French Opinel pocket knives: Inexpensive, lightweight, and made from superb steel, they are the standard knife of French farmers, hikers, foragers and cyclo-tourists. In fact almost everyone who spends time in the countryside seems to have one. They've been made since 1890 in the town of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne in the Rhône-Alpes.

This is the expedtion version of the classic No.8. It features a lightweight plastic body, orange of course, with an integrated whistle. The blade is stainless with a serrated base and shackle key. The cord end is a nice touch for quick attachment. The wooden handles of traditional knives can swell if they stay wet for a long time, so this knife is recommended for kayakers, sailors, and folks in very wet climates.