About the usefulness of multitool when camping

Hollow, I find that the whole point of a multi is having tools I didn't think I would need. You might not carry cans, but someone else might.

If it came down to having only one tool/knife/whatever, it would have to be my swisstool, its got pretty well everything, including a chisel. the only problem is its heavy. maybe I should find a way to carry it more often.
 
The more you carry it, and find the tools useful, the less the weight will bother you. I've been carrying a Leatherman Skeletool, sometimes as my only knife, partly because of the weight. But I really like my Swisstool Spirit, and once the cold and the ice and snow go away, I'll be out there with the Spirit.
 
I usually carry my SAK Huntsman daily in my pocket. However, my Leatherman Wave has also been a constant companion since I bought it circa 1997 ('98? - can't remember for sure). It's the original variant...

It has helped me repair broken tent poles, served as a pot-grip, opened the odd can, served as a striker for misch metal rods, cut various fabrics/loose threads/wire, removed splinters, opened battery compartments, etc., etc., etc. It's not in my pack when I'm climbing, but it lives in my EDC pack. Admittedly, some items are superfluous (metal file chiefly) and I wish there was a way to remove these less-used tools and have a "spacer" or shim to keep it all together nicely.

It is a bit hefty that's for sure, but has worked very well for my needs over the last 17-18 years.
 
I got a bunch of MT's, but the one I like to carry is the Sidekick. It's actually pretty minimal in tools, but does have a saw which I use more than scissors in the woods. ( Med kit has scissors anyways)

In the woods on the last couple of trips , I used it for adjusting rifle open sights , can opener , and the pliers to bend wire. The saw came in handy for cutting notches for pothooks and such.
 
sodak said:
Interesting. I wish more people would chime in with their point of view, I really like hearing different opinions and why. Differing opinions have influenced me over the years more than people that agreed with me.
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I feel the same way about learning from others. After I left my post I felt a little uneasy about my wording to you as it sounded a bit snide. When I am tired I go off my feed. Thanks for being cool. :)
 
upnorth said:
I feel the same way about learning from others. After I left my post I felt a little uneasy about my wording to you as it sounded a bit snide. When I am tired I go off my feed. Thanks for being cool. :)
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I always enjoy reading your posts! :thumbup:
 
For me, SAK and multi-tools are largely "front-country" implements. They're great around the house, on road trips, at car camps and I have an older SOG multi that always lives in my truck.

But as others have pointed out, I just don't have any need for most of those tools in the backcountry. I don't need to screw/unscrew things, I don't carrying cans or bottles, I'm not stripping wire nore do I really need pliers for much of anything in the backcountry. My backcountry "multi-tool" setup is a small pocket knife, a fixed blade knife and a folding saw/hatchet. Never found much of a need in the backcountry that isn't covered by that trio.
 
I always carry one. Usually when I camp I have flyrods and other gear or guns on hunting trips. Fixed my guides shooting sticks once. I don't worry too much about the weight of one either.
 
gadgetgeek said:
Hollow, I find that the whole point of a multi is having tools I didn't think I would need. You might not carry cans, but someone else might.

If it came down to having only one tool/knife/whatever, it would have to be my swisstool, its got pretty well everything, including a chisel. the only problem is its heavy. maybe I should find a way to carry it more often.
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Not sure. I would never carry a can backpacking. Plus nobody I backpack with would either.

Now camping yeah I always bring a cap lifter, corkscrew, can opener on a knife or multi tool there.
 
I have found scissors on a SAK to be quite useful.
Mostly policing gear, moleskin.....and on some occasions trimming skin back for first aid applications.
I would probably not (be smart enough to) carry a pair of scissors in general, but that they are already on the SAK, it's perfect.

I've also had the same thoughts related to the nearly otherwise useless pliers that come on a SAK.
....but they make sewing thicker items like nylon or leather, a whole lot easier.
 
meanoldbobber said:
I've also had the same thoughts related to the nearly otherwise useless pliers that come on a SAK.
....but they make sewing thicker items like nylon or leather, a whole lot easier.
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Try the awl. I've made a few blade covers out of 8-9 ounce leather with the awl on a Farmer. ;) I must be in the minority of people who've tried forcing a needle through with pliers and end up breaking the needle. No biggie at home as I just grab another needle. On the trail I wouldn't rely on that method personally.
 
I guess for me, the line between camping, hiking, bushwalking, rambling, or whatever you want to call it is pretty blurry. But I accept that I'm in a bit of an unusual situation, since I'm not really planning for myself, I'm planning for others.
 
I just always keep a Swisschamp in my backpack.
Sometimes it comes in handy, so why not? :)

One time I got the hankering to cut down a small tree on the way to the gym to make a walking stick...it came in handy then.
Sometimes it has come in handy while at university.
It was handy for taking down all those taped up posters when I was working the election, after voting was done.
Or if I get a hangnail, it has what I need to take care of that too. :thumbup:

A multi-tool has enough utility in a small package that I can't see a reason not to bring one.

Besides, if you do get lost in the woods, you'll be so occupied with all those snazzy tools that you won't get bored while the rescue folks track you down! :D
 
One of the things I consider when choosing what to take on a hike or camping trip is gear repair. That's why I usually have with me either a Leatherman Sidekick or a Wave, depending how long I'll be out. They have help to repair my gear and other's. The most apparently "useless" tool for the outdoors in the Wave is the micro screwdriver, and it have served to repair eyeglasses in the woods.
 
We've got a Victorinox Spirit X that pretty much goes everywhere. It has made the majority of my toolbox virtually redundant.

Although admittedly I have not taken it deep into the back country. That may be something I consider after this thread. The S30V blade on it is comparable to a Case Peanut in total length. It is always a tradeoff between weight and utility.
 
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Esav Benyamin said:
The more you carry it, and find the tools useful, the less the weight will bother you. I've been carrying a Leatherman Skeletool, sometimes as my only knife, partly because of the weight.
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I've found the same. The Skeletool is super light for a pliers MT, with a very functional one handed opening liner lock knife. The only stuff I need in a multi tool is a pliers, knife blade, and screw drivers, the Skeletool has that and only that.

I think that too many people try one poor example of something, like a multi tool, then judge all others by their misinformed choice. Good multitools are good.
 
sodak said:
Interesting. I wish more people would chime in with their point of view, I really like hearing different opinions and why. Differing opinions have influenced me over the years more than people that agreed with me.
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^^^This^^^ As a Community, it is good that we learn from each other. The internet serves us well by being able to learn from others who vary significantly in geography/environment/culture/training. As I read on a different forum, "The mind works best when open..... Kinda like a parachute." It is such a great truth.

MatthewSB said:
I think that too many people try one poor example of something, like a multi tool, then judge all others by their misinformed choice. Good multitools are good.
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TRUTH!!!! Or maybe they weren't able to develop a skill mastery with that tool and then malign it's usefulness. I think I've been guilty of that before.

One thing I've learned in 30-odd years of backpacking/climbing/camping/life, etc is that there is usually more than one, single correct way to do things (or more than one single, best tool for most outdoors pursuits). That's why its so nice learning from all you folks from different environments/cultures/training/emphasis.

We each, individually, are able to use different tools/techniques better than other tools/techniques and so we develop "favorites".

It's best to develop skill sets with more than just one tool/technique and *NOT* ridicule/malign others - even if we're "right". For example, a thin-bladed machete may not be the best tool for cutting down large, dense-grain trees in winter or even for making a bow-drill/fire-board, but a reasonably skilled outdoorsman could make it work (at least on an "as needed" basis in a life threatening situation).
 
I think the diversity of opinion on this topic has a lot to do with specific context - what sort of "camping" we're talking about exactly. After all, it's a pretty broad term, that can mean many different things. There are certain types of camping where I certainly find a multi-tool useful, others where I don't find much need for one at all.
 
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