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What you carry in your EDC bag will vary from person to person. No two people are going to have the same edc bag setup.
If I’m going on a trip to London or Paris, my EDC bag is going to look different than what I use day-to-day in Northeastern Ohio.
My EDC bag is not meant to be a survival bag or bug-out bag. It’s meant to carry what I need on a daily basis with a few additional support items such as medical and maybe a spare mag or two for my concealed carry gun. Everything is legal.
My EDC bag is the 5.11 Overwatch Briefcase.
With that said, here is what I carry in my EDC Bag
- 13” MacBook Air laptop
- Charging cables for my laptop and cell phone
- File folders with client information
- Small custom medical kit (tourniquet, chest seal, trauma bandage, and gauze)
- Small first aid kit for common cuts and scrapes
- Notebook and pens
- Water Bottle
- Gerber Multi-Tool
- Two spare mags for my Glock 17
Why Did I Choose The 5.11 Overwatch Briefcase?
When choosing an EDC bag, I wanted something that could seamlessly transition between daily use, business meetings, and travel—all while keeping my gear organized and protected. The 5.11 Tactical Overwatch Briefcase checked all the right boxes.
Professional Yet Tactical
Unlike traditional messenger bags, which can lack structure, the Overwatch Briefcase provides a professional look while maintaining the durability and adaptability I expect from a tactical bag. Whether I’m in a formal setting, at the airport, or working remotely, it blends in without drawing unnecessary attention.
Structured and Organized
One of the biggest frustrations with soft messenger bags is their tendency to sag and bulge, making organization a challenge. The Overwatch Briefcase, on the other hand, offers:
- Padded compartments to protect my MacBook Air and sensitive documents.
- Multiple organizer pockets for essentials like pens, notebooks, cables, and spare magazines.
- A dedicated medical kit space, ensuring my tourniquet, chest seal, and trauma supplies are accessible when needed.
Tactical Features Without Looking Too “Tactical”
While I appreciate tactical gear, I don’t always want to look like I’m carrying a go-bag. Although there is some velcro on the outside, the low-profile design of the Overwatch Briefcase allows me to carry my EDC essentials—including spare Glock 17 mags—without broadcasting it to the world.
It even has a hidden CCW compartment for those who carry off body. You could also use that pocket to keep your passport and emergency cash as well.
Versatile Carrying Options
Another major selling point was its ability to transform into a backpack when necessary. If I need to move quickly, navigate a crowded airport, or keep my hands free, I can sling it on my back for added convenience.
Built for Real-World Use
At the end of the day, my EDC bag isn’t just a daily commuter bag—it’s something that needs to keep up with my lifestyle, work, and travels. The 5.11 Overwatch Briefcase provides the structure of a briefcase, the adaptability of a messenger bag, and the durability of a tactical pack, making it the ideal choice for my EDC bag.
Final Thoughts on My EDC Bag Setup
Your EDC bag should be tailored to your lifestyle, daily needs, and potential challenges. For me, the 5.11 Overwatch Briefcase strikes the perfect balance between professionalism, organization, and tactical functionality. It carries everything I need—tech, medical supplies, spare magazines, and essential tools—without unnecessary bulk.
One key point: I don’t keep my weapon, knife, or flashlight in my EDC bag. Those are always concealed on my person, ensuring quick access when needed. My bag serves as a support system, not a primary carry solution.
At the end of the day, your EDC setup should work for you—whether that means a briefcase, backpack, or messenger bag. The goal is preparedness, accessibility, and efficiency, all while maintaining a low profile.
Where To Buy
If it has velcro on the outside it screams go bag EDC bag and you are likely carrying.
Especially MOLLE (like this and just about everything 5.11).
I read down the article until I saw the first photo, then skipped the rest to scroll down here to say exactly that. When a company touts its product to be “Professional Yet Tactical”, you just know it’s being marketed to the noobs and tactibros. Not the actual Gray Men of the world. Why in the blazes would anyone want to walk around with a satchel that screams “yo! I gots cool stuff inside!”??
Field Notes. Do I win?
I don’t use an EDC bag. It can be taken from me. Like a woman’s purse. But I do EDC a long gun. Concealed. You just have to wear the correct clothing.
“But I do EDC a long gun. Concealed. You just have to wear the correct clothing.”
Please describe the make, model, and caliber of the long gun you EDC and how you conceal it.
I eagerly await your reply with ears perked up, on the edge of my seat, and with baited breath… 😉
Sir. Respectfully. You need to think outside side the box. First start with a take down long gun. They come in several different calibers. A short coat or vest with supports sewn in. And you can carry a long gun in the summer time.
Or you can carry your long gun in a book bag. Like I did while in college for several years. Back when shooters on campus when in the news about every 5 or 6 months.
You just have to select the correct clothing for that time of year.
Also weight will be an issue. So becareful when making your selections. It adds up carry extra ammunition.
Also I should add that a “pistol” in the 21st century. Is not the same as a pistol 100 years ago.
Please read between the lines.
I first practiced carrying around the house. I advise doing that with a hand gun. Or a long gun. You need to understand what it physically means to carry a weapon. Sitting standing walking. And even running. I hope people are using a lockable holster. I got that advice right here on TTAG 15 years ago.
And don’t forget about using the restroom while armed!!
And no I will not tell what long gun I carry. But I did say last year.
big(smile)
Assuming legal more than a few folding options that could conceal under some coats. Stamps or not at all legal……. probably a slightly oversized windbreaker.
Illegal in this state.
We call that a man purse…
As one or more of our sage commenters noted, velcro and molle on exterior scream gun guy to anyone with a lick of sense.
On rare occasions I need a bag, I have a Chrome Industries pack with single shoulder strap. The older I get, the more I appreciate low profile.
I got away from my 5.11 tactical pants and switched to LA Police Gear jeans. They fit well and I don’t attract attention from security guards in non-permissive venues. in fact I waltzed through a metal detector and half-assed wanding with a big assed blade & an LCP Max a weekend or two ago.
“You have a metal belt buckle?”
“Yep. A big one and a wad of keys and a phone too.”
The wand protested at the apprpriate places and she waved me through.
While MOLLE webbing is super common and really quite popular with the younger cohort as part of their daily school-bag type stuff (things like the RUSH bags), I tend to avoid bags that look like this unless I’m using them for the purpose that they kinda look like they’re meant for.
I rock a Patagonia, or similar, specifically because it makes me look like a granola munching hippie tree hugger idiot using my tribally approved branded gear made from petroleum products while daydreaming about saving the whales in the company of women who don’t know what a razor is and probably don’t much like men.
Lol
Went to the thrift store and bought book bags. Cheap and effective.
Old camelback backpack. Small and screams hiker/typical NY Democrat white guy and fits right in for upstate NY with typical office clothes. That nobody thinks to check the water bladder is always interesting……..was fun with the military gas mask when they were forcing masking for those who didn’t participate in the science experiment years at
I prefer to look as outlandishly stupid as possible because it’s a great way to blend in with the normies, but I also put a brick in my bag.
So, call it a man purse and enjoy your coma.
/s
Imagine, if you will, how much more prepared for just about everything this country would be if your average gun owner was equally prepared to plug holes in good people (and maybe extinguish small fires) as they were to punch holes in bad people.
Eh, that’s not tactical and it’s icky. Forget I said anything.
You mean like a small basic first aide kit, quick clot dressings, hyfin seal, tournaquette etc? Yeah used to carry all that then I got promoted and have to go through metal detectors and x-rays and didn’t want to get on another list. Like the brick idea if only for hilarity of it ever being used re police report.
I was joking about the brick.
It’s actually a 5lb GoRuck weight.
In all seriousness though, I don’t much worry about lists. I’m on plenty. At a certain point I just expect harassment and plan accordingly.
Fed lists already done, state lists……well less competent and comprehensive and a bit more in my face if I get on them locally. So at least need to play nice for a bit until we run out of funds to be as annoying.
“…while daydreaming about saving the whales in the company of women who don’t know what a razor is and probably don’t much like men.”
Just tell ’em you’re trans with an unusually-large clitoris and you’re in like Flynn.
(Flynn being Errol Flynn, who, many decades ago, liked his females on the criminally-young side…)
for some reason i hear many sub flint, maybe for the coburn films.
A few years ago, I read an allegedly true story written decades ago by an elderly person who said in his younger years he personally attended some of Flynn’s “erot!cally charged” group functions in which clothing was absent and libations were abundant. He said Flynn was very much into hosting such private parties.
I don’t EDC a bag either. Don’t want to be married to it like a woman’s purse.
I often have an Ogio backpack when traveling for business.
It contains my computer, tablet, couple of extra small flashlights, and extra battery.
I also have two bottle of water and some trail mix or peanut butter.
But no gun or other weapons- too easy to get separated.
If it was SHTF, I have another backpack in truck with more water and food and a armor pad.
It also has a spare gun. I would wear it on the front and my Ogio on my back.
But for every day – no bag
“I don’t EDC a bag either. Don’t want to be married to it like a woman’s purse.”
The age of smartphones meant my ole’ reliable comfy jeans were history.
I now rock tac-cargo pants with billions and billions of Velcro-closed pockets for all my various portable crapola, telecommunications and firepower…
I bought an Ogio backpack years ago when I was still working at the cycle shop and the thing just won’t die. One of the few items that are built well. It’s my camo fudd range bag now.
Pretty much the only people in this town that carry back packs or other bags are either students or homeless. On rare occasions I will carry a leather brief case. This item? Not a chance.
“…either students or homeless.”
That’s exactly the look I went for when I bought my Vertx backpack a few years ago. Vertx markets specifically to the CCW/EDC crowd. At the time, there were fifteen color schemes to choose from, including the usual Tactical Black, Multicam, and such. I opted for the one that has colors making it look like a college football team enthusiast owns it. Nondescript and very much blends in to any crowd.
Not long ago, while I was on my way toward the locker room in my local gym, two (very much pumped up, probably on ‘roids) loudmouthed guys in their late 20s walked by me, both sporting black packs with MOLLE and the usual “Molon Labe” and “Punisher Skull” type patches. Any onlookers would have focused on them instead of me, who was the actual person in the room with a gat and EDC gear. Just the way a Gray Man wants it to be.
no way those guys were carrying.
It’s a European carry-all Costanza.
I could carry my bag if she would go on a diet.
“I could carry my bag if she would go on a diet.”
You like to live dangerously.
I’ve been known to say in the checkout line if asked if I want a bag to reply I’ll stay single. 😉
(That usually gets me a chuckle or an evil glare…)
waitress, “do you wanna box?”
me, “no- but i’ll wrassle you for it.”
I do a little of both. I always have a handgun, reload, knife and light. Sometimes a second handgun with a reload. I have a little go bag. It’s an old Geico butt pack. A light blue/grey. Don’t see them much anymore, but they don’t attract much attention. Especially if they are not black and especially not leather. Most of the time there’s a rifle at my knee when I’m in the truck. I’ll be traveling this weekend. I heavier bag for that.
Something similar, an understated leather butt-pack with mags and junk…
old ass pack, thor (torsten hallman off road, held five beers for xcountry enduros, scuffed blue heavy cordura), but the cargo pants handle the normal day carry.
You didn’t drink beer and race at the same time, did you? I found the cure for a hangover was sex or desert racing. Not at the same time.
well… yes absolutely and the entire drive home, but. we joined ama 17 and paid entrance fees to gain access to otherwise private land that would be off limits. more and more riding areas were closed due to litigation and development. so it was a way to go riding and sandbag so as not to be forced up into “b” class. so, participating in sanctioned events but not seriously competing.
My EDC bags are pocket-sized and attached to my pants.
I’ve an automatic knife. The other day I tried to open it and a dime had gotten stuck in the front. The knife blade was jammed. Glad I did not have to use that at that time for a DKU. Lol
Change goes into the left front now. Live and learn.
how many times the routine has updated.
Like I’ve said before – the entire left wing is a death cult, some just more than others, especially the democrat politicians and liberals … U.S. Congressman Dan Crenshaw caught on hot mic threatening to kill Tucker Carlson.
h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4PSUL8eH4Y
In the tax-dollar fraud, waste, abuse ‘depravity’ department: Reporters Found What Intel Officers Spoke About on Government Time. You’ll Need Bleach for Your Eyes.
h ttps://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2025/02/24/total-depravity-wait-thats-what-intelligence-officers-were-talking-about-on-government-time-n2652716
and in response … NSA, CIA Respond to Reports of Concerning Chats in Federal Messaging System.
h ttps://redstate.com/nick-arama/2025/02/24/cia-response-on-use-of-nsa-messaging-program-n2185978
It is fairly common for people to lug around a notebook computer carrier which can accommodate today’s thin-profile notebook computers, a thin notebook, and associated power supply plus charging cables. To the extent that anything that you carry looks like that, I don’t think anyone would give it a second thought.
I like the particular option for that particular bag to transition to a thin-ish backpack. (Oops, I typed the word “transition” in that last sentence–is that going to trigger anyone?)
For those that didn’t know: Clint Hill, AKA ‘Agent #9’, passed on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025 at the age of 93.
He is the secret service agent, who on on Nov. 22, 1963, in an attempt to protect then-President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, chased down the convertible.
When a shot rang out, he kept his eyes trained on the president, who then grabbed his throat and fell to his left. Hill jumped off of his vehicle and then ran to the presidential limousine amid gunfire. He leapt onto the car, attempting to form a barrier with his body between the gunman and the first couple, risking his life to save theirs.
I got several upper receivers yesterday from my brother. A few are BCM and a few are Anderson and one is a Aero upper receiver, I’m familiar with those and have used them and never had any problems with them. All packaged and new.
I’ve already got all the other stuff I need in my collection of parts to put together several rifles for gifts.
But two of the receivers are the ‘Faxon Enhanced Forged Upper Receiver’ (h ttps://faxonfirearms.com/faxon-enhanced-forged-upper-receiver-complete/) and I’ve never used those before for a rifle build.
Does anyone have any experience with the ‘Faxon Enhanced Forged Upper Receiver’ (i.e. fit, quality, functionality, etc…)?
nope.
I was actually going to ask you about them. Faxons are rather pricey.
I don’t have any experience with the ‘Faxon Enhanced Forged Upper Receiver’. I know they always seem to be out of stock on them, and the other outlets for them also seem to be out of stock on them frequently – so someone is buying them so maybe they are popular. I like their barrels though for general purpose builds and have some of them stored away.
If I was looking to buy an upper receiver for a build, I’d probably not specifically go to Faxon as my primary ‘go to’ pick. Although I have used different brands for the upper and lower receiver, and even ones I do with the GG cnc for a lower, I tend towards BCM or Anderson for solid general purpose builds, for more special purpose or a more precision thing then I’d go with something else. But these Faxon upper receivers I got were free so why not use them.
The last bag around here got kicked out of bed.
I am not agin them, but EDC bags are not for me.
Too much to lug around and I am apt to forget and leave it somewhere that I will not remember either.
When Mao’s and Stalin’s Body Counts Are Just Too Much to Overlook for an Aspiring Lefty Gun Owner.
h ttps://www.shootingnewsweekly.com/gun-nation/when-maos-and-stalins-body-counts-are-too-much-to-overlook-for-an-aspiring-lefty-gun-owner/
Media Sob For Fired Bureaucrats After Telling Thousands Of Biden-Booted Energy Workers To Suck It Up.
“It seems that Trump firing 58 people is newsworthy, while Biden firing 14,000 pipeline workers was not.
…
I was at the last outpost of the Keystone XL pipeline when President Biden shut it down in January of 2021. The only TV outlet there covering the shutdown was Fox News. My organization, Power The Future, fights for energy workers, and Joe Biden had declared war against them.
Biden signed Executive Order 13990 just a few hours after his swearing in, and thousands of people were suddenly out of a job.
…
’60 Minutes’ did run a segment recently on 58 USAID managers who were fired by President Trump’s DOGE house cleaning. I called them out in what we can call a viral post on X. Trump firing 58 people is newsworthy. Biden firing 14,000 pipeline workers was not.
After Biden signed the executive order, it was the newly crowned Climate Czar John Kerry who justified the decision, saying the Keystone workers would now ‘have better choices’ and could ‘go to work to make the solar panels.’
An op-ed in the Washington Post celebrating the climate actions saying ‘almost every Cabinet job is actually a climate job.’ Nowhere did it mention John Kerry was ‘unelected,’ but I guess those qualifiers only pertain to Elon Musk.
…”
h ttps://thefederalist.com/2025/02/25/media-sob-for-fired-bureaucrats-after-telling-thousands-of-biden-booted-energy-workers-to-suck-it-up/
Item #419176 at microcenter. I like it so much, I bought 2 more, for the wife & daughter. Crossbreed holster stuff fits in it like a charm, along with laptop & sundries as needed. If I wanted to really go stylin’ I could write 5.11 on it with a white paint marker. But I prefer the gray man look, which this provides for a quarter of the price.
I also have a cabelas loupe backpack, with a ballistic panel inserted. That one currently carries the backup 9mm in crossbreed stuff, and spends more time with me. I really like crossbreed’s velcro options and have several setups.
Will the other comments that were here before this upgrade to the site… will they be coming back?
well, this is awkward.
an article on a bag that was soundly rejected in the comments reappears without the comments.
It looks like all of the front page article comments were purged. I see comments on older articles, but those comments were missing earlier too.
Little pink pills in a big brown bag.
I’ve been watching vidjahs, seems to me there is a lot of criminal types that go grabbing at there bags. Seen a spook maneuver car jacking, cat jumps out and reaches in his bag. Like pull up or pew pew.
Wow, an article about someone who uses a laptop bag for work and carries stuff in it. I don’t know how I survived without this knowledge before now. I can’t thank you enough.
Wait, where’s the flashlight?
Nevermind, I know you’re carrying it on your wrist, in a pocket, or clipped onto your belt. 😀
You left out the ostentatious Bluetooth earbud permanently residing in one ear. But Seriously Folks, carrying a firearm in a bag is a great way to lose control over it, especially if you hang it over the back of the front seat where little Suzy can reach it and plug you in the back.
That’s part of why you have the bag. To carry duct tape.
For Suzy.
If it has velcro on the outside it screams EDC or that your are carrying.