This often not only distracts an attacker but can also make them flee the scene to avoid being caught. Another thing you should know is that the human body has quite a few vulnerable spots and these are important spots to remember so you can target them if you’re ever attacked. Sure, it’s a good idea to carry pepper spray, mace or even a taser to defend yourself, but you should know how to use your own body as a weapon as well.
These are some of the best vulnerable spots to target during a fight:
Eyes
Nose
Collar Bone
Groin
Ears
Throat
Shins
Adam’s Apple
Top of the Feet
Knees
Now that you know the body areas to target, let’s look at six moves you can make to stay safe during an attack and get away with your life.
Stay Calm!
Something that often messes a person up during an attack is panic. When faced with a possible physical attack, one of the best moves you can make is to remain calm and don’t let panic consume you. You need to be able to determine the right steps to take to avoid danger and when you stay calm, your head can think to guide your body to take the right defensive actions against the assailant.
Break Their Nose
With your palm open, hit your assailant with force to push the nose upwards with your hand. You’re going to need to really put your strength into this move to break the nose. The pain from the strike, even if the nose does not break, is often enough to cause a person to back away and can allow you time to exit the area or subdue the person until the police arrive. Keep in mind that while doing this, it’s still good to make noise!
Escape a Behind the Head Choke Hold
It can be terrifying to have someone grab you in a choke hold from behind your head. You have split seconds to respond and fend off the attack before possibly blacking out or worse. When you stay calm and work on not panicking, it’s possible to break free from behind the head choke hold but you must as quickly to do so. First, you need to raise your arm up fast all the way to the ear on the same side as the leg you choose to have bent behind you. Place the bent leg right behind the other leg quickly and begin to twist your body towards the side with the arm raised to your ear and with full force, direct all your weight onto the wrist of your assailant. Once free, be sure to take off quickly if there is an escape route or immediately dive into attacking the vulnerable areas of your attacker’s body.
Give Them a Good Kick to the Groin
Some people say to avoid kicking the groin because they say it doesn’t work. This depends on how you kick and how hard. You need to be in front of the attacker and kick directly in the center of your attacker’s legs. Don’t kick with your foot as you could cause damage to your own body by doing this and don’t use your knee as this can place you too close to the attacker. The best area of your body to use will be your shin. Shins are tough and when used at full force to kick a groin, you can bring an attacker to their knees and get away fast.
Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee!
Muhammad Ali said it best when he coined that phrase and it simply means, keep moving! The more you move and the quicker you do so, the less chance of an assailant being able to land a hit directly on your body. This is a good tactic to consider when facing someone who wants to fight with their fists but be careful if the attacker has a gun or other weapon as moving around can spook them and cause them to become trigger happy. Take time while moving around to use your hands and legs and even your head to go for those vulnerable body spots and to make as much noise as possible.
Head Butt
If an assailant has you pushed against a wall, try to use your head to headbutt them directly to their chin if possible. This can work if they are taller than you as it forces their head back where you can then punch them in the throat and get away. Fight with all your might to strike those soft spots and work hard to get away. It is easy to hurt a head with a punch or kick, but since it is one of the hardest parts of your body, it is also a great body part to use to defend yourself during an attack.
Whether you are short or tall, big or small, knowing that you personally possess the tools to protect yourself can be a great piece of knowledge to have. There are many martial arts and self-defense classes offered nationwide and it’s a good idea to take classes if possible, so you can learn more steps to take for personal protection. Even if you carry a gun, there are often places that are gun free and it’s a good idea to know how to use your body as a weapon just in case you need to physically defend yourself against an attack.
Having the best gear and greatest tools at home doesn’t help when you have an issue away from the house. I am a huge believer in the idea that “the more you know the less you carry“, but even Macgyver carried a Swiss army knife, and Jack Bauer carried a phone. Tools make things easier, but they have to be tools you can and will carry everyday.
The things that each person carries around in their pockets is personal, and it tells a lot about the person. My everyday carry is small – I work at a prison so I don’t carry a gun, knife, or any other tool EVERYDAY. I don’t even take in a wallet or rings when I go to work. When I worked at TEMA, I carried a bunch of stuff. My EDC changes as my life changes. To make matters more complicated than just what you are willing and able to carry, an entire industry has been created to help with the EDC needs of the preparedness minded.
To help with this, I created this post of things I think are useful items to carry everyday. This post is more of a catalog of things to think about rather than a list of things to buy. I have owned a majority of the items below, and more than a few are sitting in the glovebox of my truck, because while I can’t carry them behind the walls of a prison, I sure can carry them to the parking lot.
Below is a collection of links to specific EDC lists I have posted on this site. I planned to do one comprehensive list of great EDC ideas, but the post got to long so I split it up into functional areas: