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Why You Need an EDC Kit: A Guide to Everyday Carry
Think about what’s in your pockets or backpack when you’re out and about. Which items do you almost always have on your person when you’re in class, walking around campus, or doing any daily activity? The items you need in order to function properly and practically never leave home without.
All of these things serve a specific purpose, but most importantly, they keep you prepared — a core benefit of EDC. The term EDC stands for “Every Day Carry.” The collection of all your everyday carry essentials forms your EDC kit. Everyone has their own version of an EDC kit that varies depending on their lifestyle habits, daily routine, profession, etc.
However, not everyone has an EDC kit that perfectly fits their needs, including college students. This guide will help you understand the importance of EDC in our everyday lives and show you how to create the perfect EDC kit for college.
What is EDC?
To fully understand EDC, think of essentials that you carry everyday, like your phone, wallet, and keys. In college, EDC essentials include your laptop, backpack, and school supplies. Basically everything you need to have a successful and productive day when you’re not at home or in your dorm can be considered an everyday carry.
There’s no rules to what you can or cannot carry. Your EDC kit is a personal representation of what you deem necessary to have on you at any given time. Some EDC enthusiasts create their own bugout bag full of gear and supplies. Others might keep EDC essentials in their car for emergency situations.
Everyone is going to have different EDCs based on what they actually want to be prepared for. The key to having a kit you’re comfortable with is making sure it fits your specific needs.
Why is EDC Important?
One of the biggest reasons why you need a good EDC kit is so you can be prepared for any situation. Whether your laptop dies in class or you have to cut your seatbelt after getting in a wreck, you should always be able to count on your EDC kit. This means you won’t have to rely on other people to help you out as often. Instead, you’ll be ready to handle almost any daily task on your own.
You won’t have to worry about wasting time and energy looking for tools to perform a certain task anymore either. With a thorough everyday carry system in place, you’ll have everything you need for the day ahead. You also receive a level of satisfaction when your everyday carry items come in handy.
The whole point of EDC is to make your life easier — reduce the amount of effort you have to use while also keeping you ready for the unexpected. With how crazy college can get at times, taking an EDC approach can provide the structure your lifestyle needs to be a successful student.
Assembling Your EDC Kit
The majority of your EDC kit should consist of functional and reliable items. That doesn’t include disposables such as crumpled-up receipts, food wrappers, or empty water bottles. Your kit should be able to accommodate your desired needs so you can live a better lifestyle in college and in general. Overtime, you’ll be able to refine your loadout and discover what works best for you.
It’s also important to purchase durable, well-made goods that you won’t have to replace every few months. Besides the basic essentials that you already know about, there’s an endless amount of everyday carries you can add to enhance your kit. Below are the key components that make up a thoughtful EDC kit for college, along with a few other items to take it to the next level.
Backpack
There’s only so much you can store in your pockets before it becomes annoying. That’s why you need a backpack to keep all your daily essentials organized and easily accessible, no matter where you are. And as a college student, it’s nearly impossible to function properly without one.
The right backpack for college should have plenty of space for your laptop, books, and other supplies. It needs to be durable enough to withstand daily wear-and-tear as well. You can’t go wrong with a backpack from JanSport or The North Face, but if you’re looking for budget-friendly backpacks that are perfect for college, you can check out the blog post below.
Wallet
If you’re tired of throwing out your bulky wallet every few years because it falls apart, you need the Ridge Wallet. The minimalist design of the Ridge is highly functional and durable enough to last a lifetime. It can store up the 12 cards at once while still remaining slim and lightweight.
The Ridge also has built-in RFID protection so skimmers can’t steal your personal information. The ridge is available in several different colors and materials, including burnt titanium and carbon fiber. The Ridge is a superior wallet that will instantly upgrade your EDC.
Cell Phone
It’s no secret how important cell phones have become for everyone over the years as they’ve evolved into extremely versatile tools and essential EDC items. Also, every student needs a reliable phone so they can have access to their school’s online resources and other important information.
The best overall smartphones at the time of writing this post are the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and the Apple iPhone 14 Pro, but there are more affordable options that perform very well, including the iPhone SE and Google Pixel 6a.
Water Bottle
Staying properly hydrated can boost energy levels, improve brain function, and improve sleep quality. The best way to get your hydration in throughout the day when you’re in college is with a reusable water bottle.
Not only are they eco-friendly, but high-quality ones — like the Yeti Rambler or Hydro Flask — are built to last and can keep drinks cold all day long. By using a reusable water as an EDC, you’ll save money and help out the environment.
Portable Charger
Having a portable charger can be a huge life saver when you’re out somewhere and your devices are running low on battery life. No matter where you are, you can rely on a portable charger to keep your tech essentials charged, and that’s why it deserves a spot in your EDC kit.
There’s a lot of decent portable chargers to choose from nowadays, but the InfinaCore P3 takes things to a different level because of all its useful features. The P3 has an 8000mAh battery with QuickCharge technology and can charge up to three deceives at once. You can even place your device on its non-slip rubber pad to charge it wirelessly.
Laptop
Along with your phone, a laptop will be one of the most expensive items you EDC, but there’s no arguing how much of a useful tool one can be in college. Owning a laptop means you can be completely self-sufficient in all areas of your academics.
From writing papers and doing research to taking notes in class and accessing digital textbooks — not to mention the endless amount of online resources you’ll have at your disposal — a laptop can easily help you maximize your productivity and be successful in college.
If you’re thinking of purchasing a laptop, a few you might want to consider checking out are the Apple MacBook Air, Dell XPS 13, and Razer Book 13. All are extremely fast and reliable laptops that are worthy of being one your essential EDCs.
Earbuds/Headphones
The perfect EDC kit for students would not be complete without a pair of earbuds or headphones. Theres no denying how nice it is to just throw on your headphones or put in your earbuds and jam out to your favorite music. Not only can they improve your focus when you’re trying to get work done in a noisy environment, but they can also help you relax and unwind after a stressful day of classes.
If you like Apple products, then the new AirPods will be perfect for you. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 and Beats Fit Pro are both exceptional bluetooth earbuds as well. For headphones, you can’t go wrong with the Bose QuietComfort 45 or the Sony WH-1000M5; they’re comfortable enough for all-day wear and use noise-canceling technology.
Notebook
Although a lot of students prefer taking notes on their laptops nowadays, there’s still a place for regular notebooks. Every student processes information differently, so for some, writing down their notes on paper can help them process and retain information better.
The only downside to paper notebooks is that they’re not eco-friendly and can take up a lot space if you need one for each course. That’s why I always recommend the Rocketbook Core, a 100% reusable smart notebook.
It uses synthetic paper that can be scanned with a phone, which gives you the ability to upload all your notes to various cloud applications with the Rocketbook app so you can access them anywhere.
Additionally, Rocketbook sells a variety of other products that use the same innovative materials and technology, including the Rocketbook Fusion that acts as a notebook, planner, and calendar all in one.
Multi-tool
A staple of the EDC world are multi-tools because of their functionality and versatility. As you can probably tell, a multi-tool has multiple different tools that can be used a variety of ways. Most multi-tools are compact and lightweight, making them perfect to carry around. Being able to have your own mini toolbox right in your pocket is also very appealing to EDC enthusiasts.
There might not be a ton of situations where you need to use a multi-tool in college, but it’s always good to be prepared for when you do. When it comes to multi-tools, Leatherman and Victorinox are the best of the best, so if you’re thinking about purchasing one, it’s worth checking out their selection.
EDC Extras
Besides the common essentials, there’s an infinite amount of items you can add to your EDC to give it some of your own personality. Everyone has different passions and interests, and a lot of the times, what they decide to EDC can showcase those passions and interests.
Along with keeping you prepared for everyday life, EDC is a way for you to express yourself. Here are a few extra EDC college essentials that can help with refining your kit to better fit your needs and college lifestyle
Tile Pro
The Tile Pro is a bluetooth tracker that helps you find your EDC items when you lose them. If you ever misplace something that has a Tile attached to it, you can use the Tile app to ring the Tile or find its location.
For instance, if you lose your keys, you can ring the Tile attached to them as long as it’s in Bluetooth range. If the Tile is further away, you can view its most recent location on a map. Users can also press the logo button on their Tile to make their phone ring if they ever lose it.
USB Hub
A very underrated EDC is a USB hub adapter. With one of these plugged into your laptop, you’ll be able have multiple devices connected simultaneous, which will save you time and increase your productivity. Whether you need to access information on more than one flash drive or you have multiple devices that need charging, a USB hub has you covered.
Accessory Organzier
One of the biggest keys to success in college is staying organized. That’s why it’s important to keep all the electronics and supplies you carry in you backpack properly organized with an accessory organizer.
The one linked here is a zippered storage bag that comes with several compartments and elastic straps to neatly store all your essentials. It’s also compact enough to be easily stashed away in your backpack without taking up much space. It’s worth adding one of these organizers as an EDC if you want to increase your storage and organization.
Related: 10 Dorm Organization Tips Students Need to Know
