As a surfer, boater, fisherman, or waterman, we're looking for tools that can use to help us enjoy our time in or on the water.
After all, whatever equipment needed on the water is something we have to carry.
Whether it's fishing line, making a bonfire, or more, the need for a cutting device near the water will arise.
With that comes the question of what to use — pliers, scissors? Or should you use a knife, of which there are so many to choose from?
At the end of the day, watermen strive for products that are durable, lightweight, and simple to use.
That's where Kershaw's next-level pocket knife comes into play.
Photo: Laswerwolf
Kershaw has been making great and affordable knives since 1974.
But their glory days aren't in relegated to the past; they continue to make the ultimate waterman's knife today.
Whether you're in or on the water, here's what you can do with a Kershaw knife — and why it should be a permanent staple in your waterman's gear.
Cutting Driftwood to Make the Ultimate Beach Bonfire.
We all love beach bonfires, whether it's to keep warm on a cold winter afternoon or to make food on a warm summer night. The challenge lies in getting it started.
Small pieces of driftwood laying in the sand are perfect fuel for the fire. You can use your Kershaw knife or Kershaw hatchet to multiply these small pieces of driftwood.
You can use the sharp blade of your Kershaw knife or hatchet to multiply these small pieces of driftwood and get the bonfire — and the party — started.
If you are concerned that you're dulling the blade in the process, don't worry.
You can sharpen your knife with the Kershaw Ultra-Tek Sharpener.
Photo: Laserwolf
Or, you can ship your knife or take it to the Kershaw facility in Oregon and they will service it for you, because your knife comes with free lifetime sharpening!
Opening Cans of Food or Cutting Fruit.
Picture this: your family and friends made it to the beach, the bonfire is already raging, and now it's time to eat. You pull out cans of beans and vegetables only to realize you didn't bring a can opener. Yet again, that's where the Kershaw all one knife comes in.
You don't have to leave the party in search of a can opener or knife; you can pull out the Kershaw knife from your pocket, break the seal, and get food cooking.
Or, if you prefer your fruit cut so that you can share it with friends, a Kershaw knife is the perfect solution.
Photo: Laserwolf
Cut Strong Fishing Line.
Fishing line is built on strength and durability. After all, strength and durability are exactly you need when you have a heavy catch flailing madly on the other end of line.
But if you’re out on the boat, on the beach or underwater and need to cut the line — whether it’s after a catch, needing to change the line or both, you'll need something sharp to do so.
Instead of carrying old pliers, rusty scissors, or dull nail clippers, you can use your sharp Kershaw knife — which can conveniently sit in your pocket with its durable pocket clip — to cut the fishing line.
The pocket clip works as it should — to keep the knife easily accessible — and keeps you from having to search for you keys in a pocket already filled with a cell phone, car keys, or other miscellaneous items.
Filleting Fish.
Salmon, Cod, Tuna, Red Snapper, Mahi Mahi ... catching each of these is an experience, and so is indulging in their taste.
Photo: Laserwolf
No, you don't need to buy an expensive knife set to fillet fish before putting them on the grill; you can use your all-in-one Kershaw knife to do just that.
Knocking on Oxygen Tank Underwater to get Attention.
The world just under the surface is a must-see for ocean enthusiasts, which makes scuba diving so popular.
Tens to hundreds of feet below the surface, and with a regulator in your mouth, communication is relegated to hand signals.
In the event that you want to get another diver's attention — maybe it's to point out a rare fish, point towards the lobster you're looking for or in the event of an emergency — the only way to do so is to strike metal on metal, which you can do with the metal handle of a Kershaw knife.
Freeing a Sea Turtle From Plastic.
Seeing a turtle in the wild is an incredible and serene experience, but the moment can turn to despair if you find that the turtle has plastic — for example, a plastic drink container — in or around it.
Not only is this uncomfortable for the marine animal; sea turtles can die by ingesting plastic.
Unfortunately, this isn’t all that uncommon: while plastic ingestion rates for sea turtles vary, researchers estimate that 52 percent of sea turtles across the globe have some plastic in their guts.
What's more, about 1,000 sea turtles annually die from digesting plastic — and this is only the documented cases.
Part of being a surfer, fisherman or overall waterman is protecting the marine environment you love so dearly, and that can include sea turtles. That’s where a Kershaw knife comes in.
If it's safe and not going to endanger the sea turtle's life, you can use its sharp blade to rip through plastic and free the turtle of the plastic — and make sure it doesn’t make its way into the sea turtle’s mouth.
Fixing Your Surf Leash.
At first glance, the surf leash seems like the most simple piece of surf equipment there is: a rope with a tie on one end and a velcro strap on the other.
But, the more you use it, the more you realize it can become surprisingly complex, whether it gets tangled, coiled, wrapped around something, or breaks.
In any of these situations, you may need to cut the leash itself or leash tie. If you're at the beach when this happens and the waves are firing, you might be out of luck.
But not if you have your Kershaw knife in your bag or car.
You can use it to cut or fix your surf leash and paddle back out.
Cutting a Wetsuit in an Emergency.
Accidents are never planned, and that’s why it’s important to always be prepared.
For surfers, this includes hitting your head on a sandbar, hitting another surfer's board, a shark bite, even a heart attack in the water.
In cold waters, the first thing you’ll need to do is cut the person's wetsuit off, whether it's to survey the damage or get an AED.
This can be a terrifying and frantic situation — after all, how can you rip through a thick, neoprene wetsuit — so having your Kershaw knife to do quickly can make all the difference in the world.
Kershaw: Next-Level Pocket Knives
Photo: Laserwolf
A Kershaw pocket knife is the ultimate staple in a waterman's gear. Both the blade and handle are true quality. Even better, both components are well balanced, making it easy to hold — especially when on the water — and easy to use.
Whether it's Kershaw's pocket knives, their filet knives, or one of their many other products, you can appreciate the simplicity of the Kershaw design that values functionality over everything.
Find your next-level pocket knife at kershaw.kaiusa.com.