Summer is here, and with it comes the busiest time for vacationing of the year. Pack extra clothes, a light jacket, hat, sunscreen, swimsuit, and don't forget your phone charger. But what about tools? Wherever I go, I bring a handful of carefully chosen tools that will allow me to solve most problems I face. Here are some of my top picks:
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From pruning a couple branches at the cabin to saving the trip by clearing a downed tree, I consider a good handsaw an essential so I keep it in the vehicle at all times. A nice long saw makes quick work when you want it least, so I recommend Silky Saws' Katanaboy. |
(My budget pick is the Silky Saws 360mm BigBoy 2000 Curved Folding Pruning Handsaw.)
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A good, reliable knife is useful in all sorts of situations, from opening snacks to bushcrafting. The Hultafors Outdoor Knife OK4 is an excellent choice, representing quality and value you'd expect from Hultafors. |
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Don't forget a Fire Steel so you can start a fire without working up a sweat from rubbing two sticks together.
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Wera Tools 39-Piece Tool-Check Plus 2 with Square-Plus Bits For impromptu maintenance, I consider a well-equipped hand tool kit essential - something with a good selection of screwdriver bits at a minimum. Wera's Tool-Check is an excellent option, and a huge step up from a multi-tool. It provides an assortment of screwdriver bits, sockets, and handles. |
(For more power but fewer bits and sockets included, I recommend the Wera Zyklop Pocket Ratchet. Remember: you can always customize the loadout by swapping bits and sockets to suit your needs.)
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Wera Tools Joker Double-Ended Self-Setting Wrench Set 1 For larger fasteners and more torque, I keep an adjustable wrench in the vehicle. It's not something I use very often, but there's nothing else that can do what it does. Wera's Double-Ended Self-Setting Joker Wrenches will cover the majority of the bolts you find that can't be turned by smaller tools. |
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Festool Cordless Task Light SYSLITE KAL C Whether doing emergency repairs or reading after dusk, a hands-free light with adjustable brightness levels is definitely the way to go over your phone's flashlight. Festool's SYSLITE KAL C is amazingly practical with a large stable base, tilting head, and adjustable brightness. |
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Pica Dry Longlife Automatic 2.8mm Pencil I also consider some paper and a reliable writing tool a must-have — whether it’s for journaling, jotting down notes, or playing Hangman with the kids. I keep a Pica Dry in the vehicle since it won’t dry out like a pen or marker. The real challenge is keeping it from being “borrowed,” so I’ve taken to hiding it in the glove compartment. |
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For me, time off means a chance to do fun projects. Here's one I just finished, using woodworking tools (belt sander, drill press, lathe, table saw, rotary tool) but no wood (steel, brass, Micarta).
Whatever you get up to this summer, I hope you make time to have fun, relax and unwind. Stay safe, cool, and hydrated, and keep your mind and tools sharp.
Until next time,
Chris Wong
