AskMen Guy Gear Awards 2024 Best Everyday Carry Options
Don’t Leave the House Without Them — Here Are Our Picks for the Top Everyday Carry Items of 2024
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Every time you leave the house, you’re bringing something with you — whether it’s just your keys and wallet or a whole host of items to prepare you for whatever life might throw your way, that collection of items is your everyday carry.
So what makes up your EDC? Every guy will sport a slightly different list, but some staples deserve recognition, from tools to tech to a tricked-out bag to carry it all. (And let’s not forget a trusty watch, too.)
To help ensure your EDC checklist features nothing but the best products, we’ve put together a list of our favorites in this domain. So, without further ado, here are the winning everyday carry options from the 2024 AskMen Guy Gear Awards:
Best EDC Pocket Items
Best Pocket Knife
The James Brand Chapter 2
We do not advocate for using knives for violent ends, but we do appreciate that having one on you at all times means you can solve a variety of problems, from opening boxes to whittling wood to acting as a makeshift screwdriver in a pinch. While it’s far from the most tricked-out option on the market, the James Brand’s Chapter 2 is a beautifully simple iteration of the concept that we’ve yet to see anyone outdo.
$419 at TheJamesBrand.com
Best Multi-Tool
Leatherman Charge+ TTi
A good multitool is an everyday carry (EDC) essential, offering a huge variety of tools in a compact form factor. We especially love the Charge+ TTi from Leatherman, delivering 19 tools, from a bottle opener to a diamond-coated file, in an extremely portable and durable design. When will you next need a wire stripper? Who knows — and that’s why you need a good multitool.
$199.95 at Leatherman.com
Best Flashlight
Nitecore EDC29
Powerful, portable and unbelievably cool looking — the Nitecore EDC29 offers everything you could possibly want from a small form factor flashlight, delivering up to 6500 lumens of brightness across a 437-yard throw. Six brightness modes, a strobe light setting, and easy, USB-C recharging round out this design and earned it our award as the standout flashlight of the year.
$109.95 at NitecoreStore.com
Best Wallet
Psycho Bunny Men's Wallet
The idea of spending a lot of money on an object to hold your money will never not strike us as at least a little bit I’m using, but assuming you’re planning to keep your valuables in another state then just free floating around your pockets, wallet is a damn good idea.
Our testers say: “I've used it every day since I got it, it looks exactly the same. It's a great wallet. The exterior is very durable. It's solid and well made, totally recommend it.”
$98 at PsychoBunny.com
Best Notebook
Field Notes Pitch Black Notebook
A nontrivial chunk of the copy you’re reading right now was written via speech-to-text software on an AskMen editor’s phone. But dammit, we still respect the hell out of guys who like to take notes at the drop of a hat using the old-fashioned pen and paper method. Field Notes make absolutely great notebooks and we think their Pitch Black line is simply too cool to ignore.
$14.95 at Amazon.com
Best EDC Pen
The James Brand Burwell
To pair with your nice little portable notebook, well, sure, you could keep burning through shitty cheap pens that are always breaking or getting lost, or you could ante up to a classy number like the James Brand’s Burwell, which is stylish, solid, and reliable.
Our testers say: “I really appreciate this pen — writers consistently without the ink being overly wet, like some other upscale pens. It’s perfect for keeping as part of your EDC.”
$89 at TheJamesBrand.com
Best Carabiner
Matador BetaLock
Carabiners are awesome — but what if they had a few more functionalities? That’s the question posed by Matador’s BetaLock, which combines the flexible usefulness of the carabiner and the sturdy peace of mind of the U-lock into one very useful (and stylish) package, at a confusingly low price. Maybe get a handful, just to be on the safe side?
$30 at MatadorEquipment.com
Best Water Bottle
Nalgene Color Block Bottle
Dehydration: It’s bad for you. With lots of newfangled water bottles on the market today, it’s hard to know which one to grab. We don’t want to point fingers, but some of them apparently have lead in them. We’ll keep sticking to Nalgene, an old favorite and a classic for a reason.
Our testers say: “A totally plain but genuinely excellent water bottle. It's light, it carries the perfect amount of water, it's easy to open, easy to clean, feels unbreakable, and doesn't have any complex parts like a straw or spout or folding lid closure. Every time I drink from it, I think ‘I'm so glad I have this thing.’”
From $14.99 at Nalgene.com
Best Carry Options
Best Hybrid Backpack
North Face Voyager Base Camp Duffel
Look — up in the air, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s — North Face’s Voyager Base Camp duffel bag? Not unlike a superhero quickly doffing his civilian disguise, this bad boy was conceived to swap instantly and elegantly between backpack and duffel bag modes. It can also zip up into a tiny little pocket of itself when not in use, however. This thing is genius for anyone who wants the functionality of both types of bags without needing to use them both at the same time.
$135 at TheNorthFace.com
Best Rolltop Backpack
CamelBak Adventure Travel Pack 26
As you may have gleaned from the above winner, a bag that’s flexible is a fantastic asset to the guy on the go. That’s the beauty of a rolltop bag — in addition to this one having a wealth of pockets, it can also go from a tidy little knapsack to a capacious backpack in no time. Plus, it’s pretty cool looking. Major Guy Gear points.
Our testers say: “I feel like I’ve barely taken this off in the past few months. Tons of compartments, lots of comfort, and I love the way the rolltop part looks when it’s closed.”
$108 at CamelBak.com
Best Stylish Backpack
Shinola Canfield Backpack
Look, not every backpack needs to be insanely tricked out with secret pockets and functionalities. Sometimes, you just want a backpack that looks damn good as hell. If so, what you want is Shinola‘s Canfield backpack. Buttery leather, easy on the shoulders, and even easier on the eyes. It’s not cheap, but it will let people know that you aren’t either.
$695 at Shinola.com
Best Duffel Bag
No Reception Club Hideaway Carry-On Duffel
Combine the easy-to-carry form of the classic duffel bag with the convenience of a carry-on and you get the Hideaway Carry-On Duffel from No Reception Club. Versatility is this bag’s biggest virtue, in that it comes with every accessory you could ever need. Shoulder straps to carry it backpack-style? Check. A removable cubby system to organize your clothes? Check. A separate laundry sack for keeping your dirty clothes separate? You betcha. And despite all of this functionality, No Reception Club still managed to make the Hideaway stylish as well.
$295 at NoReceptionClub.com
Best Cross-Body Bag
Filson Surveyor Crossbody Pack
If you prize versatility in your bag, you’ll love the Filson Surveyor Crossbody Pack. Crossbody bags offer all of the convenience and practicality of a fanny pack without the bulky visuals or unfortunate name, and Filson’s take on the category (available in three eye-catching colors) is made from a gorgeous waxed corduroy nylon that’s not only gorgeous to look at but also light and extremely sturdy. Premium details like the adjustable shoulder strap, inside mesh pocket, and YKK zipper with leather hand clasps add a touch of sophistication as well.
$75 at Filson.com
Best Tote Bag
Rux Waterproof Bag
Whether you’re off adventuring or just going to the beach or poolside, the Rux Waterproof Bag is the ideal way to keep your clothes, electronics or food dry. Built from ultra-tough 840D TPU-coated nylon with a 420D TPU-coated nylon roll top, with all its seams RF welded for extra moisture protection, this is the perfect storage solution for up to 25L of clothing or gear (with the top closed). And because it’s also comfortable and good looking, it’s just as capable for more mundane trips to the library or grocery store. Trust us: this is the last tote you’ll ever need.
$150 at Rux.life
Best EDC Tech
Best In-Ear Headphones
Apple AirPods Pro 2
The original AirPods Pro were already great, but leave it to Apple to improve upon a solid foundation. The second-generation model adds better battery life, improved noise cancellation (capable of removing up to two times the background noise of the previous model), and a much clearer microphone for better call quality. There are also more touch controls on the earpieces, making it even easier to control your music or interact with Siri while you’re on the go.
$249 at Amazon.com
Best Over-Ear Headphones
Bowers & Wilkins Px8
If you’re one of those people who can never keep in-ear headphones from becoming out-ear (when they fall out of your ears), perhaps an over-ear solution is in order. These cans from Bowers & Wilkins impressed the hell out of us during testing.
Our testers say: “Sound quality is out of this world, and very comfortable. Also just built super well. Never had headphones this good. I love these things. The noise cancellation has changed my life at work. I actually used them as ear protection while building new shelving and using the circular saw for cuts.”
$699 at BowersWilkins.com
Best Phone Charging Option
Anker 737 Power Bank
Are you on the go often, constantly struggling with power warnings across your vital devices? The solution is a portable power bank, and there’s no better option than the Anker 737 Power Bank. Its high-capacity, 24,000mAh battery can juice up a smartphone up to five times, or a 2021 iPad Pro from dead to fully powered. And, thanks to its 140W, bi-directional charging technology, it both receives a charge and gives a charge at high speed.
$109.99 at Amazon.com
Best Camera
Leica Q3
Leica’s camera-making pedigree is now more than 150 years old, so it’s no surprise that they’re among the very best in the business, but they’ve outdone themselves with the Q3. This compact, full-frame camera has jaw-dropping image quality, with up to 60MP of resolution, 8K video shooting capabilities, and an autofocus system so good it will make even amateur photographers think they’re professionals. Sure, it’s expensive, but the performance matches the price; heck, even the viewfinder is OLED, and it tilts for low-angle shooting. The engineers at Leica have thought about absolutely everything, and the Q3 is the end product.
$6,295 at LeicaCameraUSA.com
Best Portable Video Camera
GoPro Hero13
Capture your most epic moments playing sports, surfing, mountain biking, skiing, skating or snowboarding with the latest mini-cam from action sports brand extraordinaire GoPro. The HERO13 brings in-camera image stabilization that has to be seen to be believed, as well as ultra-HD video capture at up to 5.3K resolution and 10-bit color for better depth and realism. Want extra cool points? Sync multiple GoPRO cameras wirelessly to capture the action from multiple angles, all with the timecodes automatically synchronizing.
From $549.99 at GoPro.com
Best Watches
Best Analog Watch
Marathon Jeep Rubicon Tsar
If you’ve ever wanted to wear something insanely badass on your wrist, you’re not alone. The people at Marathon have heard your secret wishes and produced this watch in collaboration with Jeep — a 41mm diver’s watch that uses a tiny amount of tritium to power its glow in the dark face. Every now and then a product that feels like it was born to win a Guy Gear Award crosses our path. This is one of them.
Our testers say: “Every time I strap this on, I feel like I’m part of a superhero suit-up montage. Absolutely too cool”
$1,200 at MarathonWatch.com
Best Digital Watch
Casio G-Shock GMB2100AD-2A
We’ve been fans of Casio’s G-Shock line for quite some time here at AskMen and seeing the toughness of its general vibe get turned up to 11 with an all-metal construction was like Christmas on our wrists. Wristmas? It’s bold, it’s more than a little bit flashy, and it swaggers around like a watch that costs 10 times as much as it does. Not a bad deal for guys just getting into watches.
$550 at Casio.com
Best Smartwatch
Apple Watch Ultra 2
It’s no secret that the Apple Watch is pretty much the standard bearer when it comes to wearable technology, but it took Apple to raise the bar once again with their Ultra variant. The just-released Ultra 2 brings massive improvements in battery life (up to 36 hours of normal use or 72 hours in its low power mode), a big, bold and beautiful 49mm sapphire crystal display, and the the largest and most accurate arsenal of health tracking features we’ve ever seen on a wearable. Oh, and it looks pretty cool too, with an endless array of potential band accessories to choose from.
$769 at Amazon.com
Best Aesthetic Watch
Q Timex 1975 Enigma Reissue
Look, don’t look now, but in most use cases, watches are just tough-looking jewelry for men. Once you realize that truth, you can recognize the sheer pleasure that comes from having a dope-looking piece of horology on your wrist. Features this, features that — Timex’s half-a-century-old Enigma reissue is an absolute jaw-dropper that we can’t stop gazing at.
$199 at Timex.com
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