Everyday Carry

The Drop: Timex Expedition North Titanium Automatic Watch

The Drop: Timex Expedition North Titanium Automatic Watch

It's a big EDC market out there, and tons of awesome gear is released all the time. We made The Drop to help you discover the latest and greatest essentials worth a spot in your EDC.

Opting for an automatic mechanical watch involves having movements with lots of gears, springs, rotors, and other pieces to work. Where a standard quartz movement condenses all that into a circuit board, part of the allure of having an automatic watch is the mechanism itself, but that mechanism requires a slightly bigger watch, and that bigger size impacts the overall weight. But watches like the new Timex Expedition North Titanium Automatic keep the weight down by using the namesake titanium material instead.

The bead-blasted titanium case allows the 41mm diameter Expedition North to have a heft that wears smaller than its size. In its larger form, however, you get 200 meters of water resistance, which is a lot for a field watch. The larger space also enables more shock resistance for the Japanese automatic movement inside, powering the highly-legible three-hand watch. The dial features Arabic legends, with a Timex Expedition logo at the top. There's a date window at the 3 o'clock position for your convenience. The hands are big and bright in regular light, and in the dark, the hours, hands, and markers feature Swiss Super-LumiNova lume to make it readable in low-light situations. An exhibition caseback is the final stylish flair to the watch, letting you take a peek into its automatic engine. 


What we like: The handsome recycled ocean plastic strap is sustainable for the environment, and it also features easy removal from the 20mm lugs for swapping it out with other straps based on your style and mood.

What to watch out for: Traditional watch enthusiasts tend to have a problem with titanium watches. To them, the lightness is indicative of poor quality and a cheap feeling. But in everyday carry, we know that finding the best materials is part of finding the best tools to do the job, and a titanium watch like the Timex Expedition North Automatic allows for serious weight savings and overall comfort on your wrist.

Final verdict: The Timex Expedition North Titanium Automatic 41mm is a highly easy-to-read field watch featuring a lightweight titanium case, a quality Japanese automatic movement, and a sapphire glass crystal at an attainable price.

Check It Out

Dango Compass XL

Dango Compass XL

"Dango’s combination carabiner/compass makes a great addition to your keychain, belt loop, or backpack. It features a liquid-filled compass with degree markers and a CNC-machined 6061 aerospace aluminum case with a spring steel latch that’s built to..." (via The Awesomer)

Read More

Black EDC set 2023 from Ukraine
1 2 3 4 5
Trigram EDC
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Office daily carry
1 2 3 4 5
My Work Kit
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
The Drop: Vosteed Thunderbird Knife

The Drop: Vosteed Thunderbird Knife

It's a big EDC market out there, and tons of awesome gear is released all the time. We made The Drop to help you discover the latest and greatest essentials worth a spot in your EDC.

Vosteed are on a roll this year, considering they first popped up on our radar late last year with a flashlight, then fast became a favorite knifemaker (for me especially) with their fidget- and budget-friendly models like the Corgi and the Raccoon. Designer Yue Dong and his team aren’t showing any signs of showing down, and the return of a fan-favorite model has me pretty excited.

The Thunderbird was an earlier model in their catalog, with a sleek, tanto-styled blade in S35VN and a larger 3.48” profile with Gmascus (G-10 laminate with a topo pattern) handle scales that contained Vosteed’s patent-pending Trek button lock, which, while not truly ambidextrous, can still comfortably be operated by either hand and still does the job of keeping your fingers away when closing up the blade. Inherent fidget friendliness was also the Thunderbird’s claim to fame, with three ways to flick it open between front and rear jimping and a thumb hole punctuating the end of the blade’s fuller.

The knife returns in a slightly smaller but more premium iteration, now with a top-tier M390 steel making up a 3.25” blade. Gmascus handles make a return with shuffled colorways (three available right now, with the blue/black one coming on November 7th), but this is shaping up to be every bit the fun, fidgetable knife as its larger predecessor.


What we like: Premium steel, a new take on G-10, and three ways to play—what’s not to like?

What to watch out for: The four base models are already good, but I can’t help but get hyped for the titanium variants coming on the 7th as well, which come with ELMAX steel and a frag pattern on the black variant’s scales. Watch this space for a hands-on when we’re able to grab one.

Final verdict: Time to get my flick on.

Check It Out

The Drop: aroundsquare Ultem Collection

The Drop: aroundsquare Ultem Collection

It's a big EDC market out there, and tons of awesome gear is released all the time. We made The Drop to help you discover the latest and greatest essentials worth a spot in your EDC.

The fun and fabulous toys by our friends over at aroundsquare are best known for two things: a whole catalog worth of wearables and carryables to choose from, and being able to pick up most everything in that catalog in a range of materials from wood to the most exotic materials and alloys.

For their October drop, they’re cooking up even more material science with a healthy dose of polyetherimide (PEI), otherwise known more popularly as Ultem. To say that it’s made a splash in EDC is an understatement; its unique properties of high strength and rigidity give it exceptional stability even at very high temperatures, making it a sort of superplastic once it’s set. Matt (the founder of aroundsquare) has a great write-up about it in his e-mail announcing the drop.

As for the drop itself, there’s plenty to scope out and scoop up, Ultem or otherwise. Leading the pack are long and shortform “MKUltems,” my personal favorite wearable they offer, which also comes in both a matte machined finish and polished versions. There are Ultem begleris with the new apple-shaped Mílos beads, as well as in the larger Hardcore Titans variant. Last but not least are Ultem options for both the Banzhi ring and several Knucklebones, so there really is a lot in this drop to look out for if you want to get your amber game on.


What we like: Variety is the spice of life, and Ultem is just another great material option if you’re looking for the perfect mindfulness or meditation toy from aroundsquare. Bonus that it’s also particularly distinct in appearance without adding too much to the cost of a product, without any performance drawbacks.

What to watch out for: Some aroundsquare drops can get popular, and given Ultem’s, these could be snatched up quickly. Set those alarms for 7PM Pacific today, Friday the 27th, to get a jump on the release. Also, check out the other inclusions, like a new cashmere sweater and acrylic sets.

Final verdict: Amber is the color of our energy.

Check It Out

Joe’s Everyday Carry
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
The Drop: SOG Ether FX Fixed Blade Knife

The Drop: SOG Ether FX Fixed Blade Knife

It's a big EDC market out there, and tons of awesome gear is released all the time. We made The Drop to help you discover the latest and greatest essentials worth a spot in your EDC.

Fixed-blade knives have one significant advantage over their folding cousins: without an opening mechanism, they're always ready for you to get to work. Their size and relative weight usually relegate them to dedicated outdoors, hunting, and survival roles, but knives like the SOG Ether FX flip that script.

The SOG Ether FX is skeletonized to reduce its weight to 2.1oz compared to a traditional hunter's knife with brass bolsters and wood inlays, which can weigh much more. Instead, it comes with removable G-10 handle scales. Gone is a traditional fixed camping knife's standard bulky leather belt sheath. In its place is a modern Kydex sheath with a secure belt loop and compatibility with SOG's Universal Mounting System, which lets you attach it to bags, packs, and other accessories.

At the heart of the SOG Ether FX is the full-tang CPM S35VN stainless steel blade. S35VN is a quality blade steel that gets sharp and remains sharp enough for confident everyday carry use. With an overall length of 7.1” and a blade length of 3.1”, it's perfect for everyday carry when you prefer a knife you don't have to fiddle with to use.


What we like: The skeletonized design of the SOG Ether FX and the secure Kydex sheath make this a stellar everyday carry option for anyone wanting to add a fixed-blade knife to their ensemble.

What to watch out for: The bright orange G-10 handle scales make this knife easy to find in your bag or pack. The scales are removable if the orange aesthetic does not work for you. You can then wrap the handle with the material of your choice or leave it bare to save even more weight.

Final verdict: Smartly designed knives like the SOG Ether FX make carrying a fixed-blade knife easier, even when you're not a regular outdoors person.

Check It Out

The Drop: Maratac Titanium DraftTitan Mechanical Pencil

The Drop: Maratac Titanium DraftTitan Mechanical Pencil

It's a big EDC market out there, and tons of awesome gear is released all the time. We made The Drop to help you discover the latest and greatest essentials worth a spot in your EDC.

I love the sturdiness and feeling of quality metal mechanical pencils brought to the table, but the added weight sometimes means the pencil stays at my desk. And that’s a shame because mechanical pencils are the best option when doing work like quick math and temporary note-taking. The Titanium DraftTitan Mechanical Pencil by Maratac changes everything with a durable and beautiful spiral titanium body that's only 1 oz.

The Grade 5 titanium body of the DraftTitan isn't just for looks: it's precision-machined and designed to reduce the overall weight of the pencil in your hand. This slim, sleek, and compact everyday carry writing implement measures 6” long, and it has a titanium clip that acts as a rolling stop for the pencil on your desk.

With its 2mm graphite core and smooth rear click activation, the DraftTitan is a joy to use. It comes with 12 spare refills for added convenience. Whether a mechanical pencil is your primary writing tool or backup, this new CountyComm exclusive mechanical pencil is a solid option for your next gear pickup.


What we like: The spiral titanium body lends an elegant, minimal look to the pencil, helping reduce its weight to just a single ounce. And at under 40 dollars as of this writing, it's also great value for money.

What to watch out for: The Titanium DraftTitan Mechanical Pencil is only available in a serialized run of 1000 pencils at CountyComm. We can't guarantee they'll reappear, so if you want one for yourself, you should act sooner rather than later.

Final verdict: You get a quality everyday carry mechanical pencil when you opt for a Titanium DraftTitan Pencil made by Maratac for CountyComm. It's one of the best options for new metal mechanical pencil pickups today.

Check It Out

The Drop: NORD Refillable Solid Scent Capsule

The Drop: NORD Refillable Solid Scent Capsule

It's a big EDC market out there, and tons of awesome gear is released all the time. We made The Drop to help you discover the latest and greatest essentials worth a spot in your EDC.

(Editor's note 10/26/23: NORD is now selling their capsules directly from their website here; this article has been updated with the link along with updated details.)

Anyone who regularly uses fragrances knows they’ve never been the most carry-friendly items. Heavy, fragile bottles can break and spill liquid inside your bag, and the spray-nozzle function of your typical bottled fragrance means you’ll bombard your surrounding area with a heavy dose of fragrance whether you want to or not. NORD’s Pocket-sized Solidified Fragrance innovatively fixes all those problems by offering a fragrance designed for portability, durability, and discreetness–perfect for smelling great on the go.

NORD’s fragrance comes in the form of a highly-concentrated scented balm. Unlike traditional liquid colognes you’d need to spray, NORD’s concentrated balm can be used with a simple finger swipe and discreetly applied to any part of your skin.

The scent capsule itself comes in a steel case that’s small enough to fit in a coin pocket and is durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of daily use. Four cases are available: Jet Black, Graphite, Mirror, and a 1/100 limited edition Gold. There are three scents to choose from: Bonfire, Pepper Party, and Dancing Flowers. Each scent capsule can be interchanged with any case, with refills readily available when used up. NORD claims that each scent capsule lasts about six months before needing to be replaced.


What we like: NORD uses natural ingredients, which are great for sensitive skin. And since NORD’s scents come as solid balms, you don’t have to worry about taking them with you when flying to your next destination, as they’re all TSA-compliant.

What to watch out for: There are currently only three scent options, with hopefully more on the way. It should also be noted that replacement capsules will only be available from NORD, which will be sold for about $32 each. The aluminum capsules are also 100% recyclable, so they don’t add to environmental waste.

Final verdict: NORD tackles an everyday problem with an innovative solution, offering a truly EDC-friendly way to get your scent on no matter where you are.

Check It Out

The Loadout: Purple Everyday Carry

The Loadout: Purple Everyday Carry

The Loadout is our curated collection of excellent essentials to help give you ideas for building your own everyday carry. We'll do our best to cover your bases, and, at the very least, help you discover even more awesome gear worth a spot in your EDC.

  • Invicta Pro Diver Quartz Watch: $55
  • Olight Baton3 Pro Flashlight: $69.99
  • Kershaw Shuffle Pocket Knife: $22.99
  • CIVIVI Ti-Bar Titanium Prybar Tool: $22.95
  • Colorful edc
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
    The Drop: Bulova Oceanographer GMT Automatic Watch

    The Drop: Bulova Oceanographer GMT Automatic Watch

    It's a big EDC market out there, and tons of awesome gear is released all the time. We made The Drop to help you discover the latest and greatest essentials worth a spot in your EDC.

    Bulova has been making everyday carry timepieces and watches for decades, but their recent creations have marked a turn towards what EDC and watch enthusiasts have in mind. Gone are the big and bulky watches with garish colors, and in are watches like their new Oceanographer GMT. These vintage-inspired automatic mechanical movement watches are a sight to behold, and they're a lot easier to find than looking at the used market for a watch that's older than you.

    The Bulova Oceanographer GMT is a variant of their “Devil Diver” automatic watch. It's rated waterproof down to 666 feet, about 200 meters. I submit that it's devilishly beautiful. It's available in classic diver watch motifs, including the classic red/blue “Pepsi” design, a black/brown and rose gold-tone, and a vintage, yet sporty, off-white cream gunmetal release with a lume dial.

    The stand-out feature of this watch is the GMT complication, which lets you use the GMT hand in conjunction with the rotating outer bezel to keep track of a different time zone and elapsed time at a glance. It takes some getting used to, but once you master the function, it's faster to read the time than to ask Siri or Google what time it is back home when you're on vacation, if you even have internet access in the first place.


    What we like: With its vintage-inspired look and 666 feet of water resistance, the Bulova Oceanographer GMT brings a lot of performance and class to the table in a package that doesn't require you to play the lottery or sit on a waitlist to wear.

    What to watch out for: The 41mm case width is something to keep in mind if you have thinner wrists, but as a diver-style watch, it's in line with expectations.

    Final verdict: With its classic styling, quality Japanese Miyota 9075 movement, and beautiful waterproof case, there aren’t many things not to like about the Bulova Oceanographer GMT.

    Check It Out

    Buying Guides