Hopefully you’re looking forward to the new year and all the fresh gear that’ll be releasing soon. But before we do, let’s take a moment to look back at what you, the readers, found to be the standout essentials in all the EDC submissions on the site. In this year-end review we’ve rounded up the most popular gear in each item category. The top items are certainly tried-and-true classics and solid picks to round out any EDC.
Top EDC Knife: Victorinox Cadet Alox
There are so many reasons the Victorinox Cadet Alox took the top knife spot this past year. For starters, it’s perfectly sized for most EDC scenarios thanks to its non-locking, 2.4” blade. It covers extra bases with its handy complement of other tools, like screwdrivers and can/bottle openers too. And with its slim, durable aluminum oxide scales, it easily slips into your pocket for discreet deep carry. Not to mention that because they’re available in so many different colors, EDCers tend to collect more than just one.
Top EDC Flashlight: Olight S1 Baton
The Olight S1 Baton delivers on what many EDCers look for in a quality everyday light: extreme performance in the most conveniently sized package as possible. Barely bigger than the CR123a battery that powers it, the Olight S1 Baton easily fits in the palm of your hand. It hits excellent outputs and runtimes on both ends of the spectrum, with a 480 lumen max output and a 0.5 lumen Moonlight mode that’s useful for preserving night vision and extending runtimes out to 600 hours. Small details like its flat magnetic base, convenient interface, and TIR optics combined with availability in premium materials make it a solid light to represent the year.
Top EDC Multi-Tool: Leatherman Wave
To be clear, the Leatherman Wave is not a new release for 2017. It’s been around in its current form for over a decade, but still reigns supreme as king of full-sized multi-tools in the eyes of EDCers. Simply put, it’s hard to beat the build quality and durability on this 17-in-1 tool. It has practically everything you need for EDC tasks in its easy-to-access butterfly design: large knives, pliers, scissors, a bit driver, and much more.
Top EDC Keychain Item: Gerber Shard
For how unassuming it is, the humble Gerber Shard still garners plenty of interest in the EDC crowd. At around 5 dollars it’s one of the best values for adding extra utility to your EDC and it conveniently fits on a keychain. It’s a great complement to a high end pocket knife as it does everything your blade shouldn’t: poke, pry, open bottles, and turn screws.
Top EDC Wallet: Trayvax Element
As far as EDC wallets go, the Trayvax Element isn’t like anything else you’ve already seen. But it’s got more going for it than its appearance that makes it worth a look. It combines a stainless steel frame for structure and durability with premium leather for comfortable handfeel and expandability. Usually you’d see minimalist wallets constructed from one material or the other, but they both come together on the Element’s made-in-USA construction. The mixed material design lets you carry 3-10 cards and 1-5 bills comfortably and even has a built-in bottle opener and lanyard attachment point for a secure carry.
Top EDC Watch: Seiko SSC081
This outdoorsy chronograph pairs a classic, vintage design with the modern convenience of a solar-powered quartz movement. Its face features a compass dial on its outer edge, with high-visibility indices and numbers along the 6, 9, and 12 o’clock positions. A classy leather strap, polished stainless steel case, and a useful complication with a bold face, there’s plenty to like in last year’s most popular watch.
Top EDC Bag: 5.11 Tactical Rush 12
One of EDC’s most popular tactical backpack stays on top in 2017, to no one’s surprise. 16 individual compartments cover all your essentials, with a 24-liter main compartment and front admin pocket to organize your EDC. Up top, a fleece-lined stash pocket protects your sunglasses and other fragile items like your phone. Water-resistant 1050D nylon makes the RUSH ready for any environment, and self-repairing YKK zippers ensure your belongings stay secure. Personalizing the RUSH to your exact measurements and EDC contents is also easy thanks to its adjustable compression, shoulder, and sternum straps. All of this with a stellar reputation for quality and longevity keeps the RUSH 12 on top.
Top EDC Pen: Fisher Space Pen
It’s impressive to see a pen over 50 years old remain as popular as the Fisher Space Pen. If we had to pick just one pen for EDC, we’d probably go with this one. It’s the most popular and most carried pen among Everyday Carry members for a reason, even in 2017: it’s compact, affordable, durable, and it writes anywhere. That kind of performance is crucial: if something happens that’s important enough to write down, you don’t want to be caught scribbling chicken scratches to get ink flowing. It’s an essential piece to get those ideas flowing this new year.
Top EDC Notebook: Field Notes Pitch Black Edition
Field Notes need no introduction to EDC, being one of the most popular notebook brands on the market. And while they have countless styles and designs to fit nearly every preference, there’s no doubt the Pitch Black nails the EDC aesthetic the best. Last year’s most popular notebook matches most EDC tools and essentials, comes in a very affordable 3-pack, and comes with endless possibilities of notes and ideas for the year ahead.
Top EDC Tech: Apple Airpods
Finally breaking free from cables with some seriously smart tech built in to them. With 5 hours of battery life, a case that doubles as a charging station for up to 24 hours of use, quick charging, and seamless switching between your Apple devices, Apple’s AirPods are paving the way to a wireless future.
For a monthly breakdown of trending gear from the past year, check out the Trending Gear roundups from our archive.
