There are cameras for the masses, and then cameras for photographers. There are cars for commutes, and cars for automotive enthusiasts. Similarly, there’s EDC (Everyday Carry) meant for the general populace, and then there’s EDC designed specifically for people who need the right tool at the right time in the face of adversity. Every first responder will tell you that a faulty tool (or even the wrong tool) can sometimes be the difference between success and failure, life and death… which is why the EDC meant for these situations needs to be engineered to absolute perfection. Ask first responders what their favorite EDC is and the most common name will be the Skeletool RX from Leatherman.
Measuring about four inches long and tipping the scales at a mere five ounces, the Skeletool RX is a lesson in efficiency. Its stripped-down design—complete with a carabiner clip and integrated bottle opener—might initially give the impression of being too minimal. But spend a week with it, and you’ll likely change your tune. This tool is crafted for those who value simplicity and performance over frills, and it delivers that effortlessly. No unnecessary tools, no distracting details, nothing extraneous – just sheer productivity in a compact, rapid-deploy package.
Designer: Leatherman
The Skeletool comes in a few variants, the RX being one of them. Others are the standard Skeletool, designed for versatile everyday tasks; the CX, which features upgraded materials like DLC-coated stainless steel and a 154CM blade for added durability; and the Skeletool KB, a streamlined option that focuses on knife functionality with a built-in bottle opener. The RX, however, is purpose-built for emergency responders, with features tailored to critical, high-pressure situations. It includes a serrated 154CM blade with a hooked design for cutting through tough materials like seat belts or fabric with ease, as well as a carbide glass breaker for fast access in rescue scenarios. Couple this with the ’emergency’ red colorway and you’ve got yourself the perfect life-saving instrument for those who need split-second reliability.
The blade is a little different from the kind you’d find on other EDC knives. Made from 420HC stainless steel, it’s sharp, durable, and incredibly easy to deploy one-handed. Its unique edge helps with all kinds of cutting techniques, letting you effectively slice through everything from parcels to wood, paracord, and even seatbelts. The knife is big enough to handle slicing, cutting, and general utility tasks but compact enough to avoid being cumbersome. Its placement on the tool ensures it’s always at the ready, giving you a reliable edge in situations where you’d otherwise be scrambling for a dedicated blade.
The pliers, another essential feature, are no slouch either. Designed with needle-nose precision and a sturdy grip, they tackle both delicate and heavy-duty tasks with ease. Whether it’s tightening bolts or gripping small wires, the pliers hold up under pressure—literally. The inclusion of hard-wire cutters and regular wire cutters further adds to their versatility, ensuring that even small tasks around the house or campsite are covered.
On the end of one of its handles is the RX’s its bit driver system. It comes with two double-sided bits stored snugly in the handle, offering four functions right out of the box. Got a loose screw or something that needs repairing? The driver system comes in handy, but one of the bits holds a surprising function – armed with a carbide tip, this bit turns the RX into a glass-breaker that can easily shatter through even reinforced or toughened glass panels, making it perfect for emergency exits or evacuations. Leatherman’s upgrade packs and adapters also let you expand its capabilities like adding 1/4-inch bits or other add-ons.
All its features included, the Skeletool RX still fits comfortably in your grip. Its ergonomic design, coupled with carbon fiber handle accents, ensures a comfortable grip no matter the task. The balance between size and weight feels deliberate, allowing for maximum control without any awkward bulk. Even the mechanism for opening and closing tools has a tactile quality that’s oddly addictive—you’ll catch yourself flicking it open and closed just for the sheer fidgety satisfaction of that smooth motion. Finally, a carabiner clip on the handle lets you easily string it to your backpack or belt loop for secure carrying… and a deep pocket clip lets you slide the Skeletool RX into pockets and pouches for quick-access.
However, the Skeletool isn’t for everyone. Its focus on minimalism means it doesn’t pack as many tools as some of its bulkier competitors. If you’re someone who demands a full arsenal of gadgets in a multi-tool, this might feel limiting. That said, its design philosophy leans heavily on portability and daily practicality, so it never feels like it’s trying to be something it’s not. You can always enhance its functionality with additional bits, but even without them, it covers most of the essentials, making it perfect for its intended target audience of first responders and EDC enthusiasts who just need pure functionality in a small yet sturdy package.
The post The Ultimate Emergency Multitool: Why First-Responders Love the Leatherman Skeletool RX first appeared on Yanko Design.
Seatbelts are designed to not be cut. Glasses on cars are designed to not be broken. That’s all well and great until you find yourself in an emergency where you need to get out of a car and you’re stuck because of a jammed seatbelt or door. Although seatbelts and laminated glass panels are designed effectively to protect you, they can sometimes become the barriers to your safety – which is why it helps to have something like the Lifehammer Smart Automatic on you. A little larger than an AirPods case, the Lifehammer Smart Automatic is an emergency tool that helps you quickly slice through seatbelts and shatter glass windows so you can make an exit in a scenario where every second matters to your safety. Designed to be the essential EDC that every car needs, this $25 gadget could literally be a life-saver.
Designer: Lifehammer Products
The Lifehammer Smart Automatic has a pretty compact, self-explanatory design, which makes it perfect for intuitive use in a split-second emergency. The soap-shaped gadget is easy to grasp firmly in your palm, and comes with a cutout on the side that you hook around your seatbelt. Slide the device over and it slices through the seatbelt’s tough fibers like a knife through butter… while still maintaining a safe design that won’t ever accidentally hurt you.
The top of the Lifehammer Smart Automatic houses its glass-breaker tip. It’s easy to identify the two crucial features simply by looking for the orange accents which highlight the cutter and breaker respectively. The top of the Smart Automatic has a spring-loaded head that you simply press into a glass panel. Eventually, it triggers the glass-breaker tip to eject outwards and shatter any tempered or laminated glass – like the ones found on car windows and windshields. The process requires minimal effort and time, allowing you to quickly break through the glass in case your door gets jammed.
A winner of this year’s iF Design Award, the compact Lifehammer Smart Automatic is a lot smaller than most car-safety gadgets we’ve seen, and comes with its own holder that attaches to any part of your car using 3M adhesive tape. This means you can attach the Smart Automatic beside your seat or the gearbox, or even behind the rearview mirror so it’s easier to access than having to open the glove box and fish around.
The post This $25 Must-Have Car EDC Gadget Could Save Your Life In An Emergency first appeared on Yanko Design.
Cars and bikes have headlights, so why is it that joggers have to rely on phone flashlights or those awkward headlamps that workers in mines use? Designed by avid running enthusiast and Ironman participant Bryan Robbins, the Lumabelt is one part utility belt one part high-vis flashlight. Turning the humble runner’s fanny pack into something much more sleek and functional, Lumabelt is a slim wearable that stores your phone, keys, and wallet while you’re running… but it also comes with a built-in LED flashlight strong enough to illuminate the path ahead of you while you run, helping you see as well as be seen by others. Plus its $29 price tag makes it a no-brainer for pretty much anyone who finds themselves navigating the outdoors in the dark, whether you’re taking your dog for a walk, hiking a trail, or even if your job is in the security domain.
Designer: Bryan Robbins
Click Here to Buy Now: $29 $40 ($11 off). Hurry, only 4/116 left!
A seasoned athlete, Robbins took to the roads to exercise after realizing his sedentary lifestyle was making him gain a lot of weight. Motivation pushed him to get off his office chair and go get some physical exercise – but the late nights proved to be an obstacle to his routine. Regular head-mounted lamps weren’t elegant, and the waist-mounted ones he had were either way too bulky, or didn’t have lights that were powerful enough. The reason, Robbins figured, was that these products were created by companies built on profit motives, not by actual runners or by brands that listened intently to runners. The first prototype of the Lumabelt was soon born, given his need to have a ‘sleek’ utility belt that also housed a powerful seamlessly integrated light.
Barely 3 inches high, the Lumabelt is a pretty sleek runner’s belt that has enough space for your essentials, but also packs an incredibly powerful flashlight that does a much better job of helping you navigate the dark. The spacious pocket holds your keys, phone, AirPods case, and even a compact power bank if you want to charge your phone or your Lumabelt while running. A 420-lumen LED strip practically works as your own personal headlight, letting you see the road ahead of you very clearly. For comparison, smartphones have flashlights that max at around 60 lumens. The Lumabelt offers two brightness modes to choose from – a Mid-Bright that works well in dawn/dusk settings, and a Full-Bright that’s perfect for the dark.
The beauty of the Lumabelt’s design comes from Robbins’ own experiences, as he faced quite a few struggles with utility belts that were too bulky or bounced around while he ran. To counter this, the Lumabelt has a sleek, streamlined, body-hugging design that doesn’t flip-flop as you sprint. The LED strip is mounted at a lower-facing angle so the light shines directly on the ground ahead of you, and a built-in battery gives you roughly 3 hours of continuous usage on Full-Bright mode, which can either be significantly extended by using a power-bank, or by switching to the Mid-Bright setting.
The belt comes with a one-size-fits-all design, working on waist sizes between 28 and 60. The pockets are expandable too, letting you tuck more than just 1-2 items in if you want to carry other EDC too. Although designed for night runners, the belt proves to be pretty useful across a variety of needs and occupations. It works phenomenally well for campers and hikers, travelers, cave exploration, dog-walking, or even security. The Lumabelt starts at a discounted $29, with global shipping this September.
Click Here to Buy Now: $29 $40 ($11 off). Hurry, only 4/116 left!
The post Run Confidently at Night with Lumabelt: The Ultimate LED-Equipped EDC Utility Belt for Joggers first appeared on Yanko Design.
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