5.11 Tactical Norris Sneaker

For many people, the “C” in EDC not only stands for “carry,” but also, in a large part, for “commute.” Whether it’s heading for school, checking in at work, running errands for the day, or blazing trails on the weekend, we all spend a lot of time on the move. This makes what we wear equally as important as what we carry, especially underfoot. While best known for their EDC bags, 5.11 Tactical also sets the bar high for performance clothing, and their new Norris sneaker is the latest addition to their line of tactical apparel. With a relaxed style, comfort-focused design, and durability built into every feature, it’s an excellent addition to the everyday commuter’s wardrobe.

While on first look the Norris looks like a casual high-top sneaker, its secret lays in its sole. The encapsulated outsole is made by Vibram Marbani—a pioneer in rugged footwear technology itself—with XS Trek, giving the shoe a solid balance of traction and durability within the forefoot and heel zones. This means solid footing particularly for wet surfaces, ensuring your safety even when the weather takes a turn for the worse. Speaking of solid footing, inside the Norris an Ortholite footbed keeps your foot supported and comfortable for even the longest treks. Adding to the tactical technology in the sole is its ASTM-certified puncture resistance thanks to an extremely durable Welmax board, which guards your feet against up to 1,200 newtons (290 pounds) of force.

The heavy-duty construction continues into the shoe’s upper, especially in its toebox area, where climbing-grade rubber protects your toes with extra durability. The suede strip along the front also isn’t a mere accent, as it comes with water-repellent and stain-resistant properties which are welcome features for this “high-traffic” area of the shoe. Finally, a padded tongue and ankle collar round out the upper’s design, ensuring all-day comfort no matter where (or how far) you’re headed.

The Norris is a lot more than a regular sneaker, giving you tactical boot performance without the heavy footprint they leave behind. Pick one up from 5.11 Tactical at their site below.

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This is a sponsored post presented by 5.11 Tactical.

Wayfinder Daybreaker Billfold Wallet

The EDC wallet of a minimalist’s dreams is one that doesn’t compromise on what you can carry while staying as compact as possible. And while it’s easy enough to make a wallet compact, doing so without stripping away its essential functionality is the real challenge. That’s why Portland, OR based Wayfinder Carry combines their 20 years of past design experience from Nike with cutting edge materials and manufacturing technology in their pursuit of pure simplicity in their gear. For example, the Wayfinder Daybreaker Billfold features a versatile design that’s perfect for urban, outdoor, and travel EDC anywhere in the world thanks to its stitchless, RF-welded construction. The result is a high performance, high capacity wallet with a low profile that any EDCer can appreciate.

The secret to the Daybreaker’s slim silhouette is the combination of what it’s made of and how it’s made. It starts with a TPU-coated polyester material that’s waterproof, hydrophobic, stretch-resistant, grime-resistant, flexible, and tactile, all coming together to provide all-conditions performance. It’s laser cut to precision in a single piece, then folded and bonded at the seams. This sew-free construction creates strong seals without the need for excess material to sew or the risk of stitches unraveling, keeping the wallet thin, light, and durable.

The Daybreaker Billfold design accommodates up to 16 cards within its internal, horizontally cascaded card slots. Behind the card slots lies its billfold section that’s sized slightly taller to fit boarding passes and various paper currencies, making it a minimalist wallet option when you travel. Its full-length design makes carrying cash easier than most minimalist wallets, which require you to fold and cram bills and adds to the wallet’s thickness. Despite the Daybreaker’s large capacity, it stays thin at 0.28“ when empty and lightweight at just 1.3 ounces.

If you’re looking for a more technical upgrade to your bulky leather wallet, or you want a minimalist option that’s more intuitive and comfortable than a metal plate wallet, a Wayfinder wallet might fit the bill. You can check out the Daybreaker Billfold in more detail at the link below.

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Trending: NiteIze Financial Tool

When Tool Tuesday rolls over into Wallet Wednesday, you get this clever multi-functional wallet from NiteIze as the trending gear of the day. The Financial Tool serves as a minimalist plate-and-band style EDC wallet made from stainless steel. 

Just about the size of a credit card itself, the main plate features clever cutouts that add functionality while shaving off weight. You'll get a bottle opener and three hex wrenches within the plate, as well as a pair of screwdrivers and a ruler at the top edge and a scraper/packaging tape cutter on the bottom edge. The cash strap secures your twice-folded bills and cards without stretching over time. 

Because it lacks any sharp edges, the Financial Tool complies with TSA regulations, making it a minimalist option for travelers looking to cover their bases while keeping paper notes in check. You can find the Financial Tool for under $15 from the link below.

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The Best Bolt-Action Pens for 2018

So you want to carry a pen, but you're worried about it leaking or breaking? Those are valid concerns that rule out so many pens as EDC options because they're not durable, pocket-friendly, and easy to use enough for EDC. We suggest a “bolt action” style pen, which draws inspiration from the channel and bolt system of a rifle to extend, lock, and retract the refill. Bolt action keeps your pen from accidentally extending in the pocket, avoiding leaks. They're usually built from EDC-worthy metals for durability, not to mention the action itself is fun to fidget with. In this round-up, we're highlighting a few new bolt action pens from 2018 as well as some tried-and-true classic picks.

Vincero Altitude Pilot Watch

It usually costs a pretty penny to get a quality everyday carry watch on your wrist. It takes a lot to to get the attention to detail and the features that put a watch above the cheap dollar store deals you might find elsewhere. But this isn’t always the case. Take Vincero for example, a company that uses small-batch manufacturing processes that ensure that you get a quality timepiece every time. And with their new aviation-inspired pilot watch, the Altitude, they’ve packed in a great-looking watch with a quality movement at an excellent value. There's no better time than now to upgrade your EDC, as Everyday Carry readers can save up to 25% on a new watch from Vincero for a limited time.

Legibility is the name of the game when it comes to pilot watches, and the Vincero Altitude delivers with bold white arabic numerals against a deep blue dial. And no matter where you find yourself, you can rest assured that the Japanese Citizen Miyota Quartz movement in the Altitude makes for a very reliable time-teller. For added durability, the watch crystal is made out of hardened sapphire to resist scratches and provide excellent clarity. The watch itself is resistant against water down to 100 meters. The 43mm watch case is made out of a brush silver-toned 316L surgical grade stainless steel, which is good for people with skin that might react to the alloys found in cheaper alternatives. The strap is made out of quality top-grain Italian leather, but if you prefer you can also choose a durable Cordura nylon strap as well.

Aside from telling the time, the Altitude packs quite a few quality of life complications that are absent in lesser watches. For frequent travelers, the Altitude sports a dual-time readout, letting you keep track of a different time zone when you’re away from home. There’s a night and day dial that works similarly to a sun and moon complication, but without all the visual noise that brings. When you do find yourself in the dark, the lume on the hands and numbers let you read the timepiece accurately in low light. A date readout lets you keep track of the calendar as well. Finally the numerals on the bezel make for an ad-hoc timing mechanism as the second hand sweeps across the face round and round. And on the back side of the watch, there’s a bit of embellishment where Vincero has placed a bit of historic Roman-era marble and the famous words of an old Roman general for a bit of inspiration.

But what’s most inspiring about this watch is its affordable price: it can be had for less than $200 shipped anywhere in the world. And for a limited time you can get up to 25% off everything on Vincero’s website in celebration of their 5th anniversary. Check out the Altitude at the link below and save on a new watch while you still can.

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This is a sponsored post presented by Vincero Watches.

Prometheus Design Werx PB&J Tool

"PDW’s PB&J includes no peanut butter or jelly, but the titanium keychain tool does pack a multi-size wrench, pry bar, bottle opener, oxygen tank wrench, nail puller, battery compartment opener, and 1/4″ hex bit holder. Its stainless steel spring wire gate ensures secure attachment to your bag or..." (via The Awesomer)

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Trending: SOG Baton Q1

This Tool Tuesday our trending charts for the week bring us an urban-focused multi-tool in an unconventional form factor. The SOG Baton Q1 opts for a design resembling a marker, looking right at home in a briefcase or admin panel of a backpack at school or work. But beside the more obvious pen functionality, opening up the Baton Q1 reveals a pair of spring-assisted scissors, a bottle opener, and a flathead screwdriver—a well-rounded feature set that rounds out your bases without raising eyebrows. The pen section comes with a pressurized D1 ink refill for write-anywhere performance and accommodates any compatible D1 refill. The Baton Q1's 6" body is made from a two-tone anodized aluminum for durability and light weight, while an included minimalist pocket clip rides discreetly and easily in your pocket. For a stylish and discreet multi-tool to carry into the city or during your travels, check out the TSA-compliant SOG Baton Q1 tactical pen at the link below.

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Dango D01 Dapper Pen Wallet

When it comes to taking notes, nothing beats having real pen and paper in your hands. But organizing pen and paper in your EDC can be a challenge: small items tend to get lost in the shuffle, especially when carried loose in your pockets. Plus, with limited space in your pockets anyways, consolidation is a good thing. For instance, you already carry a wallet, but what if your wallet could also hold your preferred notebook along with a pen as well? That’s where something like the new Dango D01 Dapper Pen Wallet comes in handy. The Dango Dapper Pen Wallet lets you carry three EDC essential items in one compact package, complete with a custom aluminum pen and a notebook as part of the deal.

The D01 Dapper Pen Wallet is a compact bifold front pocket wallet on steroids. For its compact size, there’s plenty of space, as each of the four pockets in the wallet accommodate up to four payment and identification cards (16 cards total). There’s a grippy silicone band for added convenience, especially if you carry folded cash. The wallet is made out of water-resistant DTEX material, resilient against the elements and the occasional bar table mishap. The durability extends to the CNC'd and anodized 6061 aerospace grade aluminum chassis of the wallet itself, setting it apart from the standard bifold and giving the Dapper Pen Wallet structure. Physical protection isn’t all that the Dapper Pen Wallet extends to you: its built-in RFID protection also helps keep your card information safe from fraudsters skimming for data in public spaces. And you can pick up Dango’s separate MT02 multitool to further expand this wallet’s capabilities.

The other half of the bifold is dedicated to organizing your stationery, and while it’s compatible with many popular EDC pens and compact notebooks, Dango goes an extra step with this package by including a custom pen and notebook with every purchase. The machined aluminum pen accommodates Fisher Space Pen ink as well as Schmidt 4889M ink refills and slots into the spine of the wallet for a consolidated carry. And in case you’re the kind of person who constantly loses their pen, an integrated lanyard hole helps with retention options for both the pen and the wallet itself. The included notebook is no slouch either, with 48 dot-grid pages bound together with red stitching by hand and placed within a thick quality cover.

If you’re looking to integrate a pen and paper into your everyday carry, the D01 Dapper Pen Wallet is a complete starter kit that lets you jump right in. And even if you already carry these things, the smart design of this package lets you consolidate your carry into a competent all-in-one solution that saves space in your pockets while being immensely useful and functional at the same time. Check out the link below to find out more about the D01 Dapper Pen Wallet and make it a part of your own EDC today.

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This is a sponsored post presented by Dango Products.

The James Brand Holcombe

Carabiners are one of the best ways to keep loose items like your keys organized and attached to your gear so that they don’t get lost. But if you pick up a standard carabiner from store shelves, it’ll be a bit bulky for EDC, especially if you get one that’s actually rated for climbing. For EDC keychain duty, you’ll want something lighter and more minimal—bonus points if it adds extra functionality to your kit, too. The Holcombe from the James Brand checks all those boxes with its lightweight titanium build, minimalist styling, and a utility-driven, multi-functional design. It keeps your keys handy and secure while also adding essential tools to your loadout without any of the bulk.

The Holcombe barely tips the scales at just 8 grams in weight. It achieves this featherweight status thanks to its sturdy, aircraft-grade 6AL4V titanium construction. Not only is titanium strong enough to handle the weight of your keychain, but it also helps relieve strain on your ignition by removing as much weight as possible. The whole package is is also only 3“ long and 7/8” wide, making it only slightly larger than a standard key in the first place. The stainless steel swing gate is spring-loaded for ease of use and retention, and the mechanism is sized just right to fit your keys on the belt loop of your pants. The clever gate design also keeps your keyring riding low and below where you’d open the carabiner to attach or remove from a belt loop, adding that extra bit of security by design. And aside from keeping your keys on you, the back end of the Holcombe has a flathead screwdriver that can also function as a scraper and pry tool in a pinch too.

With the Holcombe, The James Brand has put together a carabiner designed with everyday carry in mind. It’s a fraction of the size of the overbuilt ones you can get from an outdoors store, and more suited for how you EDC. It’s available in two different colorways, natural titanium and a black titanium finish, at the link below.

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