About the usefulness of multitool when camping

A.L.

A.L.

Joined
Jun 27, 2007
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I was testing this used French army tent (I have no idea if it's current or retired model) that I have just yesterday, in "controlled environment" (read: backyard). Since it's actually used in the army, it has some things missing and some things to be tailored and tinkered. Let's imagine that I would have been in the wilds, or just camping somewhere and would have had the gear that I had yesterday: Modded Becker BK-16 and Condor Hudson Bay knife as far as knives go. But what I also had was Victorinox/Swiss Bianco Carver in my pocket. I have to say that when I was figuring what goes where and how to make everything work with the tent, that little SAK with thin and small blades was the one I used. I also used the awl a lot, what many people consider useless or undesired (opening knots and accessing loops that were sewn wrong). Also tools like scissors or pliers can have huge help (tailoring, wire usage such as fixing things or traps)!

So, I think that when someone says that you should also have multitool or SAK with you in the woods, one should consider that it would be for very small detailed jobs and not for actual bushcraft (or whatever is the activity you do is called). I guess it's the trend of "one knife does it all" that people somehow get mixed in, that the multitool should be taking part in such activities as whittling, wood processing etc..

But in nutshell, tool for every job, and even three/four inch knife can sometimes be too clumsy!

Am I just stating the obvious here? :D
 
There are much bigger SAK fans in here than I, but I've always had one handy since I was young. So indispensable, so much for lack of better terms, utility. In much of CA wilderness where I'm from, a multi is all you need. Through hikers, forestry, and SAR friends of mine swear by them as well. For the cost for what you get, it's pretty hard to beat.
 
A SAK is so easy to carry, it makes no sense not to have one handy. In New York City, I carried a Victorinox Ranger in my briefcase. In a wilder environment, a tool that can fix other tools is a great idea.
 
I have lots of knives. The one that gets carried and used in all legal environments is a Vic SAK whether it be in the woods or walking down the street. I don't know how many trips to my tool box a SAK has saved me over the years or how many times I had no tools with me at all except a Vic SAK. Honestly, in a work environment, I try to have at least a few tools that I am more likely to use at a minimum with/available (meaning in my vehicle). But out comes the SAK over and over again. I feel it is nearly indespensible which is why I have four spares in their boxes of my favorite model.
 
I have quite a few saks....have one in pocket along with my Hinderer.....they have been the savior on more than one occasion. I find their larger multitools to be the best on the market and have close to six of 'em in various places in the house, shop and vehicles. I would agree that people can sometimes overlook the smaller details.....and those can sometimes be the difference between mission success or failure!!
 
I have a Leatherman original PST and I just love that thing. It's my most used wilderness tool by far. Over the years it's done more tent/pack/stove/clothing/zipper repairs than I can remember. I never go into the woods without it.
 
For a light summer trip, my bare bones tool requirements include

First Aid - Cutting bandages to fit (scissors), cutting athletic tape (scissors), picking splinters (small knife blade, needle, tweezers), trimming toe nails (nail clippers - actually a big deal and potential trip ender)

Firemaking - Adjusting/repairing a stove (at most, small pliers, maybe a screw driver?)

Shelter/Pack - Sewing (heavy needle, heavy thread, pliers to push needle), zipper repair (pliers, screw driver to pry with)

Eating - Opening packages (small knife or scissors) (note: meats and cheese can be pre-cut. peanut butter spread with spoon.)


My minimalist kit includes: nail clippers, splinter tweezers, 2 heavy needles (one straight, one curved), a spoon and a Leatherman Squirt PS4.

I generally carry an Opinel #9 because I have an image to uphold but honestly, I don't *NEED* anything beyond the Squirt.

On winter trips, I carry a binding repair kit or allen keys to deal with crampon adjustments.

I used to carry a larger Wave and before that, a SOG Paratool. Honestly, I found them to be "bad weight".
 
I do not consider a SAK a "multitool", I view it as a penknife
I always carry a Classic as first aid, and a simple Tourist with a cork-screw
When I was in the Army in a rescue unit, I carried a small needle-nosed grip lock
This combination was lighter than a Leatherman (generic name here) and much less expensive

I have tried a Squirt for the little pliers, but I do not get what I am so used to in a Tourist

My survival SAK is the Huntsman with large scissors and a saw
 
I don't really view a Vic SAK as a multitool either although technically it is. I view a "leatherman" as a multitool. The issue of "bad weight" is relevant if you are packing for more than a few miles. I use my Vic Spirit multitool (have SOG and Gerber versions too) and I notice that I just seldom use it unless it is for the pliers or for cutting a wire. So how often do I need a pliers in the woods? Not often. How often do I cut wires in the woods? Not often. But I might have to cut a fish hook that is embedded. Does that justify carrying it? For most fishing outings, yeah because it gives me more options for reel repair or the occasional first aid consideration. So, for me, I struggle with the weight of the multitool relative to what I actually use if for outside normal day to day activities. In short, I usually leave it at home on hikes and carry a 111mm SAK which some would consider oversized hiking relative to the need. I find the larger blade a lot more useful for cutting.

Or maybe I simply haven't conditioned my thinking to include using the Spirit adequately. On the other hand, if I was using snow shoes or skies, I would definitely have the Spirit with me regardless of the weight as like the fishing reel repair consideration, it does provide more options and the pliers could be very useful. Fishing, I tend to have at least one needle nose pliers with me regardless and getting the multitool out is just too slow for releasing hooked fish. But it certainly could be done with larger fish (bigger mouths) for hook removal.
 
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This thread is messing with my head. I have been an invalid most of last year, and don't feel up for the ice outside now. Wild adventures are beyond me. But all through this, I carry a Skeletool in my gear bag. I keep a Charge TTi by my desk.

After following the ideas here, I may go back to carrying my Victorinox Spirit.
 
On my last "camp out" we cooked over a fire in cast iron. I tended the fire, my students (12 year old boys) did the prep and stirring and the like. One of the pots handles wasn't bent around the pot "ear" enough and kept unhooking itself. I had a skeletool in my pocket, and that let me put the handle back in place enough to get the pot-hook back in play. the wire was too heavy to bend with just the skeletool, but it worked. Also helped in getting the lid off the billy-tin, which the pot hook couldn't do. The pliers are also helpful when cooking on trangia stoves.
 
This is a great discussion! I, too, have found SAKs to be indispensable over the years. I carried one for most of my 22-year military career (AF Special Operations), and carried one for the 18 years afterwards working in various locations in Sub-Saharan Africa, South America and the Middle East. Through that time, I also carried one or the other models while hiking & camping here in the U.S. As I sit here right now, I have a Vic Huntsman I picked up at the Puente Aereo in Bogota back in 1998 in a nylon pouch on my belt. I try to never go out in the woods/fields without one!

Ron
 
I bought a replacement Vic SAK in Colombia too. Mine turned up missing in my hotel room and I was really dependant of it for opening bottle caps, cutting, tweezers, and toothpick. They use a lot of bottles there or used to. I spent most of a day in Medellin looking for one. Good old times. I felt like a person who ran out of cigs and just had to have a SAK immediately for my fix.
 
I know exactly what you mean! I lost one in Africa one time, and felt almost "naked" without it, until I got back to where I was staying and replaced with my "spare" I had with me.

Ron
 
My experience has been different.

Scissors. I've never used the scissors for anything other than trimming the odd moustacheo hair.
Can opener. Never used, even in the city.
Bottle opener. Yep but the spine of a knife works as well.
Cork screw. Never.
Saw. Not even the saw. What's reasonable for a sak saw is reasonable to break or baton IME.
Screwdrivers. Never.
Awl. A few times maybe.
File. Never.
Pliers. Never.

In the city I have a mutlitool in the car and maybe a sak in my pocket but I've gotten away from them in the woods. I can see how they COULD come in handy but for me they never have.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
This thread is messing with my head. I have been an invalid most of last year, and don't feel up for the ice outside now. Wild adventures are beyond me. But all through this, I carry a Skeletool in my gear bag. I keep a Charge TTi by my desk.

After following the ideas here, I may go back to carrying my Victorinox Spirit.
Click to expand...

I was in NoLita last week for work. We CA boys rarely have to chip inches thick black ice from metal steps, but hey when in Rome.
KVGKmYKm.png


Was gonna say I've had a leatherman longer than my farmer, as having pliers is nice, especially if you end up goin fishin'
 
I think it is just what you get used to. I wouldn't consider using the spine of a knife to open a bottle cap unless I had no other choice available. A lot of the caps (beer) you can twist off with your hand now, but I usually would use the bottle opener on my SAK. I have never used or tried to use a can opener, and found the scissors lacking and a poor replacement for a real scissors. But if you just have too... that goes without saying. When you add these tools to a multitool (leatherman) I don't even consider using them because you have to "retrieve" them from inside the handles. So, it begs the question, even wade fishing, I always have a needle nosed pliers with me and often two (basically two sizes). Why do I need a "leatherman"? :D

Honestly, I view the leatherman multitool as an emergency set of tools and not something I automatically attempt to use unless getting the proper tool requires me to walk outside or something for my tool chest.

I am still learning to depend on the Vic Spirit. I know it is a well built tool. The problem is that the weight slowly drags my pants down like a handgun and that is irritating. As a result, I automatically don't slip it onto my belt unless I am thinking about it where as I always slip the SAK into my pocket. I tend to keep it inside my field bag if it is not on my belt. The bag contains many things that I depend on having available to me from ID, extra batteries, gloves, flashlights, knives, and all kinds of miscl items I use.
 
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