Pocket knives are so useful but so easy to lose, especially when you’re camping. That’s why the Opinel pocket knife deserves a closer look. It’s an affordable, versatile knife that claims to perform like more expensive ones.

If you’re like me, you’ve lost a couple of folding knives, both cheap and expensive ones. It always brings that dilemma of investing in a new fancy one that you risk losing or opting for a cheap one that’s likely to disappoint. I was excited when I heard about a knife that’s both affordable and dependable and floats if you drop it in the lake.

A Closer Look at the Opinel Pocket Knife

Opinel started as a small family business in Gevoudaz, France. In 1890, Joseph Opinel, the grandson of the founder, invented the Opinel pocket knife. Soon, he developed 12 different sizes. All except the tiny No. 1 and long No. 11 are still around to this day. The simple, affordable, yet durable Opinel pocket knives quickly gained popularity among farmers, rail workers and others who needed a convenient all-purpose knife. They remain popular and, other than slight improvements to the materials and blade shape, they’re the same tried and true knives. There’s also a newer and bigger model, the No. 13, also known as “Le Giant.”

There’s nothing fancy about an Opinel pocket knife. It doesn’t have any complex features. It’s a traditional, lightweight folding knife that cuts well. Opinel prioritizes what really matters in a good folding knife and keeps the price down. That keeps the Opinel pocket knife among the timeless classics like Mora.

The most popular Opinel pocket knife is the No. 8. The blade is long enough for most purposes, but the knife is small and light enough to carry in your pocket everywhere you go. It’s ideal for campers, fishermen, and outdoorsmen.

Build quality

For this part, we’ll focus on the Opinel pocket knife No. 8, but most details apply to all models, other than the size. The No. 8 has an 8.5-centimeter (roughly 3.35-inch) blade. Each model’s blade length approximately matches its name in centimeters. The handle of No. 8 is about 4.4 inches long and typically consists of French beech wood. This Opinel pocket knife only weighs about 1.6 ounces, and it’s about 7.6 inches long when in use. The blade of a No. 8 is 1.6 to 1.8mm wide, depending on the exact edition. It has a Yatagan shape with a slight clip point and a very fine bevel. It’s a very sharp blade with quite sharp spine edges which make it ideal for starting fires with flint and other scraping tasks.

There are only five parts to a modern Opinel pocket knife: a blade, a handle, a pivot pin, a safety ring, and a clamping band. The four smallest models don’t have a safety ring, but you can get them with a key ring attachment. Opinel’s Virobloc safety ring isn’t an essential feature, but it adds some extra safety and reliability by locking the blade into a fully open or fully folded position.

In addition to different sizes, there are versions with different materials. The main choice you must make is the blade material. Carbone models have X90 high-carbon steel blades. Stainless versions use Swedish high-grade Sandvik 12C27 steel. The popular No. 8 and No. 6 also come in a variety of different editions, with handles made from horn or polymer, and various extra features like thumb-hole openers and serrated edges. You can also get them in different colors and with different engravings. There are even ones with unfinished handles that you can carve to your liking.

Using it

Opening your Opinel pocket knife usually takes two hands. The blade slot in the handle is very snug, and the nail nick is small. Furthermore, if you use the safety ring, you’ll need to twist that as well. However, there is a trick to open it with one hand. If you hold it by the pommel with the blade facing down and knock the front tip against a table or tree stump with a downward motion, it’ll fold open.

The blade is stable and doesn’t wiggle at all. It’s also very sharp out of the box. While the handle is a simple, round design, it has a comfortable swell in the middle and a flared pommel. A minimal varnish reduces slippage. There’s no blade guard, but the grip is good enough to prevent slipping. Unless you try to use a powerful stabbing thrust, which isn’t the purpose of this knife. What I really like is how the light wooden handle makes the knife float in water. So the stainless steel Opinel pocket knife is ideal for fishing and hiking. The Carbone version isn’t as suitable since carbon steel is prone to rust. However, cleaning and greasing the knife after use keeps it in good condition.

The Opinel pocket knife keeps its edge well for the price range. But you’ll have to sharpen it if you use it a lot. It’s easy to sharpen, especially if it’s a carbon steel model. A new Opinel pocket knife can cut through a 3/4-inch manila rope in one or two swipes. It can cut through a magazine or newspaper with a clean line. While camping, you can use it for countless things, including carving wood and field-dressing wild game.

What users think

Buyers say it stays sharp and cuts like more expensive knives. In addition to the price, they say they like it for carving, cutting food, and general everyday carry. It gets an Amazon rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars. The only common complaint is that the wood might swell and make the knife harder to open. However, you can fix this by oiling the hinge and heating the knife in your oven or over a campfire.

Pricing

The price varies a lot depending on the model. You can get a Carbone Opinel pocket knife for between $8 and $65, while the stainless steel models cost between $12 and $200.

How the Opinel Pocket Knife Compares

Assessing the quality of the Opinel pocket knife is easier if we compare it to some competitors. So let’s compare it to the Smith & Wesson SWA24S, Spyderco Endura 4 Emerson, and Kershaw Leek.

How we reviewed

These comparisons result from the research of each knife and what users think of them. Most of the information comes from Amazon customer reviews.

Pros and Cons

Now that we’ve covered the specifications and comparisons let’s summarize things. These are the strengths and weaknesses of the Opinel pocket knife.

Overall, an excellent camping knife. If you want a simple, tried-and-true pocket knife, it’s an ideal choice.

If you’re looking for something with all the bells and whistles, this isn’t it. In that case, the Endura 4 or Leek are better choices.

Is the Opinel Pocket Knife Right for You?

One hundred and twenty years of widespread use doesn’t mislead. The Opinel pocket knife is a dependable tool for camping, hiking, and more. With a variety of sizes all featuring the same trusty design and abilities, it’s hard to go wrong with an Opinel pocket knife. And they’re so cheap that you can get a few different models if you can’t choose. You can think of it as a foldable Mora knife, and who wouldn't want that?

Are you looking for a tent for you or your family? Are you tired of fighting with poles and rain flys and pegs in the dark? Perhaps an E-Z Up tent is for you. With a couple of clicks and pulls, these tents pop open, ready for you to move in. Now all you need to do is blow up your air mattress and apply mosquito repellent.

If you’re anything like me, then you’ve probably had your share of tent set-up nightmares. I have a habit of being the last to show up to a campsite. And although I’ve become proficient at stumbling around in the dark, trying to set up my tent, it doesn’t mean I like it. I’ve had springy poles wack me in the head, and once I even covered the door with the rain fly, but couldn’t figure it out for a long time. The door just disappeared! We here at Camp Longer highly recommend not losing your tent door.

Which is why you might want to consider a pop-up like the E-Z Up tent. Simply flip your tent open and then laugh at your poor friends from the warmth of the fire as they stumble around in the dark. But, will it suit all your needs, or is it just another gimmick?

All About E-Z Up Tents

The E-Z Up tent can trace its roots back to the Colorado River in 1983. That’s when the company’s 21-year old founder found himself trying to set up a canopy with missing parts. He came up with the idea of a tent that had no parts, and just easily sprung open. A year later, he partnered with a California warehouse owner, and E-Z Up was born.

Today, E-Z Up is a favorite with corporate event planners. Because they make high-quality shelters for food vendors, large event canopies, and sun shelters, you’ll find E-Z Up tents at most outdoor events. E-Z Up is often misspelled as “ez up”, but most people know what it is regardless of spelling. And while the company doesn’t have too many tents, the ones it does have are unique. They should meet the needs of any camper.

The Camping Cube

First is one of the most unique E-Z Up tents we’ve ever seen. As its name suggests, the Camping Cube is a cube-shaped tent. This requires you to have an E-Z Up straight-legged canopy, as the tent itself consists only of the walls and floor.

The box is 6.5 feet tall and comes equipped with a pet portal so your four-legged friend can get in and out. This funky canvas house has 541 cubic feet of space inside, making it one of the largest tents we’ve seen.

In addition, because of its tall height, there is exceptional airflow in this tent. Never again will you wake up inside a stifling furnace at 10:00 in the morning. Now you can keep that fresh night chill in your tent all morning. And because it’s an E-Z Up tent, it sets up and breaks down in minutes.

The Wedge

Next is E-Z Up’s second tent in their two-tent lineup. The Wedge resembles a croissant. It is lightweight, weighing only seven pounds folded up. This is a great choice for hikers and those on portage. Because it’s an E-Z Up tent, it takes just one pull to set up. The tent has three walls and a collapsible fly which becomes a fourth wall and door. The fabric is coated with a special UV spray which blocks the sun’s rays, yet it meets fire resistance standards.

There isn’t much room in this tent, and it’s not really a tent in the traditional sense. Instead, it’s meant for keeping out of the sun during sporting events or at the beach. However, because you can lower the fly to create a fourth wall, it can double as a tent. We wouldn’t suggest spending an entire weekend using the Wedge for camping, but for a day trip, it’s handy. For this reason, we have excluded the Wedge from our review.

How We Reviewed

To make this a fair and unbiased review of the E-Z Up tents, we checked out lots of sources. First, we visited E-Z Up’s website to learn about the company and see what they had to say about their own products. Next, we went to see what the professionals over at Digital Trends thought of the Camping Cube. Then we read through Amazon customer reviews. Because we trust reviews written by real people, we read a lot and were able to get a good idea of how this E-Z Up tent performs in the real world.

Finally, we compared the E-Z Up tent to several tents from the competition to see how they stack up.

What Sets E-Z Up Tents Apart?

The first thing we noticed was that there is nothing quite like the Camping Cube. This tent is like having a house with you. If you pop one up, you’re bound to get attention. Also, this is one of the only pop-open tents that’s large enough for a family and their dog. We kinda like the look of the Camping Cube. There’s nothing else quite like it.

The next thing that sets E-Z Up tents apart from the others is the simplicity of the E-Z Up system. These tents have a single knob that you pull and you have an entire tent ready to go. Most of the other pop-up tents require three or more mechanical motions to get them set up, and none of them break down as easily as an E-Z Up tent. So if you’re lazy and just want to camp, without the hassle of actually getting your camp set up, than E-Z Up has the competition beat.

What others had to say

None of that makes a difference if people don’t like these tents. Thankfully there’s the internet, and when we’re not camping we’re sitting at our computers, scouring the web for the best products for you. In order to learn more about the quality of the E-Z Up Camping Cube, we turned to the good folks over at Digital Trends.

Digital Trends said of the Camping Cube, “It turns camping into glamping.” Being a tech-heavy review site, they were pleased to no end with the power pockets in the tent that allow extension cords to be run inside without letting in rain or bugs, so you can charge your phone or tablet. All in all, Digital Trends was pleased with the Camping Cube.

Meanwhile, over at Amazon, customers gave the Camping Cube 3.9 out of 5 stars. Everyone loved the spacious interior of the tent. Also, people commented that this tent lasts for years with normal wear and tear, and it looks really cool. One issue a few people had was with the fact that they needed to buy the E-Z Up roof separately. However, if you already have one, this is a great add-on.

E-Z Up Tent Pros and Cons

Because E-Z Up tents are a different breed from regular tents, we need to consider different aspects of them that regular tents don’t have. For instance, regular tents don’t have a pull-up knob, and no other tent has a separate roof. On the other hand, all tents should perform the basic task of keeping you out of the rain and away from the bugs for a comfortable night’s sleep. E-Z Up tents come with their share of pros and cons.

Pros

• Sets up in under five minutes
• Breaks down quickly
• Extremely spacious interior
• Adults can stand up inside
• Innovative pet portal and power pockets for extension cords
• Rugged, lasting for years
• Very unique look

Cons

• Roof sold separately
• Price is high for a tent, even without the roof
• The company is not focused on camping

How They Stack up to Others

So if the E-Z Up Camping Cube tent is spacious and unique, how well does it compare to the other brands? Can a Coleman pop-up tent offer the same roomy comfort as an E-Z Up tent? Could you save money on a Chinese-made tent from Amazon and get the same ease of use? One thing we are certain of is that all of the competition offers a roof with their tent.

Coleman Sundome pop-up tent

First up in our comparison is a four-person tent from the king of camping: Coleman. This Chicago company has equipped campers since 1902. They are known for practical, rugged products, which is what you want when you’re camping.

The Sundome pop-up tent is easy to set up. You’ll have it up within 10 minutes, although it will take some practice before you figure which cord to pull and when. Like regular tents, it still requires messing around with rope-poles for support and to attach the fly. This tent is spacious, with nearly five feet of height in the center. Also, there’s nine by eleven feet of space for you to stretch out in when laying down. 

Customers on Amazon gave it 4.4 out of 5 stars. Many people wrote that the tent was high-quality and tough. It set up fairly easy and the inclusion of a floor vent kept it cool during the day. A few people complained that the stakes are weak and snap easily.

Night Cat Easy Instant pop-up tent

Next up is the Easy Instant pop-up tent from Night Cat. One thing that’s unique about the Night Cat is that it uses hydraulic mechanisms to set your tent up. You can just hit a button and stand back. The tent will slowly unfold and stand upright all by itself. Although we couldn’t find out who Night Cat was, after deep diving through Google we realized that they sell only on Amazon. We suspect they are a Chinese manufacturer of a different name and Night Cat is simply a brand name.

This tent is roomy and able to accommodate up to four people. It is waterproofed and the company claims the fabric is inspected for needle holes. Also, inside you’ll find 7 by 6.5 feet of space.

Customers on Amazon rated this tent 3.0 out of 5 stars. Everyone said that the tent was incredibly easy to set up. A press of the button and thirty seconds later there’s a full tent. Also, many people reported that the tent stayed dry during rainstorms. One complaint that a few people had was that the tent is very heavy. Also, it gets really hot and humid inside.

Amazon Basics Tent

Because no other pop-up tent can offer the space of the E-Z Up tent, we turned to regular manual tents. What if you wanted to save some money and go with a more traditional tent? Maybe you don’t want a pop-up tent after all? In this case, Amazon Basics has a tent you may be interested in.

[amazon box="B07DVLXYVP" /]

The Amazon Basics eight-person family tent is 100-percent polyester. There are cool-air ports and vents to keep air flowing through the tent, which is something you’ll want with eight people inside. It has a six-foot center height, which is almost as tall as the Camping Cube. Meanwhile, its 15 feet long and 9 feet wide. This is a huge tent. 

Amazon customers liked this tent, giving it 4.0 out of 5 stars. Customers praised the spacious interior, and many of them wrote that it was a fairly simple tent to set up, with only a few shock cord poles to fight with. One person wrote that they had two double inflatable beds and two twin inflatable beds, plus all their clothing, and there was still room! Unfortunately, a few people said that the rain fly isn’t large enough, and rain gets in under it and into the tent.

Should You Buy?

The E-Z Up tent we looked at is one of the coolest-looking tents we’ve ever seen. It’s a giant cube with windows, doors, and even a doggy-door. With a few extension cords snaking out of it, it looks seriously modern. We loved the spaciousness, and this tent received great reviews from professional reviewers and actual customers alike. What we didn’t like was the price and the fact that we need to buy the roof separately.

If you want a large tent, we recommend going with the Amazon Basics tent. Even though it’s not a pop-up, it has more floor space than the E-Z Up tent. Just remember to put up your own rain fly to keep the rain off the top. If you want a true pop-up tent, the Coleman pop-up tent isn’t a bad choice, but it’s nearly the same price as the E-Z Up tent. For that reason, when asked if you should buy an E-Z Up tent, we say yes!

Hiking boots aren't the same from one manufacturer to the next. Nor do hiking boots for men and women have the same shape, fit, and design all around. New Balance hiking boots come in various sizes and ankle heights, and they offer a range of characteristics to select from as well. These factors are specifically for men and women hikers looking for the best boots.

When it comes to hiking, comfort is a top priority many people forget. Consumers want to check all the right boxes and choose the boots that experts claim are the best. However, they forget that their comfort and safety is just as (if not more) important than expert claims. Besides a comfortable fit, other factors are also essential for hikers to consider when choosing boots. Ankle support, gripability, waterproofing, and breathability are some additional characteristics hikers should also consider. Instead of buying the "number-one rated" hiking boot, step back and examine your specific criteria alongside what the experts say.

​When buying a pair of New Balance hiking boots, men and women should consider several boot characteristics. Fit, comfort, design, height, and gripability, are some of these factors. Of course, the price is essential to most hikers. It's also important to look for a pair of boots with a waterproof or a weatherproof membrane.

​Features of the best New Balance ​Hiking ​Boots

The more characteristics hiking boots contain, the better, right? In some cases, more is better. However, when choosing New Balance hiking boots, hikers should look for essential traits, rather than more. Some of the critical aspects to look for include:

Although these aren't the only attributes hikers should look for, they're essential to the hiking boot's stability, structure, and comfort.

​We reviewed the best hiking boots for men and women. In our review, we included details about the design, comfort, gripability, and overall support of these products. We also compared boots in different price ranges, so every hiker can choose a pair that fits their budget. The products we compare offer an extensive list of characteristics that set them apart from competitor's products. Durability, breathability, comfort, and material finish were some of the design features we mention in our review.

Hiking boot prices vary between men and women's product lines. Customers have to know where to shop for boots also. Different websites offer different prices for the products available online. 

​There are numerous hiking boots available for men and women. Although the price is a relevant factor, overall quality, design, and comfort are areas hikers should consider first. These are some of the best New Balance hiking boots available for men and women to select.

Women's New Balance ​Hiking ​Boots

When purchasing new hiking boots, women don't have as many options as men with most brands. That's not the case with New Balance. These are a few of the best options available for women.

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Men's New Balance ​Hiking ​Boots

There are numerous great products available for men when choosing new hiking boots. These are some of the best options available in the New Balance hiking boots men's line.

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​Men and women have different needs when it comes to purchasing new hiking boots. Therefore, it's best for hikers to choose gender-specific New Balance hiking boots. The best pair of women's boots is the New Balance WM1400 hiking boot. The synthetic outer and high platform design creates a comfortable fit. The EVA midsole helps provide additional interior support for the feet. And, the breathable design doesn't cause feet to sweat too much in warmer conditions. With the lugged outsole, hikers can grip their boots into the wet/muddy terrain easily as well.

The best pair of men's New Balance hiking boots is the New Balance 1400v1 hiking boot. The arch support, EVA midsole, and lugged rubber outsole provide hikers excellent traction support. They are comfortable and feature a breathable, yet waterproof, upper finish. Thinsulate lining helps keep wearer's warm as temperatures cool down during colder hiking seasons.

No two hikers are alike. Additionally, men and women need to choose hiking boots that are suitable for their hiking excursions. These are a few of the best New Balance hiking boots for men and women.