It’s a ninefer. This 6” long x 1/2” hex ball-point pen has a rubber stylus at the other end, which unscrews to reveal a tiny driver with both 2mm and #00 heads, while the shaft has a little bubble level and (4) rulers: 0-4” x 1/16”; 0-10cm x 1mm; and both 1/200mm and 1/300mm rulers. The ninth part is our name on the side, so you remember where the coolest stuff comes from. Plus it’s in the ruler shade of yellow, with a pocket clip.

They don’t give them away in bars anymore, so you’d better buy this Matchstick Fire Starter. Has a 1-1/2" x 1-1/8" x 3/8" flint housing and a 1” striker with a small cotton wick around the end. Fill it with a little lighter fluid and you’re ready to start something. Includes a 1/2” clip to hang it on something. A must for camping.

An exhausted physicist. Also this 3-1/4" dia camping lantern. Stands 5” tall with fold-down handles, but pull up those handles and reveal the super-bright, a whopping 600 lumen COB LED light inside. Turns on when you open it, and has a small compass on top so you can see where you’re going. Measures approx 7” open and will shine for approx (6) hours with a trio of “AA” batteries, which are included. In utilitarian gray ABS plastic.

Nobody would dare vote you off the island if you have this stainless steel survival tool. Smaller than a credit card at 2-3/4" x 1-3/4", it has (11) functions: can opener, knife edge, flathead screwdriver, small ruler, bottle opener, 4-position wrench, saw blade, 2-position wrench and a couple more. Slip it into your wallet or hang it on your keychain, then go get lost.

Our “AA” rechargeable 2000mAH NiMH batteries (our each is a pair) are great for high-use devices like cameras, junior’s remote control cars, and lights that need to be on for a long time. Any campers out there?

Newly manufactured P-38 Can Opener from the same folks who supply them to Uncle. It folds! into 1-1/2" x 5/8" flat piece which is easily carried and lost. Reportedly works much better than the Asian knockoffs for those who really want to gain entry to the Spam!

The boys in the back room called this IZoom Pro™ flashlight ludicrously bright, and they’re usually right. Rated at 300, 1200, and 2500 lumens with a strobe setting, light is through a reticular COB LED element with an adjustable focus lens. Takes (6) “AA” batteries, and they’re included. Measures 7” long x 1-1/2” dia in black aluminum alloy body. Has up to a 4-hour life, depending on the beam strength you use.

Call it the bag of a lesser messenger. This dark olive Extreme Pak™ tote looks like a mini-backpack but has a shoulder strap plus a pair of handles. Measures approx 11-1/2" tall x 8-1/2" wide x 6" deep front to back, it's got a big inside zippered compartment, a smaller zippered pouch on the bottom, a pair of hook-and-loop closed pockets on the top, plus a plethora (that'd be 10) of band loops to hang stuff off. Mfg suggested retail is over $30. Just saying.

This digital stopwatch includes a clock, alarm clock and lap modes. Reading appears in a 7/8" x 7/16" tall LCD display, graduated down to 1/100th of a second. Includes a 16" neck cord. From United Scientific. In assorted, but dignified, coach-appropriate colors.

Daytime, too, or whenever you need to start a fire, especially outdoors. These pressed resinous-pine tinder sticks measure 4" long x 1/2" square, and our each is a box of a dozen. Marked as being from the “Survivor Series,” they’re water-resistant and slow burning, lasting approx five minutes each. 

Walking sticks have moved into the space age! This walker's/hiker's friend has futuristic features and the look of an inter-galactic weapon. The high-quality collapsible aluminum stick extends from a packable 27" to a full 43", and has a carbide tip with a rubber cover, a removable 2" dia disk to keep the stick from sinking into soft ground, and an internal shock absorber that can be turned on or off. At the top, a 5-LED flashlight with a 90° pivot is embedded in a molded-plastic cane-style handle to light your way. For mountain trekking, lengthen the stick, slip the adjustable canvas wrist strap over your hand, and clutch the stick by the padded foam section below the cane handle. Directions, diagrams, and 1100mm to 1350mm gradations are marked clearly on the 3-draw pole. We'll pick a black or anodized red, green, blue, silver or purple version for you.

More reliable than your mother, and much smaller, the Med Reminder is a 2-3/8” x 1-3/4” x 5/8” thick alarm that can be set to beep up to six times a day (not quite as often as most mothers, but probably plenty, meds-wise). Comes with (2) replaceable button-cell batteries. Has a little carrying case and a slot to hang it from a cord or keychain.

Small enough to fit into the belt-mounted black canvas carrying case (4-3/8" x 3" x 1" thick), but they open up to be plenty big for most binocular needs. These 10X25 binocs have glare-reducing coated lenses, a thin neck-strap, adjustable focus, water-resistant and easy-to-hold rubber skin, rubber eyecups and fine-tuning for the right eye.

It's a 10-tool Swissesque military survival knife, but without those red plastic handles to break and fall off. Includes stainless steel 2-1/2" knife blade, flathead driver/bottle opener, saw blade, scissors, can opener, fish scaler/nail set, corkscrew, Phillips driver, awl, nail file and the needle-like thing for making buckskin clothes in case you're lost for years. Has a split ring to hang your keys from.

Or just stop worrying about the line breaking. Battlecord is skinny but megatough stuff. And this one is a 50-foot length of black cord rated for 2,650 lb test. Measures 1/4” dia with a 7-strand core and is rot, mildew and UV resistant. Made in the USA for Atwood Rope.

Hook these on the zipper pulls on your jackets and you'll never be in the dark again. Tiny LED lights measure 1" x 9/16" in a 5/16" thick oblong, and come on a 7/8" long lanyard clip. We'll pick some that will go with your eyes, in blue, green, black or red. Include little button cell batteries that can be replaced if you're the sort of person who does that.

This Rechargeable 1000-lumen floodlight/Phone recharger from iZoom® has the power to be a real retina-scorcher. Throws a warm white light from the 1-1/2” COB LED inside a 2-7/8” x 2-1/2” reflector that draws 10W. Its powerful Li-Ion battery will last (3) hours on a 5-6 hour charge. Housing is 6" x 3-5/8" x 1" with an easel that separates, so you can hang it on a pipe or rod. Comes with a USB adapter and a 3-foot cord. As a bonus even has a 3600mAh USB-out to charge other things like cell phones and tablets! Includes a high/low/off switch, and is listed as weatherproof. Yours will be red or yellow, not that it matters.

Or turn this versatile pivoting headlamp instead. From i-Zoom®, this lamp is a serious piece of equipment, not some disposable cheapo. Has high/low/flashing modes, precise slide focus and a max of a super-bright 350 lumens. Comes with (3) “AAA” batteries in a separate rubber-covered compartment at the back of (3) adjustable elastic straps. Will pivot down (4) clicks from straight ahead to straight down. Mfr says it’s good for a 5-hour cycle on fresh batteries. Fear not the darkness with this beauty.