The Pocket Knife Gets an Update

By Ann Binlot March 31, 2013

the pocket knife gets an update quirky switch — Image used with permission by copyright holder

We’re pretty sure that when you were younger you had a pocket knife, probably a red Swiss Army Knife. You cherished it and carried it with you everywhere — while exploring your neighborhood, camping with your family or to hang out with your friends. It came in handy — you used it to fix your skateboard or bike, to open cans and eventually — to uncork bottles of wine.

Now you’re older — you care about things like style and design. Enter the Switch by Quirky. It’s sleeker than the traditional Swiss Army Knife and it’s modular, so you can switch in what you need and out what you don’t. “Your tool, your way” — that’s the mantra that came to mind when producing the Switch, so you don’t have to have a wood saw or wrench on it if you don’t need it. Customize it for the outdoors or to use around the house. It comes with 18 different tools, and you can make it as wide or as thin as you want. In case you’re wondering, here are the tools that are included:

-Basic Blade
-Serrated Blade
-Wood Saw
-Bottle Opener/Flathead
-Can Opener/Wire Stripper
-Scissors
-Nail File
-Flathead Screwdriver
-Phillips-Head Screwdriver
-Eyeglass Flathead Screwdriver
-Eyeglass Phillips-Head Screwdriver
-Magnifying Lens
-Corkscrew
-Wrench
-Pen
-Magnet
-Tweezers
-L.E.D. Flashlight.

Whether you’re going camping, or need an all-in-one tool at home, the Switch by Quirky can do it all, plus it’s a lot nicer looking than the Swiss Army Knives of the past — just don’t forget to check it in at the airport.

Switch by Quirky, $75 at fab.com.

Editors' Recommendations

Cool Stuff: All Black Everything for Everyday

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ann Binlot is a New York-based freelance writer who contributes to publications like The Economist, Wallpaper*, Monocle…

Culture

The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, Andor: All of your favorite Star Wars series, ranked

All our favorite Star Wars series, ranked - do you agree with the list?

Pedro Pascal in The Mandalorian.

Star Wars' vast universe has always begged for long-form storytelling. Even though The Galaxy Far, Far Away is a movie franchise at heart, the space opera possesses so many different characters, settings, and plot lines that a film or set of pictures could never encompass all of the material. Since acquiring Star Wars, one of the best decisions Disney has made is turning the saga into more of a TV franchise. Episodic formatting lets writers and directors hone in on specific people, places, and even backstories that fans have long craved for more information on. Other series were shoddy depictions of the galaxy and should have been kept in the rough drafts. Either way, we are so glad that since The Mandalorian, Star Wars is deep into the streaming world, with all of these series available to watch on Disney Plus. These are the 10 best Star Wars series, ranked.

10. Star Wars Resistance (2018)

Culture

What is Kratom? Everything you need to know

Kratom is wildly popular - but why?

Red vein kratom leaves with a flower

Whether you're new to herbal remedies or decided to go all-natural long ago, you've probably heard of kratom. This plant has been around for centuries, but it's only recently started to gain popularity in the U.S.

Even though it's been trending in the health and wellness scene, many health professionals have mixed opinions on how well it works and how safe it is. This article will give you the lowdown on kratom, why it's gotten so much attention lately, and what it can be used for.

Outdoors

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the U.S., alpine touring (2nd) and splitboarding (5th) also rank high

Some like small courts, some like wide-open backcountry

A group of people playing a game of pickleball.

The stats are in for 2023, and it tells us that Pickleball is the undeniable frontrunner in growth over the past four years. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the racket sport has grown over 170% in the past four years. But it's not alone in seeing enormous growth. Sports participation has continued to grow as we move out of the pandemic, including several outdoor activities — most notably winter sports — and previously fringe sports.

Ingrained in our human nature is the need to feel part of something big that connects us to others. Movements, sports, and ideologies all fit this bill, and the more people who take part, the more we feel validated in our desire to play or push ourselves in that sport. Marginalized or new sports may appeal to those willing to take a risk on an all-new activity, but until that sport gets some traction, you might end up spending hundreds of dollars on a short-lived hobby.