You wouldn’t think it’d be tough to find the best valet tray for your EDC gear. It’s only a tray with some compartments or drawers – right?
That’s what I thought until I did some research. The truth is, there are lots of EDC tray organizers out there. Some are big, others small. Some are made from leather, others from kydex, wood, or plastic.
Prices vary a lot, too. You can spend as little as $40 or more than $300 for a tray. Yes, you can spend more than $300 for a TRAY designed solely to store your EDC gear.
There are so many options out there that I thought it would be helpful to highlight a few organizer trays that stand out to me. The goal being to help you narrow your search.
That’s what you’ll find below – my list of the best valet trays for organizing your EDC gear. The first one on my list comes highly recommended because I own it. Beyond that, these are in no particular order.
You might also check out this list of quality valet trays on Amazon.
Commander Valet from HOUNDSBAY – An Excellent Dresser Valet
This is the first valet tray on my list because I own it and can tell you that this is a quality item. I’ve been using it since the day my wife gifted it to me.
The Commander is one of the largest valet trays from HOUNDSBAY. The product page says it’s for watch lovers, and it’s easy to see why – it has a case specifically for storing watches.
The watch case can hold up to six 60mm watches. It has a lid to protect your watches, but the lid is mostly glass so that you can admire your watch collection whenever you walk by.
There is a phone charging station too, which is to the immediate right of the watch case. I don’t use the charging station because it’s too much of a reach from my bed, especially first thing in the morning when I need to shut off my alarm. I use it for extra storage instead.
The front of this nightstand valet tray is a great catch all. I use mine for my lip balm, pens, and other small knickknacks. There is also a drawer where you can store things like sunglasses, knives, wallets, etc. There is even a spot for your cufflinks and rings.
Overall, this is an awesome valet tray for men. But is it the best valet tray?
I don’t know since I haven’t tried them all. But I’ve been using the Commander from HOUNDSBAY for more than a year now and I love it.
HOUNDSBAY Commander Valet Tray
Little King Goods’ Armory Tray
Little King Goods is featured on many of my best product lists. Ryan makes great looking stuff. The Armory Tray is no exception. There are two things that stand out about it.
First, it’s a wood valet tray. Ryan creates primarily leather goods, so it was a bit of a surprise to see him launch a wooden EDC tray organizer.
It’s a great looking wood, though – Canadian Walnut. This wood is a milk chocolaty color with a dark chocolate grain.
The other thing that stands out about this tray are the leather inlays in each cavity. Ryan uses a black full grain cow leather that compliments the wood beautifully.
There are three cavities for your gear. One cavity is the perfect size for a smartphone. Another cavity looks perfect for pocket change or a small wallet. And then there is a larger cavity that is more of a catch all for the rest of your items.
What can I say? Ryan did a great job on this. This is a luxury valet tray, which means you should expect to pay more than the trays you’ll find in your local department store.
I believe it’s worth the price. If I didn’t have the HOUNDSBAY Commander, I’d drop hints to my wife to buy this for me. It’s a beautiful tray that will last you a lifetime.
Armory Tray from Little King Goods
EDC Valet Tray from Craft & Lore
I’m usually not a fan of valet trays like the one Craft & Lore sells. There’s not much to them – it’s just a square piece of leather with the corners pinched together to create a bowl.
Many companies offer this style of leather EDC dump tray and sell them for $75 or more. I struggle with that price point because these trays can’t take long to make. It just feels like someone is trying to make a quick buck.
I’m adding the tray from Craft & Lore to this list because if I were going to buy a tray in this style, I’d buy it from them.
I do NOT believe this is a cash grab for them, seeing as how they sell their tray for $35. That’s a fair price considering it’s made from boot leather and hammered brass rivets.
This tray looks nice, and it’s made to last.
The other reason I decided to add it to this list is because I don’t have to be a fan of every item out there to recommend it. So long as it’s a quality item, then I believe it’s my duty to let you know about it.
So, if you’re looking for a black or brown leather EDC tray, and you want to pay a fair price, then head on over to Craft & Lore.
Catch:3 Valet Tray with Wireless Phone Charger
This valet tray is from Courant. Their focus is on luxury valet and accessory trays. They also offer charging stations and cases for AirPods.
The Catch:3 is perfect for pocket dumps. The platform on the left is the wireless docking station. The recessed area on the right is perfect for storing knifes, wallets, glasses, and other everyday carry gear.
There are two models to choose from.
- Catch:3 Essentials – This is made from Belgian linen. There are three colors to choose from – camel, charcoal, and natural.
- Catch:3 Classics – This is made from Italian leather. Your color options include cortado, saddle, black, ash, and bone.
I’m a fan of the charcoal Catch:3 Essentials valet tray. I like the color, plus it looks like it’s textured – though, that just might be the way that fabric looks.
The price is better than the leather Classics models too. You’ll spend $100 for the Essentials tray compared to $175 for the Classics tray.
If you do go with the leather accessory tray, it’ll be tough to pick a color. Saddle looks rich and has a beautiful marbling. But the black and ash colorways look great too.
It’ll be a tough choice to make. Maybe the answer then is to pick up a Catch:3 valet tray for your entry way and then another for your dresser valet.
Catch:3 Valet Tray with Charging Station
CleanTray by KeySmart
This isn’t your standard EDC valet tray. What makes this unique from the other trays on this list is that it uses a UV light to kill 99.99% of germs and bacteria.
The CleanTray is big enough to fit a 7” smartphone and anything smaller than that. You might not be able to fit all your gear in it at one time, which is probably the biggest bummer.
The bright side is that it kills most germs within five minutes, so you can rotate your items as needed without it being too big of a nuisance.
Other than the size, I’m not a fan of its design. It’s made of white plastic that looks sterile. I know that it kills germs, but I’m not keen to keep something that looks like it belongs in a doctor’s office on my nightstand.
If you feel the same way, then one idea is to buy this for your bathroom. Use it to sterilize your everyday carry gear before you place it in your much nicer bedside valet tray.
Of course, that might just be my opinion. You might like how this looks. Or maybe the ability to sterilize your gear is more important than aesthetics.
Either way, if you want a fast and easy way to clean your gear – and who wouldn’t considering all the germs on your phone …or Covid-19 running amok – then check out the CleanTray by KeySmart.
I have the KeySmart key organizer and have been using it for the last few years. It’s a great product, so I’m confident their tray is too.
Check Out The CleanTray from KeySmart
Deferichs Valet No.4
The Valet No.4 from Deferichs is my top pick for an antique-looking wood EDC dump tray. This looks like something that has been passed down for decades. That’s not the only positive thing either.
Another thing I like is the watch case where you can store up to four watches. There are a couple of lid options too – all wood or wood with glass. This is a great way to protect and enjoy your favorite EDC watches.
There are three other cubbies where you can store your gear. It looks like you can fit quite a bit in them too – wallets, glasses, loose change, pens, cuff links, and other smaller items.
You might even be able to store your phone in one of these. Or you can buy one of their bigger valet trays if you want something you KNOW is big enough for your mobile device.
The other thing I liked about Deferichs is that they offer upgrades. Other than the glass or wooded lid, you can add monogramming. You can add monogramming to a small plaque or crest made of antique silver, gold, or copper. Each of these only add to the rustic, antique feel this tray has.
You also have the option to get the ash black finish (instead of the walnut shown above) and you can choose between velvet or leather pillows for your watches.
The bottom line – there’s a lot to like about the Valet No.4 EDC tray from Deferichs. I believe it’s a great value, starting at only $139.
Walnut EDC Nightstand Dump Tray
This valet tray comes from PineAndPrintLTD on Etsy. I like this tray because it’s a cheaper alternative to the Amory Tray from LKG.
This tray is made from walnut too, and it has a nice chocolatey brown finish with a darker grain.
This has more compartments for your gear than the Armory tray, though both they and the overall tray are smaller. But the extra compartments allow you to better sort your gear, which I like.
The one thing this wood valet tray doesn’t have is leather inlays. Whether this is a problem or downside, only you know for sure. That is one reason why this tray cheaper, though – $55 versus $175 at LKG.
With the money you’re saving, you could always have someone make you leather inlays if you really want them. Even then, you’d likely still save a few bucks.
Valet Tray from PineAndPrintTLD on Etsy
Conclusion
There you have it. That’s my list of the seven best valet trays.
I tried to work in a variety of trays, including different designs, materials, features, and price points. This should give you a good idea of what’s out there.
I can’t say enough about the Commander from HOUNDSBAY. I’ve had it for well over a year and will have it for as long as it lasts. I wouldn’t be shocked if it outlasts me, it’s so well-made.
If I didn’t have that, I’d buy the Armory Tray from Little King Goods. Or I’d go with the EDC tray from Craft & Lore if I was looking for an option that costs less than $50.
Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with any of the valet trays on this list.
That said, I came nowhere near scratching the surface of all the quality trays out there. I’m sure I missed some good ones. If you have a different opinion about what is the best EDC tray, feel free to let me know what it is and what you like about it in the comments below.
Featured images from Little King Goods and Craft & Lore.