A good knife is essential on any tramping trip, for meal prep, gear repair and perhaps during emergencies. 

Look for a comfortable, non-slip handle, easy access to tools and blades, and safety features like locking blades. Lightweight models suit tramping, while feature-rich multi-tools are ideal for home or gear repairs. Proper cleaning, drying and sharpening will keep these reliable for years. 

Featured multi-tool: Victorinox Swiss Tool Spirit MXBS $399.99

This compact multi-tool has a burnished black steel finish. It has 24 fully lockable functions accessible from the outside, as well as one-handed opening of the large blade and belt cutter. 211g. www.ampro.co.nz

Victorinox Climber $69.99

This Swiss-made 14-function pocket knife reflects the tradition of the original ‘Officer’s knife’. Functions include large and small blades, scissors, two screwdrivers, tweezers and more. 82g. www.ampro.co.nz

Benchmade Mini Bugout $340

An ultralight, compact folding knife using CPM-S30V steel specifically designed for knife blades and providing edge retention, corrosion resistance and durability. It has a thermo-plastic handle and reversible carry clip. 42.5g. www.ampro.co.nz

Morakniv Eldris (S) $74.99

A pocket-size fixed-blade knife with the spine ground to work with a fire starter. Holes in the sheath allow lanyard or neck loop fixings. Swedish stainless steel blade. 80g. www.ampro.co.nz