Price Points: Mushroom knives

I always keep bags in my coat pockets in case I come across wild food on my dog walks in fields and woodland; blackberries, elderflowers, bilberries and the like.

October and November are peak months for fungi foraging. This year has been a good one for parasols, porcinis and horse mushrooms round these parts. With some mushrooms, you really need to slice them at the base, otherwise they may crumble or break when you try to lift them. As well as a bag, it’s a good idea to walk with one of these mushroom knives.

A good knife will be small, lightweight, sharp and have a brush to get rid of dirt and debris. The mushroom-shaped, keyring example is portable and very cute. The French company, Opinel, has the reputation as being the brand-leader and their N°08 model is an absolute beaut!

Mushroom tool keychain: £14.95, NOTHS
Mushroom foraging knife: £22.50, Etsy
Opinel N°08 pocket knife + sheath in case: £39.95, Amazon

The Opinel N°08 mushroom knife is the ultimate tool for foraging. It will accompany you on all your outings in the forest, and will fulfil several purposes. For all nature and mushroom lovers, this is your new best friend!

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Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Opinel N°08 pocket knife + sheath in case
£39.95

Mushroom foraging knife
£22.50

Mushroom tool keychain
£14.95

Opinel N°08 pocket knife + sheath in case
£39.95

Mushroom foraging knife
£22.50

Mushroom tool keychain
£14.95

Opinel N°08 pocket knife + sheath in case
£39.95

Mushroom foraging knife
£22.50

Mushroom tool keychain
£14.95

Opinel N°08 pocket knife + sheath in case
£39.95

Mushroom foraging knife
£22.50

Mushroom tool keychain
£14.95

Opinel N°08 pocket knife + sheath in case
£39.95

Mushroom foraging knife
£22.50

Mushroom tool keychain
£14.95

Price Points: Magnetic knife racks

Before we moved, we stuck our kitchen knives on magnetic knife racks. We currently keep them with all the other kitchen utensils in a big, deep drawer in a butcher’s block.

To be honest, I don’t think it’s the safest way to store them; it would be easy to cut your hand or fingers reaching down carelessly into a tangle of implements.

As a pair of former chefs, we have almost two dozen kitchen knives. Different tasks require different tools; slicing a loaf of bread, chopping onions, peeling veg… we both have favourite knives for certain jobs.

We previously had very industrial ones that you’d see in every professional restaurant kitchen. However, I’m liking the look of the wooden ones – which would have a magnetic strip embedded within. For our quantity of knives, we’ll probably need a pair of racks… and you can’t go wrong with two for less than a tenner!

2 x 38cm Bamboo magnetic knife holders: £8.95, eBay
KUNGSFORS Magnetic knife rack, stainless steel – 56cm: £12.00, IKEA
Oak and walnut magnetic knife rack – 40cm: £45.00, Etsy

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Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Oak and walnut magnetic knife rack – 40cm
£45.00

KUNGSFORS Magnetic knife rack, stainless steel – 56cm
£12.00

2 x 38cm Bamboo magnetic knife holders
£8.95

Oak and walnut magnetic knife rack – 40cm
£45.00

KUNGSFORS Magnetic knife rack, stainless steel – 56cm
£12.00

2 x 38cm Bamboo magnetic knife holders
£8.95

Oak and walnut magnetic knife rack – 40cm
£45.00

KUNGSFORS Magnetic knife rack, stainless steel – 56cm
£12.00

2 x 38cm Bamboo magnetic knife holders
£8.95

Oak and walnut magnetic knife rack – 40cm
£45.00

KUNGSFORS Magnetic knife rack, stainless steel – 56cm
£12.00

2 x 38cm Bamboo magnetic knife holders
£8.95

Oak and walnut magnetic knife rack – 40cm
£45.00

KUNGSFORS Magnetic knife rack, stainless steel – 56cm
£12.00

2 x 38cm Bamboo magnetic knife holders
£8.95

Price Points: Pocket multi-tools

If I were ever to be a guest on Desert Island Discs, my luxury item to have with me would be one of these pocket multi-tools. Justin carries one on his keyring, and it often saves the day… and we’re not even on a desert island most of the time! Knife, scissors and bottle opener are the most called upon for us, but regular campers, mountaineers or hikers will no doubt utilise the full gamut of gadgets.

#1 is really cute and comes with a selection of basic tools. #2 is solid with a beautiful wooden handle and an unusual hammer tool (something the other two lack) with cleverly integrated pliers. #3, the classic Swiss Army knife, is so splendidly designed and has an amazing range of functions.

Kikkerland crab multi tool: £14.99, Waterstones
9-in-one multi-tool – features include:
• mini-scissors • bottle opener • can opener • screwdrivers • mini-cutter & saw
Many-tools-in-one system: £29, Orvis
Stainless steel and hardwood multi-tool – features include:
• hammer • two slotted screwdrivers • can opener • serrated blade • knife • pliers • wire cutter/stripper • nail claw • Phillips screwdriver
VICTORINOX Swiss Champ knife: £63.20, Blacks
An impressive 33 tools in a tool that is less than 10cm in length – features include:
• large blade • small blade • corkscrew • can opener • small screwdriver • cap lifter • screwdriver • wire stripper • punch • reamer • stainless steel key ring • tweezers • toothpick • scissors • multi-purpose hook • wood saw • fish scaler • hook disgorger • ruler (cm + inches) • nail file • metal file • nail cleaner • metal saw • fine screwdriver • chisel • pliers • wire cutters • wire crimping tool • Phillips screwdriver • magnifying glass • pressurised ballpoint pen • pin (stainless steel) • mini-screwdriver (pat.) • sewing eye

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Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.