This $850 Victorinox knife is one for the collectors

Before the toolbox-in-your-pocket convenience of the Leatherman, there was the Swiss Army Knife. Many of us will own, or have owned, one of these red knives – relied upon by adventurers the world over for cutting cheese, opening cans, snipping tape and removing splinters.

My knife is a little slack in the springs after 35 years. The red plastic has been nibbled by rats, and the tweezers and toothpick were lost long ago, but that legendary inox steel still holds a razor-sharp edge. 

Victorinox developed the knife in 1897 when it envisaged a lighter, more elegant model of their soldier’s knife for officers. Originally called the Officers and Sports Knife, these knives went on to become famous the world over, and were made in immeasurable varieties. 

It’s now 125 years since Victorinox made that first utility knife. To celebrate Victorinox has released a limited edition (9999 copies) replica of their original Officers and Sports Knife. It has a wooden handle, is finished by hand and contains the classic blade and utilities. It will definitely become a collectors piece.

OS Map app launched in New Zealand with LINZ maps

Earlier this year Ordnance Survey, Britain’s national mapping agency, launched their OS Maps app in New Zealand. Hugely popular in the UK, this user-friendly app serves three different map types: Open Street Maps, LINZ topo maps and satellite maps.

Notably, the app supports both OSM and LINZ maps, so you can choose a map to plan a route, or seamlessly switch between maps if one has greater detail of an intended route. It’s also possible to switch between routing and manual route drawing. Once a route is planned, it can be saved and followed within the OS Maps app, or exported to another GPS app or device. The OS Map database can be searched for existing routes, or a library of recorded or planned walks or rides can be built.  

While this subscription-based app ($6.99/month or $39.99/year) lacks some of the features of more complex apps, such as MapOut or OsmAnd, it earns top marks for a friendly interface and usability. 

BioLite rechargeable headlamp range upgraded

BioLite, a brand specialising in cooking, lighting and off-grid power solutions, will have upgraded rechargeable headlamps this spring. BioLite’s headlamps are popular with thru-hikers for their minimal weight and comfortable headbands that integrate with the lamp unit. 

The expanded range includes three models of 325, 425 and 800 lumens. We took note of the entry-level HeadLamp 325. It’s light and compact, with a  run time of five hours on high. The lamp’s power source is within the lamp unit, so it’s great for lying back and reading. The 800-lumen Pro model runs for seven hours and has a beam distance of 135m, making it ideal for nighttime route finding. As my eyes age, I find high-lumen torches increasingly useful for efficient off-track travel at night. 

The middle-of-the-range 425 features faster USB-C charging and weighs only 78g (including battery).

Kea Stash: a leak-proof, compressible rubbish bag

Outdoor startup Kea, based in Wanaka, recently ran a Kickstarter campaign for a double-thickness, compressible dry bag that’s designed for stashing and compacting your rubbish when in the hills. This is one of those products you never knew was needed until it was invented, but the Stash looks like it’ll replace the now-scarce plastic bags traditionally used for this purpose. 

The bag can also be used for carrying water, storing food, fish and meat, or human waste – although you might want to dedicate one just for that task and buy a second for food.

Matt Butler, the man behind Kea, has raised over $140,000 from a goal of $10,000, so the bag will be available in early 2023.