Black-Out EDC Challenge - January 2026

[Antti Lammi]

Day 14 of 30

Today used blade on Center Drive to open packages


  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

[LoopCutter]

Day 14

A ZOMBIE NICK riding the pocket today.

  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

No exciting action yet, just poking sour cream donut hole and inserting into intake port with coffee. 😉

[fullbreakfast]

Day 14



Is my crowbar still black enough for the challenge?

[BPRoberts]

Day 14

So what if it's a twist off?

[Sos24]

Day 13

Here is my small Tntor power bank:

(Image removed from quote.)

It is useful, but not very interesting.

I carry that same power bank in my small sling

Day 14

(Image removed from quote.)

Is my crowbar still black enough for the challenge?

It does have black, which I like with that blue

Day 14

A ZOMBIE NICK riding the pocket today.

  [ Quoting of attachment images from other messages is not allowed ]  

No exciting action yet, just poking sour cream donut hole and inserting into intake port with coffee. 😉

Nice knife

A couple weeks ago I noticed my very similar power pack was sitting on the counter askew!   Examined it and found the case was swelled at the edges. And it was warm, not hot, just warm. 

I took it outside wrapped a wound of duct tape top to bottom, then around side to side and wrapped in some old bubble wrap.  And placed in a metal 5 gallon paint pail with lid on it.
All intentions to deliver to electronic recycling.

Two nights later, inside the house I heard a boom, felt a vibration and heard my pictures on the wall jiggle.

Investigated, at that time, nothing obvious, Neighbors next door and across the street poke heads outside as well.

Next day I find the 5 gallon pail laying about 20 feet from where I had placed at the side of the garage. Found the lid in back yard about thirty feet the opposite direction in a tree about 15 feet high. Bubble wrap melted, tape shredded and burnt.

If that had been on the counter in my kitchen, I am certain I would have been harmed, an or my house severally damaged by the concussion and fire. 

Do not store out of sight or even over night to charge.

The only reason it was on the counter was that I had removed from a sling bag and had planned to take upstairs to place in my flight carryon back pack.

Now I understand why airlines ask if these are in your carryon to some degree.

Care definitely needs to be taken.  I had one lithium power bank start to get warm in the past and I immediately unplugged device. Decided that was the last time I would use it.  A couple weeks later I saw a recall on it.

[Sos24]

Day 13
Wife was in the mood for cake.  Mini Flagship opened cake mix and tamper seal on milk

Day 14
Opened a new package of some local coffee.  Decided to try the medium roast because they were out of the dark.  I prefer the dark or espresso roast, but the medium is still real good.

[Farmer X]

Day 14

Today used blade on Center Drive to open packages

What is the SAK in the background?

A ZOMBIE NICK riding the pocket today.

If memory serves me correctly, those covers are GITD. Pretty cool!

Is my crowbar still black enough for the challenge?

Works for me!

So what if it's a twist off?

That just means you gotta pry twice.

Opened a new package of some local coffee.

Day 14

I seem to be hell-bent on being inseparably linked with this thing.

  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

[ElevenBlade]

Day 14

Carried a flashlight on a whim today and ended up meeting two different people that were also carrying flashlights.

Haven’t ever had random conversations about flashlights, but there’s a first time for everything

[nate j]

Haven’t ever had random conversations about flashlights, but there’s a first time for everything

Several years ago, I happened on a couple folks changing a tire late in the evening.  I stopped to help, and discovered they had enough hands to change the tire.  But it was pretty dark, so I pulled my flashlight from my pocket and assigned myself the role of illumination speSmurfpillst.

The woman commented, “So, you just carry a flashlight all the time?”

I responded, “Well, in my experience, it gets dark every night.”

[LoopCutter]

If memory serves me correctly, those covers are GITD. Pretty cool!

No they are no GLOW IN THE DARK!   
That definitely would have been cool, I agree!

[LoopCutter]

Day 14

Carried a flashlight on a whim today and ended up meeting two different people that were also carrying flashlights.

Haven’t ever had random conversations about flashlights, but there’s a first time for everything

Funny, me too!

My day 15 a few minutes early😉

At dinner tonight, I WAS eating alone, and the waiter took a tray away from the table next to me and caught one of the ladies ear rings, post went one direction the back another.

They started looking on the floor, very short carpet. Lighting was dim.  One said we are never going to find it in here. 

🤩 I have my little WUBEN in my pocket🤩

  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

Turned it on bright. Handed to the lady closest. This may help! 

Within a minute both pieces located!!
Both ladies looked at the flashlight, I think trying to figure out how to turn it off. Then at me and after blinding a couple other guest across the dining room, hands it me, can you please.

Then they asked me to join them. 

And asked about the light, showed them, charges just like my phone.  They look at each other and at same time, we could have used are phones.

Then but not as bright as that. Asked where I got it, Amazon, she had her account up in an instant. Search Wuben G5.  Bought two. 

I can not say how happy I am, these were my mom’s earring studs.

We then chat through dinner, thank them for the conversation, glad I could help. The another quest asked about the light, the ladies told them the name just bought two from Amazon,  blah blah blah and I paid my check and faded back into the shadows…

[ReamerPunch]

Day 15

Roxon with black pants.

[Antti Lammi]

What is the SAK in the background?

Its Ambassador with custom scale, here is bit better picture of it

  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

[Antti Lammi]

Day 15 of 30


Fuse with my beanie hat and fingerless gloves. Used Fuse scissors to trim my beard.

  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

[fullbreakfast]

Day 15



In the garden. Gloves, folding saw.

[fullbreakfast]

The woman commented, “So, you just carry a flashlight all the time?”

I responded, “Well, in my experience, it gets dark every night.”

Excellent response!

It’s funny really. Most people find the idea of carrying a flashlight all the time odd, even eccentric. I used to be that way myself years ago - “after all, I always have my phone”.  It was only when I decided to try out EDCing a flashlight on a whim that I realised how incredibly useful it is (and what a terrible flashlight a phone makes).

I use mine all the time, and not just at night. Would not be without it, but on those rare occasions when I am caught out and have to use my phone instead, it is almost physically painful to me.

A lot more people would do this, if they had tried it. Of course many don’t realise how powerful and compact even an inexpensive flashlight can be these days.  And may think the light on their phone is just as good.

[nate j]

Excellent response!

It’s funny really. Most people find the idea of carrying a flashlight all the time odd, even eccentric. I used to be that way myself years ago - “after all, I always have my phone”.  It was only when I decided to try out EDCing a flashlight on a whim that I realised how incredibly useful it is (and what a terrible flashlight a phone makes).

I use mine all the time, and not just at night. Would not be without it, but on those rare occasions when I am caught out and have to use my phone instead, it is almost physically painful to me.

A lot more people would do this, if they had tried it. Of course many don’t realise how powerful and compact even an inexpensive flashlight can be these days.  And may think the light on their phone is just as good.

Totally agree.  A phone flashlight is objectively lousy as a flashlight.  Using it this way also eats your phone battery, which it may be advisable to save for communications.  I’d be annoyed if one of my flashlights got lost or damaged in service, but an order of magnitude more upset if something happened to my phone while I was trying to use it as a flashlight…
 

[aicolainen]

It’s funny really. Most people find the idea of carrying a flashlight all the time odd, even eccentric. I used to be that way myself years ago - “after all, I always have my phone”.  It was only when I decided to try out EDCing a flashlight on a whim that I realised how incredibly useful it is (and what a terrible flashlight a phone makes).

I went through a similar evolution.
Years ago, when still in my early teens, I read a positive review about Photon LED keychain lights in a Norwegian gun magazine.
I bought one and it was on my keychain for at least a decade. It wasn't powerful, but at the time it was almost magical to get so much light from such a small unit. And it proved to be so so useful.



I'm not certain about the timeline, but I guess that around the time my Photon gave up its ghost, mobile phones with a flashlight feature were starting to come around. Or maybe not quite.. I have some vague memories of creatively using light from a mobile screen with bright background to illuminate something. Oh well.
However inferior, the mobile option gave me an excuse not to find a replacement for my photon light, and slowly I got accustomed to it. It was cumbersome at times, but better than nothing. Often that's enough.

After some more years (around 2016) I stumbled upon the concept of EDC, the community around it and all of that.
After years of not paying attention to lights - to see what was available was like being a kid on Christmas eve/day. But it was also overwhelming.
The kid buried inside got the better of me and I gave into the temptation of prioritizing power over practicality, eventually deciding on a 26650 based Olight R50 Seeker. 
As it turns out the days of roaming the streets and close by forests with a flashlight in the evenings, checking how far my flashlight would throw... well those days were behind me. And for most else the R50 was just too big and didn't see much use.
Together with the R50, my dealer had thrown in an Olight i3e, AAA light as a giveaway. It wasn't the item I had ordered and didn't have an exciting spec sheet so I didn't pay much attention to it at first, but at some point I decided I should give it a try for EDC.
That was it. I was back to dedicated flashlights again.

While flashlights on phones also has come a long way, there are some stand out benefits with dedicated lights that makes it worthwhile.
In my line of work I often have to take photos in dark spaces for documentation purposes. Being able to illuminate my subject from a different angle with a flashlight and take the picture with my phone makes this much easier. The flashlight is also more robust, more affordable, provides power source redundancy and better acuity (using higher quality LEDs with better CRI.

Still, no matter how often my flashlight comes to the rescue of those around me, I'm still the weird one 

[LoopCutter]

Day 15 bonus + Mini

  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

PST, Cattleman and Light, on my black Carhart vest, preparing for real life adventure into the cold!

[aicolainen]

Day 15

Think I have to throw in the towel.

Doing a blacked out carry for a month has so far been easier than expected, so that part of it is pretty much under control.

Finding an interesting way to photograph (mostly) the same gear every day is much harder.

A mini challenge helps, so today was easier.
This is cold season around here, so it's only appropriate to include my warmest down jacket. The Mountain equipment K7. I've had puffy jackets that have looked more impressive on the spec sheet, but this is just so well made. It's invaluable when needed, but easily too much in normal winter temps, so it's not one I use often.


Day 14 - reconstructed
Yesterday was 4WD day. Not because it was necessary, but the EV was already taken.
The just in case items I have stashed in my 4WD very incidentally follows a blacked out color scheme.

You can be forgiven for thinking the K7 made a reappearance here, but I have quite a selection of puffy jackets. This is the Mountain Equipment Kryos. A lighter down jacket that sees much more use than the K7.
Also from the car; Hultafors OK4 knife, Supertool 300 and a Astrolux FT03. Also keep a black Olight S3 Baton headlamp in there, but forgot to include it in the photoshoot.
I can also see my EDC backpack made a cameo up in the right corner. Black Mystery ranch Urban assault.

[BPRoberts]

Day 15

Decided to test to see if the Parashears were usable with my thick winter gloves, which seems like it could be important if I ever needed them in the winter. It wasn't the most comfortable, but they do work.

[nate j]

Day 14

CRKT Seismic

[nate j]

Day 15

Mini Challenge

[WECSOG]

Day 15 Mini Challenge

My favorite piece of outerwear is the M65 Field Jacket. I've had several of them over the decades; the first being OD green and the next two or three being woodland camo. Then one in digital camo. A few have been made in USA, genuine issue; but some have been imported for the civvy market.
I buy another one every few years, usually a bit larger than the last one. 

I still had a couple of them; the digital camo and a woodland camo. I can and do still wear those two, but couldn't wear any additional layers under them. So I decided I needed another one in a larger size so I could add layers underneath. After searching ebay and a few other places, I found this one in the size I needed. Black, made in USA.

And, my SRK in SK5 carbon steel. I actually split a bit of kindling with it last night.

[aicolainen]

Day 15 Mini Challenge

My favorite piece of outerwear is the M65 Field Jacket. I've had several of them over the decades; the first being OD green and the next two or three being woodland camo. Then one in digital camo. A few have been made in USA, genuine issue; but some have been imported for the civvy market.
I buy another one every few years, usually a bit larger than the last one. 

I still had a couple of them; the digital camo and a woodland camo. I can and do still wear those two, but couldn't wear any additional layers under them. So I decided I needed another one in a larger size so I could add layers underneath. After searching ebay and a few other places, I found this one in the size I needed. Black, made in USA.

Nice pairing!

I've been considering a M-65 back and forth for a god while. I think it was only yesterday or the day before I did my last round of searching.
Not long ago one of the large online sports stores here had the Alpha Industries M-65, which I believe is the OG. I hesitated too long and now there is no domestic retailer. Which is a bit of a bummer, as I want a good return policy.
I have a sizing issue too, but different. I'm very slim for my height, so to get something that isn't too wide I usually have to go down to Small, but very often jackets, shirts and sweaters in small will be too short in the arms and torso.

Actually I've considered the SRK many times as well. It's affordable and I know it's good value, but I already have too many knives

[Sos24]

Day 15
Today’s carry with my wool hoody that is my consolation for when it gets cold.

[Farmer X]

Roxon with black pants.

Are those lined or of very heavy weight?

Its Ambassador with custom scale...

Day 15 bonus + Mini

Mini Challenge

I love seeing the Carhartt gear! More is in my photo.

Decided to test to see if the Parashears were usable with my thick winter gloves, which seems like it could be important if I ever needed them in the winter.

I'm not fond of winter gloves, but it's good to know the ParaShears work okay with them.

Day 15

Seasonal apparel mini-challenge

I don't wear these Carhartt gloves in the summertime. The Oakleys are sorta situational gear, as they can stay at home if 100% cloud cover is expected for an extended period  (When I lived in California, I had sunglasses with me every time I left the house.) The CRKT Civet is situational, too, since Michigan law can make carry of a fixed blade a lot more trouble than it's worth.

  [ You are not allowed to view this attachment ]  

[nate j]

I love seeing the Carhartt gear!

That coat isn’t worn daily, but is over 20 years old and still going strong.

[Sos24]

I went through a similar evolution.

After some more years (around 2016) I stumbled upon the concept of EDC, the community around it and all of that.
After years of not paying attention to lights - to see what was available was like being a kid on Christmas eve/day. But it was also overwhelming.
…
That was it. I was back to dedicated flashlights again.

While flashlights on phones also has come a long way, there are some stand out benefits with dedicated lights that makes it worthwhile.
In my line of work I often have to take photos in dark spaces for documentation purposes. Being able to illuminate my subject from a different angle with a flashlight and take the picture with my phone makes this much easier. The flashlight is also more robust, more affordable, provides power source redundancy and better acuity (using higher quality LEDs with better CRI.

Still, no matter how often my flashlight comes to the rescue of those around me, I'm still the weird one 

I can completely relate to this.  I started early with the pocket knife or SAK and flashlight almost always on me.  Whether exploring the woods as a child, college campus, etc a flashlight just seemed to make sense.  The first one that I really fell in love with was a Maglite Solataire which fit perfectly with a SAK to just slip in a pocket. 

In the Navy, when I first went in, the Mini Maglite 2AA was the most common.  Whether late watches, dark spaces, compartment inspections; the flashlight was a frequently used tool that you were never without.    I was fairly content with the Maglite Mini, until sometime in the early 2000s when I discovered LED flashlights and CR123 batteries.  I could carry a brighter light in a smaller size.  I was hooked.  I loved exploring different lights, but I still didn’t really know much.

Then similar to you, I discovered the online EDC community.  I fit right in considering I still always had the flashlight, SAK or MT at a minimum on me.  As I followed threads and posts i started learning but there it was about brightest or fanciest.  Then I found a flashlight forum, where I started learning lumens, candela, temperature, CRI.  I discovered what characteristics I liked and which I didn’t.  Now I will still look at flashlights, but if it isn’t HiCRI (or at a minimum neutral white) , it better have some special characteristics to get a second look from me.  I still have some throwers that are cool instead of neutral white, but those don’t get carried.

I’ve converted a few to flashlight carry, usually by gifting a keychain size flashlight.  Almost everyone I gifted one to has come back to tell me how something happened that made them happy they had the light handy.

[ElevenBlade]

Day 15

Mini challenge

Winter EDC. Fleece hat and gloves, and the Gerber LST