The Dark Side of Gear Reviews

The Best EDC Gear of 2025

I'm breaking down my top EDC picks for 2025 across 10 categories, from folders and fixed blades to multitools, watches, and everything in between. I'm also sharing what you voted as your community favorites and revealing which piece of gear I actually carried the most this year. Whether you're looking to upgrade your EDC or just curious what made the cut, this is my definitive gear roundup for 2025. EDC Folding Knife Work Sharp RMX [https://shrtm.nu/gp9KAMk] EDC Fixed Blade Jack Wolf Knives Vampire Hunter [https://www.jackwolfknives.com/] EDC Watch RZE UTD-8000 [https://collabs.shop/ktjlie] EDC Flashlight Olight ArkPro Ultra [https://amzn.to/4pbMwQv] EDC Multitool Leatherman Wave Alpha [https://shrtm.nu/ZcloaOj] Best EDC Pen Big Idea Design Pocket Pro USA Bronze [https://collabs.shop/b5pkch] Best Truck Tools ICON 1/4 in Drive Compact Socket and Bit Set [https://shrtm.nu/35dIgyK] Best EDC Gadget Garmin Fenix Pro 8 [https://amzn.to/3YM0CNn] Sleeper Hit CRKT Provoke X [https://www.crkt.com/axe/provokex-axe] Best EDC Value Knafs Lander 5 [https://collabs.shop/vknj5j] Most Carried Leatherman Arc Talos [https://shrtm.nu/tAd021X] Gear of the Year According to You 1. Leatherman Wave Alpha [https://shrtm.nu/ZcloaOj] 2. Work Sharp RMX [https://shrtm.nu/gp9KAMk] 3. Nextool Mini Flagship F12 [https://amzn.to/49mlMYC] 4. Olight ArkPro Ultra [https://amzn.to/4pbMwQv] 5. Exceed Designs TiRant Ultra [https://shrtm.nu/LXphoC6]

Why I never use my gear…

Everyone thinks Taylor keeps his gear pristine and never uses it. The truth? His team won't let him near anything before they photograph it because he destroys everything instantly. This week: the Camp Mule launch, the butter-smooth Arno Bernard Turico, and a $500 utility knife that flips like an OTF. 0:20 Show and Tell * Arno Bernard Turaco [https://shrtm.nu/Bir1ODS] * Hawk Knives Shortcut [https://shrtm.nu/pcTWqaI] * Carry Commission Camp Mule [https://shrtm.nu/M6OM0Oz] 8:17 Sponsors * Work Sharp [https://bit.ly/3TwX7HS] * Big Idea Design [https://shrtm.nu/bigidesign] * BladeBinge [https://shrtm.nu/bladebinge] — buy, sell, and trade EDC gear safely   * Carry Commission [https://shrtm.nu/Xy16iOb] 10:49 Community Comments Leave a comment on the YouTube video: https://youtu.be/d79eKSh-H40 Or leave an EDC confession: https://forms.gle/rP8ohp7cxRrnxkFe9 17:26 Carry of the Week - Logan Gibbons (@loganjgibbons) * Drop AAA Copper Flashlight [https://amzn.to/4rH5NLQ] * Craftsman Sebertool M4 [https://shrtm.nu/lkykqus] * Narwhalco Pen [https://amzn.to/3KvkpgP] * GilTek RUK V2 [https://shrtm.nu/eozlbJS] * Hitch and Timber Runt 2.0 [https://shrtm.nu/YvkmHYA] 21:39 What's in my Pockets * CC Camp Mule [https://shrtm.nu/M6OM0Oz] * Arno Bernard Turaco [https://shrtm.nu/Bir1ODS] * Leatherman Surge [https://shorturl.at/bDZwd] * Garmin Fenix 8 Pro [https://amzn.to/49b5dPG] * CC X Wilder Goods Co Hithchhiker [https://shrtm.nu/1GBzbNV] * Big Idea Design Pocket Pro Bronze [https://collabs.shop/b5pkch] * Gaslight Industries Jerry Can Lighter [https://www.gaslightindustries.com/] 22:52 Giveaway Find instructions to enter the December giveaway by signing up for the newsletter: https://weekly.bestdamnedc.com

The One Blade Finish Everyone Hates

0:24 Community Comments 9:27 Sponsors * Work Sharp [https://bit.ly/3TwX7HS] * Big Idea Design [https://shrtm.nu/bigidesign] * BladeBinge [https://shrtm.nu/bladebinge] — buy, sell, and trade EDC gear safely  * Carry Commission [https://shrtm.nu/Xy16iOb] 11:07 Show and Tell * Buck Knives Range [https://shrtm.nu/bssGXRQ] * Knafs Lander 5 [https://collabs.shop/awekpg] 14:14 Carry of the Week - Tom @time.poor [https://instagram.com/time.poor] * Tudor Pelagos GMT [https://amzn.to/4hPGrXD] * Zuludiver Hydrarib Strap [https://shrtm.nu/K7Fz3cj] * Victorinox Explorer [https://amzn.to/4hOcdEm] * Prometheus Design Werx Scales [https://shrtm.nu/vvVuWV5] * Kolony Collective SERE Bypass Set [https://shrtm.nu/8Z9c3TN] 15:21 What's in my Pocket * CC x Knives by Nuge Wicket [https://shrtm.nu/Xy16iOb] * Leatherman Surge [https://shorturl.at/bDZwd] * Garmin Fenix 8 Pro [https://amzn.to/49b5dPG] * CC X Wilder Goods Co Hithchhiker [https://shrtm.nu/1GBzbNV] * Big Idea Design Pocket Pro Bronze [https://collabs.shop/b5pkch] * Gaslight Industries Jerry Can Lighter [https://www.gaslightindustries.com/] 16:47 Giveaway Find instructions to enter the November giveaway by signing up for the newsletter: https://weekly.bestdamnedc.com

Why Every New Knife Feels the Same

This week, we take a hard look at the knife world…and what’s wrong with it. A viewer from the UK sent in a confession about paying nearly $900 for a McNees PM MAC 2 3.5 after taxes and customs. It got me thinking about how we got here—not just the prices, but the endless options, the hype, and the loss of the real story behind the gear. It’s not just about money anymore. It’s about meaning. 0:23 EDC Confessionals Submit your own [https://forms.gle/rP8ohp7cxRrnxkFe9] 5:07 Sponsors * Work Sharp [https://bit.ly/3TwX7HS]  * Big Idea Design [https://shrtm.nu/bigidesign]  * BladeBinge [https://shrtm.nu/bladebinge] — buy, sell, and trade EDC gear safely   * Carry Commission x Paladin33 Waxed Canvas Belt Bag XL [https://www.carrycommission.com/collections/new-arrivals/products/waxed-canvas-belt-bag-xl] 18:59 Show and Tell * McNees Dixon Frag [https://shrtm.nu/S5ycUkO] * Half Face Blades Disaster [https://shrtm.nu/perS1LU] 24:00 Carry Of The Week - PCK  * Diodrio Pocket Organizer [https://amzn.to/3L37suw] * Coast PX22 Flashlight [https://amzn.to/478Dzlb] * Black Diamond Carabiner [https://amzn.to/4hAkbB1] * Casio F105W [https://amzn.to/48JVCiP] * Moleskine Volant XS Journal [https://amzn.to/4hpZA2n] * Redwing Card Wallet [https://amzn.to/3Jm4d0z] * Key Smart [https://amzn.to/4no9Mtj] * Fisher Space Pen [https://amzn.to/4nl5B1G] * Opinel No. 8 [https://amzn.to/47kMcrx] * TISUR Titanium Shackle [https://amzn.to/47ldVZ3] 26:22 What’s In My Pockets * McNees Dixon Frag [https://shrtm.nu/S5ycUkO] * Half Face Blades Disaster [https://shrtm.nu/perS1LU] * Leatherman Surge [https://shorturl.at/si10c] * Garmin Fenix 8 Pro [https://amzn.to/49b5dPG] * CC X Wilder Goods Co Hithchhiker [https://shrtm.nu/1GBzbNV] * Big Idea Design Pocket Pro Bronze [https://collabs.shop/b5pkch] * Gaslight Industries Jerry Can Lighter [https://www.gaslightindustries.com/] 27:01 Giveaway Find instructions to enter the October giveaway by signing up for the newsletter: https://weekly.bestdamnedc.com

The Dark Side of Gear Reviews

This week, Taylor takes a hard look at how reviewers and influencers shape the EDC world—sometimes for the worse. Sparked by a viewer’s confession about the underrated Leatherman Free K4, Taylor reflects on how trends, thumbnails, and first impressions can bury great gear before it ever gets a fair chance. It’s a deep dive into bias, influence, and what happens when the loudest voices decide what’s “good.” 0:45 EDC Confessionals Submit your own https://forms.gle/rP8ohp7cxRrnxkFe9 4:57 Sponsors * Work Sharp RMX Blackout drops Monday at 10 AM PST [https://bit.ly/3TwX7HS] * Big Idea Design [https://shrtm.nu/bigidesign] * BladeBinge for all your buy, sell, and trading EDC needs [https://shrtm.nu/bladebinge] * Carry Commission x Jack Wolf Knives K9 Jack Restock [https://www.carrycommission.com/collections/drop/products/cc-k9-jack] 17:38 Show and Tell  * Axial x Best Damn EDC Shift V3 [https://shrtm.nu/maNMYcJ] * Work Sharp RMX Blackout Reserve Series [https://shrtm.nu/P9IbsrV] * Pro-Tech x Chaves Redencion Custom [https://shrtm.nu/f8xV3rI] 21:25 Carry Of The Week @UnboundCarry (YouTube & Instagram) * Vosteed Psyop [https://amzn.to/4qqbayD] * Big Idea Design Ti Arto [https://collabs.shop/srqcu9] * RovyVon Aurora A4 Pro [https://amzn.to/3Wh8IfU] * Popov Leather 5 Card Wallet [https://shrtm.nu/lYcbjyX] * Apple Watch Ultra 2 [https://amzn.to/3WdGL8M] * The James Brand Mehlville [https://shrtm.nu/XRX7oxy] * OrbitKey Organizer [https://amzn.to/4nXMz2i] 25:00 What's In My Pockets * Axial x Best Damn EDC Shift V3 [https://shrtm.nu/maNMYcJ] * Leatherman Surge [https://shorturl.at/si10c] * Garmin Fenix 8 Pro [https://amzn.to/49b5dPG] * CC X Wilder Goods Co Hithchhiker [https://shrtm.nu/1GBzbNV] * Big Idea Design Pocket Pro Bronze [https://collabs.shop/b5pkch] * Gaslight Industries Jerry Can Lighter [https://www.gaslightindustries.com/] 26:13 Giveaway Find instructions to enter the October giveaway by signing up for the newsletter: https://weekly.bestdamnedc.com