Finding a complete everyday carry (EDC) setup that packs quality and reliability into a $200 budget can be tricky. It’s easy to overspend on items, but there’s still plenty of solid gear available on Amazon that won’t break the bank. A few years have passed since we last tried this, so it’s time to revisit and see what’s changed.
After some tough choices, excluding a watch and prioritizing practical tools, I’m detailing what $200 will get you for your EDC on Amazon in 2024.
Spoiler: You don’t need to spend more to get excellent gear.
The Best Budget EDC on Amazon for $200
Zebra G-750 Pen - $8.50
When it comes to pens within budget, Zebra is the GOAT. They've made some of my favorite pens for nearly three decades. But the Zebra G-750 was completely off my radar and once I found it, it was a no-brainer.
Much like the F-701, it's a solid metal pen with effectively the same design. But instead of steel, this one has a solid brass body which gives it additional heft and makes it feel even more premium. It has a black coating on it, which also looks a bit nicer than raw steel. But the best upgrade here is a no-smudge gel ink.
The only downside I could find is the medium-point nib (I tend to prefer fine point), but that’s a personal preference. It’s certainly got the heft and professional feel you'd expect from a higher-end pen. All this for just under $9 makes it hard to pass up.
Trayvax Armored Summit Wallet - $35
While metal card holders are polarizing, I've been known to carry them from time to time and the Trayvax Armored Summit is one of the best bang for buck metal wallets out there. At $37, it's slim, very adjustable, and there's practically no moving parts. The canvas strap can eventually wear out, but it's easily replaceable.
Where many of these card holders miss the mark is the ability to carry cash, but the Summit Wallet has a small cash slot on the backside of the wallet that will hold a few quartered bills.
At $35, the Trayvax does the job without over-complicating things.
EDC Key Setup - $27
I like to keep my keys as simple and minimal as possible. I can't stand a bulky key setup that swings around, catches things as you walk by, or makes a lot of noise. So to keep it as small as possible, I opted for a system that includes both a PJYTAC Titanium Carabiner ($17) and a BangTi Shackle ($10).
The titanium carabiner is a lot smaller than your run of the mill carabiner, but it still works just as well, it's extremely lightweight, and very strong. And the Bang Ti shackle is also very small and lightweight, but will keep your keys organized in the same order so you can index them in the dark or without even looking.
This setup is very similar to the key setup I use every day but for a small fraction of the price and it punches well above its weight.
Lumintop Frog 2.0 with 10440 Extension Tube - $50
Choosing a flashlight for EDC can be tough. I initially chose the Wuben C3, but its large size didn’t quite cut it as a pocket flashlight. So I did more digging and, last-minute, I pivoted to the Lumintop Frog 2.0 and haven’t looked back.
At first glance, this light might seem too tiny to be useful, but it’s surprisingly powerful. Unfortunately, the 10180 battery is very tiny and can only support mediocre run times at useful brightnesses.
However, Lumintop offers an extension tube for the Lumintop GT Nano that also works for the Frog 2.0 that adapts it to take a 10440 cell (AAA size equivalent), making this the smallest and brightest AAA-sized flashlight with a side switch I've ever come across. It's since become one of my favorite flashlights for $50, period.
The only cons worth noting are the lack of a pocket clip option (it's really intended to be a keychain light) and the UI does take a bit of getting used to.
SOG PowerPint Multi-Tool - $35
As always with a video concept like this, I tend to browse around for a long time, looking for tools and gear that I've not seen before. I like to take a chance and discover stuff that may be off the beaten path. That said, in doing that browsing, I stumbled upon one of my all-time favorite EDC multitools, the SOG PowerPint.
Although our friend Zac Whitmore says it's a miss, it’s the best in class multitool at this size. The pliers are far more robust than the other small multitools, like the Leatherman Squirt PS4 or Gerber Dime. The toolset is decent, but there are gems like the bit driver hidden in the front of the pivot, which pairs perfectly with a Leatherman Ratchet Driver.
Normally, the PowerPint is $50, but this time around it was available for just $35 on Amazon––a deal I couldn't pass up.
The Best $50 EDC Knife
All of the stuff before it left roughly $50 of the original $200 budget for a knife. After searching the depths of Amazon, I landed on the Kizer Riverbank. Built with smooth micarta scales and a Nitro-V steel blade, the Riverbank feels sturdy, lightweight, and downright reliable.
The price was perfect, too, sitting at $50 even.
Conclusion
Although there are countless other combinations of gear that will get you to a $200 budget, I'm confident this Amazon everyday carry setup is one of the best you’ll find for the budget in 2024.
We’ve kept things tight with tried-and-tested pieces, ensuring you get the best bang for your buck without sacrificing quality. And the gear we stepped our of out comfort zone with all punches above its weight. Whether you’re just getting into EDC or are looking to update your kit, anything from this lineup will be a solid addition to your carry .
What would you add, swap, or upgrade? Let me know in the comments!
