A Dad’s Everyday Carry
Articles on everyday carry, or “EDC”, are fairly easy to find if you peruse men’s-interest websites. I’ve read a fair share of them and they are all informative…in a general sense.
I’ve noticed, though, that they aren’t specifically geared towards fathers. That’s where I come in!
As a dad, you know that you need to carry a whole pile of junk wherever you go with kids! I’m talking toys, snacks, extra socks, sweatshirts, mittens, diapers, and wipes. Are you traveling? Forget about it! Stuffed animals, books, pajamas, toothbrushes, maybe even a Pack ‘N Play. The lists can be endless!
But what about YOU? What are the things that you personally need to carry at all times when you’re a dad?
In no particular order, here are the six things I have found to be indispensable, especially once I became a father…
#1 – Phone (charged)
There is an EDC article on The Art Of Manliness that lists the phone as the number one item, too. Trust me, I didn’t copy my list from that site.
Even as someone who tends to not like new technology all that much, I always make sure I have a charged phone with me wherever I go. Sure, I like to be “disconnected” as much as the next guy, but as a responsible dad, I can’t be out of communication when I am alone and I don’t want to be without means of contacting someone if I have the kids with me.
God forbid some sort of emergency happens. I don’t want to waste precious seconds asking to use someone’s phone. Call me paranoid but I refuse to gamble with my kids’ safety.
Beyond that worst case scenario, having a phone on hand means you can capture tons of special moments with your kids. We are all taught that we should put the phone away and be in the moment with our children, but there have been times I wished I had my charged phone with me but didn’t. A few years ago, my oldest son and I went to the Natural History Museum in NYC. It was his first time there and we had a blast! Unfortunately, I hadn’t charged my phone the night before so I wasn’t able to take any pictures, as I had to save the battery to get in contact with my wife later that day. I was kicking myself all day for not being able to have a photo record of our great experience together.
Also, many of you are around my age (older millennial) so you may understand what it’s like to not have a ton of pictures or videos of yourself when you were young. My family didn’t own a video camera, so “home movies” of my childhood literally do not exist. I am so thrilled that I have so many pictures and videos of my own children, since I make it a point now to always carry a charged phone with me.
#2 – Watch
I’ve written a lot about watches in the past. I’ve also mentioned numerous times that I wear a watch every day and I even wear a watch while I am sleeping. So, it should come as no surprise that a sturdy wristwatch is something I recommend every dad to have in his EDC arsenal.
A good dad and husband is, among many things, punctual. You need to have a good sense of time in order to manage it properly. And as a dad, there are so many things we need to be on time for! School drop-offs and pick-ups, doctor’s appointments, play dates, parent-teacher conferences, chorus concerts and a whole host of other things.
Yes, your phone also tells the time, and it should be charged at all times. But it is quicker and more convenient to glance at your wrist than to reach into your pocket and pull out your phone. Also, if your phone dies, you still have the ability to tell the time.
So, what kind of watch should you wear? Well, that depends largely on your personal style. An everyday watch should be sturdy and fairly versatile so you feel comfortable wearing it in many different circumstances. I like my watches to be slim with good visibility and a reasonable level of water-resistance.
If your style is predominantly casual, then I suggest a moderately-sized dive or field watch. If you are more of a business-casual kind of guy, then a simple watch on a leather strap is probably more up your alley. Whether the watch is automatic, manual-wind, or quartz is really up to you.
The two watches I wear most often these days are my new, automatic, Lorier Zephyr and my steel, quartz, Timex field watch. The Lorier is far dressier than the Timex, but works with casual outfits, too. Likewise, the Timex is undeniably casual, but doesn’t look totally out of place with a tweed jacket, sweater, and OCBD.
Crucially, both watches are robust enough to handle getting knocked around a bit. It’s fine if you own a watch that you feel like you need to baby, but if you have kids, get a handsome, sturdy watch for your day-to-day.
#3 – Knife
I’ve carried a knife since I was a kid. I always thought knives were cool but I didn’t realize how useful they were until I became an adult, especially an adult with children!
I use my knife fairly frequently. I need to open my son’s new toy, or remove the tags from his stuffed animal. The tag in his shirt is bothering him and it needs to be removed. The twine around the Christmas tree needs to be cut. My son needs a sharpened pencil to do his homework. I need to break down the cardboard boxes in order to properly recycle them.
It’s also important to talk about knife safety with your kids. Demonstrate how to cut away from yourself and be cognizant of where the blade is at all times. My sons have asked to hold my knife and I let them. I supervise them very carefully and talk to them about where the sharp edge is and how it will absolutely cut through their skin if they are not careful.
I have always been a huge fan of Buck knives, but my everyday carry knife is a carbon steel, Opinel N.08. I have written about this knife before and what I like so much about it is its lightness and safety lock.
Since the blade is carbon and the handle is beechwood, this knife is incredibly light. I sometimes have to check to see if it’s still in my pocket because I can hardly feel it. While Buck knives are far superior in quality, they are a bit heavy. I have a custom 112 and it might be three times as heavy as my Opinel.
The safety lock is an awesome feature for a “dad knife”. The knife has a rotating steel collar that locks the blade in either the open or closed position. That latter bit is the most important! Since the blade can be locked in the closed position, I don’t stress about my kids getting a hold of my knife, since they would have a hard time twisting the collar to open it.
Another nice aspect of the Opinel knife, and something I think you should look for in your own knife, is that it doesn’t look like a hunting knife or a tactical knife. The design of the knife is rather elegant so it won’t elicit screams if you need to take it out to use it.
If you’re looking for a knife to carry around, I obviously recommend the Opinel (it’s under $20!) but I also recommend a Swiss Army knife (I have the Climber model and it has everything I need including tweezers, scissors, a bottle opener, and a screwdriver) and, of course, Buck knives, provided you get a smaller model to reduce the weight.
#4 – Wallet
Obviously, you need to carry your wallet around. But I want to stress how important it is to carry a SLIM wallet.
Often, you’ll see dads carry around a giant, bulging wallet that is overflowing with business cards, receipts and a ton of other crap. What’s your immediate impression of that guy when you see that wallet? Disorganized, probably. Maybe even a little bit sloppy. I bet none of the really stylish guys you know carry one of those giant, fat, stuffed wallets.
From a practical point of view, a slim wallet is much better for everyday carry. If I am in a crowded area, like the subway, I’ll take my wallet out of my back pocket and pop it into my front pocket, since it would be harder to pickpocket. It’s also easier with a slim wallet to keep it in the inner pocket of your sport coat or suit jacket. I don’t know about you, but I find keeping my wallet in the back pocket of dress trousers to be uncomfortable.
The only things you really NEED to have in your wallet are your ID, your credit/debit card, maybe your insurance card, and some cash, depending on where you are going. A slimmed down wallet shows your kids that you don’t need to hold onto a ton of useless junk, let alone carry that useless junk everywhere you go!
#5 – Handkerchief
Call me old fashioned but a cheap, cotton handkerchief is incredibly useful when you’re a dad!
Doesn’t it drive you nuts when your kid either has a face covered in snot, or is sniffling endlessly, and you don’t have a tissue on hand?
Hasn’t your kid spilled something and you didn’t have paper towels to clean it up?
What about if your kid falls and bloodies their elbow or knee and it’s best for everyone involved if you cover up the wound so no one freaks out?
We have all been there!
Don’t bother paying through the nose for fancy handkerchiefs. Just grab a five or ten pack of 100% cotton handkerchiefs from any department store. They’ll last you for the rest of your life. They can also do double duty as a pocket square if needed.
#6 – Water Bottle
This one is a bit unexpected but it’s critical to staying even-keeled throughout your day while wrangling children.
We all know staying hydrated is important for general health but it’s even more important as a dad. Staying hydrated means being less irritable and more capable of handling the day with patience and grace. Also, your kids depend on you. You don’t want to all of a sudden feel a little dizzy or woozy because you’re dehydrated. Think of how scary that would be for the kids in your care!
I always carry a reusable water bottle with me. It holds around 28 ounces. I don’t physically carry it on my person all day, but it’s always on my desk while I’m working and in the truck if I am driving the kids around.
Carrying a water bottle also sets a good example for the children. It encourages them to drink water throughout the day, as well. I don’t know about you, but my kids won’t drink anything throughout the day, because they are too busy playing, only to guzzle about a gallon of water at dinnertime and then get up a million times during the night.
If you carry these items with you at all times, you will be well-equipped to handle the adventures of fatherhood!
