Best of EveryDay Carry – Yanko Design Awards 2023

New Year New Gear, they say… but before we explore what 2024 has in store for us, here’s a look at our top EDC gear from the year gone by. Our love for EDC only grew in 2023 as we began venturing outdoors again (you know, after the entire 2-year house arrest), and we honestly believe 2023’s been a golden year for the category. Titanium finally went mainstream, with Apple adopting it for their flagship 2023 iPhones, and we saw multiple independent creators taking to platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo to bring their EDC visions to life!

So what really constitutes this list and how did we arrive at our top ten? It’s simple, really. All the EDC have a few things in common. They’re built to be compact, robust, highly utilitarian, and have a wow-factor, whether it’s a unique feature, or just stellar craftsmanship. We’ve even awarded a Best EDC Design of 2023 to a certain multitool so scroll ahead to know more about why we loved it so much!

1. Prytium Titanium Multitool by G.S.G (Best EDC Design of 2023)

With a staggering 14 features built into its compact, lightweight, machined titanium design, the Prytium Multitool wins our award for just being the most versatile, capable, and handy piece of EDC money could buy. Perfect for pretty much any situation life throws at you, the Prytium is the kind of EDC you wish you’d have if you were stranded on a desert island. It’s got possibly every conceivable tool from a folding knife to a bottle opener, pry tool, nail file, glass breaker, and even a few wrenches and screwdrivers to get you through a whole gamut of worldly situations, whether they’re mildly frustrating like a hangnail or actual emergencies that require tactical tools.

Why is it noteworthy?

Aside from being made from Grade-5 that is well known for its sheer durability, the Prytium really surprises with exactly how much it manages to pack into its pocket-friendly design. It does so rather cleverly too, offering tritium slots so that your EDC is visible even at night, a deep pocket clip so you can attach your multitool to your clothing for convenience, and my favorite bit, a removable replaceable blade that you can change whenever the old one gets dull… so you spend less time sharpening your blade and more time using it instead.

2. Septimo Multi-tool by Jeremy Valdez for CRKT

The CRKT Septimo Multi-Tool may appear to be your typical pocket knife, but it’s ingeniously designed to offer far more than just a flipper blade. Crafted to combine compactness, ergonomic comfort, and a rich array of features, this versatile tool was conceived by Jeremy Valdez, a seasoned member of the 7th Special Forces Group. Inspired by his vision of the perfect everyday carry multitool, the Septimo (which translates to ‘Seventh’ in Spanish) boasts a 2.86-inch fold-out American Tanto blade with a secure liner-lock mechanism. It also includes a built-in bottle opener, a dual-purpose flathead and Phillips head screwdriver, an adjustable wrench, and a handy glass-breaker tip for those tricky situations. Plus, with its convenient pocket clip, you can keep your Septimo Multi-Tool easily accessible, ensuring you’re always prepared for a wide range of everyday situations.

Why is it noteworthy?

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but for the Septimo Multitool, it was more like a strong survival instinct. The origin story of the Septimo is probably the wildest thing you’ll ever hear. A member of the 7th Special Forces, Jeremy Valdez was posted in Afghanistan in 2009 when his helicopter crashed during a combat operation. In the heat of the moment, Valdez realized that the tools he had at the time failed miserably at real-world applications when it came to prying open fuselage, cutting harnesses, and freeing his fellow soldiers from the blazing, mangled chopper wreckage. Some people live in the trauma of such incidents, but not Valdez. He went to the drawing board and came up with the Septimo – a tribute to his fallen brothers and sisters, and an EDC so capable it has literal military experience.

3. Rike Knife S05 by Rike Knife

This knife almost won Best EDC of the Year for just how bonkers-beautiful it is. Intricate to the point of being absolutely impossible to counterfeit, the Rike Knife S05 has one of the most unique Damascus blades we’ve ever seen. In fact, I can say with a degree of confidence that I’ve never seen a blade this beautiful. With a dizzyingly detailed pattern that’s brought about by using different grades of metal that are hammered, forged, and acid-etched to reveal the marbled texture, the S05’s blade is a literal work of art. It sports a clip-point design that folds into a titanium handle that has a marbled pocket clip too. The price of such beauty? Well, given that you’re paying for top-tier craftsmanship, the $550 price tag doesn’t really hurt as much.

Why is it noteworthy?

I’m going to sound like an absolute broken record at this point, but that Damascus blade has my heart. Almost like a piece of psychedelic art, it has something hidden in every corner, from checkers and strips to even Japanese symbols. Oh, and as far as the blade’s sharpness goes, it has a viciously sharp edge that cuts through materials like they’re made of butter.

4. KeyMaster by EDC Monster

I’d like to think that the KeyMaster is key-shaped because of its sheer ability to ‘unlock’ any kind of real or metaphorical door that holds you back. Sure, the key-shaped design means it’s the ideal size to fit on your keychain, but let’s also acknowledge the fact that this key-sized EDC has 14 different tools built in, including multiple wrenches for bicycle spokes as well as hex nuts, a few popular screwdrivers, a fold-out scalpel blade, a bottle opener, and even a miniature scale that has BOTH metric as well as imperial measurements.

Why is it noteworthy?

It’s small enough to sit on your keychain, weighs a paltry 29 grams (1 ounce), and is made from the most durable metal known to mankind. What’s not to love?! The KeyMaster is a handy-dandy EDC for when you need to perform minor repairs or when you need a small knife to cut open boxes, slice paracord, whittle wood, or defend yourself. And when you’re done, crack open a brewski with the built-in bottle opener!

5. Folding Travel Cutlery Kit by Uphold Living

The problem with travel cutlery is that in the interest of portability, it often makes a few unfortunate trade-offs. Take the spork, for instance… a two-in-one piece of cutlery that saves material/space, but is just an odd contraption that nobody loves to use. The Uphold Travel Cutlery Kit possesses the unique distinction of being a rather no-compromise solution. Designed to be as small as a bunch of credit cards, this kit contains not one, not two, but three cutlery sets that you can use just as you would the ones at home. The Uphold kit features a working spoon, fork, and knife that sit flat when not in use, but curve to assume their ergonomic shape when you need them, thanks to clever design and the use of flexible materials at exactly the right points, while relying on food-grade titanium alloy and aluminum alloy for the rest.

Why is it noteworthy?

Single-use plastic spoons and forks are a menace. Not just for the environment, which they pollute by thousands of tonnes every year, but also for humans. Why? Because flimsy plastic spoons and forks don’t offer any robust functionality at all. They bend and flex when you try to cut through food, and they’ll melt if your gravies are too hot. Uphold’s alternative is vastly better. Not only is it made from durable metals like titanium, but it’s also designed to be compact when tucked away, and incredibly functional when you need to dig into your food. The full-length design gives you all the convenience you need while you eat, and the fact that you’ve got a separate knife, fork, and spoon means no more dealing with that spork nonsense.

6. Typhoeus Morphing Knife by CIVIVI

We’re big fans of CIVIVI’s knives in general, but when I laid our eyes on the Typhoeus for the first time, I honestly felt my jaw drop a little. The Typhoeus isn’t your conventional folding knife, because it has a handle that folds too. Once you flip the blade out, you can either use it as a conventional clip-point knife, or fold the handle further to turn it into a push-dagger. This unique format gives you two knives, a conventional one and a hardcore tactical one, so you can cut open boxes and defend yourself with equal effectiveness. The Typhoeus features a 14C28N steel blade sitting within a G10 handle, but our eyes are on the Damascus steel variant that gets an upgraded aluminum handle for a more robust experience.

Why is it noteworthy?

The novel format is exciting and really reinvents a category (knives) that doesn’t see too much out-of-the-box thinking as far as mechanisms are concerned. Plus, with the Typhoeus you really get two knives for the price of one, and that itself should be enough to convince the moderate skeptic!

7. A2 Badger OTF Knife by Tekto Knives

Another one of our favorites remains Tekto’s OTF range. In a world where most portable knives have blades that swivel inwards and outwards, Tekto’s OTF (or Out The Front) knives shoot outwards when you hit the switch on top. The A2 Badger grabbed our eye this year for how compact yet capable it was. It eschewed the spear-point edge seen on most OTF blades for an American Tanto-style blade, crafted from titanium-coated D2 steel, and features a glass-breaker tip on the reverse end of the handle, giving you a knife that’s dangerous from head to toe!

Why is it noteworthy?

We firmly believe that if you’re an EDC enthusiast or even an amateur collector, you NEED to have an OTF knife in your arsenal. The A2 Badger, to that degree, is perfectly compact, well-built, and designed to be reliable and last long. The titanium-coated blade holds its edge remarkably well, and that aluminum handle feels great in your grasp, whether it’s for cutting or for shattering even laminated glass. When all’s said and done, that pocket clip lets you slide your OTF knife right into your jacket or pants, for another day.

8. M-Stand Titanium Multitool by ActMax

The M-Stand proves that there’s always room for more features in an EDC. It might look like your conventional push-dagger, but the M-Stand, as its name suggests, also doubles as a stand for your smartphone or tablet simply by splitting it apart into its two halves. Neodymium magnets hold the two titanium halves together, giving you an EDC you can wear around your neck simply by sandwiching a chain between the left and right elements of the M-Stand. However, when you need to use its vast catalog of features, split it apart and you’ve got two knives that also have built-in features like hex wrenches, a bottle opener, a paracord cutter, pry-bar, fire starter, and the phone stand, as I mentioned earlier. Snap them back together and you’re armed with a rather capable spear-point push dagger that you can wear between your knuckles and use for everything from self-defense to shotgunning a beer-can!

Why is it noteworthy?

The beauty of the EDC industry is its rather low barrier to entry. Sure, you’ve got a few big-name brands that dominate the category, but then an independent small-time creator shows up with a novel design and a Kickstarter campaign, getting the entire EDC community excited to see something new. The M-Stand is that novel design. It’s unlike any multitool we’ve seen. It does its job well, and has a fidget-like quality that’ll have your hands and eyes falling in love with it every single day!

9. Batch #003 Knife by Leatherman

When it comes to multi-tools, Leatherman is practically a household name. Back in 1975, during a European holiday, Tim Leatherman and his wife Chau found themselves encountering leaky hotel plumbing and making roadside repairs to their temperamental Fiat. This experience sparked a brilliant idea that gave birth to the plier-based multitool – a remarkable innovation that Leatherman is renowned for pioneering. Based out of Portland, Oregon, the Leatherman company still champions this category as one of the most functional tools in their catalog, but earlier this year, the company developed a new kind of EDC that caught our fancy. The Batch #003 isn’t your everyday EDC knife. It comes with Leatherman’s proprietary interchangeable blade system. Press a button and you can pop out the old blade for a new one. Unlike most knives with replaceable standardized blades, Leatherman actually makes their own blades in-house, offering you a choice between a drop-point and a sheepsfoot blade, both made from 420HC stainless steel and completed with a stone-washed finish.

Why is it noteworthy?

Aside from being a gorgeous folding knife, the Batch #003’s proprietary blade-changing system sets a standard that I really hope more knives follow in the future. It’s difficult to sharpen some types of blades (especially serrated ones), and discarding a knife for just that fact seems like a truly wasted potential. Swapping blades is a great way to prolong a knife’s overall lifespan. Did I also mention that the Batch #003 comes with its own torx and bit drivers too? Just as a nifty cherry on the cake!

10. 8-in-1 EDC Multitool Scissors by Eiger Design

The world of EDC goes well beyond just knives. It also includes tools, fidget toys, stationery, wallets even… but you’ll be hard-pressed to find an EDC scissor, yet here we are. Perfect for indoor and outdoor culinary adventures, this 8-in-1 EDC Scissor comes apart to double as a set of knives… but what’s more interesting is the fact that it also has a built-in bottle opener, can opener, nut-cracker, and even a fire-starter, all in one handy package. Quite like the M-Stand from before that splits into two, this pair of scissors can separate into its individual halves, giving you two knives, and a variety of multitools on demand. Put them back together and the hefty scissors can cut through hard materials like cured meats too, while also relying on a serrated mid-section to crack through walnuts.

Why is it noteworthy?

This gizmo is the kind your kitchen couldn’t live without, but it’s also perfect for outdoor cooking on a camping trip. Use it as a single scissor, two handheld knives, or by its whole gamut of features… the 8-in-1 EDC Scissors get points for being clever, practical, and reinventing an aspect of life that isn’t just outdoor/lifestyle. Pair it with Uphold’s travel cutlery for the ultimate cooking experience outdoors! Oh, and if you’re looking to buy your own pair of scissors, we recommend checking out the YD Store.

The post Best of EveryDay Carry – Yanko Design Awards 2023 first appeared on Yanko Design.

Leatherman’s pocket knife with interchangeable blades is made for discovering new adventures

Outdoorsy enthusiasts swear by the Leatherman knifes for their durability and the ability to stay sharp for a lifetime. Fusing them up with an array of multitools brings more possibilities of use on adventures unknown or simply for usual tasks at home. The Portland, Oregon-based company has made a name for itself, and to explore the possibilities of multitools and knives, they have created the Garage division.

Their latest experimental creation is the Batch #003: PARTS multipurpose tool with its unique set of features. A folding knife at heart, the multitool ventures into the world of interchangeable blade options for an EDC.

Designer: Leatherman

According to Leatherman, their motive is to create the best folding knife out there from the current inventory of products in-house. The result, a multipurpose tool crafted out of 26 parts. It gets an innovative interchangeable blade system to swap compatible blades for the needed task at hand. All this while being ergonomically comfortable and highly functional to the last bit. The EDC gets the G10 handle for a better grip.

For starters, the knife can be swapped between the premium S30V stainless steel workblade for hardcore tasks or the 154CM blade tailored for normal household tasks. The two can be swapped via a Torx #6 drive bit, #8 Torx drive bit, and a standard bit driver. These are included in the EDC lanyard to keep everything handy and accessible when most needed.

According to Leatherman, the 3 oz. blade is very easy to launch from the slim and lightweight frame. When not in use it can be kept safe in the G-10 glass laminate scales. I’m sure the blades of the multitool are going to last down the generations too. Just if Leatherman could have included other essential multitools like a screwdriver, scissor, and bottle opener – the utility would have increased three-folds. That I say considering the steep price tag of $230 – but then it’s a Leatherman accessory!

The post Leatherman’s pocket knife with interchangeable blades is made for discovering new adventures first appeared on Yanko Design.

Versatile and Feather light, Leatherman pocket multi-tool is the ideal all-in-one EDC for newbies!





Elegantly designed Leatherman multi-tool that shaves off the less required tools while adding some important ones – making it the ideal EDC for every pocket.

For any situation in life, you need to be ready with the right tool at the right time. The Leatherman Curl EDC inspired by the Wave Plus does exactly that with a touch of style. This multi-tool carries the essence of the Portland, Oregon-based origins established more than 37 years ago. Why I say that, well because it has the brand’s iconic features coming at an affordable price tag for first-time users. To be precise, the Curl EDC is a classic while being highly capable of tackling anything or everything coming its way.

Made out of 100 percent stainless steel material, the pocket tool is just the right palm-sized utility that’s so wantable. What piqued my interest about this multi-tool is the unification of 15 tools into a slim package weighing just 7.5-ounce. Leatherman has truly ticked all the right checkboxes here to appeal to a wide array of audiences. And be rest assured about its performance for a long time – after all it comes with a 25-year warranty. Virtually making it last a lifetime!

Leatherman Curl comes with a carefully chosen selection of tools like 420HC knife, bottle opener, can opener, diamond-coated file, hard-wire cutters, large bit driver, medium screwdriver, needlenose pliers, normal pliers, a ruler, spring-action scissors and wire stripper. To make it ultra-easy to carry around Curl also gets a removable pocket clip and nylon belt sheath.

 

Compared to the Wave, the Curl here gives up on the saw and serrated blade for outside accessible tools. It swaps the micro driver with an awl for the inside accessible tools. It also does away with the replaceable wire cutters and locking mechanism which I think is not much of a loss unless you cutting wires or fences every other day!

Designer: Leatherman

This nifty multitool watch-strap turns any smartwatch into the ultimate EDC toolkit

Leatherman EDC Watch Strap Adapter for Apple Smartwatch

Your Apple Watch can measure your heart rate and count steps… but can it tighten a bolt or open a screw? Not that it’s something a smartwatch needs to do, but this handy bracelet + attachment turns your watch-strap into an EDC utility belt with 29 different tools!

The magic lies in two parts – the existing Leatherman Tread Bracelet, which packs 29 high-strength stainless-steel multitools in a portable, travel-friendly band that sits along your wrist… and the adapter, which turns the bracelet into a strap that attaches to your Apple Watch (or any other smartwatch). The bracelet’s individual links hold as many as 3 tools per module, from flathead screwdrivers to Phillips head screwdrivers, a wide range of hex-drivers, and even an oxygen tank wrench. Made in Portland, Oregon, the Leatherman Tread Bracelet brilliantly turns EDC into something absolutely new, allowing you to wear it along your wrist as almost a fashion accessory… and the bracelet’s designed to last too, with a whopping 25-year warranty. That’s a lot more than your Apple Watch.

Adapter-modules allow the bracelet to attach to either side of your Apple Watch as straps. The adapters are available in both smaller and larger lug-sizes for the Apple Watch, and come with 2 pairs of spring bars to secure the adapters in place, and a nifty spring bar removal tool just in case you want to upgrade to a newer model of the Apple Watch but still hold onto that incredibly useful and visually hardcore Leatherman multitool bracelet! If you don’t own a Leatherman Tread bracelet, you can pick one up here.

Designer: BestTechTools

Click Here to Buy Now (Adapter Module for Apple Watch)

Leatherman EDC Watch Strap Adapter for Apple Smartwatch

Leatherman EDC Watch Strap Adapter for Apple Smartwatch

Leatherman EDC Watch Strap Adapter for Apple Smartwatch

Leatherman EDC Watch Strap Adapter for Apple Smartwatch

Click Here to Buy Now (Adapter Module for Apple Watch)

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Weatherman’s Multi-tool Bracelet Looks Awesome, Is Of Dubious Use

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We like manly men accessories as much as the next guy. So we won’t lie and gladly admit we’re attracted by the Leatherman Tread, a bracelet that doubles as 25 different tools.

It’s an ingenious design. The bracelet is fully customizable and can be re-built with slotted fasteners. The user can rearrange links, add or remove tools, or just adjust the bracelet’s size for comfort down to one quarter of an inch. Even the clasp is functional, with a bottle opener and #2 square drive. Other tools include hex drives, screwdrivers, box wrenches, a carbide glass breaker, and a hook-style box cutter that doubles as a SIM card pick.

The issue we have, however, is that we can’t find too many realistic real-life use scenarios, especially with tools this small… A carbide glass cutter? That’s cool, but do you really see yourself effectively hitting a car window with a slightly protruding bit of metal?

Maybe… But to be honest, we’re just skeptical of its actual use, yet we’re willing to be wrong. Or maybe we just want to be wrong since this thing is such a looker. If paying between $150 to $200 for an accessory that appears to value form over function doesn’t bother you, know that the Leatherman Tread will be available this summer.

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[ Product Page ] VIA [ Wired ]

The post Weatherman’s Multi-tool Bracelet Looks Awesome, Is Of Dubious Use appeared first on OhGizmo!.

Leatherman Tread Puts a Multitool on Your Wrist

A long time ago, I bought a Leatherman multitool that has a pouch you are supposed to attach to your belt. I found quickly that I don’t like things on my belt and stopped using it. It seems that every time I turn around at work, I need a tool of some sort and I am left searching for what I need. I still refuse to wear that multi-tool on my belt though. A new multitool that Leatherman is showing off might be perfect for folks like me who don’t like things on their belt.

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The Leatherman Tread is a wearable tool that comes in either bracelet or watchband versions. The bracelet has 25 tools built in including a cutting hook, screwdrivers, box wrenches and a bottle opener. Each link has two or three different tools.

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While I refuse to wear bracelets because this isn’t the ’80s, I would totally be down with the watchstrap version. Still, I would totally buy the bracelet version in black if it’s sized to allow me to put my Pebble smartwatch on it. A smartwatch with a multitool band sounds fantastic to me.

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Pricing is expected to be somewhere around $150 to $200 so it’s not exactly cheap, and I’m assuming that doesn’t include the watch. Still, I want one pretty bad.