Everyday Carry Picks That Stuck in 2025: MKM Pocket Tango, Roiv Vaughn E60 and E80, Roxon Flex

Introduction

Some years the carry changes a little. 2025 changed a lot. After a year of reviewing folding knives, a bad habit crept in: idly flicking a blade open and closed while sitting in an office. Around other people, that is uncomfortable at best and risky at worst. Fixing that habit reshaped the entire carry, and a few other pieces earned their permanent slots along the way. Here are four of them.

The Fixed Blade Habit Fix: MKM Pocket Tango

The Pocket Tango, designed by David C. Anderson and made by MKM in Italy, is a fixed blade that behaves like a folder in daily use. It is as easy to use as any folding knife, yet it only comes out when something actually needs cutting. That single difference broke the flicking habit completely, because there is nothing to flick.

As an everyday carry fixed blade, it slots into a rotation naturally. When it is not the only blade on hand, it often rides alongside a multi-tool, which covers the one-handed open-and-close convenience a folder usually provides.

For anyone who fidgets with folders or simply wants a calmer, more deliberate carry, a fixed blade like this is an underrated solution.

The Do-Everything Flashlights: Roiv Vaughn E60 and E80

The most-reached-for flashlights of the year were the Roiv Vaughn E60 and E80. The E60 shown here is the more recent variation, upgraded with a mechanical lockout switch that is genuinely appreciated in a pocket light.

Both lights are far more powerful than their stated ratings suggest, and the feature list reads like a Swiss Army knife in flashlight form: a tactical tail switch, a laser, a red light, UV, high CRI, and very bright white and UV outputs up front. The trade-off for that versatility in this form factor is a non-removable battery, so anyone who insists on replaceable batteries should look elsewhere.

For form factor, ease of use, versatility, and capability, the E60 is the favorite of the two. It is not perfect, but it is close.

The Airport-Proof Multi-Tool: Roxon Flex

The most important multi-tool of 2025, and for nearly two years running, has been the Roxon Flex. The reason is simple: it is the only plier-based multi-tool that has made it through TSA in the United States, roughly a dozen times, by fanning out all the implements in the tray for inspection. Twelve for twelve, no issues.

The design has legitimately no sharp edges built in anywhere. There is a T-shank holder, so a saw can be added at the destination, and the rest is pure convenience, including two keys so losing house keys on a plane would not mean losing everything.

The clever part is the small separate container that holds the scissors and the combination can opener and bottle opener. Technically both are legal under TSA rules, but any frequent flyer knows agents sometimes make up their own rules. If they want the scissors, they can have them. The loss is about twelve dollars instead of the entire tool. So far, none have been taken.

Carry Strategy: How These Pieces Fit Together

These four pieces work best as a system. The fixed blade handles real cutting tasks calmly and deliberately, which means the multi-tool no longer needs to carry a blade at all. That opens up the Flex to be purely a pliers-and-convenience tool, and pliers turn out to be the tool used more often than the blade anyway.

Pair that with a versatile flashlight like the E60, and the carry covers cutting, gripping, repairing, and lighting without a single item that invites fidgeting or security trouble. It is a leaner, calmer setup than a folder-heavy rotation, and every piece earns its slot.

Conclusion

The 2025 carry lesson is that the right tool changes behavior, not just capability. A fixed blade solved a bad habit, a plier-first multi-tool removed airport stress, and two feature-dense flashlights made every other light in the drawer feel redundant. If any part of your carry feels like it is working against you, one of these four might be the fix.