Everyday Carry

15 More EDC Essentials Under $15

Authored by:
Mikey Bautista
15 More EDC Essentials Under $15
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Rounding out your EDC doesn't always have to cost and arm and a leg. In the first installment of 15 Under $15, we showed that a complete and effective carry requires very little investment. If you've been feeling the pinch lately but still feeling the itch for new gear, here are some more of our affordable picks to keep both your carry and your wallet happy.

Lights

Nitecore Tube

The Nitecore Tube with its 45 lumen variable output with 48 hours of runtime is more than an ample light for your keychain. It's in for the long haul with a tough polycarbonate exterior and built-in micro USB charger.

BUY ($10)

Maglite Solitaire LED

This isn't your old man's Maglite. The new Solitaire takes one of the most popular AAA light designs of all time and updates it for the next generation with 37 lumens in watertight anodized aluminum.

BUY ($14)

Knives

SOG Micron 2.0

The SOG Micron 2.0 is a high-performance folding tanto knife at home right on your keychain. With a 2.25" blade and a lockback for safety, it's minimum in stature but fully-featured for everyday tasks.

BUY ($16)

(Editor’s Note: Since the time of writing, the price of the Micron 2.0 has jumped to $16.17 but with free shipping. A similar, more compact alternative still under $15 is the original Micron, here.)

Kershaw Crown

Classy design, great materials, and capable steel make up the Kershaw Crown, making it perfect for a dressier carry. There's a lot of value to be had with its 8Cr13MoV steel and micarta handles, and usage is easy with its thumbstud opener and liner lock.

BUY ($15)

Schrade Imperial Penknife

Schrade is a brand known for their time-tested gentleman folders, and the IMP16S Imperial is no different. With three blade shapes to suit all your cutting tasks and weighing only 1.9 ounces, the Imperial is ideal for an everyday pocket knife.

BUY ($10)

Multitools

Leatherman Brewzer

The Brewzer is Leatherman's keychain multitool and keeps things nice and simple with its prybar and bottle opener. With two solid tools for a solid price, it deserves a spot on any keychain.

BUY ($11)

Wallets

Saddleback Leather Card Sleeve

With a 100-year warranty, Saddleback Leather products are serious about their quality. This card sleeve is made of 100% full-grain leather, slimly cut for front-pocket carry, and has a bottom hole for ease of retrieval for your cards and cash.

BUY ($14)

Keychain

Exotac FREEKey System

Stop breaking your nails on your keychain split ring with the Exotac FREEKey System. Designed to allow easy entry and exit with a press of its strategically-placed bump that acts as a pivot, the FREEKey ensures quick and painless keychain operation.

BUY ($8)

Victorinox Clippers

The Victorinox Clippers bring Swiss quality and sharpness to nail maintenance on the go. The stainless steel clippers also include a file, keychain loop, and an intuitive closing mechanism which make for a compact everyday hygiene tool.

BUY ($13)

Silicon Power 16GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive

USB 2.0 speeds just don't cut it anymore with today's large files. Upgrade your old keychain flash drive with the Silicon Power Jewel J80, powered by USB 3.0, made from durable zinc alloy, and designed to perfectly fit on your keychain.

BUY ($13)

Outdoors

The Friendly Swede Survival “Grenade”

The Friendly Swede Grenade is a handy survival pack that fits right in the palm of your hand. It comes with useful complement of tools from a knife to fishing hooks to tinder and an included carabiner lets you easily attach it to your pack.

BUY ($9)

CRKT Eat N’ Tool XL

CRKT's Eat N’ Tool XL makes dining outdoors a snap. Combining a spork, bottle opener, and three hex wrenches on one tool lets you conveniently tackle any food or beverage packaging that presents itself on your excursion.

BUY ($11)

Writing

Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen

Upgrade your daily jotter to this stylish Pilot fountain pen without paying a handsome price. The Metropolitan collection comes with a medium nib, two refill methods, and three colors to suit your use.

BUY ($13)

Sharpie Stainless Steel Pen

Stainless steel Sharpies are an EDC favorite with their consistent writing action and durable exterior. This Fine Point model takes on a smaller pen form factor, giving you Sharpie reliability without the bulkier marker size.

BUY ($5)

Power

Anker Astro Mini 2nd Gen

With our reliance on our phones and tablets for everyday tasks, it's a nightmare to get caught without power while away from an outlet. The lipstick-sized 3200mAh Anker is the perfect portable companion for a quick boost of power for most modern gadgets.

BUY ($13)

We hope you liked our picks for an inexpensive additions to your EDC. Did we miss a great piece of gear on our list? Tell us about your own inexpensive finds in the comments below!

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.

Discussion (11 total)

Rockett ·
Great guide right here, will be picking up a few of these for my own EDC, thanks!
William ·
Very helpful for EDCing on a budget thank you!
Great guide. A little correction though: the Pilot Metropolitan comes in 3 versions (plain, dot, zig-zag) of each original color (black, gold, silver), plus the 5 colors of the MR Animal collection. And it is in both fine and medium nibs.
Jameson Bacleon ·
I'm really happy with the Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen. Smooth writer and inexpensive.
cesar ·
Great Guide! will definitely be buying a few of these
I've been carrying the SOG Micro 2 in my wallet for 3 years now. I love how light and slim it is, making it basically invisible in my carry. When I do find myself without a primary carry knife, its nice to know that I have this little guy tucked behind my ID panel.
mike-outdoor ·
Great guide!
Bob Chiappi ·
Really loving that Kershaw crown. That would be a fine dress knife. My current gentlemen's knife is a Kershaw drop point wild turkey.
Patrick LaFollette ·
I know you probably had to find something else to put on this list, but I can't imagine recommending the Brewzer to anyone for $11 when you can get a Gerber shard for roughly half that with 7 tools on it.
Scott Johnson ·
The Maglite LED Solitare is total garbage. The spring in the tailcap is too weak and my light would flicker.
Manufacturing defect?