Everyday Carry

FLEX: Fitness and Health Essentials

Authored by:
Mikey Bautista
Reviewed by:
Bernard Capulong
Founder and Editor-in-Chief
14+ Years Reviewing EDC Products
FLEX: Fitness and Health Essentials
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It's 2015, a fresh new year with fresh new opportunities. Undoubtedly one of the most common resolutions is to be healthier and to be more active, and what better way to do so than going outside and pounding the pavement, picking up a sport, or hitting the gym and pumping some iron? While you're busy pushing your body outside its comfort zone, your gear should be right there with you, lighting the way, and keeping you informed, hydrated and protected. The Everyday Carry team proudly presents Flex, our guide to the best gear that will let you hit the new year running.

Maxpedition Gear Growler Duffel BagMaxpedition Growler Load-Out Duffel Bag

Any old gym bag can carry your gear, but not every old gym bag is outfitted with hardware this rugged. In addition to its spacious capacity, the Growler's exterior is made of abrasion-resistant, lightweight ballistic nylon, interior lined with Teflon fabric protector, and comes with high-quality YKK zippers, UTX-Duraflex nylon buckles, and reinforced straps made of nylon webbing. When it isn't lugging around your gym essentials, a bag this rugged can handle go-bag or travel duties in a pinch, too.

BUY ($81)

Other Options: For a slick duffel bag/backpack hybrid, check out the Duffel Pack ($149 @ aersf.com), and for another nice modern tactical alternative that you can take from the gym to the office, check out the Gym/Work Bag ($184 @ DSPTCH).

Fitbit Charge Wireless Activity TrackerFitbit Charge Activity Tracker

The Charge takes the functionality and tracking capabilities of its popular siblings the Flex and the One, and adds a screen onto its wrist-mounted form factor, making it a perfect way to track fitness statistics (like steps taken) at a glance.

BUY ($126)

Hydro Flask Insulated Stainless Steel Water BottleHydro Flask Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle

There's a reason the Hydro Flask is one of the most popular water bottles on the market. It's hard to argue against 18/8 food-grade stainless steel, vacuum insulation that prevents "sweating" and keeps drinks cold for 24 hours (or hot for 12), and even offers a lifetime warranty. Its powder-coated exterior provides an excellent grip and a feel in hand reminiscent of the rest of your durable EDC gear. With a variety of colors, lid styles, sizes, you're sure to find a bottle that suits your hydration needs.

BUY ($23)

BTB Sport Optics 800 Polarized SunglassesBTB Sport Optics 800 Polarized Sunglasses

High-performance polarized sunglasses shouldn't have to cost an arm and a leg. BTB Sport Optics are lightweight, inexpensive, and able to stop shotgun shot, which make them an excellent alternative to more expensive ballistic lenses.

BUY ($50)

RunningBuddy Runner's PouchRunning Buddy 6+ Pouch

With today's extra large flagship phones, the usual svelte running belts just don't cut it anymore. Running Buddy have upgraded their popular attachable, magnetic, water-resistant essentials pouch to accommodate today's popular large phones like the iPhone 6 Plus and Nexus 6.

BUY ($24)

Garmin Forerunner 220Garmin Forerunner 220

GPS tracking is a great way to monitor your travel distance and progress, and Garmin needs no introduction as a leader in the wearable tracker race. The Forerunner 220 has many features at a great price, which include a color display, accurate GPS tracking, statistics recording with its built-in accelerometer and connectivity to its own smartphone app, and waterproofing up to 50 meters, making it ideal for any athletic condition.

BUY ($224)

MEElectronics Sport Fi M6P HeadphonesMEElectronics Sport Fi M6 In-Ear Monitors

The gym is no place for your expensive IEMs and full-size headphones. You want good sound, but you also don't want the elements getting in the way of your music. The MEElectronics M6 are noise-isolating (careful when crossing roads!), secure fit, headphones that feature IPX-5 sweat- and water-resistance and a cable with minimal noise and tangle resistance, all packed into a carrying case with six sets of tips for maximum versatility and portability.

BUY ($25)

Sandisk Sansa Clip+SanDisk Sansa Clip+

The Sansa Clip+ is arguably the best digital audio player you can buy for your money, with a rich set of features that make for a great portable device. In addition to its tiny size and light weight that make it a "clip-it-and-forget-it" device, the Clip+ packs an expandable 8GB of memory, high-visibility OLED display, digital FM tuner, and built-in rechargeable battery that lasts up to 15 hours. Audiophiles also benefit from the Clip+'s fantastic sound quality and Rockbox-ready capability. If you need music on the go but want to leave your phone at home, this is the DAP for you.

BUY ($50)

Spyderco Dragonfly2 H1Spyderco Dragonfly 2 Salt

The Dragonfly 2 is one of the most ideal EDC knives due to its build quality, ergonomics, and size, and utilizing the rustproof H-1 steel for its blade upgrades its utility even further. With its lightweight build and weatherproof steel, it's a good companion to keep handy when you're out training, rain or shine.

BUY ($47)

FourSevens Atom AL + Headlamp KitFoursevens Atom AL Headlamp

The Atom AL is already a good EDC flashlight on its own, pushing 110lm for 3.5 hours, but its unique features combined with a headlamp kit make it a strong contender for an outdoor light as well. Its glow-in-the-dark reflector makes it ideal for locating in the dark, and its magnetic tail can attach to nearby ferrous surfaces to for hands-free work. The headlamp kit is also able to make use of the Atom AL's floody beam pattern and light weight for POV use in low-light outdoor environments.

BUY ($44)

Cielo Slim Single Chamber Pill HolderCielo Stainless Steel Keychain Pill Holder

In the spirit of being prepared, sometimes you need to pack some aspirin or supplements on the go without wanting to lug around an unwieldy plastic bottle. A stainless steel keychain pill fob is durable, lightweight, and attaches right into your keychain, and this offering by Cielo has room for up to 10 aspirin-sized pills in its airtight, waterproof 1.75" chamber. 

BUY ($25)


We know having high performance gear can't transform your body and improve your health on its own. Hopefully our recommendations in this guide, combined with your hard work, discipline, and consistency, can help take your training to the next level and let you crush those goals. 

How do you plan on staying healthy, and what gear helps you do it? Let us know — leave a comment below and tell us about your favorite ways to stay active and what essentials you'd recommend to others looking to improve their health!

Mikey Bautista

Director of Everyday Carry Operations


About the Author
Mikey Bautista is an everyday carry (EDC) expert who has been working with the EverydayCarry.com team for nearly a decade, starting with an interest in EDC as a hobby and ending up as a writer for the site in 2014. Through the years, he’s led the site in editorial content and writing about products across every category, from knives to bags to flashlights and everything in between, as well as discovering, bringing exposure, and building bridges with many brands in the industry. Today, he is the site's Director of Everyday Carry Operations, leading the editorial team and managing day-to-day operations.

He has lived through many personal and professional lives, spending nearly a decade in the workforce management industry, a minor career in gaming, and has lent a hand with entrepreneurial efforts back home in the Philippines. He has also been an active participant and helped build a number of significant social communities online, both for EDC and his other hobbies.

Mikey has been at the cusp of gaming, technology, and the internet since the ‘90s and continues to lend his experience, expertise, and authority to all his pursuits. When not online, in a game, or watching movies, you'll find him in the gym, speedrunning his next hobby, or talking at length about EDC with anyone willing to listen.

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 (7 total)

Chris Szaroleta ·
I've almost bought a Hydro Flask the last 4 times of gone to my local REI. Haven't pulled the trigger yet...
Bernard Capulong ·
dude.. since getting mine i've been sipping through a liter of water a day. I got the 18oz with wide mouth and flip top. it's awesome
joWatts ·
What is the biggest size they have? Does it change the taste of the water?
Bernard Capulong ·
I believe the largest is 40oz. One of us at the office has one. I only put water in mine, but I haven't tasted any difference. It's always crisp and clean and I can actually taste the difference in water from out of the fridge versus in a Brita type filter when using it.
I have the 40oz one, it's great, doesn't alter the flavor whatsoever. 64oz is the biggest they sell on their site.
Chris Szaroleta ·
Fine, fine, fine...I submit. I'll get one the next time I'm at the store. ;-)
Thomas Rick ·
Track & field season has kicked off and practice has kicked my butt. I must firstly say good shoes. But the team is pretty jealous of some of my Nike running ear buds that (sometimes) make the practices go by faster.