I would definitely recommend a very good quality folding knife around 3-3.5" for EDC, 100.00+ you will recoup the value when you really need to use it for defense. As for a flashlight, again don't go cheap they just break or aren't bright enough, but for this I mean like 40.00 or so. Check out Ezetta, I have a Fenix E11 that isn't very expensive and has a great led light that is around 100-200 lumens, forget the exact number but it's quite bright, and takes 1 AA battery. I am amazed that some of you carry a Gerber every day? Very bulky for a jeans pocket and draws attention if worn in its pouch on the belt unless you are a person that would use it in their job such as myself when I worked. I carry mine everyday on my belt but everyone around me is used to me carrying something like that all the time. I also wear military type BDU pants everyday so plenty of room for me to carry a bunch of stuff. My EDC is listed in another post on the gun page somewhere, but here is the short list; Walther PPS 9mm in a custom made outside or IWB holster with 2 spare mags in matching holder, flashlight from above, Zero Tolerance folding knife(forget exact model), paracord survival bracelet(not one of the crappy cheap ones), sometimes I carry a CRKT folder instead of the Zero, Zippo lighter, don't smoke but always good to have a Zippo! I carry a spare flint in the lighter and spare fluid in the car, usually find a way to carry a carabiner either on a belt loop or in a pocket(just good to have one that can support someone if it's needed), always carry a tactical pen too since it's another weapon that can be used if needed(forget the brand but it's one that's not an obvious one), that's all I can think of and my hands hurt and I have a headache so going to try and sleep. Have a good night everyone and I hope this helped so,e people, if not I can answer more questions next time I am on the forum.