Staff Picks: 5 EDC Bags We Want Right Now

It's almost the end of the year, and it's been a good one for EDCers. From knives to lights to bags to tech, there have been plenty of releases primed and ready to be added to our kit. We obviously love talking about gear around here, and with this series, the Everyday Carry staff have put together a few lists of the ones we can't wait to get our hands on. We hope it gives you a good idea of products that you may have missed throughout the year, and gets you as excited as we are to pick up the latest and greatest gear for your EDC.

Firefly Fire Starter

When's the last time you used the toothpick on your Swiss Army Knife? If the answer is “never,” we hear you. Maybe you've used it to clean out debris from your knife or something, but its intended function seems a bit out of place on such a venerable EDC tool. And in an emergency situation, you're going to wish it could do more than keep your teeth clean. Enter the Firefly from Tortoise Gear: a firestarter rod that's designed to replace the toothpick on your Swiss Army Knife.

For something small enough to fit in the toothpick slot of your SAK's scales, the Firefly can generate an impressive amount of sparks. By scraping the Firefly with a blade or saw on your knife, you'll get enough sparks flying to start a fire in a pinch. It'll even work on the scissors of the TSA-friendly travel models of the SAK. Plus, Tortoise Gear specially designed their custom firesteel to be twice as strong and last longer than similar standalone ferrocerrium rods.

The Firefly comes in two different sizes, for both small and large models. If you carry a non-traditional SAK, that's fine too. As long as it has a toothpick, it will fit. That includes compatibility with even the SwissCard multi-tool. Hot swapping in the Firefly would be a step in consolidating your outdoors carry for a more minimal setup, or it can add redundancy as a backup to your main fire starter. Last but not least, its bright green head provides higher visibility during the day, glow-in-the-dark visibility at night, and makes retrieving the Firefly itself easy thanks to an injected molded thumb notch.

The SAK is an effective part of your everyday carry, but with the Firefly it's made even better. It's an easy and low-profile option for EDCing this crucial piece of preparedness gear. Secure this handy EDC accessory for yourself at the fully-funded Kickstarter link below.

Check It Out

Klarus XT12S Tactical Extended Reach Flashlight

Far too often the “tactical” badge gets added to flashlights, with lights promising robust performance but delivering far less functionality than expected. Fortunately for a manufacturer like Klarus, with their pedigree of cutting-edge flashlight products, such a title isn't all show. And that's true more than ever for their XT12S light, the compact upgrade to their previous XT12GT tactical light. It combines the convenient tech of a modern rechargeable flashlight with the fit and finish of a duty light, giving you an EDC powerhouse more than capable of handling every situation.

With an 18650 battery paired with a Cree XHP35 Hi D4 LED, the XT12S has up to 1600 lumens across 6 modes at the touch of its switches. For everyday use you have 10 lumens on Low for up to 200 hours. For the outdoors, the XT12S can throw it's full power to 400 meters on Turbo. And with its dedicated tactical button, you have one-touch access to Strobe for emergencies. Its body is built from anodized 6061 aluminum, IPX8 rated for full functionality even while submerged up to 2 meters. This rugged body also integrates magnetic charging, making it convenient to charge its 18650 battery while also sparing you from having to carry an extra charger around.

Both on and under its surface, the XT12S comes loaded with thoughtful features. A crenelated bezel lends itself to the light's tactical applications. Its magnetic charging port integrates an intelligent battery capacity indicator. Fins along the head help dissipate heat, while knurling along its body give the best grip. A clip makes the light convenient carry, which ends at a tactical ring for grip versatility and anti-roll capability. Klarus didn't skimp on its electronics either, giving the XT12S programmability and battery polarity protection to round out its internal features.

Whether it's a convenient, modern EDC light you're after or a powerful partner as a last resort, the XT12S has your back. Pick one up from the Amazon link below.

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Mcusta MC-7 “Take” Damascus Knife

"An elegant, Japanese made knife featuring a 2.75″ dimpled Damascus nickel and steel blade, housed in a natural wood handle with bamboo sculpting to provide an ergonomic grip. Its blade holds firmly and..." (via TheAwesomer)

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