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Before social media, forums were the heart of the EDC community – and they’re still going strong. Reddit, in particular, has thriving subreddits for EDC and related gear. Here are the top online forums and communities where EDC enthusiasts hang out:

• r/EDC (Reddit) – The main everyday carry subreddit, with about 230,000 members (and growing). This is a hub for all things EDC on Reddit. Users post photos of their carry, ask for recommendations (“What’s a good minimalist wallet?”), and show off new gadgets. The community is quite welcoming – you’ll see college students posting their budget EDC next to collectors with high-end gear. It’s a goldmine of real-world advice and inspiration. The sub’s tagline is essentially: “What essentials do you carry on a daily basis? Let’s discuss.” If you have a question about any EDC item, chances are someone on r/EDC has an answer or opinion. It’s the quintessential crowd-sourced resource in this hobby.
• r/knifeclub and r/knives (Reddit) – Two massive knife-focused subreddits, with ~881K and ~206K members respectively. Since knives are a cornerstone of most EDC kits, these subs are very relevant. r/knifeclub is slightly more community-driven (with memes, “mail call” posts, etc.), while r/knives is more photo and news oriented. In knifeclub you might find someone bragging about their new blade or asking how to remove a stripped screw, and folks are eager to help or congratulate. On r/knives, expect beautiful knife photography and announcements of new models. Both subs are treasure troves for knife enthusiasts – and they heavily influence EDC trends (e.g., if a particular budget knife gets hyped on r/knifeclub, you’ll soon see it in many EDC posts). For blade aficionados, joining these will keep you in the loop on everything from $20 budget folders to $1000 customs.
• BladeForums.com – The granddaddy of knife and EDC forums, active since the late 90s. BladeForums has sections for every type of knife (folders, fixed, custom makers, multi-tools) as well as a dedicated “EDC Gear” subforum. It’s an old-school message board with tens of thousands of members and an absolute wealth of archived knowledge. In fact, it’s so heavily trafficked that it saw about 975K visits in one month (Feb 2025) – proving it’s still a pillar of the community. BladeForums is great for in-depth discussions – e.g., multi-page debates on the best steel type for an EDC knife, or people sharing how their gear held up after years of use. The signal-to-noise ratio is high, thanks to experienced moderators and contributors. If you have a very specific or technical question (like “How do I clean the pivot on my Sebenza?” or “Is X brand’s heat treat good?”), BladeForums likely has the answer in an existing thread. It’s a must-visit for serious knife and tool geeks.
• EDCForums.net (Formerly EDCForums.com) – A forum dedicated entirely to everyday carry, covering “gear, gadgets, and gear-heads” as their tagline might say. EDCForums has sections for all categories: keychain tools, flashlights, bags, gadgets, pens, watches – you name it. It’s known as a friendly, collaborative place for EDC lovers worldwide. While smaller than BladeForums, it has a very committed user base. Notably, many custom EDC makers (those who craft small-batch items like bespoke flashlights or pocket tools) have a presence there, sometimes posting in the “Craftsman’s Corner” about their work. The forum format makes it easy to deep-dive into topics – for example, a single thread might showcase hundreds of photos of members’ pocket dumps over years. EDCForums also often organizes passarounds, challenges, and giveaways internally. It’s a bit quieter than the heydays of forums, but still one of the best organized repositories of EDC information and a place where true EDC nerds feel at home.
• r/flashlight (Reddit) – 66K members. EDC isn’t just knives – many would argue a good flashlight is equally essential. r/flashlight is the go-to subreddit for portable lighting. The community is extremely knowledgeable (sometimes humorously so – they call themselves “flashaholics”). If you need a recommendation on a tiny AAA light for your keychain or a high-powered torch for night hikes, this sub will guide you. They discuss beam patterns, LED tint, battery chemistries, and everything in between. It can get technical, but beginners are welcome (check their FAQ for a great intro). Quite a few EDC folks end up in r/flashlight when they decide the $10 hardware store light won’t cut it anymore and they want something better. Warning: this hobby can become as deep (and expensive) as knife collecting! But the subreddit will help you make informed choices – and celebrate with you when you get that new lumen monster.
• Other Niche Forums: CandlePowerForums (CPF) deserves a mention – it was the original flashlight forum and still operates with a vast archive. WatchUSeek is a huge watch forum (with an “Affordable Watches” subforum beloved by EDCers looking for that perfect beater watch). MultiTool.org forums similarly complement the blog mentioned earlier, for those specifically into Leathermans, Swiss Army Knives, etc. And not to be overlooked, r/onebag on Reddit (3.2M members!) – it’s about minimalist travel, but a lot of EDC philosophy overlaps (they discuss backpacks, pouch organization, etc., in ways an EDC person would appreciate). Depending on your particular focus (pens, key organizers, prepping, etc.), there’s likely a dedicated forum or sub – e.g., r/pens (360K members) for pen addicts. There are even firearm specific Reddits for r/Glock and r/CZfirearms. The EDC community truly spans many interest areas.

In summary, whether you prefer the old-school depth of forums or the quick interactions of subreddits, there’s a place for you. These forums and groups are where you can really immerse yourself in EDC culture – learning from veterans, contributing your ideas, and maybe even snagging some hard-to-find gear on secondary markets. It’s this peer-to-peer engagement that has always been the backbone of everyday carry as a hobby and lifestyle.