The only thing that mixes worse than Lindsey Lohan and alcohol is water and rope. Anyone who has ever paddled a boat can attest to the fact that a seemingly docile line floating in an inch or two of water at the bottom of your raft can become a veryserious problem if you take a spill – unless you’ve got a Gerber Rivermate ($27) in tow.

As we’ve discussed before Gerber’s quality rarely fails, and the Rivermate is no different. This compact, lightweight, fixed-blade, water-ready knife has a non-slip, glass-filled nylon and rubber grip, full tang construction (making the knife stronger by absence of breaks in the metal) and a titanium-coated blade. The knife also features a lanyard hole, blunt tip (for use as a Phillips screwdriver), a hammer, and serrated blade. Ideally suited for rafting and diving.

Take Note: The included sheath can be affixed to your PFD for right and left-handed use and lets you know the knife is secure with a comforting click.

Buy Now: $27

By Daniel Sullivan