Women’s EDC (Everyday Carry)
One thing that everyone can agree on is that being prepared is better than not being prepared. How we do this is when we start going our separate ways. One major factor that affects how you go about being ready for any situation is whether you are a man or a woman.
Obviously, women have some different needs than men- and different threats. The majority of preparedness tools don’t care whether you are a man or a woman, but some specific EDC gear varies based on your gender. EDC for women isn’t rocket science and isn’t that far off from EDC for men, but the differences between what we carry merit discussion.
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EDC Overview
Just to recap what EDC is for those that don’t know: it stands for ‘everyday carry’ and is a collection of items that you keep with you at all times. Small tools, supplies, and other equipment are kept either in pockets or hidden in clothing, small bags, and purses. These are designed to be used every day, from events ranging from the ordinary to life-threatening catastrophes.
One important aspect of EDC is that you are able to have it with you at all times. This means weight, versatility, and functionality are key when considering which items to include. Some EDC communities share ‘EDC loadouts,’ and the women like to do ‘purse dumps’ to share which items they include in their kits.
Besides personalizing what gear you carry, many people make conscious decisions to coordinate colors or other elements of their EDC to make it even more their own.
We go over Everyday Carry and have all of our related articles in our comprehensive EDC section if you would like to learn more:
What Sets EDC Apart for Women
Basic needs are different between men and women, and a few were taught to you back in grade school sex-ed. Besides the extra hygiene items, a woman may choose to carry in an EDC kit; there is also an elevated risk of assault. This is unfortunate, but it doesn’t help to look at the world through rose-colored lenses and presume that you are safe.
The statistics show that girls aged 16-19 are four times more likely to be victims of rape, and women aged 18-24 are three times more likely. (www.rainn.org) The same findings show that occurrence rates of sexual assault have dropped recently, but are still staggeringly high. Protecting yourself doesn’t guarantee your safety, but it does give you some degree of control in a seemingly hopeless situation.
One other major difference is the carrying capacity between men and women. It is a societal norm for women to have purses, handbags, and other ways to carry supplies with them. On the other hand, women’s clothing typically has fewer or shallower pockets than men’s clothing. If you don’t consider a bag or accessory, women usually have less space in their clothing, especially if it is form-fitting.
Lastly, women often carry beauty supplies in their bags that can be easily adapted for preparedness, including mirrors, hair ties, etc.
EDC Gear List for Women
There are plenty of great tools to include in an EDC kit, and most overlap between genders. These are high-use items that will come in handy every day and during the occasional emergency. A solid, well-rounded EDC kit could include these critical tools, which are easily stashed in a purse.
- Charging Cord for Phone
- Dummy Wallet
- First Aid Kit (small)
- Flashlight (small)
- Floss
- Folding Knife
- Keys
- Lighter
- Lip Balm
- Maxi Pads
- Medicines
- Multi-function Watch
- Multi-tool (small)
- Notebook (small)
- Pen
- Smart Phone
- Superglue
- Tampons
- Wallet (with extra cash)
- Water Bottle
- Wet Wipes
Keep the weight down because you plan to tote this around every day. A compartmentalized purse works best for organizing the different components of the kit, allowing you to store high-use items where you can reach them quickly.
Also, keep in mind that CCW isn’t just for the guys. If you are trained and have your permit, a concealed carry weapon can be an important addition in many situations.
If you don’t plan on going the CCW route, be sure to include a small can of pepper spray at the very least. In the comments, some have chimed in that pepper spray isn’t available to them, or they go a different route. Survival pens aren’t especially effective for self-defense unless you have kuboton training. Stun guns can work well, but they have some training requirements as well. Check out our favorites when we reviewed the best TASERs and Stun Guns.
If you are unsure whether you want to add any piece of gear to your EDC loadout, I suggest adding it and then seeing how much you have used it after a month. If it didn’t get much use, it’s probably best left behind when it isn’t essential for your preparedness.
Women’s EDC Example
Everyone’s everyday carry is going to look different- there is no one-size-fits-all EDC loadout- especially for women. Putting gear in your pocket or purse that you can rely on to use whenever you need it can help you be more functionally prepared- and not just for emergencies.
Tailoring your kit to cater to your strengths and cover your weaknesses is a sign that you’ve put a little more thought into your preparedness. If you have skills, like sewing, consider adding an inexpensive sewing kit. If you have a disability, keep medical devices or extra medication with you to be able to handle any challenges that may pop up. Make your EDC kit your own and a reflection of who you are to really benefit from the EDC concept.
Jaime over at Guildbrook Farm has an impressive EDC kit and gives the reasoning behind every piece of gear that she carries:
The Final Word
An EDC kit can be your most-used survival kit. They are great because they marry the tools you use every day with the tools you may need for survival. Keeping them together allows you to be more familiar with your resources and have them with you when you need them.
Here are some more articles our readers have found helpful:
- 8 Tools Women Carry That Every Prepper Should Have
- The 20 Best Improvised Weapons in Every Room of Your House
- Everyday Carry List | 25 EDC Essentials
In many of our guides, we harp on the fact that you need to use your gear often so you know how to use it when it matters most. With EDC, this is less of an issue since you’ll be using your supplies out of convenience every day. Do you have anything that we didn’t mention kept with you for EDC? If you do, let us know in the comments below.
Keep exploring, stay prepared, and be safe.
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I have an emergency blanket (foil) in my EDC bag, a small (vacuum) bag of raw nuts, a candy bar and a small water bottle :-)
Maxi pads and tampons are no longer an item for me LOL.
CCW or pepper spray are not allowed here (Netherlands, Europe), so I just have a tactical pen :-(
i also carry a taser
Always a good idea!
A visor cap for the sun and water or empty water container,and a rain poncho