EDCs are the living embodiment of “big things come in small packages”. EDCs are the kind of smart little tools that are always great to have in your backpack or tool kit. You never know when one of them could come to your rescue, helping you out of the trickiest situation, or to even pop open a bottle of beer, when you need to unwind after work. These little superheroes can make a world of difference while completing tasks – whether big or small. And, we’ve curated the best EDC designs we’ve seen in a while! From a fully-functioning balisong-style pocket knife to a titanium magnetic screwdriver that puts all the bits you need in your pocket – these are the EDC designs you definitely need by your side.
1. The Titanium Multi-Function Pry Bar
I know the term ‘forever’ can get thrown around a little loosely while discussing EDC durability, but it’s precisely what designer EDC Monster had in mind while designing
Why is it noteworthy?
It sports 10 different tools that cover every scenario from fixing your bicycle to escaping your car, and from cracking open a bottle of beer to writing a letter… all of which encapsulate that ‘forever’ aspect, including the last bit, thanks to the fact that the Titanium Multi-Function Pry Bar comes with its own Forever Pen – a special metallic writing instrument that can write forever, without using ink or graphite.
What we like
- The Titanium Multi-Function Pry Bar has the unique distinction of having tools that can be used indoors and outdoors, and in casual settings or emergencies
What we dislike
- The Pry Bar and Tritium capsules are shipped differently
2. M-20 Titanium Magnetic Screwdriver
There is now a class of screwdrivers ingeniously designed to fit in your Everyday Carry or even in your pocket. Most of these, however, still don’t cover the wide range of screws in use, but this 9-in-1 magnetic screwdriver makes sure you always have the most important ones in your pocket, ready to let you do your magic whenever and wherever your skills are needed.
Why is it noteworthy?
At first glance,
What we like
- Gives you a firm and precise grip when turning the handle to tighten or loosen the screw
- Made from titanium, making it lightweight yet also durable and resilient against corrosion
What we dislike
- The flat design of the screwdriver makes it an ergonomically different experience/adds a learning curve for inexperienced users
3. The AirTag Holder
Most AirTag holders don’t make claims of also being able to hold your keys, open bottles, dock your smartphone, or maneuver hex bolts… the Atech Innovation AirTag Holder does. Crafted from solid stainless steel (with an ABS plastic enclosure for the AirTag), this nifty little multitool from Atech gives you seven features in its compact design.
Why is it noteworthy?
Shaped like a carabiner, the multitool has an enclosure that lets you dock a single AirTag, giving you a piece of EDC you can track easily using your Apple devices. A hole in the top lets you secure a keychain to your
What we like
- Two ABS plastic discs hold the tracking device in place without causing any interference in its signal
What we dislike
- You can’t really control what angle your phone will stand at, and it’ll depend mostly on how slim your smartphone is, and whether it has a case or not
4. The Bali-T
Why is it noteworthy?
A Balisong aka a butterfly knife is a type of folding knife that originated in the Philippines. It has penetrated into other markets, including the US, where Terrain 365 is perfecting its design for everyday use. The Balisong has the potential to be used as a threatening weapon, which means its use is illegal in certain countries. Thankfully, there is nothing so illegal about the Invictus Bali-Ti, which draws its design cues from the Invictus folder. It measures 8.125 inches when fully deployed and folds down to roughly half that size to 4.125 inches when closed.
What we like
- Made from rustproof terravantium blade
What we dislike
- Hefty price tag
5. The CRKT Septimo Multi-Tool
It looks like your average pocket knife, but
Why is it noteworthy?
Modeled after his vision of the ideal EDC multitool, the Septimo (Spanish for ‘Seventh’) has a fold-out 2.86-inch long American Tanto blade with a liner-lock mechanism, a bottle opener, a flathead + Phillips head screwdriver, an adjustable wrench, and finally a glass-breaker tip for getting out of sticky situations.
What we like
A pocket clip lets you carry your Septimo Multi-Tool around, keeping it always at arm’s length
What we dislike
6. The Microtech Exocet Dagger
With a tiny 1.94-inch blade,
Why is it noteworthy?
The blade retracts into the Exocet’s rather comfortably compact aircraft-grade aluminum handle, which also has a pocket clip on one side that doubles up as a money clip, letting you carry your cards and cash with you. I imagine taking out your money for a mugger would be a pretty interesting event, given that your de facto wallet also doubles as a blade!
What we like
- It’s also the relatively wide pocket clip on its side, which Microtech designed to also double as a money clip, giving you a safe and secure place to store your Benjamins
What we dislike
- We wish it had at least one additional function to make an outdoor-friendly or urban-friendly EDC
7. The Mbacco Wallet
In a world that’s still somehow stuck to the boring bifold or the cramped MagSafe wallet,
Why is it noteworthy?
Although designed to hold cards, the Mbacco Wallet doesn’t have any strict rules – it’ll hold cash, keys, memory cards, and pretty much anything that’s up to 2.6mm thick and about the size of a credit card. The wallet’s fun accordion-inspired design holds anywhere from 5 to 9 cards, although it can be pushed to the limit to store as many as 12 cards without really breaking a sweat or becoming bulky like the kind of wallet George Costanza carries around.
What we like
- A perfect blend of tradition and modernity
- It stores them the way a book ‘stores’ pages
- Has a secret hidden compartment
What we dislike
- Even when lightly filled, the wallet looks thicker than many modern wallets
8. The Provoke EDC
Inspired by the hinge detail on their popular Provoke Karambit line,
Why is it noteworthy?
The Provoke’s all-metal design instantly gives it a sense of rugged reliability. Hold it in your hand and play around with it for a bit and you soon realize it’s a highly-capable serious piece of EDC that’s designed to function really well under even demanding conditions. The Kinematic mechanism lets you deploy the knife with a single thumb, revealing the 2.5-inch satin-finish D2 blade that has remarkably high resistance to wear and tear.
What we like
- Perfect for both indoors and outdoors
- The pointed tip makes it great for piercing bags, tearing through sealed boxes, or cutting into harder materials like wood
What we dislike
- Not economically priced
9. The Transform Pocket Blade
Why is it noteworthy?
This cutting tool is laser-focused on delivering the precision, quality, and safety required for something that could cut both ways while still hiding a few tricks up its sleeves for good measure. And like all other multi-functional tools from Smart & Savior Designs, it still boasts of that hardened titanium body that will stand the test of time.
What we like
- The Transform Pocket Blade uses a threaded locking mechanism and double o-rings to transform the small blade into a longer blade that you can handle with more ease and comfort
What we dislike
- Might be difficult to use on larger items
10. The Gerber Stake Out
Why is it noteworthy?
There’s a tent stake puller for packing and getting the gear ready after setting camp during the nighttime. This is a very useful tool for campers as they can pack up tents in a way quicker time than normal. So, in a way, this utility is the USP of this multitool without any question. Add to the mix a ruler and pop-out tweezers, and you’ve got an all-purpose multitool convenient enough to carry with you all the time.
What we like
- 11 tools concealed in 1 multi-tool
- Economically priced
What we dislike
- Made from Graphite, we would love to see more material options in this multitool
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