Building a Complete EDC Loadout at REI: 8 Practical Picks

Introduction

Every so often it is worth rebuilding an everyday carry kit from scratch, and REI is one of the few mainstream retailers where you can do that in a single visit. For this loadout the goal was simple: buy the best genuinely pocketable gear the store carries, skip anything that felt like filler, and keep the total sensible. The result came to roughly $530 with tax across eight items, and one pick turned out to be a happy accident worth more than what it replaced.

What We Skipped and Why

Two categories got cut immediately. Watches were one: the worthwhile options sit at two extremes, a budget Timex Expedition or a four-figure Garmin, and neither earns a spot in a kit that already has a daily watch on the wrist. The second skip was a purchase that ended up not being a purchase at all: REI carries a Zippo with a butane insert for about $40, but the same lighter was already sitting in a kitchen drawer, so it came along for the kit instead of coming off the shelf.

REI also clearanced out Rite in the Rain notebooks a few years back, though they are back in stock now, and the knife case is almost entirely Benchmade, which narrows the decision more than you might expect.

Benchmade Mini Adamas

The knife decision came down to a coin flip between this and another Benchmade, and the Mini Adamas won the toss. It is easy to see why it gets the vote: the CPM-CruWear tool steel holds a serious edge, the contoured scales fit the hand exceptionally well, and the olive and tan colorway is one of the best-looking combinations Benchmade has put out. Many people find the Mini Adamas more practical than the full-size version, with the smaller form factor sacrificing very little in real use. At $260 it is the most expensive item in this loadout, but it is also the piece you will reach for most.

Benchmade Mini Adira

Here is the twist: a day before this trip, Benchmade launched its new water series, and the Mini Adira landed at REI almost immediately. It shares the Mini Adamas form factor and thickness but weighs noticeably less, runs MagnaCut steel on an uncoated blade, and comes in a blue and orange colorway for $230. MagnaCut is not fully rust-proof, which is why the packaging includes a cleaning cloth: it has high corrosion resistance but can still rust if salt water is left on it. The Adira line is clearly aimed at fishing and saltwater use, with fixed dive knives like the Fishcrafters, Intersect, and Undercurrent alongside the folder. For the money, the Mini Adira is arguably the quantitatively better buy of the two.

Leatherman Skeletool CX

The multi-tool pick was a longer debate. The Surge is excellent but has no pocket clip, so it fails the EDC test, and the Charge TTi was not on the shelf. That leaves the Skeletool CX as the best pocketable Leatherman in the store, and it is a genuinely better choice than the regular Skeletool for one reason: you get a straight-edge 154CM blade instead of 420HC with a combo edge, so no serrations unless you want them. The rest of the tool is familiar: pliers with non-replaceable cutters, a bit driver with a stored spare bit, a bottle opener, and a pocket clip. That clip is the known weak point, and a file or scissors would perfect the package, but at $90 this remains the benchmark EDC multi-tool here.

Fenix PD36R

This is the honest miss of the trip. The PD36R is a well-built, USB-C rechargeable flashlight with a separate mode selector and a strobe function, but it is simply too large for pocket carry. Fenix’s recent shift to an external USB-C port added bulk compared to earlier models with sealed batteries, and at $120 it became the biggest item in the kit. It will live in a truck, which it suits well, but for pocket EDC the smaller PD25R or even the compact E05R would have been the smarter picks. Lesson learned: check dimensions before checkout, not after.

Fisher Space Pen Stowaway

The pen selection at REI is essentially all Fisher Space Pen, and the Stowaway is the ultra-minimal option. It is a thin aluminum casing barely larger than the refill itself, and it uses the standard Fisher Space Pen cartridge, so you get the same all-weather, write-anything ink in a package that disappears in a pocket. It opens to reveal the refill and costs around $17 to $18 in black, red, or blue. If you prefer a clicker, REI carries those too, but the refill is the same; it is purely a form-factor choice. For anyone who wants a genuinely pocketable pen that will not fail in rain or cold, this is an easy pick.

Rite in the Rain Universal Notebook

Rite in the Rain has an actual section at REI again after a stretch where it was hard to find. This is the standard Universal version with lined grid paper, 24 sheets, sold in a three-pack for $10. There is also a slightly pricier version with dot-grid pages, and top-spiral variants for anyone who prefers that format. The paper handles wet conditions without turning to pulp, which is the whole point, and pairing it with an all-weather pen completes a note-taking setup that works in genuinely bad weather. Not many pages per book, but for pocket jotting that is a feature, not a flaw.

Outdoor Element Fire Carabiner

The key situation is minimal by design: a carabiner and keys on a split ring, nothing more. Since that is all REI offers for keys, it makes sense to pick a carabiner that does more than just hold things. The Outdoor Element Fire is exactly that. It is a spring-gate carabiner with a flathead driver, a cord cutter, two key-ring attachment holes, and a striking wheel that throws sparks off the included ferro rod. Two spare ferro rods come in the packaging, so keep them rather than tossing the box, because they are tiny and specific. One stays attached to a stove kit so the isobutane burner can be lit without a lighter. It is $15, lightweight, and earns its place through daily use.

Zippo with Butane Insert

The classic Zippo got a modern upgrade: a butane insert turns the windproof case into a reliable, fuel-efficient lighter without the fluid evaporation problems of the original design. REI carries the complete package for around $40, and it slots into the kit as the fire backup behind the ferro rod. It is not glamorous, but a lighter that works in wind and cold is one of those items you only appreciate the first time you actually need it.

Final Budget and Buying Advice

Tallying it up: $260 for the Mini Adamas, $90 for the Skeletool CX, $120 for the PD36R, about $18 for the Stowaway, $10 for the notebook three-pack, $15 for the Fire carabiner, $40 for the Zippo, and $230 for the Mini Adira came to roughly $530 with tax. The obvious trim is the flashlight: swapping the PD36R for a smaller light saves around $90 and fixes the biggest mistake in the kit. If only one knife is in the budget, the Mini Adira at $230 edges out the Mini Adamas on weight and steel, unless the olive and tan colorway wins you over.

Conclusion

A complete EDC kit really can come off a single retail shelf: a tool-steel folder, a pocketable multi-tool, an all-weather pen and notebook, a fire-capable carabiner, and a windproof lighter. The flashlight pick shows why size matters more than specs for pocket carry, and the surprise new Benchmade launch shows why it pays to check the knife case twice. Every item here earns its pocket space, and most of them will outlast the bag you carry them in.