For November's edition of What We’re Carrying This Month, we’ve hit our everyday carry archives to bring you four recent favorites additions to our EDC kits:

• A stainless steel bolt action pen with a smooth and sleek design
• Wireless earbuds that come with a powerful charging station
• A great deal on a classic EDC flashlight
• Gerber’s most fully loaded multi-tool

So without further ado, let’s check out the gear!

Bastion Stainless Steel Bolt Action Pen

It’s no secret at this point that we love a good pen around the NutSac offices — and our latest favorite is the ultra-sleek Stainless Steel Bolt Action Pen from Bastion. 

Made of 100% stainless steel, this pen weighs in at a comfortable-in-the-hand 2.8 ounces and measures a respectable 4.36 inches long. This puts it in the “Goldilocks range” for weight and length, making it comfortable and usable for a wide variety of hand shapes and sizes.

Writing with this pen is smooth and uninterrupted thanks to its Parker-style ink cartridges, a whole range of which are sold by Bastion here — where you can choose from standard or gel ink in black, blue, or red.

Last but not least, the bolt action deployment and retraction on the Bastion are satisfying without being loud or clunky. Overall, it’s a pretty awesome pen to add to your collection.

Alt + Esc [listen] Wireless Earbuds

Slim, minimalist, and customizable, Alt + Esc’s [listen] Wireless Earbuds will appeal equally to the design-centric as well as the productivity-oriented. They’re one part of a modular earbud system that includes the [charge] powerbank, as well as the [wear] earbud band, available in multiple colors to match your aesthetic.

Past the surface-level design considerations, these earbuds are very well equipped for daily use. They feature a microphone, control touchpad with customizable functions, passive noise cancellation, and approximately seven hours of use per charge. That charge can be upped to an impressive 24 hours of battery life with the included [charge] powerbank, giving them an enviable listening lifespan all wrapped up in an attractive package. So if you’re looking for a well-equipped pair of earbuds that really stands out from the crowd, we can definitely vouch for this set from Alt + Esc.

Sofirn SC28 Rechargeable Flashlight

 The more often we’ve carried a compact flashlight as part of our EDC, the more we’ve grown to love them. Whether it’s locating a dropped headphone under your desk or rummaging through a heavily-stuffed backpack, a simple and reliable flashlight will make it quick, convenient, and easy.

Recently, Sofirn has made their SC28 Rechargeable Flashlight available on Amazon for an exceptionally affordable price. For under 50 dollars, you’ll get a maximum output of 2800 lumens that’s adjustable through six modes — all wrapped up in an IPX8 waterproof design that means it can be fully submerged in water for up to 30 minutes without malfunctioning.

The Sofirn is fairly hefty at 10.2 ounces, but still relatively compact with a maximum length dimension of just over five inches. And when it’s running low on juice, just plug it into any USB-C charger to keep the light shining all through the night.

Gerber Center-Drive Plus

Ever since Gerber’s founding in 1939 in Portland, Oregon, they’ve been iterating on designs for highly functional multi-tools as well as single-purpose knives and equipment. With each passing year, it seems that their tools become more refined, all while being offered at fair prices.

Case in point: The Gerber Center-Drive Plus. Built with a unique center-axis driver, it opens to a shape just like a real screwdriver — giving maximum torque and rotation with minimum strain on your wrists. That’s paired with a buttery smooth single-thumb opening system and 10 additional tools, as well as magnetic Phillips and flathead bits.

In short, the Center-Drive Plus is an exceptionally capable multi-tool that feels more like a full-sized tool than a compromise. Plus, it’s made entirely in the USA, and comes with a limited lifetime warranty. Pair all of that with its mid-$100s price point, and you’ve got one heck of a multi-tool.

What’s Next?

We’re always on the lookout for new gear around the NutSac offices, and the new year is promising to be our best one for EDC yet. Stay tuned to the Carry Lounge blog for more great tools and accessories over the coming months!