This post is all about being prepared at all times. Or at least as prepared as possible. There really is no way to be prepared for any situation that may arise 24 hours a day, but there's a lot of little things you can do to improve your chances. I'll start off with everything I carry on my person at all times, then in my next post, a description of my survival tin, and finally my go bag I keep in the car.
First and foremost, carry cash. I know that can be tough, being a young guy myself there's been plenty of times that my entire paycheck has been spent by Sunday. If there is some sort of disaster or major terrorist attack, you may not be able to use credit or debit cards. I'm not saying to carry around a thousand bucks or anything, but 100 is very feasible to carry around all the time.
Secondly, I carry a handgun. This is not for everyone I understand, but if you do choose to carry, do your research and do it legally. As I mentioned in the previous post I carry a Springfield Armory XD in .40 caliber. Great self defense gun, a little big for daily concealed carry, but I manage ok with it. It may be a good idea to go with at least a 4 inch barrel, as this helps accuracy and muzzle rise for follow up shots. I carry two extra clips, so with the magazine in the gun that gives me 31 rounds of hornady tap hollowpoints.
Carry a good knife or multitool, and make sure it's sharp. I carry a Colorado river knife and tool company (CRKT) lockback, great knife, retails about 60 bucks. Got mine at eastern mountain sports. The coolest feature is it has two locks so it can't fold up on you while you're using it. Another one I recommend is the zillatool from the same company.
Lighting, if you carry a handgun a railed light can be good if you can conceal it. I don't carry one all the time, but I always carry at least one penlight. Streamlight stylus pro led lights are my favorite, very bright and run forever on two aaa batteries. Streamlight also has some pretty cool keychain lights that are really bright and very cheap as well.
Cell phone, duh.
Wristwatch, if you go digital buy one with a compass. I prefer analog. To use an analog watch to tell direction point the hour hand at the sun, half way between there and 12 on the watch face points south. Check out Casio gshock
At least two forms of picture id, just a good idea.
Shoelaces, might sound silly but bear with me. I replaced all my shoelaces in all my boots and sneakers with 550 cord. This is a really heavy duty cord used for parachutes. Inside the main sleeve of the cord are 7 strands of smaller cord. So now at any given time I have over ten feet of cordage to build a shelter or whatever. You can get 100 feet through us cavalry for about 50 bucks.
Lastly I carry a Flint on my keychain. I know it would probably just be easier to carry a lighter, but at least the flint wont ever break and will even work soaking wet.
That's it for what I carry around all day, makes me wish it was socially acceptable for me to carry a purse.
