At competition or a meeting?
4" & 8" Zip ties
Electrical tape
Side cutters
Precision flat head screw driver
Can fix the majority of emergent electrical problems with that.
At competitions:
- 5/32 Allen key
- 3/16 Allen key
- Wago tool
- Ethernet cable
- Various zip ties
- Flush cutters
With these I can fix almost any minor robot problem while waiting in queue.
I usually always have what I call my “hip kit” on me at comps and meetings.
- black sharpie
- silver sharpie
- pen
- scribe
- tape measure
- combination 7/16 and 3/8 ratcheting box wrench
- folding 9 piece english allen key set
- small pair of snips
Its evolved over the years and has included a lot more and a lot less in different versions. All of this fits neatly in a small belt pouch (the tape measure goes on the belt itself) that I wear.
For anyone as confused as me upon seeing the title of this thread, EDC means “EveryDay Carry”
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Generally -
• A sharpie or two
• A nice gel pen. Currently a Muji 0.38mm, but Pilot G2 07 is still great
• Field Notes are super handy for general note taking
• A sharp pocket knife when appropriate.
• A bright and compact flashlight.
• Perscription safety glasses are one of the greatest quality of life investments I’ve made
Depending on what we’re doing that day -
• Hakko CHP-170 cutters
• scribe
• Ethernet/USB A to B cable
Others swear by a solid multitool, but I’ve found it’s faster to just go get the right tool for the job.
As a programmer,
A roborio usb cable
64 GB USB 3.0 flash drive
A pen
An extra Xbox controller
Programming laptop
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What I actually keep on me all the time during season:
Leatherman Multi-Tool
Black Sharpie
We always have tools on our cart or in the pit so I dont carry any extra on me at events.
I was using EDC in a general sense basically anything you keep with you all the time at competition or a meeting so not a band saw for instance.
At competition:
- Sharpie (clicky sharpies for no hassles with the cap)
- Allen key set
- 4" zip ties
- Flush cutters
- Ethernet Cable
- Batthawk
At meetings, usually everything is within a 10 second walk so I use the team tools but occasionally I have a pair of flush cutters in my pocket.
My EDC (not just FRC) includes the following FRC-useful items:
- 5/32" and 1/8" allen keys on my main (non-auto/bike) key ring
- reversible screwdriver (#1 phillips and 3/16" straight blades)
- 10’ tape measure
- MAG solitaire flashlight
- Slip-n-snip scissors
- Victorinox (Swiss Army) “camper” knife, with saw, corkscrew, and reamer/punch/awl in addition to the common blades and openers.
At FRC competitions and demos, I’m likely to add a pocket multimeter and/or a leatherman-style pair of pliers, and/or a camera.
My smartphone, a sharpie, my (the smallest one they have) Swiss Army knife, and my prescription safety glasses (I don’t wear prescription glasses any other time).
- Aluminum multitool pen (tiny flat/phillips screwdriver (good for electrical stuff), level, ruler, stylus, pen)
- Leatherman Sidekick
- 6’ tape measure
- 2 flash drives
- Battery bank (with flashlight), cable
- Phone
- Multitool card, bandaids (quite helpful) in wallet
I try to avoid carrying much but add things as I think about them, but I’m not good on carrying habits. Some things I try to remember are:
*extra side shields
*USB drive w/ CSA tools
*small SA knife (should look for something more capable)
*headlamp/small flashlight
*backpocket-sized notepad and pen
*phone/wallet/minimal keys/a little cash
Some of the other stuff I leave for the technician to manage and I’ve given them a tool tote to fill with cables and tools.
Edit: Per the suggestion, attached today’s pockets.
This thread so much needs pictures.
This was my EDC in 2014
-Wallet
-Phone
-Foursevens ML-X
-Swiss Army Knife
-Leatherman Wave
-Spyderco Kiwi
-Allen key set
-3/8" Snap On combo wrench
-CR Sebenza 25
-Rite in the Rain notebook
-Bigidesign Ti pen
These days I only carry:
-Wallet
-Phone
-Small knife
-Foursevens Preon flashlight
-Fisher space pen
-Trash and fasteners that accrue over the event
Black sharpie, extra pair of safety glasses, flush cutters and zip-ties, leatherman
For everyone who has put down a Sharpie I’ll just leave this here. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-Inkzall-Fine-Point-Bulk-Marker-in-Black-48-22-3100/204813511?MERCH=REC--PIPHorizontal2_rr--204813521--204813511--N
It is an actual professional grade tool and it’s fine point is much better than the point on a sharpie for making accurate marks. The tip is also more durable so it maintains that fine point for a much longer time.
When I first brought some into the shop I had some people laugh at me and my “knock off” Sharpie. However part way through build season a number of the most engaged builders had rejected the Sharpie and insist on using the Inkzall.
So yeah during build season I carry an Inkzall and my Leatherman Skeletool.
I love these. It’s a smart product. My favorite feature is how there’s a little nub that makes the marker roll-resistant so you can set it down if you need to.
But does it fit into a Sharpie Sherpa??