The Higonokami (“Higo”) knife has been made by metalsmiths in Japan for centuries, and – unlike most tools – has remained virtually unchanged in that time. Now designer Kacper Hamilton has given it a very gentle makeover for the benefit modern day adventurers. The Swiss ski company Zai has commissioned an iteration of the folding knife that contains tools uniquely tailored to equipment for skiing and mountaineering. The locking mechanism on the Zai knife is magnetic, so the various blades and tools can be opened using only one hand. Adhering to the precedent of Japanese craftsmen who developed the Higonokami, the Zai Higo is manufactured with exceeding attention to detail and precision. The body is anodized aluminum and the tools steel. Each Higo is cleverly designed to fold up into the smallest volume possible, making it the ideal compact, lightweight tool for skiers, mountaineers, and anyone who carries their gear on their back.
