Backpacking Blade(s)....

GregB

GregB

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Dec 18, 2000
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Planning to do something that I haven't done in years: Backpack. Have been doing some car camping with the wife & 4 year old, but a friend wants to take his first backpacking trip. So, I offered to plan an overnighter for us. I gave him a couple of options of where we could go and he opted for Linville Gorge "The Grand Canyon of the East". I figure we'll be hiking @5 to 8 miles on Saturday & about the same on Sunday. A fire is planned for Saturday night, so naturally I'm gonna take a chopper. The question is which one? and what other blades? Gonna try to limit myself to 6 blades or less:D Unless I take the MOAB, then it'll be less...

Anyway, I'd love to hear recommendations. I'm leaning toward the B11 or the Bushwhacker Mistress, possibly a light machete, a 6-8" blade and a 3-4" blade, as well as a neck/pocket/pack strap fixed blade or two and a folder plus the swiss army and the Leatheran Wave. It adds up fast, so I'll need to draw the line somewhere, so I can carry a little water and food:)

The contenders:

MOAB:D
B11
Bushwhacker Mistress CG
.27 FBM
Waki
AK 47
Ruck
NMSFNO
ASH SE (.22)
DSF
Boss Jack
SOD
Vex
BAD
SS5
Boss Streets Proto.
Rat Shaker I (3/16")

Non family knives:
2008 Custom Bark River Onario Machete
19" GB axe
Gerber Pack Axe
Leather man Wave
Rat 3
Rat Izula
Rekat Pikuni
Spartan Knives Enyo
Small D2 custom fixed blades (between the Izula & Rat 3)
Swiss Army knife
Benchmade Skirmish
Camillus CUDA Maxx
Camillus Quick Action folder
Camillus EDC Darrel Ralph
Sniper Bladeworks frame lock flipper
Sniper Bladeworks liner lock

Suggestions?

GregB
 
you could do the moab alone, or the ak/fbm combo, if you are going thru brush, seems like the ak would make quicker work of looser stuff, nmsfno definately, and BAD. bring some neosporin and bandaids if you are going to be taking 5 knives, sounds like you are going to be doin alot of cuttin'.
 
I would take a Gransfors Bruks axe, the cg BWM, and the leatherman for a serious trip.

For an over night, :) the sky is the limit
 
19'' GB axe, FBM and DSF. Leatherman Wave is always useful to. As for the small knife that I'll leave to you.
 
6 knives? Seriously? You've done it before, so maybe you're forgetting how tough it is to stay under 30-40 pounds without 6 knives? I used to do one or two night backpacking trips for a total of about 12-14 miles. Mostly on single track trails through out the north east Appalachians, typically across mountain ridges. Occasional bushwhacking. Even 30 pounds can suck when you've been walking for 5 miles at a clip. Even my cargo shorts seemed heavy at the end of each day.

I'd say bring your BWM and a Vex and call it a day.
 
Life is full of hard choices Greg ;)

Personally, I would go with the Basic 11 for the larger blade. What can be better than Res-C on INFI? Mid size, go for the BOSS Jack if she's satin and zero edged. I find the zero edge easy to sharpen in the field. Small, go BAD for sure :thumbup: Wicked slicer and perfect for the little chores.

Of course this is all "IMHO." Either way have a blast bro!
 
snwbrdr202 said:
Life is full of hard choices Greg ;)

Personally, I would go with the Basic 11 for the larger blade. What can be better than Res-C on INFI? Mid size, go for the BOSS Jack if she's satin and zero edged. I find the zero edge easy to sharpen in the field. Small, go BAD for sure :thumbup: Wicked slicer and perfect for the little chores.

Of course this is all "IMHO." Either way have a blast bro!
Click to expand...

I'd say all the above in the first group. :D No all joking aside Brendan's choices sound about right. :thumbup:
 
I've walked most of the AT in the Smokies and it was a bear. Since this is a one nighter, I'm going a little heavier. The 6 knives, are including the folder, Leatherman Wave, & Swiss Army. So that leaves me a big chopper, a mid size, and a smaller blade. Going to be hard not to take the Izula....

GregB
 
You just can't beat the B11 for weight to chopping ability ratio!

Bad or vex for the small blade. Don't remember the mid sized possibilities. Probably would take the ash se if it is a user, but you will have the chopping covered so maybe the boss jack.
 
BWM
19" GB Axe
Izula
:thumbup:

OR

Just the MOAB. It'd be like a Jules Winnfield Wallet:cool:


EDIT: Let us know which ones go along
 
Last edited:
GregB said:
Planning to do something that I haven't done in years: Backpack. Have been doing some car camping with the wife & 4 year old, but a friend wants to take his first backpacking trip. So, I offered to plan an overnighter for us. I gave him a couple of options of where we could go and he opted for Linville Gorge "The Grand Canyon of the East". I figure we'll be hiking @5 to 8 miles on Saturday & about the same on Sunday. A fire is planned for Saturday night, so naturally I'm gonna take a chopper. The question is which one? and what other blades? Gonna try to limit myself to 6 blades or less:D Unless I take the MOAB, then it'll be less...

Anyway, I'd love to hear recommendations. I'm leaning toward the B11 or the Bushwhacker Mistress, possibly a light machete, a 6-8" blade and a 3-4" blade, as well as a neck/pocket/pack strap fixed blade or two and a folder plus the swiss army and the Leatheran Wave. It adds up fast, so I'll need to draw the line somewhere, so I can carry a little water and food:)

The contenders:

MOAB:D
B11
Bushwhacker Mistress CG
.27 FBM
Waki
AK 47
Ruck
NMSFNO
ASH SE (.22)
DSF
Boss Jack
SOD
Vex
BAD
SS5
Boss Streets Proto.
Rat Shaker I (3/16")

Non family knives:
2008 Custom Bark River Onario Machete
19" GB axe
Gerber Pack Axe
Leather man Wave
Rat 3
Rat Izula
Rekat Pikuni
Spartan Knives Enyo
Small D2 custom fixed blades (between the Izula & Rat 3)
Swiss Army knife
Benchmade Skirmish
Camillus CUDA Maxx
Camillus Quick Action folder
Camillus EDC Darrel Ralph
Sniper Bladeworks frame lock flipper
Sniper Bladeworks liner lock

Suggestions?

GregB
Click to expand...


Why the Fallkniven F1 isn't on that list, is a mystery to me. IMHO, it should be at the very top. You'll be hard pressed to find as capable of a tool, with the size, weight, and performance the F1 provides.
 
B11 hands down, size weight utility its unbeatable.
Leatherman wave, you never know what you might need and that should cover most of it.
A small-medium sized slicer maybe BAD, But i would go with something about 4.5-5 inches, thin and sharp.
 
Take the GB axe, the BAD, and a SAK as a minimum - add the NMSFNO or the BWM for the fun of it.
Enjoy!
"Bloody Bill"
 
Last edited:
adrock1978 said:
6 knives? Seriously? You've done it before, so maybe you're forgetting how tough it is to stay under 30-40 pounds without 6 knives? I used to do one or two night backpacking trips for a total of about 12-14 miles. Mostly on single track trails through out the north east Appalachians, typically across mountain ridges. Occasional bushwhacking. Even 30 pounds can suck when you've been walking for 5 miles at a clip. Even my cargo shorts seemed heavy at the end of each day.

I'd say bring your BWM and a Vex and call it a day.
Click to expand...

what he said...and add the leatherman wave,
 
I think the Waki strapped to your pack would be an E ticket ride.
Toss in a DSF and a RAT-3.
 
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