Trending Gear: August 2019

Every day, readers like you proudly share photos of their everyday carry on the site.

Not only is looking through their pockets this way super interesting, but it's also a great way to find really cool gear you never even knew existed (yet somehow, suddenly need…).

When you hover over an item you like and click on it in these photos, you're also letting other EDCers know you find that gear interesting. Each click gets recorded to create a data-driven ranking of the most popular gear, which you can find in our Gear section of the site found in the top menu bar.

Gear with the most views and clicks climbs its way to the top of this feed and lets the EDC community know what's trending right this second.

This past August you were keen on minimalist wallets, slim pocket knives, and uniquely designed tools. Let's take a look at all the gear you were most interested in…

The Most Popular EDC Gear from August 2019

10. Gerber Barbill Wallet

Kicking off last month’s most popular gear is a skeletonized minimalist wallet from Gerber. Most slim wallets aren’t cheap, but Gerber knows a thing or two about making quality gear for less than the competition. The Barbill wallet features a stainless steel frame that’s lightweight enough for EDC at 1.7 ounces, yet durable enough to crack open a bottle after a long day with its built-in cap lifter. If you’re one of those people that opens your wallet to find a handful of receipts staring back at you, you won’t have that problem here. This wallet has a max capacity of 7 cards, which is enough to carry what you need without over-stuffing it. There’s also an elastic band for bills so you can still visit your favorite cash-only spot for lunch.

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9. CRKT CEO

The CRKT CEO stands out with its letter opener-esque slim and narrow silhouette which sits discreetly in your pocket thanks to its tip-down, ultra deep-carry clip. It deploys manually via thumb studs on smooth IKBS bearings, locking into a liner. The 3.1" 8Cr13MoV, flat ground, plain edge blade gives you plenty of cutting edge to work with, coming to a narrow tip for precision work. Its glass reinforced nylon handles provide a solid, ergonomic grip and keeps weight down to just over 2 ounces total.

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8. Spyderco Roadie

At number 8 is a sleek Spyderco slipjoint, the Roadie. Don't let its size fool you—with a closed length of 3" and a blade just a hair over 2", it still manages to handle plenty of EDC cutting tasks. The blade features Bohler N690 steel in a useful sheepsfoot shape, making it useful for slicing and scoring alike. Since it's a slipjoint, it opens with a smaller "thumbhole" type nick in a satisfying snap. Some jimping and a finger choil help add grip to the Roadie's ergonomic reinforced fiberglass handle. Its combination of light weight, small size, and non-locking mechanism make it a blade you can carry in most locales, especially in bigger cities and in the UK, for example.

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7. Nite Ize Financial Tool

The Nite Ize 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.

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6. Dango T01 Tactical Wallet

Last months’s 6th most popular item is one of the few wallets worthy of a tactical setup: the Dango T01 Wallet. Overengineered and constructed from a material mix of 6061 anodized aluminum and top grain leather, the T01 achieves a light weight and luxurious feel without compromising durability. Despite its slim profile it's fairly spacious, accommodating up to 12 cards, as well as folded bills and other overflow via its silicone band. The back side of the wallet also shields from RFID skimming, while the front leather pocket allows for quick access and contactless use. Perhaps the star of the show for EDCers would be the T01's included stainless steel multi-tool, which fits perfectly into the wallet and packs over 10 survival functions into its credit card-shaped frame. Last but not least, the T01's chassis also features a lanyard attachment point for added security and retention of one of the most valuable essentials in your carry.

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5. Benchmade Mini Crooked River

The Benchmade Mini Crooked River combines the American knife brand's excellent fit, finish, and materials to a folding hunting knife design that's scaled down for a more convenient EDC. The blade itself is made of a premium S30V steel, boasting excellent edge retention and corrosion resistance to stand up to tough tasks in harsh outdoor conditions. Its clip point geometry offers classic hunting knife performance, secured by Benchmade's rock-solid, ambidextrous AXIS lock mechanism. While the handle might look old school, it's fitted with modern, high-performance materials too. The stabilized Dymondwood scale is actually a wood/resin composite that offers better durability compared to natural wood. Last but not least, hi-vis orange accents on the pivot and backspacer, a lanyard attachment hole, and a reversible tip-up pocket clip round out the knife.

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4. Streamlight Protac 90

The 4th most popular item in August is a right-angle flashlight that features Streamlight's signature tactical build quality and feature set in a design that offers versatile, hands-free illumination. The key is in the right-angled head: it houses a C4 LED capable of pushing 300 lumens off 1 CR123a battery, controlled by a rubber switch at the top of the light. Its included two-way pocket clip lets you mount the light to a bag strap or chest pocket to keep your hands free while working. If you'd rather have a more fixed lighting setup, you can tailstand the light thanks to its flat tailcap. Last but not least, its right-angled head also lets you mount it as a headlamp for more focused work. No matter how you choose to use it, the ProTac 90 is built to last in its IPX-7 rated anodized aluminum body.

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3. Victorinox Dual-Knife Sharpener

This compact ceramic knife sharpener from Victorinox, makes of the Swiss Army Knife, was third place for last month’s most popular gear. Its form factor lets it carry similar to a pen, complete with cap and pocket clip. But once opened, you have both a grinding stone rod and a ceramic notch. The grinding stone features angles and a coarser grit to do most of the sharpening, leaving you with a medium edge. The ceramic notch lets you refine the edge to get it razor sharp, or just to get a quick touch up on your blade after some light cutting tasks.

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2. Casio G-Shock GX56BB-1

Oftentimes, a watch will try to turn heads with a design so flashy it demands your attention, which is exactly why the Casio G-Shock GX56BB-1 piqued your interest and climbed the charts with its blacked-out stealthy styling and anti-bling appeal. As part of the Black Out series, the GX56BB-1 takes on a low-key, tonal aesthetic thanks to its matte black resin build. It still makes a statement on the wrist, with a larger 42mm case, beefy proportions, and oversized buttons and bezel. Because it's a G-Shock, it's packed with plenty of features you'd appreciate in an EDC watch: 200M water resistance, shock- and mud-resistance, solar power, multiple timezones and alarms, as well as a full automatic backlight with afterglow for low-light visibility.

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1. SOG Baton Q1

Last month’s most popular item is one of the most unique multi-tools on the market, opting for a design resembling a marker and 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.

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What stood out to you most in this monthly round-up? Let us know in the comments below.

To keep up with past trending gear, be sure to check out our round-up archives.