Jim Cobb

When I was young, I went through a brief fascination with Arthurian legends. While it’s been a bit since I last cracked open The Once and Future King, I recognized the Avalon name right off. For the uninitiated, Avalon was the mystical island where the sword of legend, Excalibur, was created. I don’t know that I’d go so far as to say the new Avalon folding knife from Pro-Tech and Peace Neighbor is a magical blade; it isn’t quite capable of cleaving armor or stone.

As a gear reviewer, I try not to get too attached when I evaluate a pack, knife, or piece of kit. Often, you don’t get to carry your favorites because you’re already devoting that space to something new. I mean, how many backpacks can you reasonably carry at once? The Eberlestock Switchblade is the rare exception to my rule about not playing favorites. I’ve had it since 2018, and it’s remained my go-to pack for the last 8 years and counting.