In this blog we will cover what the 5 C’s of survival are exactly and ways we can make them a part of our EDC (Everyday Carry). As we go through each of the 5 I’ll try to lay out a couple different options, hopefully giving you something you may not have thought of before. 

For those of you who may be asking yourselves “What is this guy talking about? The 5 C’s?” Well the 5 C’s of survival were first made famous by Dave Canterbury when on the TV show Duel Survival. His belief is that if you have these 5 C’s covered you can survive.  Just having the tools won’t cut it (pun intended), I do believe you also need some basic survival skills and knowledge.

Now, the moment you have all been waiting for….. The 5 C’s:

1. Cutting Tool
2. Combustion
3. Cordage
4. Container
5. Cover

• Cutting Tool

This is probably the easiest item to cover and carry for that matter. There are multiple items you can carry for a cutting tool. It could be anything from small pocket folding knife to a machete. One of my personal favorites for an EDC cutting tool is a multi-tool like a Gerber or Leatherman. While I usually always carry a small folding knife in my pocket, the reason I went with the multi-tool is due to its versatility. Now a days multi-tools come in a wide variety of sizes and tool options which means everyone is sure to find one they like. A saw blade, screw drivers, scissors, and pliers are some of the most commonly found items on a multi-tool that couldn’t hurt having on your person in an emergency situation. 

In my case not only do I typically carry a multi-tool on my belt, but I have them stashed all over the place. I have them on my keychains as well as generic off brand multi-tools stashed in my gloveboxes, junk draws, tool boxes, nightstands, etc. They are great tools to have and should be a part of everyone’s EDC.

• Combustion

Just like a cutting tool, combustion can be a pretty easy EDC item. A BIC lighter makes for a simple combustion device, however that’s too easy. While I do like to carry one in my pocket, BICs also tend to freeze up in cold weather so you have to warm them up in your hands and fiddle around to get them to light. A couple of cool easy carry EDC combustion items are the Evertstryke match pro lighter and the forever matches. These are both inexpensive super lightweight small keychain carry items that work great. They are easy to use and virtually weather proof. Watch for my upcoming YouTube video on fire starters to see how easy these are to operate.

There are many other options (flint & steel, ferro rod, stormproof matches, zippo, etc…) that you could EDC, but these 2 choices are compact, discreet, virtually weatherproof, and said to last 15,000 strikes. So why not throw 1 or 2 on your keychain and have them in addition to your BIC?

• Cordage

        Cordage can be a multitude of things, form jute twine to fishing line. You could carry rope, mason line, bank line, 550 Paracord… I think you get my point. There are so many variations of cordage and for the most part when preparing your bug out bags you are going to want to have a variety of cordages. But for the EDC you are going to want something that will hold up to a wide range of tasks and you don’t want a huge wad of rope in your pocket. So for that reason I’m going to go with the most typical response you will get on any survival/preparedness page…. 550 Paracord.  It’s highly functional, can hold up to a lot of tension, and the individual inside stands can be used for lighter jobs and extend the length of you cordage.

Some of the more common ways to EDC carry 550 Cord, if you don’t want to just have a chunk rolled up in your pocket, is bracelets, belts, keychains, necklaces, or to replace your boot laces. Replacing boot laces is great because most boot laces are trash anyways and now you have functional cordage on your person. Another idea that works great for those colder months is to replace your hooded sweatshirt strings with 550 Cord. If you want to get crazy with it you could leave the strings long enough to add beads and make a pace counter. 

• Container

When it comes to containers, most people tend to have a water bottle on them or in their car. However, most of these are plastic and won’t be of much use if you don’t have access to a clean water source.  I love to use my Nalgene bottle all the time, it’s a solid water bottle that hold a lot of liquid, but in an emergency situation stranded on a back country road where my only source of water is a lake, that isn’t going to keep me from getting some parasitic infection.  Now you could carry some water tabs or a small filter like a Sawyer mini of Lifestraw but they would be bulky items to carry in your pocket. 

Another option I would recommend is making your water bottle a metal container that you would be able to use to boil water. Now you can’t just go boiling water in any metal water bottle. Most of the metal water bottles on the market today are insulated double walled bottles and those are not something you want to stick in a fire to boil water in. You want to have a single walled metal water bottle like the old school Klean Kanteens. I know these aren’t going to keep your water cold, but in an emergency situation when you need it most you are going to be glad you have it. These single walled options aren’t the easiest to come by either, I have actually had to purchase mine off Amazon because none of the store seem to carry them anymore, they only carry the insulated options.

• Cover

Now, when considering cover there are 2 things we need to think about. First one being covering our bodies. The clothes we wear are a part of our EDC cover and probably the most important part. We need to be thinking of as many possible situations that could occur while we are out. While it may be 80 degrees out when we leave the house in our shorts, t-shirt, and flip-flops it could be 40 degrees and raining when our car breaks down and we are stranded on the side of the road overnight. We should always keep extra cover clothing with us at all times. Whether it’s a sweatshirt, sweatpants and high-tops or a jacket, jeans and boots having a little extra could be the difference between making it until help arrives of suffering from hypothermia.

Second thing we need to consider when it comes to cover is shelter.  I always keep at least a tarp in my vehicles. This is an easy lightweight item that can fit under a seat or in the truck that doesn’t take up much space. It can quickly be set up into a shelter to keep you out of the elements and make you more comfortable in an emergency.

But let’s say you’re not at your vehicle or you are looking for a different compact option for EDC.  What about carrying an emergency blanket? These are inexpensive, lightweight, and compact enough to carry in your pocket (admittedly not the most comfortable).  I know what you’re thinking “those stupid blankets are garbage and don’t work “. While not ideal, they can be used to make a simple lean-to shelter and using the reflective surface to reflect the heat from a fire is sure to keep you warm throughout the night.

                Now that we have covered the 5 C’s I hope I have given you some things to think about and maybe something new you haven’t thought of already. Maybe you are new to this like all of us were one day and this may help you get your start down the path of preparedness. Who knows, one day these might be the items that keep you alive and help you get home to your loved ones. Whatever your reason for reading this I hope it helps. It’s just one man’s ideas and opinions and there are thousands of them out there, so thank you for taking the time to read mine.

                Peace Love and all the above,

                                Bear.