Welcome to the Urban EDC Showcase! Each week, we feature one member of the EDC community and the gear they rely on every day. Want to be featured? Submit your gear photo.
When Brian (@bri__en) first got into EDC, he purchased himself a Benchmade Griptilian and a Spyderco Delica based on recommendations from the community. However, it wasn’t until he experienced the amazing quality of the Spyderco Manix 2 that he truly fell into the rabbit hole. Since then, Brian has devoted himself to finding the best tools for his carry that will last him a lifetime. Read on now for the full story and scoop!
Featured Tools:
- Knife 01: Munroe Sigil Mk. IV
This is my most carried ‘larger’ knife for when I am out of the office or on the weekend. I love this knife because it has plenty of blade but feels like a small to medium size knife in hand and in the pocket.
I use it for anything you’d use a knife for and I find the blade shape lends itself to a multitude of uses. It has a very utilitarian shape that I find very advantageous. I previously owned a Sigil MkIII and regrettably sold it, but was fortunate enough to grab another one and this one isn’t leaving my possession.
- Knife 02: Chris Reeve Mnandi
This is my office or low key pocket knife that I can just throw in my pocket and not notice it’s there until I need to use it. I’ve dabbled in traditional knives and I really enjoy them, but this guy melds the best of a traditional and a modern pocket knife into one package. Plus the spalted beech inlays paired with the basket weave Damascus is just a beautiful combination, but it performs just like any other CRK.
- Watch: Lum-Tec B23
I have owned this watch for a few years now and I have no complaints whatsoever. It keeps much better time than I ever expected and is so lightweight due to its carbon fiber and titanium construction that I barely notice it’s there.
I was fortunate enough to receive this one as soon as they released. In fact, this is serial number 2 out of 199, and I was told number 1 never leaves their shop. Plus they have some of the best customer support in the business. I never leave the house without a watch and it’s either this one or a G-Shock depending on my mood.
- Flashlight: Maratac AAA
I have owned this little light for a while now and while I always preferred rear clicky style flashlights, this one still won me over. I’ve had other lights but this one just seems to find its way into my pocket most days.
It’s easy to carry and has just the right amount of light for regular tasks. Pair that with the long runtime and it’s been pretty hard to beat. I went a long time without carrying a flashlight and thought it wasn’t necessary, but since I have thrown this in my pocket that has changed. I find myself using it more than I thought and you would forget it was in your pocket if you didn’t use it all day.
- Pocket Caddy: Prototype
I have been testing this out and providing feedback for a friend and I have been very impressed. These make it much easier to carry a small pocket knife and AAA flashlight down in your pocket without letting them turn sideways and makes retrieval much easier since you know right where to reach. There are still tweaks being made to this but I think it will be a great piece for pocket organization.
- Wallet: Saddleback ID Wallet
I made the switch from a trifold wallet that rivaled George Costanza and haven’t looked back. I found if I had room for stuff in my wallet then I would use it and those items found a permanent space and never left.
I always had to take my wallet out of my back pocket so I didn’t have to sit on a mound so it ended up being one more thing not to misplace when I was out. Going to a minimal wallet has been great. Holds a few cards, ID, and some cash. All I really need to have in my back pocket. Plus the quality of the wallet is great and I believe it will outlast me.
- Ring: Custom
Happily married for 12 years with three great kids. She’s my best friend and somebody that gets me and all my quirks.
- Phone: iPhone 8
I have been using an iPhone for as long as I’ve owned a smartphone. There might be better phones out there but this just works for me and seamlessly lets me move into a new one once the time is right. Plus they take pretty decent photos and with small kids, it has captured many moments that might have been missed otherwise.
Background:
My name is Brian and I work in accounting and finance. In my free time, I enjoy hiking with my family and dog. Hiking is an activity I love and it’s one of the easiest activities to get young kids into due to their generally short attention span. Hiking is something new with each footstep so it grabs and holds their attention. I also enjoy watching college football and the Atlanta Braves, grilling, and partaking in a good craft beer.
I’d say I first got into EDC through pocket knives. I had a Victorinox Pocket Pal that I got for Christmas when I was younger and I thought it was the greatest thing. Since my dad and uncle always had a pocket knife on them I just figured it was something you kept on you all the time. I don’t think that’s as widespread of a notion these days but I think it is picking back up.
I carried that swiss army knife for a while until I was old enough to purchase a Benchmade Griptilian. From there I got a Spyderco Delica for something a little different. I never really put much thought into my purchase but those were two that were pretty highly recommended so I thought they’d fit the bill, and to be honest, they really did. I think those two options are pretty solid and could serve most people’s needs.
Sometime after that, when I was in the working world and had more disposable income, I thought I would upgrade my pocket knife and I stumbled onto the Spyderco Manix 2. I think that was the knife that really let me know that there was another level of quality out there.
While both the Griptilian and the Delica were very reliable, the Manix 2 felt like it was on an entirely different plane. From there I would research online whenever I felt the need to ‘upgrade’ to something different and the forums always came up and I found that was a great place to gain information from a wide variety of individuals and make a better, more informed decision with regards to new acquisitions.
I’ve never been a collector, but have more or less been in that never-ending search for something better. That mindset spilled over to other items I carried on me every day. Figured that if I had quality items then I could enjoy them longer without fear of them failing.
Favorite EDC Tool:
I’d have to say the Sigil is my favorite just due to design and how useful it is. It’s also a knife that you don’t come across very often so that makes it unique. Furthermore, it’s very well made and that’s something I really appreciate. Having a few Chris Reeve knives as well I have a pretty high bar for quality when it comes to pocket knives and the Sigil is right up there.
Next On Your Gear Radar:
I’d like to try out the new Shaker from Tactile Turn. I use a Maxmadco pen daily that was a gift and has sentimental value so I don’t find myself carrying it outside of work that often. I think the Shaker would be a great fit for that role.
