Life in the Philippines isn’t always the tropical paradise our tourism department would have the world believe. We are far enough from the equator to enjoy cool weather during parts of the year, but close enough to the Ring of Fire to be burned in its wake. We’ve been battered by heat waves, storms, floods, and earthquakes in our recent past, and the writing on the wall is that we’re in for much worse. Today, July 30th, our country prepares for the inevitable Big One as we conduct a metro-wide earthquake drill. Six big storms have hit the country in the past seven months, and every day the weather is becoming increasingly unpredictable.
Recent tropical storm formations in the Pacific Ocean. Source: NOAA
Even as a relatively safe city-dweller, the elements pose a serious threat to the people and property around me. In this very real and personal edition of Carry Smarter, I take a hard look at my everyday carry and determine the features and adjustments I’ve had to make to address both the increasingly harsh climate and ill-equipped infrastructure of my city. My hope is that you’ll discover what you need to know to better choose gear you can depend on, no matter the weather or situation.
The 3 Main Qualities of a Weatherproof Carry
I had to take a hard look at the quality of my carry both inside and out. For example, a watch may be made of rustproof and waterproof materials, but if not reliably sealed, it will be rendered useless caught out in the rain. Similarly, a knife may be made of the hardest and sharpest steels on the market, but rusted out it’s neither safe nor useful. I considered the following features when thinking about how to adjust my kit to better brave the storms:
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Water Resistance: To be truly secure against the weather, your equipment must be protected against its most abundant and pervasive resource — water. They should be sealed against moisture and liquid entry, resistant to its chemical reactions, and able to survive extended exposure against it (especially important given how much of it we get in typhoon season).
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Enduring quality: As important build quality is to a product, even more crucial is how it retains that quality under and after duress. Will your flashlight still turn on after nosediving into the dirt, or will your phone stand up to dust kicked up by the wind? And if they do, can they continue that performance day in and day out?
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Internal Protection: External durability doesn’t mean much if it can’t sufficiently protect a product’s core function. Unprotected, unsealed, non-padded, and ineffective construction will render your tools to trinkets with even light use.
Below are ideas for EDC-worthy essentials that meet these criteria. These aren’t necessarily for the hardcore survivalist, but they do possess reliable features to get you through constant bad weather. Also important is that they’re both readily available to pick up as well as suitable for your daily carry, such as if you have to commute for hours in a downpour like I often do. Simply put, they’re among the best weatherproof tools you can actually get your hands on without investing a fortune.
8 Essentials Built to Brave a Storm
Spyderco Salt I
The Salt I is based on Spyderco’s venerated Delica design and features one of the most unique steels on the market. Japanese H-1 steel does not rust. That fact alone already makes the knife a strong contender for any outdoor activity, but in our rain-soaked metro in particular, that quality is priceless. Add in EDC-friendly specs, price, and build pedigree, and the Salt I is the easiest pick for this list.
Nitecore EF1
Nitecore’s newest flashlight may be overkill for this list, but it’s a good example of the type of build quality to aim for. Designed for the most dangerous applications, it achieves explosion-proof tolerances with a body thickness of 3mm (thicker than most lights on the market) and a 10mm-thick epoxy resin optical lens to protect its emitter. It pushes out 830 lumens on either 1 x 18650 or 2 x CR123A cells, and uses an efficient single-action sliding switch for ease of use even while gloved. In the face of calamity, the EF1 is the light that lives to tell the tale.
Columbia Watertight II Rain Jacket
Heavy jackets like parkas and windbreakers aren’t de rigueur in a tropical country such as ours, but the ever-present chance of rain and floods means staying dry is still a priority. A light, waterproofed, breathable light jacket like the Columbia Watertight II is perfect for both the temperature and sufficient protection needed for daily commutes. The price and local availability are also attractive additions to the package.
LifeProof Frē Phone Case
Staying connected and having a means to communicate is vital in a bad weather emergency. Plenty of phone cases offer some protection, but in these conditions, not all are what they’re cracked up to be. I’ve seen for myself the LifeProof in action, and do I believe its considerable defense to be worth its heftier price tag. It keeps the highest possible safety standard of protection without diminishing the phone’s usability, putting it leagues ahead of your ordinary case or sleeve.
Bellroy Elements Pocket
Wallets are already essential to our EDC, and in an emergency cash and identification are crucial to getting escalated assistance. The Bellroy Elements Pocket‘s all-weather, durable leather and water-resistant zipper accommodate and insulate up to 15 cards and bills, keeping them dry when you aren’t.
Rite in the Rain All-Weather Notebook Kit
One of the toughest notebooks in the business makes carrying even more convenient by teaming up with a rugged Cordura fabric cover and all-weather pen. This ensures that emergency numbers, locations, and messages get delivered when nothing else has stayed dry, legible, or powered on. We’ve talked before about why you should carry a pen and a notebook, so additional resilience on top of utility is more than welcome.
Timbuk2 Rogue Laptop Backpack
In Manila, our residential areas are so far removed from our business districts that we carry the tools of our livelihood (like laptops) along with us for multi-hour commutes. The Timbuk2 Rogue is a rugged city bag that would excel at such travels, defending against the elements with waterproof tarpaulin and an internal mesh sleeve that holds laptops up to 15″. Its external flap with push-locks covers up and shields the main compartment, while an external pocket and internal organization leave enough room for supplies.
Casio G-Shock GW6900-1 Solar Atomic
Military tough, packed with features, and inexpensive, there’s a G-Shock for every person and profession. It’s the watch you see most in public here in the metro. The toughness and weather resistance are a natural fit for the weather, and the variety of styles at affordable prices keeps things attainable and interesting. The GW6900’s solar atomic features put our scorching months to good use, and its timeless construction guarantees performance the rest of the stormy year.
I hope that my circumstances and considerations in selecting a weatherproof carry have given you ideas on how to adapt and prepare a carry suitable for your own elemental challenges. Do you have a piece of kit that’s survived its share of squalls? Tell us your story in the comments below.
