Holiday Gift Ideas for the EDC Guy in Your Life
The best holiday gifts for an everyday carry (EDC) guy are the things that go with his knives, not another knife: a knife roll, a titanium pocket tool, or a really good flashlight. All three are gifts he will actually use, and you do not have to guess his taste in blades to get them right.
EDC guys are one of the hardest people to shop for. I should know. I have been into everyday carry since around 2010, and my wife and kids always have a hard time buying for me. Let's change that this Christmas.
I'm Micah, co-owner of Men's Modern General Store in Cottleville, Missouri. Every December we help a lot of wives, kids, and friends figure out what to get the gear guy in their life. Here is what I tell them.
Should you buy an EDC guy a knife? Usually not, unless he has told you the exact knife he wants. EDC, short for everyday carry, is the gear a guy carries on him every day: a pocket knife, flashlight, wallet, pen, and pocket tool. Most EDC guys are deep into the knife side of the hobby, and every one of them likes a different blade size, shape, steel, and locking mechanism. A knife that is perfect for one guy will sit in a drawer for another.
My advice is to stay in the adjacent categories. These are the things every knife guy needs but rarely buys for himself. Here are three that always land.
A knife roll is the gift for the guy who owns more knives than pockets. The Bradley Mountain Tool and Knife Roll is a waxed canvas roll from Bradley Mountain, a San Diego bag maker known for handcrafted gear. It gives each knife its own slot so he can carry several together, find the one he wants fast, and travel without blades knocking around in a bag.
Why it makes a great gift:
- Keeps his collection organized at home and protected on the road
- Works for folding knives, pocket tools, and pens
- Waxed canvas wears in and looks better with age
- Fits any collection, so you do not need to know his favorite knife
Best for: the collector, the guy who rotates his carry, and anyone who brings knives camping, hunting, or to meetups.
A pocket tool is the gift he will reach for every single day.
Big Idea Design, a company based in Tennessee, makes some of the best titanium EDC tools out there, and we carry several of them. If you are wondering what the best pocket screwdriver for EDC is, for most guys it is a Big Idea Design Bit Bar. Each one is built from solid Grade 5 titanium, so it is light, tough, and made to last.
Some of their other options include:
- Bit Bar Inline: A pen-sized titanium driver that sets up three different ways and comes with a #2 Phillips, T8 Torx, and 1/4 in flat bit. Best for: the guy who wants a driver that clips in his pocket like a pen.
- Bit Bar 2: A pocket-knife-style driver that stores eight 1/4 in hex bits, with a 60mm extension and leather sheath included. Best for: the fix-it guy who wants a full bit set without the toolbox.
- Ti EDS: A compact three-bit titanium screwdriver that folds like a pocket knife. It is built for pocket carry, and it can ride on a keychain too. Best for: the guy who wants a driver that carries just like his knife.
Why it makes a great gift: these are the tools he would not splurge on for himself, but once he has one he will use it constantly. Tightening a loose cabinet hinge, swapping a battery cover on a kid's toy, fixing a pocket clip on a knife. It all gets easier.
A really nice flashlight is the safest gift on this list, because an EDC guy can always use another light. Keep one in the nightstand, one in the car, one in the kitchen drawer, one in the toolbox, and the list goes on. If you buy one light this year, make it the Olight ArkPro. It is Olight's upgrade to the popular Arkfeld Pro. The big difference is that the ArkPro adds a dedicated long-range spotlight next to a brighter floodlight, which makes it one of the most versatile lights you can put in a pocket.
- 1,500-lumen floodlight for lighting up a whole room, yard, or garage
- 800-lumen spotlight that reaches about 205 meters for long-distance use
- UV light for spotting stains, leaks, and pet messes
- Green beam for pointing things out at a distance
- Flat aluminum body that rides in a pocket without the bulge of a round flashlight
- Magnetic charging and a lockout mode so it does not turn on in his pocket
Why it makes a great gift: it replaces three or four gadgets with one, and he will find himself using it all the time.
Quick picks: which EDC gift is right for him?
- If he owns a lot of knives or travels with them: Bradley Mountain Tool and Knife Roll
- If he is always fixing something: Big Idea Design Bit Bar 2
- If he wants a tool that clips like a pen: Big Idea Design Bit Bar Inline
- If he likes tools that fold and carry like a knife: Big Idea Design Ti EDS
- If he already has "everything": Olight ArkPro flashlight
Where to buy EDC gifts near St. Louis Still not sure what to get him? Come see us. Caroline and I have handled every one of these, and we are happy to talk through what fits the guy you are shopping for. Tell us a little about him and we will point you in the right direction.
Men's Modern General Store 5208 State Route N, Suite 103, Cottleville, MO 63304
In the Cottleville Old Town Historic District, St. Charles County Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 12pm to 5pm. Closed Mondays.
Can't make it in? Shop these EDC gifts on our online store and we will ship them to you.
Comments
Thoughtful replies are welcome. Every comment is reviewed before it appears.
Be the first to add a thoughtful note.