I've seen (and posted) a lot of everyday carry gear featured on the website, but I wondered what you all thought was the most crucial object/tool you carry on your persons 24/7. (This excludes your phone, keys, etc.)
I never leave the house without my Spyderco Tenacious G-10 knife. Not a day goes by without me using it. Best of all, I purchased it because of a review by another Gentlemint contributor (05tacoma) a couple of years ago.
Yep, that's the one. I do a paired down method & stick to Topics (usually the date) & Page Numbers, Bullets & an Index (full explanations of all here). I despise forgetting things, and this method has greatly helped me out. The Index is quite useful for quickly finding notes I've made in the past.
I know the main critique to this system is that "but an app can do that!", which it can. But your concern is not forgetting things, which science tells us improves when we actually write things down on paper (source).
The only problem I have with paper and notebooks is that I have to actually remember to take them ;) But I find myself using paper systems more and more.
I ALWAYS have a knife on me. Usually I carry something by Gerber, but for the last year my knife of choice has been an Irwin 440SS. It's a beautiful rosewood handled pocket knife that was given to me as a birthday gift by my soon to be father-in-law. It is an older knife, but mine was kept new in it's box for however long he had kept it.
I tried looking up the history of this knife, but I couldn't find anything pertinent.
Like most guys, the Swiss Army Knife is a must have when walking out the door. (Anybody else do the four pocket pat down when they leave?)
It's the small one with a knife, scissors and fingernail file, tweezers and toothpick. Invariably someone in my family will say, "Dad, do you have your pocketknife on you?" Kind of a dumb question because if we're out of the house then the answer is "yes".
It's become such a figure in our family dynamic that my Daughter decided a few years ago she needed her own. So we went to the big mall and found a purple one (her favorite color).
Now she doesn't go anywhere out of the house without hers. Even had to remind her to pack it in her suitcase when she travels as I've had two confiscated by TSA in the past.
And when I'm traveling and need to use the knife on the plane and pat my pocket there is a mild panic that happens just before I remember it's in the cargo hold in my suitcase and I have another 2-3 hours before I can get it. Then I get mad, again, for a different reason, at the TSA.
I get mad at the TSA because even though I'm a fairly infrequent flier, you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll get put in the "totally random" thorough inspection line.
I've started carrying tip money for the poor agent who has to "inspect my person". It usually gets a laugh.
23 replies
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Razorback
7 years, 4 months agoI never leave the house without my Spyderco Tenacious G-10 knife. Not a day goes by without me using it. Best of all, I purchased it because of a review by another Gentlemint contributor (05tacoma) a couple of years ago.
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glen
7 years, 4 months agoAh, a beauty. For those playing along at home, here's the knife.
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Razorback
7 years, 4 months agoThanks Glen. I should have included that in my original comment. Duh.
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glen
7 years, 4 months agoNo need to apologize, my man.
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jordan
7 years, 4 months agoBullet journal with pen. Technically two things, but whatever.
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glen
7 years, 4 months agoDo you mean the bullet journal as this methodology? I haven't heard of this before... looks interesting.
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jordan
7 years, 4 months agoYep, that's the one. I do a paired down method & stick to Topics (usually the date) & Page Numbers, Bullets & an Index (full explanations of all here). I despise forgetting things, and this method has greatly helped me out. The Index is quite useful for quickly finding notes I've made in the past.
Reply
glen
7 years, 4 months agoI know the main critique to this system is that "but an app can do that!", which it can. But your concern is not forgetting things, which science tells us improves when we actually write things down on paper (source).
The only problem I have with paper and notebooks is that I have to actually remember to take them ;) But I find myself using paper systems more and more.
Reply
jordan
7 years, 4 months agoAnd, I don't use fancy notebooks. I use ones I get for free at work conferences. I'm cheap.
Reply
dewtattoo
7 years, 4 months agoI ALWAYS have a knife on me. Usually I carry something by Gerber, but for the last year my knife of choice has been an Irwin 440SS. It's a beautiful rosewood handled pocket knife that was given to me as a birthday gift by my soon to be father-in-law. It is an older knife, but mine was kept new in it's box for however long he had kept it.
I tried looking up the history of this knife, but I couldn't find anything pertinent.
Reply
lhriv
7 years, 4 months agoI know this is lame, but mine is chapstick.
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glen
7 years, 4 months agoMy father-in-law is the same way. I think he has an addiction to it.
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Razorback
7 years, 4 months agoIt is not lame if you have chapped lips, it is lifesaving.
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lhriv
7 years, 4 months agoTrue. Without it, I wither. I should carry my chapstick with pride.
Reply
zamoose
7 years, 4 months agoMy Swiss Army knife is always on my person if I have pockets to carry it in.
Reply
glen
7 years, 4 months agoI used to always have a Swiss Army knife until I lost my third one at the airport to the good people at TSA. I'm a slow learner...
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zamoose
7 years, 4 months agohttp://gearpatrol.com/2013/04/05/keep-calm-carry-ons-5-best-tsa-approved-pocket-knives/
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glen
7 years, 4 months agoOOohhh... very helpful. I'll need to check out the Victorinox Midnite Minichamp. Thanks!
Reply
57plymouth
7 years, 3 months agoGlock 23. And a pocketknife. Whichever one I feel like that day.
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elancaster65
7 years, 3 months agoLike most guys, the Swiss Army Knife is a must have when walking out the door. (Anybody else do the four pocket pat down when they leave?)
It's the small one with a knife, scissors and fingernail file, tweezers and toothpick. Invariably someone in my family will say, "Dad, do you have your pocketknife on you?" Kind of a dumb question because if we're out of the house then the answer is "yes".
It's become such a figure in our family dynamic that my Daughter decided a few years ago she needed her own. So we went to the big mall and found a purple one (her favorite color).
Now she doesn't go anywhere out of the house without hers. Even had to remind her to pack it in her suitcase when she travels as I've had two confiscated by TSA in the past.
And when I'm traveling and need to use the knife on the plane and pat my pocket there is a mild panic that happens just before I remember it's in the cargo hold in my suitcase and I have another 2-3 hours before I can get it. Then I get mad, again, for a different reason, at the TSA.
Reply
glen
7 years, 3 months agoI get mad at the TSA because even though I'm a fairly infrequent flier, you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll get put in the "totally random" thorough inspection line.
I've started carrying tip money for the poor agent who has to "inspect my person". It usually gets a laugh.
Reply
Razorback
7 years, 3 months agoI tell them that I normally get dinner and a movie first. That typically gets a chuckle.
Reply
elancaster65
7 years, 3 months agoTip money. That's brilliant!
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