Showcase #334: Global Program Manager and Analyst from Phoenix, Arizona

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.

Samantha (@sharpxsweet) knows knives. Growing up with a dad who's a prepper and survivalist, she received her first knife (a Spyderco Navigator) at age 13 – which ignited her lifelong obsession with knives and tools. Besides collecting knives, Samantha also enjoys hiking, camping, and driving her Jeep out to the middle of nowhere with her son to escape the hustle and bustle. Read on for the full rig rundown of Samantha's sharp and sweet carry.

What's in your carry?

• Knife: Spyderco Paramilitary 2
  This is almost always my everyday knife. I have it in several steel and scale options to match whatever else I’m carrying. I’ll admit it’s a little large for my hands and pockets, but it’s very comfortable to hold and use. I’ll take it over the Military or the Para3 any day.
  
  
• Secondary Knife: Spyderco McBee modified by Ben (@edcgearhouse)
  I always carry my McBee in my fifth pocket, I don’t go anywhere without it. It’s small and cute enough that it doesn’t scare anyone when I’m out in public. This one is extra special because it was modified for me. The blade and clip are decorated with Dahlias, my favorite flower.
  
  
• SAK: Victorinox Classic SD - Blade HQ Mermaid Exclusive
  Like the PM2, I have several of these SAKs in different colors. This one is my favorite one though, I think it fits my girly personality perfectly. There is always one attached to my keys. The scissors are the best part! They really come in handy when I’m out with my toddler and his straws are too long.
  
  
• Lip Balm: Lip Smacker - Cotton Candy
  There’s not much to say about this one. I have lip balm in just about every flavor to match either my color scheme or my candy for the day.
  
  
• Candy: Hi-Chew (Acai)
  Hi-Chew is my favorite candy as of this moment. While I do carry it all the time, I don’t always eat it. I do have a sweet tooth, but the main reason I carry it is my mom. I spend a lot of time with her and she has Type 1 Diabetes. There are times when her sugar will go low and I’ll hand her some candy until I can get her some food and her insulin. It’s something that I’ve been doing since I was a kid, it’s carried over into my EDC as an adult.
  
  
• Hank: MCMD Hankery
  Carrying a hank was a habit I picked up from my dad. This one is from MCMD Hankery. She makes some of the cutest hanks I’ve seen, but the Halloween ones are my favorite. I do use these for a few different things, but the main use is wiping drool from my toddler’s chin. Every parent needs a hank.

What's your story?

I’m currently a Global Program Manager and Supply Chain Analyst for an electronic component distributor in Phoenix, Arizona. It’s a lot more fun than it sounds and I love it. I originally worked in the food industry and even received a degree in culinary arts from Le Cordon Bleu. Playing with knives in a kitchen isn’t something I could give up completely, so I still occasionally cater on the side.

I grew up with a prepper/survivalist for a dad, so I blame him for the need to fill my pockets with so many items. He always carries tools, ready for whatever may come his way. He gave me my first knife when I was 13, a Spyderco Navigator that I still own. After that, it became an obsession for me.

My obsession grew even more once I realized that pocket dumps were a big thing in the online EDC community. I've always hated carrying a purse, and since I wear women's clothes, I don't have very deep pockets. I learned to position items in my pocket in a way that would allow me to carry more, taking advantage of the fact that women's pockets are wider rather than deeper. It became a game to see how much I could carry. Once I discovered a whole community was doing it online, I picked up the hobby of taking pictures of my pocket dumps. Because of this, I've met so many amazing people.

Besides collecting knives, I also enjoy hiking, camping, and driving my Jeep out to the middle of nowhere with my son to escape people and cell phone service. As much as I love to socialize, sometimes I need a break to recharge.

Favorite EDC Tool?

The McBee is my favorite item. It’s cute, but it’s also a great little tool. It’s easy to quickly open and close one-handed, and tiny enough to hide without much effort. I snuck it into Disneyland last year without a problem.

What's On Your Gear Radar?

Next on my list: I don’t really have anything that I’m looking out for. I’ll probably end up with another PM2, I already have another on the way.