Whether you call it gear or kit, the use of outdoor hard and soft goods is on the increase. Advances in technology have meant smaller, lighter, better and cooler kit. I will freely admit to digging shiny new kit, but am also acutely aware of the unnecessary use of so much of it. Accordingly, I limit the bling as much as I can. It is a fine line (or is it a grey area?) between making the most of being outside with the use of the right equipment and ruining the impossible to find elsewhere, soul rejuvenating vibe that being on a river or in the mountains brings. If you are going to use the kit, cool, bring it. If it does not negatively impact your stoke, then, hey, it is no-one's business than your own. Different st(r)okes for different folks!

So, with that preamble out of the way, I would like to introduce what I hope will become a new weekly post on this site. Dig this gear. Simply, once a week, one item of kit that people dig to use outside. It could be the latest cutting edge piece of gear that you managed to lift from the last Outdoor Retailer show. Or, it might be those ratty, worn-through, molded to your feet pair of Chacos that they will have to pry from your cold, dead hands (I mean feet). It does not matter. If they help to make your outdoor experience one to remember, it's in.

I am going to kick off this first one, with one of my own favs. Over the coming weeks, look out for bits of gear from other folks who make their living from being outside and a chance to see your own on the site. If you have a piece of gear that you love, let me know the story behind it and we will let everyone (well relatively speaking. Have you seen my Google Analytics stats lately?) know.

In 2007, I was stoked, when Benchmade knives became a sponsor our our paddling descent of the Amazon. Fact was, we needed knives for the river journey and we wanted the best. Benchmade occupies the top of the tree when it comes to innovation and quality (don't worry, this is not a sales pitch. Benchmade are not a current sponsor of mine, they just make good knives). Among the knives that we requested and received was the Benchmade 530 Pardue. Like the spiel on their website says, "thin is in". The folding knife has a 3.25" blade, one handed opening, solid locking mechanism and rather awesomely, is super light.

On and off river for the entire descent, the knife performed kitchen, repair, camp and first-aid duties with ease. It never left my side. But, perhaps the best use of this knife came when I walked across Iran last year.

Now, I am the proud owner of one of the original Leatherman Supertools, which I acquired way back in 1994. Another handy piece of kit but unlike newer models, that bad boy is heavy! I was trying to go light in Iran, having to carry everything I needed on my back, so this extra weight was not wanted. Similarly, eating utensils. Titanium fork, plastic spork, all good options. But I would still need a blade. I decided that my Benchmade 530 would play the part of cutting and eating tool. In fact it would be my only tool. Did it work? You bet. From opening steel tins of Khoresht (a type of Iranian stew) and eating it, cutting bread, spreading cheese and slicing fruit, it worked a treat. Without missing a beat, it then went on to shorten guy ropes, burst blisters, cut through wire and plastic. It was my favourite and most useful bit of kit on the whole journey.

So, that's me. What about you? Your old flip-flops, a favourite carabiner, bike tool or backpack? Let me know.