Awesome Tools

Allen Elishewitz’s Tao Tactical Pen not only boasts a pointed butt and impact crown for self-defense, but a Space Pen cartridge that writes whether cold, hot, underwater, or upside down.

SureFire’s EP-3 Sonic Defenders are no mere earplugs; they actively guard your ears, allowing normal conversation and sounds to pass but blocking any noise that exceeds 80 db.

Woods Monkey has a helpful review up of Gerber’s Epic; despite the name, it’s actually a compact (yet sturdy) knife with a semi-serrated 3.4″ blade, larger finger choil, and bottle opener.

Its name is nearly as “twisted” as its function: the Big Screw Bottle Opener is a hybrid beer and wine bottle opener made with solid aluminum that attaches to your keychain.

Firefighter James McGowan’s M.A.K.-1 (Multiple Access Knife) is a rescue multi-tool; it features a pry-bar tip, knife edge, twist breaker groove, carbide tip butt breaker, and 8mm groove.

CRKT’s I.D. Works Flux is a modular multi-tool system that lets you carry only the tools you need; a spring-loaded carabiner lets you add/remove everything from flash drives to flashlights.

Made with stonewashed 6-4 Titanium, the Munroe Dangler Series is a trio of modular pocket clips that’ll carry multitools and more; the Mega Dangler includes a bottle cap lifter and pry bar.

New for 2010: Cold Steel’s Recon I tactical folding knives sport Teflon-finished Japanese stainless steel blades, G-10 laminate scale handles, and patent-pending Tri-Ad locks.

We could think of more appropriate gifts for fat cat bankers, but this Screwed by Wall Street is perfect for the man who has everything–thanks to Main Street, who now has nothing.

Gerber’s Octane is a quick starter thanks to a one-handed opening design that only ways 5 oz.; the 9-in-1 multitool includes pliers, a full-size blade, screwdrivers, and a wire cutter.

This Alox Soldier Knife is your last chance to own the classic 1961 knife issued to the Swiss Army; it’s from the final 500 unit production run with engraved signature by Victorinox’s CEO.

Carried by every Alinghi team member, Wenger’s Alinghi SU1 is an 11-in-1 multitool made just for yachting that includes a grippy rubber inlay, Marlin spike, and awl with sewing eye.

Gerber’s Strata is a 7.4 oz 13-in-1 multi-tool with several welcome features: not only does it feature a blister pack opener and padded handles, but each tool sports a safety locking mechanism.

Inspired by Vietnam War sparking units, TAD Gear’s Survival Spark keeps the solid brass construction and reusability of the originals, while adding a basic sewing kit into the shaft.

Exuvius’ Titan Collar Stays not only keep your collars stiff, but are a swiss army knife of sorts: they include a built-in bottle opener and opposing flat Phillips and slot-tipped screwdrivers.

OXO is usually found in the kitchen, but their Cord Catch is at home in any office: made out of heavy die cast zinc and padded with a non-slip base, it keeps cords and cables within reach.

Wicked Lasers’ Spyder III Pro is smaller than a MagLite but emits up to a 500mW red or blue beam; the Class IV laser boasts an 6061-T6 aluminum body and includes safety shades.

The underwater flashlight gets sexy with Fenix Tactical’s VersaTi FD30; good down to 100m, it sports a titanium case with sand blasted grip pattern and scratch-resistant sapphire lens.

Designed more for keychains than climbing, Fully Laced’s 3″ x 2″ Sneakerbiners are made with anodized metal in a low top silhouette and are available in 10 metallic colorways.

The SL6 Rescue Tool is a life-saving must-have: weighing just 3 oz., the one-handed multitool packs an LED flashlight, 50/50 blade with seat belt/line cutter, window punch, and whistle.

The EverTune Bridge promises to make retuning guitars a thing of the past thanks to an adaptive spring tensioner; it maintains constant tension on the strings, keeping them in tune forever.

The pen is as mighty as the sword with Uzi’s Tactical Defender Pen; it features a sharpened “DNA Catcher” crown that not only jabs your attacker but can collect their DNA for future ID.

Able to withstand up to 70+ mph winds, the Blunt Umbrella is no ordinary rain-stopper; it sports force spreading tips, double struts, and a radial tensioning system. Thanks, Grant!