25 BEST Budget EDC Tools Under $20 | 2024 Update

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Pro-tip: The Klein electricians snips work better if you don't use 2 fingers in the holes. Put your ring finger in the bottom hole, and then use the meat of your palm on the top hole. Close your entire hand vs. just moving your finger. It's less fatiguing and it gives you more leverage. I have been carrying the Fiskars version for 2 decades now, can't start any cabling work without them!

The electrician scissors are the best. Been using a pair that have rubberized handles at work for years. Never thought about getting a pair to EDC until now.

An Opinel is under $20, fantastic knife. Carbon steel or stainless, both are great. They require a little extra upkeep due to the wooden handle, but I've had mine for years and they've served me very well.

I use Klein scissors at work and I'm consistently blown away by how effective and long they last

The Scissors are just brilliant.

im a general surgery resident and that Olight iMini 2 has been an absolute gamechanger. I attach it to my ID tag in the hospital and when i do rounds super early in the morning and whan i ahve to look at wounds and incisions, or like pupils, instead of ppl pulling out their phone lights or pen lights, i have mine out already. some of my coresidents and med students got one too bc of me

Hey I used to work as an electrical apprentice. Best piece of advice i got was on those scissors, put your middle finger through one loop, and the other in the palm of your hand and grip the palm loop with your ring finger, pinkie, and thumb. You get a lot more torque , and you won't tear your knuckle up

Only purchase tools you know you will use. I see a LOT of worthless items here that are just not worth the investment. Honestly, if you have something floating around that just keeps getting pushed to the side in your tool kit, throw it out. Do not go out and buy a bunch of multitools that clutter up your bag. I have tossed so many of those tools and mini bit sets that were all rusted up and missing bits. The best thing to do is buy JUST WHAT YOU NEED. Stop throwing your money away on things you THINK you need. Buy what you KNOW you will use. The rest is CLUTTER. If you know you need a certain tool, go buy that one tool. Not a kit with a hundred useless extra parts. A hardware store sells individual bits and specialty drivers that are better quality and treated to prevent rust.

The 6th tool on the milwaukee utility knife is once the bit is removed it can be used as a 1/4 inch nut driver

Under $20 for a knife, I would actually recommend a Rough Ryder carbon canoe or an opinel for stainless. You aren't getting a lot of fit and finish, but carbon steel folders were the bread and butter for 100+ years as pocket knives. You won't get the next thing since sliced bread, but you'll get something that can last a lifetime if cared for.

Tip down is safer, less liability. If the blade opens when tip up in your pocket, you're more likely to get cut when reaching into the pocket. imho, that's why Great video. You find stuff and deals I'm not even looking for. Ordered the Widgy grab bag. 🍻

Hey Taylor, just wanna say thanks for the video. I like these better than the very expensive stuff.

@BestDamnEDC the reason you’re having issues with the scissors is because you aren’t holding them correctly. Lineman’s scissors aren’t used like standard scissors because they are used to cut wire. Have someone that has ran a bunch of Ethernet show you how to use them. It will change how you use them BIG TIME!

No more Zac in the wild is a rough way of living.

Zippos in the camping section of Walmart are like $10

Zebra F701. Bulletproof, common, easy to find refills, and last time I checked were well under 20 bucks. They write well to.

things have definitely changed!! Thanks for the 2024 update !!

Ontario Camp Plus EDC! Fantastic knife for only about $13

When I did a lot of low voltage electrical work (pulling ethernet cable and phone lines), I used the Klein Scissors every day, all day. The one with the wider handle makes a huge difference in grip too. Even though I don't do that kind of work regularly anymore I still have 2 or 3 pair of those around and in my bags, they are absolutely worth every penny.