Welcome to the Urban EDC Showcase! Each week, we feature one member of the EDC community and the gear they rely on every day. Want to be featured? Submit your gear photo.
From Southern Illinois, Tay (@knaf_potato) first got into EDC by way of Doctor Who, and soon discovered the handy Swiss Army Knife. From then, taking a trip on the TARDIS, her daily carry now features both a Kizer fixed blade and folding knife. Read on for the full rig rundown, and find out how she puts her kickass gear to good use!
Featured tools:
- Folding knife: Kizer Gemini Copper
The Gemini was designed by Ray Laconico and produced by Kizer. This is my favorite item, and you can read more about it below! It features N690 steel and copper scales.
- Fixed blade: Kizer Super Bad Drop-Point
The Super Bad was designed by Mikkel Willumsen and produced by Kizer. It features G-10 scales and VG-10 steel. I love this knife because the blade shape is so unique and functional. It fits in my hand very well. This knife goes in my backpack every day just in case I need a fixed blade. It saved the day on a trip with my husband when all the kitchen knives were dull and there was no sharpener.
- Pen: Jofelo Mini Pen
All the pens seem to disappear at work, so I decided to start carrying my own. I got this pen on Amazon in a three-pack. It’s nothing special, but it gets the job done! They are the perfect size for my unreasonably small pockets (dang lady’s jeans!), and I’ve used these pens A LOT. - Flashlight: Imalent LD70 Mini EDC
I didn’t purposefully buy this flashlight. I don’t need flashlights on a regular basis. But I got this from the Going Gear EDC Club subscription, and it is the perfect flashlight for me! I carry this in my backpack daily. This light has a locking feature so it doesn’t accidentally get turned on. There are three different brightness settings, and it is rechargeable. - Watch: Citizen Eco-Drive
My husband is a total watch enthusiast, and he introduced me to this watch. I love how it’s solar-powered, and the size is perfect for my tiny wrists. - Multitool: Leatherman Wave
This was the first multitool I bought myself, and it’s always in my backpack. It saved the day on multiple occasions, including at work, at home, at my cousin’s wedding, and during knife maintenance. Super reliable and versatile! - Rings: Custom
I always wear two tungsten rings that have “Just Keep Going” engraved on the outside. It’s a phrase that provides encouragement during tough times.
Below the tungsten rings is my engagement ring. I don’t wear this every day (I wear my tungsten wedding ring daily), but I thought it would be nice to show.
I’m not a diamond gal, so my husband got a bloodstone! Bloodstone is my favorite gemstone because of the rich greens and reds. The last ring is a skull ring that I got from the Etsy shop My Sacrum. Sometimes you just need to indulge in some existential darkness, ya know?
My story:
My name is Tay, and I’m originally from the San Francisco Bay Area but currently live in Southern Illinois. I am working toward my MA in Mental Health Counseling and have a background in crisis counseling and social work.
I first got into EDC when I was 12. I was super into Doctor Who and thought it would be cool if The Doctor’s sonic screwdriver could be real. So I thought, “hmm, what’s the closest thing in real life?” And the answer was a Swiss Army Knife.
I asked my dad for one for Christmas and he gave me his old one with his name engraved on it. I carried that tool in my backpack until college, when I started to build my collection.
I particularly like pocket knives because I tend to use blades the most and I enjoy the fidgetability and wide variety of knife options. The first knife I bought was the Spyderco Tenacious, based on my brother’s recommendation.
I didn’t get seriously into knife collecting or the knife community until I started watching BirdShotIV on YouTube. It was encouraging to see another lady in the EDC world, plus Frankie and Bird are hilarious! I’m grateful for finding this community and am so excited to meet more EDC enthusiasts!
My hobbies include EDC gear, martial arts (Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu, SanShou Kickboxing), visual arts (drawing, painting, sketching, digital, tattoo design), creative writing, piano, and hiking. I spend my free time hanging out with my husband, friends, and family.
Favorite EDC tool:
My favorite item on my list is the Kizer Copper Gemini. The action is snappy, the blade shape is versatile, and the overall quality is excellent. I love the copper scales. The patina the copper takes on gives it so much character, and watching the colors shift is a beautiful sight to see.
What's on my gear radar:
I don’t have anything particular on my radar right now, but someday I would like to acquire a Liong Mah Lanny V2 in Micarta. That knife looks awesome and checks lots of boxes.