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 May, you were checking out new and classic knives, unconventional ways to consolidate gear, and more…
10. TOPS Tac-Raze
Number ten on the list is a unique friction folder from TOPS Knives. As its name implies, the Tac-Raze is a tactical spin on a traditional gent’s folding razor. It sports a 3.125″ 1095 carbon steel blade formed into a shape that’s a hybrid of both tanto and drop-point design. What you get is a stubby point that excels at piercing, and a slight recurve at the belly that makes for quick and easy slicing. And while the Tac-Raze does not lock, the G10 scaling on the handle lets you establish and maintain a firm grip on the blade, helping it stay in place while you work.
9. Recycled Firefighter Inspector
At number nine, we have this notebook cover made of a mix of sturdy decommissioned fire hose and top grain steer hide leather. It’s all woven together with size 90 nylon thread, which has a breaking strength of 15 pounds. It’s highly unlikely you’ll exceed that when you put your favorite compact EDC notebook inside, but it’s good to know your cover can stand up to some serious abuse. The Inspector features the kind of quality you come to expect out of an American-made product, and it’s even environmentally-friendly to boot.
8. Pelican 1020 Micro Case
When you absolutely, positively, need to keep your gear safe, a Pelican case is what you need. You might be familiar with their luggage-sized options, but their small 1020 Micro Case is sized just right for everyday carry. It’s water-resistant, dustproof, and crushproof, ready to stand up to the worst that life can throw at you and your gear. Put your most valuable small electronics or important documents into it and toss it into your bag for peace of mind.
7. Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter
Benchmade’s Hidden Canyon Hunter is a compact fixed blade knife for everyday carry that has the chops to match with its good looks. It has a super-sharp premium CPM-S30V stainless steel drop point blade with a pronounced curve that amplifies its cutting ability despite its modest 2.67″ long edge. The handle features grippy G10 scaling with styling that makes it look like wood grain, giving it a classy modern gent’s look. And if you want to go all the way, it also comes in a variant with stabilized wood handles, which are much more durable and able to stand up to moisture without cracking over time. Plus, with its deep guard and jimping at the spine of the blade, it’s easy to handle for the most precise of cuts.
6. Gerber Mini Covert
The Mini Covert is a compact assisted-opening EDC blade that features Gerber’s new FAST technology for smooth one-handed deployment. Its large thumbstud is easy to find and easy to manipulate, deploying its 2.9” blade in a split-second. The side lock keeps it in place when opened and you don’t have to shift your grip too much to close it when you’re done. The titanium coating on the drop point blade helps it stand up against wear and tear during hard use, and the G10 scaling on the handle gives you a sure grip on the knife even when wet.
5. Knipex Mini Pliers Wrench
Your eyes don’t deceive you, this is a dedicated wrench and pliers set that’s small enough to fit in a jeans pocket. At 5” long, the Knipex Mini Pliers Wrentch have enough length to give you a solid grip but not too much to be too bulky for EDC. It’s perfect for when you really need the right tool for the job and a standard multitool can’t get it done. With multiple adjustment settings, you can use the Mini Pliers Wrench to take on everyday mechanical tasks, and its angled design and coated handles give you the leverage you need to do the work safely and efficiently.
4. Spyderco Paramilitary 2
This classic Spyderco tactical folding knife is a perennial favorite for EDC. Aside from minor updates to the ergonomics of the knife, it’s remained the same super-sharp folder we’ve come to expect. It features a premium CPM-S30V plain edge blade with the trademark thumbhole for easy deployment, even when you’re wearing gloves. More recent updates to the blade made improvements to the opening as well, with a Bushing Pivot System that makes for a smoother deployment. At the spine is a Spyderco Compression Lock, which eliminates blade play and insures against failure during hard use. And the aggressive G10 scaling on the ergonomic handle that conforms to your grip keeps the blade in your hand no matter what.
3. Rofis R3
The Rofis R3 is a versatile pocketable LED flashlight that can pivot its head, giving you an angled headlight when you need it. Its CREE XM-L2 LED module can put out a max of 1250 lumens out the front on Turbo mode and throw that light out to 636 feet when running off a single 18650 battery. Its regular high mode is 560 lumens, and it can put that out for a full 199 minutes on a full charge. A single button side activator lets you easily cycle various modes, including a strobe and a ‘moonlight’ mode that brings the output down to 0.25 lumens for a runtime of 63 days. For added convenience, the R3 can also take two CR123A batteries, and you can recharge the light via USB through the magnetic connector on the side. And with its IPX 8 water resistance, you can have the confidence to take the light anywhere you need it, even during inclement weather.
2. Keychain Coin Holder
Coins are the bane of everybody trying to get by in life with a minimalist everyday carry. This keychain coin holder is a novel take on carrying coins around without too much hassle. It lets you carry (and sort!) quarters, nickels, dimes, and pennies on your keychain. There’s no need to fumble around in your pockets for loose change, or dig through a tiny coin purse for the exact amounts you need. The design also eliminates the annoying jangle of coins in your pockets as you walk around, too.
1. Seiko SNDA65 Chronograph Pilot Watch
This past month’s most popular piece of gear is a sleek Seiko pilot watch with a chronograph and date complication. That combined with its Japanese quartz movement, makes this a watch suitable for timing purposes. The Arabic numeral legends make for easy reading of time at a glance as well. It’s water resistant down to 330 feet and features a crystal dial that’ll stand up to everyday bumps and scratches. Pair it with a nice NATO band and change things up with it depending on where you’re going and what you’re wearing for extra versatility.
For more trending gear, check out our past round-ups from the archives.
