The James Brand’s Lumen collection gives everyday pocket tools a warmer look

03 Nov 2026, 15:49 by https://www.facebook.com/vincentnguyen · The Gadgeteer

If you buy something from a link in this article, we may earn a commission. Learn more

The James Brand’s Lumen collection swaps the usual dark EDC palette for butter yellow, cream and raspberry. Announced on October 20, the color refresh covers five familiar tools, from a keychain knife to a replaceable-blade box cutter.

The Palmer handles packaging, the Madison keeps keys organized, and the Elko puts a small blade on your keyring. The Redstone adds a locking outdoor knife, while the Helton brings scissors and drivers into the mix.

Price: The Palmer (Buttermilk + Raspberry), $59
Where to buy: The James Brand

Price: The Madison (Butter + Polish), $49
Where to buy: The James Brand

Price: The Elko (Butter + Black), $65
Where to buy: The James Brand

Price: The Redstone (Buttermilk + Butter + Black, serrated), $119
Where to buy: The James Brand

Price: The Helton (Buttermilk + Black), $179 (sold out)
Where to buy: The James Brand (restock notification)

Palmer: a colorful fix for the cardboard pile

Price: The Palmer (Buttermilk + Raspberry), $59
Where to buy: The James Brand

The Palmer’s cream-colored aluminum body has a raspberry accent, and the blade is a standard utility blade you can replace without tools. Opening deliveries and breaking down boxes don’t require keeping a pocket-knife edge sharp.

It measures 3.5 inches closed and weighs 2.5 ounces. A lanyard gives you something to grab when it slips into a pocket. This is the aluminum Palmer, distinct from the lighter plastic model in our Palmer Clear review.

Madison: two gates keep the keys separate

Price: The Madison (Butter + Polish), $49
Where to buy: The James Brand

The Madison is the blade-free option, pairing a yellow body with a polished gate. Its two compartments separate the key ring from the attachment point, so unclipping it from a belt loop doesn’t open the section holding your keys.

The aluminum carabiner weighs 0.5 ounces and measures 2.8 inches long. Its narrow shape is built around a belt loop rather than a bulky climbing-style outline.

Elko: a small blade that lives with your keys

Price: The Elko (Butter + Black), $65
Where to buy: The James Brand

The Elko combines a butter-yellow handle with a black blade. Its 1.6-inch Sandvik 12C27 blade folds into a 2.6-inch body, while the tool at the other end serves as a pry bar, screwdriver, bottle opener and key-ring attachment.

This is the second-generation Elko, with machined aluminum handles and an included titanium key ring. We covered that Elko redesign earlier this year. Lumen adds a color choice to it. The blade uses a non-locking slip joint.

Redstone: a locking blade for the trail

Price: The Redstone (Buttermilk + Butter + Black, serrated), $119
Where to buy: The James Brand

The Redstone splits its grip between cream and yellow, with a black blade. Those separated grip sections leave space for a finger between them, a layout inspired by climbing holds.

A 2.5-inch, partially serrated Sandvik 12C27 blade and slide lock give it a different role from the Elko. It opens and closes one-handed, weighs 1.8 ounces and carries on a formed-wire pocket clip.

Helton: scissors and drivers alongside the blade

Price: The Helton (Buttermilk + Black), $179 (sold out)
Where to buy: The James Brand (restock notification)

The Helton takes the cream-and-black finish into a broader pocket toolkit. Its partially serrated VG-10 blade is joined by spring-action scissors, magnetic Phillips and flathead drivers, a bottle opener, a file, tweezers and a metal pick. The main folding implements lock open.

It measures 3.5 inches closed and weighs 3.5 ounces with the pocket clip. That’s the option for small cutting and fixing jobs that call for more than a knife, without adding pliers.

The Helton in Buttermilk + Black is currently listed as sold out, with a restock-notification option on its product page.

Love our content? Sign up for our newsletter today. No ads, no spam, just links to our latest articles!