5.11 ABR Gift Set – an EDC Starter Kit

Everyday Carry (EDC) has become an industry unto itself. I’m old enough to remember when EDC was your wallet and car keys. Significant additions might have been a pack of cigarettes, a lighter if you were a smoker (As many people were back in the day). Nowadays, EDC covers more personal carry items from medical, phone, chargers/cables, lights, and much more. There are gadgets and tools for everything from keys to wallets that have become highly individualized. For those who are looking to ease decision-making when choosing items for EDC, there are ready-made EDC sets. One of the new EDC sets for the holiday season from 5.11 is the ABR Gift Set. Currently on sale for $90

The ABR Gift Set includes a knife, a steel money clip, and a rescue pen. Starting with the knife, the Flyte Elite SP Knife is made from S35VN steel, with an FRN handle and a spear point blade. A liner lock keeps the blade secure when open, and the blade smoothly flips open with a flick of your finger, snapping securely into place. The edge is razor sharp right out of the package. The pocket clip is reversible and rides deep in your pocket, allowing for low-profile carry. There is also a lanyard hole, should you need to secure it to yourself to prevent loss. The overall profile is 7.35″ open, 4.25″ closed, making the Flyte a compact and lightweight package for everyday carry. I call knives this size and weigh a professional’s knife. Given that it can disappear in any attire and not attract attention to itself or you in any setting. This knife can hold up its end by doing everyday chores like opening packages, envelopes, and other daily cutting jobs.

The second item in the lineup is the Steel Jacket Card Clip (SJCC), which is a money clip with options. The SJCC is made of 420J2 steel and easily holds your cash and cards. In an age where credit cards and digital payment methods abound, it’s good to see a product that supports the use and carrying of cash. Having worked security gigs after hurricanes where the power was out, I’ve come to realize that cash is still king in many places/times. Not only does the SJCC carry your cash and cards, but it also incorporates the following capabilities.

• Pry bar
• Nail pull / Wire stripper
• Bottle opener
• Flat head driver
• 5 metric wrench
• 1/4 hex bit

Nowadays, these capabilities may seem gimmicky for everyday carry when you’ve got all your EDC tools at hand. That may be until you’re traveling on a plane with a pounding headache, with only your carry-on bag, and are trying to get an individual-use packet of Tylenol open with just your hands. Maybe it’s just me, but the ability to pull out the SJCC and cut a little notch into the packet to open it is golden. Another point is the lightweight and compact profile of this tool; it weighs nothing in your pocket. I have an earlier model, and it is noticeably wider and heavier than this model.

The last tool is the Vlad Rescue Pen (VRP), which is a writing instrument that incorporates the capability to extract yourself out of a vehicle or structure with its ability to break glass in an emergency situation. It can write under pressure, and though not mentioned, it could be pressed into use as a self-defense tool. The VRP is made from lightweight aerospace-grade aluminum, has a medium-point black ink cartridge that will work under pressure. Compatible ink cartridges are available from the following companies: Fisher PR series, Rite in the Rain 37R, 47R, 57R, and Schmidt EasyFlow 9000 series. Personally, I prefer medium point pens and found this one to write very smoothly. The ink pen point is a twist-style open/close mechanism. There is a carbide tip at the opposite end that will break tempered auto glass. The carbide tip is protected by a screw on cap to prevent injury or damage. The surface has gimping to ensure a positive grip under any conditions. The overall length is 143mm, and includes a strong pocket clip.

Although I didn’t have the opportunity or need to break a window, I’m confident that the carbide tip would have no issues doing so. As I said, the use of the VRP as a self-defense tool is not addressed in the marketing materials, but I’m confident that in an emergency, it could be pressed into service in that capacity. Using techniques related to the Kuboton and for pressure points could be implemented, given the VRP size and strength. I will admit that I’d be hesitant to take the VRP through airport security for fear of having it confiscated by members of the TSA due to the appearance and pointed carbide tip.

In conclusion, the 5.11 ABR Gift Set gives the user a selection of high-quality everyday tools and carry items with multiple uses in one package. This is a great holiday gift set to get someone set up with a set of low-profile tools to help them through the daily chores and even emergency situations. MSRP is $120.00SALE $90

Thanks to 5.11 for providing the 5.11 ABR Gift Set for review.