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 unique bottle opener inspired by Chinese architecture – these are the EDC designs you definitely need by your side.
1. The Invictus Bali-Ti
The fully-functional Invictus Bali-Ti is a knife that deserves to be a part of your EDC arsenal! What makes this knife distinctive are its Terrain 365 branding and of course its construction. The sleek pocket knife features 6AL-4V titanium handles & a pocket clip and has a blade made from rustproof Terravantium. The Invictus Bali-Ti is a beautifully crafted and high-performance tool, built to last in the wilderness!
Why is it noteworthy?
A Balisong aka a butterfly knife is a type of folding knife that originated in the Philippines. It has now penetrated deep 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
2. The Jurassic Croc
A reptile-inspired EDC? Hell yeah! Called, the Jurassic Croc, this badass EDC is equipped with 8 tools and performs flawlessly in the indoors and the outdoors. It has been designed to look like a crocodile head and comes in the option of two materials – stainless steel or titanium. It’s been power-packed with a Phillips head screw-bit, two hex bits, a flathead screwdriver, a prybar, tape-cutter, two O-rings, and a unique bottle opener integrated into the croc’s toothy jaw.
Why is it noteworthy?
Each Jurassic Croc is small enough to fit in your palm, weighing a mere couple of grams and measuring 3.2 inches x 1.5 inches in size. The croc comes outfitted with a DeWalt America #2 Phillips head bit located in its ‘cheek’, held in place by 2 O rings that can be removed and used too. You can slide the croc right into your pants, or secure it around your bag or belt using the lanyard provided. Each croc is rated TSA-safe, and is designed to last a lifetime… like those fossils from millions of years ago!
What we like
- Designed to last a lifetime
- Creative form as compared to the usual EDCs
What we dislike
- No complaints!
3. The Grouper Utility Knife
Looking like a prop from a sci-fi movie, the Grouper utility knife comes with a stunning design featuring a titanium construction, a parallel-linkage opening mechanism with ball-bearing pivots, and should you choose, an absolutely breathtaking rainbow finish.
Why is it noteworthy?
The knife, which measures a mere 4.3 inches (110mm) when closed, comes with a carabiner clip on one end, and a tungsten carbide glass-breaker on the other end. Open it out, and the now 6.2-inch-long knife reveals its TAJIMA V-REX II blade on the inside, perfect for opening boxes, slicing envelopes, or doing more rogue cyberpunk-worthy stuff like slicing wires and cutting seatbelts.
What we like
- The Grouper sports a titanium alloy body that’s more than impervious to rough use
- A nifty locking clip on the top keeps the knife’s blade intact until you’re done and ready to close your Grouper
What we dislike
- No complaints!
4. The Viuu Bottle Opener
Bottle openers are probably the only EDCs to have undergone the least amount of innovation – a handle and a head are what you usually get. But YUUE Design Studio decided to revamp the age-old bottle opener. This one looks almost like a decorative piece, but without compromising on any of the functionality. You can now get your drinks ready in a really unique + effective manner with the Viuu Bottle Opener.
Why is it noteworthy?
The design is inspired by window grill patterns, specifically those from classic Chinese architecture. There are three shapes featured: one hexagonal, one rectangular, and one with a semi-circular design. All of them have these patterns that may remind you of windows in old houses if you live in such a place influenced by this kind of architecture. While there are no handles to grip while opening a bottle, the grill design can help you with the grip problem.
What we like
- Inspired by classic Chinese architecture
What we dislike
- No complaints!
5. The Shift Folder Knife
For the Shift Folder Knife, Koss decided to make a knife with a retracting blade that moves up and down a rail built into the handle. There’s a clever snapping mechanism there too that causes the blade to fix in its closed or open position. Everything is made in-house from a combination of titanium and brass for the handle, and W1-7 high carbon steel for the blade.
Why is it noteworthy?
The handle, on the other hand, uses a combination of titanium (for its stiffness), and brass (for its unique color and ability to patina). Sandwiched between the titanium and brass halves, however, is a cleverly machined steel sheet that comes with a notch just like the one on the blade. However, the notch has two steps in it – one at the front and one at the end. This allows the blade to ‘snap’ into open and closed positions, giving you a convenient single-handed experience without any hassles or complicated parts. The mechanism provides enough resistance that you can use the blade without it sliding back into its handle.
What we like
- Each knife is hand-crafted
- A broad brass knob sits on the handle, providing a fair bit of contrast against the titanium sheet behind it
What we dislike
- The knives don’t come cheap
6. The Gerber Stake Out
The Gerber Stake Out is a nifty multitool that’s perfect for all the outdoor adventures you undertake! It measures just 4.5-inch in the closed position and a maximum of 6.6-inches when the knife is being used. The super cool multi-tool conceals 11 tools and helps you with almost everything – from setting up a campfire to cooking a meal in the wilderness. The Scandi grind blade features a bottle opener, awl, Ferro rod striker, saw, file, and a pair of scissors.
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
- No complaints!
7. Pinchy
With the classy appeal of a switchblade (although much safer) Pinchy is an outdoor cutlery set where the protective case turns into the cutlery’s ergonomic grip. Just pinch and flip and the case opens, with a metal spoon, fork, or knife popping out. Once the case locks back in place, you’ve got a perfectly useful, kid-friendly cutlery set that’s practically built for the outdoors.
Why is it noteworthy?
Shaped to be compact and easy to grip, the case is hollow and holds the metallic half of the spoon/fork/knife inside. Pinch it open and flip the metal end out, and the case goes from being an outer cover to an ergonomic grip that’s easy to hold and maneuver. When you’re done, just flip the cutlery back in and they go right back in their protective little shell.
What we like
- The Pinchy’s design is intuitive to use
- It is disability-friendly
What we dislike
- No complaints!
8. The Titanium Transforming Pocket Blade
The Titanium Transforming Pocket Blade is a fully functional pocket blade through and through, in a sleek and compact form! In fact, it’s small enough to share space with your keys and has been blessed with some dashing good looks.
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
- No complaints!
9. Grenade
Called Grenade, this interestingly-shaped EDC functions as an alarm clock, outdoor lamp for camping, and a productivity-enhancing gadget. The term ‘Grenade’ may set off certain alarms in our nervous system in today’s day and age, but this truly handy EDC has much more to it, than simply its problematic name. You can carry this nifty design in your backpack, and we promise you it’ll come handy in a variety of situations – anytime during your daily routine or during your outdoor adventures.
Why is it noteworthy?
Alright, coming straight on to the Grenade outdoor lamp designed for Claymore by Wonjun Jo – it is a small package with big features. The timer on the gadget can be used for setting morning alarms, scheduling tasks, setting up goals, or simply setting up countdown timers for cooking food. The alarm function is quite unique as you go on turning the middle section of the grenade to set the timer limit. The chick accessory can be hung onto wires or any tether to provide ambient lighting inside the tent, outdoor space, or even for your work-from-home desk setup.
What we like
- Attractive casing in stainless steel finish to carry along safely
- Designed in a way to hang by the pin
What we dislike
- It’s still a concept!
10. The Combar FoldaXe Pro
Meet the Combar FoldaXe Pro multitool crafted by Israeli startup Aclim8 to improve on their maiden attempt at creating a versatile set of tools for outdoor enthusiasts.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Combar FoldaXe Pro weighs just 900 grams, shedding the weight as compared to the original Combar. It measures 15.75 inches long, ideal for carrying in your backpack. There’s the flip-out ax on one side that retracts into the handle when not in use, and the textured hammer on the other. This gives users plenty of meat to work around with when it comes to splitting apart tree barks or pounding down the tent stakes. The abrasive surface of the glass-reinforced polymer handle means a strong grip to deliver the force right where intended.
What we like
- FoldaXe Pro 4-in-1 has a slide-out storage compartment in the hollow handle for keeping the extra tools
- The multitool is crafted from aircraft hard-anodized aluminum and 420J2 stainless steel
What we dislike
- No complaints!
