Everyday carry includes daily essentials like wallets, watches, sunglasses, multitools, and pocket knives. This gift guide includes these staples and related accessories. And since travel often requires getting the most with the least, we’ve tossed in some handy, travel-friendly essentials as well.
Daily items tend to live atop a dresser or side table to keep within reach while getting ready. Others, like luggage and backpacks, aren’t quite daily-use items but are equally dear to those who travel and commute often.
Below, you’ll find gear our editors have grown attached to — despite testing the latest and greatest for a living. We’ll let you decide if it’s a fit for the friend or family member on your holiday gift list. Enjoy this mix of vetted EDC gear and gift-giving inspiration.
Be sure to check out all of our gift guides for more ideas to suit every adventurer on your list!
Everyday Carry Gifts for 2025
This gift guide includes those staples and some related accessories.
Case Crossroads XR Sod Buster Jr Folding Knife
A classic design, revamped with top-of-the-line steel and a Dymalux Wood handle meant to look better with age. Every pocket needs a knife, and this 2.1-ounce, S35VN slip-joint folder makes for a subtle, striking addition to any EDC kit.
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Gerber Shard
For nearly a decade, one member of our team has carried this tool on his keychain every single day. And he uses it all the time.
“This is the most simple, useful keychain tool on the planet,” said Editorial Director Sean McCoy in his review. “It has a sharp point to open boxes or letters, a flathead and small Phillips head screwdriver, a bottle opener, and can work as a pry bar or scraper. It’s awesome, small, TSA-compliant, and darned near free. Get one.”
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Ekster Cardholder
The shift to hard-case, card-stacking wallets is a thing, and this one is among our favorites. It uses space-grade aluminum and opens with a click of a button for quick access to one or a dozen cards and cash.
The backplate is expandable to carry more cards with a slim profile. Add a tracker to make it easier to reunite with.
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BioLite Range 500 Headlamp
The BioLite Range 500 is a super-comfortable, powerful, long-running headlamp. It stands apart from the competition thanks to its super-fast recharging battery. Just 8 minutes on a charger adds a full hour of runtime. Easy to operate and perfect for most outdoor uses, this headlamp is a perfect gift for any outdoor enthusiast.
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Victorinox Venture Pro
Push your EDC to the limits with a little bushcraft muscle. Victorinox — maker of the vaunted Swiss Army Knife — does more than just multi-tools. The Venture Pro is a stout backcountry EDC system: a multiuse fixed blade and a sheath packed with firestarting extras, tweezers, and a ballpoint pen.
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Wiley X Founder Sunglasses
We’ve been testing the Wiley X Founder sunglasses over the last year and are impressed with their clarity and durability, especially for polycarbonate lenses. They are light on the face, look great, and protect eyes from both objects and bright light. For those with medium to large faces, they’re top-tier sunglasses from a lesser-known but excellent brand. Our reviewer wore these shades on dusty desert drives and submerged them on SUP mishaps.
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Vaer C4 Tactical Field DLC Solar Watch
The Vaer C4 Tactical Field DLC Solar is one of the best affordable field watches on the market today. Powered by an exceptionally reliable solar quartz movement, it will simply work, telling the time in the roughest conditions. Easy to read, comfortable on the wrist, and handsome enough for most occasions, the Vaer C4 is a solid gift for those who get outside and appreciate analog charm.
Olight ArkPro
The Olight ArkPro is one of the best EDC flashlights you can get today. The pocket-sized light is powerful and versatile, boasting a top output of 1,500 lumens, accompanied by a green laser pointer and UV light options. USB-C charging juices it up fast. It’s waterproof, durable, and perfect for myriad uses.
DMT Dia-Sharp 6″ Two-Sided Diamond Sharpening Stone
This made our list of best knife sharpeners for its travel-friendly size and match for modern EDC knives. Our knife editors call this 6-inch stone king for “quick, quality, compact, cost-effective freehand sharpening.”
He adds that the Extra Coarse/Coarse and the Fine/Extra Fine can sharpen anything, but can still be a bit coarse for a true finishing stone. The Dia-Sharps don’t need to be soaked or leveled before use, and are great for modern-quality EDC blades, those typically high in alloy components and harder than traditional abrasives.
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5.11 Stryke Men’s Regular Fit Cargo Pant
Ripstop fabric, a DWR treatment, and stretch combine in 5.11’s Stryke Regular Fit Cargo Pant to create pants as ready for work as they are for a comfortable night out. And 12 — count ’em, 12! — pockets make these an EDCer’s dream — carry more, every day!
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Buff Multifunction Neck Gaiter
For heaven’s sake: Get a BUFF! This idiot-proof product remains one of the most versatile, utilitarian pieces of gear our editors have ever tested. Choose from headbands, neck gaiters, balaclavas, and a whole lot more. They’re affordable and can be useful any day, anywhere.
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CRKT Squid XM
If you need one knife for daily use tasks, CRKT’s Squid XM is a class act. Unrivaled action snaps the blade effortlessly into locked position. Its size, materials, and design make it a winner, whether it’s someone’s first knife, or just the latest in its EDC collection.
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Sierra Designs Flex Lumbar 3-6
Quite simply, the most versatile lumbar (fanny) pack on the market. Bottle pockets, zippered snack pockets, cinch downs, and an expandable main compartment — the Flex Lumbar can tag along on any mission, big or small.
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Acebeam TAC AA
If a pocket thrower is a bit much, the Acebeam TAC AA is a little more generalist, but very pocketable, flashlight. And best, it’s super-affordable at just $40, including a rechargeable battery.
This is a simple EDC flashlight with four power settings and a single tail switch. But don’t underestimate this little guy! It can kick out up to 1,000 lumens and run for up to 58 hours on ultra-low.
And its USB-C rechargeable battery is compatible with other AA models, so you can carry a spare in your pack if needed. It’s among the best flashlight deals on the market.
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Leatherman Wave+
The Leatherman Wave+ is among the most popular multitools on the planet. There is literally nobody who works or plays outdoors who won’t love one of these if they don’t have one already. They’re also great for homeowners, car owners, and, essentially, anyone.
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Chrome Industries Hawes 26L Backpack
Simply a stellar, understated, all-around backpack. Designed with commuters in mind, the Hawes 26L has accompanied one GearJunkie editor around the world — on work trips and vacation, by land, sea, and air — and keeps its place for its stout build, smart organization, and handsome styling.
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Roverlund Ready-to-Roll Carry-On
More travel than EDC, but it’s an awesome, sleek, hard-side carry-on. This carry-on has a smart design, locks up, and is easy to hustle through security. Its big “X” factor is the skateboard wheels that make the bag fun and nimble. Beyond that, it’s a hard case to protect its contents, with an easy-access external pocket for stashing a laptop and papers.
The Roverlund Read-to-Roll isn’t for everyone, but you may know someone who travels off the beaten path and will appreciate it as much as we have.
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Skullcandy Crusher 540 Active
For high-output activities, in-ear buds still reign supreme. But for travel, isometric gym workouts, and days around town, over-the-ear headphones offer superior sound and comfort. The Skullcandy Crusher 540 Active has been in the GearJunkie quiver for half the year, and the sound is unreal. They’re comfortable, reliable, and offer virtually unlimited battery life.
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Osprey Archeon Carry-On Kit — 40L Pack & Chest Rig
For travelers who hate waiting on checked bags, the Osprey Archeon modular system can help you navigate airports and planes with greater ease. Once you land, you can choose from the pack, sling, or chest rig to carry around town or on the local trails.
These landed in our guide because our editor-in-chief called them the best carry-on-friendly travel packs he’s ever used. As his review noted, “It’s not perfect in every scenario, but for most travel, it’s a little win when you want to avoid excess fees and hassle.”
The main Archeon 40L pack holds a laptop and has two tech stash pockets. Its waistbelt has two zippered pockets and can be removed to leave behind or wear with the companion Chest Rig.
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Tumbler Original Diamond Rolling Knife Sharpener Set
Nick LeFort, our knife editor, raved about this Instagram-famous doohickey, and that’s enough for it to make this list. This is an easy-to-use knife sharpener that should last a lifetime.
In his review summary, he decided he should “invest in more band-aids because this little gadget makes knives insanely sharp with very minimal effort. And being that it uses diamond grit, it should never wear down. This eliminates the need for any replacement discs and justifies the price.”
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Amazfit T-Rex 3
The $280 price makes it a great first smartwatch for those just entering the market. For outdoor adventurers and fitness buffs looking for a comprehensive set of tools, it’s a sound, approachable investment.
The Amazfit T-Rex 3 offers tracking for more than enough (170) sports and activities, AI fitness coaching, and customizable privacy features. It can run 3 weeks before recharging and is waterproof past 300 feet. Whomever you gift this to will spend months unlocking its many functions. Read our full review for more details.
The $280 price makes it a great first smartwatch for those just entering the market. For outdoor adventurers and fitness buffs looking for a comprehensive set of tools, it’s a sound, approachable investment.
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Why You Should Trust Us
Our editors see and test a lot of gear. It’s what we do. We’re always testing new products to keep our finger on the pulse, yet there are pieces of gear that stay with us for years — the type of gear we return to after testing similar items.
Beyond our decades of combined experience reporting on gear innovations, we still form personal bonds with items after they’ve lived in our pockets or on our wrists for months.
So, in this guide, you’ll find everyday carry items that are likely favorites of one editor and not another. That’s just the nature of a personal attachment, but you can rest assured that the one editor has strong feelings about their recommendation.
Everyday carry items, like a nice knife, designer shades, or rugged timepieces, are classic gifts sure to be appreciated, even if they aren’t used daily.
Ultimately, the goal of this guide is not a best-of list, but an inspiration to find someone in your life a special gift. It may be the exact item we described, or it may remind you of your friend or family member’s own preferences when it comes to gear.
Want more gift ideas? Check out our other gift guides and buying guides.
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