Running Lean: An Experiment

[SteveC]

Sounds like you have it figures out Al     

[Aloha]

Yeah that orange kit is great.  HiVis is the way to go out doors.  I love camo just as much as the next but not for outdoor stuff.  I've actually changed out a lot of my lanyards to bright green and orange on everything. 

[AimlessWanderer]

Cheers fellers.  I seem to be a lot more eager to swap stuff around, but that might be just having access to stuff that's been locked away for 6 months. I expect that to settle down soon. However, when I do open the drawer to swap something, I'm no longer frustrated or angered with the excess, which is the main thing. 

In the last 10 years, I've had two slippie backsprings crap out on me (Byrd Firebyrd, and CRKT Li'l Guppie), two pliers tool crap out on me irreparably, (MP700s), and the scissors on the Style PS broke so often, I'm sick of sending them back. I've also lost (or had stolen) a few things too. As such, I genuinely don't mind having a box full of spare tools stashed away, which are already proven and tweaked to my needs.

[AimlessWanderer]

Yeah that orange kit is great.  HiVis is the way to go out doors.  I love camo just as much as the next but not for outdoor stuff.  I've actually changed out a lot of my lanyards to bright green and orange on everything.

It can be useful indoors too. A cursory glance will quickly spot any tools you've put down and forgotten about because you were focussed on the task at hand. The engine bay on the boat was an easy place to lose tools, as can helping someone whose moving house, and it might be several months later before they ask "is this yours?". It can also be useful, when you get a glimpse of orange in the corner of your eye, for spotting somebody using something without your permission - especially when they're about to MISuse it. 

[AimlessWanderer]

Pockets! It all comes down to pockets!

When I was working, having trouser pockets crammed with stuff, was normal and essential. Now that I don't work, I don't have the tolerance for carrying around all that crap. Pockets are still dictating my carry though.

My trouser pockets (these days) carry much less, and hardly ever see a plier tool. Also the type of pocket has an influence too.

Some folks always wear the same type of stuff. They're always in jeans OR cargo/hiking type trousers OR slacks/chino or whatever. I don't. Throughout the course of a week, the type of clothing I wear will change, as will they type of pocket, and how likely stuff is to fall out. No reason, other than I like to vary what I wear. Some trousers will "keep" a traditional knife better than others, and some are more prone to vomiting it out to be lost forever in the lining of the sofa/armchair or under the seat in the bus or taxi.

I've been unconsciously compensating for this for a while, but it's now coming into awareness. The Deluxe Tinker is carried on a lanyard that clips to a belt loop, as does the Splice/light/pen combo. I automatically reach for those on the less retentive pockets. If I'm wearing jeans for example, I'm less likely to have tied tools.

Also, pliers tools only get reached for if other pockets are available. I've been wearing a bodywarmer around the house over the last few days (what some of you might call a padded vest, or quilted vest maybe). That thing has pockets galore, and what goes in there, stays there. That's made carrying the Gerber Balance or the Fuse very comfortable, and other carry falls in automatically around that.

Usage and situation dictated my carry needs in the past, but now it's mainly sartorial. Neck lanyard where pockets are sparse, tied on lanyard when pockets can't be trusted, clipped knife where pockets are deep/tight, and all pocket carry chosen to compliment whatever happens to be being carried (or not) in the jacket, bag, bodywarmer, fleece or waistcoat.

That must have all been rattling round in the back of my mind, when I was selecting my reduced carry options. There's nothing in the wardrobe that doesn't have a suitable carry option, and all the stuff I've left out is carryable in everyday clothes.

It's also gone a long way to stop me feeling overwhelmed with choice, as while the drawer still has a wide array of options, there's only a few which are sensible for whatever I'm wrapped up in on any given day. 

[ElevenBlade]

I've been thinking about this lately myself.  Since I have been carrying a 3 layer SAK after having been used to a 2 layer... I notice it.  Especially when I wear slacks.  I've gone as far as to order one of those suspension clips to hang it from the inside of my pocket, if the SAK isnt in a watch pocket. 

I pocket carried a Wave for a couple of years back in the day ... times change. 

[Aloha]

I typically wear jeans when off and cargo 5.11 type pants at work.  I rarely if ever wear slacks or suits.  Pocket space if a premium in my jeans so I love to utilize the 5th ( coin/watch ) pocket.   No medium sized plier tool for me when off.  I prefer the Squirt for my plier when off.  I also love to utilize my belt to carry stuff.  I like the Victorinox belt hanger for my wallet and keys.  This way they dont plop in the bottom of my pocket. 

[nate j]

Pockets! It all comes down to pockets!

I know the feeling.  Left to my own devices, I generally wear cargo pants or cargo shorts with 6-8 pockets.    I refuse to carry a murse, man bag, backpack, etc. unless I'm actually hiking.  I also rarely wear a jacket, vest, or shirt with pockets, so I'm generally limited to what I can get in the pants pockets.  On the rare occasion that I have to wear dress slacks or a suit (or when I used to have a job that required me to wear the company-issued jeans), I definitely feel (felt) constrained in my carry.

[AimlessWanderer]

I know the feeling.  Left to my own devices, I generally wear cargo pants or cargo shorts with 6-8 pockets.    I refuse to carry a murse, man bag, backpack, etc. unless I'm actually hiking.  I also rarely wear a jacket, vest, or shirt with pockets, so I'm generally limited to what I can get in the pants pockets.  On the rare occasion that I have to wear dress slacks or a suit (or when I used to have a job that required me to wear the company-issued jeans), I definitely feel (felt) constrained in my carry.

Yup, sounds familiar. Before things changed, trouser pockets were the only option. On the boat, or working round heavy machinery, the jacket was off, and I was moving around over too large an area for a bag to be helpful. Belt carry was a serious entanglement risk too, so that was out. If I couldn't carry it in my trouser pockets, it essentially didn't exist.

Now I'm more sedate, a jacket/top of some description is more "helpful" in this respect, in cooler temperatures. I'm not dashing around over a wide area either, so even if I've taken the jacket off, it's close by.

Belt carry is still something I'm uncomfortable with for several reasons.

1) It bumps and snags on stuff, especially as I don't always walk in the direction I'm aiming for 

2) It advertises something is being carried, and can raise questions/unwelcome attention

3) Everything falling off the belt when you go to the loo. I HATE that!

4) I'm not as streamlined as I used to be, and it can dig in. 

Light pocket carry, supplemented by (optional) carry elsewhere, seems to suit where life currently has be sited.

[AimlessWanderer]

I typically wear jeans when off and cargo 5.11 type pants at work.  I rarely if ever wear slacks or suits.  Pocket space if a premium in my jeans so I love to utilize the 5th ( coin/watch ) pocket.   No medium sized plier tool for me when off.  I prefer the Squirt for my plier when off.  I also love to utilize my belt to carry stuff.  I like the Victorinox belt hanger for my wallet and keys.  This way they dont plop in the bottom of my pocket.

I have one of thos little P4 clone suspension clips for my keys these days. It helps stop poking holes in my pocket, and hanging vertically helps align stuff with me better, so I don't get stuff poking me in the thigh, even when I sit down.

[AimlessWanderer]

I pocket carried a Wave for a couple of years back in the day ... times change.

It certainly does! I used to carry an obscene amount of stuff in my pockets. Rules, tapes, keys (multple clusters), lights, tools, knife, pen and paper, nicotine delivery systems of the day, hankies (plus rags at work). My pockets were crammed! I don't miss that one bit!

[SirVicaLot]

I have one of thos little P4 clone suspension clips for my keys these days. It helps stop poking holes in my pocket, and hanging vertically helps align stuff with me better, so I don't get stuff poking me in the thigh, even when I sit down.

I use these as well. Love ˋem 

[Aloha]

Whats weird is I am not the biggest fan of pocket clips  .  I mean I rather sheath carry some items vs clip.  Pocket knives sure they just make sense to clip if they have one.  I do like a pocket sheath. 

[SteveC]

I used to use those P4 clone clips a lot but they fray the top of my pockets so I stopped using them except once in a while. I also prefer to sheath carry my MT's.

[AimlessWanderer]

Yeah, they've certainly eaten a few of my pockets up too

[SirVicaLot]

If you drop your SAK in your pocket, you get holes in it. I guess both is not too good on your pockets.

The more important question though: Why do they keep making pocket out of that thin material? You buy Jeans, yet the pocket is that thin fabric. Same with some work pants. Why are pockets not made out of tougher fabric? 

[ElevenBlade]

Yeah, they've certainly eaten a few of my pockets up too

I seriously thought I was the only one   

Happens quickly too, when you have the keyring I suppose.

[AimlessWanderer]

I suppose I'm lucky, in that I don't leave the house very often anyway. Also, in harsh weather they tend to be in a coat pocket, rather than the right front pocket. That's saved my pockets being shredding too quickly. When I was working, I wore the heavy duty canvas cargo workwear, so I wasn't worried about that getting wrecked in the slightest. A keyring on a clip was the least abusive thing that happened to them anyway.

[SirVicaLot]

You have certainly dropped a lot of stuff already 

Inspired by your challenge I have decided to do something similar. Trying to get by with only 4 MT‘s. After testing a lot of different SAKs and MT’s over the last year, I think I have found what works for me. I will go with the following:

Classic on a neck chain for scissors and the occasional finger nail. Pioneer for the jobs that come up everyday.
For everything that requires a tool neither the Pioneer nor the classic supply, I will reach for the Spirit.
For hard jobs like wood working, renovation (abuse kind of jobs for MT‘s) I will switch out the Spirit for the Swisstool.

Those 4 tools should be able to handle everything that comes my way on a regular basis. Will see how that goes 

It has been 20 days, and so far this system has worked great for me. What I might change though, come summer, is the classic on the neck chain. I can see me not liking it having it around my neck once sweating season starts, so I might remove it and replace the Pioneer with a PX. Will see 

[AimlessWanderer]

It has been 20 days, and so far this system has worked great for me. What I might change though, come summer, is the classic on the neck chain. I can see me not liking it having it around my neck once sweating season starts, so I might remove it and replace the Pioneer with a PX. Will see 

I have an alox Rambler on mine, and it gets a lot of carry in summer, when pocket space is limited. The alox is easier to keep clean.

[SirVicaLot]

I think it is more the feeling of the chain and tool on my sweaty skin that I will dislike. I was never a big fan of having stuff around my neck anyway. In winter time I can tolerate it, because I am wearing a t-shirt plus fleece/hoody/whatever. So during that time, the chain with the classic is on top of the shirt and below the sweater, and doesn‘t touch my skin at all. Sometimes I even forgot it was there 

In summer I mostly wear cargo shorts of some sort, so pocket space is not an issue. Even with workout shorts it won‘t be an issue. I already tested those with the PX and the Vic belt hanger and it works 

[AimlessWanderer]

I think it is more the feeling of the chain and tool on my sweaty skin that I will dislike. I was never a big fan of having stuff around my neck anyway.

  Sorry, only just spotted this.

I stared with paracord, and that just kept getting grotty far too quickly, so I moved to a stainless necklace. I do have to be sure to not have the clasp on my neck, as I find that incredibly irritating, but otherwise, I got used to it quite quickly.

It's quite similar to when I went back to wearing a watch on my wrist. I hadn't done that for the better part of maybe 10 years, due to it being a serious health and safety risk, but at work and at play. At first, I couple only wear it for a couple of hours, and had to remove it for a couple of days as my wrist got really itchy. Now, I'll have the same watch on until it needs cleaning underneath, at which point I tend to switch to a different one (I have three wrist watches).