Situated along the twisting Willamette River (pronounced wi-lam-et) in the northwestern part of the state of Oregon, Portland is a wildly unique PNW population center that roughly 646,000 folks call home. This city is known far and wide for being weird, thanks largely to the popularity of Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen’s show Portlandia, which heavily lampoons the culture and people of the area. But Bridge City, nicknamed such for its whopping 12 bridges which cross the aforementioned tributary of the Columbia River, is far more than just a quirky indie movie backdrop. It’s also home to some of the USA’s finest artisans, especially in the realms of outdoor gear and everyday carry. In fact, that’s what this week’s EDC pocket dump is all about: showcasing a very small fraction of the master-crafted gear you can find from Portland-based manufacturers. Whether you are from the City of Roses, Rip City, Stumptown, etcetera or you just appreciate its inhabitants’ intrepid nature, this everyday carry is for you.
Orox Leather Co. Slim Cardholder
While its format is ultra-minimalist, marked by a front-pocket-friendly format and a trio of storage slots, the Orox Leather Co. Slim Cardholder still has the benefit of a heritage material construction, marked by Chromexel leather from Horween. Its trio of pockets are also angled for easier access to their contents and the whole handsome package comes slapped with a limited lifetime warranty.
CRKT Piet Folding Knife
Designed by master knifemaker Jesper Voxnaes, the CRKT Piet folding knife you see here was actually directly inspired by the city of Portland — which is the same place CRKT calls home (or very close to it). It’s incredibly slim and compact, making it perfect for EDC, but it also features an exceptional construction featuring a hardworking D2 steel blade, deep blue GRN handle scales, and a reliable liner lock.
Tanner Goods Memori Mechanico Titanium Pen
Another outstanding Portland brand, Tanner Goods makes a wide array of outstanding apparel, housewares, and EDC gear. The Memori Mechanico Titanium Pen you see here is just one example of the company’s prowess. It’s gorgeous in its simplicity, compatible with (and includes) medium Schmidt P900 Parker style cartridges, and boasts a simple and secure twist operation. For those that know the value of the written word, this pen truly is mightier than the sword.
VERO Crown Point Automatic Watch
Hinging on a Swiss-made Sellita SW-200-1 automatic movement, this USA-assembled dive watch is as useful as it is handsome. It also comes equipped with a 316 stainless steel case (good for depths of up to 200m), a DLC-coated rotating dive timer bezel, a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating, and it can be purchased with your choice of a link bracelet or a blue or gray NATO strap.
