A fairly common topic I get asked about is deciding what to carry on your body every day and what’s considered excessive. The last couple of weeks I have gone over what I personally carry and some of the accessories I like to carry on a daily basis. What the problem turns into is having everything you may need on your body which becomes extremely fatiguing over a full day. There are a lot of people who are “prepared” and carry several knives, a medkit on their leg and multiple firearms. It’s important to prioritize based on certain items. Let’s take a closer look at some concealed carry priorities.

Problems With Carrying Too Much On Your Body

Like I touched on earlier, carrying too much on your body can just be taxing and ultimately burn you out. When someone gets tired of carrying too much, they oftentimes will not take a firearm and it defeats the purpose entirely. You go from carrying too much to not carrying anything at all. So what’s the happy medium? It’s important to take a look at what you realistically will need and then prioritize from your needs to things you’d like to have around. Creating a tier system really is a great alternative to having everything on your body.

There are a number of people who carry multiple knives for everyday use and defense. One will typically do the job and small things like this fatigue you over time.

Create A Tier System

Having a tier system is a great way to have certain items close to you without constantly dragging them along in your pockets or strapped to your leg. Creating a system where you have 2-3 levels where you can pack things you need without having to carry them. When you implement this system, it will simplify your life and give you more peace of mind when you’re going along with your daily tasks. Not everyone will need to build in a tier system, but for those who are unsure about what they need to carry, it’s definitely a good starting point. Personally, I have a 3-tier system to help me break down what I need. I’ll break down what I personally do.

Tier 1 – On Your Person

Carrying things on your person should be the absolute necessities only. Obviously, the first big one will be your firearm along with other daily-use items. Some have put their firearm in a bag or off body and I still think it’s really important to have your carry gun on your actual body instead of carrying it around in a bag or off your body. Things like your car keys, wallet, pocket knife or flashlight will be included in this. There are a few items like a flashlight and spare magazines that can go in various categories depending on what you find most important.

Some things like medical kits and tourniquets are super important no doubt, but they aren’t exactly viable to carry on the body. I know there are various leg kits that offer emergency med packs on the leg. These tend to be extremely heavy and can just be cumbersome over time. I know plenty of people who use them on a daily basis, but having it in a backpack close to me is better for my lifestyle personally.

Tier 2 – In A Backpack

Having a comfortable daily bag can make your life immensely easier. I typically carry a bag every day for my laptop so there’s plenty of space for other items. Since I will head to the range randomly with friends at least once a week, I have started to carry my eye and ear protection right in my bag. This will be something that the vast majority of you won’t need in your bag, but for me, it makes my life much easier. I will occasionally throw in a spare magazine or two if I’m going on a trip just so I know I have ammo in a small pocket.

Since I have a tier system as well, I will carry a handheld flashlight on my body since I use it more and a spare magazine in my bag. The spare magazine is important but since I don’t use it daily, I bumped it down to the second tier.  One item most people don’t consider is some sort of armor. I have a backpack insert from Premier Body Armor and it may not seem necessary, but for the weight, it’s well worth it. The insert weighs next to nothing and offers level IIIA protection which is better than nothing. Various people won’t agree and the beauty of this system is that’s ok!

My medical kit also is put into my bag rather than on my person. I can understand if you think it should be on your body and if dragging it around on your leg is the best solution, I say go for it. For me though, having it in my bag that’s with me all day is a perfect solution and doesn’t add discomfort to my daily life. Other small items like multitools and a small tool kit are great to keep in your bag. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to tighten something up or use tools on guns while I’m at the range. Some of the things I keep in my bag are the result of being a gun writer which may be an article of its own someday. Not everything in your bag will be the same and that’s ok.

Tier 3 – In your Vehicle or Larger Bag

The last tier I have is either having items in your vehicle or concealing a large bag in your vehicle. This could be anything from a truck gun, body armor, a full medical pack or emergency supplies. I’ve met plenty of people who carry cases of water and medical bags in case of an accident. This tier is 100% optional because the vast majority of people can figure out how to carry everything if they carry on their person and have a bag. Certain people want to carry truck guns and plate carriers in their vehicles.

This isn’t for most concealed carriers and I will admit is a bit excessive but plenty of people carry large bags with gear especially if you teach training courses or do firearm-related work.

This may be a bit excessive but it’s honestly fairly common for people in my area. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been surprised by people having a rifle and plate carriers in their vehicle. Some of you are thoroughly against keeping things in your vehicle since they are fairly easy to steal from and that’s respectable. This last trait isn’t for everyone, but it’s an option for individuals who want to have various items that are too large to carry around or conceal.

Be Able To Change Your Systems

One of the issues I see with people using the tier system is they become so rigid and stuck with carrying certain items in one category they refuse to change things based on what they need. Shifting gear from one tier to another will happen based on what you’re doing in life. Whether it’s traveling or going out for dinner with friends and family, certain tasks will change the dynamic of carrying a concealed firearm. There will be times when a bag isn’t possible, so you’ll need to prioritize what’s most important or useful to you and leave the rest in your vehicle or at home. When it comes to carrying concealed, less really is more. In the long run, you will be more comfortable and carry more consistently with fewer items than more.

Overall Thoughts

For certain people, it can be hard to carry the right amount of gear. It’s a fairly common problem for a lot of people out there so it’s important to make a system that works for you but doesn’t wear you out every day. Certain people will have different priorities than others. I guarantee someone will completely disagree with every single word I said down in the comments below and that’s ok. We all do things differently and it’s good to look at different perspectives.

Let me know what you guys prefer to carry and how you carry it down in the comments below. Are you the type who breaks things up into categories or do you just pile it into your pockets and call it a day? Give me your thoughts in the comments below. If you have questions on carrying concealed or firearms in general, don’t hesitate to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there.

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