Considering the implications of carrying around a machete and also the possibility of hacking off a finger, a CocoTap is a simple and invaluable tool for accessing a coconut. A solid 316 stainless tube crafted with a pointed end and a handle that folds out to a T position, it will easily pierce a green coconut and go through everything from a jelly nut to a mature drinking coconut.

I picked up the "Barman" model at the main market in Cairns Australia. I was actually after a machete as I lived for many years in Ecuador and used them for many things -- the main one being coconuts. I was a bit skeptical when the guy at the market showed me the CocoTap, but I've now had it for more than a year and am on my second trip to the tropics with it. It's a hell of a lot easier to pack than a machete. It folds up conveniently and I also use it for all kinds of small jobs requiring something strong, sharp and pointy. As the web site says, it's like an extra finger.

-- Patrick Handley

CocoTap
$35
Available from and manufactured by CocoTap