Small tools to keep you safe

Clichés sometimes become clichés because there is truth in the message. Take the overworked phrase, "Good things come in small packages."

Of course, not all good things are small, but there's something special about a pocket-sized gadget that can be useful in keeping you safe and secure while playing in the backcountry. Come winter, one of the keys to safety is making sure you can fix problems that might develop with your snow equipment, be it skis, snowboards or snowshoes. The Buck X-Tract lives up to its billing as the first-ever multitool that can be used one-handed. It can also be accessed and used while wearing gloves. The X-Tract features a small but sturdy set of pliers that slides out from one end of the tool. The pliers lock in place. On the other side of the tool you'll find a sliding bar. Slide the bar out and you'll find a Phillips-head driver. Push the locking button to slide the bar back to center, and then continue out the other end to find a flat-head driver. Being a Buck Knife, the X-Tract also sports a locking knife blade of stainless steel. The last feature is a small can opener, though a better choice for that space would be a small file — useful for cleaning up dinged or broken metal parts and edges. But even without the file, the X-Tract stands as the best multitool we've tested — tough tools in a compact package, with no wasted weight given over to unnecessary and never-used tools.

The X-Tract sells for $50 and weighs just 6 ounces. More information at www.buckknives.com.

The other pint-sized gadget for winter recreation puts the power of fire in your pocket. The Brunton Helios lighter throws out a windproof flame. This butane lighter uses Piezo electronic ignition to touch off a blowtorchlike flame that reportedly withstands winds of up to 80 mph (we tried it in some 60 mph gusts at Fort Ebey State Park and never lost the flame). That could be essential if you ever find yourself lost in whiteout conditions while snowshoeing or backcountry skiing. Matches and Bic lighters can be snuffed out by even moderate winds. If you need a life-saving fire during an emergency bivouac, you'll want a storm-proof flame to get it going.

The Helios carries a hefty price — $60 — but having a reliable source of fire in your pocket creates a lot of security when exploring the winter wilderness. For more information: www.brunton.com.

— Dan A. Nelson, special to The Seattle Times

Freelancer Dan A. Nelson, of Puyallup, is a regular contributor to Backpacker magazine, and an author of outdoor guides with The Mountaineers Books. For the purpose of review, gear manufacturers lend products, which are returned after a typical use of four to six weeks. There is no payment from manufacturers, and they have no control over the content of reviews. Contact Dan with gear-related questions at gearguy@adventuresnw.net.