Due to the fact that they need to stand up to the rigors and abuses that come with daily-use, EDC items are typically crafted from rugged materials pieced together using robust designs and hardwearing construction techniques. Though these attributes make for ultra-durable and dependable pieces of everyday carry gear, they also tend to result in fairly high prices. And while high-quality EDC gear is seldom cheap and cheap EDC gear is seldom high-quality, there are a handful of outliers in this space that are tough enough to handle EDC use while still being incredibly affordable. And it’s this accessibly-priced selection of items that we’ll be shining a light on today in this guide to the best budget everyday carry essentials – all for under $20. 

Selection & Testing

Casting a wide net, we kicked off our search for the best budget EDC gear by first making a list of the different main sub-segments that comprise the larger everyday carry space (such as flashlights, EDC multi-tools, notebooks, knives, and so on). For this guide, we’re defining “budget” as any item sold for $20 or less, as this amount allows for some incredibly affordable, value-laden items that actually provide real dependability and utility — without being total pieces of junk. With our main categories selection, we then looked to material selection and performance specs to further guide our search. 

This then allowed us to generate a shortlist of potential candidates that were then put to the test and carried for an extensive period, providing us with insights on what it’s actually like to live with and carry these pieces of gear on a daily basis. Armed with the info from our hands-on review process, we then ultimately used our recently-gained firsthand knowledge to whittle down the shortlist to our final selections appearing below. 

Nite IZE G-Series SlideLock #3 Dual Chamber Carabiner

Best Carabiner: Nite IZE unequivocally offers some of the most affordable, value-laden everyday carry carabiners (or everyday-carrybiners if you will) on the market, so it should really come as no surprise that one of the brand’s models would earn a spot on this list. Nite IZE’s G-Series SlideLock #3 Carabiner features a clever design with a dual-gate setup and a locking main gate. Designed in Colorado, this item — which comes backed by a lifetime warranty — clocks in at 1.3” x 2.5”, making it perfectly sized for EDC use. 

What I really love about this item is the security it offers. Because of the dual gate arrangement, it allows me to secure my keychain in the second lower gate and then clip the main gate to my belt loop. The locking main gate practically guarantees that I’ll never accidentally loose my keys, with the second lower gate ensuring the ring doesn’t escape when clipping or unclipping the main gate. Thanks to a steel body, the carabiner also manages to deliver a 25-pound weight capacity. As such, it can be used for lashing water bottles or other gear to racks or bags, and can even double as a clothing hanger. Though it locks, the gate can be a bit flimsy, but it’s hard to complain considering the price. 

KeySmart Nano Clip

Best Key Clip: The KeySmart Nano Key Ring Clip is a small but effective means of keeping your keys at the brim of your pocket where they’re readily available — mitigating the need to dig around in your pocket for your keyring. Made from pressed stainless steel, the Nano Key Ring Clip features an opening for a keyring and a design that uses the weight of the keys it’s carrying to remain squarely in place. 

Based on its pressed steel construction, I didn’t anticipate this item being anywhere near as rugged as it proved to be — an area made all the more impressive by its sub-$10 price tag. It’s also worth noting that this item can be used to suspend other pieces of gear from your pocket or bag. It’s also small enough to look and feel like a keychain when not clipped to a pocket. 

Gerber Paraframe Mini

Best Knife: Clocking in at 5.25” overall, the Gerber Paraframe Mini is a small and highly-affordable EDC folder that offers some pretty ridiculous bang-for-your-buck. For less-than-$10, you get a compact skeleton-handled cutting tool with a frame lock mechanism and a 2.20” clip point blade. Brought to life in rugged yet affordable stainless steel, the shape of the handle allows my ring, middle, and trigger finger to comfortable wrap around the scales, while the bottom of the knife is shaped in a way that allows my pinky to provide additional support. This ultimately allows it to afford a tremendous amount of grip relative to its size. 

Considering its ridiculously accessible price, it’s hard to complain about the Paraframe Mini’s material selection or build quality, though I do wish Gerber opted for a thumb-stud, finger hole, flipper tab, or some other deployment method that would let me open the blade with one hand — something the nail nick doesn’t allow for. I also would really prefer if Gerber shipped the knife with a pocket clip in a tip-up configuration. Additionally, some jimping or knurling at the base of the blade’s spine would also bolster overall control, and a more premium blade steel would obviously be appreciated — though it’s hard to complain considering the price tag. 

HOTO Box Cutter Utility Knife

Best Boxcutter: Since its inception in 2016, Shanghai-based firm HOTO Tools has quickly become a major hit amongst both laborers and craftsman, as well as everyday carry enthusiast thanks to the fact its products offer solid utility at a fair price — and, more often than not, come in sleek and modern-looking packages that beautifully balance form and function. The HOTO Box Cutter Utility Knife is a contemporary — and surprisingly affordable — take on a classic boxcutter. Incredibly lightweight at just 1.8oz, HOTO’s Box Cutter Utility Knife features a plastic handle housing a snap-able eight-section 18mm-wide blade that benefits from the use of a blackened antirust treatment. A strap cutter has also been integrated just below the knife’s business end — cleverly using the underlying utility blade. 

Inside the body, the knife boasts a set off stability-bolstering metallic guide rails that the blade runs along. This internal component ultimately allows for ultra-smooth deployment and operation. The bottom of the utility knife also comes capped off with a removable end clip that can be used to safely snap off sections of the eight-part utility razor. While it’s a great little boxcutter, it does suffer from a few minor issues here and there. For starters, while it sports a sleek appearance, the handle doesn’t have a very ergonomic shape, plus is devoid of any texturing or grip pattern — both of which it could for sure benefit from. Another way this utility knife could obviously been improved would be through replacing its plastic body construction with some alloy material — though this would no doubt result in a steeper price.

UltiClip Slim 3.3 

Best Retention Clip: Though most individuals opt for folding knives for their everyday carry, there’s absolutely no shortage of stellar EDC-able fixed blades currently on the market. And if you opt to add one of these rigid cutting tools to your everyday carry rotation, we’d highly recommend supplementing its sheath with an UltiClip — more specifically the more compact UltiClip Slim 3.3. Designed for belt-less carrying — though perfectly capable of being clipped to the pants beneath a belt — this item boasts a dual-slot setup that allows for hole spacing of up to 1.5”, making it compatible with the vast, vast majority of hard sheaths on the market. 

Made in America from military-grade, heat-treated, black oxide-coated spring steel, the UltiClip Slim 3.3 features a flip-up tab that, when open, loosens an underlying piece that squeezes your pants or belt between it and the rest of the clip. When flipped down, it locks the clip into place and provides a ridiculous amount of retention. It can sometimes be a little tricky to get the leverage needed to unlock the UltiClip Slim 3.3, though it more than makes up for this in my opinion with the awesome amount of retention that it offers. This not only makes for a more secure carrying option, but it also makes it even easier to deploy a fixed blade, as the clip keeps sheaths firmly in place. 

Glow Rhino The Spark

Best Glow Fob: Glow Rhino’s The Spark is a tiny yet keychain fob that’s comprised of a tritium glow vial housed inside an injection-molded polycarbonate casing capped off with a pointed alloy glass-breaker tip. The use of injection-molded polycarbonate ultimately makes The Spark incredibly rugged, despite its tiny size. Measuring 0.825” in length, The Spark is mainly designed to be a keychain fob though lends itself just as well to serving as a zipper-pull on a backpack, as it makes it markedly easier to locate a bag’s tracks and open its compartments in low-light settings. The integration of a glass-breaker tip affords this tiny item a bit of extra utility too. 

The Spark is also offered in blue, green-glowing versions in packs of one or three, plus is available in a five-pack with green, blue, yellow, purple, and red-glowing vials. Though they emit light for years without requiring any charging or power source, these tritium vials don’t glow very brightly in normal lighting conditions and require near darkness to really shine. For under $15, it’s also a great way to jazz-up your keychain without breaking the bank — or even coming close to doing so. 

Rite In The Rain All Weather Tactical Pocket Notebook

Best Notebook: Ideal for everyday carry yet completely capable of handling just about anything nature can throw at it, the Rite In The Rain All Weather Tactical Pocket Notebook is a pocketable EDC item that features 100 wood pulp-based pages sandwiched between a rugged Polydura flexible outer shell that’s offered in over 25 cover options. Recyclable, the pages sport a special coating that makes them waterproof and are mated together using an impact-resistant Wire-O binding. Collectively, these elements make for an exceedingly hardwearing EDC notebook.

At 3.0” x 5.0”, RitR’s All Weather Tactical Pocket Notebook is perfectly sized for everyday carry. It easily fits in the front or back pockets of most pants and provides enough size to be able to make several sketches or take extensive notes without having to flip to a new page every few sentences. The lined pages are also supplemented via dotted vertical lines that allows them to be used as graph paper. What’s more, the inside of the front cover is also adorned in several standard-to-metric conversion charts while the exterior of the rear cover comes lined with two rulers in centimeters and inches — small details but ones that afford the notebook with a bit of extra utility. 

Craighill Victory Key Blank & Wilson Keyring

Best Key Blank & Ring Set: The Craighill Victory Key Blank and Wilson Keyring are elegant retro-inspired takes on must-have everyday carry staples. Offered in KW1 and SC1 versions, the key blank adds a dash of character to any keychain, while the keyring takes a minimalistic approach to its design, with a brass wire construction — though it’s also offered in a black PVD version and a top-shelf titanium variant. 

Though there’s no actual locking mechanism to the keyring, the amount of force required to open it practically guarantees you won’t experience an accidental deployment. It is, however, worth noting that the key blank and the keyring are both individually priced at $15, meaning their collective cost exceeds $20 — though they’re still objectively affordable pieces of EDC kit, and very attractive ones at that. 

Condor Pocket Pouch

Best EDC Organizer: The Condor Pocket Pouch is a budget-friendly EDC organizer that opens to reveal a bevy of slips, pockets, dividers, loops, and a fold-out vinyl sleeve panel. Measuring 6.75″H x 4.75″W x 1”D, this EDC pouch is cut from heavy-duty polyester and is MOLLE-compatible. It’s also secured using a dual-zipper setup with included paracord pulls. The thing just makes it really easy to organize and then instantly locate and access any piece of kit from your daily loadout. They also allow you to carry EDC while wearing pants that don’t have pockets, or toss your entire loadout into your backpack once you arrive at work or home. 

Having previously tested an array of the best EDC organizers on the market, I can confidently say that the Pocket Pouch barely trails behind its markedly pricier counterparts in terms of features, functionality, or performance. Even its material selection is close-to-on-par with the more premium EDC organizers on the market. Lastly, the included American flag patch is simply a nice touch — and an unexpected one at this price point. 

Gerber Vise

Best Multi-Tool: Butterfly-opening multi-tools are fantastic additions to any EDC loadout, as they pack an unparalleled amount of utility in a very compact package. The Gerber Vice takes this concept to the next level, as it’s even more compact and pocketable, yet still boasts more than its fair share of utility thanks to an onboard suite of tools that includes a set of pliers, drivers, a file, a bottle opener, and straight and serrated blades — just to name a few. The entire suite of tools is made from stainless steel and comes sandwiched between a set of anodized aluminum scales. 

Though it undeniably packs a wealth of functionality and punches well above its weight for its size, the diminutive scale of Gerber’s Vise admittedly limits its conduciveness to hard-use tasks, as it simply doesn’t provide the necessary leverage or grip to lend itself to these types of uses. And, while it remains widely available through retailers both online and IRL, the Vise has sadly been discontinued by Gerber (at least in the U.S.) — though it is still covered by the PDX outfit’s 25-year warranty. 

Orbitkey Ring V2

Best Keyring: The Orbitkey Ring V2 is a sleek and modern alternative to traditional split-ring keyrings that’s just as secure, though makes it substantially easier to add or remove keys. Despite spanning just 1.28” in diameter, the thing is also able to comfortably accommodate up to ten standard keys. This simple yet effective design is made from top-shelf 316L stainless steel — a material that allows the Ring V2 to be both rugged and lightweight, which is why it’s more commonly used to craft the cases of high-end watches. Orbitkey also offers its second-generation Ring keyring in black, yellow gold, or rose gold PVD finishes.

Though it does feel decidedly secure, I’m nonetheless a little concerned with the fact that Orbitkey has limited the Ring V2’s warranty to just 2 years. Having said that, it’s hard to deduct too many points here, as this item actually offer pretty great value and durability considering its 316L construction and proprietary mechanism. And, while this definitely isn’t its intended purpose, I did find that by placing the keyring on the top of a bottle cap and wedging the locking mechanism underneath it, the Ring V2 can actually act as an impromptu bottle opener. 

Anker SD Card Reader

Best Card Reader: Smaller than my thumb, the Anker SD Card Reader is an ultra-pocketable two-in-one gadget that allows any USB-C port-equipped smartphone or laptop to accept both SD and microSD cards. Despite its tiny size, Anker’s SD Card Reader still delivers a data transfer rate of 5GB per second. The entire thing is constructed around an aluminum alloy housing that makes it largely impervious to impacts. I even accidentally stepped on the thing and it didn’t crush, bend, or otherwise damage it in any way — and it still operated just fine afterwards, too. 

As a pretty straight forward device, it’s legitimately hard to think of ways this little tech peripheral could be improved upon — especially without resulting in its price dramatically increasing. Because of how compact it is, it’s also ridiculously easy to toss the Anker SD Card Reader into a pocket, laptop case, tech organizer, or backpack where it can remain at the ready — while taking up a truly negligible amount of space. 

Victorinox Rally Swiss Army Knife

Best SAK: The Victorinox Rally is a modern Swiss Army Knife that’s heavily geared towards EDC use. Unlike some of the functions found on other Swiss Army knives — such as magnifying glasses or corkscrews —  the Rally comes loaded with a small but useful suite of tools and functions that all make the thing perfect for daily-carrying. Totaling nine in all, some of its included amenities consist of a nail file, a small blade, a bottle opener, a pair of screwdrivers, a wire stripper and key ring — plus the classic removable toothpick and tweezers. 

This suite of tools comes sandwiched between a set of the Swiss brand’s signature red cellidor scales. Obviously, this SAK’s ergonomics and overall utility are somewhat limited by its size, though the thing still packs a ton of functionality for its size — plus is sold at an exceedingly reasonable price with a sub-$20 MSRP. Furthering its conduciveness to EDC is the fact the entire Swiss Army knife tips the scales at under an ounce (or 0.8oz to be specific). 

CountyComm Widgy Pry Bars Pocket 4”

Best Pry Bar: A few years back, the United States Military was in need of a new tool for technicians to open ordinance crates when on deployment. In response, CountyComm stepped up to the plate with its range of Widgy Pry Bars. Though they’re offered in 2”, 3”, or 4” lengths, we’ve opted for the 4-inch “Pocket” model, as it’s still thoroughly compact, pocketable, and EDC friendly, while still being large enough to provide real utility as a pry tool — which is presumably what attracted the U.S. Military to it in the first place. 

A slight bend towards the tip of the pry bar helped to provide a good deal extra leverage when I was using it, plus it made it an even more effective nail-puller. Weighing in at just 22 grams (or 0.77oz), this Widgy Pry is made from D-9 steel — an ultra-rugged, top-shelf alloy with an AISI 316Ti stainless steel base. Often used to construct the structural elements of gen-IV nuclear reactors, this D-9 steel has also been heat-treated, making it even more hardwearing. The entire thing is also made entirely in America. 

ThruNite Ti Pro

Best Flashlight: Offering some of the best bang-for-your-buck of any everyday carry light on the market, the ThruNite Ti Pro is a compact and potent EDC torch that boasts a 416.6’ throw and a maximum lumen output of 1,012. Running off of a single AA battery, the light also features a hardwearing IPX8 rating that makes it completely impervious to the elements. A machined body pattern also does a terrific job of bolstering grip, despite its size. It’s also worth noting the entire thing weighs in at just 45 grams, with the battery included. 

Considering this EDC torch’s price, it’s almost impossible to complain about its specs, performance, or user experience. Having said that, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t at least a little bothered by this light’s name, as the “ThruNite Ti Pro” moniker makes it sound like its body is crafted from titanium — when it’s actually milled from aluminum. With that out of the way, I will acknowledge a sub-$20 EDC torch with a titanium construction and over 1,000 lumens on tap simply doesn’t exist. 

Gear Aid Heroclip Small

Best Clip: The Gear Aid Heroclip Small is a cleverly-designed piece of kit that’s incredibly versatile, lending itself to everything from camping and backpacking to motorcycling and everyday carry use. Boasting the ability to support up to 50lbs, the Heroclip Small sports a traditional carabiner design that’s been supplemented via a fully-rotating swivel hook set on a pivoting joint. This enables the hook to swivel out from the rest of the carabiner, allowing it to be hung or suspended from bags, racks, or lines. We also found it to be great for suspending water bottles, hats, or other smaller items from backpacks or bags. What’s more, it can also function as an impromptu hanger for coats and jackets and other clothes. Thanks to its 50-pound capacity, I was able to hang a heavy leather motorcycle jacket from my bike’s mirror stem using the Heroclip Small. 

Tipping the scales at just 1.1oz, this outdoor and EDC-ready item is constructed from a combination of anodized aluminum billet and composite steel — a material selection that makes for an extremely durable product. The Small version of the Heroclip also features a wide gate clip with a rubber tip that affords a bit of extra traction while also preventing scratches and scuffs. Though it’s generally well-built and manages to achieve a 50-pound weight capacity, we should still point out that the Heroclip’s wire gate feels a little flimsy, and generally less robust than the rest of the item. It can also obviously serve as a regular carabiner, as well. 

Zippo All-in-One Lighter Kit

Best Lighter: Perfectly encapsulating the notion of “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” the classic Zippo lighter has been carried by multiple generations of outdoorsmen, laborers, and military personnel, and remains just as essential of an item today as it was upon its release in 1932. This particular model sports a brass construction case with a brushed finish that helps to conceal scratches — making it even more ideal for EDC. It’s also hard to ignore the satisfying “Zippo click” sound this EDC lighter makes when being opened or closed. 

Like what Timex is to watches, Zippo is to lighters. That is to say, the American brand offers an incredibly durable, reliable, built-to-last product at an almost suspiciously accessible price. Offered in multiple finishes and case material options, this version of the Zippo lighter is something of a starter pack that includes the windproof lighter, and a full can of lighter fluid and a pack of flints — I.e. everything you need to keep it going, save for replacement wicks. This may also be the single greatest piece of EDC kit available for under the $20 mark. 

TEC Accessories Pico Pen

Best Pen: Offered in stainless steel, aluminum and bronze, or titanium versions, the TEC Accessories Pico Pen is a purpose-built writing instrument that was designed specifically for EDC use. Spanning 3” in length and  3/16″ in diameter, the size of this keychain pen makes it compact and pocketable, while still being long enough to serve as a comfortable writing instrument — and one that I found to be surprisingly well-balanced. It also accepts standard (and widely available) D1 ink cartridges, as well as Fisher refills. 

The pen’s main body comes paired with a keyring-equipped cap that attaches to the pen via an embedded neodymium magnet. This means no twist or clicking, and removing the cap just requires a simple pull. Having said that, the neodymium magnet is more-than-strong-enough to prevent the pen from accidentally falling from a keychain. My only gripes surrounding the Pico Pen is the fact that I’d prefer its machined grip pattern to be milled into the side of the barrel that you actually hold (instead of being located at the top), and I’d have really liked to see the company install a second magnet at the base of the pen so it can magnetically couple when the thing is being used. 

Casio AE1200WH-1A “World Time”

Best Watch: The Casio AE1200WH-1A “World Time” is one of the most value-laden, feature-rich timepieces currently on the market. This retro digital watch reissue features a hybrid display, a world time function, five daily alarms, a stopwatch, a countdown timer, LED backlighting, and a battery that provides a full decade of life before needing a recharge. 

Offering 100 meters of water resistance, the watch is constructed around a 45mm × 42.1mm × 12.5 mm case that’s made from resin, mated to a resin band, and fitted with a resin glass lens. At the heart of the watch is a Japanese-made quartz movement that’s ridiculously accurate. In fact, it’s several times more accurate than the super premium movements found in modern Tudor, Omega, and Rolex timepieces. Though it admittedly sports a fairly dated look, there’s something I find incredibly charming about the watch’s unmistakably retro-inspired design. 

Anker 511 Portable Charger

Best Power Bank: Larger power banks with generously-sized cells typically come at a fairly steep price. And this is a huge part of what makes the Anker 511 Portable Charger so noteworthy, as the little gadget packs a 5,000-mAh cell while costing little more than $20. Additionally, the charger boasts a two-in-one design, along with the ability to deliver charging speeds of up to 20 watts. It’s also compatible with pretty much any electronic device or gadget. 

Alongside sporting a carrying strap that makes it easier to tote or lash to a bag, my favorite aspect of this device is its onboard flip-out prongs, that allow it to easily be plugged directly into an outlet without requiring any cable or cord — minimizing the amount of kit I have to carry. There’s also a multi-level battery indicator light that lets you keep tabs on the cell’s life/status. While none of these features are very novel or special on their own, the fact they’re present on a power bank being sold at this price is fairly unheard-of. 

What To Consider When Shopping

Because the everyday carry space is comprised of so many smaller sub-segments, it can admittedly be a little tricky explaining what to look for when shopping, as different product types will require you to consider different traits, factors, and elements. Fortunately, there is a myriad of properties that should pretty much always be considered across the board when purchasing any piece of EDC kit — the most important of which we’ll be breaking down directly below. 

Materials: The materials used to construct a product will always play a monumental role in the item’s overall quality, performance, and durability — with EDC items costing $20 or less being far from an exception. So, while you’ll seldom find products with premium constructions such as titanium or carbon fiber being sold for under $20, you’ll nonetheless want to pay close attention to any product’s primary construction, the materials used for secondary constructions, and the construction technique or techniques used to piece those materials together. 

Utility: The actual purpose of function offered by a given EDC item should pretty much always be the first area you should consider when shopping — no matter the price point. Considering the fact that EDC gear is meant to afford preparedness and utility, this is obviously one of the most pivotal areas to consider when shopping. 

Versatility: Some pieces of everyday carry kit are able to lend themselves to more than one type of application or use. This not only makes them markedly more versatile, but it also bolsters the value and bang for your buck offered by any piece of everyday carry kit. 

Size & Weight: In order for a piece of gear to lend itself to EDC use, it needs to be small and compact enough to easily be carried in your pocket or bag. As such, the size and weight of an EDC item should always be factored into your decision when shopping — whether purchasing gear that costs $20 or $200. 

Style & Finish: Selecting an everyday carry gear should primarily be guided by the utility that an item affords. So, while function should trump form in terms of importance, that doesn’t mean your personal aesthetic taste can’t also play a role in your choice. As result, the overall style and finish of a piece of gear should play some role in your ultimate decision. 

Tested: The Best Budget EDC Knives – All Under $50

Interested in checking out some additional affordable, value-laden everyday carry favorites? Then be sure to head over to our guide to the best budget EDC knives for our picks of the finest blades for $50 or less.