Last week, I walked into Walmart with a simple challenge: build a full everyday carry kit for $10 or less.

I failed that challenge by $1.88, spending a total of $11.88 plus tax. But even though I went over budget, I was still pretty happy with the items I picked.

This week, I decided to try the same challenge at Harbor Freight.

The result?

Another fail, but a minor one.

I spent $10.95 plus tax, which means I missed the $10 target by only 95 cents. The bigger issue was that I came up one item short because I could not find a notebook or even a single usable piece of paper in the store.

Watch the Full Video

The Challenge

The goal was to walk into Harbor Freight and put together a basic EDC kit for $10 or less.

I wanted to cover the same general categories as the Walmart challenge: a cloth item, fire source, writing tool, light, cutting tool, and notebook.

Harbor Freight did okay in some areas, but it definitely struggled in others.

The Final Total

• Microfiber cleaning cloths: $3.99
• Magnesium fire starter: $1.69
• Two-pack jobsite permanent markers: $0.99
• Small keychain light: $1.99
• Gordon snap blade utility knife: $2.29

Total: $10.95 plus tax

So yes, this was technically a fail. But missing the budget by 95 cents is not exactly a flaming shopping cart rolling down a hill. It is more of a small budget bruise.

Item 1: Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

Last week at Walmart, I used a bandana as my hank, handkerchief, and general-purpose cloth item.

At Harbor Freight, the closest option I found was a pack of microfiber cleaning cloths.

They cost $3.99, making them the most expensive item in this haul.

I am not wildly excited about this choice, but it does work as a cloth item. Microfiber can be useful for cleaning glasses, screens, tools, gear, and other items. It is not as versatile as a cotton bandana, but it has a place.

Item 2: Magnesium Fire Starter

I could not find a lighter at Harbor Freight, which surprised me.

Since I still wanted a fire source, I picked up a magnesium fire starter for $1.69.

This is not as convenient as a Bic lighter. If you are trying to light a candle, cigarette, or anything quick and simple, this is going to be a lot more work.

That said, it is still a legitimate fire-starting tool, and it is something I wanted anyway, so it will not go to waste.

Item 3: Jobsite Permanent Markers

The best value item in this entire Harbor Freight haul is probably the two-pack of jobsite permanent markers.

For $0.99, these are genuinely useful.

They have a pocket clip, an anti-roll body design, and they are designed to write on materials like wood, concrete, tape, brick, and more.

Harbor Freight claims they can be left capless for up to 144 hours. I have not tested the full six days, but I have come close, and they still worked.

Dollar for dollar, this may be one of the best items in the store.

Item 4: Small Keychain Light

The cheapest light I could find was a small keychain-style light for $1.99.

It comes with a battery, has a magnetic back, includes a carabiner, and offers three modes: high, low, and strobe.

At first, I was not very excited about it. I still do not think I would want to pocket carry it as my main EDC flashlight, but as a keychain light, it makes more sense.

The more I looked at it, the more I started to warm up to it.

Item 5: Gordon Snap Blade Utility Knife

For the cutting tool, I picked up the Gordon snap blade utility knife for $2.29.

Harbor Freight had a couple of utility knife options, but I chose this one because it was cheaper and easier to maintain.

Instead of needing a separate tool to replace the blade, you can snap off the dull section and expose a fresh cutting edge.

For a budget EDC challenge, this is probably one of the stronger picks in the haul.

The Missing Item: Notebook

The biggest failure of the Harbor Freight challenge was the notebook.

I could not find one.

No pocket notebook. No small pad. No obvious paper option beyond the receipt.

That means this kit came up one item short compared to the Walmart haul.

Was the Harbor Freight EDC Kit Better Than Walmart?

I am not sure.

The Harbor Freight haul had some useful items, especially the markers and utility knife. The magnesium fire starter is useful too, but not nearly as convenient as a lighter.

The Walmart kit felt more complete because it included a bandana, lighter, penlight, pens, notebooks, and a cutting tool.

The Harbor Freight kit came in cheaper than the Walmart kit, but it also came up short.

Previous Walmart EDC Challenge

You can watch the previous Walmart EDC challenge here:

Watch the Walmart $10 EDC Challenge

Final Thoughts

This Harbor Freight EDC challenge was technically a fail, but only a minor one.

I missed the budget by 95 cents and could not complete every category I wanted, but I still found a few useful items.

The jobsite markers were excellent. The utility knife was practical. The keychain light was better than I expected after giving it a second look. The microfiber cloths were not exciting, but usable. The magnesium fire starter was useful, even if it was not as convenient as a lighter.

Overall, I still think Walmart won this round, but Harbor Freight was not a total loss.

Outro Music

The music at the end of this video was created by me using Suno AI.

Use the following link to listen to it in its entirety:

Listen to the full track

Thanks for stopping by Surviving the Daily. Let me know which budget EDC haul you liked better: Walmart or Harbor Freight.