Every maker needs a pouch. Not a toolbox, not a roll — a pouch that lives in the truck, rides along to the shop, comes inside when a drawer pull goes sideways at 9pm. Mine is built around the Maxpedition Fatty Pocket Organizer, and over the years it’s earned every square inch of its footprint.
Here’s exactly what’s in it and why each piece made the cut.
Heads up: some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them I get a small kickback at no cost to you. Everything here is stuff I actually carry.
The Pouch Itself
Maxpedition Fatty Pocket Organizer — This is the room everything lives in. Elastic loops, zippered mesh, a clear ID window, and enough structure that it doesn’t flop around when half-full. The Fatty is the sweet spot: big enough for real tools, small enough to toss in a backpack or glove box.
If you take nothing else from this post, take this: a dedicated pouch beats a junk drawer every time. The whole kit is useful because it’s always together.
Cutting & Opening
- Spyderco Roadie Knife — Non-locking slipjoint, TSA-friendly in checked bags, and the Sheepsfoot blade is perfect for breaking down boxes without stabbing yourself or the contents.
- Gerber EAB Lite folding razor knife — Takes standard utility blades. When the Spyderco is too nice to abuse on drywall paper or a stubborn zip tie, the EAB eats it.
- Klein Electrician’s Scissors — Heavier than office scissors, notched for stripping, and they bite through zip ties, packaging, and thin sheet metal without complaint.
Light
- Olight i3T EOS — AAA-powered, tail-clicky, and bright enough for any real-world “what’s behind this panel” situation. I’ve tried fancier lights. This one just works.
Turning Things
This is where the kit earns its keep when im away from the shop as well as quick shop repairs.
- Klein Tools Mini Ratchet — 1/4″ drive, fits in a pocket, takes standard bits. Torque in a tight space without needing a full ratchet handle.
- Lexivon Torx Bit Set — Pairs with the Klein ratchet. Torx is everywhere now — electronics, appliances, automotive. Having the full range means you’re never the one standing there holding a stripped fastener.
- Folding Allen Wrench Kit — Metric and SAE sets, hinged like a pocketknife. Assemble-anything insurance. The are a lot of options available here. I grabbed an extra one I had from my bike tool kit.
- Small Flat and Phillips Screwdrivers — The little guys nothing else can reach. Eyeglass repair, terminal blocks, control panels.
Gripping & Adjusting
- Crescent Mini Adjustable Wrench — When the hex key kit doesn’t have the right size and you just need to turn one nut, this saves the day.
- Crescent Mini Tongue-and-Groove Pliers — 4.5″ channel-locks. Grip odd shapes, pull stuck connectors, hold small parts. Shockingly capable for the size.
- Tweezers — For the tiny stuff — splinters, SMD components, the screw you just dropped into the keyboard.
Measuring & Marking
- Mini Tape Measure — 6ft or 10ft, the pocketable kind. Ninety percent of “how big is that?” moments.
- 3×5 Notebook — Measurements, sketches, part numbers, the name of the guy at the counter who said he’d call you back.
- Pencil + Pencil Sharpener — Works on wood, metal (lightly), drywall, cardboard. Never smudges like a pen.
- Sharpie — For when you need it to be permanent or show up on dark material.
Fire
- Bic Lighter — Heat-shrink tubing, cauterizing paracord, lighting the shop burn pile, emergencies. Weighs nothing. Always glad it’s there.
Why This Kit Works
The rule I use for every slot: does this solve a problem I actually hit, or am I just collecting tools? Everything in the Fatty has earned its place by getting used. The stuff that doesn’t get used gets pulled out.
Start with a pouch. Fill it with what you actually reach for in a week. Let it evolve.
That’s the whole philosophy.
Got a piece of EDC kit I should try? Drop it in the comments or tag me @craftedwithmachines — always looking for upgrades.