Unless traveling, I used to walk around only with what I can carry in my pockets. As I progress past my mid-40’s, I’ve started to add a few pieces of gear to help me carry around more useful items. It felt like I was carrying too much in my pockets and I didn’t want to give up anything.
Man Pack
The first item I added is a Man Pack. I bought my first Man Pack at a gun show in 2012. It was in January and was really cold, so I had a sweat shirt and a jacket on. Once I moved inside, I began to overheat and had to take the extra layers off. As I was with friends, I was on their schedule. I began looking for a bag to carry my jacket and sweatshirt in. I stumbled across the Man Pack table. The founder, Aaron Tweedie, manned it himself. He had the sample Man Pack rigged for concealed carry. It seemed cool and useful, so I bought it.
I didn’t use it heavily at the time. The next Man Pack I bought was the Classic 2.0 in 2018 or 19 when I finally got around to submitting my CCW application. The 2.0 and further all have a compartment for carry. I also bought the velcro holster with straps for extra magazines. I later bought the teardrop shaped on. This year, the Op Sac came up, so I upgraded to that one. I passed the other bags down to my children. My 16 year old uses his heavily.
I use my Man Pack, obviously, to carry. I also carry with me a flashlight, solar phone charger, extra cables, and my iPad.
Scott E Vest
Earlier this year, due to my pockets getting heavier and heavier, I added a Scott E Vest. The most useful part of this vest is the ability to clip my car keys into a pocket. One of my cars uses a key fob, but my truck is still key in ignition.
Since I was in the Navy, I’ve kept my keys clipped to my belt loop. All you have to do is stand Duty Fire Controlman and carry the magazine keys around on a signal flag clip to become hooked to this method. But my keys jingle as I walk. Some former Marines I work with have commented “We can always hear you Navy guys coming from your keys.”
The Scott E Vest also has an RFID pocket, and I started keeping my wallet in there so it is not in my back pocket all the time. It fits in the pocket, anyway, but is too big for the RFID bag. But my wallet blocks RFID anyway (Bull Captain). I’ve never had back problems from a thick wallet, but I’m getting to the age where I may have to start paying for it.
I also carry some extra cables and a spare mask in other pockets. I haven’t fully utilized the Scott E Vest yet. One pocket will hold my iPad, but I can’t sit very well with it in there, so it stays in the Man Pack.
The Scott E Vest also has two dedicated phone pockets, so if I have to run out during the day, I can carry both my personal and work phones in the vest pockets.
Ridge Wallet
My final new piece of gear hasn’t arrived yet. I recently ordered a Ridge Wallet. It should arrive sometime between today and Monday. I normally just buy a wallet that meets my needs and use it until it falls apart. The Bull Captain RFID wallet is my third in the last 20+ years. “Minimalism” never had meaning for me, but I also realized I don’t need all the stuff I carry. I rarely have cash; I went as electronic as possible more than 20 years ago when I got my first Visa check card.
It’s easier than trying to find an ATM that works (they all seem to be broken when I need cash). I only need to carry one actual credit card for things like doctors offices and pharmacy drive-thrus and some gas pumps. I use Apple Pay on my Watch for everything else.
I’m looking forward to the Ridge. It should fit easily into the RFID pocket in my Scott E Vest.
I’m also hoping Apple’s idea of adding driver’s licenses to Apple Wallet catches on. The last time I flew, I added my boarding passes there and it was a lot easier.
I’m caught in between my fear of the tyranny of an electronic economy, and my love for what it could be without tyranny.
