If you've spent any time in everyday carry (EDC) communities, you've seen the question pop up again and again: what do you actually use a hank for? It's a fair one. Hanks — pocket-sized handkerchiefs built for daily carry — sit in that interesting space between utility and personal style. This guide covers the real, verified use cases that EDC folks rely on every day.
Drying Your Hands
The most straightforward use and the one that surprises people the most: a hank beats a paper towel in nearly every situation. Whether you're at a trailhead with no restroom facilities or leaving a restaurant with a weak hand dryer, a hank in your pocket is always ready. The 100% cotton face on Bee's EDC hanks absorbs quickly, and a quick shake and re-fold puts it right back in your pocket.
Cleaning Glasses and Phone Screens
This is the killer use case for EDC hanks with microsuede backing. Smudged sunglasses, a fingerprint-covered phone screen, a dusty knife blade — the buttery-soft microsuede backing on Bee's cotton/microsuede hanks is great for cleaning glasses, phone screens, knives, and other EDC items. You're essentially carrying a lens cloth you actually enjoy looking at.
Strong picks for this job include the Weathered Rose cotton/microsuede hank, the Vintage Map hank, and the Mario cotton/microfiber hank — the Mario hank is backed specifically in blue microfiber designed for cleaning glass and electronic screens.
Wiping Sweat
A warm day, a tough hike, a packed concert — having a soft cotton cloth on hand to wipe your face or neck is a simple comfort that adds up over a long day out. The cotton face of most Bee's EDC hanks handles this naturally, wicks moisture away, and tucks right back in your pocket.
Carrying a Backup Cleaning Cloth
Photographers, knife enthusiasts, and gear nerds already know this trick: a hank is a compact, washable, reusable detailing cloth you always have on you. Community discussions in EDC forums consistently point to hanks as the go-to for wiping down blades, keeping optics clear, or doing a quick wipe of any hard surface. The microsuede backing is purpose-built for this.
A Coaster in a Pinch
The 5"x5" paisley hanks — like the Blue Paisley and Red Paisley — are described in their listings as perfect to use as a coaster or lens cloth. Tuck one under your coffee mug at a desk or a friend's table. Small, but genuinely useful.
Utility vs. Fashion — Why Not Both?
The ongoing debate in EDC communities is whether a hank is a fashion piece or a utility piece. The honest answer: a well-made hank is both, and that's the point. Bee's EDC hanks are double-sided — a patterned cotton face on one side, a functional microsuede or microfiber backing on the other. You get a carry piece you enjoy pulling out, plus a tool that earns its spot in your pocket or day bag every single day.
Which Size Should You Carry?
- 5" — Coaster, lens cloth, minimalist carry. Sits flat in any pocket.
- 7" — The everyday sweet spot. Versatile for all the uses above.
- 9" — More coverage for hand drying, wiping sweat, or larger gear.
- 11" — Maximum utility; great if you want a traditional handkerchief feel with EDC materials.
Ready to Add One to Your Rotation?
Browse the full collection — from galaxy prints with UV-reactive glow thread to upcycled flannel and microsuede classics — and find the hank that fits your carry style.