Upgrade your everyday carry setup with these 22 picks
Cameron Faulkner ・ 2025-09-17 ・ www.theverge.com
What we carry says a lot about what’s important to us, who we are, and who we aspire to be. This fall, it’s worth examining what you bring with you every day and thinking about how you could refine it. Perhaps you carry too much, and a utility pouch that’s just a bit bigger than a wallet could reduce (or at least help organize) the clutter in your pockets or purse. Or perhaps you want to be more prepared for what the day could bring, with compact tools like a notepad, pen, and maybe a multitool.
We created this guide to help you upgrade your everyday carry setup. It’s full of gear we use every day and tools you might want to make a part of your daily rotation. Your setup doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive, or include the same flashlight, lever-action pen, and pocket knife as everyone else. But if you do want more inspiration, the everyday carry subreddit is full of people who proudly show off their optimized setups.
What are you looking for?
Hoto 24-in-1 manual screwdriver pen
$20
$20
Hoto specializes in delivering useful tools in unexpectedly convenient form factors. This precision screwdriver pen is no exception. The top unscrews to reveal 24 bits, making it a handy repair tool that’s small enough to carry everywhere.
GoBites Spin Collapsible Spork
$9
$9
A collapsible spork might not be what you had in mind for the next addition to your keychain, but hear us out: you’ll no longer have to ask for disposable cutlery at restaurants, and you’ll never be without a way to munch on the move.
Pebblebee Card Universal
$35
$35
Pebblebee’s card-sized Bluetooth tracker is easy to recommend. It’s compact and rechargeable with 18 months of battery life, and it also works with both Android and iPhone’s respective Find My apps. Slip it in a card slot and never lose your wallet again.
$35 at Amazon $35 at Best Buy $35 at Pebblebee
Iniu Pocket Rocket P50 power bank
$30 $39 23% off
$30
Mighty power banks don’t have to be cumbersome. Iniu’s 10,000mAh P50 is about as thick as a deck of cards, but it features 45W charging, two USB-C ports, and one USB-A port. Its braided lanyard doubles as a USB-C cable.
Viperade VE1-OW EDC waxed canvas pouch
$17
$17
Viperade’s canvas pouch is a great way to consolidate your carry. It has space for cash and cards, as well as tools like a pen, a compact flashlight, knife, a notebook, a multitool, and more.
Baseus Free2Pull Retractable USB-C Cable
$13 $22 41% off
$13
Baseus’ Free2Pull is an everyday essential if you frequently need to recharge your gadgets. The puck contains a three-foot USB-C cable with 100W maximum passthrough that gets out of the way as soon as you no longer need it.
$13 at Amazon $13 at Walmart $17 at Baseus
AirPods Pro 3
$249
$249
Apple’s AirPods Pro are a tech staple made better with the new third generation. Their noise cancellation is stellar, they have longer battery life than the previous model, and they can even track your heart rate during workouts. They’re handy for music, for calls, and for fun.
$249 at Amazon $249 at Apple $250 at BestBuy
Distil Osprey sunglasses
$35 $69 49% off
$35
These good-looking, durable sunglasses can magnetically attach to surfaces for safe and convenient storage. The aviator-style Osprey design has UV400 protection, includes a case, and should look great on you.
RovyVon Angel Eyes E1 hybrid keychain flashlight
$33
$33
There’s a lot to appreciate about this 700-lumen rechargeable keychain flashlight. It features a built-in battery (rechargeable via USB-C) as well as a AAA battery backup, so you won’t be left in the dark.
Leatherman Skeletool CX multitool
$90
$90
Leatherman’s Skeletool CX features no leather. True to its name, it provides only the necessities, including a knife, pliers (needlenose and regular), wire cutters, large bit drivers, and a carabiner that doubles as a bottle opener.
Moleskine Cahier journal (ruled, set of 3)
$13 $15 13% off
$13
Journaling is an art form that just doesn’t feel the same on phones. Moleskine’s Cahier journals are perfect to carry around. They’re useful for jotting down ideas or to-dos or just for reflecting on your daily adventures.
Allett Original bi-fold wallet
$48
$48
Allett’s nylon bifold is a great, water-resistant minimalist wallet with four stretchy card pockets and a billfold for cash.
Tushy travel bidet
$25
$25
You might get stranded without toilet paper when you need it most. Whether that happens, or you just prefer a more eco-friendly solution to cleaning up down there, Tushy’s portable bidet is a small, yet transformative addition to your EDC.
GoPro Max (2025)
$250 $370 32% off
$250
Don’t kid yourself, your everyday adventures are worth capturing in an immersive 360 degrees, whether you’re biking, hiking, or just walking around the neighborhood. The GoPro Max makes it easy to turn casual activities into something more memorable.
$250 at Amazon $250 at Best Buy $250 at GoPro
Google Pixel 10 Pro
$999
$999
Google’s new Pixel 10 Pro delivers flagship design and performance, and AI features that feel more useful in practice compared to last year’s phone. Its stellar camera system is another big selling point.
$999 at Google $999 at Best Buy $999 at Amazon
Uni-ball Vision rollerball pens (red, 12-pack)
$20
$20
These Uni-ball pens deliver reliable, satisfying writing performance. Whether you need to jot down your next great idea, a to-do, or a recipe, grab a box of these so you can always have a great pen within arm’s reach.
OhSnap Snap Grip
$20 $40 50% off
$20
The Snap Grip makes it easier to hold your phone, or position it just right for whatever the situation requires. Want to watch your phone while you eat lunch? Pop out the kickstand. Or, stick it to a fridge or any magnetic surface.
Timbuk2 Flight Classic messenger bag
$134
$134
Everyone needs a bag that’s bigger on the inside. Timbuk2’s messenger bag has a weatherproof exterior, and can fit a large camera, a laptop, a water bottle, and more. Its many pockets will likely be enough for your most essential everyday carry items.
Casio A168W-1 watch
$30
$30
Despite the rise in popularity of smartwatches (and smart rings), sometimes a simple watch is all you need. This stainless steel Casio watch is a design classic, with handy features like a frontlight, stopwatch, and alarm function.
Takeya Actives water bottle
$30
$30
It’s worth spending a little more for a good water bottle. Takeya’s Actives double-walled, leakproof bottle can keep beverages hot or cold for hours, and features a narrow spout for easy drinking.
Anker 332 USB-C hub (5-in-1)
$25
$25
The world runs on USB-C these days, praise be. So, carrying a tiny, port-packed USB-C hub isn’t a bad idea, as it grants instant access to more USB ports, fast passthrough charging, and an HDMI port.
TwelveSouth PowerBug
$50
$50
The compact PowerBug wall charger offers 15W Qi2 magnetic charging (with support for MagSafe and PixelSnap), and a USB-C port to charge something else at up to 35W. Bonus perk: it’s not an outlet hog.
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