Credit card-sized tools for travelers.

Back in the day, we never went anywhere without a Swiss Army knife. After all, what could be better than having scissors, tweezers, a screwdriver, a corkscrew, a bottle opener, and a sharp knife all packed into a 3-½ inch package?

We still find our Climber II model indispensable for road trips. But Homeland Security frowns on carrying on knives, no matter how innocuous. And lately, we've been trying to carry on our luggage wherever possible.

So how can you be prepared for everything from a hangnail to an impromptu picnic without alarming the TSA, or adding bulk and weight to your carry-on bag? Get a credit-card sized SwissCard from Victorinox. There are several styles available. The base model includes pretty much everything you‘d want for $13.

The SwissCard Lite adds a magnifying glass, a Phillips screwdriver, and a mini white light. Prices start around $20. at www.amazon.com.

Depending on where you're going -- say, a tented camp in the Masai Mara -- you may want a more robust flashlight. The Eon Ice Card flashlight is bright enough to let you navigate in total darkness, and the 5 -10-year battery has enough oomph for last for 168 hours.

Although it's only a little thicker than a credit card, it's probably better to just throw it in your purse or carry on than to stretch out your wallet. Ice Cards are $14.99 and are also available at Amazon.

The other must-have for hiking, kayaking, swimming, or other outdoor activities where you don't want to carry a purse or a wallet is a waterproof case. These lightweight, plastic safes snap tight and then hang around your neck with an attached lanyard.

We like the credit card-sized one, but slightly bigger ones are available for passports, cameras, keys, and other valuables. There's a nice selection at www.thewaterproofstore.com