A hiker’s best friend and travel companion, the Swiss army knife (make sure you don’t have one in your pocket while boarding a plane!) has aided happy travellers through thick, thin, mud, muck and slime. From utility in the 80s to the now extremely trendy accessory, these knives are available in a variety of ranges from the original Swiss company that first started to manufacture them. So, why do we love having one in our pockets when we’re travelling? From the most trivial quirks and unessential but useful features, to nifty little tweaks and tips, here’s what you can do with your Swiss army knife when you’re jet setting around the globe.

Chopping Wood

Found yourself on a camping trip and need to chop some wood at the campsite? This isn’t a situation you will see yourself in too often, but if and when you do, your trusty Swiss army knife will come handy. All you have to do is place the wood upright, using a stick to hold it in place, while you hack away at the wood. It’s a slightly arduous process, but that’s the easiest it can get!

Eating Outdoors

We know you can bite into an apple, but what if it’s about peeling some fruits in the wild or cutting through a sandwich while on a trek, a knife sure can help you out. It’s not as simple as it looks but it’s a really helpful skill to have. Get started on some DIY videos if you’re excited to check this one out.

Help You Have a Swig

Yes, the all-time favourite and much needed drinking companion - our Swiss army knife is a blessing when it comes to popping open a bottle of wine, especially when you forgot to carry your wine opener. Wherever there’s an army knife, there’s no wine bottle that will go unopened.

Guzzle Down

Okay, so you pulled up the cork from your bottle of wine, but what do you do when a travelling companion craves a cold bottle of beer? Using a knife as a bottle opener (using the dull end of the knife and being very careful not to hurt yourself) and a knuckle as leverage, you’ve got both a bottle opener and a pretty cool travel trick to boast.

Put a Screw Back in

The worst part about travelling is accidentally breaking things. And one of the niftiest tools on a Swiss army knife is the screwdriver. Some army knife models come with two, and almost all come with at least one mini screwdriver. If you wear glasses that have a tendency to come up with loose screws, this tool is fantastic. Instead of rushing to find an optician in a foreign country, simply screw the handles or nose bridge back on with this tool.

Fix up Your Tent

Did you know that your Swiss army knife could actually help you be a better camper? Although the more filmi way to use the corkscrew on the knife is to cut open the knots when your hands are bound, a more common and practical travelling tip is to fix a mosquito tent to a beam, or secure your camping tent to a pole.

Tell the Time

Alright, so this is one of the more modern uses of the Swiss army knife, but it makes it an all-in-one tool. With the latest additions, you can now keep track of your time, and even use the LED light to get around in the dark!

Open a Can

There’s just no end to things you can open with a Swiss army knife now, is there? If you’re feeling like to nibble after you have had those pints of beer, you can use your knife to help you have a little snack too. Sure, your teeth can gnash through wafer packets, but what if you’ve got a can, and the key to open it snapped accidentally! Use your knife to replace the key and swiftly open your can – all in time to get a little grub before continuing with your travel.

Pull out a Stinger

This one is a little tricky, but once you get the hang of it, it can save you a visit to the doctor. In emergency situations, your Swiss army knife can actually help take the stinger out of your skin if you happen to be stung by a wasp or bee. Remember to be very careful not to rub, pull or break the stinger though as that can be dangerous.

Remove Splinters

While you may have to learn a little more about the tool to remove a stinger, removing splinters or even cactus spines is easy when you’re on a trek, with this tool at hand. Whether you need to use the tweezers or the straight pin tool to do it, this is one tool you would always want to have by your side.

It’s a Weapon

Well, too petite for self defence, but something is better than nothing, right? Ward off stray animals, defend yourself against unfriendly travellers, or just have it handy as a precaution, the blades, cutters and pins all could be helpful to get you out of a sticky situation.

Carry Your Bag

This might sound strange, but it really works for campers who want a little shoulder break. That tiny hook on your army knife might look punier than your hands, but it can carry extremely heavy weights! It is very useful to carry a camping bag up a difficult trek, or swing your hand luggage around when you’re walking through a foreign city.

Cut a Rope or String

Talking about sticky situations - well, if your foot gets caught in a tumble of weeds or you find yourself stuck in the middle of a camper’s knot that went horribly wrong, this ingenious tool is going to come to a quick rescue. The blades on the knife are sharp enough to cut through any kind of rope, string or weed. Now, keep your Swiss knife handy and travel safe.

Nicole

A poet with a penchant for prose and the itch to travel, Nicole Reed is an assistant editor and features writer for a daily newspaper, struggling to find a way out of the concrete mess by dreaming of one day living and breathing off words in an idyllic country setting somewhere. Having been editor of her college magazine, written for a number of publications including Shamiana’s short film newsletter and as a current student of Literature from the University of London, Nicole sees writing like travel - an adventure – a journey to find her place, to define and redefine who she is over and over again and to live and learn through the process.