My Every Day Carry 2025

Everyone has an EDC curated to their specific context. Over time, my personal EDC has undergone a number of significant changes. Some of these changes have been due to different occupations. Some have been due to different locations. Some have simple been due to the amount of money I have had at my disposal for EDC related purchases.

My current EDC iteration has been crafted over a number of years, and refined to suit my current lifestyle and the situations I find myself in. Of course, the exact set-up changes based on what I think I will be doing in a given day, but my core EDC is as follows:

• Leatherman Skeletool Multitool

  • This covers my blade (which is as close to a universal “must-have” item for EDC as there is"), as well as a variety of other useful tools. The blade on the Skeletool is durable, and holds an edge well. The positioning of the blade on the multitool is great for one-handed opening for right-handed users. This is a very important aspect I consider when looking at different knives. I want to be able to draw my knife and open it with one hand, without too much hassle. This allows me to open my blade for use even when I am holding something in my other hand, which is the situation I find myself in most of the times I have use for a knife. The overall feel of the Skeletool is sleek and efficient. For someone with large hands, it is a bit on the small side. When utilizing the pliers, the bit driver can dig into your palm a bit if you aren’t careful. Because of this, I opt to store the bit in the built-in storage area when I am not using the bit driver. The bit driver secures the removable bit fairly well, and allows for a variety of bit styles to be used depending on the situation. The retention on the bits is adequate, although I have lost a bit from the driver before. The pliers are on the smaller side, but more than enough for the vast majority of tasks you will encounter. They are very durable, and able to stand up to a significant amount of force without any issues. The wire cutters are more than adequate any smaller gauge wire I have encountered. The only other tool on the Skeletool is the combination carabiner clip/bottle opener, which is always useful to have around. Although it lacks the variety of different tools that some larger multitools offer, the Skeletool has an incredibly efficient form factor and very light weight while still offering the most essential tools. Because of this, it has become my go-to EDC multitool.

• BIC Lighter

  • For flame, I typically carry a standard BIC lighter. It’s not glamorous, but it’s cheap and it has never let me down. When I am feeling fancy, I might carry one of a number of different Zippo lighters. These, however, have proved to be more finnicky and require more upkeep and attention than the simple efficiency of the BIC.

• Streamlight Microstream flashlight

  • Of every EDC tool I carry, the Streamlight Microstream is the one that I use the most. The price point is slightly above some of the competitors in the arena, but there are several key features that make the Microstream stand out in my opinion. The form factor of the Microstream is perfect. The single AAA cell battery it holds gives ample runtime, and allows the Microstream to fit inside a pocket without any issues of being dislodged (a problem I have faced with many of the double AAA models). The lumen output is nothing ridiculous, but more than sufficient for peeking into a dark room, or under the hood of your car. On the rear of the Microstream is the activation button, which operates as a standard push-button or a momentary switch. This feature is one of my favorite aspects of the light, since the vast majority of the time I am utilizing it for a quick peek into a dark area. The speed of the momentary switch rather than a full button push is a minor aspect, but with the number of times I use the light it is a terrific convenience. The pocket clip also features a reverse clip for attaching the light to the bill of a ballcap. When I first saw this, I thought it was a gimmick I would never use. However, after carrying the Microstream for several years now, I can honestly say it is an extremely useful feature. In addition to all these features, the Microstream is durable. How durable, you ask? Well, I have never broken one before I have lost it, and I know that one light can survive at least TWO trips through the washing machine. While I have lost several Microstreams over the past few years, the price point is affordable enough that it’s not a major tragedy.

• Bluetooth Earbuds

  • Take your pick of brand, but I appreciate the ability to listen to music when I am out and about.

• Smartphone

  • With the infinite uses of a smart phone, it is almost a necessity to carry one in our modern day and age. Now, an interesting experiment is to try leaving it at home and see how you need to go about your day-to-day without a phone. However, for an average day, I carry my phone with me almost everywhere.

• Wallet + Cash

  • It’s important to carry your identification and cards with you. I also make it a point to carry at least $100 cash everywhere I go. Cash opens up options that are not available if you only have electronic methods of payment.

For now, this is my standard EDC. This grows and shrinks depending on the day and activity. Undoubtedly, it will continue to shift and be adjusted as my daily context changes. Until the next iteration, these tools continue to serve me extremely well as I go about my every day life.

Get up, gear up, get after it™

~ Eric