In this article I will recommend to you the best gear for building a complete, functional, high quality every day carry setup for under $100. All of the gear I recommend here I have used and found to be a good value and up to the tasks of EDC. Part of what makes building a complete every day carry fun is expressing your own tastes and preferences in the gear, so I’ve given at least a couple options in each category. I didn’t include every possible item that could be considered part of an EDC setup (E.g. wallet, keychain, pry tool, etc.) but stuck with the most essential tools. No matter which option within each category you choose, you should be able to build a complete and really effective every day carry setup for a budget friendly price.
Knife
Ah, my passion. I am a knife enthusiast through and through, above and beyond my enjoyment of other EDC tools. So what knife(s) do I recommend for a high value / low cost every day carry? I don’t think you’ll be surprised.
Some (well used) top tier budget knife options
If you want a modern knife, with one hand opening and a lock, I recommend the Ontario Rat 1. Classic design, consistent quality control, and proven utility come together in an extremely high value package in the RAT 1. There’s a reason it’s, almost for sure, the most recommended modern knife on the market. I have had several of these, I give these as gifts to family and friends, and I’ve only had good experiences myself and gotten good feedback from others. For about $25 you have a great all around knife.
Whether due to local laws, your aesthetic preference, or a desire for more tools, another great option is the Victorinox Huntsman. For less than $35 you get an incredibly well made knife with two blades, a saw, scissors, screwdrivers (which can pry), bottle opener, can opener, awl, corkscrew, tweezers, and last but not least (maybe…) a toothpick. It’s an extremely versatile tool. Of course, Victorinox has a huge variety of models with different tool combinations. Another I think makes a great EDC is the Pioneer, if you don’t need the scissors and saw.
If you’d like to go traditional but don’t want, or need, all the extra tools I recommend the Case Sod Buster JR. It’s not the fanciest looking traditional out there, but it doesn’t sport the abysmal unpinned shield that most Case knives have and it’s an extremely utilitarian and proven design. For under $30 you get an American made knife with a great warranty that will last a lifetime.
Finally, some prefer the dependability and simplicity of a fixed blade. There are a lot of great budget fixed blades on the market, but nothing can beat the Mora Companion. For around $15 you get a knife that is extremely strong and durable, cuts well, has a great design, and comes with a really nice sheath (for the price). The Companion is just an all around winner, and any knife or EDC enthusiast should have one.
Flashlight
I have to admit that I have yet to nail down my ideal flashlight EDC. I have carried several different lights, but have carried a FourSevens Preon more than anything else combined. I’ve tried it in pocket, on my keychain, and in my bag. Unfortunately, the newer and currently only available version of the Preon is too expensive to include in this article. I’m going to give a recommendation for a light for each type of carry: Bag, Pocket, and Keychain.
For bag carry, I think a flashlight that doubles as a headlamp is extremely useful. A headlamp is much more practical than a handheld light when camping and working. I have been using the Wowtac A2S, and think it’s a good value. It seems well made and sturdy, has a really useful moonlight mode, can be super bright, and comes with a nice headstrap. The only downsides are that it doesn’t come with a pocket clip and the beam could be wider for general use. Still, at under $30 I wouldn’t hesitate to buy again. If you’d prefer a model with a clip and forward facing (rather than 90 degree) head, and don’t need the headlamp capability, the WowTac A1S is a good option for the same price.
For pocket carry I like a thin light. Flashlights that use 18650 batteries are more powerful and longer lasting, but I think AAA based lights make for less obtrusive carry. With that in mind, I’d recommend the Lumintop IYP365. It is relatively bright, has a great look, and is easy to carry. It doesn’t use rechargeable batteries, but it’s less expensive than the above options that do, at about $20.
There are a lot of really small, bright, easy to use keychain flashlights… but many of them have a flaw that keeps me from recommending them; their charging ports are covered only by a silicon plug. In my experience these plugs come loose easily, and render the light’s water resistance effectively null (plus they get in the way of holding the light). So I’m going to recommend the Olight I1R 2. It doesn’t have a clicky interface, which is a downside, but the twisty is nice and straight forward to use. The charging port is legitimately covered by screwing down the body. It has a low and high mode, which is all you need on a keychain light. For $15, it’s a good value.
Pen
In this category my main recommendation is an easy choice: the classic Fisher Space Pen. This is a pen that many have recommended, and for good reason; it works, all the time. I have used these through college, at work, in the outdoors, etc. and have always been happy with their performance. In fact, I’m always amazed at how long the cartridges last. At about $25 for the clipped version, which I much prefer, you’ll get a pen that will last a lifetime.
I will say though, the Zebra F-301 is a solid secondary choice. They have a nice look and solid feel with the stainless steel body, they have a strong clip, and they write well. You can get 12 for less than $20, so it might be a better choice if you tend to lose pens.
Notebook
Every now and then I decide it is more economical and convenient to just take notes electronically, and every time I do I stop taking notes. For some reason, a physical notebook just works better. I have used a huge variety of notebooks, and there are a lot of good ones out there.
For a pocket carry notebook, I much prefer the Rite in the Rain Mini Stapled Notebook. They are pretty much completely weather proof, so you don’t have to worry about them turning to mush if you forget them in a pocket (or just get a little too sweaty). They have a universal pattern rule that makes them useful for any kind of note taking, including bullet journaling. Plus, you get 3 for about $9 so you can write to your heart’s content and not worry about filling too many.
If you’d rather have a larger notebook that you carry in your bag, I like the Moleskine Classic. It’s more expensive than some others on the market, and maybe kind of cliche, but I haven’t found a better option. At about $10 you do get a lot more pages and a classier feel. However, if you don’t care about looks and just want a notebook for in your bag you can always go with a $6 5 Star Composition Notebook (which can be bought for less in big box stores).
Lighter
I don’t personally carry a lighter in my true EDC, thought I do carry one in my bag every day. I just don’t need a lighter that often, and always just remember to bring one if I’m going camping or something like that. That said, I do think it’s a good idea to have a lighter around, even if it’s just in your bag or car.
My recommendation for a lighter isn’t going to please those who are looking for something to add to their pocket dump pictures for Instagram, as it’s all function and no form; the Bic Mini. Why do I recommend the humble Bic? It’s small and easy to carry (fits with room to spare in the 5th pocket of most jeans), pretty much always works, and the fluid won’t evaporate. Plus, you can get 5 for well under $10.
Still, I don’t want to completely snub the classic Zippo. I don’t use a lighter frequently enough to keep the classic fluid from evaporating, but Zippo recently came out with a butane insert and rechargeable arc insert that mitigate that issue. If you’d rather have something that looks better (and there’s nothing wrong with that) or would rather have something reusable, the Zippo is tough to beat. I do think there’s something to be said for not throwing a chunk of plastic away, probably to find its way to the ocean or a landfill or something, every time you use up a lighter. Thankfully I don’t use them up often at all.
The links in this article are Amazon Affiliate links. That means that if you decide to buy any of the products through these links, I will get a small percentage of the sale. It does not charge you more, and they are the same products (generally) you’d find if you searched on Amazon. I encourage you to look around online for the best deals, but I do appreciate your support via the affiliate links. I was not paid or compensated to recommend any of these products.
P.s. I am not knowledgeable on watches, but many EDC enthusiasts appreciate them. If you just need something functional, I highly recommend the Casio F108WH. I purchased one over 3 years ago for a hunting trip expecting to lose or break it, but it has taken all kinds of abuse since then (from teaching martial arts to white water rafting) with no issues. For $15, it’s a great value.
Rock solid stuff on the choices. You can never go wrong with a victorinox. Another flash light option could be the stream light micro. I carried that one for years until I lost it. Well thought through options.
I have actually carried that light a good bit also. Very solid choice if you want something super small.