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A person’s everyday carry items are what they carry with them daily to prepare for any situation that may arise. It’s important to pick reliable and reusable items in order to provide maximum utility. A good everyday carry (EDC) can be the difference between solving a problem quickly or wasting a big chunk of your day trying to sort it out. EDC is all about having the power to control circumstances that pop up in everyday life, whether it’s a small inconvenience or a truly dangerous situation.
Most EDC enthusiasts agree: a good flashlight is a vital part of your everyday carry. Flashlights can be used in a variety of situations, day or night. A light can be used to find something you’ve dropped in a hard-to-reach space, to help illuminate areas for different jobs around your house or workplace, or to provide visibility in low-light settings. Some people believe that the flashlight built into a smartphone is enough, but where run time and reliability are concerned, EDC fans are much better off with a full-strength flashlight.
Here at Streamlight, we understand the importance of engineering reliable lights for everyday carry use. Here are a few of our EDC flashlight favorites.
Wedge®
The Wedge® brings together some of the best features in a light in a slim, compact carry. The Wedge features two lighting modes. Its "constant on" mode comes on at 300 lumens and will run for up to 3 continuous hours. It also features a THRO® (Temporarily Heightened Regulated Output) mode for maximum output, which provides an impressive 1000-lumen burst. The Wedge has a rotatable switch to easily change between the two modes. It’s also USB-C rechargeable, impact-resistant, and fully waterproof.
One reason the Wedge is a great everyday carry choice is its shape and size. The Wedge is long and slim, measuring 5.46 inches long, 1 inch wide, and only 0.60 inches thick. Because of its thin shape, the Wedge fits in your pocket like a utility knife. We call this "clean pocket carry," meaning the light is comfortable and fits seamlessly in your pocket with the rest of your EDC gear.
MacroStream® USB
The MacroStream® USB is a compact personal light designed to fit into the palm of your hand. It’s extremely easy to operate with a standard tail switch to change between its two output modes: a high mode that comes in at 500 lumens and a low mode at 50 lumens. At 4.5 inches long, it fits into the palm of your hand seamlessly and is easily stowed away even in crowded pockets. It’s micro-USB rechargeable and features a metal sleeve that slides down to reveal the charge port.
A nice feature of the MacroStream is its versatile pocket clip. The clip is easily removable to fit each user’s preference. It also features a secondary clip to attach the light to the brim of a hat for hands-free use. With this feature, the MacroStream essentially adds an emergency headlamp to your arsenal of everyday carry tools, liberating both of your hands to get tasks done.
MicroStream® USB
Like the MacroStream, the MicroStream® USB features high and low modes that are easily selected by clicking the tail switch. Whereas the MacroStream comes in at 4.5 inches long and 2.2 ounces, the MicroStream USB is only 3.87 inches and only 1.2 ounces. This light is a little more compact, making it the perfect light to toss in your bag or pocket.
The MicroStream USB features the same hat clip and USB rechargeable features as the MacroStream. Its real uniqueness is in its size: the MicroStream USB is the size of some existing keychain lights, but it provides real utility. It can be difficult to find comparable lights that reach 250 lumens and come in such a small, compact size. The MicroStream USB packs a full flashlight’s power into a body that is hardly noticeable in your pocket. This is the ultimate tool for minimalist everyday carry.
ProTac® 1L-1AA
The ProTac® 1L-1AA packs maximum features into a compact body to provide ultimate flexibility in an everyday carry flashlight. It features Streamlight’s TEN-TAP® programming, which allows for selection between three different operating programs: 1) high/strobe/low; 2) high only; 3) low/high.
This everyday carry light includes an unbreakable reversible pocket clip, anti-roll head, solid-state power regulation, and a strobe mode for signaling or disorienting. It measures 4.25 inches, making it a reasonable fit into any pocket or bag and comes with a nylon holster for easy external carry.
The ProTac 1L-1AA is a flexible everyday carry light because of its multi-fuel capabilities: this light accepts either a single lithium battery or a single AA alkaline battery. With a CR123A lithium battery, it can produce 350 lumens on high and 40 lumens on low, and with a standard AA alkaline battery, it can produce 105 lumens on high and 40 lumens on low. The ability to switch between lithium and alkaline batteries means you will be able to find a power source for the light wherever you are shopping, and likely have some batteries that can be used sitting around your house right now. The ProTac 1L-1AA’s multi-fuel capability helps guarantee that you won’t be left in the dark.
EDC is all about carrying reliable tools that can help you out in common — and not-so-common — situations that arise daily. We know our Streamlight fans have a variety of EDC options and we love to see them! Be sure to tag us in your EDC posts on Instagram and Facebook for a chance to be shared in one of our Streamlight #FanFriday features.
