Trending Gear: June 2020

There’s a wide array of Swiss Army Knives from watch and knife maker Victorinox, and if you’re looking for one with enough versatility for EDC, the Super Tinker may be the one for you. Its 91mm-long (3.58") medium-sized chassis is bigger than something you may want to keep on your keychain, but its 14 functions packed into a convenient and handy form factor makes it a great choice for all-in-one pocket multi-tool. Two different sized blades cover your cutting and slicing needs, combined with comfortable, slim scissors, which are spring-loaded for easy operation. Also included are tools for handling everyday tasks: Philips and flathead screwdrivers, a can and bottle opener, a wire stripper, an awl, a key ring for attaching the knife to a tether, and even a multipurpose parcel hook. Finally, tweezers and a toothpick slip into the familiar red acid-resistant Cellidor scales that the brand is known for. At 2.96 oz and just 17mm (0.67") wide, the last month’s 10th most popular item is something that’s easy to EDC, covering your bases wherever you go.

Image: Daniel

Among Leatherman's many useful and iconic tools, there's one that stands out as one of their most popular and robust models. 9th on the list for June is the heavy-duty upgrade to Leatherman's original Charge+. Built for the outdoorsy EDCer, the Charge+ makes for a solid trail companion with a robust set of 19 total functions, including the upgraded replaceable wire cutters in the TTi, and even better materials for the rest of the tools. With a titanium body, the Charge+ TTi is incredibly lightweight for its size, at 8.89 ounces. At four inches long when closed, it's not too big for your pockets but has enough length to give you the leverage you need for heavier tasks. And with its new S30V steel knife blade, the included straight-edge is sharp enough to be your daily driver.

This crowd-favorite EDC light is able to reach its 180 lumens maximum output from its Philips LUXEON TX emitter and hold it for 20 minutes, all on easy-to-replace alkaline batteries. A large rubberized tail switch lets you switch between its two modes: a 5-lumen Low for sweeping scans and when you don’t want to blind yourself or your companions, and the aforementioned 180-lumen High for when you need a burst of illumination. The forward-clicky switch also allows for momentary engagement of either mode, which easy for your thumb to do while holding the light in an overhand grip. Helix-styled body knurling on its lightweight, IPX8-rated aluminum body offers a distinct style and an enhanced grip, while the lanyard-ready, two-way pocket clip gives you multiple carry options. At 3.5" long and 1.45 ounces, the Olight I3T EOS integrates easily with your EDC kit, clipped to your pocket or pack, or as part of your keychain setup.

Image: Callum Barker

The pico ballpoint pen makes for a solid EDC option from the brand thanks to its compact size when closed, durable all-metal body, and no-fuss ballpoint ink refill. When closed, the pico's rounded body easily slides into a pocket at just 3.5" long. A quick press of the tailcap extends the pen to about 4.7", giving you a more balanced and comfortable feel in hand when you write with it. Finally, the minimal branded emblem on the body of the pen also serves as an anti-roll mechanism when you're keeping it out on your desk.

Image: Nick

The RovyVon Aurora A1 is one of the original models from the company, and helped put them on the map as a maker of innovative and practical compact flashlights. Last month’s 6th most popular item runs on an internal 130 mAh Li-Po battery that recharges in 45 minutes via an accessible Micro USB port. This means you’ll always have the capacity to power the Cree XP-G3 LED, which maxes out at 550 lumens, as long as you have a charger or power bank and a cable nearby. A simple side switch allows for easy one-handed operation, letting you cycle through three output levels and a Strobe function. All of this is held within a light yet sturdy polyamide shell that’s IP65 rated and capped off with a durable stainless steel bezel. At 2.16" long, and weighing only 0.42 ounces, the RovyVon Aurora A1 easily integrates into your EDC kit, allowing you to carry impressive lighting power unobtrusively.

The Seiko SNZF17, otherwise known as the “Sea Urchin,” is an entry-level, mid-sized offering from the brand that’s synonymous with distinguished dive watches and value-packed mechanical timepieces. Under the Hardlex crystal glass, the legible black watch face features a day-date window, a simple and straightforward chapter ring, and raised hour pips treated with Seiko’s LumiBrite paint. A uni-directional rotating bezel adorned with classic dive markings completes the look. Behind, its see-through caseback lets you see the in-house 7S36 23-jewel automatic movement, a caliber that’s been used on many of the brand’s popular dive watches. This version includes a stainless steel band with Seiko’s standard push-button deployment clasp and safety lock. With its 42mm-wide and 100M-rated water resistant case, its an affordable timepiece that’s smart-looking enough for work and tough enough to treat as your daily beater.

Image: Griffin Peralta

The Benchmade 940 Osborne is a 20-year-old design that continues to be a favorite in the EDC community and still comes in hot at number 4 on last month’s list. The svelte design features a sculpted 6061-T6 aluminum handle that fits a variety of hand sizes. It also lends itself to ambidextrous use with its dual-sided thumbstuds, reversible pocket clip, and smooth-operating AXIS Lock. As for the blade, it features the now-iconic reverse tanto shape that’s flat ground from premium CPM-S30V steel. This makes for a durable and useful cutter, slicer, and piercer that will serve you well for years to come. Beyond the specs, one thing that keeps this knife part of many wishlists or top ten lists is the fidget-friendly action: a well-executed detent provides consistently snappy deployment, while the locking mechanism keeps your fingers out of the way of the smooth-falling, drop-shut blade during retraction.

Image: Hamilton

You probably know 5.11 Tactical for their heavy duty packs and their legendary durability. Their TPT EDC Light, last month’s 3rd most popular item, is purpose-built on those same principles as a compact flashlight you can knock around without worry. It sports a unique side-by-side 2xAA form factor with a polymer body and aluminum head. That combination of materials gives you extra grip where you need it, impact resistance against drops, and heat management at the business end that houses a 91-lumen Cree LED. A pocket clip and lanyard attachment point make it easy to integrate to any tactical EDC.

Originally design for use in the oil fields, the Clutch from Fisher Space Pen is their most durable and beefy option. While it’s not exactly a tactical pen, it certainly looks and feels the part. Since it’s from Fisher, it has the go anywhere, write anywhere pressurized refill inside that’s capable of writing upside down, under water, through grease, and in a wide range of temperatures. The unique form factor paired with the ever-popular refill earns the Clutch the penultimate spot for June.

Many a watch enthusiast’s collection has started with a gateway automatic like the Seiko 5 SNK809, and it continues to be a popular choice for an everyday beater or tool watch. Inspired by the design of classic aviator watches, this compact and svelte timepiece scales down the aesthetic to a 37mm-wide case. It does so without giving up the legibility of its “Flieger B” style dial, developed during World War II to make it easy for pilots to read time during combat situations. The SNK809 features a stark black dial and date wheel, offset by contrasting white indices and markings. The simplicity of this dial makes it easy to match with different types of straps, such as full NATOs or classy leather designs, letting you dress up or dress down this watch to your liking. A time-tested in-house Seiko 7S26 automatic movement keeps this ticking, and the standard Seiko 5 features like the LumiBrite-treated hands and pips, day/date complication, offset crown, and Hardlex mineral glass are all present.

Image: Andrew Casel