Gear of the Week: Five EDC Picks Worth a Look, From Fixed Blades to Flashlights

Introduction

Some weeks of gear stand out more than others, and this one brought a genuinely fun mix: a US-made fixed blade with unusually thoughtful design choices, a folder in one of the most interesting handle materials around, a 4,000-lumen right-angle light, and two slim pocket flashlights that riff on a familiar formula. Here is how each one stacks up and who each pick is actually for.

NAFS Lulu Fixed Blade: Thoughtful American Design

The Lulu, designed by Ben Peterson, is made in the US, and nearly every detail feels deliberate. The aggressive jimping is excellent, and the spine intentionally ships without a 90-degree edge, leaving that choice up to the owner. Not everyone wants a fire-striking spine, and designing it this way respects that.

The grip was the one aspect that raised an eyebrow at first; it seemed a quarter inch short. After actual use, those worries faded. There are no hot spots, and it is simply a comfortable knife to hold and work with.

The MagnaCut blade ships with an unfinished finish, straight from the factory, which shows off an unusual raw steel texture that suits the material well. The edge is a scandy grind with a micro bevel. That small addition keeps the edge more stable and less prone to chipping, making this a more versatile all-around tool than a true scandy, which is essentially a woodcraft-only grind. The slightly thinner blade also helps with tasks a true scandy would struggle with, including food prep.

The sheath deserves mention too. Rides low on a belt, and surprisingly comfortably. An in-pocket carry setup would work well here as well.

Civivi Praxis Ultem: A Fresh Look for a Fan Favorite

The Praxis is already a well-loved design, and this version in Ultem gives it a genuinely new character. Ultem is a special polymer with very high heat resistance and tensile strength comparable to aluminum, and it happens to be clear and strong, which makes for striking handle scales.

The polished stainless version is the winner of the two finishes. Being able to see the liners clearly through the scales is a big part of the appeal, and the polished look simply outclasses the bead-blasted black version in person.

It also happens to pair nicely with certain amber-toned wallets and accessories, which is exactly the kind of small detail that makes a pocket setup feel put together. If Ultem is a material you have been curious about, this is an easy way to try it on a proven platform.

Sofirn HS41: High Output Value in a Right-Angle Body

Sofirn has built a reputation for high-value lights, and the HS41 continues that run. Max output is over 4,000 lumens, it runs on a 21700 battery, and it comes with a pocket clip, though the design is clearly built around a headband first and foremost. This is a right-angle light meant to be worn.

The quad emitter setup helps with heat management and produces a very dispersed beam. Despite the huge headline number, this is fundamentally a light for up-close work rather than throwing a spot downrange, which is exactly what most headlamp users actually need.

The interface is intuitive and familiar if you have used lights from other mainstream brands, and USB Type-C charging with a cable included rounds out a package that is hard to argue with. Sofirn’s own website often prices these aggressively, and sales can make them an absolute steal. Keep an eye out.

Olight Arkfeld: The Slim Benchmark

The Arkfeld is a slim flat EDC light that disappears in the pocket, and it is easy to see why this format has become so popular. It set the template that several other brands now follow, and after carrying one regularly, the appeal makes sense. It is unobtrusive, well-built, and offers both light and laser in one thin body.

Monstrum Arkfeld-Style EDC Lights: A Different Take on a Popular Formula

The Monstrum lights follow the same slim flat-light aesthetic but with their own spin, including a very narrow pen-shaped version. Both put out 1,000 lumens max and combine a green laser with a flashlight, with a battery indicator and separate buttons for each function.

The UI is unusual in a mostly good way. A single press does nothing, a double press turns the light on, and it always comes on at 1,000 lumens with no mode memory. Hold the button while it is on and you cycle through modes, though the ramping is slow. A single hold from off gets you the lowest output. Because a single press does nothing, there is no accidental activation and no need for lockout.

The odd part: the laser button does not get the same double-press treatment, so it can switch on in the pocket without warning. That is the one design choice worth thinking twice about. The pen-shaped version is absurdly narrow, and most lights in that shape are around 200 lumens, so 1,000 in this form factor is genuinely notable. It also has a magnetic tail, though the magnet strength depends on how much metal it is attaching to; it is fine for hanging downward, less so horizontal.

Charging is USB Type-C, which is a real advantage over the proprietary method on the Arkfeld, but waterproofing is slightly lower at IPX6 versus the Arkfeld’s IPX7. These are regularly on sale, which makes the value equation even more interesting.

Overall Buying Advice

If you want a do-everything fixed blade for the woods and around the house, the NAFS Lulu is the standout here and a candidate for a most-carried EDC knife. If you prefer a folder and want something with real visual character, the polished Ultem Praxis is the easy pick. For hands-free lighting, the Sofirn HS41 delivers enormous output for the money. And if a slim flat light appeals to you, the Olight Arkfeld remains the refined original, while the Monstrum versions trade a bit of waterproofing for Type-C charging, aggressive pricing, and some genuinely interesting UI choices.

Conclusion

This was a strong week across the board. The Lulu and the Ultem Praxis are the two favorites, one for how well it works and one for how good it looks doing it. Whichever direction your carry leans, there is something in this lineup that earns its place in a pocket or on a pack.