First EDC Gear Review - TEC Accessories P-7 Suspension Clip

So, I am doing my first EDC gear review  - the TEC Accessories P-7 Suspension Clip.  First, I feel that I need to get this out of the way, for anyone that doesn't know, EDC = Every Day Carry.

I know readers may wonder why I would choose such a small, and seemingly "uninteresting" piece of gear for my first review.  The answer is simple - I have come to love this little piece of EDC gear and after using one for a number of months, I can't imagine being without one.  It is, in my opinion, one of the primary building blocks of a true and practical EDC system.  Since I believe the P-7 is an essential component to a practical EDC system, I chose to start with it for my first review.

The above is what my TEC Accessories P-7 Suspension Clip looks like, and I put it next to a standard key for perspective.  The P-7 is designed to hold items that would be normally found on a keychain / key ring.  However, the problem with a standard key ring or keychain, is that typically eveything on the key ring simply goes to the bottom of your pocket.  The more items on the ring, the bulier the bottom of the pocket gets, resulting somtimes in a visible bulge in one's pocket area.

Now, I don't know about everyone else, but I am required to wear suits at least four days a week for my profession.  Having keys and other assorted gear clumped into the bottom of one pcoket gets uncomfortable, especially when you feel the keys or whatever else pocking through the pocket material and into your leg.  It's also not good for the pocket material.

Solution: the P-7 Suspension Clip.  It clips onto the pocket edge like a folding knife clip does, and "suspends" the items on the split ring mid-way in the pockets.  No more bulge at the bottom, no more keys or other gear pocking in the leg.  And it works!  Not to mention the clip has a very low profile on the pocket edge.

Now that I have metnioned the clip works and does what it is supposed to, let me go over the clip itself.  It is a stainless steel clip, and it feels sturdy.  It is thick, yet still lightweight, and can clip onto varying thicknesses of pocket.  I've had mine securly clipped to the pockets of dress slacks, khakis, cargo pants, jeans, and shorts.  On none of them has the clip felt loose.

I have only made one change or modification to my P-7 clip - I removed the split ring that it came with and replaced it with a #6 - 0.38" Stainless Steel Split Ring from Lighthound.  I happen to really like the stainless steel split rings from Lighthound.

The important question has yet to be addressed - price.  I'll admit that the P-7 is a little pricey, especially for those of us that work for a living.  When I first considered getting one, the price was pushing me away. With a MSRP of $12, it seems a bit much to pay for a little keyring-sized gear holder.  Especially since I came across directions on the Internet on how to get by with a binder clip.  All I can say is that the price, in my opinion, is well worth it.  Not only does it work, it's low profile, sturdy, and conveys a "collness" factor that a simple binder clip can't do.

The Tec Accesssories P-7 Suspension Clip is an essential piece of a practical EDC system in my opinion.  It is only my opinion, so take that for what it's worth.  I will most likely get one or two more for myself in the future, but one is enough, for now...

Above is what my P-7 currently holds - a Gerber Dime (recently replaced my Gerber Mini-Suspension Pliers) and a Mini Keychain Lighter.  Both are connected to the P-7 using McGizmo Nano Clips.  Both the Mini Keychain Lighter and McGizmo Clips came from Lighthound, and as with the P-7, I replaced the supplied split ring on the Mini Keychain Lighter with a stainless steel one.  I intend to replace the original black split ring on the Gerber Dime, with a black split ring from Lighthound in the near future.
I hope this review was useful.

More Recent Projects

Here are some more recent projects that I completed.  I saw the paracord ringed cross on Stormdrane's Blog, and between his instructions and those that can be found on JD's Tying It All Together YouTube Channel, I was able to put together a few ringed crosses.  I am still experimenting with them, as I beleive they make nice additions to a key ring or fob/lanyard, especially after seeing some of the examples on Stormdrane's Blog.

The above were a few fobs I made.  The Spydercos pictured are the Sprint Run Jester and the Ocelot.  Note the fob on the Ocelot has a Spyderco logo bead.  These beads were recently released by Spyderco and make a nice addition to a Spyderco.

This last piece is a fob that has a monkey fist and snake knots.  The monkey fist does not have any core, meaning it is purely a knot, and therefore, decorative only.  I've been experimenting lately with alternative methods of tying monkey fists - no core, small wooden bead, and ping pong balls.  One may ask why - it is to avoid the possibility of the moneky fist being classified as "slungshot".  I really like the monkey fist knot, but I have avoided making them with the usual core material, since I would like to avoid any chances of it being misconstrued as a "slungshot".  Also, I'm hoping that a ping pong ball core will result in a floating key fob, which could be very handy for things like boat keys.

So, for my first "real" post.  I'm going to post some examples of some recent and past 550 Paracord projects that I have done.  Most of the items in the pictures have been sold, given as gifts to family and friends, or is still available for sale at an upcoming local craft fair or gun show.  I was hoping to have sold some of the current inventory at a craft fair this weekend, but Tropical Storm Isaac dictated otherwise.

This is a neck lanyard that I made for my wife to use for ID badges at events.  I made one for myself as well, but in black and gray, instead of black and purple.  Each one of these types of lanyards uses approximately 46 feet of paracord - 2 individual strands of about 23 feet each.

This is a luggage tag and bracelet I made for my wife.  I have other examples of the luggage tag that is essentially a trilobite bar with a few diamond (lanyard) knots and some snake knots.  The bracelet is a stitched Solomon bar.

Here are some more bracelets: a stitched Solomon bar in red, white, and blue; a thatched Solomon bar (aka "Digicam"); Thin Red Line Solomon bar; a zombie themed toxic green and black ladder rack; and a black and white wide Solomon bar.

Assorted fobs and lanyards that I have recently made.

I am working on more fobs and lanyards and will have some more to post in the near future.

This is my first post and my first blog.  I'm no stranger to commenting on other blogs and forums, but this is my first attempt at having my own blog, so this will be an ongoing learning process.  Eventually, I may become a sophisticated blogger, but probably not.  For now, at least, I'm happy that the initial template is completed and I'm able to start rambling.