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Everyday carry items come in all sorts of colorways, but so often we forget the hardwearing metal around which these essentials are constructed. For this guide, we’re highlighting the steels and aluminums that so often get ignored in favor of pigment. The following EDC loadout features monochromatic gear, raw in all their glory.
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Victorinox Swiss Army SwissTool Spirit X + Leather Pouch
Since Founder Karl Elsener invented the first Swiss Army Knife™ & Tools some 134 years ago, Victorinox has been synonymous with the handy multi-tool. And in that time, the Swiss brand has grown its range considerably. This ergonomic SwissTool Spirit X shows just how much the flagship product has evolved, with 24 tools in one, built around a 4.1-inch steel frame with a set of needle-nose pliers front and center. Other items include a cap crimper, wire cutters, a straight-edge blade, a saw, scissors, screwdrivers, a can opener, and more. Adding just 7.3oz to your EDC loadout, the SwissTool Spirit X also comes with a stylish leather pouch to make carrying even easier.
Antou I Tool Case
Carrying your smaller gear doesn’t have to be a worrisome endeavor. Instead, seal them inside the sturdy aluminum shell of the I Tool Case from Taiwanese design studio Antou. Weighing just over 4oz and stretching around 7” long — large enough to store plenty of items but small enough to disappear in your pocket when you don’t need it — the case can hold everything from pills to pens to USB sticks, and any other mini EDC essentials. This thing opens from both ends and is sealed with a pair of knurled caps.
Kaweco AL SPORT Ball Pen
Whether you’re taking measurements throughout the day or jotting down ideas when inspiration strikes, a solidly-built miniature pen for your pocket is crucial. Housed in a strikingly elegant aluminum shell, Kaweco’s Al Sport features a geometric, pencil-like housing that fits in your hand incredibly well and glides along the paper as quietly as can be. It’s also not too small, measuring just over 4” in length and weighing just under 1oz for a surprisingly robust tactility.
Longines Conquest
Makers of some of the classiest timepieces in the world, Longines debuted the Conquest in 1954 and it’s since become one of the Swiss brand’s most popular models. Still retaining the range’s elegant design language, the Conquest was recently updated with some new dial colors and size options, but we still love the monochromatic silver variant. It’s available in several case sizes, including this one in 41mm stainless steel with a matching bracelet. Visible through the exhibition caseback, the in-house L888 automatic movement powers the watch with 72 hours of reserve and a date window at the bottom of the dial.
