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Everyday Carry

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

Review of the Tom Bihn Synapse 25 EDC backpack

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know I evangelize the benefits of one bag travel. My go-to bag for the last ten years has been the RedOxx AirBoss, but I regularly get questions about Tom Bihn bags.

My 5-11 Rush 24 work backpack was starting to fall apart, and in my quest to find the "best" bag for me, I spend three months reviewing various bags. Here is my review of the Tom Bihn Synapse 25 backpack. 

The Tom Bihn Synapse 25 should be considered an Every day Carry (EDC) type of bag. While reviewing the bag, I wanted to evaluate :

  • the capacity
  • will it last
  • the look
  • daily use experience

The bag

I own many RedOxx products, and they are all made from a super durable canvas like material. RedOxx bags have a particular look and are designed for adventure first and foremost. This comes through immediately when you see the bag's metal clips, crazy strong claw strap, YKK number 10 zippers and the incredible stitching. 

Although the Tom Bihn looks more "conventional", the materials are all high quality, and you see this immediately with the zippers. The main section uses strong YKK #10 zippers Aquaguard, which are water resistant. The other compartments use YKK #8 Aquaguard.  You immediately notice that every component was purposefully chosen for looks, use, and durability. 

Color matched rubbery coating on the inside of the zippers.

Whereas my RedOxx bag zippers' chunkiness is immediately visible, the Tom Bihn Synapse 25 design blends them into the overall bag. 

Most backpack manufacturers throw two external size bottle holders, and the Synapse 25 only holds one bottle, but you realize why. The designers created a special bottle holder pocket in the middle of the backpack (it expands outward, so you don't lose packing space). At first, I found this strange until I realized this was done to maintain the proper balance of your backpack. As you use this bag, you realize a lot of thought has gone into every aspect of it. 

Right underneath the water bottle pocket is a smaller throw anything type pocket. When traveling, this is a great place to throw keys, your wallet, passport, small bud style headphones at the security checkpoint. When you realize how many personal items people forget at security checkpoints, you stop throwing your stuff in those plastic bins, and you want to shove them in these types of pockets. During daily use, I have a small personal first aid kit I carry here. 

Each side has a medium sized longish pocket where I store my beloved Julbo sunglasses. The right-hand pocket has a small organizational sinch pocket. The left one has storage for pens and a small/medium multitool. 

There is a bottom pocket that can be used to store (while traveling) packing cubes, small shoes, snacks, a jacket, toiletry bag or other items you may want quick access to. During my day to day use, I store my laptop power adapter and sizeable OmniCharge battery here with an assortment of cables. 

Loops, loops, and more loops (aka O rings). All Tom Bihn products are made to work together, and these loops are the key. You can use the countless loops to attack their cubes, caches or organizer bags inside any of the pockets. The Tom Bihn laptop sleeve allows me to pull out the sleeve at a security checkpoint for review, without the risk of forgetting my precious laptop at the TSA checkpoint.

The Freudian Slip

First, you have to laugh at the name and acknowledge these designers have a sense of humor. The Synapse 25 was designed to go from an EDC office bag to a travel system but how do you organize your office knick-knacks without permanently sacrificing space when traveling? You make the office organizer removable. 
The Freudian Slip 25 is designed to fit perfectly in your Synapse 25 and has 15 organizational pockets to store all of your stuff. It has two folder pockets, four open top pockets for small electronics, two mesh pockets, two pen pockets and of course a business card pocket. 

It costs $50 but can be a real organizational dream for Every day Carry. I use mine every day to carry papers, a notebook, my Skyroam Global Wifi hotspot and more. There are so many pockets most of mine are empty but still a wonderful add-on I highly recommend.

The lighting

They sell an Action Lights Guardian light on a strap you can hang on the inside of your bag (so you can find your items even at night). I already own a couple of guardian lights and love them for their durability, but I think they chose the wrong light for internal illumination. Don't get me wrong, the Guardian light is good for internal illumination but the GloTube is much better. There is free advice to your Tom Bihn designers. 

The bag also comes with an external strap that blends in and is invisible when not used, but allows you to strap an external Guardian light for visibility at night (walking, bicycling, etc.)

The details

Tom Bihn offers dozens of pouches, organizers, and straps that you can add to the Synapse 25 to customize it and make it your own. Evey accessory has a strap, hook or locking system that allows you to use it with every one of their products. These hooks are always robust and easy to use. 


It is only after a couple of weeks of use that I started to realize how much thought and care was given to every aspect of the backpack. As you use the bag and realize all of the design decisions they have made to make your life a little bit better, you can't help but fall in love with the product. 

The durability

In addition to very carefully thought out design, this bag is built durable without looking like it came from an Army Surplus store. I carried this bag into executive meetings and never felt out of place. This is especially surprising when you realize the quality of the components they have used. 

Tom Bihn advertises the shell material as 400d Halcyon which is a 420 denier ultra-high-molecular polyethylene ripstop material coated with a light urethane to make it water resistant. 

It feels like a soft high-quality nylon that can withstand being overstuffed and force zipped. The stitching is hidden where possible and where you can see it, it is high quality and you know it is going to be durable.  

The straps are basic and nicely padded. It feels solid and is comfortable for extended use. Many of the tactical bags have more padding but even when loaded, the Synapse never felt uncomfortable. 

This is the type of bag that will probably last for20 years without any issues.

The look

This is a bag designed for techies and not for ultra-modern style conscious turtleneck wearing millennials. Bags like the Minaal are much appropriate for those looking for stylish minimalist bags that can blend into the snobbish New York design scene. 

The Synapse 25 isn't "sexy" because it doesn't have a "modern" look. It doesn't have any waxed canvas or leather accents. 

The Synapse 25 is an ultra-utilitarian functionality first bag. Now to be clear. I carried the 5-11 Rush 24 tactical bag, so I am more concerned with usability than looks. 

Regardless of the "lacking" looks, the bag is so wonderfully designed and put together that I am convinced you will fall in love with it. But look at the pictures and judge it for yourself. You will either love it or hate it. 

When using this bag, you realize all of the small carefully thought out design decisions the Tom Bihn team made aligned with their design philosophy. This doesn't just feel like a $40 bag quickly put together to sell in bulk at Costco. 


Every time I use this bag, it is like having a conversation with the designers and learning how to use it better. As you use it, you will change your carry model and realize they thought of optimizations you may not realize until you've carried this for a couple of weeks.

Daily use

To truly rate the usability of a bag, you have to carry it for at least a month. After a month of daily use, I can tell you that the Tom Bihn Synapse 25 is a delight to use. 

Even when carrying it for hours across busy airports, it was comfortable.

The external organization pockets mean you can easily store and find your items without having to dig into a cavernous deep main pocket. 

The bag is packed with innovation that will make travel and daily use a joy, all packed in a deceptively simple looking bag. 
 

Recommendations

Handles on bags are important when you travel, and although the belt-like carry strap is durable, I wish it was a little more padded. For a bag that is so well designed, this top carry strap felt a little underwhelming. 

Like the carry strap, the belt strap (which is removable) is a thin strap of webbing material IT will definitely last but isn't very comfortable to use. Luckily it isn't something I use often, and I disconnect it and leave it at home

As mentioned above, I would replace the internal light (which is back ordered as I write this) to a GloTube instead.

I bought the chest strap upgrade that includes a whistle but it is a pretty useless whistle. They should have made something that sounds more like a JetScreem whistle than a quacking duck.

Conclusions

Using this bag for a month convinced me that this is my new every day carry backpack (and not just something I test, review and forget about). 

Every couple of days I slightly optimize my storage strategy and realize that this bag was conceived by incredibly talented designers, with strong knowledge of bag design, and that everything was done with intention. 

Using this bag is like having a conversation with the designers. This is the best way I can describe it. 

As long as the look pleases you, you will be delighted with this bag. Over the coming year, I hope to get my hands on more Tom Bihn products so I can review them for you. 

When I bought my first RedOxx product, I felt like I started a relationship with the company because they had a design philosophy I agreed with and subscribed to. 

Most bags since (even the Minaal, Tortuga, AER, etc. ) didn't have this special feeling. They felt like products. 

Having used the Synapse 25 for over a month now, I feel the same attraction to Tom Bihn as I did (and do) for RedOxx. These are companies with strong design principles that permeate throughout their entire product line. If you agree with those principles (and you really should), the Synapse 25 may be the gateway drug that draws you deep into the Tom Bihn line.

So do I recommend it? Absolutely without any reservation.

Plazmatic USB Rechargeable ARC lighter without butane

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

SEE UPDATE BELOW ABOUT WARRANTY CLAIM

As a frequent traveler, I had always been looking for a lighter alternative that is safe to fly (as long is it is in your carry-on) so I decided to test the Plazmatic X lighter. This is also convenient to users wanted alternatives to disposable lighters or ones that require constant refueling. 

The Plazmatic X is a well built product made from metal.It is light to carry every day (as part of your EDC) but feels solid and reliable in the hand.

Charging

The device charges with a standard USB cable and you can go from empty to full charge in about 1 hour (depending on your power source). In my testing, the device pulled 5.15V & 0.15A (from a 2.4A Capable charger). Once charging is complete, it is pulling 0 Amps, which is a good thing.

When you plug it in, the blue charging light comes on and the battery is full when that indicator light switches off. With a full charge, I was able to get about 80 "normal uses". I was able to charge the lighter with a USB wall adapter, car lighter USB charger, external battery, Biolite CampStove and 7W GoalZero solar panel.

The battery is not user serviceable and my question to support about battery cycles hasn't been answered yet. My expectation is that the battery should be able to support 300-400 cycles which means it gives you about 24000 lights (which should last 5 years or more for the average user).

Lighting

I was surprised to find that the Plazmatic X lighter was able to light anything I threw at it, as long as the item fit inside the 4 electrodes. It was able to light little twigs, cigarettes (no I don't smoke), candles, paper, and more within a second or two. 

You will have issues because larger items (like cigars) won't fit but this is the exception rather than the rule. 

The lighting mechanism is wind proof so there is no concern in high wind situations.

Uses

If you are a smoker, the use of a lighter is self explanatory. Even if you don't smoke, I believe you should carry a lighter with you all the time as part of your Everyday Carry Kit (EDC). I carry one along with a Victorinox SwissChamp. You can use it to :

  • light a fire
  • light a cigarette for a friend
  • light a candle
  • melt plastic
  • sterilize a needle
  • etc

Durability

I have been testing my device for 1 month and so far the product is working and looks exactly like it did the day I opened the package. If it breaks, I'll write an update but so far it looks like it will last

Chinese clones

I ordered a handful of Chinese clones from AliExpress (Alibaba) and found that the cheaper products were cheaply made. One refused to charge. The Other charged but gave me 20 lights per 1 hour charge. A third one was so slimy and the top fell off.

So forget about the $16 copies.

1 of the more expensive ones was a very good copy matching the performance of the Plazmatic but the price was so close, you might as well get the original from an American company.

Conclusion

My biggest issue was receiving the item. From the time the order was confirmed to the time I received the item was almost 3.5 weeks. I kept being told that they were waiting for their shipment from the manufacturer so...... I would say they need to improve their logistics processes. An item like this should be in a consumers hands within 3-4 days of being ordered. 

Putting shipping aside, I love the product and would recommend it to anyone looking for an easy to use every day carry reliable lighter than doesn't require fuel, is travel safe and not disposable (better for the environment). 

 

 

UPDATE 1-14-2017:

A day after writing this entry, my lighter malfunctioned and I send a warranty request to Plazmatic. A gentleman called Nils collected the required information and 2 days later, still no information about how they will proceed. I will update this post as the warranty claim progresses.