Do you duplicate your every day carry in bags?

C. Ross - March 7, 2021

Advice

I’m planning my first Go Bag, and trying to consider how much to duplicate from my every day carry. Do you duplicate essentials that you carry with you everywhere like a multitool and lighter in your Go Bags?  I’m thinking about things I carry in my pockets/on my belt, not things I carry in my “every day carry bag” (a day hiking bag I keep in the car and bring on short hikes).

Obviously throwing an extra Bic lighter or pack of matches in is cheap, but it starts to add up when you talk about multitools, knives, and the like.

5  

No, I do not.  There is no need to duplicate most items (I make an exception for fire making).  Think successive layers of utility and protection.

 

I like to have duplicates of some items, but not exact items. So instead of having two knives, i’ll have a knife and a multitool that has a knife. Instead of two Bic lighters, i’ll have a ferro rod and a lighter. Instead of two water filters, i’ll have a water filter and purification tablets. 

I think there is some extra safety that comes with having different methods of doing something. For example, if a cold spell comes through and freezes your bag, which will crack a water filter, i’ll still have purification tablets and my mess kit which I can use to boil water. But if I had only stored one method, then i’d be out of luck with two broken water filters.

 

You’re using a “best practices” approach.  Budget adherence is an essential aspect.

Duplication not necessary but the extra Bic lighter of nominal volume and weight OK to duplicate … just like pre-threaded sewing nnedles if you have experience with much consumption due eg frequent textile repairs. 

Consider any pending physical restrictions you might want to plan for. Eg, can you open your multitool with a gloved hand during evacuation from a forest fire ? You might want to think of multitool on belt and a sheath knife, if legal, in Go Bag.

Appreciated reading your mention of budgeting as part of prepping.

 

Yep, I go with Hikermor. I add to the basic rather than double up. My own set up is almost modular. 

 

Yup I do pretty much,  Though I EDC , Knife, Flashlight, Shades, Sharpener, Compass, Tactical Pen, Mini compass  etc I carry back ups of them in my day pack, Combined it only adds less than 1 lb to my load.

Plus spare batteries for flashlights and radios etc. I always use radios and flashlights that uses same size batteries for commonality. I like to have the same tools in my pack as I edc as I enjoy familiarity.

Then

Mini Pry bar

Duct Tape

Cable ties

F.A.K plus field dressing plus extra pain kilers

Eye Drops

Lens cleaner

Baby wipes

Puri tabs

Kitchen roll

Maps

Notebook

Sharpie

Gloves

Hat

Bandana

Bar of soap

Toothbrush and paste

Change of socks / shorts

Mini AM FM radio

Chemical light sticks

Zip lock bags

Mini Binos

Mini Compass

Multi tool

Cotton face masks

Disposable Gloves

Hand sanitizer

Scalpel based tool

Paracord 50 meters

Rations and water if needed.