Backpacking equipment--deodorant over knife?

F

feldgrun

Joined
Dec 22, 2009
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I recently found this recommended list of backpacking equipment, which notes that a knife and firemaking supplies are seldom carried. However, deodorant appears to be a necessity. I understand that you might not need a knife for the type of camping that this guy does, but I see a knife and fire, which only weight a few ounces, as a survival necessity. Lets hope he never gets lost.
 
Welcome to W&SS.

He and I don't see the world in quite the same way. There was a time in my life that I considered any pack that weighed less than I did as "Ultra Light."

Now that I'm older I carry less weight — far less — but certainly not light by his standards. There are things that I'm used to carrying, and I'm going to carry them, and that's that.

No knife? No fire making materials? Heresy! Blasphemy!

The reason some folks go out is to see just how little they can carry, and how far — and how quickly — they can go. I don't understand this, but to each their own.

I go out to be in the outdoors. I like to slowly wander around and look at the bugs and birds, the weeds and rocks, and generally enjoy myself while carrying all the things that make my trip fun. I like to think that I'm prepared if I should experience an emergency situation. That guy isn't: he's depending on blind luck.

Deodorant? Sheesh ... gimme a break.
 
I love checking out other peoples lists to see what I might learn from them and be able to use for my self in the future. Thanks for sharing that. As far as Knife VS Deodorant, I'll take both any day. A knife is an essential tool to me so I'd rather have it with me at all times instead of borrowing when needed. For a quick over nighter I don't need the deodorant, but normally have it and always have it on long trips. I like to not smell me on the ride home. ;)

Different strokes for different Folks IMO. Again, thanks for sharing the link.

Edited to add: Had not read all the page before my comments. after reading more about packs and what not, I agree he's a strange one. Good luck to him.

Heber
 
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i find after a couple days of not showering i stop smelling like b.o

this guys seems a bit misguided tho somethings he carries are completely useless in the woods imho
 
Interesting list to say the least. I really liked this part: Few hikers carry maps for anything else but reading material—they are just for fun. :eek:
 
feldgrun said:
Lets hope he never gets lost.
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Or injured with unexpected weather conditions.

I don't agree with seldom carrying a knife and think seldom carrying fire is plain foolishness. Hypothermia is not a joke and can occur at temps well above the 30s F. And the way I was raised, leaving the house without a knife is like not wearing socks - people would like at you like you're stupid if they found out.

I get the impression that he hikes trails that are only a few miles from any given road or human habitation. I doubt he would "seldom carry" a knife or fire if he were to go several days hike into mountainous backcountry at several thousand feet of altitude. Hiking in tiny protected pockets of Indiana farmland isn't the same thing as hiking the Canadian Rockies.
 
Some very interesting statements in that article. This one I found particularly interesting: " One more thing—ALL packs are uncomfortable. There is no pack in the world that makes carrying 10 pounds 20 miles “comfortable.” If you go hiking and complain, “my pack hurts your shoulders” there is probably nothing wrong with your pack at all—carrying 10 pounds 20 miles will always hurt!"

My good old Kelty pack is actually very comfortable, and usually carries a load far heavier than what he reports carrying. I don't continue to use any pack that is uncomfortable. If he thinks an 8 pound pack is always uncomfortable, it seems there are a lot of issues that he isn't addressing in his pack setup.

On his own terms, his setup is probably great. And his setup brings a lot of questions to mind for me, such as what his normal hiking location and conditions are. Much backpacking I do is in environments or conditions where 8 lbs of gear just won't do at all, period. On some week-long trips, we probably carry almost 5 lbs of food per person.

To not carry any sort of firemaking or very basic survival items, knife included, is a very, very bad idea in my mind.

I never carry deoderant.
 
akennedy73 said:
Or injured with unexpected weather conditions.

I don't agree with seldom carrying a knife and think seldom carrying fire is plain foolishness. Hypothermia is not a joke and can occur at temps well above the 30s F. And the way I was raised, leaving the house without a knife is like not wearing socks - people would like at you like you're stupid if they found out.

I get the impression that he hikes trails that are only a few miles from any given road or human habitation. I doubt he would "seldom carry" a knife or fire if he were to go several days hike into mountainous backcountry at several thousand feet of altitude. Hiking in tiny protected pockets of Indiana farmland isn't the same thing as hiking the Canadian Rockies.
Click to expand...

Even if he's only a few miles from a well traveled road, he should be carrying a knife and a means of making fire. A broken leg would make those few miles as distant as the dark side of the moon. If the weather turns bad, well, he could be in deep, deep trouble.
 
Deodorant is gonna be a strong scent for animals if searching for game.

Local plant species, charcoal, and/or diet can provide similar results without sounding off scent-alarms...
 
well hopefully that idiot will reap what he sows. One less idiot in the world. Darwinism at its best.
 
I could see no knife, as there are a few people who do it with the way they backpack, but I don't know of any backpackers that don't need a way to make fire. Even if you use a stove with a piezo lighter, man I would hate for that thing to not work, then you're gonna be hungry...

At the very least you could carry a mini bic and a traditional SAK with minimal weight penalty. I'd much rather have those than deodorant, heck the rest of me stinks what's the point of carrying something to try and mask odor on one small part of my body? There are just some people in this world that I will never understand.
 
Wow!! I only read the part about not using a knife and carrying Deodorant. After hearing you guys talk about it and reading a little, I think has some strange ideas.

Growing up in a farming comunity everyone had a knife on them either a fixed blade or folder/Multi-tool. Here in the city it's common to see people with out knives which I find sad but it's the way it is so I accept it.

As for packs being uncomfortable, he is sooo wrong. My Military surplus Buttpack and H-Harness are very comfortable. Been using it for many years because it's comfortable and I sweat less wearing it then when wearing a back pack. 20 to 30 pounds in that pack and you hardly notice the weight and it's comfortable when adjusted properly. I borrowed someones Gregory pack for a 3 to 4 day packpacking trip that was properly fitted to me and it was soo comfortable. Sure the weight gets to you, but it was much nicer and more comfy then any thing I had previously worn.

Heber
 
You have to remember, take the AT. You essentially CAN'T get lost on the AT. You may not be able to plan well - but it is a HUGE trail with a LOT of blazes. Most are eating freeze dried meals and sleeping in shelters.

In this case, they only need a knife to open packages.

This is not the type of hiking and camping that most on this board do.

TF
 
There is part of me that understands the "comfort vs. necessity" argument and perhaps some are up for the challenge of going out with less. I get it. Perhaps those people like living on that edge where you can be in a dangerous situation and not have a knife and that "chance" (which is always 50/50 by the way, don't confuse chance with odds) excites them. Perhaps this gentleman thinks he can throw his Right Guard at a bobcat or mountain lion for defense. I often find that those "thrill seekers" that think it is exciting to have their life on the line, have never actually had their life on the line.

There are many arguments where I can, at the very least, appreciate the other side no matter how much I am against it. Not taking a knife is an argument that I cannot even appreciate. Why would you not bring a tool that has so many functions and adds (with the right choice) under 4 oz. to your total load out? That is almost nonsensical to me.

I am not surprised that the Blade Forums is up in arms over the no knife suggestion thought!!

I think he needs a disclaimer on this list to be honest. I don't even like to leave my house without a knife, forget heading into the woods. Just my $.02 though.
 
Definitely some very interesting choices there! I can understand not being offensively smelly when hiking with people you don't know very well, but foregoing a knife in favour of deodorant - wow! I never carry deodorant; perhaps if I was on a 1 week+ trip, I might find something, but it would have to be light. I'd be more prone to finding a way to wash than to mask odour. I'm all for going light, but you have to have a contingency plan. Some people go overboard, but there's a happy medium. He even carries a razor "sometimes" ... I'm beginning to think this guy is a pretty boy. I'd easily go a month before considering a shave ... a sharp knife could perform double duty!
 
I expected that the general view of this forum will be that a knife is a necessity; after all, this is bladeforums.com, not pleasantoutdoorscents.com (that URL is still available, if anyone is interested) :rolleyes:. However, I think that any objective person would conclude that a knife and firemaking equipment of some sort, if even a thin blade and a few matches, should be included in every outdoor kit.
 
Before we get into another "ultralight" thread that needs to be moderated by closing it down lets get some perspective.

This "pack light" mindset comes mostly from trekkers hiking the long trails in a single season. They are not doing an overnight or a few days, they are hiking substantial miles almost every day for months. Some here on BF have hiked these in a season and it is a serious outdoor accomplishment. For those that are not aware, the USA long trails are:

The Appalachian Trail Georgia to Main 2,160 miles

The Continental Divide Trail Canada to Mexico 3,100 miles

The Pacific Crest Trail Canada to Mexico 2,650 miles

The AT is pretty well worn, the others are far different. Google them to see the routes and terrain. When you need to pack an ice ax and crampons you are not going for a walk in the park.

The point is, these people that hike a distance of 2,000 - 3,000 miles in a Spring to Fall season have some ideas about what works for them. I may not agree with each "ultra light" choice and may think some are downright foolish but I will respect that they know something about what they are doing. After all, you get plenty of time to think when you are hiking sunup to sundown every day for weeks on end.

Here are two short articles by way of Google about some long trail accomplishments...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20011027/aponline213001_001.htm

http://www.americanprofile.com/article/19331.html
 
I don't hike and camp as much as I used to, but I don't remember ever taking any deodorant.
A quick wash at a stream and an air dry took care of the worst of it. :)

However, I ALWAYS had a Leatherman and a SAK........or more.
 
hell I'm wearing a SY SOD and a emerson super commander right now. And i;m just puttering around the GF's house.............

I just cannot fathom NOT carrying a knife anywhere, ESPECIALLY not on a trail.....boggles me mind it does. I'd sooner go nekid than not carry my knives
 
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