Common-Sense Everyday Carry: Jim Cobb’s Practical Approach to EDC

There’s no shortage of gear you could carry.

The better question is: What should you carry?

That’s the idea at the heart of Jim Cobb’s new book, Common-Sense Everyday Carry: An Intelligent, 3-Layer Approach to Making Your Life Safer and Easier. (No affiliate links here. We don't get paid for telling you about his book, but we think you'll want to know more about it.)

And, well...we were pretty excited when we flipped through it and spotted something familiar.

Our very own Firebiner™ earned a place in the book, alongside a mention of our Fire Escape™.

That alone is pretty cool.

But what we appreciate even more is why these tools fit into Jim’s philosophy of everyday carry.

Who is Jim Cobb?

Jim Cobb has spent nearly four decades studying, practicing, and writing about preparedness and self-reliance. He’s authored numerous books and hundreds of articles and is known for taking a practical, common-sense approach to preparedness rather than focusing on fear or hype.

That same mindset runs throughout Common-Sense Everyday Carry.

This isn't a book telling you to fill every pocket with another gadget.

In fact, it’s almost the opposite.

Jim explains that his own approach to EDC was never about building the largest collection of equipment. It was about curating gear that consistently meets real needs.

His guiding principle is wonderfully simple:

“The mission drives the gear.”

In other words, what you carry should depend on your life, your environment and what you realistically expect to encounter - not what someone on the internet says your pocket dump should look like.

We like that.

A lot.

Prepared isn't the same thing as owning gear

One of our favorite lessons comes early in the book.

Jim warns against carrying equipment simply because having it makes us feel prepared.

If you've invested money in a tool, given it precious space in your pack or pocket, and committed to carrying it around, you should know that it actually works—and know how to use it. He encourages readers to test their gear and understand both its capabilities and its limitations.

That's an important distinction.

Owning gear isn't a skill.

Making a spark with a ferro rod for the first time shouldn't happen when you're cold, wet and actually need a fire.

A first-aid kit isn't much help if you've never opened it.

And a knife isn't particularly useful if you haven't learned how to safely use and maintain it.

Good gear should increase your capability, not just increase the weight in your pockets.

Jim Cobb's three layers of EDC

Rather than trying to carry everything on his body, Jim divides EDC into three layers.

Layer 1: On-body.

These are the things in your pockets, on your belt, or otherwise physically carried with you.

Layer 2: Off-body.

Think backpack, messenger bag, work bag, or daypack. This allows you to carry useful equipment without turning your pants into a utility belt.

Layer 3: Vehicle.

Your vehicle can extend your preparedness with gear you don't need within arm's reach every minute but still want accessible when something goes wrong.

The important part is that these aren't three separate piles of gear. Jim sees them as parts of one larger system that can change depending on where you're going and what you're doing.

Going to work?

Your gear might look one way.

Heading into the mountains?

Different mission. Different gear.

So where does the Firebiner fit?

In Chapter 5, Jim discusses multi-tools, including an entire section on carabiner multi-tools.

That's where Outdoor Element shows up.

Jim describes Outdoor Element's carabiner-based multi-tools as “truly amazing” and specifically highlights the Firebiner, noting its spark wheel, screwdriver, cordage cutter, and bottle opener. He also calls out the Fire Escape, which adds emergency tools including a window breaker and seatbelt cutter.

But the next observation is really the point.

Carabiner tools can simply clip onto an EDC bag or pack, staying readily available without taking over your pockets.

That's exactly the kind of design challenge we love working on at Outdoor Element:

How much useful capability can we put into something you're actually willing to carry?

Because the most impressive tool sitting at home isn't nearly as useful as the simple one attached to your pack when you need it.

Carry less. Know more.

Jim's book isn't really about buying more stuff.

It's about thinking harder about the stuff you already carry.

What problem does it solve?

Do you actually know how to use it?

Does it deserve the space it occupies?

Could one well-designed piece of gear perform several jobs instead?

Those are worthwhile questions whether your EDC is a wallet, phone and pocketknife, or a carefully thought-out system spread between your pockets, backpack and vehicle.

We're honored that Jim found the Firebiner and Fire Escape worthy of including in Common-Sense Everyday Carry.

But we're even bigger fans of the lesson behind the book:

Carry gear with purpose. Learn how to use it. And build the skills and confidence to handle whatever the adventure throws your way.

Sounds pretty common-sense to us.

Want to learn more?

Check out Jim Cobb’s Common-Sense Everyday Carry on Amazon. 

Explore the Firebiner™ 

Explore the Fire Escape™