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Home / Blog / Everyday Carry

15+ Unusual EDC Items for Men: How Many Do You Have?

Published on December 2, 2021 by Ryan Hallstrom · Everyday Carry May contain affiliate links (what's this?)

Looking for some interesting items to add to your everyday carry? We’ve got you covered. Read on to see some unique EDC items.

Table of Contents

  • Things to Consider When Choosing Your EDC
  • Unusual Versions of Common EDC Items 
  • First Aid / Personal Safety Items
  • Grooming / Hygiene
  • Sentimental Items
  • Other Unusual EDC Items
  • Final Thoughts
Unusual EDC items for men Hero Image

In recent years, there’s been a popular trend in the blogosphere and on social media of people sharing the items that they carry everyday. The purpose of this article is to present items that you may not have thought of as being a useful addition to your everyday carry. 

Many people that enjoy everyday carry posts (usually men) enjoy the “show and tell” aspect of EDC. I’m no exception.

After browsing a few EDC entries, I soon noticed that a lot of guys carry variations of the same few core items– wallet, phone, keys, pen, pocketknife, and maybe sunglasses or a flashlight. 

However, once and a while I’ll come across an item in someone’s EDC that, for whatever reason I’d never before considered as an option and I think, “Why don’t I carry that?”

Today we’ll explore some less common EDC items that you might not have considered. 

Things to Consider When Choosing Your EDC

When determining which items to add to your EDC, consider your environment, your hobbies, your occupation, and your other responsibilities.

Do you work in a bustling city or out in the sticks?

It probably wouldn’t make sense for a trader on wall street to carry a dog mace to work, but that might be an essential EDC item for a rural mail carrier. 

Are there small items that are specific to your hobbies that could easily fit in your pockets that could allow you to spend time doing what you love during down time throughout the day? 

For example, a whittler might carry a pocket knife with a specialized blade for carving, and a polyglot might carry flashcards with new words and phrases to learn. 

What could you carry that could make you more comfortable in your surroundings? 

This could be a pocket handwarmer for keeping away the chill, a handkerchief to mop your brow, or a small vial of cologne to freshen up before a date. 

What items could you carry to help others? 

For a dad of young kids, it might be his daughter’s favorite toy, and for a salesman, it might be a carrying case for his business cards. Think about the people that you interact with on a regular basis and how your EDC might be able to improve their lives.

Is this a realistic choice?

Let’s face it. Even if you only wear baggy cargo pants (please don’t…), you can only carry so many items before they become more of a burden than a blessing. Consider what you already carry everyday.

While it would be nice to be prepared for every situation, do you really need to carry a second mustache comb “just in case?” Be realistic. 

Unusual Versions of Common EDC Items 

Variety’s the spice of life. If you don’t want to carry more stuff but still want to switch things up, consider trying out uncommon versions of items you already carry everyday. It can feel good to try something new.

You could replace: 

A leather wallet with a metal money clip with a unique design.

A minimal metal-bodied pocket knife with a traditional bone-handled stockman. 

A plastic rollerball pen with a vintage fountain pen. 

A simple “open” keyring, with a handsome leather key organizer. 

The list goes on…

First Aid / Personal Safety Items

There are a wide range of potential everyday carry items in this category. Here are a few first aid / personal safety EDC options you may not have considered.

Pepper Spray

Though not legal for everyday carry everywhere, pepper spray can be a life-saving addition to your EDC.

SABRE Advanced Compact Pepper Spray
Check current price

There are specialized sprays for use defending against humans, bears, and dogs. 

Bandaids

A lot of guys keep a band-aid or two in their wallet. They are one of those items that are good to quick access to.

Band Aid Brand Flexible Fabric Adhesive Bandages
Check current price

Who knows? Carrying one might save you from having to wash out blood stains from your favorite shirt.

Small First-aid Kits

If you work in a dangerous environment, or if you are particularly accident prone, it’s a good idea to have a small first-aid kit nearby. You can buy a premade kit, but it’s best to make your own.

Small First Aid Kit with Medical Supplies
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Taking the time to do the research to compile your own kit means that it will be much more likely that you know what you have in the event of an emergency.

Tactical Pens

Although pens aren’t unusual for an EDC item, tactical pens aren’t so common.

Gerber Gear 31 001880N Impromptu Tactical Pen
Check current price

A tactical pen is like any regular old pen, but in a pinch it can double as a weapon for self defense.

Medical Bracelets

If you need one, you probably already wear one. However, not everyone knows about these lifesaving EDC items. 

In the case of an emergency, medical bracelets can alert first responders to your important medical information.

US Jewels Customizable Mens Medical Alert ID Bracelet
Check current price

Medical bracelets often include vital details such as: name, contact information, allergies, prescribed life-saving medicines, diabetes or other chronic conditions, and do not resuscitate status.

Since this item is likely going to be worn and seen by others everyday, be sure to buy a bracelet you like. 

Grooming / Hygiene

Despite taking the time for proper hygiene, grooming, and making sure your clothes are ironed and free of stains, you still sometimes will need to freshen up throughout the day. Here are some items that you can carry to stay looking sharp.    

Cologne Vials

While I’m not a fragrance guy, a lot of men are. For easy cologne reapplication throughout the day you can decanter a small amount of fragrance into a tiny vial.

Oil vial
Check current price

Keep it on your keychain or in your car for easy access. 

Handkerchiefs / Tissues 

Allergy season, flu season, sappy Hallmark holiday movie season– for months out of the year, your face leaks. At least that’s the situation for many guys. 

Mens Pure White Cotton Handkerchief
Check current price

Yes, it’s gross. Do you know what’s even more disgusting? Wiping your snot on your sleeve. Carry a tissue or a handkerchief in your pocket to clean up that mess. 

Combs 

If you find that your hair doesn’t stay put during the day, you might want to carry a comb to tame your mane. 

Fendrihan Small 4.6 Pocket Grooming Comb
Check current price

Combs are available in many materials: from plastic, to metal, to wood, and even to horn or bone.

Stain Remover Stick

When you spill on your clothes you have to act fast before the stain sets.

Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover
Check current price

A stain remover stick can help you to save your favorite pants from suffering a premature death. 

Sentimental Items

Some people like to carry lucky charms (and no, I don’t mean the cereal 😉), or small mementos as reminders. Others carry symbolic tokens that bear great personal meaning.

Memento Mori Copper Reminder Coin
Check current price

Sentimental EDC items can come in many forms. A military veteran might carry a challenge coin, an admirer of stoicism might carry a memento mori token as a reminder of the fleeting nature of life, and a widower might wear his deceased wife’s wedding ring as a necklace in her memory. 

Other Unusual EDC Items

Included below (in no particular order) are other things a man might want to carry with him everyday. 

Keychain Tools

Tiny tools that fit on a keychain are becoming more popular every year. Today, there are many keychain tools on the market. Do your research, test a couple out, and find one that works for you. 

Keyport MOCA 10 In 1 Keychain
Check current price


My personal favorite is the Keyport MOCA 10-In-1 Key Tool. It was a sad day when I lost it on a run. I frequently used the ruler, the screwdriver, and the small cutting edge (I loved that it didn’t snag on pockets!).

Duct Tape

You never know when it might come in handy! 

Gorilla 6035180 Duct Tape
Check current price

You could buy a tiny roll specifically made to fit on a keychain, or you could make your own EDC roll. 

Hand Warmers

If you’ve ever had a job that involved working outside in the cold you’ve probably seen them. Pocket-sized hand warmers are a lifesaver for maintaining finger dexterity in chilly weather. 

Zippo Hand Warmer 12 Hour
Check current price

They are also great for anyone that enjoys being outdoors when the mercury drops. 

Nowadays, there are electric models on the market, but I’m a fan of the old-fashioned Zippo hand warmers that run on lighter fluid. 

Thermos

The humble Thermos. Your dad probably has one– I bet your grandpa probably does too. There’s a reason that the Thermos has lasted for generations– it is good at what it does. It keeps hot liquids hot and cold liquids cold. 

Stanley Classic Vacuum Insulated Wide Mouth Bottle
Check current price

While it won’t fit in your pocket, think about making a Thermos part of your everyday carry. Seriously, without a Thermos how else would you bring soup to work? 

USB Flash Drives

While not exactly “unusual,” you might not think to carry a USB stick. You should consider it. 

Aiibe 64GB Flash Drive 2 Pack Metal USB
Check current price

You could buy a small, sleek metal-bodied USB to carry on your keychain to carry important files for work, your medical records, or any other digital files you want to keep handy. 

Paper Maps

You probably won’t want (or need) to carry a paper map on a daily basis. However, if you are in a new area it doesn’t hurt to carry a paper map with you. Not only is it helpful if you lose cell service, it can be fun to navigate without having to obey curt, robotic commands from a GPS.  

Business Card Cases

When someone asks for your business card you don’t want to be the guy who pulls out an old, creased card out from the nether regions of his wallet. 

SunplusTrade Business Card Holder
Check current price

Avoid this embarrassing situation by carrying a good-looking case for protecting your business cards.  

Tape Measures

Whether you’re checking dimensions of a suit or checking to see if that new couch will fit through the front door, it’s often a good idea to have quick access to a tape measure. 

Crescent Lufkin 6mm x 2m Pocket Tape Measure
Check current price

Using a physical tape measure is more reliable and more accurate than relying on an app on your phone. 

Final Thoughts

Selecting the items you choose to carry everyday is a highly personal decision. Choose items that make your life easier and help you to achieve your goals. 

Did we miss any useful unusual EDC items? Let us know down in the comments! 

Everyday Carry

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About Ryan Hallstrom

TMM's Senior Editor, Ryan Hallstrom is from Horseheads, NY, the only town in America named in honor of military packhorses. When he’s not writing about menswear, Ryan enjoys reading, whittling, running, and perfecting his penmanship.

Background: In 2021, Ryan graduated from Brigham Young University where he majored in American Studies and Russian. Before completing his schooling, he had a wide range of job titles including finish carpenter, usher, elevator operator (yes, that’s a real job), landscaper, tour guide, and more.

In January 2022, Ryan began working full-time as The Modest Man’s Senior Editor. In this role, he not only edits all articles prior to publication but also is a frequent contributor to the blog. He enjoys crafting in-depth product reviews (often testing items in extreme environments), helpful self-improvement articles, and detailed clothing guides.

His interest in men’s style stems from the examples of men in his family:

“Growing up, a lot of the men I looked up to dressed well. My dad is always clean-shaven and makes sure that he looks presentable before heading out the door, and my grandfather, who owned and operated a dairy farm, usually wore work pants with a sharp crease and a button-up work shirt.”

However, it wasn’t until the end of high school that Ryan began to care about how he looked. Gradually, over the next few years, he started to dress better and learn about style. “Finding clothes that fit helped me to become more confident. I find that when I try to dress well, I feel better.”

Expertise: Ryan has loved writing since an early age, and in college began contributing to and editing for university publications. After college, he began freelance writing and editing. He’s written from blogs and magazines such as Real Men Real Style, Life in the Finger Lakes, and Gentleman Within.

An avid traveler who spends plenty of time outdoors, Ryan appreciates clothes, footwear and accessories that can take a beating. His reviews often include long-term, thorough testing in extreme weather conditions.

Ryan has also spent more time in a suit and tie than most guys, so he's well qualified to write about classic menswear, business casual and formalwear.

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