I am an Everyday Carry Bag Junkie. There. I Said It.
I have seven everyday carry bags that I rotate through depending on my mood for my EDC items. Four are backpacks and three are messenger bags. More “sane” individuals will regularly switch between a work bag and weekend bag from what I hear and read. One of the biggest hassles is when you have to move from one bag to the other.
- First you have to unload all your EDC from the first bag.
- Then you have to organize it.
- Finally you have to pack up the second bag in a way that makes sense to you.
This can be quite time consuming, especially if you’re particular on how you like your EDC arranged in the bag pockets.
The Everyday Carry Bag System
This system is something that I thought up (unaware if anyone else does this), and has simplified bag changes immensely. I picked up a pack of Coghlan’s Waterproof Pouches from Amazon that now carry all my EDC items.
The smallest bag carries personal hygiene products (razor, toothbrushes, nail clippers, etc…). I go into this pouch a lot, so it’s always in a spot where I can grab it easily.
The medium bag holds gadgets, chargers, notebook, pens, a drawstring bag and other items that I’ll need throughout the day. I access this bag the most, so it’s always the easiest to find in my bags. During the work day, it sits on my desk rather than in the bag because I also have the work USB thumb drives and other related items that are needed to get the job done.
Finally, the large bag, and the largest, holds everything else, like snacks, tissues, first aid and such. While I may go into this bag once in a while, it carries things that people will need at least once a week, if not more. I also carry most of the kid’s medicines here, along with the feminine products that my wife and daughters need on weekends.
In each bag, I put a silica gel packet into the bags (two in the largest bag) for extra moisture protection anyway.
Swapping Bags in 20 seconds or less
Having these bags makes it super easy to swap everyday carry bags at a moment’s notice. I can go from one to another in about 20 seconds. Since the items are all in waterproof bags, I don’t really care if it rains and the bag gets soaked because I know all my personal effects will stay nice and dry.
Small Pouch Dump
Medium Pouch Dump
Large Pouch Dump