What is your experience with cheap knives from amazon or others? There are a lot of sub $50 knives there with mostly positive reviews. Are they actually good? Or do you have better cheap options that are not sponsored by amazon? I see brands on there like Lothar or Bergkvist. They actually have decent websites on their own, so I don't know if they are actually that amazon trash or a decent budget brand.

Their quality is a shit. I bought a wave+ 2 years ago, broke within a couple months (spring in pliers broke making pliers unusable). Sent it back and they say it’s not repairable so they give me a different one (mine was laser engraved). Then the replacement breaks (spring that holds pocket clip in place). I don’t even use the Leatherman that much, and wasn’t doing anything that could be outside of light use.

Hiya. I carry a small notebook with me everywhere I go, as I love the tactility of it compared to taking quick notes on a phone. Recently I saw a wallet with a built in notebook, but I dont want to lose my button card ejector on my wallet that I have. Are there any quality wallets with both features, or should I compromise? My goal is to have a minimal amount of items.

I would like something secure (preferably locking) and not made using cheap labor but I can be flexible. Obviously the keybar magnut isn't locking so I'm here exploring other options. I didn't go with the nite ize nite binder because I hear those aren't durable. I've looked at carabiners but either they're not locking or too big.

So far the best contenders I've seen is the keybar medium Magnut which has about 18lbs of pull forcem

$10 Benchmade bugout inspired knife with D2 steel

• 6 in 1 Milwaukee Fastback with bit-driver

• Curated set of bits to fit most occasions.

• Icon micro ratchet with extension and 1/4 square socket adapter.

• Cheap 4 mm bit driver, seems like it is the same as the Harbor freight one I've seen before.

• Knipex 87-100 cobra pliers

• Mini Bic lighter

• Bit of glue stick

• Bit of gaffer tape

• 16 feet of micro cord

• A few zip ties cut down to shorter length

• Tweezer man nail tool that came with nail clippers. I use it a lot for poking, scraping and prying.

It all packs up pretty well in an old earbud case I found at a thrift store.

The only things I still want to add to this kit is the Knipex xs Pliers Wrench and a double sided sharpie.

Seiko SNK809 with one of NATO Strap Co.'s bands

Pixel 6A

Kershaw Skyline

Rovyvon E8 Angel Eyes

BMW E92 335i

a Mini Binder-clip 😂

I need to sharpen my blade, it's really dull. I really like the rovyvon, the only thing I wish it had was a magnetic end and then it would be really awesome. Also I used to have a leather card-holder but I think I'll finally just get a ridge wallet or something similar.

I feel like it's not something you see very often here compared to other items like knives and fidget items.

I have a JEYI 2230 NVMe case with a 1TB drive I keep on my keychain for backups of things that would be annoying to lose like my AntennaPod stats

Using the bit driver as a tape dispenser for painter's tape (blue) and gorilla tape (black).

I trimmed a plastic straw down to size and also slit it lengthwise and placed it over the bit driver. Then I wrapped it with two kinds of tape. The straw allows it to freely rotate as I pull the tape off.

Inspired by this video (skip to 22:00) https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L65HqVkWYxo

The gorilla tape is thick so I can't get a lot on there. I may replace it with cellulose tape or just more painter's tape. I might also slide another straw over the tape to protect it.

I always carry a couple of good knives with me, but I have lately gone on a utility knife kick. I'm not sure I want to carry one, but I definitely like having them around the house for opening boxes.

I don't think I've found the perfect one yet, but I do have some a like quite well.

The Oknife Otacle Pro is my favorite. It is small and very slim, but provides a good grip. The blade is completely covered, so I can use hook blades without worrying about exposed edges. The mechanism provides one-handed deployment with excellent safety. There is a neat little clip that works well and doesn't get in the way.

The mechanism is actually very good, but it gets terrible reviews. That's because it desperately needs to be lubricated and it comes from the factory dry. Mine was pretty much unusable until I sprayed it down with ToughGlide. Now it's one of the smoothest I've used.

My second favorite is the Nexland Sliding Utility Knife. The mechanism is very clever. It involves just a few pieces of titanium with no fasteners or springs. It should be pretty much indestructible. It's easy to use with one hand. Changing blades is simple and quick without tools. It also gets extra points for preventing the blade to drag along the track when it slides.

My honorable mention is the Screwpop Ron's Utility Knife 3.0. The mechanism is incredibly simple, but it works beautifully. I can deploy it one-handed, although it takes some practice. Changing blades is obvious and easy. There is also a magnet that can be used to attach it to things. The price is low enough that you can keep several in strategic locations around the house.

It is also worth pointing out the Outdoor Edge Slidewinder, which may be the best choice for the average person. The mechanism is more complex than I prefer, but it works well. There is a spring that retracts the blade as soon as you touch the button, which is a nice safety feature. It's a little bigger than the others, but still small and handy. There's a decent clip. There is also a slotted and a Phillips screwdriver.

I have also discovered some annoying limitations along the way. I put Lenox Gold blades into all my utility knives, but I've run into several that don't work with them, or with many other standard blades. They frustrate me.

The Oknife Otacle (non-Pro version) uses a different mechanism from the Pro that requires holes through the central axis of the blade. That rules out most utility blades.

Milwaukee Utility Knives are among the best, but the Compact Slide, which I wanted for its relatively small size, will not work with blades that have more than two notches at the top. I couldn't believe it and ended up taking it apart, but it really won't accept them.

The Manker UTI Edge is a nicely minimalist design, but it is just a tiny bit too short for a lot of standard blades. A fraction of a millimeter difference would have solved that problem. I also have some concerns about how well its lock holds.

Has anyone else gone down this particular rabbit hole?

The rules seem to imply that pocket dumps are required. Can we also post reviews / comments / discussions of EDC items here?

@edc
First custom #SAK I rescued and refreshed.

#Victorinox Climber with Micarta scales + G-10 inlay

#ArtNPocket

@edc
Pocket #EDC

- Gerber Barbill + Armbar Slim Drive (magnets!)
- Timex Expedition
- Olight i1R2 pro
- SAK classic
- YubiKey
- Dockers clip (old)
- Nite Ize O-series
- Tallac House Lip-balm holder

For a while now I only take my phone and sometimes wallet while out and about on a daily basis. I'd like to be more prepared for things so I've picked up some kit, some of which I already had:

• A UK legal knife
• A multitool (screwdriver bits, bottle opener, pliers, etc)
• Emergency foil blanket
• Tinder starter/whistle
• Two gas lighters
• Keychain flashlight with integrated USB A port
• Field notebooks and fountain pen
• Lockpicking set with a pouch and a concealed credit card set
• Slimline 65W 20000mAh USB A+C battery bank

I've got a messenger bag I can fit this stuff in, which will also fit my laptop so I can carry that around more often too when that would be useful. Obviously some things like the foil blanket and tinder starter probably aren't valuable in an urban area but they are so small and light I may as well include them. I plan to hang the messenger bag on the back of the front door with all this kit in so I always pick it up whenever I go out.

I wear different trousers every day and I'm useless for remembering to put stuff in my pockets so in terms of the pocket stuff it'll just be phone, keys (with shopping trolley key, bottle opener, USB A+C drive, Yubikey), and a metal wallet with some cards, the card lockpicks, and some cash.

Does this make sense? Is there anything I've missed?

• 5 feet of kevlar line that can be unraveled near instantly.
• Easily and quickly made back into a bracelet after use.
• Stop bullets with bracelet like Wonder Woman. Just kidding.

Kevlar line is tough enough to be used as a friction saw. It can cut through a tree! It can also carry a stupid amount of weight for such a thin diameter. I used a 1.6 mm diameter line with 400 lbs strength.

I decided to keep this bracelet to 5 ft for jobs that don't require lots of cordage, but you can make it any length.

Here's a past post of some Paracord versions I've made with links on how to make them.

Note: Kevlar can't be melted, so knotting the ends is required to prevent fraying.

If you use the code, please let us know :)

This is what's left after trimming away the things I don't use often enough to warrant carrying. My work edc is a lot heavier though

Right Pocket:

• Fairphone 4 5G
• FiiO BTR5 Bluetooth and USB DAC
• KZ ZSN Pro X (sometimes FiiO FH3) IEMs
• Black Connex Pocket Knife

Left Pocket:

• Pularys Wallet
• Victorinox Pocket Knife
• Keychain
  • FIDO 2 Key with USB-A, USB-C and NFC
  • House Key
  • USB Flash Drive
  • Magnetic USB-A to USB-C Cable
• Earplugs

My keychain is attached to a lanyard that I got with my Peak Design Everyday Backpack V2. The keychain can quickly attach and detach from the lanyard.

On my left wrist I have a Withings Steel HR hybrid smart watch and on my right wrist I have a Peak Design Cuff wrist strap which I can quickly attach to my cameras.

I carry this with me all day every day.

Right wrist (I'm a leftie): Garmin Instinct Crossover Solar Tactical (with generic glass screen protector and silicone case)

Front left pocket:

• A leather pocket organizer, holding:
  • Victorinox SKA (Cyber Tool M edition)
  • Fisher bullet space pen, brass
  • Olight AAA white led torch

Front right pocket: my iPhone 15 Pro Max in a black Spigen Tough Armor case

Back right pocket: a large handkerchief (I get bloody noses and my engine runs pretty hot - I can sweat a lot at times)

Back left pocket: reserved for my minimalist EDC wallet when I carry it (not the exact model, I don't always carry, as I can use my phone for everything, including digital driver's licence)

Belt, right side:

• Leatherman Surge stainless, using the pocket clip, but on my belt
• A spring clip carabiner, on a belt loop, holding
  • My house keys and a trolley token release tool, in a black leather Orbitkey
  • My car fob

Belt, left side: RAE Gear sheath for Leatherman bit kit, holding:

• Dual bit kit
• After-market bit kit extension (simply cannot get the Leatherman ratchet extension ANYWHERE!)
• Leatherman saw blade (file lives on my Surge)

When I go camping/offroading, I'll often put the Leatherman into a Toolbro holster, holding my Wuben L50 rechargeable torch.

Sadly, it looks like WJMake is no longer selling on Etsy (where I got the Toolbro), which is a real shame. They sold some really nice, handmade EDC accessories, and were happy to customise to suit my exact needs.

Mine has the extra elastic loop on the side to hold my Space Pen, an extra pocket on the front to hold the Leatherman saw blade, and they swapped out belt loops for a pair of belt clips, so I could wear/remove without having to undo my belt - a really important (to me) capability when camping and offroading.

• Old leather wallet
• Flashlight (Skilhunt H150)
• Knife (Spyderco UKPK)
• Pepper spray (Sabre Red, with a pocket clip from a random flashlight)
• Phone (Pixel 4A)
• Keys, and another flashlight (Skilhunt EK1)
• Flash drive (Sandisk 128gb)
• 1.38€

I used to just put my stuff into the little pockets in my bag, but have since switched to sort of a pouch which was designed for a phone, but fits everything I need. But where do you put your stuff if you don’t have a bag to put the pouch in? I envy woman for being able to walk around with a bag the size of a phone without looking stupid. Do you always carry a backpack? Or do you put your stuff somewhere else?

Something not too many people have, but you really like. Not like a flashlight or a knife/multitool. My most unique (although still popular) are probably my loop quiet ear plugs. They come in handy in a lot of cases and word really well.

This is just what I keep on me when I'm at home being lazy lol

Guitar pick for scale

Flashlight: Nitecore TIP SE Knife: CobraTec Stinger

With the Milwaukee, you hold a button and flick your wrist to open/ close it. makes it easy to use with one hand. any knives with a regular blade that do this? thanks

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Hand-Tools/Cutting/Knives-and-Blades/48-22-1500

Howdy, I have a Zebra F701, and I love it. But there are plastic internals. I love the affordability, scratch resistance, and durability of steel for pens. I've used pens as door stops in an emergency before. I'd like a full steel pen.

What are some all steel pens to look out for?