Trending Gear: August 2020

Leatherman kicks off August’s list and keeps one of the most popular pocket tools of the 2020 pandemic season accessible and useful by integrating a carabiner gate into their no-touch tool design. The 260 brass alloy construction keeps this 3.5" long tool sturdy and appropriately hefty, while the antimicrobial properties of the copper-infused alloy afford you some extra level of sanitation and safety. A hole milled into the body lets you attach this to your key ring, while the screwed-in removable clip gives you pocket or pack carry options. The gate of the carabiner jaws function as an always-useful bottle opener as well. For a limited time, part of the proceeds go to the Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses, allowing you to contribute to a good cause when you get this sturdy no-touch multi-tool.

Header: Oscar Rodriguez

The original Benchmade Bugout was one of the community’s favorite production knives in recent times, and in 2020 they’ve sized things down even further to make for an excellent compact EDC knife with the Mini Bugout. In this smaller edition, the premium CPM-S30V stainless steel drop-point blade measures just 2.82" long, and at just 1.5 oz this is one of the most lightweight folding knives you can pack today.

Header: Scott

Even if it’s something as simple as a pry tool, it doesn’t hurt that it looks as good as it performs, just like the rest of your EDC. Tactical and Portable’s popular pry tool comes in 6AL4V Grade 5 titanium in a variety of finishes, with a 4“ overall length and weighing 35g. The Ti-Breaker’s business end is a thick, textured pry wedge, while its tail features a robust clip that itself has a 1/4” hex bit holder for extra versatility.

Header: J.S. Leonard

Coming in on the 7th spot is the iconic Seiko SKX007K2, an entry-level automatic dive watch that continues to trend on our gear charts as a reliable EDC timepiece. Luminous markings on a uncluttered face provide great legibility, aided by the non-reflective Hardlex crystal. Meanwhile, a solid caseback, 120-click bezel and 200 meters of water resistance give you full dive watch functionality at a competitive price. The 42mm wide and 13.8mm thick case provides a bit of wrist presence, but the short, 46mm lug-to-lug measure and crown offset at the 4 o’clock position make this a comfortable watch to wear. Inside, the in-house Caliber 7S26 provides a workhorse movement that powers the SKX007K2’s mechanical heart beating for ~41 hours, along with a day/date complication.

Sometimes you just need a tough place to protect your smaller essentials, and CountyComm’s Titanium Pocket Strong Box performs simply and efficiently as a storage case. The machined 2.5" x 1.45" x .6" slide box pops open with a side-loaded plunger that locks its lid until needed, with the lid itself adorned with a topographical map design for extra flair and easy identification.

Header: J.S. Leonard

At just 2.4 oz weight in total, the Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight truly lives up to its name as it marks the halfway point on last month’s chart. And with a premium BD1N stainless steel blade featuring a full-flat grind and Spyderco’s trademark leaf-shaped design, it’s ready to take on any EDC task you bring to the table. The compression lock at the spine is built sturdier than their regular liner and lockback mechanisms as well, making this agile knife ready to take on heavy duty use when it’s required. And don’t just take our word for it: the Para 3 Lightweight won "Most Innovative American Design" at Blade Show 2019, and it features in many EDCer’s pocket dumps as a result.

Created to celebrate 15 years of producing high-performance lights, the Fenix 15th Anniversary flashlight is a handy AAA-powered keychain light clad in a distinctive metal chassis. The IPX8-rated stainless steel construction is set off by a mid section featuring rose gold plating etched with an image of a phoenix rising: a nod to the company’s name. Being a limited edition collectible, each light is serialized with markings on the bezel. This streamlined design features no protruding switches, and accessing the three different output levels is as simple as twisting the bezel. An 8-lumen Low mode, 25-lumen Medium, and 85-lumen High are available, with runtimes depending on the batteries you use. The package comes with a standard AAA alkaline battery, and it will take lithium-ion and Ni-MH batteries as well. At 2.6" long and 1.1 ounces without a battery, it’s an easy addition and upgrade to your keychain setup.

The Gerber Prybrid Utility re-engineers the standard box cutter, offering the convenience of standard replaceable blades while also featuring seven other functions. A steel-cased slide mechanism deploys and retracts the blade smoothly, and fully extending it allows for quick and easy blade replacement. The spine of the tool provides a rigid platform for a prybar, while integrating a wire stripper, a nail puller, flathead drivers, and an always useful bottle opener. Under the tool there’s a cord cutter notch that allows you to sever cordage or webbing without having to deploy the main blade. All of this is sandwiched between textured and tough G10 scales that help with handling and grip. At 2.9 ounces and 4.25" closed, the Gerber Prybrid Utility lets you maximize functionality in a compact package that’s easy to pocket.

Header: Mikey Bautista

Gerber takes the 3rd and 2nd spot for August as their Armbar Drive tosses its hat into the ring with a compact form factor reminiscent of folding pocket knives, a usable fine edge, and an extendable bit driver. The aluminum handle holds a 2.5" blade that deploys via thumbhole and is held in place by a sturdy framelock. The rest of the tools fold out in the same fashion: an awl, a pair of scissors, and a bit driver. The bit driver extends all the way out, turning the Armbar into a short screwdriver that allows you to reach places where bit drivers of other multi-tools won’t. The included two-sided bit gives you both flat and Philips screwdriver heads. The reinforced tail end of the handle functions as an impromptu hammer, and this piece opens up to give you a combination prybar and bottle opener. All this in a package that’s 3.625" closed and 3.1 ounces, making the Gerber Armbar Drive a great pocket carry for miscellaneous tasks at home or out in the field.

The Microtech Ultratech is an iconic choice that has set the standard for OTF performance, and it takes the top spot as last month’s most popular item. This is thanks to a design that reduces wear on the internals by keeping the firing spring unloaded on both the open and closed positions. This particular version features a distressed aluminum handle for a no-nonsense look, bolstered by an aggressive dagger point CTS 204P stainless steel blade. The premium blade steel features excellent edge retention and a stonewashed finish, giving you a reliable performer to flick out every time. The dual action thumb slide handles both deployment and retraction, making the Ultratech a speedy and fidget-friendly EDC choice. At just over 5" long and 3.5 ounces, it’s also an easy pocket carry, aided by the reversible, tip-down clip. Last but not least, the pommel features a handy glass breaker for emergency and tactical use.