Making do; many times I marvel at how wasteful a society our western culture can be. We are told that “convenience is king”, and if you need something, buy it. Very rarely are we told to save our money or the dreaded “make do with what you have” that parents around the world tell their kids or have heard as a kid. No new bicycle, Bobby!

Some things you cannot make do without easily. Some things come naturally when you put forth some effort. Don”t be too hasty to sell your gear or throw it away when you might be able to use it. I”m not saying be cheap or that you should save garbage! This is more a lesson in improvisation and the ability to make do, or in using what is at hand.

Here are a few tips. Of course a few are blatant, but some may stimulate your mind. Let”s see what you come up with and reply to this post!

1. The water bottle- Starting with the easy stuff first. Buy a bottle of water at the store? Keep the empty bottle to refill. Keep it clean of course… but they last a really long time and are fairly tough. Milk jugs seem to deteriorate however; but the 12 oz. bottles last. They can also be used to waterproof documents or cache money, batteries, etc.
2. String, Rope and Wire- Clothes line, hardware store twine, twisty cord wires, zip ties, bungee cords… you name it. If it can secure an item or if it can help you organize your gear keep it. I am not advocating hording piles and piles mind you, just save what seems prudent and reasonable. Hardware stores sell this stuff… why not just keep a few items and save some cash?
3. Hardware- Screws, nails, L brackets, nuts and bolts, washers, and scrap metals. This stuff is vital in an area prone to hurricanes. If you already have a box of 3″ lag screws, you have half the materials to cover windows. Lumber is easier to find than screws and nails. I like the original black and white movie “Night of the Living Dead” where the young man is trying to board the doors and windows to keep out marauding zombies. In an emergency you don”t want to spend your time searching. Get your gear and materials and go!

1. Scrap Wood- Seemingly another no brainer. Wood can be used to brace doors against looters, board windows, build shelves, etc. It also burns of course, so coupled with a steel drum or fireplace you have warmth and the ability to cook. I am amazed going to construction sites and finding so much scrap in the dumpsters. If you dive dumpsters on construction sites, ask permission first. Saves hassle, and is polite. (Some wood used in construction is treated with chemicals, so do not burn it indoors.)
2. Card board- What? Boxes are easy to store, you break them down and stick them somewhere. Then when you need boxes to pack food, clothes, and other gear you have them at the ready. Store some packing tape too. Cardboard is also a decent insulator when dry.
3. Plastic sheeting- Another good construction dumpster find. Some plastic is thick and rugged; some is thin and rips easy. You want the thicker mil, as they call it. You can buy it new, or just see what you find at home or garage sailing. Most people give the stuff away! It is great for making improvised shelter, poncho, ground cloth or waterproofing for your backpack.
4. Batteries- This tip may seem eye-rollingly obvious but you would be amazed at some of the silly things I”ve seen folks do. First of all, buy rechargeable batteries when you can. You are throwing money away buying anything else unless they are impossible to get rechargeable or if they seem to fail unless they are alkaline. Secondly, purchase an inexpensive Radio Shack battery tester. Even save “low” charged batteries, they will work in remotes, clocks and other low draw items for a surprising amount of time.
5. Containers- Tupperware, zip lock bags, backpacks, jars, tool boxes, and the like. Save a few of these items when you are thinking “I don”t need this anymore”, and put them towards your survival or camping gear. Stuff in good order that REALLY is not needed can be sold at a garage sale or flea market. Seriously, it”s hard to set aside money for survival gear of all things!Why not make what you can stretch, or pay for itself when possible.
6. Tools- Never throw away a working tool. You have what is called a “barter item”. Don”t go out and purchase stuff to barter or trade with. Use what you have and what you don”t need. For instance, corded drills are sort of un-cool nowadays, but honestly they have more torque and they work fine. Old hammers, crow bars, jacks, screw drivers…you name it. It may not be worth anything to you, but to the guy trying to rebuild his house after a tornado it is priceless. This is another item that can make you money on eBay, Craigslist, garage sales, and at the flea market.
7. Clothing- I am not advocating saving styles that are painful to look at! But some things never go out of style, and you can use this article of clothing to cache for later, use to work in, keep spare in a survival kit, or be ready to give to others after a catastrophe. Giving to Goodwill is a great thing to do, but clothing that fits you that you own is a good thing. One or two sets of shirts, pants, and undergarments are enough. Spare jackets, gloves, hats, and boots are very nice to have tucked away for an emergency too.
8. Pots, Pans and Utensils- Keep a frying pan, sauce pan and some utensils in a small box ready to go. Another decent barter item or donation to the needy. Remember it”s difficult to cook without pans! It looks easy to cook a piece of beef on a stick in the movies, but it is a pain. Tip: Plastic “disposable” spoons and forks actually can be reused quite a bit. Always include some kind of pot in your survival kit to boil water, and a steel or plastic cup. (I know you can buy titanium survival sporks at REI, but again we are making do!)
9. Books- Books are another item that is sort of un-cool today.Kindle, laptops, iPads, and smart phones make books seem a waste of space. In an emergency there may not be power…or we could experience the oft talked about EMP or Electromagnetic Pulse. Anyway, at least books on how to repair, cook, or operate machinery should be kept. Some good ones would be: The Air Force Survival Manual, Chilton”s Manual for your vehicle, Red Cross First Aid, Edible Plants, Poisonous Snakes and Insects, etc.

So there are 12 categories to begin with. Hopefully you thought of some things to add and will post them. Honestly, it is not so much the item as the mindset. You must be able to improvise or use things expediently. You could be caught away from family and survival gear. You may have to dumpster dive, or use what you have on hand to make a shelter or prepare food. One may have to do repairs on a vehicle, or apply first aid with duct tape and plastic bags. Get into the frame of mind to make do, and then you can survive WITHOUT your survival gear.

Copyright 2010 by duracles. Reprint permission granted if article remains completely intact.

Recently because of the “Doomsday Preppers” series, the Walking Dead and other reasons I have been re-vamping my BOB”s and other kits. I decided I wanted to update my pack to a 5.11 Rush 72.and lo and behold! I find a video with a guy that used the same pack but really did an excellent amazing job not only equipping it but making a 3 part series and PDF explaining the kit in minute details!

5.11 Rush 72 Backpack, Bug Out Bag by Urban Prepper:

Its funny how the are coincidences like this when you are on the right track. You start to run into things that make your project easier, fall in line with your thinking, and help you on the way.  Hope you enjoy the series as much as I did! My hat is off to The Urban Prepper who not only did an outstanding job with this video, but has many video reviews, and product suggestions.

I wanted to write a pretty in-depth article on this but just have not had the time. This is the short to the point version!

Over the years I have spent what I consider a substantial amount of my preparedness budget on clothing for EDC. “Every Day Carry” is what you have actually on you every day…. not a kit you can grab but actually what you are wearing and what is in your pockets.

This is the most basic but also very important gear and very overlooked. Most say “I can grab my kit and go” but many times it is what you have on you that counts. EDC Clothing is the clothes you wear every day for preparedness that doubles as preparedness gear/ what you wear to work, play, etc.

One thing to mention is that since I own my own business and travel a lot, this gives me the freedom to wear whatever I want but also makes what I have on me pretty important. I travel all over the state at all times of the year and at all times of the day/night. I work outside a good portion of the time so the clothing needs to be tough and protective. I prefer cargo pants to jeans for the pockets, but have to wear a nice shirt so that I am presentable to my clients.

3 to 5 years ago

I started wearing Propper Tactical Polos, 5.11 Original pants and Merrell Hiking boots.

This is all season basically unless it snows really heavily in which case I add waterproof insulated boots (off brand), and expedition weight thermal undergarments. (Normally I wear 100% cotton everything as I have very sensitive skin which hates pretty much any synthetic material.)

At first I really liked the Propper Tactical Polo shirts but found them to fade quickly and be too warm for summer here in Colorado. Also, the no wrinkle collar inserts actually cut through the collar and stick out making them look funny. I ended up removing the inserts. The shirts are good for winter however, and besides the fading and collar issue have not torn. They do however stain. In the end for these reasons and also the $35 to $50 per shirt; I gave up on them overall.

Same deal with the 5.11 100% cotton tactical pants. Costly! Not only that, but the 5.11″s also seem to rip in the knees about 2 years out and they are very restrictive in the hips. The seem to aggravate my back condition which I found strange. They are too warm same as above, and stain easily. Another thing I disliked about the 5.11″s is the cargo pocket size and irregularity. I would buy a pair same size, and the pockets were dramatically different sizes or irregularly stitched. Even buying them online on clearance from $20 to $50 a pair they just didn”t work.

I love the Merrell hiking boots however! They are comfortable, long lasting and well made. I wear the Ventillator version for summer, spring and fall; they work great unless there is a very cold day or snow/water. I need shoes that breathe due to my skin, and I easily get foot fungus from shoes that do not breathe. I also had good experiences with Wolverine steel toe leather work boots but they stopped making the version I liked; also the quality seemed to take a dive. The only problem with the Merrells is the cost really. About $120 a pair… but again they last about 2.5 to 3 years.

Other shoes I have tried with moderate success is the Survivor Brand of boots for work. They are very affordable (Wal-Mart or online), and middle of the road overall, and are pretty comfortable. However without fail they do NOT breathe and can allow my feet to overheat or sweat too much. Sweaty feet means fungus and blisters for me; therefore I would wear them only on occasions where I need steel toe protection during work. I also have tried a few of the “tactical” boots out there like Bates. Same deal, decently made but not breathable. I wanted to try the Converse brand but no one carries them in my area so I could never try them on. I did try the 5.11 boots, Danners, and the store brand for Outdoor World but they all felt horrible on my feet.

Currently

Since my preparedness budget is limited I decided to give less expensive EDC clothing a try. First I tried LA Gear Tactical Polos. They are nice! They do not wrinkle or stain; nor do they fade! They are inexpensive at about $15-20 per shirt, they are cut for concealed carry, and although they are not 100% cotton, they are close enough for my skin and they are fairly cool in the summer. Better than the Propper Tactical Polos for sure hands down. They have a pen pocket on the sleeve which is really nice, and they have a treatment that sheds water and stains. They are great and I hope they keep making them. 2 years wearing the same 3 shirts and they show zero wear and tear.

For pants I tried to upgrade to Vertx pants which are not 100% cotton; they have some spandex in them. Big mistake! I had a allergic reaction to the spandex (latex is my kryptonite)…. and also to the price. They run about $45-$60 a pair. They have lots of neat features, are comfortable in general but I can only wear them in my dreams sadly. Then at Wal-mart I saw some rip-stop 100% cotton cargo pants by Wrangler. They are amazing! $18 a pair but better made than the 5.11″s or the Vertx! They have large cargo pockets with velcro closures, rip-stop design, and they breathe nice. They accommodate my CCW belt and holsters just fine. Also, they have not ripped or stained. They also seem to wrinkle less than the 5.11 pants. They do not mess up my back or hips either as they are cut roomy. They also have a neat pocket for a cell phone between the legs and the cargo pocket. Great for spare mags, flashlight, etc. Another winner!

For shoes this fall I decided to try another pair of Survivor boots from Wal-Mart; the “Commander”. They are the most comfortable boots I have ever owned! They were on clearance for $32 which is a crazy low price for tactical boots. They are black leather and nylon with side zip. They are made of waterproof materials, and have anti-foot odor treatment that prevents foot fungus, and they have nice inserts that breathe and wick sweat. The soles are the best feature as they have a tread design that does not collect tiny rocks like the Merrells do. Also, the soles are comfortable…. they feel like you are wearing tennis shoes they are so soft. They are also light-weight! They do not have steel toe protection which is good for the winter here. The side zipper makes them fast to put on and take off. They also polish up very nice!

Summer and Winter variations

In summer I generally wear the Wrangler cargo shorts or pants, LA Gear Polo, and the Merrell Ventillators. I always have a baseball cap on for work, and a bandanna to protect my neck from sunburn. This last summer I got bites on my legs so much that next summer I will just wear pants the whole time. I am outdoors so mosquitoes, biting flies, and who knows what else gets my ankles and legs. One time I even got an infection and had to go on anti-biotics! Also this summer, I had a reaction to a mosquito bite that seemed to match the symptoms of West Nile Fever, a milder form of the West Nile Virus.

For winter I have experimented a lot. I bought a few jackets including the military type and ultimately decided on Carhartt. I have a hooded insulated winter jacket, and an insulated vest. I did buy some insulated bib type pants from Wal-mart but decided that I will upgrade to Carhartt due to the quality difference. A side note is that it is much easier to add outer layers than it is to add insulated under-layers. Therefore when I”m on the road I carry outer layers in my truck unless I put insulated undergarments on at the beginning of the day.

Also for Winter I use layers of clothing. I have a Scottevest hoodie, a Carhartt insulated vest, and a wind breaker Mossino wind breaker (Target brand). The Scottevest is really neat; it has pockets galore! iPad pocket, cell phone pocket, ear bud pocket, magnetic pocket closures etc. It was expensive at $50 but is cotton and is generally well made. When it wears out I will replace is with a Carhartt insulated hoodie. You can”t beat Carhartt for cost and ruggedness period. In the pockets of my vest I carry a synthetic insulated cap, and wool fingerless gloves. Then in the wind breaker I carry a second set of wool fingerless gloves. With all this on me I can add or remove layers for almost any temperature in the winter. I have worn this on 15 degree nights and been good for 1 hour outside. The hoodie and wind breakers both have hoods so with the cap I have 3 layers for my head! This system works by trapping warm air in the different layers.

Again, since I own my own business and work outside I need ruggedness and yet can get away with looking mostly “blue collar”. This system for winter layering has worked really well. If it does get colder I do have the bib pants in my van, a insulated polar Carhartt hooded jacket, and an extra set of winter gloves, hat, scarf, and wool socks. I also have waterproof gaitors but want to upgrade them to actual Gore-tex black colored ones from REI. Like I said earlier, if it is snowing and cold when I get ready for work I will wear Polartec insulated underwear, wool socks, and a thermal shirt.

Strategy for EDC Clothing

My strategy is to have clothing that allows me to work outside/inside, carry EDC gear, have my CCW handgun, and still look non-tactical. I don”t want to look like a “doomsday prepper” just walking around! I want to be invisible and fit in; yet have my gear at the ready. I want the clothing to hide my gear, be comfortable, protect me from the weather, and allow me to do many activities. I also want the clothing to be easy to mend, stay wrinkle free as possible, and look presentable for my clients when I need to meet with them. The system I am using looks blue collar and fits my activities nicely…. it also keeps the survivalist side of me happy.

I don”t wear any camouflage clothing, shirts with political or gun slogans, and I don”t wear anything with NRA or the like to draw attention. If there was a emergency or disaster of some type I just want to look like a blue collar guy NOT Rambo or Mr. Survival Man. In Colorado they say “if you don”t like the weather wait 15 minutes”. Our weather can be extreme in any direction you can think of. So I always wear layers even in summer. I wear cotton socks 2 pair, and a cotton t-shirt under anything I am wearing regardless of the season. This wicks sweat but also gives me extra clothing I can use to make tools, head coverings, bandages, or make-shift bags for gear or food. I always have a bandanna in my back pocket as well as Oakley sunglasses to protect my eyes. Oakley sunglasses are known for their ballistic protective properties as well as their “thermal nuclear” protective lenses for UV/UB rays. I can wear them on the shooting range, working with power tools or just for driving.

Lastly, I have a “Wilderness Belt” or riggers belt I use for my CCW handgun. It is very stiff so carries gear nicely, but it also has a second use as a makeshift rappelling belt. It has a strength rating and caribiner attaching loop in the integral design of the buckle. It is 1.5″ wide and will accommodate a IWB holster or OWB holster, plus my other EDC gear.

Hopefully this article motivates other members here to share their EDC gear and clothing, and reviews of brands. Also maybe some folks that are not using EDC as part of their survival/preparedness planning will be inspired to do so. I have kits also for survival which I have written about in the past here: BOB”s, vehicle kits, Hunker down kits, etc including my EDC. If you do a search in the posts you can find them. If anyone is curious I can write an article on my actual EDC gear but since that is what most people write about I thought I”d touch on something less discussed and maybe just as helpful.

Copyright 2012 by duracles. Reprint permission granted if article remains completely intact.