OUT & ABOUT

Using a word like “beautiful” to describe our newly arrived First Aid Kits seems wrong. But it’s right. They’re beautiful, and useful. Come in (3) sizes, with a sturdy, lightweight red nylon case that proclaims them “Paramedic Approved.”

You pick: the Small kit, which measures 6” x 8” x 3”, with (19) different items and (53) pieces total;

the Medium kit, 7-1/2” x 9” x 3”, including (28) items and (103) pieces total; or

the Large kit, 8-1/2” x 10-1/2” x 5”, including (37) items and (156) pieces total.

All contain the requisite First Aid booklet, bandages, cotton, antiseptic wipe, tape, shears, tweezers, gloves, saline, splinter probes and an emergency blanket (among other essentials), but the Medium and Large kits contain more specialized items, such as burn gel and fever scan strips. The Large also includes things like iodine swabs, high elastic bandages, wound dressings and an ice pack. Any size is great to have at home, and anywhere you’re on

Nothing screams HANDY! like Cotton PopUp wipes, little 3/4" diameter tablets that turn into 9" x 10" towelettes when submersed in water. Equally handy for campers, Navy Seals, toddler parents or anybody who slobbers a lot. They come in easy to take and store tubes, (8) per tube. so go out there and get dirty. They are made of cotton so they are perfect for cleaning in and around the home.

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!

It's all make-believe, but it's also the best-selling Japanese manga series of all time. (Just ask your favorite millennial—they’d be thrilled to explain it to you.) This collectible analog wristwatch features the Sailor Scouts on the colorful stained-glass watch dial, and a Moon Stick second hand. Hours are denoted by colored rhinestones on the case, and they fashionably match each member of the quintet. Leather band measures about 8-3/4”, so it should fit the wrist of most guardians of love and justice. Watch face is 1.1”, and the whole shebang is powered by an AG4 battery. Licensed by Toei Animations.

You can only carry so much bottled water in the woods. Campers and preppers alike will want this water purification tube, eminently backpackable at 9" long x 1" dia x an ultralight (2) ounces. Called the Water Washer, its microfiltration membrane is good for 1,000 liters. Meets EPA and U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards, and filters out 99.9% of waterborne protozoa and 99.9999% of bacteria, including E. coli and salmonella. No batteries, no BPA, no chemicals, no aftertaste, and no reason to go into the wild without one. Or two.

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. 

If there’s anywhere you need a 15-in-1 tool, it’s on a bike. We’ve tried carrying a full toolbox on rides. Doesn’t work. The Wheel Handy™ Bicycle Multitool from Protocol® measures 3-1/2” x 1-3/4” x 1”, and slips into the included nylon pouch that you can attach to your belt or seat post. Tool has (6) hex (Allen) key wrenches (2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5 & 6mm), a socket adapter, (3) sockets (8,9 & 10mm), (3) socket wrenches (8, 10 & 15mm), a 14 GE spoke wrench, and both a Phillips and slotted screwdriver. All tools, like your will to keep riding, are made of steel.

Try a reusable heat pack. This little 3-1/2” x 2” Soma Care™ heat pack has a metal disc inside—flex it and feel the pack magically heat up to 130F for up to an hour. Made for use with a Soma Care™ belt, but it’ll work fine wrapped in a soft cloth. Directions are on the side, including instructions on how to re-activate it. Jarvis says: it may take several clicks to activate the gel inside the pack but at this price what's a few extra clicks. 

Before fishing got all modern with high-tech reels and rods, and lines and hooks, our ancestors caught seafood dinners with pointy things. Return to those simpler days with this 9” Fishing Spear Head from Crate Club by Martin Brothers. Technically it’s a tactical survival tool, but that just means it’s super-high quality and durable. Made of 3/16” thick stainless steel, you can use it as a (2)- or (4)-point spear. Assembles easily and folds flat for storage. All you supply is the stick that the spear attaches to, and the hunting spirit. The fish will respect you more with a spear—trust us.

Worst part of working out? No personal fans. Not the cheering kind—the cooling kind. This wearable neck fan is great for sports, outdoor activities, the office and traveling. Just set the unit on the back of your neck, the way you’d hang a towel after a workout, and point the adjustable dual fans up at your face or wherever. Has (3) speeds and a Micro USB cable for recharging. Actually, the quiet fan whoosh almost sounds like distant cheering. You might get black, white, blue, coral or green.

This rounded 2” karambit-style blade, called the Hideaway Knife, comes in a quick-release, hard shell sheath that’s olive tan to match the hand grip. Blade looks like the talon of an eagle, and you can hang it (in the sheath), around your neck (black beaded necklace included), or stuff it into your boot or pocket.

This 300 Lumen LED light is a mighty mite. Just under 4-1/2" long x 1" dia, you slide the sleeve and the beam zooms from a flood to a don't-stare-into-this focused spot. In black or gun metal anodized aluminum, it's weatherproof and shockproof with a latching button switch and a pocket clip. Depress the button halfway when it's on and it goes into a rapid-flash mode for emergency signaling. Visible for 275 meters. Five hour life with the included 1-"AA" battery and a 110K+ hour bulb life.

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.

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.

Not just a snowman anymore. This Frost bottle is from Alpha Outpost™, the outdoor gear geeks, and despite its name, its double-wall construction will keep your soup hot as easily as it keeps your margaritas cold. Measures 10” tall x 3” dia in black with the Frost logo and a stainless steel screw cap. Holds 16 oz, and includes a rubber infinity loop for your belt.

This isn't a book, but it's definitely book-ish. Looks like a leather-bound volume from the Bodleian but it's just a little wooden box, approx 8-1/2" x 5" x 2" (7" x 3-7/8" x 1-5/8" inside) that's perfect for stashing the jewels, cash, or whatever you need to stash in plain sight on the shelves.

Certainly not. It's 4” long stainless steel spork with a set of little hex wrenches on it, along with a screwdriver slot and bottle opener, and it comes with a carabiner so you can hang it on your belt or backpack. Dork. No, no, we didn't mean it. Just lost our head there for a minute. You're a person who likes multi-purpose tools. And camping. And sporks. Just like us.

This black canvas pouch has belt loops and a cornucopia of compact construction tools inside, including a small combo hatchet/hammer/tent-stake puller; entrenching tool (that’s a shovel to you) with a compass in the handle, and pickaxe and saw attachments for the shovel handle. Belt measures 9-3/4” x 4” x 1-1/4” overall. Don't go into the woods without it. Also, take snacks.