Baladéo

Baladéo is a French outdoor brand, and the name belongs to Coriolis, the company Luc Foin and Stéphane Lebeau founded in 1995. It is best known for knives, though the range also takes in compasses, lamps, backpacks and binoculars, with more than 400 products in all.

The designers either create new pieces or rethink traditional ones, paying attention to weight, size, handling and comfort. Materials run from wood, horn and stainless steel to plastic, nylon and resin. The G-Series knives are built to be as light as possible for trips where every gram counts, and the US mountaineer Conrad Anker is said to swear by them. Baladéo says it aims for good quality at an affordable price.