An everyday carry is only as good as the gear you “actually” carry every day. I know I’m certainly guilty of it but buying any type of gear only to forget it at home, will often just lead to us getting caught in a situation unprepared and wishing we had just remembered that one crucial piece of gear.
A good EDC organizer can go a long way to help protect against this, as it gives everything a place so you can quickly check what’s missing and make sure you never leave a critical piece of gear at home.
There are countless options available on the market, so it’s best to choose an organizer that integrates well with your needs, and with the flexibility to adapt as your EDC continues to evolve and grow.
After testing numerous organizers with electronics in mind, we’ve narrowed it down to the following organizers which we think are best for taming your EDC tech gear:
- Maxpedition ERZ
- Luxtude Compact Travel Organizer
- TWOD Organizer
- Cocoon Grid-It
- BagSmart Electronics Organizer
- Pelican R40 / R60
- Bovke Hard Travel Case
- VERTX Mini Organizational Pouch
Let’s take a look at the details of each one of these organizers and why we picked them. We will also take a look at how they may work for you as it relates to size, flexibility, security, integration, and protection.
What to Look for in an EDC Organizer?
Before we can start comparing organizers, it makes sense to know exactly what criteria we should be looking for when selecting the best electronics organizer.
In addition to the obvious considerations with any piece of gear, such as cost and build quality, it’s also important to consider a few other critical factors.
Sizing and Flexibility
For any organizer to work well, it actually needs to be able to store our gear without bulging at the seems or having the last few items simply stuffed into the container.
Choosing an appropriately sized organizer is incredibly important so you should always make an honest assessment of what you need to carry before choosing any pack or EDC organizer.
Overpacking not only makes it harder to organize and find your gear when you need it, but also risks shortening the life your organizer by increasing the amount of stress placed on both the zipper and stitching.
While choosing to get a container that fits all of your current gear perfectly is important, you should also look at what gear you may build into your EDC in the future. This allows you to expand and build your EDC without needing to rush out to purchase a new organizer.
It’s a nice way of justifying your adding new bags and cases to your collection, but if budget is a concern, then looking for gear that will last us for years is incredibly important.
Security
Often, our EDC organizers store some of our most sensitive gear, so keeping it secure should always be a priority.
Security is especially important with your electronics, as losing digital equipment (such as flash drives, SD cards, and other storage mediums) can lead to private information falling into the wrong hands and completely compromising ourselves and our information.
The ability to lock an organizer can go incredibly far to boost this security, as although there are multiple ways to pick a lock or bypass a zipper, for most attacks of opportunity the mere presence of a lock will go a long way to dissuade a thief.
Locks are only one method of increasing the security, so we should also look at the materials the organizer is constructed out of to ensure they cannot be easily cut open as a means to quickly access the contents within.
Finally, the design of our organizers and cases can go a long way to help mitigating the potential security concerns as the contents of a flashy and ruggedized case will always appear much more attractive to an attacker than a simple black organizer that discretely blends in with your bag.
Security may not always be a concern, especially if we are only looking to store and organize a few cables and chargers within our EDC but is still worth considering given the importance and value of our electronics.
If you are carrying something of value, you will probably want to consider more of a layered approach to how you keep your gear secure.
Integration
If we’re repeatedly using a piece of gear throughout the day, it’s a normal to start using our bag as a catchall that we simply just dump gear into before moving out.
It’s an easy habit to fall into, but to really get the most out of a piece of organizational gear, it’s better if we can find ways to directly integrate it into our current set up.
Two of the most effective ways to achieve this is through either MOLLE, which can be attached to either an internal or external panel of the bag, or Velcro, allowing you to quickly adhere the organizer for quick access and storage.
While MOLLE is an incredibly versatile storage platform, I personally much prefer the use of Velcro for most of my gear because of how quickly pouches and organizers can be readjusted, but this is entirely a matter of preference.
On the other hand, if you have a dedicated pocket, pouch, or other location to house your organizer you may desires something that is more “slick” in design.
There is nothing wrong with going with a simplified case that will slip neatly into a pocket, but if you can find one that will neatly work with your current bag, the increased functionality can make the organizer much more usable, so it is worth considering when choosing your next organizer.
In other words, keep integration in mind.
Protection
Finally, while an EDC organizer can go a long way to help keep our essentials conveniently sorted, they can also be a great way to help protect them from damage.
Whether this protection is from harsh operating environments, or general wear and tear from simply being thrown in a bag day in and day out, we want our cases to be able to protect the contents inside.
This protection can come in a range of ways, but the most common things to consider include:
- Crush resistance
- Water and dust resistance
- Cut resistance
Both cut and crush resistance is influenced primarily by the material and structure of the organizer we select, but there is obviously a compromise here.
Larger rigid cases can perform extremely well in protecting our equipment, but their reinforced case often makes them considerably weightier and therefore more noticeable in a daypack.
They also tend to take up a lot of room because they have no way to conform to the area they are being housed. Nor can they compress down when they aren’t filled to capacity.
While much of the protection your equipment has from the elements will come from your actual daypack, it is still important to consider how well your organizer can hold up against dust or water from other sourced, such as a leaking water bottle.
With some of our equipment and devices literally costing thousands of dollars, investing in this investing in this area can go a long way to increasing the longevity of your electronics.
What are the Best EDC Tech Organizers?
There is a huge amount of variability within everyday carry organizers, from tiny pocket organizers to cases big enough to hold your tablet as well as its accessories. So before we get into the details, it makes sense to go over their basic specs to help you find what you’re looking for.
| Manufacturer | Size (“) | Weight (Oz.) | Integration | Rigid-Body | MSRP |
| Maxpedition MRZ | 6.0×8.0x2.0 | 7.0 | MOLLE | Yes | $29.52 |
| Luxtude | 10×7.3×1.5 | 5.8 | – | No | $9.99 |
| Twod | 8.3×4.3×2.0 | 3.2 | – | No | $9.50 |
| Cocoon Grid-Its | 12.0×8.0x0.5 | 11.7 | – | No | $19.10 |
| BagSmart | 9.4×6.7×1.4 | 3.9 | – | No | $12.79 |
| Pelican R40 | 9.8 x 6.1 x 2.9 | 29 | – | Yes | $46.70 |
| BOVKE PU | 6.7×3.8×1.9 | 3.6 | – | Yes | $11.99 |
| Vertx Mini Pouch | 7.0×6.5×2.5 | 3.6 | Velcro | No | $29.99 |
Maxpedition ERZ
Along with their incredible line-up of bags, Maxpedition is arguably most well known for their wide selection of EDC organizers, ranging from small pocket organizers to much larger dedicated admin pouches.
The Maxpedition ERZ continues their Advance Gear Research line of hard-use gear, providing a non-tactical sleek organizer that can hold everything you could ever need in your electronics EDC.
While much larger cases are available from Maxpedition, such as the Beefy and Chubby organizers, the ERZ feels like a good compromise.
It’s certainly big enough to carry a charger, phone, and cables but is still small enough that it feels natural to pull out in public without drawing attention to your gear.
On the topic of gear, Maxpedition makes organization within the ERZ incredibly easy including a large zippered compartment (large enough for most laptop chargers), two rows of elastic webbing (of various sizes), and a slip pocket located at the rear of the organizer.
Unlike some of the other organizers in this list, Maxpedition takes a rather unique approach to protection by using a rigid front exterior sealed by a soft and water-repellent rear MOLLE compatible flap.
This approach offers the best of both worlds, as the exterior front shell holds up incredibly well against bumps or hard surfaces, while the rear flap offers a small amount of expandability in case you need to hold larger items.
With almost 20 organizers, this article could be dedicated to Maxpedition itself so they’re almost guaranteed to have something to meet your needs, but for the level of organization and protection offered by the ERZ, it really can’t be beaten.
If you want to take a look at a comparison of Maxpedition’s original line of organizers, be sure to check out our size guide their old school organizer family.
Personal Experience
Maxpedition has been my personal go-to company for organizers for years now, and the ERZ did not disappoint.
After three years of near constant use since it’s original release in 2017, it looks almost as good as new with no worn stitching or marks on the exterior of the case.
My biggest complaint, one that has been brought up repeatedly with some of Maxpedition newer bags, is that while the zippers are lockable and produced from Y.K.K, they have a tendency to stick.
This is especially noticeable when the case is fully loaded, but for almost $30, makes the experience feel less premium.
Luxtude Compact Travel Organizer
If the AGR lineup from Maxpedition feels too tactical for you, the Luxtude may be a better choice, guaranteed to fit in in almost any office environment.
Although much cheaper than some of the other organizers on this list, the Luxtude still feels like a quality piece of gear, made from a water-resistant “ballistic” nylon that should hold up nicely at the bottom of your daypack or carry-on.
However, in regards to the phrase “ballistic” that word may be a bit of a stretch.
It’s safe to say this is one of the most tech-orientated organizers on this list, including dedicated pockets for SD memory cards, in addition to the elastic webbing and zippered pockets also found in other organizers.
While this does allow for a great amount of storage, retention of your gear is lacking compared to other packs as all of the elastic loops are sized universally meaning holding smaller items as pens or flash drives can be difficult.
There are certainly areas this pack could be dramatically improved, such as with higher quality zipper pulls, but for $9.99, this organizer does almost everything that is expected of it, and remarkably well to say the least.
Personal Experience
I would be lying if I didn’t say how pleasantly surprised I was this this organizer, especially with how little it can be purchased for.
The amount of organization contained within this pack worked perfectly to hold almost all the cables I needed, and while it did feel cramped trying to force a MacBook charger into the pack, it allowed me to carry everything I needed in a neat and tidy package.
There are area’s I would like to see be improved if I were ever to carry it day-to-day, as the zipper quality and locking capability have a long way to go before they’re perfect, but it did its job keeping my gear safe and organized, so I really can’t fault it at such a low cost.
As you will notice, it is very similar to the BagSmart model listed below. I’m not sure who copied who, but there is definitely some of that going on.
TWOD Organizer
A large organizer can be great for those who need it, but for the minimalists among us, a much smaller organizer such as that offered by TWOD may be all the solution you need.
While compact, this organizer is still incredibly capable of storing a few essential items, such as a power bank and cables, with still some room to spare.
Of all the soft-shell cases in this list, this is arguably one of the most reinforced available with thick padding surrounding most of organizer, made only more protected by a reversed zipper that dramatically helps with water and dust resistance.
The interior organization is very similar to that of the Maxpedition ERZ, with elastic webbing, zippered and open pockets, but is dramatically improved thanks to the high contrast material lining the organizer making it incredibly easy to find the items you need, even in low light environments.
For how well built this organizer is, it’s unfortunate its small size makes it unsuitable for most people, but if you are looking to only store a small number of items, you really can’t go wrong for $9.50.
Personal Experience
For most of my work, I’m carry at least a laptop and tablet, so I unfortunately found this case far too small to be used practically as an electronics organizer.
It’s a shame this organizer isn’t compatible with the needs of a laptop, because it held up incredibly well while I was carrying it and will likely find its way into my permanent EDC in a different role.
Cocoon Grid-It
We’ve talked a lot about clamshell style cases, but these are not the only type of organizer available on the market.
Cocoon Grid-It organizers are incredibly flexible platforms that allow you to retain gear of almost any shape or size using elastic bands against a rigid board.
While these lack any security, they are an incredibly convenient way to store and access large pieces of gear ranging from flash drives to much larger power banks and even external hard drives.
This style of organizer works incredibly well for larger items, but Cocoon improve their organization one step further by including a very large, yet thin, zippered compartment on the rear of the board.
It’s a nice addition, but is not overly practical for real storage, as the pocket is too large to store small items like memory or sim cards, but too thin to hold any items of real value.
If you’re a fan of MOLLE but want something with some more functionality and less tactical appearance, Grid-Its style of organization can be an excellent option, as long as you are willing to sacrifice security, in the name of convenience.
Personal Experience
The versatility of Grid-Its system genuinely cannot be beaten by most other organizers, made only more impressive by the level of retention this system offers. Even without having my gear safely sealed inside a case, I was never concerned about a piece of gear coming loose.
Unfortunately, even with incredible retention, I still wish the elastic system had been built into a sealable case to prevent everything being on display and potentially advertising equipment to a potential thief.
I am curious to see how the elastic holds up over time, but for non-critical pieces of gear, this has to be one of my personal favorite styles of organizers, simply because of how flexible the platform is.
BagSmart Electronics Organizer
If capacity is your biggest consideration when purchasing an EDC organizer, the largest organizer on this list might just be able to meet your needs.
Much like the other budget cases on this list, it includes most of the features you can expect from any organizer, including retention straps and zippered pockets large enough to fit a computer mouse or power bank.
What makes the options from BagSmart unique is that it is produced in two variants, one designed specifically for simple cable management and a second built with a dedicated compartment for much larger items, including tablets (up to 10.5”), cameras, and laptop chargers.
Despite being advertised as a “small” travel organizer, the BagSmart is anything but small, although this is in no way a criticism.
Even with its large capacity, the case still appears sleek and should be able to comfortably fit into even small messenger bags (such as the 5.11 RUSH Mike), while also being perfectly suited to those of us who need rapid access to gear beyond a few chargers.
Personal Experience
This has to be one of my favorite organizers I’ve tested, especially considering how affordable it is.
I would prefer the elastic webbing to come in a greater range of sizes in order to improve retention of smaller items, but BagSmart makes up for this with the huge range of pockets, so I was able to easily find a place for almost all of my gear.
If I was to carry this daily, I would definitely end up going with the larger variant as it is much more suited to carrying laptop chargers, but with lockable zippers and a thin layer of padding around most of the case, I would be happy using either option within my everyday carry.
Pelican R40 / R60
In a similar manner to Maxpedition, Pelican is renowned for making hard use gear, designed to survive in almost any environment you may find yourself in.
Their R40 and R60 lineup of organizers are no different, sporting an IP68 water resistance rating and an incredibly durable ABS shell, to protect your gear from drops.
Compared to pretty much every other organizer we’ve looked at today, the R60 is by no means lightweight and is more suited to austere environments than any office within America, but when protecting your gear truly matters, it cannot be beaten.
While it is lacking in terms of actual organization, dividing the case into only three seconds, pelican include Velcro strapping to help keep your cables neatly tucked away.
At $65.00 (R60), this is by no means a case for everyone, but if being able to lock away sensitive gear with the knowledge that no matter what happens it will remain undamaged, then the Pelican may be the perfect choice for you.
Personal Experience
It’s unfortunate the weight of this case really lets it down, because it’s the one case I keep going back to when the situation justifies it, such as when traveling internationally.
Out of the box, the level of organization is lacking but if you’re willing to do some work, it is possible to line the bottom of the box with Velcro in order to make storing your gear just slightly more convenient.
What really wins this case over for me is the level of security offered, as once locked, it is almost impossible to get into without serious time and effort or the potential use of power tools.
Pelican make some great quality gear for your electronics, but in my experience, the R60 is one of the most versatile options, whether you need to store a few cables or more sensitive items, such as a phone or memory devices.
Bovke Hard Travel Case
Another organizer built with protection in mind can be found with the Hard Travel Case from Bovke.
Made from a reinforced PU “leather”, the hard shell of this case offers much of the same protection found with the Pelican case, while still being much more suited to the life of a gray man.
The case is certainly limited in terms of organization, with only a mesh pocket and two retaining straps, but thanks to the bright orange backing lining the interior of the case, it is very easy to find even the smallest items inside it.
For $11.99, the BOVKE does an incredibly good job at protecting your items but is rather restrictive in the amount that can be carried.
With that said, they offer a range of dedicated cases specifically for protecting gear such as hard-drives, power banks and even medical equipment, so as long as you are not looking to store a large amount of gear, this very well may be the case for you
Personal Experience
The Bovke feels like an incredibly premium product and does an incredibly good job at protecting your gear, but much like the Pelican case is again let down by its lack of organization.
The case itself worked very well to store my MacBook charger, but fails to organize much else beyond a charger and one or two cables if you are lucky.
If that’s all you need from an organizer, you could do much worse, but the design of this case makes it very inflexible meaning it wouldn’t be too long until you needed to buy another organizer.
Vertx Mini Organizational Pouch
One of the many benefits of purchasing a Vertx bag is their integration with tactigami, and the mini organizational pouch is no different.
Designed primarily to be an additional admin pocket that can be positioned anywhere inside your bag, the organizer contains a single primary zippered compartment (with an internal divider) and two exterior pockets with Velcro retention straps.
The case is on the smaller side, designed so it does not interfere with the main storage compartment of your bag, but still has plenty of room to store the essentials, such as a laptop charger.
Unlike most of the other organizers included in this list, rather than having a clamshell design, this organizer is intended to be top loaded, making it much easier to pull out a single cable while the case is in your bag without the fear of having all of your gear dump out.
Vertx also provides a much larger variant of this organizer, but for its sleek design and compact form factor, the mini organizer should easily meet most people’s needs.
Personal Experience
Compared to some of the bother bags on the market, Vertx bags can be slightly lacking in terms of organization, so I found the organizer to be a great addition to my Commuter 2.0 sling.
I was able to comfortably fit all of my gear inside the organizer, although it’s square design does make it unsuitable for larger styles of power bank, such as the Anker PowerCore 20,000.
The biggest concern I found with this organizer is that the Velcro has a slight tendency to peel around the edges, but even with this issue, the organizer reliably stayed in place until I physically removed it from my bag.
Conclusion
Choosing the right organizer for your EDC can make all the difference in how enjoyable your carry experience is.
Out of all the ones we’ve seen today, Maxpedition still remains one of my go-to companies as their huge range of products can be used in almost any scenario. But, much more affordable options are available on the market and perform the role just as well.
I find myself using a variety of the options above depending on the task and the type of gear I’m organizing. Fortunately, there should be an option for everyone.
If you’ve found an organizer that you liked, but need inspiration of what to keep in it, be sure to check out some of our other EDC articles, including our pieces looking at your general EDC and dedicated tech EDC.