20 Copper EDC Essentials
Copper is an indisputably useful substance. It’s found in everything from high-end plumbing pipes and electrical wiring, to cookware and coinage, to jewelry and architectural adornments, although you might know it best as the substance used to make frosty Moscow Mule mugs. The statue of liberty is famously made of copper that has oxidized to a minty green.
It may not be as precious or pricy as platinum, gold, and silver, but the utility and beauty of copper is nothing to sniff at. Properties like conductivity and a ductile, malleable nature make it easy to work with. Copper is also strong, and it won’t rust or corrode, which is why it is so common in everyday carry, building construction, and it works well as a form of currency.
Lately, there has also been a resurgence of interest in the cosmetic appeal of copper. It’s no surprise, considering the eye-catching, red-gold color. While you might be more likely to invest in gold, there’s no reason you can’t find other uses for copper in your everyday life, especially when it comes to everyday carry products. Whether you’re looking for stylish accessories like money clips and keychains, or you’re on the prowl for functional items like flashlights and hip flasks, you’ll find there’s no shortage of copper wares to choose from. Here are 20 copper EDC essentials for your consideration.
Whisker Dam
Like me, you may have had to do a double take when seeing the phrase “whisker dam”, but it is, indeed, a real thing, and many mustachioed men will wonder how they ever lived without this ingenious invention. Made from 100% copper with a non-toxic barrier coating, this sliver of metal snaps over the lip of a pint glass to protect your whiskers from the assault of beer froth. Never again will your lady suffer a mouthful of Guinness foam when going in for a post-beer smooch. – Buy It
KeyBar Copper Key Organizer
If you appreciate the utility of a pocket knife or Leatherman, where all of your tiny tools are tucked away in a streamlined and portable shell, you’re sure to love the KeyBar Key Organizer, which handily stows up to 12 keys side by side for compact carry with nary a jingle. At 80 bucks, this is probably the most expensive keychain you’ll ever own, but when it comes to EDC utility, it’s money well spent. – Buy It
Tactile Turn Copper Mover Pen
This classic, click-top pen is simple, functional, and beautiful – the trifecta of writing implements. It’s machined from Tellurium copper, which is most often used for electrical applications due to high electrical and thermal conductivity, paired with resistance to hydrogen embrittlement. What does this mean for you? Well, you definitely don’t want to stick it in a socket. What you can do is use the quick-click action to speedily sign checks or draft love notes to your favorite lady. – Buy It
Maratac Copper Peanut Lighter
At about the size of a AA battery, this tiny lighter not only boasts compact size, but also utility to rival your average coppertop. Pop the top to light campfires or cigars, set it up as a candle in a pinch, or remove the insert to use it as a pill case. The patina will develop over time, or you can keep it shiny and new with a little lemon juice. – Buy It
MecArmy Illuminex-3 Copper Flashlight
It’s hard to believe there’s an upgrade to the ubiquitous Maglite that seems to reside in every camper’s gear, but when you’re looking for a stylish and portable lamp that can live on your keychain, the MecArmy Illuminex-3 Copper Flashlight fits the bill. With a twist, this mini puts out 130 lumens. It’s waterproof, it comes with a quick charge micro USB interface, and it claims the honor of the world’s smallest rechargeable flashlight. – Buy It
Jacob Bromwell Great American Flask
Known as “the world’s original flask”, this hooch-hauler provides the perfect way to cart 9 fluid ounces of your favorite liquor in a gorgeous, pure copper elegance. Each flask is 100% handmade and features lead-free soldering and a stopper made from American pine, just like when the design was first conceived by Jacob Bromwell in 1819. If the provenance isn’t enough to sell you, the rust-free, corrosion-free utility will up the ante, as will the chance to sip your craft spirits from this funky flagon. – Buy It
Suunto Essential Copper Watch
Finland may be best known for death metal bands, saunas, and coffee consumption (fika, anyone?), but they also have a strong heritage of outdoorsmanship, weather permitting. This iconic watch is more than a pretty accessory. It’s also a functional nod to adventuring, featuring a clock, a compass, an altimeter, and a barometer, as well as a stopwatch and lit display. Whether you’re hiking fjords or racing to a coffee date, this is the watch you want on your wrist. – Buy It
Spine Copper Minimalist Wallet
We’ve all seen that telltale bulge in a man’s pants – the one that says his wallet is the repository of his entire life. If your bulky wallet is wearing a hole in the back pocket of every pair of pants you own, it’s high time to purge and switch to this copper plate, equipped with a sturdy elastic band to hold the essentials, i.e. cards and cash. A cut-out bottle opener adds even greater utility. – Buy It
Karas Kustoms Retrakt Pen
It only takes one broken, plastic pen in your pocket (and the resulting ruination of a perfectly good shirt or suit jacket) to convince you that a more robust EDC pen is in order. This slim, copper click-pen may be the last one you ever own, thanks to durable construction, sleek styling, and convenient dimensions that accommodate popular Pilot G2 or Parker ballpoint pen refills. Try it once and you’re sold. – Buy It
W&P Design Copper Flask
Sleek and simple, this copper flask is the perfect complement to your collection of Moscow mule mugs, especially if you want to take 7 ounces of your favorite cocktail to any destination. Plated stainless steel pairs a gorgeous copper color on the outside with food-safe metal on the inside, and the slim design slides easily into your jeans or jacket pocket. When straight up stainless steel doesn’t provide the statement piece you’re looking for, this EDC hip flask punches up the wow factor with a shot of stylish copper that takes your libation to the next level. – Buy It
Corter Leather Bottlehook Keychain
Opening a bottle of suds with your Bic lighter is kinda cool…if you live in a frat house. Once you’re in the real world, a classier solution is in order. This bottlehook keychain provides upscale, multi-functional appeal by opening bottles, carrying keys, and hooking to a belt loop when you’re in a mad dash. A hand cut and stamped leather tab serves as a place for contact info, in case you misplace your favorite keychain. – Buy It
TT PockeTTools Copper Keychain Pen
It’s a pen. It’s a keychain. It’s a keychain pen. PockeTTools, huzzah! Like space pens, this handy writing tool can be used right-side up, upside down, or at any angle without losing ink flow. The copper casing is lovely and durable, which is good news, considering the attached keychain means it will likely be floating in your pocket, clinking against house keys. At just about three inches long, it won’t get in the way. – Buy It
OTTER-Messer Mercator Copper Lockback Knife
If this knife had to be described in just two words, tough and tasteful would suffice. EDC pocket knives don’t get much more streamlined that this simple, folding knife, with a 4-inch copper handle and 3.5 inches of carbon steel blade. It may not be fancy, but it sure is a classy way to cut through packing tape or peel an apple on the go. This is the pocketknife for a man that wants both utility and style. – Buy It
Antique Copper Windproof Lighter
Nothing takes me back to bygone days of misspent youth like the distinctive click of a Zippo. These days I’m done with the cancer sticks, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t myriad uses for a genuine windproof lighter, like this one encased in decidedly adult copper sheathing. A refillable cartridge means it’s good for life, whether you’re lighting a stogie or showing love for your favorite rock ballad in a crowded concert venue. – Buy It
Olight S Mini CU Flashlight
The MecArmy Illuminex-3 Copper Flashlight is the world’s smallest rechargeable flashlight, but the Olight S Mini CU claims distinction as the smallest battery-powered model. At 2.5 inches in length and less than an inch diameter, you might be surprised to learn that this compact flashlight can deliver between a modest 0.5 and a whopping 550 lumens (with four settings and a strobe) that can light your path for over 360 feet. – Buy It
Jacob Bromwell Lexington Money Clip
Wallets may be the go-to in terms of functional male accessories, but you can’t deny the class and convenience offered by a money clip. The handcrafted, pure copper money clip from Jacob Bromwell is a study in simplicity that nonetheless offers incredible function and durability for the gentleman that doesn’t want the bulk of a wallet. With a 100% lifetime guarantee, you have nothing to lose by giving this delightful design a whirl. – Buy It
Fisher Space Pen Copper Bullet Pen
When closed, this copper bullet pen is a mere 3.7 inches in length with a barrel diameter of just 9mm, so you can slide it into any jacket or pants pocket without adding bulk. When open, you can use this pen upside down, underwater, and in extreme temperatures. The next time you’re locked in a walk-in freezer a la Chunk from “The Goonies”, at least you can write “Fratellis” on the wall so the cops know whodunnit. – Buy It
Prometheus Lights Kappa Quick-Release Keychain
Unlike the Prometheus of myth, who famously stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity, this copper keychain offers no form of illumination. However, it does provide the indisputable convenience of a quick way to separate one set of keys from another. Anyone who has to detach a house and mail key for a neighbor due to frequent out-of-town work trips will understand the utility of this simple, quick-release tool. – Buy It
Tactile Turn Copper Slider Pen
While very similar to its sister, the Copper Mover Pen, this flame-colored beauty delivers an elegant and eye-catching action element, thanks to a C-shaped groove and bolt-action lever. Made from Tellurium copper, this pen is robust and durable, which makes it a perfect EDC writing implement. Plus, the dazzling and unexpected patina of copper will make it stand out in a board room full of business execs wielding pricy pens. – Buy It
Orvis Copper Flask
This long, tall Sally is built for speed, holding just five fluid ounces of your favorite firewater in a hammered copper case fit for the speakeasy lifestyle. Vintage styling includes a slim profile and subtle curve that hugs your chest when tucked inside your inner coat pocket, as well as a tight-sealing cork top attached by a braided leather cord. This is one handsome flask you’ll want to get your hands on. – Buy It
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