backpacking folder

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seanystrangle

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Oct 1, 2009
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just wondering if anyone can recomend a good corriosin resistant folder for backpacking? it will be used in peru for minor chores like trimming up rope and what not i have a HEST for bigger things and im thinking about getting a folder for even smaller tasks any recomendation will help thank you in advance!
 
Nah, a good ol' RAT 1 or Svord Peasant will be PLENTY of knife, and will be very easy on the pocketbook. The ergo of the RAT1 doesn't fit me perfectly but its fit, finish and overall quality is superb. I love the Svord's blade profile and 15N20 steel, edge retention for rough use and slicing is off the charts.
 
Spyderco Salt 1. Corrosion proof and very light. The bright yellow handles make the knife easy to find if it is dropped.
 
If you are looking for a one handed opener and can take it legally there, I suggest what I carry when backpacking in the Rockies (and when not carrying a fixed blade)- Gerber EZ Out, made in the USA, weighs a featherweight 2.6 ounces while having a 3.5" blade, opens as easy as my two Spyderco folders, and cuts and feels so good in the hand that I sold my Benchmade 551 Griptilian and kept the EZ. It feels quality like a Spyderco, plus, it's only $27 shipped on Amazon:)

The EZ Out is so good that my brand new blue Spyderco Flat Ground Delica 4 just manages to match it in overall feel, cutting power, and weight. The pictures don't do the knife justice as it looks better in hand. I also had a Buck Vantage in 420C and I consider the Gerber EZ a far superior knife to that one as well (The Vantage was twice the weight and the rough grind on the blade made food stick to it even after washing it).

If you can't take a one handed opener then something like a Victorinox Rucksack or almost any of the Swiss Army knives would do great (I own several).
 
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If you already have a small/medium fixed blade, a SAK or other multitool would probably serve you better than a single bladed folder.
 
reaper16 said:
Your sold a benchmade to keep a Gerber??
Click to expand...

Without any regrets I might add:) I use my knives hard here in the high country and did several direct comparison tests between the EZ Out and the 551 Griptilian before choosing.

Both blades are made in the USA, but here's the differences I found:

Weight- Griptilian 551- 3.9 oz, Gerber EZ Out 2.6 oz (noticeably lighter in the pocket) (both weighed on a postal scale with pocket clips attached)

Blade length- Griptilian 551 is 3.4", Gerber EZ Out is 3.5"

Cutting performance- EZ Out cuts like my Mora, Griptilian 551 cuts like a slightly dull Swiss Army knife because of the grind even when fully sharpened (at least on wood carving and bushcraft tasks it does)

Grip comfort and secure feeling from slippage- Gerber won this by a slight margin

Ease of opening- Griptilian 551 thumb stud has caught in my pocket 4 times and opened in my pocket while pulling it out. Gerber has Spyderco style hole so no problems with opening in pocket. I own a Spyderco Delica 4 Flat Ground (another awesome knife) and the Gerber actually opens slightly easier than the Delica.

Quality- Griptilian 551 has oodles of quality, Gerber EZ has similar quality to my Spyderco and SAKs

Price- saving the best for last, the Griptilian 551 costs $90 shipped, the Gerber EZ Out $27 shipped on Amazon

Not much of a contest to me:)

PS- I still own a US made Benchmade Rant fixed blade in 440C that I really like. It's kinda like a poorman's Fallkniven or Bear Gryls knife:) Only paid $51.00for it new with a leather sheath.
 
I've been using my Spyderco Paramilitary for a couple years now and it has held up great! Reasonably lightweight (3.75 oz), strong lock and holds a usable edge for a really long time.
 
I've spent a lot of time wandering the jungles of Latin America from southern Mexico on south. Perhaps the most indespensible small knife I carried was a Swiss Army Knife called (I think) the Field Master. It has two blades, a saw, screw driver, can opener, toothpick, tweezers etc.. In fact if I were going to go into the jungle tomorrow I'd want these two knives: SAK and a stout machete (I prefer the heavy parang style made from a leaf spring). With those two knives I can survive and, in fact, have done so especially on one occasion when my canoe flipped and I lost my equipment except for those two tools that I was carrying in my pocket (SAK) and the parang in a sheath strapped over my shoulder with a heavy nylon cord. But to stay on subject, the SAK is so valuable and is used everyday that I would never consider going into the jungle (or any other wilderness) without one!
 
i'll be the patsy and suggest some kind of pliers based multi-tool as a great all round backpacking utensil.
 
What about a simple Buck 110 or 112? It'll do everything you need it to do, won't break the bank, easy to touch up and is one of the most widely recognised folders in the world (which is a plus when you're travelling/backpacking, as it is less threatening imo).
Same thing with an Opinel and as stated before, you can even leave it there as it costs just about nothing!
 
I really like the kabar dozier folding hunter - its AUS-8, cheap, light and just a really good design.
 
I also like the Spyderco Salt 1. It is very light weight and easy to open and close with gloves on.

I'll be honest and say my uses are more along the lines of opening freeze dried meal packs and cutting paracord, not bushcraft.
 
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