NEW MEMBER OFFER!

Get 35% off GOES, your essential outdoor guide

LEARN MORE

GET MORE WITH OUTSIDE+

Enjoy 35% off GOES, your essential outdoor guide

UPGRADE TODAY

Gear Review: ESEE Izula Knife

Wear this knife and sheath as a necklace for quick grabbing.

[quick draw]

This nonfolding, no-nonsense tool comes with a plastic sheath designed to be worn around the neck, for fast access. The 2.88-inch carbon-steel blade (harder, with better edge retention than stainless, but more prone to rust) has a sharp, flat-ground edge that sails through tinder and rope, as well as trout and salami. The design is all function.

“The indent in the middle of the handle let me maintain a firm grip, but also kept my fingers away from the blade,” says one tester. And jimping (cross hatches on the spine) provides good thumb control when extra pressure is needed. Bummer: price. $81; 2.7 oz.; eseeknives.com.

Popular on Backpacker