Everyday Carry: 6 Items in Aaron Cowan’s EDC Bag

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Firearm
Nearly every day I carry an <a target=blank href=http://www.agencyarms.com>Agency Arms</a> Field Edition Glock 19. I came to trust its dependability over a period of very hard use, and consider it an excellent balance of function-then-form. The low-profile, flared mag well allows easy concealment while aiding in reloading; the frame accelerator ledge gives a positive support-hand thumb indexing point for proper grip and helps muzzle reset during fire. It’s milled for the <a target=blank href=https://www.trijicon.com/na_en/products/product3.php?pid=RM07>Trijicon RM07</a> (6.5 MOA), and I have my rear iron sights forward of the RMR so they do not interfere with my acquisition of the dot. This configuration helps to prevent focus confusion under stress. I have a <a target=blank href=http://www.surefire.com/x300-ultra-led-weaponlight-1.html>SureFire X300 Ultra</a> attached for situations where two-handed control and light use is a necessity.

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Belt
The <a target=blank href=http://www.aresgear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=6>Ares Gear Ranger Belt</a> is the foundation for the holster, which is where our draw generates. A sturdy belt helps greatly with a consistent grip and draw by keeping everything in place. It takes a little longer to put on because of its design, though its benefits make it more than worth it.

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Holster
The <a target=blank href=https://guncraftusa.com/product/arcane-iwb/>Gun Craft Arcane</a> is a sleek IWB with a minimal amount of material; Kydex only where it’s needed, without extra bulk. The Kydex is covered in a heat-resistant material that’s very helpful in training settings when reholstering a hot weapon. A positive retention belt clip allows for easy in and out of the belt line, with a wide grab so the holster doesn’t shift with changes in body position. I carry a spare 20-round magazine in a low-ride Gun Craft Rapid pouch. It sits a little lower in the belt line to accommodate the taller magazine.

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Knife
I carry two knives, both Emersons. The <a target=blank href=http://emersonknives.com/shop/knives/roadhouse-sf/>Roadhouse</a> is mainly an everyday utility knife, whereas the <a target=blank href=http://emersonknives.com/shop/commander-the-knives/commander-sf/>Commander</a> is support-side blade for weapon retention. I’ve had two close calls with weapon retention in my law enforcement career and they both underscored the need for an edged-weapon option for the retention of a firearm. Since I can’t possibly predict the conditions in which a need for weapon retention would happen, carrying on both sides of the body is a prudent choice that doesn’t alter my daily life.

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Flashlight
A handheld light is an absolute necessity, and a weapon-mounted light is a luxury. Both are necessities to me, but if you can only carry one for some reason, handheld is the choice. Not only does it aid in low-light fire, it can be prepped and ready anytime you are in low-light conditions, allowing you near-instant access to better visual data (like walking by a dark alley). It also provides a deterrent to encounters with unknowns. A blast of light to the face will remove a potential bad guy’s visual horizon and give you a distinct advantage. I carry the <a target=blank href=http://www.surefire.com/p2x-fury.html>SureFire P2X Fury</a> for its well-known lineage of dependability and the superior 600-lumen maximum brightness.

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Key Management
Fumbling with cell phones and keys are two choice times for predators to make their move. The former is preventable with prudent situational awareness; for the latter I use a <a target=blank href=http://www.keybar.us>Key-Bar</a>. It’s a simple device that allows my keys to be collected into a linear device. No key rings, no fumbling, just one-hand manipulation to flip out the correct key, and with practice it can be done without light, just by feel. Adding only my most-used keys makes the process much faster.

In this installment of Everyday Carry, we take a look at the EDC setup of tactical and law enforcement trainer Aaron Cowan. Aaron’s EDC, like most others, has been refined by experience, new technology, training and need before want. His EDC is shaped accordingly. Aaron is currently the lead instructor for Sage Dynamics here in the United States. He has served three years in the U.S. Army and four in the National Guard, worked as a private security contractor, and served as In-Service training officer and Special Reaction Team leader at the Department of Defense. Aaron was responsible for Special Reaction Team training and qualifications as well as instruction and control of the SRT Sniper Section. Aaron is a member of the National Tactical Officers Association and the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors. Scroll through the gallery above to read about Aaron Cowan’s everyday carry kit, in his own words.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Agency Arms
http://www.agencyarms.com

Ares Gear
http://www.aresgear.com

Gun Craft
https://www.guncraftusa.com

Emerson Knives
http://www.emersonknives.com

SureFire
http://www.surefire.com

Key-Bar
http://www.keybar.us

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