Best Pocket Tools for EDC: Full Round Up
Each week, we put out some of the best EDC kits available for any occasion. These are fifteen of the best additions you can make to your EDC kit, each with a different purpose depending on your daily grind. Function and flair collide with our favorite tools, hand-selected by the Gear Hungry staff. You can find most of this list in our personal EDC collections. We’ve tested these against real-world applications—now it’s your turn.
The Best Pocket Tool for EDC
1Gerber Shard Keychain Pocket Tool
First up on our list is the airline-safe tool that’s going to turn your life upside-down. You can use this multitool for a Philips head driver, wire stripper, miniature pry bar, bottle opener, lanyard hole and more. Small and lightweight, crafted of titanium of nitride, Gerber Shard is the perfect companion to tuck away in your EDC pouch. Best of all? It’s insanely inexpensive to grab one.
2SE MT908 Functional Steel Survival Pocket Tool
Even looking at this is a trip, imagine owning one. SE’s ultimate tool comes with a leatherette carrying case so you don’t poke or prod yourself when you reach into your EDC kit. You get a keychain hole to dangle it off your keys if you wish, complete with a ruler, directional anxilarry wrench, knife edge, saw blade, screwdriver, four and two-position wrench, butterfly screw wrench, and the most important function of any EDC tool ever—bottle opener. What good is a multitool if it can’t open a frosty tall one? This is a card tool for easy storage, and definitely not airline safe.
3Nite Ize DoohicKey
Kudos for the pun. This stainless steel tool is insanely inexpensive, and comes with numerous benefits. Tighten screws, pop a top or slash open a box—the choice is yours. Nite Ize DoohicKey is TSA-friendly, portable and lightweight enough to fit into your pocket without giving you additional drag. Slip it onto your keys, drop it in your EDC kit, and you’re out the door.
4Griffin Pocket Multi Tool
Stainless steel, available in eight different designs/materials, and functional enough to earn a spot in your EDC kit. Fly domestically or internationally with this little Griffin tool without a throw-down with the TSA. Pry bar, scoring tool, sturdy construction—it’s all here, now you just need to get it from the pretty picture above to your pocket.
5Gerber Curve Multi-Tool
We love Gerber’s fantastic products, and this one doesn’t disappoint. Affordable and durable beyond compare, this Curve Multi-Tool won’t be flying with you on the plane, but it does come with an ergonomic shape to the handle. Couple that with the smooth edges to reduce hand strain, lock to hold the blade in place, and multiple purposes behind the screwdriver, carabineer clip, and other functions, and you’ve got yourself another winning EDC addition.
6PocketMonkey174
Why the pocket monkey? Well, it’s actually got a monkey on… nevermind. What it lacks in a first impression, it makes up for with optimum function and excellent durability. This multitool is great to slip into an unused card slot in your wallet, and comes with multiple wrench and screwdriver functions, and eight other functions. Lightweight (less than half-an-ounce) and a single millimeter in thickness—you’ll have to try this one to believe how durable it is; the pocket monkey doesn’t disappoint. Just don’t go telling your friends you have a pocket monkey; eyebrows will be raised.
7SOG MacV Multitool
SOG MacV Multitool looks exactly like something Batman would have. In the tantalizing skull-shape that it is, you get a myriad of functions that you might not expect at a first glance. You get twelve tools in one, from a bottle opener (you knew I was going to include that) to a screwdriver, from a blade sharpener to a line cutter, and back again. This has it all, looks epic, and has a limited lifetime warranty (and it’s affordable).
8Swiss+Tech Micro Pocket Multitools
Two per pack for the ultimate camping/EDC bulk-up with you and a mate, Swiss+Tech Micro Pocket Multitoolshas it all and then some. The inclusive screwdriver comes with ANSI standards met, while the lightweight and rugged design makes it appealing to carry around and pull out in a jam. Hunting, hiking, camping, fishing—you can really throw this into any kit. 6.4oz, ultra functional, and your next best friend.
9Nite Ize Doohickey
At it again with the Nite Ize puns. Their smaller, more compact multitool comes with the capability for air travel, while sporting the durable stainless steel construction we all need. This key-sized multitool seamlessly blends into your keychain, while providing a slightly serrated edge for sticky situations, a bottle opened, and Philips head screwdriver, among other features.
10SOG Multitool EDC Penlight
The best pocket tools for EDC combine a couple of survival essentials into one. That’s exactly what the SOG Multitool EDC Penlight does. It contains a knife with a straight-edge blade, a 70 lumen LED flashlight, a medium flat screwdriver, and a bottle opener. With these four tools, you can get yourself out of all manner of sticky situations. Plus, it’s sleek and compact enough to carry in any pocket.
11Gerber Prybrid X
The Gerber Prybrid X doesn’t look like your average pocket tool. And that’s because it isn’t. This innovative little tool features a blade, wire stripper, two flat drivers, a nail puller, a pry bar, and a bottle opener. It’s also wrapped with 550 paracord, which can be removed to use as an ultra-strong rope. As the name suggests, the pry bar is the most useful tool in many ways. From opening a can of food to prying open the lid of a locked box, this feature can come in useful in so many ways.
12TAC9ER 22-in-1 Wallet Multitool
When we’re researching EDC carry essentials, we’re always looking for products that fit into your daily life. The TAC9ER 22-in-1 Wallet Multitool slides into a card slot in your wallet, making it barely noticeable as you go about your day-to-day life. However, with a whopping 22 tools, it’s one of the most useful EDC pocket tools on this list. The features include a screwdriver, ruler, hex wrench, can opener, bottle opener, and much more.
13TPT Slide: Titanium Pocket Tool
The TPT Slide is one of the most stylish pocket tools on the market. If you’re looking for a tool that you can carry around without drawing too much attention, this is perfect. The main tool is a sliding blade, which works like a utility knife. It has a super sharp edge, perfect for opening boxes, cutting material, and even skinning animals. However, that’s not all this tool is good for. It also boasts a bottle opener, flat head screwdriver, mini pry bar, scraper edge, and more.
14RoverTac Multitool
The Rovertac Multitool is one of our favorite EDC Pocket Tools. It’s towards the larger end of the scale of pocket tools but will definitely fit into a side pocket on a pair of cargo shorts or a coat pocket. The reason we like it so much is the innovative ax/hammer head that doubles up as a pair of pliers. When you need some brute force, this is an excellent addition to a standard pocket knife. Other features include a knife blade, saw, assorted hex wrenches, Phillips screwdriver, bottle opener, file, fish descaler, and more.