Everyday Carry

8 Accessories to Organize Your EDC Bag

Authored by:
Ed Jelley
Reviewed by:
Bernard Capulong
Founder and Editor-in-Chief
14+ Years Reviewing EDC Products
8 Accessories to Organize Your EDC Bag

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So you've finally tracked down what feels like the perfect EDC bag. It's built to last and can hold everything you'd ever need. But being truly prepared doesn't stop at just having a solid bag and all the right contents. Keeping everything properly organized is just as crucial—it ensures you can get what you need when you need it, and it makes carrying everything much easier. Most of the time, bags have some built-in organization, but we EDCers tend to need more. In this guide, we'll break down our favorite accessories that can help keep your EDC odds and ends organized neatly.


Grid-It

The Grid-It is a matrix of grippy elastic bands, fixed to a sturdy backing. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they're perfect for holding onto items of all sizes. Simply stretch the band, slip in some gear, and place it back in your bag. The best part about using the Grid-It system is how easy it makes switching between different bags. If everything you need is already attached, place it in your other bag and be on your way.

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Velcro Cable Ties

Wrapping up a cable by itself isn't the neatest way to carry them. If the inside of your bag looks like a birds nest, then pick up some velcro cable ties. These loop around the cable first, so they're harder to lose. The ties good for more than cables too. You can secure a knife to some MOLLE webbing, temporarily strap a battery pack to your phone, and much more.

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Pouch Organizer

If you like the idea of swapping your gear between bags, consider a pouch organizer. The extra step of unzipping the pouch makes it a little harder to get at your EDC, but it adds an extra layer of security. There are plenty of pouches out there, so make sure you find the one best suited to your needs. We like the Maxpedition Micro Pocket Organizer for basic EDC use.

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Camera Insert

Carrying around a dedicated camera bag might be a bit excessive, especially if you're not carrying a camera every day. Camera bags also scream “there's a lot of expensive gear in here.” A great way to organize your camera body, lenses, and accessories is with a camera bag insert that fits right into your EDC bag. They provide padding and organization, and can used as needed. Make sure you check out the dimensions of your bag before picking one up to ensure a perfect fit.

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Internal Flashlight

Finding things inside your bag can be a hassle in itself. You can attach a small flashlight to the inside to find whatever it is you need, no matter how dark it is inside your bag. We like the Nitecore Tube for its small size, rechargeable battery, and price. Not only will this small flashlight light up the inside of your bag, but it will also serve as an excellent backup light that's always on hand.

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Locking Mini Carabiner

Mini carabiners are great for keeping loose gear in one spot. This locking version from Nite Ize will clip onto a knife, flashlight, or keys and keep them right where you want them. Since it locks, you can clip it to the inside, or outside of your bag without worry. Carabiners are also great for holding things together and making quick fixes. Even if this one lives inside your bag, it's nice to know that one is close by.

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Admin Pouch

Admin pouches are used in the law enforcement and tactical communities to hold small, mission-critical items. Basically, it's just a small organized pouch with easy access. This example by Condor has ample room for small accessories like a pen, flashlight, and notebook. You can carry it on the outside of your bag, thanks to the MOLLE-compatible straps on the back. There's a hook-and-loop section on the front that's customizable with your favorite morale patches to add personal flair.

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Packing Cubes

Going away for a few days? Bring some packing cubes. These lightweight fabric pouches are best for keeping clean clothes separate from dirty ones. By compressing and containing your clothes, you can easily get to the rest of the bag's contents. It prevents the awkward “empty your bag” shuffle just because you need something that's drifted to the bottom.

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How do you organize your EDC bag? Let us know how in the comments below!

Bernard Capulong

Founder and Editor-in-Chief


About the Reviewer
Bernard Capulong is an everyday carry (EDC) gear expert, entrepreneur, all-around nerd, and the founder and editor-in-chief of EverydayCarry.com—the largest online community for EDC gear enthusiasts. Since founding Everyday Carry in 2009, he’s built over a decade of experience in the industry, reviewing and highlighting brands and products, including pocket knives, flashlights, wallets, watches, bags, pens, and much more.

Bernard is known for bringing everyday carry out of obscurity and into the mainstream, having been published or featured in various publications such as GQ, TIME Magazine, The New York Times, VICE, HYPEBEAST, Outside, and many others. He has also played a part in curating, designing, and developing digital and physical products, resulting in successful crowdfunding projects or limited edition collaboration products with established softgoods brands. He stays on the pulse of the EDC industry by attending trade shows, participating in online interest communities, and actively engaging with fellow gear enthusiasts on social media.

In addition to being the editor-in-chief and main social media personality for EverydayCarry.com, Bernard is an avid gearhead and collector in general. His personal collections span technical bags, fountain pens, digital cameras, retro gaming hardware, personal hi-fi audio gear, and mechanical wristwatches, to name a few. Bernard Capulong is a prominent figure and trusted authority in the everyday carry industry with a career dedicated to helping people discover this hobby and stay prepared with quality gear.

Discussion (21 total)

I like this list and want to buy one of grid-it. I like the gear ties by nite ize verses Velcro.
Scott Johnson ·
Cool idea, I've got a bunch of small tools I take to work. The gear ties hold them together in two bundles. Thanks.
Xuanren Wang ·
I have a 13 inch Grid-it, really love it. Hold my cords, cables and all those kinds perfectly. Can fit with my briefcase, make life a lot easier.
Paige Johnson ·
Field-tested an organizer like Grit-It while studying abroad in Italy and it worked brilliantly! So nice to not have dig around in my bag for ages while in crowded planes, buses, museums, etc.
Curtis ·
The Vanquest EDCM has completely transformed my backpack. I am now more organized, more prepared, and have more usable space.
John Smith ·
I am using a Grid-It for years. Perfect, simple, immediately visible, for carrying all my little stuff.
TKsovereign ·
Inspired to look into Grid It. I had always leaned towards TAD's molle designed organizer but didn't want to spend the money at the time. As for the clothes packs aka packing cubes I'll be going to IKEA for their cool and cheap cubes. IKEA actually some things that are handy and organized for Get Home Bags, BOBs and some EDCers.
Franklion ·
Would you mind posting what you get?
TKsovereign ·
I recently got my Upptacka/Packing Cubes (4 different sizes at $7.99 family price I think it was) and pretty sweet Upptakka briefcase ($15.99) with great organization inside and with the shoulder strap it can be used in a lot of situation without worry about messing up the exterior. I have nice sling bags but this briefcase I got for other unique reasons and spent so little on it. You can get items for camping/prepping for cheap, small umbrellas for edc carry, as well bags that turn into a quick backpack and well...just go to IKEA and spend the hours I do there lol. It is a cool place to get home and personal stuff if it your kind of thing. The packing cubes have a mesh side so you can see what's inside and are presently 1 color; white mesh on blue material. Seems like a fairly durable cube, zipper and all.
Franklion ·
I checked the site and it's $7.99 with the family price! Great find. They would go perfect inside a 10L pack.

You don't have to tell me about Ikea. Every single room in my first house looked like an Ikea showroom.Hahaha
TKsovereign ·
Yeah I had to revise my statement as I got the packing cubes for $7.99 and the small briefcase for $15.99 at the family price. I can sympathize living in an IKEA showroom. Lol. Those packing cubes are way cheaper than Amazon (buy 2-3) and now carry a 365 day warranty. Not to shabby!!!
Franklion ·
Wanted to mention, I saw the packing cubes but decided against it in favor of the mesh 3-pack and the canvas toiletry bag found right next to the cubes. The toiletry bag is perfect for note books, pens, pencils, multi-tools, flashlights, etc just like any other EDC pouch and it was like $7. I might get more. Thanks for the heads up though!
John L Coulter ·
Ikea is a pretty wonderful place. When you go you have to think outside the box, err...inside the bag.
TKsovereign ·
Ain't that the truth?!
Michael Brousseau ·
I've carried a Maxpedition Micro Organizer for about 10 years. I keep a flashlight, stainless sharpie, pens, neosporin spray, Advil, band-aids, eye-glass cleaner, etc. It's a great way to carry everyday necessities and to keep them organized. It's also easy to transfer from bag, to cargo pants, etc. 100% recommendation for the organizer. It's made of great materials and looks as new as the day I bought it. You gave me a few other good ideas in this article. Thanks!
Michael Brousseau ·
i also highly recommend the Nitecore Tube flashlights! They are near indestructible, USB rechargeable, and flat/easy to carry.
Scott Johnson ·
I'm looking for knit elastic with rubber to make my own grid it.
Scott Johnson ·
Done. These are so easy to make.
2 more comments