The Paradox of Choice: Why More Gear Doesn’t Equal More Preparedness
The everyday carry (EDC) world thrives on choice. Scroll through Instagram, YouTube, or Reddit and you’ll see endless pocket dumps knives, flashlights, pry bars, pens, multitools all neatly arranged like a tactical buffet. The unspoken rule: the more you carry, the more prepared you are.
Except it doesn’t work that way.
After more than a decade of carrying gear before it was even called “EDC” I’ve learned a simple truth: more gear doesn’t always equal more capability. Sometimes, it just equals more clutter. The paradox of choice in EDC is that too many options can actually make you less prepared, slower, and less efficient.
My EDC Evolution: From Pockets Full to Pockets Smart
When I worked in an auto shop, my EDC looked nothing like it does today. Back then, my job dictated my gear. I needed heavy-use tools: pry bars, wrenches, cutters. Later, when I worked for a home theater company, my daily carry shifted again precision drivers, wire strippers, and electrical testers were the essentials. Nobody called it EDC at the time. It was just “stuff you kept on you so you could get through the day.”
Fast forward to now: I work from home. My daily needs are minimal compared to my past jobs. These days, 95% of what I run into can be handled with a Spyderco Para 3 and a Victorinox Alox Cadet. Sometimes I’ll swap the Cadet for a small Swiss Army Knife or a compact multitool. Add a small flashlight if I’m heading out at night, and I’m set.
That’s my modern EDC. Lean, efficient, functional. No wasted space.
The Over-Carrying Trap
Like many people who first discover the EDC community, I went through a phase of carrying way too much. My pockets were overloaded with tools that looked good on paper but never left my pocket. The thinking was simple: “If I carry more, I’ll be ready for anything.”
But reality doesn’t play out like that.
I remember posting flatlays on Instagram with oddball tools like a nail punch that I used for prying. It was functional, it worked, and I actually carried it. But the comments section lit up with people mocking it. Same thing with the Knipex pliers I loved some YouTuber even made fun of them in a video. The irony? That guy isn’t even around anymore, and I still keep small pliers stashed all over my house, car, and shop because they’re genuinely useful.
Here’s what I realized: the more tools you cram into your pockets, the slower and less decisive you become. You hesitate between three knives instead of reaching for one. You fumble with bulk instead of pulling what you need. And worst of all, you start carrying gear not because it serves you, but because it looks good in a picture or matches what the internet says is “EDC approved.”
Gear Should Be a Tool, Not a Trophy
Don’t get me wrong I love gear. I love knives, tools, flashlights, and gadgets as much as anyone else in the EDC community. I enjoy taking photos of them and swapping setups just for fun. There’s nothing wrong with appreciating the aesthetic side of this hobby.
But when it comes to what you actually carry — day in and day out — you have to strip it back to one question:
Does this piece of gear make me more efficient or more useful?
That’s it. Not “Does this look cool in a picture?” Not “Is this the latest super steel?” Just: does it make me better at handling the things I actually run into every day?
Because here’s the reality: all gear looks cool on a desk. That doesn’t mean it feels good when it’s digging into your thigh while you’re sitting in traffic.
Five Rules to Escape the Paradox of Choice
If you’re drowning in options and stuck chasing the “perfect loadout,” here are five rules to reset your carry:
- Tailor Your Carry to Your Life. A mechanic’s EDC should look different than a desk jockey’s. A stay-at-home parent doesn’t need the same gear as a contractor. Your job and environment should dictate your tools, not Instagram trends.
- One or Two Great Tools Beat a Pocket Full of Compromises. My Para 3 and Alox Cadet handle nearly everything I need. That’s better than fumbling between five mediocre tools.
- Plan for Real Life, Not Fantasy. Unless you’re hiking the Appalachian Trail, daily life doesn’t require survival gear. Keep the bugout bag in your car or at home. Your pockets are for daily efficiency, not doomsday scenarios.
- Run the 30-Day Test. Carry something for a month. If you never use it, it probably doesn’t belong in your pocket.
- Carry for You, Not the Internet. If Knipex pliers or a nail punch make your life easier, don’t let comments or YouTube critics tell you otherwise. EDC is personal nobody else lives your routine.
Closing Thought: Simplicity is Strength
The paradox of choice in EDC isn’t about steel types, lumens, or how many tools you can fit in your jeans. It’s about understanding that preparedness is more about efficiency than excess.
Everyday carry isn’t about impressing strangers online. It isn’t about finding the mythical “perfect loadout.” It’s about building a carry that makes your life easier, safer, and smoother — one that fits your actual routine, not your Instagram feed.
Strip it down. Test what works. Refine it over time. And most of all, carry for yourself. Because in the real world, less gear often means more prepared.
Blair Witkowski is an avid watch nut, loves pocket knives and flashlights, and when he is not trying to be a good dad to his nine kids, you will find him running or posting pics on Instagram. Besides writing articles for Tech Writer EDC he is also the founder of Lowcountry Style & Living. In addition to writing, he is focused on improving his client’s websites for his other passion, Search Engine Optimization. His wife Jennifer and he live in coastal South Carolina.