Tactical EDC Essentials To Beef Up Your Everyday Carry
An everyday carry collection, typically consisting of a wallet, an EDC knife, an EDC pen, and one or two keychain tools at the very least, is an important part of staying prepared for whatever the day may bring you. So where does the word tactical fit into your everyday carry? The word tactical gets thrown around a lot, especially in the everyday carry community.
A blacked-out version of an EDC item does not necessarily make it tactical, although it does look sharp. For an EDC item to be truly tactical, it must be functional enough to accomplish it’s intended goal, while versatile enough to perform other functions as well.
Consider the tactical pen for example. While it can surely jot down notes on a piece of paper, it’s steel or aluminum construction also allows it to be used as a self defense weapon or perform other non-everyday functions such as breaking glass. While an EDC collection should be tailored based on your specific carrying needs, adding a few tactical essentials to it can do wonders to improve it’s overall functionality. To assist you in beefing up your everyday carry, we’ve curated this list of tactical EDC essentials to consider adding to your arsenal.
Dango T01 Tactical Wallet
It seems like every brand has their version of the minimalist wallet — but Dango wallets manage to pack in extra utility while shaving down the profile. The Dango T01 Tactical is an industrial strength, made-in-the-US product with fourteen different functions. Much of that utility is thanks to the high-carbon stainless steel MT02 Multi-Tool that slides into the card compartment. Slide it out, lock it into the chassis, and use it to cut, saw, and defend. Other functions include bottle opening, nail prying, screw driving — all while holding up to twelve of your cards, plus cash in the elastic exterior band.
Tactica M.100 Multi-Tool
If you commute by bike, snowboard, or like being the guy who says, “Let me take a look” when something breaks, a good multi-tool is a must. This one from Tactica packs seventeen tools into a unique, carabiner-shaped tool. The stainless steel tool is wrapped in a composite frame that won’t scratch your device if they end up in the same pocket. Open packages, open beer, use standard and metric wrenches, or snap in the hex bits (stored in the frame) to tighten and drive screws.
Mystery Ranch 2-Day Assault Backpack
Single-pack travel is a revelation. This 2-Day Assault Backpack is equally equipped to get you through a night in the wilderness or a night in the wilds of the big city. The crucial component is organized storage. With a 27-liter capacity, the pack has a big main compartment that opens wide for your clothes and larger gear. Multiple internal pockets hold your laptop and smaller stuff safely. MOLLE straps and water bottle pockets give you outside storage. Go ahead and stuff it — the full-length frame and waist belt will distribute the weight comfortably.
5.11 Vlad Rescue Pen
Whether you’re taking windage notes, jotting down license plates, or writing a medic’s report, this pen will be your best friend. Ultra-tough yet impressively user-friendly, it uses pressurized ink cartridges to provide consistent writing performance and an aerospace grade aluminum body to maximize durability. The pen comes with a steel pocket clip so you can keep it always handy and doubles as a glass breaker in case of emergencies. It’s even built to write in rain, snow, and wet conditions. Reliability and long-lasting performance guaranteed.
Garmin Tactix 8 Smartwatch
Head into active combat zones or on recon patrol armed with the most reliable and feature-rich timepiece you could want. The Garmin Tactix 8 Smartwatch has a battery life that lasts up to 29 days (in smartwatch mode), comes with a built-in LED flashlight, and is rated for up to 40-meter dives. The titanium bezel and sapphire lens can more than stand up to high-impact, high-action operations, and the multi-and GPS (with SatIQ technology) ensures you’re never lost anywhere in the world you go.
For long-range shooters, you’ll love that it features integrated access to the Applied Ballistics solver to make setting up long shots a breeze. With night vision capability, stealth mode settings, dedicated tactical activity profiles, weather reports, and navigational features galore, it’s a mission-friendly watch in every way.
Fenix PD25R Rechargeable EDC flashlight
Compact yet incredibly powerful, the Fenix PD25R Rechargeable EDC flashlight is your ideal companion for nights on patrol as well as hiking and camping. It clocks in at less than three ounces and under four inches long, but its A6061-T6 aluminum is tough as nails and capable of withstanding any weather conditions.
The HAIII hard-anodized anti-abrasive finish maximizes grip and the anti-roll and anti-slip body design means that it’ll be easy to find even if you drop it. USB-C charging ensures you can power it up from your car charger or any wall socket, without having to use special cables or chargers or replacing batteries. With a beam distance of over 800 feet, brightness of 800 lumens, and run time of up to 50,000 hours, it’s the flashlight you’ll want to be ready for anything.
5.11 Tactical Rush Moab 10 Sling Pack
Hit your day running with this bad boy slung over your back. Whether you’re out for a jog, a hike, or just strolling around town, the 5.11 Tactical Rush Moab 10 Sling Pack is small enough that it won’t interfere with your daily activities of life but spacious enough (at 18L) to store your most important essentials. The bag features a special CCW compartment, pockets for coms gear and backup clips, a hydration bladder pocket, and a spacious interior compartment large enough for a big tablet or small laptop.
The MOLLE/5.11 SlickStick web platform exterior lets you add on extra gear or secure the sling pack to your main rucksack or duffel for easier transportation. Best of all, it’s built from incredibly sturdy yet wonderfully lightweight 1050D nylon that has been treated for water resistance. Go hard and go anywhere with this EDC-friendly pack.
Benchmade Shootout Knife
Tuck this knife into your boot, back pocket, or backpack and you’ll be ready for any combat situation. The knife is lightweight but insanely tough, with a PVD coating on the steel to increase blade durability and an injection-molded CF-Elite handle that will sit comfortably in your grip whether you’re wearing gloves or your hands are wet or muddy.
The butt features both a glass breaker and a reversible deep carry clip so you can keep it handy in case of emergency. Thanks to its tanto shape, it’s ideal for stabbing, slicing, and slashing but won’t break with hardcore use. It’s a knife built to last no matter what you use it for.
Ombraz Armless Sunglasses
Looking for a pair of sunglasses that won’t come off, whether you run, jump, or tuck and roll? The Ombraz Armless Sunglasses are built with an integrated cord that replaces the arms, so you can adjust it to your head or helmet shape and pull it tight to stay in place no matter what you’re doing. The style is the classic, handsome aviator shape, but the durability guarantees these scratch-resistant, smudge-resistant, oleophobic-coated, abrasion-proof glasses will last a long time. Made in Italy, they offer peerless quality at a beautifully affordable price.
Gerber Shard Keychain Tool
If we were giving out awards for apt product names, this would get one. The distinctive, compact Shard from Gerber is flat and asymmetrically shaped — not unlike a shard of glass. But this is far more useful. Constructed of stainless steel with a titanium nitride coating, the Shard can open bottles, drive screws, pry nails, strip wires, and more — all while hanging unobtrusively from your keys via the lanyard hole. And TSA won’t get concerned if you want to bring it on a plane.
Pelican 7600 Tactical Flashlight
If a flashlight is part of your EDC, make it one that won’t disappoint. Heavy-duty case maker Pelican put a lot of thought into the 7600 Tactical Flashlight. Brightness exceeds 900 lumens in bright white light, plus you have the option of green mode or red mode (to preserve your night eyes) along with strobe and three brightness levels. Rechargeable via USB, the 6.19-inch flashlight has a removable clip, is fully submersible, and has an anti-reflective lens.
Mission Workshop The Rhake Waxed Canvas Backpack
Overbuilt is a word we love around here and Mission Workshop does it flawlessly with their small-batch, handmade-in-the-US packs and apparel. The Rhake is the brand’s best-selling backpack — this time it’s made from Waxed Canvas. Designed to keep the elements off your laptop and the rest of your stuff, the Rhake has dual layer construction and water-resistant zips. At 22 liters with internal and external pockets, plus straps for lashing on larger items like jackets, it’s a perfect commuter or day pack (or even an overnighter for the minimalists).
The James Brand Ellis Knife
Sleek and minimal, like everything The James Brand makes, the Ellis is a pocket knife with a 2.6-inch, partially-serrated blade. An extra swing-out tool can open bottles and turn screws, and you’ll find multiple uses for their “All Things” scraper at the end of the anodized aluminum handle. At just 2.6 inches overall, the Ellis goes perfectly on your keychain or pack — and comes with a loop for just that purpose.
Leatherman Wave Plus Multi-Tool
For those who prefer being prepared for the maximum possible situations, the Leatherman Wave Plus delivers the goods — eighteen of them to be precise. From needle nose pliers to wire cutters, knives and saws to files and scissors, this thing packs everything into a 8.5 ounce package that’s just 4-inches long. For added utility, every tool can be opened single-handedly and most tools are outside-accessible. Plus it’s got that legendary Leatherman reliability from a tool proudly made in their Portland factory.
Nitecore NTP21 Tactical Pen
If you’d like to save a bit of coin on your tactical pen, Nitecore has an option for you. Made from aluminum, the Nitecore Tactical pen weighs in just under an ounce, measures 5.9 inches, and uses ballpoint German Schneider Gelion 39 ink refills. The tactical edge comes from the tungsten steel glass breaker tip. The screw-on cap can tighten to the back end of the pen as you write and the textured mid-barrel gives you a sure grip.
Maxpedition Fatty Pocket Organizer
Pens. Notepads. Keys. Earbuds. Phone chargers. Matches. Minitools. Batteries. Even the biggest pockets are hard-pressed to carry it all. Toss those small, fiddly things in your pack and you’ll spend too long hunting for them. The Maxpedition Fatty Pocket Organizer is built extra tough from ballistic nylon and goes in or attaches to your pack. The interior comes packed with pockets, straps, and zips to keep everything organized. Looking for that lighter? You know right where to find it.
5.11 Tactical Hard Times 2 Gloves
Your hands are the most important tool in your EDC arsenal. Protect them with the Tactical Hard Times Gloves from 5.11. Made with a four-way stretch back, a touchscreen-compatible goatskin palm, and hard molded knuckle protectors, these gloves are dextrous enough to let you work, but burly enough to keep you safe. Adjustable hook and loop wrist closure keep them on while an absorbent panel at the thumb dries your brow when the hard work kicks in.
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