Showcase #195: Expert Outdoorsman and Knife Designer from Italy

Welcome to the Urban EDC Showcase! Each week, we feature a member of the EDC community and the gear they rely on every day. Want to be featured? Submit your gear photo.

From Italy, we chat with Alex (@the_primitive_wanderer) who is an expert outdoorsman specializing in living off-the-grid. When he’s not beating a path through the bush, Alex designs knives and gear for a living. Read on to learn all about Alex as he wanders into the wilderness – armed only with his knowledge, experience, and a carefully configured set of tools.

Featured Tools:

• Knife: Wandertactical Hurricane Folder
  This is designed by my colleague, Greymoose, and made by us in our company. I simply love it because it's an all-around knife built to last. I can use it for everything.
  
  

• Necklace: Custom
  This is my necklace with a forged steel arrow. It has a strong sentimental value to me, the arrow was made by an old man that I met during the Oregon knife show, I simply love it!

• Multi-tool: Leatherman Supertool 300
  It’s my favorite multi-tool, I use it in the laboratory or if I'm in the forest.
  
  
• Lockpicks: Storm Lockpicks
  As a survivalist, I like the urban aspect of survival. I also love urban explorations so it might come in handy when I move through abandoned buildings.
  
  
• Power Bank: Power Traveller Extreme
  Since I love taking photos, I take pictures all the time so the Power Traveller Extreme is a very useful power bank that I can also charge with its solar panel. 
  
  
• Pen: Simone Tonolli
  It's a sturdy and lightweight pen made by the Italian artisan, Simone Tonolli. I always try to support small businesses led by capable people.
  
  
• Flashlight: Nitecore HC33
  It's a small and powerful light that transforms into a headlamp when needed. It also has a magnetic rear so I can attach it on several places while I'm working or exploring.
  
  
• Cordage: Bank Line
  I always keep some cordage with me. Most of the time, I carry paracord, but even the bank line can be used in so many ways.
  
  
• Fire Starter: Ferro Rod
  Well, as an outdoorsman and adventurer I always keep a fire source with me. Pretty useless in the city but it is an absolute must in the wilderness. As I always say, we spend so much time and money to build our own ultimate setup – but it's always what you have in your pocket that makes the difference in a real scenario.

What's your story:

My name is Alex, I live in Italy and I'm the CEO of Wander Tactical Knife Company. I grew up in a family that loved traveling around the world – so my love for adventure started at a young age, day by day, throughout the years.

I've seriously started studying the art of outdoors living around 19 years ago by myself. I first took several classes that helped me cover all the aspects of being off the grid in the wilderness. I learned all about things like survival, tracking, bushcraft, remote life support/first aid, climbing, plant identification, navigation, etc. Now, if I'm not working, I try to spend as much time as possible in the wilderness or traveling around.

I first got into the whole EDC mentality pretty naturally at a young age because I grew up in a village, so for me, it was natural having some "tools" with me every day. After that, I just developed some different EDC configurations – thanks to all the classes and the books I've read.

My hobbies are learning and improving my outdoors skills, being in the woods, reading books, and designing knives or gear. It is what I do during my free time.

Favorite EDC Tool:

My favorite EDC piece is the knife, of course. There's a kind of primordial connection between us and the oldest tool ever created. You can also use it in so many ways.

What's On Your Gear Radar:

On my gear radar now there is something I'm designing and I can't speak about 😉 It's something that might be within my EDC and can be stored in my cargo pockets. That's all I'm saying for now!