The 12 Best EDC Gear Essentials Under $50

With around a dozen primary categories that comprise the larger everyday carry segment, it’s easy to see the cost quickly adding up when building out an EDC loadout. As such, sticking to a hard cutoff when selecting the items in your loadout is often a wise move, and one that can still allow for a stellar array of gear — as evidenced by this selection of affordable EDC gear that’s all available for $50 or less. So, whether you’re looking to supplement your existing kit or build a brand new loadout from the ground up, our guide to the best EDC essentials for under $50 has got you covered. 

Selection & Testing

Contrary to popular belief, you can assemble a quality daily loadout on a shoestring budget, assuming you know where to look and what to look for. Consequently, limiting the items in your loadout to kit costing $50 or less actually allows for a pretty stellar assortment of EDC gear — granted it does force you to take a more budget route when shopping for elements such as knives, watches, and flashlights. So, when we set out to uncover the best everyday carry kit for under half-a-bill, we kicked off our hunt by first making a list of criteria that we’d use to guide our search, leading us to scrutinizing areas such as design, functionality, and material selection. 

Rather than seeking out more premium gear, we primarily limited our search to quality, hardwearing kit that still affords ample value — which mainly meant selecting gear made from rugged yet affordable constructions like stainless steel. We also thoroughly scrutinized the functionality and versatility of each piece of gear we considered. This ultimately enabled us to generate a shortlist of items that we suspected may represent some of the best sub-$50 EDC gear on the market, selecting two-to-three items for each of the main dozen sub-spaces that comprise the larger everyday carry gear segment (such as best watch, best wallet, best flashlight, best knife, best pen, and so on). 

An unfortunate reality of buying budget-friendly EDC gear is that these items can sometimes massively differ in terms of real-world durability and performance. So, in order to actually discover how each piece of gear on our shortlist performed, we managed to get our hands on every item on our shortlist in order to put them to the test. This allowed us to carry and use each piece of gear on a daily basis, providing insight into actual performance, utility, durability, and versatility. Once we’d gotten hands-on with each item, we were able to narrow our shortlist down to a final hard selection of what we found to be the best affordable EDC essentials sold for $50 or less.

Casio AE1200WH-1A “World Timer”

Best Watch: Dripping in 1980s style, the Casio AE1200WH-1A “World Timer” is a retro-inspired digital watch that boasts a wealth of features. Constructed around a 39.5mm resin case paired with a matching resin band, the AE1200WH-1A comes loaded with 31different time zones, LED backlighting, 100 meters of water resistance, five onboard alarms, and a 1/100-second stopwatch — just to name a few of its laundry list of features. Thanks to its use of resin, both the case and band are incredibly lightweight yet immensely durable — plus cost very very little to produce, allowing for this watch’s bargain basement price. 

Sure, the Casio AE1200WH-1A may not be a status symbol and it may be devoid of the mechanical charm of its pricier automatic counterparts, but what the so-called “World Timer” lacks in these areas it more than makes up for in sheer functionality and value, as the AE1200WH-1A may be better described as a wrist-worn computer than a traditional timepiece. And, despite clocking in at 39.5mm, the case actually wears a lot smaller than you’d think, too. 

Inside the watch, the case houses a single battery that provides a full decade of life. Plus, with the ability to be picked up for as little as $20, the World Timer also affords a pretty ridiculous level of value and bang-for-your-buck. If you aren’t fond of digital watches, there are also plenty of highly-affordable Timex models that can be purchased for under the $50 mark. 

Ilford Sprite 35-II

Best Camera: The Ilford Sprite 35-II is a highly-affordable point-and-shoot, 35mm film camera that delivers some truly incredible bang-for-your-buck. Crafted around an ABS body with a faux leather veneer, the camera features a 31mm fixed-focus wide-angle optical lens, a built-in flash, and a 1/120s shutter speed. Despite its super accessible price, the camera is surprisingly durable. 

While the vast majority of us already carry a camera with us in the form of our smartphones, there’s nonetheless still something to be said for classic film-based, point-and-shoot photo equipment. Not unlike spinning vinyl records, there’s a certain character and charm that’s attached to using this piece of kit from a bygone era. Thanks to the fact it accepts 35mm cartridges, sourcing film for this camera couldn’t be easier. Likewise, it also runs off of a single AAA battery — making sourcing cells just as much of a breeze as acquiring film. 

With the ability to be purchased for just a little over $20, Ilford’s Sprite 35-II doesn’t come with the stresses that come with owning more expensive cameras — such as having to worry about it being lost, damaged, or stolen. In my experience, I’ve been more worried about losing the film I shot in the camera more than the actual camera itself. Lastly, regardless of price, the Ilford Sprite 35-II is a pretty great-looking camera, with an unmistakable vintage-inspired appearance — and one that’s offered in a variety of color options. 

Anker PowerCore 5000

Best Power Bank: In today’s day and age, it’s crucial to be able to keep your devices charged up and ready-to-go. And while there are plenty of great power banks on the market, the Anker PowerCore 5000 is fairly unbeatable — especially when it comes to everyday carry. Sporting a cylindrical design measuring just 4.21” in length and 1.20” in diameter, the PowerCore 5000 is genuinely pocketable — plus it smaller than an 8.4oz energy drink can. 

Another monumental part of what makes the power bank so noteworthy is the fact that it uses two proprietary fast-charging technologies in the form of both PowerIQ — which provides the fastest possible charge to any device up to 2A — and VoltageBoost, which increases output to overcome cable resistance and guarantee a consistent high-speed charge. Additionally, the thing also comes loaded with a MultiProtect Safety System as well as surge protection. 

Alongside the power bank itself, the PowerCore 5000 also ships with an included travel pouch and Micro-USB cable as well. With a 5,000-mAh cell on tap, this mobile power bank can fully replenish the battery of an iPhone 15 Pro Max, and still have some charge left over. Both the size of the actual power bank and its onboard cell make Anker’s PowerCore 5000 perfect for EDC too, as it’s small enough to be carried daily while large enough to actually fully juice up your phone, camera, or earbuds — or even partially recharge a laptop or Bluetooth speaker. 

Apple AirTag

Best Tracker: Since first hitting the market in April of 2021, the Apple AirTag has revolutionized the GPS tracker space, being ultra-affordable while still being fairly accurate. With prices starting from around $25, it’s ridiculously easy to justify in investing in AirTags to tag and track any of your valuables, from wallets to jackets to backpacks. 

Weighing only 0.39oz, AirTag’s are super thin and are only 1.26” in diameter, making them super easy to conceal. With an IP67 rating, they’re also surprisingly rugged — plus they can be further fortified using an AirTag case, of which there are many to chose from. 

There is, however, a major upside and a major downside to the AirTag that all buyers should be privy to before purchasing or using one. This is the fact that AirTag’s don’t require any satellite or subscription fee like other GPS trackers, as the AirTag uses Apple’s network of iPhones to gain a signal. This means an AirTag needs to be within roughly 100’ of an iPhone in order to work. 

Fisher Space Pen 400 Series

Best Pen: Originally debuting in July of 1948, the Fisher Space Pen is an iconic — and affordable — everyday carry pen that can write upside-down, underwater, and even in zero gravity. Made in America, the pen sports a sleek bullet-like shape and a closed length of just 3.75”, making it extremely pocketable. More recently, the pen’s original aluminum construction has been upgraded to brass before being fortified via a matte black finish. Shipping with a PR-4 black ink medium point cartridge, this pen also comes in a gift and storage box. 

What Zippo is to lighters and Timex is to watches, the Fisher Space Pen is to writing instruments. That is to say; the pen offers ample durability and utility in an affordable and reliable package. And, while I’ve admittedly never used this pen in zero gravity, upside-down, or underwater, I nonetheless appreciate the fact that Fisher’s Space Pen possesses these unique capabilities — plus the fact it’s been used by astronauts at NASA just makes it that much cooler in my opinion.

 Though it’s novelty factor is a selling point, that’s not the reason that Fisher’s Space Pen has been my go-to EDC pen for over-half-a-decade. First off, it’s compact enough to be extremely pocketable, but opens up to 5.25” with the cap placed on the back of the pen, providing plenty of grip and making for a comfortable and well-balanced writing instrument. Second, it’s not only incredibly durable, but it’s also super affordable — plus the same can be said for its refill cartridges, which are also widely and readily available in a multitude of colors. 

SOG PowerPint

Best Multi-Tool: Quality butterfly-opening Leatherman-style multi-tools with around 20 or more functions typically cost anywhere from $100 to $250. And that’s a huge part of what makes the SOG PowerPint so noteworthy, as this item offers 18 tools and functions while coming at a literal fraction of the price of the competition. In addition to locking straight edge and serrated blades, SOG’s PowerPint also packs bottle and can openers, a three-sided file, a small flathead driver, a Phillips head driver, a 1/4” hex driver, a jewelry driver, a gripper, line cutters, needle-nose pliers, a protractor, a ruler, scissors, and hard and soft wire-cutters. 

The very definition of a pocketable powerhouse, the SOG PowerPint not only boasts the massive aforementioned suite of tools and functions, but it does so while being able to break down to a highly-compact form measuring just 3.125” long and 0.67” thick. Another really special part of this multi-tool’s design is that it’s thoroughly pocketable, though when open, is large enough to provide ample grip and leverage — the same can’t be said for other compact multi-tool models like the tiny Leatherman Micra. 

While the PowerPint’s wildly accessible pricing is no doubt in large part owed to its mass-production and Chinese manufacturing, the multi-tool’s build quality is surprisingly impressive. Even after months of use, none of its tools were loose or suffering from any wobble or play. I also really appreciate that SOG’s PowerPoint can be supplemented via an optional bit driver kit, which comes at an extra fee, but bolsters the capabilities of this already-wildly-utilitarian multi-tool. 

Zippo 1941 Replica Lighter

Best Lighter: American inventor George G. Blaisdell first founded the Zippo Manufacturing Company in 1932 before unveiling the brand’s inaugural lighter shortly after in early 1933. Before eventually evolving into the version we all know today, Blaisdell’s original lighter design saw several updated iterations including a redesigned variant in 1941. More-than-80-years after its debut, the company has released an exacting replica reissue of its WW2 era torch known as the Zippo 1941 Replica. 

Though it looks different from the contemporary iteration of Zippo’s iconic lighter, the 1941 Replica is still instantly recognizable as a Zippo, plus still features the brand’s equally-iconic “Zippo Click.” What’s more, not only is this lighter made in America, but it also comes backed by a lifetime warranty. Even if your search isn’t limited to EDC gear priced at under $50, this is still a lighter that should always be considered when building out an everyday carry loadout — plus it’s just as conducive to camping, outdoor, and survival use as it is daily carrying. 

While I love the unique character of the 1941 Replica, it is a shame that Zippo’s new butane and arc lighter inserts aren’t compatible with the 1941-spec’s case — though if you plan on just using the standard soft yellow flame insert this isn’t an issue. And, while we’re partial to the brushed brass version of the 1941 Replica — as it really leans into the old-school nature of the torch — Zippo does offer this lighter in other finishes and constructions including chrome. 

NITECORE TINI 2

Best Flashlight: The NITECORE TINI 2 is a high-tech, second-generation keychain light that packs a few impressive tricks up its sleeve. Clocking in at less than 2.0” in length, the TINI 2 comes armed with a dual OSRAM P8 LED emitter setup that allows it to generate up to 500 lumens while maintaining a nearly 300-foot throw. Crafted from aluminum, the TINI 2’s IP54-rated body offers a meter of drop resistance and features a dual switch configuration that comes paired with an OLED display. 

Thanks to an onboard 280mAh USB-C rechargeable battery, the TINI 2 is able to offer up to 60 hours of burn time at its lowest setting — or 45 minutes on its 200-lumen mode, or 15 minutes at its peak 500-lumen output. And, while it’s no doubt small enough to hang from a keychain, the TINI is just as conducive to being carried in a pocket (or clipped to a bag or belt loop). 

While it’s not the brightest EDC light on the market, it’s no doubt one of the most potent for under $50, plus it packs some impressive tech and features. The 500 lumens that it has on tap are also more than capable of delivering the light needed for general everyday tasks (as a point of reference, an iPhone has around 40-50 lumens). Though it costs a few extra bucks, NITECORE also offers a titanium construction version of the TINI 2. 

Orbitkey Key Organizer Leather

Best Key Organizer: Benefitting from an updated, second-generation design, the Orbitkey Key Organizer Leather is a modern storage and organization alternative to carrying a traditional key ring. Using a clever yet simple fold-out design, this everyday carry key organizer is cut from a top-shelf combination of top-grain cowhide leather and 316L stainless steel — the latter of which is typically reserved for high-end watch cases. 

Not only does this EDC key organizer fit anywhere from two to seven keys, but it’s also designed to pair with a car’s key fob. Additionally, Orbitkey’s Key Organizer can also be optioned with an extension post that allows it to accommodate even more keys. What’s more, the company also produces multiple utilitarian add-ons such as a bottle opener and fold-out multi-tool that provide this key organizer with even more functionality. And, while we happen to be fond of the black leather version seen here, Orbitkey also makes its flagship key organizer in a plethora of other materials and colors. 

Ultimately, the reasons we’ve become so enamored with this key organizer boils down to its sleek design and its ability to make it much easier to organize, access, and deploy your keys — plus it puts an end to carrying jingling key rings and getting poked in the leg through your jeans. The simplicity of the design coupled with its use of premium materials also allow it to offer years and years of daily use. 

Pioneer Ion Cardholder

Best Wallet: In today’s increasingly cashless world, carrying a traditional wallet isn’t really necessary. With that said, there’s a decent chance you still need to carry a driver’s license and a card or two. And that’s exactly what the Pioneer Ion Cardholder was designed for. Representing the boutique brand’s most minimalistic wallet design to date, the Ion Cardholder can accommodate anywhere from four to six cards, while still having a little room left over to stash a few folded paper bills. 

The Ion Cardholder is meticulously crafted from 10XD. Fortified via a DWR-finish, this proprietary construction consists of an ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene that takes its name from the fact that it offers a tensile strength that’s a whopping ten-times stronger than steel. What’s more, in addition to selling the Ion Cardholder in over half-a-dozen color options, Pioneer also makes this minimalistic wallet in Baby Ballistic and DWR-coated 3XD 3-ply nylon constructions. 

The use of this technical “super fabric” not only makes for an absurdly rugged wallet, but also a lightweight one — and one that will conform to your cards over time. I’ve been carrying one of Pioneer’s 10XD construction cardholders for the better part of the last decade and mine has shown zero signs of wear-and-tear whatsoever, and still looks and feels as good today as when I first took it out of the box. I also really like that, despite its compact 4.05” x 5.90” x 0.07” size, this cardholder can still fit a GPS tracker card. 

CIVIVI Elementum

Best Knife: Typically speaking, cheap EDC knives aren’t very good, and good EDC knives aren’t very cheap. The CIVIVI Elementum presents a glaring exception to this rule, as this $50 folder is genuinely capable of going toe-to-toe with everyday carry blades costing several times as much. Spanning 6.99” overall, this mid-sized folder is constructed around a stainless steel liner that’s fitted with a liner lock and cloaked in grippy G10 scales. Mated to the handle is a 2.96” D2 blade that’s set on a caged ball bearing pivot. While I wouldn’t say the Elementum has a particularly premium construction, its material selection is still beyond solid, with its amalgamation of D2, G10, and stainless steel all being affordable yet hardwearing. 

The Elementum delivers solid performance and makes for a seriously capable everyday carry knife. What really makes this CIVIVI blade so special, however, is undoubtedly its price. Starting at around the $50 mark, the Elementum punches well above its weight, being comparable to $150 knives in terms of its ergonomics, cutting prowess, and deployment action. It’s build quality is also pretty fantastic, and is no doubt more on-par with premium USA-made kinves than it is a Chinese-made $50 blade. The thing fits in the hand extremely well and feels natural whether carried normally or in a reverse grip.

And, while its D2 blade will require more frequent sharpening compared to more top-shelf blade steels like 20CV and M390, it is markedly easier to sharpen relative to its powder metallurgy construction counterparts. With a thickness of just 0.12”, the Elementum’s blade could benefit from being a bit beefier, though it’s still capable of taking on hard-use and workhorse tasks — plus is 0.03” thicker than the blade on Benchmade’s legendary Bugout EDC knife. CIVIVI also produces the Elementum in a huge slew of variants and materials, from button-locking versions to tanto and wharncliffe variants to even Elementum fixed blades and box cutters — and that’s before mentioning the huge availability of aftermarket upgrades for the Elementum. 

Aer Cable Kit 3

Best Tech/EDC Pouch: Long gone are the days of your mobile phone being the only gadget carried on a daily basis. As tech and devices become an increasingly integral part of our day-to-day lives, there’s now a greater need than ever for vessels to organize these gadgets and the peripherals and accessories they require. And while there’s no shortage of options in this space, it really is hard to outdo the Aer Cable Kit 3. This premium, third-generation carry solution is cut from an ultra-rugged combination of coated 840-denier nylon for its face and even-more-hardwearing ballistic-grade 1,680-denier CORDURA for the remainder of the bag. 

Measuring 9.5” x 6.0” x 2.75”, the entire bag tips the scales at just under 10oz — while still affording a generous 2.6 liters of internal storage space. The bag’s YKK zippers open to reveal a soft interior lining that’s made from recycled nylon. This minimalistic design is also devoid of branding save for a single Aer logo patch that’s crafted from Hypalon synthetic leather. 

In addition to its super durable material selection, a major part of what makes this EDC tech organizer so special is undoubtedly its organizational features, which include a bevy of pockets, dividers, loops, and slips for securely organizing and carrying cables, wireless mice, mics, thumb drives, and other tech accessories. A reinforced handle also makes  it super easy to grab this bag or secure it to the outside of a larger pack. My only real complaint with Aer’s third-gen Cable Kit is the fact that it doesn’t feature coated, weather-resistant zippers, as this makes its contents susceptible to being exposed to the elements. 

What To Look For When Shopping

It can be a little tricky trying to convey what to look for when shopping for everyday carry gear, as you’d obviously consider different factors when buying a flashlight than you would when buying a pocket knife or wallet. And while there are undeniably areas that are unique to specific product spaces, there nonetheless exists a handful of elements that tend to apply across the board for EDC kit — the most crucial of which we’ll be breaking down immediately below. 

Materials: Unsurprisingly, one of the most pivotal factors to consider when buying any EDC kit is the materials used to construct it, as this area directly determines critical traits such as durability and weight. With a $50 spending limit (per item), you’re actually able to get some everyday carry gear made from some premium materials like titanium or brass — save for when shopping for flashlights, watches, and knives. Additionally, whenever possible, you’ll also want to review the construction technique(s) used to piece a product’s materials together. 

Durability: The overall durability of any EDC gear is of monumental importance, as these items need to be hardwearing enough to survive the stresses of daily use. EDC gear’s durability primarily boils down to design, material selection, and construction technique, though there are other factors that can contribute to this area such as treatment or finish. Additionally, though it’s sometimes unavoidable depending on the product type, we tend to try and opt for items with minimal moving parts and/or electrical components as these are typically more prone to breaking and failure. 

Utility: The entire concept of everyday carry is all about affording preparedness and utility. As such, it’s pivotal to review the intended functionality offered by any EDC item, along with any secondary capabilities (such as being able to also function as a pry bar or bottle opener). 

Specs: The exact specs you should be focusing on boils down to the exact product space you’re looking at, though you’ll always want to review the crucial specs of any piece of EDC gear. Above and beyond dimensions, you’ll want to look at factors such as lumen count for flashlights and blade steel, blade length, and locking mechanism for knives, and so on. 

Versatility: The more versatile your EDC gear, the fewer items you can carry. Consequently, versatility is another key area that should be considered when shopping — especially when purchasing everyday carry kit on a budget.

Price & Value: When shopping for everyday carry gear for under $50, it’s important to keep an eye out for value-laden items, as better bang-for-your-buck typically also means better durability and/or performance.  What’s more, when a particular item is able to lend itself to multiple applications — such as a knife or flashlight that are conducive to both camping and everyday carry use — it can further not only said item’s versatility, but also it’s level of value and bang-for-your-buck. It’s also easier to justify the investment when a piece of gear has multiple uses.

Style & Finish: Though your search for EDC gear should primarily be guided by factors like construction and utility, there’s a wide enough array of gear that you can also factor style and aesthetics into your decision. So, whether you’re after more modern-looking kit or gear with a more retro-inspired, old-school look, today’s market has almost certainly got you covered. 

The Best Budget EDC Gear Under $20

Interested in acquiring some quality EDC kit but on an even tighter budget? Then be sure to head over to our guide to the best EDC under $20 for a curated selection of value-laden gear offering unbeatable bang-for-your-buck