{"id":31816,"date":"2018-05-01T09:13:13","date_gmt":"2018-05-01T13:13:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=31816"},"modified":"2018-05-01T09:13:13","modified_gmt":"2018-05-01T13:13:13","slug":"everyday-carry-my-edc-packs-and-radio-kit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/05\/everyday-carry-my-edc-packs-and-radio-kit\/","title":{"rendered":"Everyday Carry: My EDC packs and radio kit"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Matt, writes:<\/p>\n

Thomas: I know you’re a self-proclaimed pack geek and so am I! You published a photo of your EDC pouch\u00a0in a post last year<\/a>. Just a teaser really! What is that pouch and I assume you have a larger carry bag as well? Can you provide more details? I’m ever revising and honing my own EDC pack. Any details would be appreciated.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Thanks for your question Matt!\u00a0 Besides radio, you’re bringing up on one of my favorite topics: packs!<\/em><\/strong> You may regret having asked me!<\/p>\n

Yesterday evening, I snapped a few photos of my EDC (Everyday Carry) bag and the pouch you’re referring to. Your inquiry is prompting me to consider publishing a more detailed look at my EDC gear–especially since radio is such an important part of it.<\/p>\n

I do carry a larger EDC bag at all times. Typically, this is the Tom Bihn Pilot<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

For years, I carried a Timbuk2 messenger bag, but it didn’t have the type of organization I prefer in an EDC bag. My EDC bag must be rugged, water resistant and accommodate my 13″ MacBook Air while still having enough depth to comfortably fit the rest of my gear.<\/p>\n

I’ve been using the Tom Bihn Pilot for almost a year and have been very pleased. The Pilot is\u00a0an investment<\/a> to be sure, but (like Red Oxx<\/a>) Tom Bihn construction quality is superb and comes with a lifetime warranty.<\/p>\n

It’s amazing how much gear will comfortably fit inside without making the bag bulge. The Pilot also has a dedicated water bottle pocket in the middle of the front panel. While I do carry water, it primarily houses my never-leave-home-without-it\u00a0Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug (affiliate link)<\/a> which is filled with piping hot dark roasted coffee!<\/p>\n

I also use the water bottle pocket to hold full-sized handled VHF\/UHF radios. It accommodates either my Kenwood TH-F6, Yaesu FT2D, or Anytone AT-D868UV perfectly. Indeed, all of the front pockets will accommodate an HT since the zippers terminate at the top of the bag. Long antennas can easily poke out while the zipper still seals 99% of the opening.<\/p>\n

The Pilot has one main compartment that houses my 13″ MacBook Air laptop.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Pilot laptop compartment is spacious and has two built-in pockets opposite the laptop sleeve: one of these pockets (the one on the right in the photo above) holds my EDC pouch, the other holds first aid supplies, an Olight SR1 flashlight<\/a> and Nitecore LA10 latern (affiliate link)<\/a>. My laptop is in a TSA-friendly\u00a0Tom Bihn Cache<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While the Tom Bihn Pilot is the bag I use most days, also use a Red Oxx Micro Manager<\/a> and–when I need 25 liters of capacity–the\u00a0Tom Bihn Synapse 25<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I pack most of my EDC gear in pouches, so moving from one bag to another takes me all of one minute.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

My EDC pouch is the Maxpedition Fatty Pocket Organizer (affiliate link)<\/a>. I love this pouch because it’s incredibly durable, affordable and opens like a clam shell to lay flat.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Everything has its place. Not only does it hold my Yaesu VX-3R<\/a> handheld, but also a multi-function knife, a\u00a0Leatherman Style PS<\/a> tool, clippers, earphones, multi-bit screwdriver, USB stick, notepad, spare VX-3R battery, a mini first aid kit, titanium spork<\/a>, and much more! Someday I’ll pull the whole thing apart and note each item.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Why do I choose the Yaesu VX-3R<\/a>? First of all, it’s compact. This HT is so small it’ll tuck away anywhere. Not only is it dual band, but it’ll also receive the AM broadcast band (even has a little ferrite bar inside), the shortwave bands, and the FM broadcast band.<\/p>\n

The mini rubber duck antenna will work in a pinch, but I also carry a flexible Diamond SRH77CA<\/a> in the floor of the Tom Bihn Pilot’s main compartment.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>When I attach the Diamond antenna, it significantly increases the VX-3R’s capabilities.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

While the VX-3R does cover the HF bands, don’t expect amazing performance. Selectivity is poor, but sensitivity is adequate. For a shortwave antenna, I carry a short length of coax: one end is terminated with an SMA connector, the other has the center conductor exposed.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>I also carry a short alligator clip cable which I clip to the exposed center conductor and then to a length of wire. The end result is a very cheap, flexible and effective portable HF antenna!<\/p>\n

Someday, I’ll take everything out of my EDC pack, inventory the contents and publish a post about it. Somehow, that’ll please my inner pack geek! I’m overdue a review of the Tom Bihn PIlot and Synapse 25.<\/p>\n

Post<\/em> readers:<\/strong> Do you have an EDC pack built around a radio? Please comment and include links to your favorite gear!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SWLing Post contributor, Matt, writes: Thomas: I know you’re a self-proclaimed pack geek and so am I! You published a photo of your EDC pouch\u00a0in a post last year. Just a teaser really! What is that pouch and I assume you have a larger carry bag as well? Can you provide more details? I’m ever […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4199,3607,545,627,3,6625,3196,553,26,43],"tags":[7008,4423,4422,5893,4424,4103,4324,1333,7007,7006,4860],"class_list":["post-31816","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-accessories","category-antennas","category-ham-radio","category-how-to","category-news","category-packs","category-portable-radio","category-preparedness","category-radios","category-shortwave-radio","tag-diamond-srh77ca","tag-edc","tag-edc-radios","tag-everyday-carry","tag-everyday-carry-radios","tag-preparedness","tag-prepper-radio","tag-radio-preparedness","tag-tom-bihn","tag-tom-bihn-pilot","tag-yaesu-vx-3r"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-8ha","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":33461,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/dan-discovers-the-stlth-edc-bag-on-etsy\/","url_meta":{"origin":31816,"position":0},"title":"Dan discovers the STLTH EDC Bag on Etsy","author":"Thomas","date":"August 8, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares a link to this interesting handmade EDC (Everyday Carry) bag on Etsy: Dan knows well that I'm a certified pack geek, so I love discovering high-quality packs that are designed with organization that suits radios. I'm a very mobile guy\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/EDC-Bag-1024x806.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/EDC-Bag-1024x806.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/EDC-Bag-1024x806.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29113,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/a-review-of-the-red-oxx-micro-manager-edc-and-radio-gear-bag\/","url_meta":{"origin":31816,"position":1},"title":"A review of the Red Oxx Micro Manager EDC and radio gear bag","author":"Thomas","date":"November 13, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Besides being a radio enthusiast, regular SWLing Post readers know that I\u2019m also an avid traveler and, as a result, something of a pack geek. In September, I posted a review of the Red Oxx \u201cLil Roy\u201d--a small, relatively inexpensive multi-purpose bag that I love to haul my radio gear\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Products"","block_context":{"text":"New Products","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/new-products\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Red-Oxx-Micro-Manager-1-of-30.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Red-Oxx-Micro-Manager-1-of-30.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Red-Oxx-Micro-Manager-1-of-30.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Red-Oxx-Micro-Manager-1-of-30.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24471,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/an-edc-bag-for-the-classic-sony-icf-sw100-receiver\/","url_meta":{"origin":31816,"position":2},"title":"An EDC Bag for the Classic Sony ICF-SW100 Receiver","author":"Guy Atkins","date":"March 1, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"In a 2014 article, this site's administrator Thomas Witherspoon introduced readers to the CIA's Survival Kit which is housed in a superbly sturdy waistpack, the Maxpedition M-2. Thomas observed that the M-2 pouch is perfectly suited to holding the diminutive Sony ICF-SW100 receiver. I was intrigued by that possibility, but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antennas"","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/sideM-2-800x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/sideM-2-800x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/sideM-2-800x1024.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15717,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/11\/video-shortwave-listening-and-radio-astronomy\/","url_meta":{"origin":31816,"position":3},"title":"Video: Shortwave listening and radio astronomy","author":"Thomas","date":"November 21, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"On Thursday I attended an event at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI)--location of the 2015 SWLing Post DXPedition. During a break, I had a couple of free hours, so I reached in my messenger bag and pulled out the Sony ICF-SW100: a radio that has quickly surpassed all others\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "EDC"","block_context":{"text":"EDC","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/edc\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sony-ICF-SW100","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Sony-ICF-SW100-576x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Sony-ICF-SW100-576x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Sony-ICF-SW100-576x1024.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":42627,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/04\/form-follows-function-in-the-tom-bihn-travel-tray\/","url_meta":{"origin":31816,"position":4},"title":"Form follows function in the Tom Bihn Travel Tray","author":"Thomas","date":"April 1, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"If you've been reading the SWLing Post for long, you no doubt know that not only am I radio geek, but a pack geek as well. In a typical year\u2013\u2013although, admittedly, this is not one\u2013\u2013I do quite a bit of regional travel. I'm an minimalist traveler when I'm on the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Tom-Bihn-Travel-Tray-Flat-1-2.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Tom-Bihn-Travel-Tray-Flat-1-2.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Tom-Bihn-Travel-Tray-Flat-1-2.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Tom-Bihn-Travel-Tray-Flat-1-2.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23728,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/yaesu-vx-3r-monitoring-atc-over-a-cup-of-coffee\/","url_meta":{"origin":31816,"position":5},"title":"Yaesu VX-3R: Monitoring ATC over a cup of coffee","author":"Thomas","date":"February 2, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"While I have a number of amateur radio handheld radios, one of my favorites is the recently-discontinued\u00a0Yaesu VX-3R. Saturday\u00a0morning, I took my father to the his local regional airport's caf\u00e9 (KHKY). It's a frequent stop when I'm in town visiting. While sipping coffee, talking with friends and watching GA\u00a0aircraft land\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Yaesu-VX-3R.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Yaesu-VX-3R.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Yaesu-VX-3R.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Yaesu-VX-3R.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31816","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31816"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31816\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31816"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31816"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31816"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}