Gear of the Year: 9 Standout Products Worth Carrying in 2022

Introduction

Out of everything tested and used this year, a handful of items stood out as genuinely special. Not because they were the newest or the most expensive, but because they earned their place through daily use: they solved a problem, they disappeared into a pocket or bag, and they kept working.

This list runs through nine of those products, from a tactical flashlight that is always the first thing grabbed in the dark, down to the tiny pocket light that spent the entire year in daily use.

Evaluation Criteria

The common thread across every pick here is simple: real use over a long period. Each item had to prove itself compact and light enough to actually carry, reliable enough to trust without thinking about it, and useful often enough that leaving home without it felt wrong. Build quality mattered too, because gear that lives in pockets and bags takes a beating.

Fenix TK20R V2: The Grab-and-Go Tactical Flashlight

This is the light that gets grabbed first when heading out in the dark, and for good reason. At just over 200 grams it is reasonably lightweight and pocket sized, yet it pushes a massive 3,000 lumens with a maximum range of 475 meters. The beam pattern mixes flood and throw, which is an ideal balance for general use.

Operation is deliberately simple: two tail switches mean there is no need to remember an instruction manual. The large button switches it on, the smaller one steps through five brightness levels, and a press-and-hold gives a variable strobe designed to disorientate. Unscrewing the tail cap a quarter turn locks the light out so it cannot activate accidentally in a bag. The dual tail switches also work with gloves and are easy to locate in a hurry, unlike the side switches found on many flashlights.

Battery life is a real strength. The lowest setting, 30 lumens, runs for 48 hours non-stop, and a very usable 150 lumens lasts 21 hours, enough to get through a night or two on a single charge. A USB-C charging port hides behind a metal collar with o-ring seals at both ends, keeping water and dirt out, and a battery level indicator sits under that same collar. It is IPX rated for any weather right up to submersion, and built to Fenix’s usual very high standards. For a compact, lightweight, powerful and reliable grab-and-go light, it is hard to find a better option.

Nitecore MB10000 Power Bank

Power banks find their way into every get-me-out-of-trouble kit because they can genuinely save the day, and when it comes to communication, information and navigation, being without a phone means being pretty much lost. That makes the most compact and lightweight option with an ideal capacity the one worth carrying.

The Nitecore MB10000 hits 10,000 milliamp hours, enough to recharge most phones at least twice, yet weighs just 150 grams, the weight of many power banks with half the capacity. It manages this with a carbon fiber polymer frame and carbon fiber panels, and it is super small and flat. A comparable slim power bank from Anker weighs 250 grams, so the difference is easy to see.

It has a USB-C output plus a USB-A output, both still very relevant, and can output up to 18 Watts. A generation 2 version has since appeared with better battery level indication, a couple of minor design tweaks, and power delivery increased to 20 Watts. All in all, a perfect power bank for travel when size and weight are the key factors.

Concepts Bevy Folding Knife

A surprise addition, this one. On paper and in images, the Concepts Bevy does not look like much, but in the hand it impressed so much that one was purchased to keep after an EDC folding knife comparison covering eight affordable folders.

It is a simple slip joint with a blade under three inches, which makes it legal to carry in the UK, and it feels really well made and solid. The blade opens smoothly and can be closed single-handedly, with a satisfying snap and a midway half stop for added safety. The handle is G10 with a smooth finish rather than a rough grippy texture, which lets the knife slide in and out of the pocket with ease. The skeletonized liners show Concepts put extra effort into shaving off unnecessary weight.

The sheep’s foot blade in 154CM steel offers a great balance of edge retention, toughness and corrosion resistance while remaining relatively easy to sharpen. It is practical, looks good, and is non-threatening, since it lacks the piercing point of most blade profiles. The tip works more like a precision utility knife, and there is finger protection so you will feel resistance if the blade starts to close unexpectedly. The serious blade width adds strength, though it may affect slicing ability for some. There is no pocket clip, but a lanyard hole allows for a lanyard and bead. The red handle denotes a Hiney Haynes exclusive edition; the standard version is black.

Larq Filtered Bottle

This is a water bottle with a filter, and the filter removes lead, chlorine, pesticides, heavy metals, microplastics and PFAS, the harmful chemicals resulting from decades of industrialization and food processing. That makes it excellent for travel, think water in hotel rooms, water fountains, or taps in public places, and equally good at home for anyone drinking water all day who would rather not drink a host of chemicals along with it.

The replaceable filter is good for 40 gallons or two months of use, roughly equivalent to around 300 plastic bottles. If water quality is seriously compromised, with potential for bacteria and viruses, the PureVis cap adds an extra level of safety, using UV light to eliminate 99% of bio contaminants. Nothing ruins a trip like being unable to stray far from the nearest half-decent toilet.

This is the small 500ml version at 420 grams, and it is double walled to keep contents cool. It works well and can help keep you healthy, both at home and away.

Helinox Chair Zero

Helinox has been making fold-up lightweight comfortable chairs for many years, and the original version at 930 grams already felt light. The Chair Zero almost halves that at just 520 grams, and weight is such an important factor when carrying gear for any length of time that it is often the deciding factor between taking something or leaving it behind. At this weight, this is something to take on all but the most weight-conscious trips.

If you do bring it, you get a super comfortable seat that supports your back and feels like pure luxury compared with sitting on the ground. Setup takes around a minute, and takedown the same, which is time well spent. It is perfect for a trek to the beach and the best thing in the world for a music festival, where you can spend large parts of several days sat on damp grass. It is not cheap at 125 pounds, but it delivers real value, and nothing else on the market right now, knockoffs included, comes close.

Big Idea Design Bolt Action Pen

Used every day for writing notes and doodling, this titanium pen was originally backed on Kickstarter and is now generally available. Despite the look, it weighs only 27 grams, and the bolt action mechanism adds a serious amount of fidget factor, fun for you and irritating for everyone around you.

The real win is that it takes over a hundred different refills, so if you have a favorite, you should be in luck. It ships with a Schmidt refill, but a Pentel EnerGel fits nicely, and a pen is only as good as the refill you want to use, so that choice is a genuine advantage. The deep carry pocket clip is substantial and will not bend or break no matter what, it holds the pen securely in a pocket or on a notebook, and it is reversible for left-handers. This is raw titanium, but it comes in six other options including brown and copper, and there is an additional Damascus bolt for a touch of color. Nice pens are never cheap, and this one is no exception at a hundred dollars, but it is expected to outlast its owner.

Quad Lock Mag Mounting System

The Quad Lock system has been used for years to attach a phone to a mountain bike, the car and a desk mount. It pairs a protective phone case with a multitude of mounts for almost anything you can think of, and the case protection is what drew attention to it in the first place.

The original system required a twist to lock the phone in place, holding it super securely, the best test being a fast, bumpy downhill trail on a mountain bike. The downside was that locating the phone in the right position before the twist could be fiddly and needed some space around the mount. The new Mag system fixes that: high strength magnets pull the phone into position effortlessly, no twist required, and it can be positioned vertically or horizontally with a satisfying plug-like action.

There are loads of mounting options, including wireless charging mounts, and the magnetic case is backwards compatible with the old twist mounts. The desk mount has already been swapped for the new Mag version; the bike mount stays as a twist mount, because on rough trails it holds the phone in place in a way the magnetic mount cannot quite match. Used all the time, it works really well, and it is an obvious choice for this list.

Bellroy Lite Sling

This has been in constant use for around six months, and constant use is the mark of a successful piece of gear. When a backpack is not needed, this is generally what gets taken instead. It is super light at just 220 grams with a 7 liter capacity, which is the perfect size for everyday carry gear, and the components are high quality: a magnetic catch and YKK AquaGuard zippers that are best in class and water resistant.

Inside there is a main compartment with a pocket down one side and a zip sleeve for a phone or sunglasses, plus a little padding on the back for comfort. The front pocket has a couple of sections for a wallet and keys, helped by a handy key strap. Keeping compartments minimal is deliberate, since too many pockets tend to slow things down.

The real genius feature is the double-ended zip. No matter which way the bag is facing, whichever end you grab, you always find the zip and get straight in, helped by oversized zip pulls. The bag also opens really wide for easy access, so you can see and find things quickly without a zip scratching your knuckles. The expandable gusset compresses when carried, and the lightweight fabric rolls up when empty, which combined with the low weight makes it a brilliant travel bag that takes up almost no space in a backpack or suitcase. Bought in white, which was a risk, it still looks good after six months of daily use; it also comes in black and tan. Highly recommended.

Overall Buying Advice

Across these nine picks, the same lesson keeps repeating. The best gear is rarely the most impressive on a spec sheet; it is the item that earns a permanent place through weight, reliability and frequency of use. If you are deciding where to spend first, start with the things you will touch every day, a pocket light, a pen, a bag, then move to the situational items like the camp chair or filtered bottle. Match the product to your actual routine rather than the idealized version of it, and any of these will serve you well.

RovyVon A8: Everyday Carry Champion

And at number one, the RovyVon A8. This very small flashlight has been in a pocket all year, and it was recently updated with USB-C one-hour charging and an improved pocket clip that is also magnetic. It is so small and lightweight that you carry it without knowing it is there, yet it is both capable and powerful, with a maximum output of 650 lumens, an enormous amount for something this size.

There are four power levels, including a moonlight mode that can run for 72 hours on a single charge. The transparent body houses additional light sources: a red light with various flashing modes for visibility at night, ambient white light at two power levels for broader diffused area lighting, and a UV mode for checking banknotes or other less useful pursuits. There is also a lockout mode to prevent accidental operation.

You might think your phone light is fine in emergencies, but it does not hold a candle to this. It will light up the road ahead if needed, and it is not just for night use: it makes small print easy to read, finds lost items under desks, lights up the back of the cupboard under the stairs, doubles as an emergency bike light, and helps you locate things at dusk. This configuration is the 600 and 150 lumen main light with the white, red and UV body lights. All in all, a fantastic pocket EDC flashlight that gets used several times every single day, which is exactly why it tops the list.

Conclusion

From a 3,000 lumen tactical light to a flashlight small enough to forget about, this year’s standouts share one trait: they are genuinely used, not just admired. Pick the ones that fit how you actually move through your day, and each of these has a strong chance of earning the same permanent spot in your pocket or bag.