There's little else in life that will make you feel more powerful—or useful—than carrying an uber-sharp knife. The one I always take with me is the ($30). Swedish Morakniv has been building high-quality, inexpensive knives since 1891, and the Eldris, which has become a staple of my camping, watersports, and everyday kits, lives up to that legacy.
All Moraknivs are made in Mora, Sweden, and feature steel blades, either , , or , and rounded, oversized plastic handles. The Eldris stands out because of its odd size; the 2.3-inch blade is actually shorter than the handle. Although it looks funny, I've found the short, fixed blade to be super useful. It allows me to put more pressure into a cut without feeling like the blade might break. I'm much more comfortable whittling hardwood with the Eldris than I am with knives five times its price. It works great for whittling shavings for a fire, grooming the perfect s'mores stick, or creating the occasional wood-carving.
The Eldris's stainless steel blade hasn't lost much bite after a year of consistent use. The flat, ground spine can be used as a striker for magnesium or fire steel, a handy feature to have on an adventure knife. The included plastic sheath does a good job protecting the knife in transport and gives a satisfying click when secured properly. If you spring for the , you get a neck kit, which includes a lanyard, fire steel, and a secondary silicone button lock for added security.