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You can write with just about anything. A cheap BIC pen, a crayon, a burnt match stick…even blood on the tip of your finger if you want to go primal. Making marks on a piece of paper isn’t hard or extraordinary, and it doesn’t require sophisticated gear. But finding the ideal everyday carry pen is about elevating a commonplace experience—jotting down a phone number or random thought—into something more enjoyable.
The best EDC and tactical pens are designed for more than just writing down notes. They are small, practical pieces of art that you can carry and enjoy throughout the day. The designers behind these tools have anguished over materials and weight. They’ve debated over mechanisms (push button or bold action?!) and fought over color ways and ink cartridges. The best EDC and tactical pens feel great in your hand. Sometimes, they’re so pretty, you just want to pull them out of your pocket and stare at them. Often, the best EDC pens offer tools that go beyond just the ability to leave marks on a page, like providing you with a handy weapon incase a situation gets dicey.
I found more than half a dozen amazing options, from tactical pens that double as self-defense weapons, to fidget-friendly utensils that help to keep my monkey brain busy while I’m scratching out a story. After testing most of these pens for more than two months, my favorite overall is The Kent, from EDC specialists The James Brand. The Kent is thoughtfully designed, with just the right size and weight to feel substantial in your hand without being overbearing in your pocket. It’s gorgeous to look at and has a smooth, easy bolt-action deployment mechanism. Most importantly, The Kent is a joy to write with thanks to its silky ballpoint tip. But The Kent isn’t the only pen I fell in love with during this testing process. Read on for more of my favorite EDC and tactical pens.
Related: I’m a Pocket Knife Snob and This New Leatherman Knife Is an Amazing EDC Blade
Best EDC and Tactical Pens at a Glance
- Best EDC and Tactical Pen Overall:The James Brand The Kent
- Best High-End EDC and Tactical Pen:Montana Knife Company x Tactile Turn
- Best BudgetEDC and Tactical Pen:Fisher Bullet Space Pen
- BestEDCand Tactical Self-Defense Pen:CRKT Williams Defense Pen
- Best FidgetEDCand Tactical Pen:Tactile Turn Side Click
- Best Mini EDC and Tactical Pen:Big Idea Design Base Line
- Best Tactical EDC Pen:Atomic Bear Stealth Pen Pro
- Best MultitoolEDC and Tactical Pen:Schrade Reckon Ultimate
Best EDC and Tactical Pens of 2025
Best Overall EDC and Tactical Pen: The James Brand The Kent
$79 at The James Brand
The Kent isn’t the most expensive pen in this article. It just looks and feels expensive. The stainless steel body is slim and streamlined, coming in at just 8.8mm diameter and 5.3” length, which means it’s slightly smaller than most pens in this article, making it easy to carry on the regular, but there’s enough girth and weight to it that it doesn’t feel flimsy in your hand. I love the bolt action mechanism, which is fluid and snappy, and the ball point, which takes Parker-style G2 refills, writes like a dream. And that’s ultimately why I chose this pen as the best overall; it’s the one I want to use the most because of the feel of the steel in my hand and the smooth action of the pen against the paper turns the act of writing notes into something that borderlines fun.
Best High-End EDC and Tactical Pen: MKC x Tactile Turn EDC
$125 at Montana Knife Company
Let’s start with the obvious: this pen is gorgeous. The aluminum body of this collaboration between Montana Knife Company and Tactile Turn is given a black anodized finish with orange accents. It is a striking combination that people will notice. The rest of the design is just as thoughtful, as the grip offers traction without being scratchy, and the smooth bolt action mechanism is swift and satisfying. It’s balanced in your hand—there’s weight but the aluminum construction keeps it light, and the writing action on the page is effortless.
Best Budget EDC and Tactical Pen: Fisher Bullet Space Pen
$34 at Fisher
Fisher’s Bullet Space Pen might be the original EDC writing tool. Invented by NASA to solve the problem of writing in zero gravity, the Bullet Space Pen famously writes upside down and under water. It also has a slim design that’s just 3.77” long when closed, making it the easiest pen to fit in your pocket for daily carry. The simple cap design is brilliant though, because if you put the cap on the back of the pen, it grows to full size, which means it’s easier to write with than most mini pens.. The design, and super-budget friendly price, make the Fisher Bullet Space Pen a no brainer for your EDC kit.
Best EDC and Tactical Self-Defense Pen: CRKT Williams Defense Pen Aluminum
$35 at CRKT
I’ve never stabbed a guy, but if I had to, the Williams Defense Pen would be a solid tool for the job. The six-inch long pen has a traditional cap/ballpoint design, but the tail end of the pen is narrowed down to a point that stops just short of being sharp. If you get into a tight situation, you can dig the business end of that pen into an attacker’s fleshy bits. It’s a serious defense weapon, but it doesn’t look like a tactical pen thanks to its effective, but subtle design. It has a great ergonomic fit in your hand when you’re writing, and I presume it feels just as good when you’re stabbing in self defense. CRKT makes an aluminum and plastic version. I tested both, but like the aluminum version better because of the weight; the aluminum version comes in at 1.4 ounces, while the plastic is just 0.8 ounces.
Best Fidget EDC and Tactical Pen: Tactile Turn Stonewashed Titanium Side Click
$119 at Tactile Turn
I love a good button I can click. Tactile Turn’s Side Click has two of them—a push button on the back of the pen to engage the tip, and a smaller side button that retracts the tip. The combination of the two buttons makes for a mesmerizing distraction when you have writer’s block. It’s also striking without being too pretty; The body of the pen has a matte finish while the clip and buttons have a shinier finish for a bit of pop. You can customize the length too, with three different options (a 4.6-inch mini, 5.3-inch short, and the standard 5.8 inch).
Best Mini EDC and Tactical Pen: Big Idea Design Base Line Bolt Action
$65 at Big Idea Design
Tiny pens are great because they’re easy to carry, so they can be a simple addition to your everyday carry kit. The problem with tiny pens? They’re no fun to write with. Miniature pens don’t fit well in your hand, so they’re fine for scribbling down a number, but actually writing with them sucks. Big Idea Design fixes this issue by giving their Base Line a bit more weight (1.2 ounces) and a robust, 11mm diameter, so the pen never feels flimsy in your hand. Choose your finish, from brass to black to a stonewashed titanium.
Best Tactical EDC Pen: Atomic Bear Stealth Pen Pro
$50 at Atomic Bear
The aptly-named Stealth Pen Pro hides a lot of practical, tactical tools within its ergonomic, bolt-action form. The base of the pen has a sharp, tungsten carbide glass breaker concealed beneath a rubber cap, while the ball point tip protrudes through jagged “teeth” designed to capture DNA while doing some damage on your assailant. The body is made from a weapon-grade polymer designed to take a beating, but it’s also really easy to hold when you’re writing down a grocery list.
Best Multitool EDC and Tactical Pen: Schrade Reckon Ultimate
$33 at Schrade
The intimidatingly named Reckon Ultimate is a large pen, weighing it at 1.3 ounces and almost 6” long and with a hefty diameter that might force you to second guess making it part of your EDC kit. But the aluminum casing is hiding a handful of tools, from a whistle to a glass breaker, so the larger package offers more than just a writing utensil. There’s even a ferro rod embedded into the body of the pen in case you’re in a jam and need to start a fire. And yes, this pen even writes, too.
What You Should Look for In an EDC or TacticalPen
The most important thing to consider when you’re buying a pen, is how you’re planning to use it. Do you want a pen that will impress at meetings? Or do you need a workhorse to take notes with on a regular basis? It sounds strange, but you should also consider the size and weight of the pen. Some pens I tested were too skinny, while others too big. I feel a bit like Goldilocks here, but finding a pen that fits well in your hand will make you want to use it more often.
Also take a look at the different mechanisms that control the pen. Bolt action pens are popular right now because the smooth action is satisfying and it gives you something to fidget with when you’re bored or thinking, but there are also push button pens and pens with old school caps. They all work; it’s just a matter of preference.
Why You Should Trust Me
I spent two months writing with these pens and others in a variety of different situations. The pens occupied my desk, and traveled with me on errands, road trips, camping trips and flights. I rotated through these pens constantly as I stuffed them into my pockets and backpacks, and used them to write thoughts and ideas into the small notebook that I carry with me at all times. Beyond my obsession with pens, I’ve been testing gear for more than 20 years and have written countless articles in Men’s Journal and other magazines.
