It’s been an interesting past few weeks, hasn’t it? We understand that right now might not feel like the best time to make any sort of purchases, but there are some great deals out there right now to buy everyday carry essentials for both emergency and daily use (even if you’re doing your part to stay at home). And a lot of these deals come with an added bonus: some brands are donating part or all of the proceeds to charities and causes on the frontlines of the fight against the current COVID-19 pandemic. So, if you’re in a secure position to do so, now’s a good time to take stock of your everyday carry and perhaps make some tweaks and improvements to your kit. Not only can you support your favorite EDC brands and worthwhile causes during these challenging times, but you can also be ready with great new EDC gear when we get through this together.
Aer: 100% From Online Purchases Go to Feeding America
Aer’s minimalist EDC bags are a popular choice for our readers, and if you’ve been on the fence to add one to your (future) commute, they’re donating 100% of their profits from online purchases to Feeding America‘s COVID-19 Response Fund. All purchases through to April 7th get included in their donation.
Need a little help with which packs to pick? Here’s what we had to say about their new Work Collection 2:
Making a return from the first generation Work Collection are the Tech Pack 2, Day Pack 2, Commuter Brief 2, Tech Sling 2, and the Cable Kit 2, from the largest and with the most compartments to the smallest in the line. All the bags retain the same minimalist, understated design on their exteriors, thanks to a new, double-coated carbonate 840D nylon face fabric that gives the bags a matte look while offering improved weather resistance from the original. This, combined with the familiar use of 1680D ballistic nylon, YKK zippers, and Duraflex hardware keep in line with Aer’s signature design language. The Tech Pack 2, Day Pack 2, and Commuter Brief 2 also retain their free-standing structure from their originals, allowing you to set down the bags without fear of tipping them over when you’ve settled down to work.
Olight: Charity Sale and Exclusive Flashlights
Olight is giving customers triple the value with their charity sale on April 10th. Just for that day, you have the chance to pick up limited edition blue colorways of their S1R II Baton and i1R 2 EOS flashlights at a steep 30% discount. Not only that, Olight is donating 100% of their profits on that day towards medical supplies to support the corresponding countries that are included in the sale.
Here’s what we had to say about the S1R II Baton:
Olight’s new and improved S1R II Baton joins the fray as the upgrade to their original S1R, a light made popular due to its convenient magnetic charging and intense output for a pocket flashlight. While it uses the same Cree XM-L2 LED as its predecessor and is also able to use a CR123A lithium primary, it now runs off of an included IMR 16340 rechargeable battery. You do lose some runtime due to the smaller capacity, but the S1R II is now able to push out a top end of 1000 lumens on Turbo before dropping down to a more manageable ~300 lumens after about a minute. Its 4 other modes, including a Low setting that gives 0.5 lumens up to 8 days and direct access to Strobe, is navigated with the S-series’s tried-and-true single side button interface.
Prometheus Lights: 19% Off Beta and Foursevens Flashlights
A flashlight is an essential tool for any EDC, and during these challenging times, it can be a critical one in times of emergency. Prometheus has been making some of the most premium EDC lights on the market for years, and with EDC flashlight innovator Foursevens now under their wing, they’ve got plenty of solid options for you to consider. You can pick up their Beta and Foursevens lights at 19% off with code COVID19 on checkout, including new releases like the Quark QK16L MKIII.
EDC veterans will recognize the Quark as one of the first truly modern high-output LED flashlights for everyday carry. The updated QK16L MKIII model by Prometheus builds upon that rich design heritage by packing a daylight-balanced 80 CRI light that can put out 700 lumens max via its Nichia 319A emitter all in a pocketable package that’s just 4.5“ long. It’s powered by a USB-rechargeable 16650 battery, but it can also take two CR123 batteries in a pinch. Customization is the name of the game when it comes to this light, starting with the tailcap: you can roll with the traditional proud rear button for easy identification, but if you prefer a recessed button, that’s easily fixed with an aftermarket tailstand cap. You can configure the program modes for light output including strobe, SOS, and beacon with six available presets for your convenience. And physically, the light gives easy access to its internals for easy disassembly and modification. Top all of that off with a sturdy hard-anodized 6061-T6 aluminum body and IPX8 water resistance you have a recipe for a great everyday carry light to take on the challenges of this year.
Peak Design: 40% Off V1 Bags and 20% Off Everyday V2 Lineup
If you’ve been needing a new EDC bag for your current (and future gear), Peak Design has an entire lineup of bags to accommodate a wide range of loadouts. Their legacy V1 lineup is marked down 40% indefinitely, while their recent Everyday V2 line is running a 20% discount through to Monday, April 6th.
Here’s what we had to say about the Everyday Backpack 20L V2:
Peak Design has made improvements to the latest version of its Everyday Backpack that make it an even better option for your daily carry. Outside, it presents a rounder profile and a more streamlined design. An expanded protective laptop sleeve allows this 20L bag to hold up to a 15-inch laptop, while being height-adjustable to still provide easy access even if you put in a smaller one. Beside it, there is ample space for a tablet and some documents via dedicated pockets. There’s more organization available with internal FlexFold dividers, slip pockets for your wallet or passport, stretchy side and top pockets for cards and smaller items, plus two external side pockets that stretch to fit water bottles or even a tripod. They even upgraded to UltraZip for their external zippers, increasing durability and abrasion resistance. These small changes turn this iteration of Peak Design’s well-organized design into a very workable choice for your EDC backpack.
Have you come across any other charity sales or deals during this time? Share them with us in the comments below!
