Hall of Fame 2022
The first year had some real classics (see here), stuff I have used forever and still use regularly. The churn in the IKC is real, but these items have not just avoided the churn, they have also set the bar in a way that makes them still useful even after they are no longer bleeding edge. This year’s inductees have similarly good track records. A few of them are so timeless in their design, I can’t imagine them ever being bad. As time passes they will still be great even if they are less cutting edge.
Tom Bihn Cadet (review link)
Availability: Still Available here
Alt Review: Pack Hackers
You will not find a better daily use briefcase in the world. Sure, there are fancier briefcases (I own one and a review is coming soon), but none are more competent. Even now, many years later, it looks new, works well, and takes a beating. Let’s be clear—you do not NEED NOR WANT a big bag. A big bag is like free time—it will get filled with waste. The bigger the bag, the more stuff you carry, and the heavier it will be. The reality is that in modern America, with a huge amount of work being done virtually or with the use of digital information, boxes or bags of paper are useless. This pack FORCES you to slim down. It FORCES you to think about what you carry and how you work. All of that is a very good thing.
Some folks don’t like that you “need” to buy a bunch of accessories, but I find this silly for one reason—everyone that makes this complaint lists DIFFERENT necessary accessories. That is performative proof that Bihn’s design decisions here were correct. I purchased the bag with one accessory—the upgraded shoulder strap—and 6 years later I both another—the slip case for a laptop. The bag, however, would have been fine without either. This is not a Busse-with-no-sheath situation.
Readily Available Similar Item: n/a
Northwoods Knives Indian River Jack (review link)
Availability: semi-regular drops about once a year
Alt Review: Blade Reviews
There are vanishingly few items I would say cannot be improved. This is one of them. You might object and say that steel is constantly changing and upgradeable. A Magnacut IRJ would be better than the 1095 version, you might point out. Sure, a Magnacut would be better on paper, but in the real world there is almost no chance it would make a difference. In this application 1095 ground uber thin like it is here, represents a fantastic choice. A well-shaped and well-ground blade, employed in a non-hard use EDC role really doesn’t need a super steel and so while a Magnacut version would be nice (and sell like hot cakes), it wouldn’t be noticeably better. One day we will have informed consumers demanding a “super grind” as much as a “super steel.” When that happens people will realize just how good this blade is.
Readily Available Similar Item: Victorinox Cadet
McGizmo Haiku (review link)
Availability: Still Available here
Alt Review: Precogvision
This light has the best beam pattern on the planet. In fact, there is no product I have reviewed that is better in any one category than the Haiku is in beam pattern. The lumen count is no longer even on par, but with a useful body tube, good tint, and the aforementioned beam pattern, the light remains useful. Mine has a fire breathing drop in (that also has strong runtimes) and the light is the best torch I own, probably tied with the BOSS 35. This is an enthusiast’s torch and it is a supremely well made and well designed tool.
Readily Available Similar Item: n/a
Kabar BK16 (review link)
Availability: Still Available (see below)
Alt Review: Sofrep
This is the best starter fixed blade in the world. It is an amazing blank slate for modding and personalization. It is also a great user. The size, shape, and feel is just right. I wouldn’t change a single thing about the knife itself. Like many fixed blades, the sheath is garbage. But here, the sheath encourages you to mod the knife and I think that is the true purpose of the sheath—spur the do it yourself spirit that makes the BK16 so great and so customizable. If you have a bit of the knife making bug but don’t want to drop two grand on a Wilmont or a Burr King, the BK16 is a great way to get your feet wet. I stripped mine and made a sheath for it and the result is a great knife I really like, made better by me. Out of the box it is a classic. The fact that it is a blank slate for mods makes it a Hall of Famer.
Readily Available Similar Item: n/a
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