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Backpackers! How heavy is your knife?
- Thread starter TAH
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2009
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- 132
The stainless Izula looks like a fine choice for backpacking. After years of that kind of travel I have settled on three that serve different purposes, Mora 510, Opinel #6, or a #8 at times and a SAK Classic. All three with the sheath for the fixed blade come in at 4.7 oz.
on the subject of Colin Fletcher, he did carry a full sized Marbles FB on his Thousand Mile Summer but ever after all he carried was a SAK Classic. I prefer a bit more in rugged off trail terrain but I am weight conscience with all the miles of walking that rugged terrain.
on the subject of Colin Fletcher, he did carry a full sized Marbles FB on his Thousand Mile Summer but ever after all he carried was a SAK Classic. I prefer a bit more in rugged off trail terrain but I am weight conscience with all the miles of walking that rugged terrain.
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I have the Becker BK24 EsKabar in D2 with the factory handles
If I wanted to carry a bigger knife full tang knife backpacking than the smaller ones I carry, then this would be the knife
I call it the big little knife, with a very good handle and long enough and wide enough blade to do real work
I put in two heaver duty cable tie thru the holes in the sheath, and now it is a great belt carry, and with a clip hand a neck chain if 'i want a necker
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- May 19, 2007
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I got a small scale, (ordered a 2kg one, but they sent the 300g option instead) weighted up most of my collection and the weights surprised me a bit. Since its hard by hand-feel to tell how close or far apart two knives are sometimes, as well as just how fast the total weight starts to add up. I put them into a spreadsheet with a bunch of fomulas so that I can get a better handle on totals instead of guessing and half-remembering.
The Izula and Mora 1 are within a couple grams. The Farmer is closer in weight to a Climber than it is to a Huntsman (doesn't feel it though). and the Rucksack is heavier than all of my smaller fixed blades. It seems obvious now, but 10 or 20 grams here and there just don't feel like much, until they get together. The other thing that I found is that on my last trip I'd been carrying 460g (1lb!) of steel without really realizing how much I had added on. So knowing that I'll be much more able to tailor my selections knowing that I have certain starting points for some trips, and maximizing the utility.
The Izula and Mora 1 are within a couple grams. The Farmer is closer in weight to a Climber than it is to a Huntsman (doesn't feel it though). and the Rucksack is heavier than all of my smaller fixed blades. It seems obvious now, but 10 or 20 grams here and there just don't feel like much, until they get together. The other thing that I found is that on my last trip I'd been carrying 460g (1lb!) of steel without really realizing how much I had added on. So knowing that I'll be much more able to tailor my selections knowing that I have certain starting points for some trips, and maximizing the utility.
standard backpacking carry is Opinel n9 Inox (2 oz) and Leatherman Squirt PS4 (2.1 oz).
I try to count ounces. For where I go and what I do that matters. I could drop the Opinel and do occasionally for some trips.
The pliers are useful for zipper repair and pushing a heavy needle.
Winter ski trips along river routes will call for my Emberlit stove and and a folding saw and Mora Campanion HD are lighter than white gas and the Svea.
I try to count ounces. For where I go and what I do that matters. I could drop the Opinel and do occasionally for some trips.
The pliers are useful for zipper repair and pushing a heavy needle.
Winter ski trips along river routes will call for my Emberlit stove and and a folding saw and Mora Campanion HD are lighter than white gas and the Svea.
my current backpacking knife is a BR UL Bushcrafter, I've owned a ton of small fixed blade knives (many nice ones to be sure), but this is the first one that approaches full size, yet still only weighs 2.7 oz
if I'm going very lightweight, I have a nice Ti knife from Kestrel that weighs in at a whopping 0.4 oz
if I'm going very lightweight, I have a nice Ti knife from Kestrel that weighs in at a whopping 0.4 oz
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2006
- Messages
- 361
I have done my share of backpacking in various terrains for up to a week at a time. I have tried several times to get my pack weight down, but I always ended up justifying too many niceties. I probably sit at about 65lbs for my typical week-long trip and that usually includes one knife and a folding saw. In the past it has been three knives (a folder, a fixed blade of ~4", and a larger chopper) as well as a folding saw and a leatherman. I have always had a lot of knives of various sizes to choose from, so listing the maker/brand is a little hard.
After enough time, I came to like carrying only the fixed blade and a folding saw. This is mainly because I didn't end up using any of the others very much. I would consistently carry them and never take them out of my pack. About half the time, I will also throw in my favorite chopper from Burt Foster because I love using it. The bottom line is that I never minded carrying the extra weight in order to have the things I really valued at camp. To that end, if I know I will have time at camp, I will sometimes pack several knives of various sizes just to test them out.
After enough time, I came to like carrying only the fixed blade and a folding saw. This is mainly because I didn't end up using any of the others very much. I would consistently carry them and never take them out of my pack. About half the time, I will also throw in my favorite chopper from Burt Foster because I love using it. The bottom line is that I never minded carrying the extra weight in order to have the things I really valued at camp. To that end, if I know I will have time at camp, I will sometimes pack several knives of various sizes just to test them out.
I am into Knives and fixed blades - but very much appreciate the simplicity and strength of a good SAK. I have two lockable SAKs which turn out to be some of bigger blades in the range! Have been trust workhorses for the last 20 years! Very much the Moras of folders somewhat!
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- Jan 9, 2014
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- 527
I carry one of my Coho's (with a yew wood handle) Which weighs in at 5.8 oz with the sheath. Not the lightest I know but I don't usually carry a saw or hatchet.
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- May 19, 2007
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curse you guys! those mini- and UL bushcrafters look so good!
My backpacking knife was a SAK the Lumberjack model, now discontinued. I have no idea what it weighs but it isn't much, being one of the 84 mm two-layer jobs. (SAKWiki image):
As the entry at SAK Wiki says, it was for those who liked a minimalist approach, and that describes my thoughts when I bought it. Nice item, still have it. But it's a little too minimal for me now. The lack of a can opener was OK by me back then because all the food on the trip was freeze-dried and came out of a plastic or foil package. (Yeah, I know!) (Hey, we were young and didn't know better.)
As the entry at SAK Wiki says, it was for those who liked a minimalist approach, and that describes my thoughts when I bought it. Nice item, still have it. But it's a little too minimal for me now. The lack of a can opener was OK by me back then because all the food on the trip was freeze-dried and came out of a plastic or foil package. (Yeah, I know!) (Hey, we were young and didn't know better.)
Actually one of the combination tools duties was being a can opener. I think there was a run of these in Alox a little while back, they were very tempting.
I never tested it as a can opener, figuring it was just a bottle opener (which it did very well). Besides, real backpackers in the 70s and 80s didn't haul things in cans, maaaan. I mean, c'mon. Just boil up some water with the Svea, throw in the Mountain House beef-and-rice, wait a couple minutes, and there's dinner! Doesn't get better than that.
Or does it...?
Actually, back then, I think the ethos was that food was fuel, nothing more. Protein and carb to keep you going the real feeding was mental, spiritual even what the wilderness did for your soul.
And that's a view I'm not completely past, even now.
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- 6,135
I also think the weight of your knife is relative to the distance you will be hiking. If you're just hiking in 3-5 miles to your backcountry campsite, a heavier knife isn't a big deal. But if you're hiking 10-15 a day on an extended trip, weight is definitely a consideration.
^ I'd agree w/ that assessment; also where you're going and when- in the winter I carry a larger (not large ) knife and a compact saw to be able to process wood, something I don't have to worry about in "summer"
obviously some one trekking in the Amazon wouldn't have much choice but to carry a machete
) knife and a compact saw to be able to process wood, something I don't have to worry about in "summer"obviously some one trekking in the Amazon wouldn't have much choice but to carry a machete
Pretty easy, you just touch up the Ti side occasionally w/ a strop or sand paper on a mouse pad. The edge is a little toothy w/ the carbide, but does a good job w/ fish or fowl (cuts cord, food packaging, etc w/no problems either)
I wouldn't really consider that "backpacking." Although it technically is, it's not the common use of the word. I would call it just ordinary "camping" or "sleeping outdoors." If you hiked three miles and actually slept in a meadow, that's "meadow crashing," ie, sleeping outdoors.
And 10-15 miles per day isn't very far. Not for an average healthy person on a trail. These guys did 30 miles per day, off trail, in difficult conditions (snow fields, river crossings) while navigating and route-finding. All while carrying winter gear.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1298630-Bob-Marshall-Wilderness-Open
Now that's backpacking!
I've hiked 30 miles in a day before, but I was younger and didn't do it for multiple consecutive days. Wheh!
I'd give a lot of credential to whatever pocketknife they recommend! In fact I'm going to ask...