7 things hidden inside the TactiStaff hiking stick

1. A magnetic compass

   For a quick heading check when the trail markers get thin. A good backup to a phone that's low on battery.

2. A whistle

   Three blasts is the standard call for help, and a whistle carries farther than a shout. It's one of the simplest pieces of trail safety gear, and here it's always with you.

3. A flint fire starter

   For lighting a campfire or a camp stove when the matches are damp. Always follow local fire rules and bans.

4. Screwdrivers for quick fixes

   Flat and cross-head bits for tightening a loose pack buckle, a bike part or a camp chair.

5. A bottle opener and can opener

   The two tools that always get forgotten on a camping trip.

6. A glass-breaker tip

   A glass-breaker point, the kind of tool people keep in a car emergency kit, which is a good place to keep the whole stick.

7. A length that adjusts, and a pouch to carry it

   The aluminum sections screw together, so you add or remove sections to change the length, and it all breaks down to fit its carrying pouch. The maker says it's made of T6 aircraft-grade aluminum.

   

It also has a small knife and saw blade, and a few more attachments listed on the maker's site. Those blades mean it isn't something to take on a plane or into places that don't allow them, and it should be kept out of reach of children.