It has been a while since I posted one of these articles and I am not sure why (other than they are more work than other articles because of all the links). But it is fun to look at what I am actually carrying. I review A LOT of stuff and so sometimes I am concerned that it is hard to figure out what I am using and what I am not. Often the stuff that I carry is the stuff I prefer and you are reading this site for my preferences, so here goes nothing.

Quick Prediction

Before I go search my IG posts for photos here is my prediction: three pieces of kit are going to come up a lot: 1) the Prometheus Ti Beta flashlight; 2) the new S45VN Sebenza; and 3) the Tactile Turn Mini Side Click. Each of these pieces are relatively new to my collection and each is among the best items in their respective product classes. Let’s take a peek.

Pictured: FourSevens Ti Mini Turbo Mk. III and TRM Neutron 2

The Ti version of the Mini Turbo is a supremely good light. If you haven’t bought one yet, you should. It is a bit warmer but just as capable. Then there is the Neutron 2. If this isn’t the best production knife on the market, I am missing something. Together they are great pair, a showing of what companies can do today. The fact that neither are from and old guard manufacturer is also telling.

Pictured: Urban EDC Supply Baby Barlow 2.0 and the Sofrin SC01

Ummm…remember how I reviewed and loved the prototype version of this knife? The production version is so much better. More crisp, snappier deployment. It is one of the best and most engaging knives I have seen in a long, long time. It is so different and yet really handy. Its weird without drawback. As for the Sofrin, this is my first light of theirs and I really, really like it. This is the only twist-twist more light I can find this small and it is $25. Zero Air has been giving them high marks for a long time, I should have tried one sooner.

Pictured: Lamy 2000 with PenSmith Stub Italic Nib Custom Grind, Sebenza 31 in S45VN, and Prometheus Ti Beta QR

This has been my most common carry for the past few months. Its not just good, it is very, very good. I love the stub nib on this pen (I am trying a light blue Pilot Iroshizuku ink called Tsuyu Kusa, which is not as good as Kon Peki). The new Sebenza 31 is pretty darn good, and, in this rendition, not a bad value compared to some the nearly $1,000 production knives out there. Finally there is the Ti Beta. The form factor and emitter on this knife are just too good to pass up. It is not a value proposition, but it is catnip for a flashlight enthusiast.

Pictured: Veleno Designs 40DD and KnifeJoker Jester Sprint Run in 20CV

Spydercollector put together a few pairings like this—an ultracompact Spyderco and a LRI Photon II. I took that idea and waited a decade or so for an ideal pairing. This set, the Veleno Designs 40DD and the 20CV Jester, are just ideal carries for those super hot days where you wear the lightest shorts you can find. At a weight of just around 1.5 ounces total, this package is compelling and unlikely to ever be removed from the collection.

Pictured: Lamy 2000, Meades Knives Dino Locking Flipper, and Laulima Hoku

The Meades Knives Dino is a spectacular knife, a beauty in its simplicity. Its action is unparalleled and the finish is a marvel. This is a jaw droppingly good knife. Similarly, the Hoku is an ideal torch—great size, great battery format, classic design, and good output. Of course, this is a very expensive pairing, but a nice set up nonetheless.

Pictured: Spyderco Sage 5 LW and Acebeam TK17

The Sage 5 LW is massively underrated. It is the knife that everyone thinks the Para3 is. I really like the knife and while all of the Spydercos have gone up in price, this still a pretty good value. The problem is that while this knife is good, some of the new kids on the block are making blades that are the same or a similar price that are just outright better. The Neutron 2 is just better and only $40 more (if you can find one). If you are still a lumens whore, and really, who among us isn’t, the TK17 is an amazing torch. I like it quite a bit, but it is a pretty big torch given the stuff I have been carrying otherwise.

Pictured: EDCEMP Nymph and Prometheus Ti Beta

Boy is the Nymph a hard knife to review. Its not what I have been focusing on recently, but it is not a bad knife. The idea that knives would be made that are purposely stout seems so 2013, but the action here is undeniably good. The Nymph is also a pretty heavy knife for its size.

Pictured: Tactile Turn Compact Side Click, Tactile Turn Bexar, Prometheus Ti Beta

Will, one of these things are not like the other. Just sayin’. The Bexar is great, of course, as is the Prometheus Ti Beta, but the outstanding pen deserves special mention. The compact size is really a perfect size for a pen and this design is stout and perfectly snappy. I asked for this pen for my birthday and I am glad I did. Perfect companion for my job.

Amazon Links

Sofrin SC01

Spyderco Sage LW 5

Acebeam TK17