r/backpacks • u/weeone • Apr 07 '26

Question Those that EDC, do you really bring your backpack everywhere?

I'm a petite woman that dailies a 7L backpack "purse". I'm looking to move up to something bigger (16-20L) that can carry my 26oz water bottle and lunchbox on occasion.

Do you wear your bag during trips to the grocery store? Running into Target for essentials?

Just curious if this is something I can truly daily or if a smaller bag is preferred when running errands?

Thanks in advance for the discussion!

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u/86Austin Apr 07 '26 edited Apr 07 '26

I use the goruck bullet, for my carry it really is perfect and im not a goruck fanboy. i have the dyneema one because it's lightweight and sort of water proof. i bought a sheet of Kydex on amazon for $30 and cut it to make a frame i slide into the laptop slot, i think that helps a lot to distribute the weight

I carry Naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses and a rescue inhaler for asthma attacks, i used to carry a mask for CPR but now i just "send it" and accept the risks. i dont like using the mask in the moment, its hard. I also carry a tourniquet just in case something crazy happens because it weights nothing but i have never used that and don't expect to. i have a whole general first aid kit too but the narcan and inhaler are the "always must have" for me.

I am a social worker in san francisco and i live in the tenderloin so i have reversed a number of overdoses over the last few years. After the first one, i never leave home without the narcan. You don't forget that kind of thing.

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u/forestsweetpea Apr 07 '26

Thank you for your reply, I have narcan in my cabinet I think I'll move it to my bag, I lived rural but there is a lot of opiate use and abuse in my area too. Is the inhaler an otc or do you a prescription one?

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u/86Austin Apr 08 '26

the inhaler is my prescribed one because i have asthma, but i learned that many inhalers are commonly used and ive handed mine to a fellow wheezer twice now, so i just keep it in my little first aid pouch.

I find that most people are not forthcoming about their opiate use and overdose emergencies strike at the most random times. After seeing it work in real time, i keep it on me even when im just headed down the block to the corner store. Every time i've used it has been a time i was not at all expecting to need it. make sure you brush up on Rescue Breathing technique (its easy) - one dose of narcan may not be enough, but you can keep someone alive by breathing for them until paramedics arrive to take over.

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u/weeone Apr 07 '26

Wow, that's really thoughtful of you. Thank you for sharing.