Lights Out: 14 Must-Have Blackout EDC Essentials

There are certain hues that just happen to lend themselves particularly well to everyday carry gear. Alongside the numerous ever-popular earth tones, the fully-blacked-out finish has increasingly become a go-to aesthetic in this space. This has ultimately lead to an ever-growing selection of stellar everyday carry items sporting black-on-black color ways — our favorite of which we’ll be counting down in this guide to the must-have blacked-out everyday carry essentials. 

Though they can be fairly subjective, there are a handful of distinct benefits of completely blacked-out EDC items. As a color, black is incredibly unique, as it elicits a myriad of different emotional responses, with this hue boasting an unmistakable spirit of rebellion as well as an obvious air of sophistication. Furthermore, pieces of everyday carry gear with completely blacked-out finishes also sport a noticeably stealthy aesthetic that has the ability to bestow watches, knives, flashlights, and other EDC items with a more tactical feel. 

What’s more, blacked-out gear is extremely versatile, pairing remarkably well with almost any other outfit and color, plus the hue allows small contrasting, brighter-colored accents to pop. As if that wasn’t enough, a blacked-out finish also has the potential to fortify a piece of EDC gear — in addition to altering its appearance —as this color can be applied to an existing construction using protective treatments and finishes such as black oxide coatings, black titanium nitride coatings, black PVD finishes, and black DLC treatments. 

ATECH Innovation AirTag Multitool Pro

Apple AirTags have become a must-have essential for modern life. In order to protect these affordable tracking devices, we recommend always using an AirTag case, though with a suite of five integrated onboards tools and functions — and full TSA compliance — the ATECH Innovation AirTag Multitool Pro is an attractive alternative to standard AirTag cases for what should be very obvious reasons. Boasting a stainless steel and ABS plastic construction, the AirTag Multitool Pro comes outfitted with a bottle opener, bicycle tool, box cutter, 10mm hex wrench, and a nail puller — along with a keychain and a protective slot of an AirTag. 

OrbitKey Sanitizer Holder

Though the COVID-19 situation may largely be in our rearview mirror, the global pandemic nonetheless taught us about the importance of carrying and utilizing hand-sanitizer. And when it comes to EDC-friendly options for carrying this new essential, it genuinely is hard to beat the OrbitKey Sanitizer Holder. Compatible with both liquid and gel-based sanitizers, this item is comprised of a 1.7oz (50ml) refillable aluminum mini-bottle with a pump-dispenser top that’s been mated to the same carabiner design found on OrbitKey’s Clip v2, making it incredibly easy to attach it to everything from bags to belt loops to EDC keychains. 

Matador Betalock

The Matador Betalock is a locking travel carabiner that’s also highly conducive to everyday carry use. Fully-TSA-compliant, this carabiner is crafted from a hardwearing amalgamation of anodized, forged 6061 aluminum, 316 stainless steel, and 304 stainless steel, and features a deadbolt-style locking mechanism with zinc-plated components. Equipped with a spring-loaded gate, this incredibly versatile EDC item also weighs in at less than 2oz. 

Anker Nano Power Bank

Offering 12-watt fast-charging capabilities, the Anker Nano Power Bank is a potent yet thoroughly pocketable MFi-certified mobile charger that features an integrated pivoting Lightning connector supplemented via a USB-C port. Capable of completely replenishing the battery of the iPhone 15 Pro Max and still having some extra charge to spare, this EDC-ready power bank comes armed with a 5,000-mAh cell, which is large enough to afford an additional 20 hours of video playback time on Apple’s latest smartphones. 

KNIPEX Cobra 4” Pliers

A must-have handyman essential that also excels at everyday carry duties, the KNIPEX Cobra 4” Pliers are a tongue-and-groove-style pair that feature a rugged steel construction with a black finish. Spanning 4” in total, these pliers sport a 2.5” handle and an adjustable jaw with a 1” capacity. It may seem at first an odd choice for EDC use, but when you consider this item’s size and potential for day-to-day use, its everyday carry merit becomes fairly blatant. 

Ekster Key Holder

Precision-machined from anodized aerospace-grade 6063 T5 aluminum, the Ekster Key Holder is an everyday carry key organizer that offers storage for three-to-eight standard keys. Like most standard EDC key organizers, Ekster’s Key Holder puts an end to annoying jingling keyrings, and provides neat key organization that allows each one to easily be accessed using one hand. What makes this item special, however, is the fact that, in addition to being offered with an optional Key Tracker, it also features an integrated LED flashlight that makes using it at night a breeze. This item is also sold with an included ring attachment for adding a key fob, plus ships with an extension lever that bolsters its key capacity. 

Craighill Caro Pen

Beautifully blending form and function, the Craighill Caro Pen is a high-end EDC writing instrument that’s small enough to be pocketable and everyday carry-friendly while still being large enough to provide a secure and comfortable grip when writing. Sporting the Brooklyn-based outfit’s signature style, the Caro Pen features a machined construction and a Garter spring press closure. Measuring 3.5” in length, this 1.2oz mini pen accepts Schmidt 635 ink cartridge refills, plus is offered with optional custom engraving. And, with its push-down cap featuring an integrated keychain loop, the Caro Pen can easily be added to your keyring or carried in your pocket. 

Victorinox Signature Lite Onyx Black

Another sleek Red Dot Design Award-winning everyday carry essential, the Victorinox Signature Lite Onyx Black is a special edition, blacked-out version of a seven-function Swiss Army knife. This pocketable EDC essential sees its ordinary red cellidor scales jettisoned in favor of a black-finished handle set over a black steel liner. Furthermore, this Onyx edition item’s small blade, scissors, and ruler have all been treated to a black monochrome finish. Spanning just 2.3” and weighing in at only 0.8oz, the Signature Lite Onyx Black also retains the normal SAK’s onboard pressurized ballpoint pen and integrated LED light — items that make this murdered-out must-have even more conducive to everyday carry duties. 

Aer Day Sling 3 X-Pac

Offering a full 3 liters of internal storage space, the Aer Day Sling 3 X-Pac is a third-generation crossbody bag that’s been treated to a top-shelf material upgrade with an ultra-rugged and fully waterproof shell crafted from X-Pac VX-42 sailcloth. Equipped with an adjustable shoulder strap with a Fidlock magnetic fastener, the Day Sling 3 X-Pac boasts a zipper-secured exterior quick access pocket and a main zipper track that opens to reveal a bvy of internal dividers and pockets and a contrasting orange liner. Both zippers are also of the weatherproof YKK AquaGuard variety, further enhancing this sling’s stellar ability to stand up to the elements, while the bag’s hardware consists of all Duraflex items. 

Dango M1 Maverick Rail Wallet

Sporting an unmistakably tactically-inspired design, the Dango M1 Maverick Rail Wallet is an ultra-rugged vertically-loading card carrier that features a precision-machined rail system chassis fitted with a tension-driven backplate — both of which are composed of anodized aerospace-grade aluminum and pieced together using stainless steel hardware. Offering RFID-blocking technology, the M1 Maverick Rail Wallet offers storage space for up to 9 cards and IDs, plus boasts a silicone wallet band for carrying cash. Utilizing Dango’s patented rail system, this wallet is also compatible with Dango’s MT04 multi-tool. Best of all, Dango’s M1 Maverick Rail Wallet is both designed and made by hand right here in America. 

Big Idea Design Bit Bar II

Coming on the heels of the company’s already-stellar gen-one model, the new-and-improved Big Idea Design Bit Bar II is a utilitarian EDC-specific bit driver that features a black DLC-coated grade 5 titanium body, dual driver angles, a titanium deep-carry pocket clip, an included leather case and a 60mm extension bar, and onboard storage for its 8 included black oxide-coated bits. Unlike the original model, the Bit Bar II sports a new ultra-secure — and super fidget-friendly — push-button mechanism that pushes up and reveals the driver’s bevy of onboard bits. 

Nothing Ear (2)

Taking aim squarely at Apple’s AirPods, the Nothing Ear (2) is a cutting-edge second-generation true wireless earbud model that combines a sleek fashion-forward design with high-resolution audio — and a surprisingly affordable price tag. Winner of a coveted Red Dot Design Award, the Ear (2) features a personal sound profile, state-of-the-art active noise cancelation technology, connectivity to the Nothing X app, simultaneous dual Bluetooth pairing capabilities, and custom 11.6mm drivers that achieve 24bit Hi-Res Audio certification. Affording up to 36 hours of collective music playback, the Ear (2)’s battery can also gain an additional 8 hours of listening after just 10 minutes of charging. 

Leica SOFORT 2

Engineered from the ground up for more casual everyday use, the Leica SOFORT 2 is a hybrid instant camera with an onboard print function allowing it to churn out  3.38” x 2.12” photos on the fly. Essentially a more high-end take on a classic Polaroid-style instant cam, the SOFORT 2 comes loaded with a 0.2” CMOS sensor paired with a Leica Summar 1:2/2.4mm lens, plus boasts a slew of pre-loaded filters and effects in the form of 10 different Filmstyles and 10 Lensstyles options. 

Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Auto

While there’s admittedly absolutely no shortage of fantastic all-black timepieces on the market, it’s extremely difficult not to take an almost-instant liking to the black-on-black version of the Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Auto (reference H70215130). Water resistant down to 100 meters, this military-style watch isconstructed around a 38mm titanium case that’s fortified via a black PVD coating and paired with an alloy three-link bracelet crafted from a matching PVD’d titanium. Keeping the thing ticking is Hamilton’s H-10 movement — a 15-jewel automatic mechanism affording an80-hour power reserve. With its titanium bracelet and blacked-out finish, this version of this iconic field watch manages to gain a markedly more modern and versatile overall look. 

The Best All-Black Watches

Want to check out another selection of some of our favorite EDC items sporting black-on-black finishes? Then be sure to head over to our guide to the best all-black watches for a curated selection of murdered-out horological offerings.