Independent reviews
From everyday tech and home products to lifestyle and specialist gear, each review focuses on practical use, strengths, limitations, and who the product suits.
Wallets
A vertical minimalist wallet in full grain vegetable tanned Horween leather that carries surprisingly thin, with hand saddle stitching and a brass snap at a friendly price.
EDC Wallets
A slim vertical minimalist wallet with integrated grade 5 titanium tools, made in California, with a few trade-offs to weigh before buying.
EDC Wallets
A full look at the Monsoon Series lineup from Rite in the Rain, from the zipper pouch to the sub-$20 field wallet that stands out as the best value in the range.
Everyday Carry
A 27L roll top backpack with decent water resistance, wide comfortable straps, and a clever two-way laptop sleeve, at a friendly weight and price.
Travel Bags
A panel-loading 25L day pack with solid materials, modular attachment webbing, and travel-friendly organization at a friendly price.
EDC Gear
A steel-bodied rotating storage unit for watches, knives, pens, and everyday carry gear. Premium build, satisfying mechanics, and a price to match.
Travel Backpacks
A close look at the Rourke Three Day Fixer 35L travel backpack: clamshell organization, sturdy 1050D fabric, a well-padded laptop bay, and a few trade-offs to weigh before buying.
Multi-Tools
A modular multi-tool with a fresh approach, weighed against two established favorites in the same size class.
EDC Tools
The Flex Companion brings a quarter-inch bit driver, five long implements, and a one-handed D2 blade to Roxon's modular tool system, with extra components that make it TSA friendly.
Multi-Tools
Nail clippers, mini pliers, and cuttable key implements make the Roxon Flex series the most customizable multi-tool platform around.
Multi-Tools
The Flex Titan replaces the Phantom with better steel, bearing-based blade swaps, a ballpoint pen, and a fully modular design you can build à la carte.
EDC Multi-Tools
The Flex Mini Companion cuts nearly two ounces off the original platform while adding integrated tweezers, a toothpick, adjustable tension, and a much safer lock mechanism.
Multi-Tools
The Flex Shear combines Roxson's Phantom and Flex modular systems into one 6.2 oz tool, with improved locks, bearings, and a genuinely precise shear at its core.
Fountain Pens
A 14k gold nib fountain pen with ivory, black and gold trim, subtle golden sparkle in the resin, and a nib that rewards a little patience.
Wallets
A handmade, saddle-stitched leather wallet in full grain Horween Dublin that carries seven cards and ten bills comfortably without losing its character.
Flashlights
The SK05 Pro stands out from typical EDC flashlights by combining a bright spot-and-flood beam with fast device charging, waterproofing, and genuinely pocketable sizing.
Everyday Carry
Three sizes of notebook wallets from Sketch Wallets, built for artists but surprisingly useful for anyone who wants a wallet, a notebook, and a pen in one pocket.
Everyday Carry
The Smith Blade Light from Hacksmith Industries packs wire strippers, a protractor detent, and tweezers into a slim frame, but its blade cutouts come with an unexpected trade-off.
Flashlights
The Sofirn SC28 packs a 21700 battery and up to 2,800 lumens behind a tail switch, but a generic user interface holds it back.
Everyday Carry
A limited run of 100 units of the Dillinger CC adds a hidden inside pocket, concealed snaps, and one fixed colorway to an already excellent minimalist wallet.
Wallets
Full grain Badalassi Carlo Pueblo leather, dual quick-access card pockets, and a dedicated pen slot make the Lestrade an easy recommendation for everyday carry.
Everyday Carry
Two budget SRM folders and a more premium Vosteed SCUP stand out for sharp out-of-box edges, honest materials, and clever design touches.
Everyday Carry
The Stack Wallet uses a sliding track system with removable inner layers, keeps cards separated to avoid scratches, and starts at a very reasonable price.
Travel Gear
Three Stacks container sets share one locking system, but each size suits a different job. Here is how the small, medium, and large sets compare for travel and food storage.
Art Supplies
Single-pigment, hand-poured watercolors and gouache from a Canadian maker, tested on 100% cotton paper with dot card samples.
Everyday Carry
A full grain leather wallet-organizer hybrid from Tail of Knives that carries cards, cash, and a knife, pen, flashlight, or pry tool, all handmade in the USA.
Wallets
A handmade Singapore bifold in Italian Buttero leather with an unconventional internal layout, five card pockets, and serious capacity for cash.
Flashlights
A traditional dual-switch EDC light, a flat tactical light with an OLED display, and a surprisingly versatile multi-source flashlight compared side by side.
EDC Knives
A closer look at three very different folding knives: a minimalist titanium flipper, a surprising M390 value, and a limited edition with mammoth fossil inlays.
Travel Bags
A long weekend of carry-on travel with the Thule Chasm 40L: thick TPU fabric, solid hardware, a huge main compartment, and a few trade-offs to know before buying.