Everyday Carry

10 Essentials to Get Ready for the Big Game

Authored by:
Jonathan Tayag
Reviewed by:
Bernard Capulong
Founder and Editor-in-Chief
14+ Years Reviewing EDC Products
10 Essentials to Get Ready for the Big Game

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The end of the American football season is upon us, and with the big game on Sunday a great many of us will be prepping to watch the game and entertain friends and family while we’re at it (even if some of them are rooting for the wrong team). And if you’re reading this, you already pay special attention to the gear you use everyday. Why should this Sunday be any different? In this guide, we’ve put together a set of actually useful bits of gear and gadgets that’ll help you throw a tailgate party to remember.

Content
ThinkGeek MOLLE Apron

ThinkGeek MOLLE Apron

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Specifications
Brand
ThinkGeek
Model
MOLLE Apron
Reviews


Price
$
Let’s get the obvious thing out of the way: you’re probably going to be setting up the grill to cook up some grub for the game, and the last thing you need is to get your clothes dirty from splatter before you even start to socialize with your guests. With the ThinkGeek MOLLE Apron, you get a playful way to express how you EDC in the form of the most modular chef’s apron you can buy. Covered with MOLLE webbing, you can attach gear like pouches to the apron pretty much to your heart’s content, or even use them as holders for your favorite spatula or condiments—the sky’s the limit.
ESEE Expat CL1 Cleaver

ESEE Expat CL1 Cleaver

Purchase
Specifications
Brand
ESEE
Model
ESCL1
Reviews


Price
$$$$
With premium construction and an ergonomic design that lets you get to work with confidence, the ESEE Expat CL1 Cleaver is a cut above the standard cleaver you might find in stores. For starters, you won’t have to baby the knife. Its 1095 high carbon steel construction makes for a hard and durable cutting tool that’ll hold an excellent edge. The 25.5oz weight and the G10 scaled handles let you get enough control on the blade to make big cuts, even when things get a bit slippery with oil and grease from cooking. The tumbled black oxide finish on the blade also helps keep it from rusting after use, but you should still wipe it dry after using it to prep and serve food for the big game. And if you go camping a lot, you can even use the Expat Cleaver like a machete when you’re trekking in the outdoors.
Victorinox Wine Master

Victorinox Wine Master

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Specifications
Brand
Victorinox
Model
Wine Master
Reviews


Price
$$$
The Victorinox Wine Master has everything you need to open a bottle of wine and slice some cheese while you’re at it, and with its natural wood scales it looks great too. It comes with a larger 5" Sandvik stainless steel blade that locks into place, which is good if you’re trying to slice a harder cheese safely. The integrated foil cutter lets you get to the cork without having to dull the primary blade, and the corkscrew lets you open other bottles as well.
TI-EDC Titanium Beer Bottle Opener

TI-EDC Titanium Beer Bottle Opener

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Specifications
Brand
TI-EDC
Model
Bottle Opener
Reviews


Price
$
If you’re looking for a more-portable beer bottle opening solution for your game day EDC, the TI-EDC titanium opener is a good choice. Its small 3.7" and 1.6 ounce weight make it immensely pocketable, and the design can fit alongside your keys. The large lip on the bottle opener also ensures that cracking open a cold one is a one-try affair letting you get right to the good stuff when you’re thirsty.
MiiR Insulated Growler for Beer

MiiR Insulated Growler for Beer

Purchase
Specifications
Brand
MiiR
Model
Insulated Growler
Reviews


Price
$
If you’re a fan of craft beer, you might know that you can get a growler of your favorite brew filled at the brewery of your choice. It’s a great way to get some really fresh beer, and sometimes you can get one-off or seasonal brews that you can’t find on the shelves. One of the best growlers is made by MiiR, and it’s a sleek 64oz double-wall insulated carrier that has a secure latch that keeps your drink inside sealed and ready to go until it’s time to dispense for your guests for the big game. When you’re not using it to carry beer, you can use it to carry the drink of your choice even if it’s just water and keep it cold or warm for longer than a traditional bottle.
YETI Tundra 45 Cooler

YETI Tundra 45 Cooler

Purchase
Specifications
Brand
YETI
Model
YT45W
Reviews


Price
$$$$
Ditch your old cooler and level up your game with a YETI Tundra 45. This is a super-durable cooler with 3 inches of PermaFrost insulation that’ll keep food and drinks cold for longer than most. And the FatWall design is even bear resistant, but we hope you won’t need to test that for your upcoming festivities. There’s room for up to 26 cans of beer inside, including the recommended level of ice, so there’s plenty of room for everyone to grab what they need.
Helinox Chair Zero

Helinox Chair Zero

Purchase
Specifications
Brand
Helinox
Model
Chair Zero
Reviews


Price
$$$
If you’re looking to ditch your flimsy discount store folding chair for the next tailgate or shindig, check out the Helionox Chair Zero. It’s one of the community’s favorite ultra-light camping chairs, which means it’s not too heavy (at just 1.1 lbs) or too big to tote around from place to place. So if you need to take it camping it’s great, but it’s also a good choice if you’re on the way to somebody else’s house to watch the big game.
Snow Peak Gigapower Two Burner Stove

Snow Peak Gigapower Two Burner Stove

Purchase
Specifications
Brand
Snow Peak
Model
GS-220
Reviews


Price
$$$$
If your big game celebration involves some cooking outside, you’re going to want a big stove to prep things faster and more efficiently. Snow Peak’s Gigapower Two Burner stove is one of the best you can get, with a rock-solid stainless steel construction and compatibility with camping propane containers for ease of use. The integrated wind shield ensures things work and cook correctly, and the auto-ignition feature makes starting the stove a breeze. Two knobs at the front let you regulate the heat, and it’s pretty much as versatile as an indoor gas range, just far more portable for your outdoor tailgating or camping needs.
Lavatools CL1 Bluetooth Meat Thermometer

Lavatools CL1 Bluetooth Meat Thermometer

Purchase
Specifications
Brand
Lavatools
Model
CL1
Reviews


Price
$
The worst thing you can do while meat is cooking in a smoker is to open the lid to check the temperature on a frequent basis. Each time you do this, you lose control over the heat and the end result isn’t pretty. This is also true of things cooking in the oven. The best way to deal with this is with something like the Lavatools CL1 meat thermometer, which uses a probe to keep track of the internal temperature without having to open up the cooker. The Bluetooth feature even allows you to remotely check the temperature of what you’re cooking if you happen to be away from the grill for some time.
Anker SoundCore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Anker SoundCore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Purchase
Specifications
Brand
Anker
Model
SoundCore 2
Reviews


Price
$
Whether you need to pipe through the sounds of the big game or you need a bit of music to lighten up the pre- or post-game party, the Anker SoundCore 2 portable Bluetooth speaker is a good bet. For its affordable price point, it puts out an impressive 12W stereo sound, and it’s IPX7 waterproof meaning it can get dunked into a bit of water on accident and keep on ticking. The Bluetooth pairing tech allows you to place it in the best location without having to worry about being tied down by wires, and the 24 hour play time ensures you won’t have to plug it in to charge until everyone has left for the day.

What tools are fun equipment are you using for your big game celebrations? Let us know in the comments below!

Jonathan Tayag

Senior Contributor


About the Author
Jonathan Tayag is secretly an information technology and corporate security expert who prefers to moonlight as a creative event and commercial photographer whenever possible. His varied experience and substantial travels have led him to seek, without even thinking about it at first, the best gear for the best use at the best price available. Before the concept of EDC (everyday carry) firmly took hold, Jonathan already spent untold amounts of time optimizing for the best-in-slot pieces of gear, from cameras and lenses to pocket knives, pens, and bags and packs. In November 2015, Jonathan joined EverydayCarry.com and has since written numerous articles and guides to help impart his knowledge to the community as a whole.

Jonathan's photographic works have appeared on numerous online websites, print, video, and television outlets for over a decade. Jonathan's previous clients include Blizzard Entertainment, Red Bull, ESL, Razer, and several other endemic and non-endemic esports sponsors and brands. His work also features heavily in online competitive gaming communities, especially those of the StarCraft and Fighting Game genres. You've likely seen his work if you've spent time in a stream or in-game chat over the years.

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 (3 total)

Goldthunder ·
You had me everywhere but the vest.
2 Reply
My Holy Crap ·
0 Reply
1 more comments