The Best Tactical EDC Gear For Mission-Ready Carry

Between being used in some of the world’s most hostile and unforgiving conditions and locales and the fact that operators have to trust this kit with their lives, tactical military gear stands as some of the most rugged and hardwearing equipment on the planet. As such, whenever looking for quality, built-to-last everyday carry gear, it never hurts to turn to the more tactical pieces of available kit, because if it can handle the stresses and abuse of the battlefield, it will have no problem facing the rigors of daily-carry use. To illustrate this point, we’ve searched high and low, scouring the market for the latest and greatest available tactical EDC essentials. 

Selection & Testing

In a bid to seek out the best tactical EDC essentials, we kicked off our search by first making a list of the essential item segments we wanted included. From there, we made multiple selections from each group, primarily based on areas such as material selection, performance and stats, and features and overall design. Once we’d compiled this shortlist, we then proceeded to get our hands on each and every item in order to put them through their paces via a hands-on testing process. This testing saw each piece of kit used individually, and contrasted and compared side by side in order for us to pick a winner from each sector. This allowed us to narrow down our shortlist for the final selections you see here.

Kershaw Livewire

Though Kershaw is best-known for delivering accessibly-priced, value-laden knives and tools, its Livewire OTF sees the brand venture into markedly more top-shelf territory, combining a tactical Matt Diskin design with American-made craftsmanship and premium materials.

Spanning 8.1” while weighing only 3.1oz, the Kershaw Livewire features a black-anodized aluminum handle paired with a black PVD-coated 3.3” single-edge spear point blade crafted from Crucible Industries’ revolutionary CPM MagnaCut. This USA-made OTF is also offered in multiple blade shapes, including a double-edged dagger variant.

StatGear SuperVizor XT Auto Escape Tool

The StatGear SuperVizor XT is an emergency tool that you’d much rather have and not need, than need and not have. Forged in premium 440C steel, this pocketable piece of kit sports a strap cutter that’s been capped off with a glass-breaker tip, making it something of the ultimate auto escape tool.

Equipped with an ergonomic rubberized over-mold grip, the SuperVisor XT also ships with a nylon sheath. Whether carried daily or kept in your glovebox, this is a fantastic piece of kit.

Magpul DAKA Essential Wallet

The Magpul DAKA Essential Wallet is a modern take on a cardholder that’s cut from a reinforced polymer fabric and pieced together using RF-welded seams throughout.

Equipped with an anti-slip texture and rounded corners, this chemical resistant and non-hygroscopic wallet offers storage space for 3 to 7 cards, all while measuring just 0.11” thick. 

Glow Rhino Tritium Pry Bar

Precision-machined from top-shelf titanium, the Glow Rhino Tritium Pry Bar is a TSA-friendly mono-construction EDC tool that packs a flat head driver, a pry bar, a bottle opener, a scoring tool, and a keychain/lanyard hole.

Embedded into the Pry Bar’s titanium body is an XL Tritium insert that’s offered in green or blue-glowing color options. Made in America, the entire thing spans just 3.0” too. 

Pelican R40 Ruck Case

Measuring 9.84” x 6.12” x 2.89”, the Pelican R40 Ruck Case is a downsized, more travel-friendly version of the brand’s crushproof — and damn-near everything proof — hard cases. Thanks to practically being bulletproof, this case can be used by itself, though is also small enough to fit in a pack.

Weighing only 1.68lbs, the R40 Ruck Case features a rugged ABS and polycarbonate construction further fortified via a rubberized eco-skeleton, as well as a dual-pivot latch that opens to reveal an interior compartment with snap in, flexible lid organizer and a MOLLE-style loop system with velcro straps. 

XIKAR Tactical Single-Jet Lighter

Conducive to everything from outdoor use to everyday carry, the XIKAR Tactical Single-Jet Lighter is another over-built item that boasts a hardwearing contoured alloy body with a pull-down ignition trigger, and an EDC knife-style low-profile pocket clip.

It doesn’t end there, however, as the thing also boasts an EZ-view fuel window, and a crenulated flip-top cap that can also double as a cigar rest. Powered by butane, this rugged lighter’s main highlight is its wind-resistant oversized 10mm single-jet flame which as been altitude tested at up to 12,000’ above sea level. 

Olight Warrior X 3

Offered with an available weapon-mounting kit and a remote switch, the Olight Warrior X 3 is an ultra-rugged tactical flashlight that boasts a 5.89” aerospace-grade aluminum body with a Type III hard anodized coating, haptic feedback, and a dual-stage tactical tail switch.

IPX8-rated, this tactical torch also has a more-than-1,800’ throw and is armed with up to 2,500 lumens. What’s more, this tac-light not only features a striking bezel with a trio of embedded zirconium beads, but this built-in striking weapon is made all the more effective by the light’s removable steel karambit-style finger hole ring.

Oakley M Frame Glasses

Made by the American brand’s Standard Issue military equipment sub-division, the Oakley M Frame Glasses have long been the go-to eyewear of choice for countless modern-day operators — though that’s not to say they don’t also lend themselves to EDC use.

Crafted around an O Matter frame, these hardwearing shades come loaded with an ANSI-rated Plutonite lens set, Hammerfang earstems, and Oakley’s patented Uobtainium earlocks. As you can probably guess, this piece of eyewear is extremely durable.

CODEOFBELL X-Pod II Sling Pack

Crafted from some of the finest materials that money can buy and brimming with top-shelf hardware, the CODEOFBELL X-Pod II Sling Pack is a super-premium everyday carry sling that offers 2.3 liters of storage space, though can be expanded to accommodate up to 7 liters of gear.

Cut from ECOPAK, this second-generation sling benefits from a Fidlock-equipped crossbody strap with a supplementary stabilizer strap. Tipping the scales at under 1lb, these slings don’t come cheap, though their design, material selection, hardware, and overall build quality no doubt justify its MSRP — and then some. 

Leatherman MUT

Short for the “Military Utility Tool,” the Leatherman MUT is a purpose-built tactical multi-tool that comes loaded with 16 tools and functions. Backed by a 25-year warranty, the MUT features a set of regular and needle-nose pliers, a 420HC combo knife, multiple bit drivers, a hammer, and several other functions commonly found on butterfly-opening multi-tools.

What makes it special, however, is its host of military and tactical-specific functions such as its bolt override tool, cleaning rod, firearm disassembly punch, bronze carbon scraper, and front sight adjustment tool — making it perfect for maintaining firearms and mission equipment. 

Hinderer Knives Titanium Investigator Pen

Precision-machined in a shop in Ohio, the Hinderer Knives Titanium Investigator Pen is an ultra-rugged everyday carry writing instrument that boasts a titanium barrel and cap and accepts Fisher Space Pen refills.

Utilizing a purposefully overbuilt and over-engineered design, this tactical pen not only doubles as a striking weapon, but it’s also modular and can be fitted with a myriad of differently-shaped end caps. 

G-SHOCK Master Of G-Land GW9400-1

Though the U.S. Military no longer dulls out standard issue watches, you’ll still see the vast majority of modern soldiers and operators all opting for G-SHOCK timepieces — and for good reason. Watches like the G-SHOCK Master Of G-Land GW9400-1 are insanely durable, capable of handling just about anything you can throw at them.

This particular watch is solar-powered and constructed around a 55.2mm × 53.5mm resin case that houses a host of onboard sensors. Like most watches from G-SHOCK, what really sets the GW9400-1 apart from other timepieces on the market is its insane durability.

Mystery Ranch 2 Day Assault Pack

Utilizing a clever Y-shaped 3-zip opening arrangement, the Mystery Ranch 2 Day Assault Pack — also known simply as the “2DAP” — is a scaled-down, everyday carry-focused version of the brand’s legendary 3 Day Assault tactical backpack — as well as one of our all-time favorite tactical packs.

Cut from 500D CORDURA, the 2 Day Assault Pack offers 27 liters of storage space, including a floating and padded laptop compartment capable of housing notebooks of up to 15”. Made in America, the 2DAP is offered in a wide range of patterns and color options as well.

The Best Authentic Military Gear for Civilians

Interested in checking out some pieces of bonafide gear routinely used by elite operators? Then be sure to head over to our guide to the best authentic military gear for civilians.