Showcase #213: Brand Manager for Urban EDC Supply from New Jersey, USA

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.

For our special festive feature, we sit down with Shawne (@shawne_decrist) who's the face of Urban EDC Supply (those in our Urban EDC Nation FB group would be most familiar with her). When Shawne's not working tirelessly to bring you the best Gear Drops, she works as a volunteer firefighter. So, read on for Shawne's full rig rundown and find out why she's so passionate about the EDC community.

Featured Tools:

• Knife: Tom Krein Splinter
  This was one of the first custom knives I ever purchased. It was a direct purchase from Tom Krein at Blade show 2017, and it hasn't left my side since. Except for that brief moment I thought it went overboard while fishing.
  
  Given the small profile and XHP steel, it is really the perfect slicer for any environment, from cutting bait on the boat, to pairing fruit in the kitchen. And I have a matching purple TK4 (not pictured) that was gifted to me by my wife and best friend upon my completion of Fire School.
  
  
• Pen: Blackside Customs Pen
  I love pens, and keep them all in a pen tray built by Elijah Lessard. That being said, the one that I keep reaching for the most is my Blackside Customs BSC-P in flame anodized titanium.
  
  The clicky mechanism is super smooth, and the somewhat larger barrel leads to a great grip. Not to mention, it works with my favorite refill ever, the Schmidt Easy Flow 9000.
  
  
• Slip Joint: Urban Series Baby Barlow
  I carry this as a secondary blade in my watch pocket. It's almost as much of a fidget toy as it is a fantastic knife. The front flipping action could keep my nervous energy busy for hours.
  
  I also love the nod to traditional folders that is enveloped in Justin's design here. It pays great homage to the knives of yore, but with a stunning titanium build and M390 blade, it has all the bells and whistles of a modern folder.
  
  
• Pry: Zach Woods Pry Bar
  This pry was a gift from a good friend. Aloha Bro! This beefy chunk of steel is simply killer. I carry it in the tool pocket of my pants for when the need arises. Has been used from prying tiles off my kitchen wall, to unscrewing some things in a pinch. Super handy, and sentimental.
  
  
• Flashlight: Reylight LAN
  This LAN is terrific. I have outfitted it with tritium, which makes it really easy to find at night, when I actually need it. I love that you can switch modes without fully pressing the switch, and the smaller body allows for easy carry.
  
  
• Wallet: Urban Organizer
  I work at Urban, so the organizer was an absolute must! It fits a field notes, my pen, light, and knife! I find it most useful at shows when I need to carry my notebook to organize all my notes, cards, etc. Plus, the pull up on the leather is terrific, and it has been aging really well! 

What's your story:

I live in New Jersey and work for the one, the only, Urban EDC Supply. I started out as a customer, and saw one day that they were looking for someone to do Customer Service. I figured it was a long shot, but I threw my hat into the ring.

After a few months of Customer Service work, I was able to move up to purchasing, marketing, and managing the brand. The rest is, as they say, history! I can't wait to see what the next year brings!

When asked about how I first got into EDC, I always struggle to find the right answer. I have been carrying things around in my pockets for years. Ever since I was little, and got my first Victorinox for Christmas. I always want to be prepared, and be able to help when I can. So, next came a pen, then a flashlight, eventually some toothpicks also found their way into my carry.

However, I didn't find the EDC Community as a whole until about 2013. I was up late one night surfing the Internet and saw an animal shaped bottle opener. Several hours and one million hashtags later, I was in the deepest rabbit hole I have ever found.

Between the awesome people and functional gear, I am still amazed by it all. As we say - "Come for the gear, stay for the people."

In my free time, I like being outside. I love to go camping with my wife and dog, and we spend a lot of time down the shore on the boat crabbing and fluke fishing. When indoors, I enjoy the occasional round of Call of Duty. I am also a volunteer Firefighter for my local town.

Favorite EDC Tool:

I am not allowed to have a favorite. I am in a place now in my collecting, and in business, that I buy the maker, and not the gear. Therefore, it is truly impossible to pick a favorite.

What's On Your Gear Radar:

I would love to acquire a Marsh custom blade. Jeremy is a great designer and I love his work. He made me a nice Christmas ornament once, but a blade is certainly on my list.