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Ed’ favourite things - Meet the Ti Arto EDC Pen

GeneralEdward Kiledjian
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*** This is not a sponsored post ***

I love Titanium EDC gear. Now that my obsession with Ti is out of the way, let’s talk about pens. Most people buy the cheapest pen they can find or that their company will provide. I would like to submit that a well-designed pen is as much a tool as it is a work of art.

I bought my Ti Arto EDC pen in 2016 and it has been with me every day ever since.


IT has been around the world multiple times and is still my favourite pen ever (and I have owned very expensive ones).

What makes the Ti Arto EDC Pen great

First, it is machined out of a solid piece of titanium. Second, it accepts 750 different pen refills without having to hack or mod the refills or use (easy to lose) spacers. Third, you can adjust the length of the pen by swirling the back (longer or shorter).

Why is titanium great for everyday carry? Because titanium is a very hard and resistant metal. This pen has travelled in my wallet pocket for 4 years around the world and isn’t dented. Obviously it is created a bit but I find it shows character that way. the scratches aren’t deep and can’t be felt using the pen.

The Ti Arto EDC pen is well balanced (capped or uncapped) which means it is comfortable to use even for someone with smaller hands or for someone that writes a lot. Even after 4 years of daily use (and abuse), the cap stays on the end when desired. It doesn’t slip off because of gaskets on it.

When writing with the cap screwed on, the cap doesn’t rattle.

The Ti Arto also has a wider girth that makes writing for long periods more comfortable (aka less hand strain).

The refills

When you buy the pen, it comes with a Schneider 0.4 mm black gel ink refill installed. Over the years I have tried different refills and have chose the Signo RT as my preferred choice right now (although the fisher space pen refill was also a good choice).

Big Idea Design, the Ti Arto’s designers, have tested 750 different refills and they created a google spreadsheet with the list of supported refills.

Conclusion

I know many of your reading this will consider a $90US pen a frivolous purchase when you can buy a disposable pen for $1.99 or a slightly better quality reusable Pilot pen for $10-20. Your position is perfectly understandable.

I believe in buying fewer items but buying high-quality ones for the products you chose to introduce into your life. Think about how many times you have used a pen in the last 2 weeks. This is something that will last a very long time and that you can be proud to show friends and colleagues,

If this is something you think you would be interested in, here is the link on Big Idea Design’s website (not an affiliate link) : here.

I own other Big Idea Design products that will make it into my favourites list so stay tuned.

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Ridge minimalist wallet review

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

This is not an ad or sponsored post. This is an honest review.

I have been a fan of minimalist wallets for many years, and my wallet of choice has been the HuMn Aluminium wallet.

Ridge Wallet Specs

  • Holds 1-12 cards without stretching out

  • Blocks RFID (wireless theft)

  • Replaceable elastic

  • Backed by our lifetime warranty

  • 6061-T6 aluminum | anodized black

  • Weight: 2 oz | 86 x 54 x 6 mm

Ridge Wallet Use

You add a card by sliding it from the top groove

To access a card, you press the ridged opening and pull the required card out from the top

To Insert a Card: Gently slide the card into the top groove.

To access a card in the middle, you push out all the cards from the ridge, separate the metal plates and then find your card.

This strategy is similar to the HuMn wallet and most other plate based wallets. This may seem a little off for someone coming from a traditional leather style wallet but you will get use to it quickly. You will start moving your most used cards to the top or bottom of the stack.

Design

The stated purpose of the Ridge was to design a sleek minimalist wallet that would be durable and easy to use. I believe they successfully achieved this stated goal. The height and width of the Ridge Wallet is designed to be very slightly larger than (North American) style credit cards.

First thing first, the wallet is a thing of beauty. Much better looking than the HuMn Wallet.

The aluminium wallet will feel slightly heavier than a “normal” wallet. After 3 weeks of use, the wallet feels normal and not heavy at all. For those that are looking for a lighter option, the poly-carbonate or carbon fiver models are lighter. Unless you want Carbon Fiber for the look and prestige, the aluminium version is likely the best cost/benefit deal.

The wallet comes with either a money clip or elastic band. I chose the clip version which makes it slightly thicker and less useful. I recommend you acquire the elastic band version.

For those that carry their (normal) wallets in their back pocket, you will notice that your cards are slightly bend. The Ridge Wallet’s aluminium “walls” are strong enough to keep the cards straight even if you sit on them.

The company claims that their wallet provides RFID protection. I used an RFID scanner to test this feature and can confirm that it does offer RFID protection (most leather wallets do not offer such protections).

Some companies provide non-standard sized cards (loyalty and membership). Those non-standard cards do not work well with the Ridge. In my case, I do not have any of those.

Behavioral change

For those coming from a normal leather wallet, moving to any minimalist wallet will force you to reconsider what cards you carry with you on a daily basis. In my case, I scanned all my loyalty cards into Google Pay (and Apple Pay) and leave those at home. Additionally I stopped carrying cards I barely use.

Conclusion

Coming from the HuMn Wallet, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the Ridge Wallet. The truth is that I liked it much more than I expected and it has now become my main daily-use wallet.

They have made a great product that balances form, function and cost.

It is strong, light and dependable. For those looking for a great EDC wallet, this is currently the best choice available (I have tested over a dozen such wallets).

Link: Ridge wallet

OPSEC : What should I include in my bug-out bag

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

Search Google for "Bug-out bag," and you will get 137M results. YouTube has a 144K videos discussing it. A Bug-out bag (also called Go Bag, BOB, 72-hour kit, grab bag, a battle box, personal emergency relocation kit) is a small personal maintenance kit that would allow you to survive 72-hours when faced with an emergency. 

Most emergency agencies reconnect you prepare some kind of emergency kit. Emergency Preparedness Canada has a website dedicated to building basic bug-out kits. The US Department of Homeland security offers similar suggestions on their website. 

Without going overboard, the purpose of this article is to provide general guidelines for the average Joe interested in being better prepared (not for a survivalist or extreme prepper).

Where should I keep it?

Location, location, location... You Bug-out bag is useless if you cannot quickly grab it during an emergency and quickly leave the risk region. 

Your bug-out bag should be kept close to the main exit for your dwelling so you can grab it and go. 

An operational security expert will typically run several scenarios to evaluate possible calamities and what the best exits would be (it isn't always your front door). Spent some time thinking about this and place your bug-out bag close to the exit you are most likely to use (garage, front door, back door, bedroom windows, etc).

Basic bug-out bag items

In security, you can spend a little or a lot, it really depends on your level of paranoia. Most people don't need a 200lb bug-out bag that contains $500 of survival items. So here are the basic everyone should have in their kit:

Documents

  1. National identification documents (originals or copies). These can include drivers licenses, passports, medical identification cards, etc
  2. Keep a couple hundred dollars of cash money in different denominations (assume the electronic payment networks may be unavailable)
  3. A printed list of emergency contacts (local hospitals, police stations, family members, friends, etc) 

Personal Items

  1. A basic $20 first aid kit (from the pharmacy or Costco)
  2. A couple of litres of drinking water in sealed containers
  3. High calorie easy to eat snacks (that do not require preparation)
  4. Head covering (in case you have to walk in the sun, rain or snow), I keep a buff multiuse scarf
  5. Bug repellent
  6. Sunblock
  7. Prescription medication, glasses and contact lenses

Communication Gear

  1. A mobile phone (if possible an extra pre-paid SIM on a different network)
  2. Hand crank powered emergency radio 
  3. Small notebook, pen and pencil
  4. Printed local maps (street and topographic)
  5. A large (at least 20,000 mAh) external battery to charge your electronic gear. My battery of choice right now is the OmniChage Pro

General Gear

  1. A multipurpose knife (my choice is the Victorinox SwissChamp)
  2. Flashlight (ideally something that can be charged with your external battery via USB).
  3. "Normal" candle and weather resistant matches
  4. 550-lb paracord
  5. Handheld mirror
  6. Phrasebook if travelling abroad

The Pack

Talking about Bug-out bags is like discussing religion. Everyone has strong opinions about that the "best" bag is. My recommendation is to choose a backpack (since these balance the weight better and are easier to carry over long distances). 

My only recommendation is to choose something that is as light as possible while being resistant.

Review of the Morakniv Garberg outdoor knife

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

What is the best outdoor knife?

Those who know me well know that I love the outdoors and I love knives. If I were stranded on an island and could only bring one home comfort, it would be an outdoor knife. Having many outdoor enthusiast readers, I am regularly asked what knife I like best. 

When I first started studying survival skills, I had the misguided belief that the more expensive your equipment, the better it must be. I quickly learned that this wasn't always the case and sometimes even the most basic tool, used correctly, could be a lifesaver. 

Nowhere is this more true than outdoor (camping or survival knives). I say outdoor because my choice for an everyday carry knife is very different. 

Outdoors you say?

I have been camping for 30+ years and have been interested in wilderness survival and native survival skills for the last five years. I have been fortunate enough to have participated in training camps with some of the industries most recognized names in forests hours from the nearest city. 

While camping or during a survival event, a knife could be the difference between life and death. It can help you catch & process food, build shelter, start a fire and much more. In the wild, I can

  • make a natural "sleeping bag" with logs and leaves
  • make utensils and plates from logs
  • use rocks as cookware on a fire

What I can't make in the wild is a knife. Sure you can use a sharp rock, but that won't allow you to batton firewood or perform any of the hundreds of tasks a real sturdy knife can.

Let's be clear, a knife without training won't save your life. But with decent knowledge, a bit of practice and a good knife, you can save your life even in the most treacherous environment. 

What about a multitool?

I carry a Victorinox Swiss Champ with me every day (EDC). I wouldn't leave home without it. I own and carry various dependable leatherman multitools, but in the wild, I want a knife. A multitool just wouldn't be able to take the abuse of real outdoor survival. You try batoning a log with a multitool and see how long it lasts. 

Aren't all survival knives the same?

The answer is No. Just in case you were confused, the answer is no, no and no. Go to any Walmart, and you will find a dozen knives marked as survival knives. Most are garbage, but unless you are an experienced user, you will undoubtedly be overwhelmed with conflicting marketing messages and the sheer number of possible options.

An excellent outdoor knife will:

  • Be a multi-use item but not a multi-tool. You will have to stay away from the specialized products (e.g., blades with hooks to help gut a catch, a tanto point to stab, etc.)
  • Be durable in the field. You need a tool that is designed to last and won't fail you when you need it most. Remember "that which can fail will fail." This is why I stay away from folding knives when looking for the ideal outdoor knife.
  • Be built for survival and hard use. The ideal knife must be full-tang which means the blade's steel runs into the handle. Some knives have a long thick tang in the handle (typically more expensive), while others use a skinnier metal body in the handle (typically less expensive). 
  • Be budget friendly. The more expensive your knife, the less likely you are to use and abuse it. The knife must be "expensive enough" to be well designed and crafted using quality materials, yet cheap enough that you will use it in the wild (you can't cry every time you baton logs with it). 

What characteristics should I look for?

Blade: My preference is the Scandinavian grind (SG). The SG is a wide flat bevel (V) that wind to the end of the blade. There is no secondary bevel. This produces a knife with excellent cut control. It is slightly more fragile than over edges and can be strengthened with a slight secondary bevel. This is a blade edge that is easy to maintain in the field with a single sharpening stone and sharpening requires less skill [compared to other edges]. 

Length: Blade length is a very personal decision, but I have found 4-6" to be the sweet spot. Too short and the knife's usefulness is greatly diminished. Too long and the blade will be difficult to control and will be on your way when hanging on your belt.

Price: As mentioned earlier, it has to be expensive enough to be well built from quality materials. It shouldn't be too expensive causing you to avoid using it in the field. 

What is the best outdoor knife?

If I had to pick one knife right now that I would want in a survival situation, it would be the Morakniv Garberg MultiMount. Anyone interested in camping or survival has probably heard of MoraKniv. The poster child for Mora knives (Mora is a region in Sweden) is Cody Lundin from the Aboriginal Living Skills School and TV personality.

The Garberg meets all of my requires. It is durable, versatile, easy to maintain in the field and affordable. I have used the cheaper $20 Mora knives in the early days, and most of them are still in my collection today and are regularly used.

The MoraKniv Garberg has a simple but comfortable plastic handle which means you have better control and won't have hand pain after extended use. 

It is a full-tang knife, which means it can withstand the abuse of batoning. You can easily baton 3.5-4inch pieces of wood with ease.

The Morakiv Garberg uses 14C28N stainless steel which does not rust, hold's an edge relatively well and is easy to sharpen in the wild with a stone. Surprise surprise it has a Scandinavian grind. 

The back end of the blade has a 90-degree spine so you can use it with magnesium or a feral rod to start a fire. 

The Garberg comes with a nice sheath that works well for righties or lefties. Mora also included Velcro straps that allow you to easily hang the knife on a free or a backpack (Molle attachment). The blade is made from rust-resistant stainless steel but Mora still included drainage holes in the sheath (a nice touch). 

To make a good knife deal even better, Morakniv offers a lifetime warranty that covers defects. As long as you have maintained the knife according to their guidelines and haven't abused the product, Morakniv will fix or replace the product if you have any issues (this is their Knife for Life guarantee).

The price

This is not a sponsored post so I won't link to any specific retailer but you should be able to buy a Morakniv Garberg Multi-Mount (make sure you pick up the multi-mount version) for $70-$80 USD (~$125CAD). Online retailers, you can check out include:

  • USA: Amazon, KnifeCenter, Cutlery USA, MEC, etc.
  • Canada: Adventure Pro Zone, Canadian Outdoor Equipment, Bushcraft Canada, etc
  • Europe: Bushgear UK, Knives, and Tools, Amazon, etc. 

Make sure you shop around because prices can be $10-30 different per site for the same item.

You sure?

I have tested over 50 knives in the last 3 years and conducted hours of research before choosing this knife. I take this type of review seriously and put in the hours, so you don't have to. As I write this (December 2017) The Morakniv Garber multi-mount is the best deal on an outdoor knife available. The offers the biggest band for the buck and has the least negative characteristics. 

Link to Morakniv

Note: This is not a sponsored review. 

Why you need a Glo-toob LED powered Glow Stick

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

Each year, I test hundreds of new and different items that compete to find a place in my everyday carry kit (EDC). To be clear, my EDC is build for the urban environment and not wilderness survival. 

4 years ago, I tested and fell in love with the Glo-toob lights and it has been part of my kit ever since. I just realized I have never written about it an wanted to share it with you. 

Why not use a cheap glow stick?

Anyone that is building a serious EDC kit knows that you need redundancy. My main everyday carry (EDC) flashlight is the OLight S15R baton with a rechargeable battery. My secondary flashlight is the Ti3 by thrunite (which uses easy to find AAA batteries). there are times when you need a glow stick type of light and for those times, I rely on the Glo-Toob.

Why not use a cheap $5 glow stick? The typical (even high quality) glow stick or Chemical light stick is first and foremost not environmentally friendly (it is disposable and an environmental pollutant). Anyone that has carried them knows that they leak (which also means it won't work when you need it). Plus once you activate it, that's it.

Most of the time, I need it for 5 minutes, 60 minutes or even 180 minutes but that's it. With a chemical glow stick, once you activate it, it's end of life. 

Why I chose the Glo-Toob

I knew I wanted something else as my everyday carry glow stick alternative, but it took several tries until I found the Glo-toob.

First thing you notice is the solid construction (it can withstand the rigors of constant travel and being bumped in a pocket, bag or briefcase). It's waterproof to 200 feet (60 meters). I have taken it night scuba diving to 135ft and have never had issues but it's most common use is in rain or snow and it has worked flawlessly.

It is a small rounded cylinder which means it is small enough for everyday carry. This is something you overlook until you start carrying it all the time. Small and light are critical and the Glo-toob is 10/10 on both points (weights 34g with the battery).

It can be powered with different types of batteries (depending on the model) but I chose the AAA powered one (Original GT-AAA). As I travel and carry this with me, I need to know that I can buy the required power source for my gadgets easily and AAA batteries are available in every street corner anywhere in the world.

The last point was that it had to provide a 360 degree stream of light (similar to a glow stick), which it does. 

Using it

I own 2 GT-AAAs: one with a white LED and one red a one. It has 3 modes (you activate by twisting the cap on and off) high intensity (100%), low intensity (25%) and rapid strobe. Other models offer up to 11 modes and I saw a Chinese competitor with 21 modes but... and the but here is that simple is better. If I need to use this in an emergency, I don't want to fiddle with my EDC gear. By having only 3 modes, choosing the right one is simple.

In low power mode, it is a great long lasting marker light that you can strap on a dog collar or backpack. In high powered mode, it is a great emergency light (during a power outage) or a light you can give the kids without worrying about it breaking.

I have used it while camping to mark our campsite. I have used it when I had to stop on the side of a busy highway at night as a safety beacon. I have used it as a market when canoeing at night. I have used it during power outages and once when  I was stuck in a stopped elevator.

I have used it in high powered mode for about 6-7 hours (with a single AAA battery).

Negative comments

When working on a review, I scour the internet looking for comments (positive or negative) from other users. In this case, I saw a handful of comments touching similar points and I wanted to address these ones:

  • disappointed by the amount of light : this is not a flashlight replacement. If you buy it thinking it is you will obviously be disappointed. This is a replacement for a chemical glow stick.
  • leaked during a dive : With over 85 dives under my belt, I can tell you that I have lived through all kinds of equipment failure at depth. That's one of the reasons everything is done in twos. You never dive alone, you have 2 regulators, etc. Anytime you are in a remote location (whether on land or in the water), you need backups for all your primary systems. Failures happen either because the gear is defective, improperly maintained or improperly used. 
  • worked only a couple of times : I have 2 of these lights and other friends have bought them after testing my units. My units have been in my EDC kit for 4 years now and even after diving, camping and being abused in torrential rain and deep snow, they perform flawlessly. Of the 10 or so units owned by friends and acquaintances, none have failed. It's important to realize that any electronic product can fail and buying it from a reputable reseller (like Amazon) means you have someone to contact if you do need a warranty replacement. 

The Chinese knockoffs

Search AliExpress.com for Glo-toob, EDC warning light or a combination of these types of keywords and you will find hundreds of listings selling these types of tubular lights. I ordered 3 of them ranging from 8.99-14.99 and most ended up being branded EDCGear. 

These are cheap knockoffs and you can feel it immediately. The plastic is light and flimsy. The units have cheap O-rings and none of them lasted more than a couple of uses. The light quality wasn't as good. Build and construction weren't as good and all 3 died immediately when I performed the sink dunking water test (even though they were marketed as waterproof). 

Sometimes the Chinese versions as just as good but this is not one of them. Save yourself the frustration and buy the original from a retailer that will stand behind the warranty.

Conclusion

Priced at around 4-5 times the price of a high quality chemical glow stick, these Glo-toobs are a great investment and will quickly become part of your EDC, camping and survival gear. I love them and recommend them.