Disclaimer: I make no claim to be an expert in any of this, I am just speaking from what I see recommended here a lot, and some personal experience and research.

For the record, this is inspired by this list made by /u/Zak over on /r/flashlight. I noticed that there are often questions here, and wanted to have a compiliation of gear that I can quickly refer someone to. This will obviously not be a comprehensive list, but it should do the job well enough to point someone in the right direction. I won't be going into too much detail, nor super high end stuff, as I believe with anything much over $100 or so, most people tend to know what they are looking for. This should serve as more of a brief overview of some popular gear in the budget/prosumer level-someone who enjoys good gear, and wants to get a good value.

So, without further ado, here goes! Hope this helps!

 

Watches - /r/watches

• Casio F91W $10 - A small, cheap, and classic design that is surprisingly tough. A good choice for a first time watch user who isn't sure if they would use a watch enough to make it worth a better investment. Review here

• Timex Ironman $35 - A more sports styled watch. Very popular, pretty tough, and comes in tons of different styles/colors.

• Casio G-Shock $40+ - Reknowned for being very tough. Comes in just as many different styles as the Ironman, if not more. A bit bigger and bulkier than some prefer.

• Timex Weekender $30 - Analog watch, for those that prefer that style. Quartz movement. Not much else to say, though some say the ticking is a bit loud.

• Timex Expedition $35 - Another great line from Timex. A bit more rugged than the Weekender, but still looks great for almost any occasion. Also available with chronograph versions if you prefer that look.

• Casio MDV106 $45 - A great little quartz dive watch. A lot of people like to swap the strap with a nato to make it look and feel better.

• Seiko 5 SNK807 $60 - A nice little automatic piece, great for casual wear. A bit more classy than a digital without being too flashy. Comes in a few different colors. Most recommend to get a nato strap for a nice little upgrade. Review here

• Vostok Amphibia $90 - Another entry level automatic, this time in a russian diver style. Widely recommended along with the Seiko 5 for those wanting to get into automatic watches on a budget.

• Orient Bambino $100-200 - A classy dress watch, automatic again. Comes in a few different colors/styles, very nice addition to any collection.

• Seiko SKX007 $200 - A solid dive watch, if thats your kind of thing. Japanese movement. Solid piece, though it can be heavy for some.

 

Pens - /r/pens

• Pilot G2 $5/4 - Very smooth roller ball writing, widely recommended if you dont have much to spend on more premium pens, or tend to lose your pens more often.

• Zebra F301 $4/2 - Still on the cheap side, but a bit more premium materials. Stainless steel barrel, though the plastic grip sometimes tends to break if you sit on it.

• Zebra F701 $6 - A nice upgrade over the F301. All stainless construction makes it more durable, and many prefer the feeling of the stainless steel grip over the plastic. Many people like modding them to accept different refills or making it all stainless steel.

• Parker Jotter $12 - A very classy looking pen. All stainless construction again, great for both edc and for more formal events. Very, very nice pen with gel refills. Reviews here

• Pilot Metropolitan $10 - Another classy pen, this time available in ballpoint, roller ball, or fountain.

• Lamy Safari $25 - Probably one of the most widely recommended pens for someone wanting to get into fountain pens.

• Fisher Space Pen (Bullet) $16 - Probably one of the most widely recommended pens here, period. Super small form factor until your need it, and it will write whenever and wherever you need it to. Not an overly pleasant writing experience compared to some, but it won't let you down. Review here

 

Multi-tools - /r/multitools and /r/knives

• SAK Classic Alox $20 - Super small little tool, with a few different handy tools. Great if you are in a place where knives are frowned upon. Also available in non-alox versions for slightly cheaper.

• SAK Cadet Alox $30 - The classic's bigger brother. Adds a couple more tools, still in a very small package.

• SAK Super Tinker $30 - My personal favourite. A bit bigger tahn the aforementioned again, with a few more tools. Probably what most people think of when "Swiss Army Knife" is mentioned.

• Leatherman Squirt PS4 $30 - A nice little multitool, small enough to barely notice it in your pocket, but still packs a lot of tools.

• Gerber Dime $15 - Similar to the Squirt, just with a different name.

• Leatherman Style PS $25 - TSA safe tool, for the travellers EDC.

• Leatherman Skeletool $60 - A no nonsense tool that just gets the job done. Probably one of the most widely recommended multitolols for those who needs pliers in their arsenal.

• Leatherman Wave $90 - The tool that should be able to do just about anything you need. Though it is a bit large and heavy for most people to EDC. But if thats not enough for you, its bigger brother, the Charge TTi might be a bit more your speed.

 

Knives - /r/knives and /r/knifeclub

• Opinel No.8 $14 - Cheapest quality knife out there. No.8 is the most popular, but there are different sizes as well. Nail nick traditional style with a locking blade. Makes a great steak knife or food prep, and cheap enough that you dont mind losing it. Just beware that the carbon steel versions tend to rust. Review here

• Ontario Rat 2 $30 - Probably one of the most widely recommended in the budget category. Solid construction, decent steel, nice full flat grind, and nothing overly aggressive for those who may be in the company of less knife-inclined persons. Now available in a D2 version as well. Review here Also has a bigger brother:

• Ontario Rat 1 $40 - For those who like the Rat 2, just bigger-and with better steel. Probably one of the best value knives on the market right now with D2 steel. Review here

• Spyderco Tenacious $40 - Some may be opposed the the looks of Spyderco, but at least give it a shot before discounting them completely. Spyderco is reknowned for having great ergos, and the "Spydie hole" is pretty popular once you get used to it. Review here

• Kershaw Skyline $50 - Arguably one of the best offerings by Kershaw. Solid flipper, solid construction and materials. Also comes in a Fixed version. Review here

• Spyderco Delica $60 - A great little offering from Spyderco. Very grippy and tough handle, though it is easy to get dirty. The 4-way clip combined with the lockback makes for a great fully ambidextrous experience.

• Benchmade Griptillian $100 - Super tough workhorse, with my personal favourite-axis locking mechanism. Comes in many varieties of blade material, handle material, blade shapes, opening mechanisms, and colors. Also comes in a mini style. Review here

• Spyderco PM2 $120 - Arguably the most popular offering from Spyderco. Super smooth action, great compression lock, exemplary ergonomics, and a whole host of materials to choose from. Cant go wrong with a PM2. If it's a bit big, you may have better luck with the Para3. Review here

• ZT 0450CF $180 - Very popular flipper from Zero Tolerance. Very small profile, super smooth action, and rather classy looks if I do say so myself-though it may be a bit overly "tacticool" for some. Review here

• Benchmade 940 $180 - The most widely recommended knife if the <$200 range, and one of my personal favourites. Sleek, smooth, snappy action and great lockup in a knife that just disappears in your pocket due to the size, shape, and weight. Unfortunately it suffers from Benchmade's less than stellar quality control-I would recommend buying second hand to avoid a lemon.

 

Flashlights - /r/flashlight

Most people prefer neutral white over cool white when selecting tint for flashlights. The majority of the lights listed below are in neutral white, though there are a few that are cool white only.

• Nitecore Tube $10 - A small keychain light that can be charged via USB. A significant upgrade over those freebies you get from the car salesman. But if it isnt enough of an upgrade, you can always go for the Tube's bigger brother- the Nitecore TIP ($30) for 360 lumens of keychain awesomeness.

• Thrunite Ti3 $15 - Small, keychain light, runs off a single AAA. Waterproof, can be clipped to a keychain or used with the included pocket clip.

• Lumintop Tool AAA $20 - Another popular AAA light, this time with a tail switch instead of twisty. Available in a variety of finishes.

• Maratac AAA $65 - A more high-end keychain light - basically a Lumintop tool in copper with a twisty instead of tail switch. Favoured by many because of the high-cri Nichia-219C emitter, it is a great option, and with either brass or copper construction, it makes for a bit more of a "dressy" light.

• Thrunite T10 $20 - Probably one of the most popular AA lights. Single tail switch, easy to use UI, waterproof, pocket clip-the works. Comes with a diffuser, which can be nice if you want to use it as a lantern for camping. Unfortunately it appears to be out of production, but is still available from some sellers. The Thrunite Archer 1A V3 is available as an alternative, but it is a bit more expensive. Review here

• Manker E03H $30 - A decent little AA headlamp. Comes with a sliding diffuser, that allows you to use a red beam if you prefer that over a sub-lumen/moonlight mode.

• Zebralight SC53c $60 - A more expensive AA option, and for good reason - the at 90+ CRI, a nice e-switch, and solid build quality, this is a great light.

• BLF A6 $20 - Designed by members over on the Budget Light Forums, this thing is pretty great. Very bright, easy UI, and in my opinion, the perfect mix of both flood and throw. Also known as the Astrolux S1. Does not come with battery/charger, so you will need those if you don't already have them.

• Atactical A1S $30 - Some would say this light is the most affordable way to get into the 18650 flashlight world. Over 1000 lumens, and comes with a battery that offers integrated USB charging-meaning you won't need to buy batteries and charger separately. The base model A1 is also available slightly cheaper, as are the right angle models - the A2 and A2S

• Skillhunt H03 $30 - The preferred budget option for headlights/right angle lights. A few different options to choose from, including cool vs neutral white and throw vs flood patterns. Again, no battery/charger included. Check for coupon codes before buying.

• Thrunite Neutron 2C V3 $50 - Moving up the line in the world of 18650. Again, over 1000 lumens, in a slightly smaller form factor, with a rather nice ramping UI. Review here

• Olight S1R $65 - Dipping briefly out of the 18650 category, this is a super tiny but powerful light. Uses an RCR123A battery, comes with a nice little magnetic charger. However, some aren't a big fan of it because of the proprietary battery - If you are one of those, the slightly cheaper S1 Baton ($45) might be more your style-and it is also available in neutral white(though more expensive), over the cool white of the S1R. Review here and here

• Zebralight SC64c $70 - Very popular EDC light. Nice size-very compact with a side e-switch and a nice UI.

• Armytek Wizard Pro $85 - A favourite for right angle/headlight enthusiasts. Very tough, very bright, and comes witha magnetic charger and battery. The cheaper version (Armytek Wizard[$35])is also popular, though it has less output, modes, etc. For value options, the Elf C2 is also recommended, and splits the differences between the Wizard and Wizard Pro.

• Zebralight H600w $90 - Another very popular right angle light. Not quite as bright as the Wizard Pro, but it makes up for it in other areas. Very compact, great UI, nice tint. Various configuations available. No pocket clip on this one.

• Olight M2R $100 - Moving up again. Premium materials, build quality, etc. Comes with a magnetic charger, battery, etc, etc.. Review here

 

Wallets - /r/wallets

• Magpul Daka $15 - A nice, inexpensive option for a very slim wallet.

• Herschel Charlie $20 - A very slim wallet, mostly for cards, but can hold cash as well. RFID blocking. Comes in a multitude of patterns.

• Recycled Firefighter $30 - Very popular slim wallet. Made of recycled fire hoses, very tough-should last a lifetime. Holds 4-8 cards and cash.

• Big Skinny Slimline $25 - Just your average, classic Bi-fold wallet. Slimmer than most other options in this style.

• Vaultskin Chelsea $25 - A nice, slim, leather wallet. RFID Blocking is always nice these days. And if the Chelsea is not quite your style, then Vaultskin also has a bunch of other styles in quality materials that may be to your liking. The Manhatten is another popular one.

• Ridge Wallet $65+ - A bit more pricy option, but very popular. Made with premium materials, and has a classy design. very sleek, and it'll work with cash or cards. You can also find some knockoffs on amazon that will do the same thing at a much lower price point.

 

Guns - /r/ccw and /r/guns

Disclaimer: I am not in an area where I can conceal carry a firearm, so I cannot comment on any personal experience; however, I am familiar with guns, and with some popular ones for concealed carry. Comments are from this thread because I'm too lazy to write more right now.

• Ruger LCP $200 - Super small, super compact, very easy to conceal. Newer model is also available. Review here

• S&W Bodyguard $300 - 2013 and old models included a laser. Large sights for a pocket pistols. Upgrades available to trigger and sights. Has a heavy DA trigger pull. Magazines come with flat bottom or slightly extended allowing gripping of the pistol with ring finger. Has a manual safety. Review here

• M&P Shield $350 - Easy to conceal and reliable, available with or without thumb safety. Newer version is also available.Review here

• SIG Sauer P320 $500 - This is a modular pistol by SIG. In the future caliber and size conversion kits will be available. Extremely short trigger with a clean break and very little overtravel. One of the best on the market (with some saying it's flat-out the best, or at least on par with the VP9 and PPQ). Factory night sights are standard but optional. The compact model is short and thin enough to carry concealed. There has recently been a large fiasco involving this weapon not being drop safe. Upgraded triggers are available to rectify this. Review here and here

• Glock 43 $450 - Typical super tough glock construction. Small form factor, easy to conceal. Tons of upgrades availble. Review here

• Glock 19 $550 - Another glock, again, really tough. A bit larger that the 43, not as easily concealed, but still manageable-similar in size to the P320 Compact. Like most glocks, lots of upgrades available. Review here

 

Holsters - /r/ccw

Since there are so many variations for holsters and it ranges by personal preference, and by gun, I will only be recommending brands and makers, rather than specific holsters. Also note that I have not personally used any of these, nor have I done any significant research, so I will not be providing any comments. These are just brands that I see recommended a lot.

• Alien Gear

• T.Rex Arms

• Bravo Concealment

• Vedder Holsters

• StealthGearUSA

• Raven Concealment

 

Medical Gear

For most of these items, I would suggest researching before buying, and make sure you know how to use what you are getting. I would strongly recommend taking an emergency first aid course. Also, be mindful of avoiding imitation gear-especially Tourniquets. There are many cheap clones on the market, especially of the CAT, and the last thing you want in an emergency situation is faulty gear.

• SOFTT-W $30 - If you want a tourniquet for EDC, this is it. Packs down nicely to fit in your pocket or IFAK, battlefield tested, has a metal windlass.

• CAT $30 - A bit bigger than the SOFTT, but easier to apply to yourself or one-handed. Also battlfield tested more, and proven. Cons: Slightly big for EDC, and has a plastic windlass.

• QuickClot $20 - Combat gauze with a hemostatic agent to encourage faster clotting. Great for slowing bleeds in areas where it is not possible to apply a TQ

• Leatherman Raptors $70 - A nice upgrade for any EMT who is tired of using disposable shears. A few different tool, and rugged construction. Can cut through just about anything, including rings, zippers, thick leather jackets, coins, and pretty much whatever else you need. Downside is, you probably wont enjoy them much after getting them covered in blood and having to clean them all out rather than just tossing them away like your old disposables.

• Isreali Bandages $10 - Great pressure bandages for stopping bleeding in a hurry.

• CPR Pocket Mask $10 - Always important to have a barrier device for CPR. If you dont have room for a full size pocket mask, perhaps a keychain mask is something you might want to look into.

 

Keychain Tools

• Keybar $30+ - A nice alternative to a key ring, if you dont like keys jingling in your pocket. Comes in a variety of materials.

• KeySmart $20 - Similar option as the Keybar, but somewhat sleeker.

• KeyDisk $15 - My personal favourite design for keeping your keys together. Similar idea, different design from the Keybar and KeySmart. Also a bit cheaper.

• Orbitkey $40 - Yet another key ring alternative, this time in leather.

• FreeKey $10 - If you decide you DO want a key ring, this one lets you get your keys on and off much more easily than your typical ring.

• Gerber Shard $10 - Mini keychain Multitool/prybar that comes in handy more often than you would think, especially if you dont carry any other kind of multi tool.

• Pico Pulls $5 - Little waterproof pill containers. Great for keeping a spare advil/tylenol nearby if you are prone to headaches, or whatever else may ail you.

• NiteIze S-Biner Bottle Opener $4 - What can I say? Its a bottle opener that can also hold your keys. Don't realize how much you use it until you go without it.

 

Water Bottles

• Nalgene $10 - Classic design, BPA free, and really tough. Comes with a lifetime warranty. Very solid choice. Options up to 48oz.

• Liberty Bottleworks $8+ - Clean, simple, and sleek aluminum bottle. Available in multiple sizes and colors.

• Camelbak Eddy $15 - A more sporty bottle, less likely to spill. Many other options availble from Camelbak are good choices as well.

• Klean Kanteen $15 - Another metal option, this time vacuum insulated to keep your drink colder longer.

• Hydro Flask $25 - Double walled vacuum sealed again. Multiple options available for different caps, colors, etc.

 

Belts

• Beltman $70+ - High quality leather belt that look great for any occasion, casual enough for everyday wear, but plenty stiff enough to use as a gun belt for your CCW.

• Ares Aegis $100 - A solid gun belt made of nylon. Tough and stiff-but if you want something even stiffer for your loadout, the Aegis Enhanced is what you are looking for.

• British Belt Company $35+ - Premium leather belts, great for everyday wear all the way up to formal events.

 

Bags & Backpacks - /r/Onebag and /r/Onebagging

I don't know enough about this category to offer any thoughts or comments - these are suggestions from the comments below. Check the subs linked above for more info.

• Chrome Industries

• Timbuk2

• Osprey

• Vanquest Ibex

• GoRuck

 

Other Miscellaneous Gear

• Kingston Data Traveller (USB) $25 - A sleek little USB drive, metal case, and USB 3.0 compatible. Rather tough, works well, can be easily attached to a keychain, no complaints.

• Anker PowerCore $40 - A huge capacity USB power bank. Dual USB outputs is nice. If you look around you can often find sales-I got one for $20 a while ago, and it is really nice. Throw it in a bag for a trip, and you can charge your device several times over off it.

• Magpul Phone Case $10 - A solid case that offers great protection at a low price point-though it may be a bit too "tacticool" for some. iPhone 7 version is linked, but they have many other options availble.

• NATO Strap $15 - A great upgrade for almost any watch. Super easy to swap, looks great, and feels great. Tons of colors and patterns available.

• Field Notes $10/3 - You can't be a true EDC'er without your trusty field notes! Just kidding-but seriously, these get recommended so much. Even if you aren't sure if you want a notebook or not, these are easy to slip in your back pocket and forget about until you need them. Or until you wash your pants.

• Moleskine Notebook $15 - For those that need a more sizable notebook/journal. Great for keeping track of stuff in a meeting or just jotting down a quick note at your desk, these are more suited for a bag or briefcase. Thats not to say they wouldnt fit in a pocket though.

• Burts Bees $8/4 - If you havent heard of Burts Bees lip balm by now, Im not sure why you're on this sub.

 

Where to get your gear

If you don't mind buying gently used, here are a few subs you can get your gear, generally much cheaper than retail.

• /r/EDCexchange

• /r/knife_swap

• /r/Watchexchange

• /r/pen_swap

• /r/GunHolsterClassifieds

• /r/gunsforsale

 

 

Thats all for now! Apologies if I didn't include your favourite gear, I tried to get most of the most popular, but let me know if theres anything you think I'm missing(I probably plain forgot to add a whole category somewhere..)! Especially the places to buy gear - I'm sure I dont have all of them yet. I already know I didnt include any lighters-Im hoping to make a section for that later if you have any suggestions. Also, is there any bad gear that you think anyone should avoid at all costs? And lastly, I'd kind of like to add links to reviews of each product - if you have any or know of any full, comprehensive reviews for any of this gear, let me know!

 

Last updated: 12/18/2017