First photo - top row shows my truly "every day" carry items. Wallet, phone, watch. Wallet is a Keen Harvest - made from a recycled airbag. Phone is an iPhone 4S in some cheapo green 'gel' case. (I also have a Mophie battery case and a Trygger polarizing camera case.) Watch is a gray Pebble with a one-of-a-kind "Wide Body" strap. (I got the prototype, which is a different texture than the final product.)
Bottom row shows my "usually carry" items. Gerber gear + firearm.
Second picture shows what's in the "Gerber gear" case: Gerber "Locking Multitool" - their original locking one, with needle nose pliers and add-on bit set. (Roughly equivalent to their current "Compact Sport".) This is from 1998-1999, and the case wore out, so they sent me a new one free! I also have what they now call the "AR 3.0, black, serrated" - but from before it got that name, when it was still made in the US.
Firearm is a Kel-Tec P11 9mm, for which I have three holsters. An open-carry hand-made Ted Blocker holster (my firearm was the model for the size, made when Ted Blocker himself was still at the company,) the shown DeSantis inside-the-waistband (both for carry on my right side,) and a DeSantis adjustable "Sof-Tuck", which can be adjusted for multiple positions (I use it when I want to carry behind my back or in front, in either the "5 o'clock" position or the "11 o'clock" position.)
Notably missing: keys, laptop, bag of any kind. I have pared down to the point where I do not need to carry these every day - nor even "most days". I usually bicycle commute, and have locked "code entry access" bike storage at home and work, so I don't need to carry a key at either end. (Yes, that means I can get in my house without a key, which helps.) My under-seat 'tool bag' on my bike has a bike repair tool, spare tube, patch kit, plus two bus tickets and a $20 bill (just in case I get stuck somewhere and need a ride home,) plus the key for my bike lock and a house key. The tool bag is easily removable should I stop somewhere that I have to lock my bike up in an insecure location.
Obviously, when I drive, I have to carry a keychain with the car key. I have two "minimalist" keychains - each one has just the car key, plus a house key.
When I need to take more stuff, I have an old small laptop bag that perfectly fits my really old 12" PowerBook G4 - but now I carry an iPad plus keyboard case when I need a computing device. It also fits a compact paper notepad, a couple pens, pencils, and a few other light accessories. (iPad/iPhone charger cables, headphones, other things I might need when I'm on a business trip for example.)
I learned long ago that if I don't go for "small and light" things to carry, I end up carrying *WAY* too much. I've dabbled in a larger (15" laptop size) bag, but I end up filling it to bursting with stuff, which isn't good for the back. (The last time I used a large bag, I slipped and fell on ice on my deck when I got home, and the bag weighed so much the shoulder strap snapped - that's when I decided to go for the minimalist-bag full time.)
Although, sadly, I *DO* need to "downsize" my wallet... My prior wallet was a leather bifold that had a pull-out ID section. I would use just the ID section (with ID in one side, credit card in the other, cash tucked in behind,) when I wanted to "travel light", but found that I always needed "one more card", so I usually ended up carrying the whole thing, loaded to bursting with cards (literally.) Moved to this wallet as it could carry the whole load of cards without breaking, and without being TOO thick. I do wish I could get rid of more cards though. Passbook on the phone is helping, but I still have more I need to ditch for e-versions.
