Backpacking knife advice

[Win Heger]

I do some hiking in Utah and carry a Spydie Military most of the time. I, also, have a custom FB I picked up on the forum a while back, from Downeast Knives, was under $200.00 and rides well on a pack. Both these knives have orange G10 handles, easy to find when dropped.

The 511 Tac Lite pro shorts have a pocket on the right leg that's perfect for a clipped folder.

Win

FB from Downeast, D2 Steel, sheath with teklok set up for Vertical carry on pack:

 

[Art_Vandeley]

You can`t go wrong with the Fallkniven F1 if you ask me.

 

[tradja]

To answer questions about the trip: I'll be doing 9 weeks in parks like Bryce, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Sequoia, Olympic, etc. Average trip length will be 5-7 days. There will be two of us, with one of us packing a stove (but we'll be equipped to use wood in a pinch). We'll face a variety of conditions, from desert heat to falling snow at elevation. Depending on the day and conditions, we'll travel 10-15 miles on an average day. Most of this should be during daylight, given the time of year we'll be out.

Thanks again for the insight and advice!

Awesome itinerary! Have great hikes. Having done a fair bit of backpacking on the West, I would also recommend a smaller fixed blade (Izula, Swamp Warden, Mora, etc) instead of a single-blade folder.

I find multi-tools of limited utility in the backcountry, unless I am on skis. None of my gear really uses screws.

Now on the road trip between the parks, a multi-tool would be very useful.

 

[Thomas Linton]

In my ever so humble opinion, back packing in parks and trails such as the AT, have become more like a walk in the park.
You will need a knife to open your Mountain House pouches, and whittle a stick. In settings like that, a small Swiss Army Knife will do it all.

Now, if you are out in a wilderness area, then you need a real knife.

"Plans seldom fail according to plan."

"Few get lost on purpose."

For equal functionality, a fixed-blade knife is lighter than a folded knife. For a given weight, a fixed-blade knife is typically more robust than a folded knife. It may not matter - or it might.

 

[tradja]

For equal functionality, a fixed-blade knife is lighter than a folded knife. For a given weight, a fixed-blade knife is typically more robust than a folded knife. It may not matter - or it might.

And aside from any emergency, a fixed blade is much easier to clean PB, cheese, or fish guts off of than a folder.

 

[NYSportz]

Thanks for all the advice and well-wishes. I am really looking forward to this opportunity to get out of the city for a while. After reading through everyone's comments, I'm going to go for a fixed blade of around 3". The Izula II and Becker BK14 are looking pretty good right now. The Moras also look quite nice, especially given the price.

Thanks again. I can't wait to get out there!

 

[redpoint]

I spend a lot of time backpacking. This past weekend, I just did a backcountry ski traverse and carried a Spyderco Paramilitary II. I also carry the Spyderco Military. Both are well made, have great steel, are strong and above all they're super light for their size/utility. Both meet your price requirement.

 

[Bare Rib]

Hi,

I'm looking for some advice on a quality backpacking knife. I'll be out west in several parks over a 9 week span this spring/summer, and would like to have something I can rely on for general use during that time (and beyond). I'm thinking a folding knife with a roughly 3" blade. I like the look of the Griptilian, CRKT Ken Onion Eros (maybe a bit fragile for this purpose?), and Doug Ritter RSK Mk1 - but I'm completely open. I'll likely carry a multi-tool or mini-saw in addition to the knife.

I'd like to keep it under $150 if possible, but I can stretch this a bit if need be. I don't have any other criteria that I can think of, but let me know if I'm leaving out anything important.

Thanks!

If you are going to be carrying a multi-tool already why carry another folder. nothing beats a good fixed blade for backpacking. In the $150 price range you can get a lot of knife like the ESEE 3 or 4. Buck also make some good fixed blades that will run you even less.

Try asking this question over in WS&S sun forum and I think you will see many recommending a good fixed blade over a folder.

 

[Misfire]

For you "extended stay" packers that need a robust knife to process kindling, make shelters and other heavy knife use chores.. what about something double edged?

I'm not an experienced hiker but I do spend a lot of time around a hunting camp. Recently I made a 6" bladed double edge knife that in my mind would be useful for camp/hunting chores like kindling, brushing ground blinds, clearing shooting lanes, etc.. with one edge leaving the other nice and sharp for cutting chores.

Would something like this be useful for extended backcountry trips or just wishful thinking?

Here is a pic..

.

 

[mtwarden]

"extended stay" for me means lots (and lots) of miles, I want the lightest knife that is still robust enough to handle the chores I need it for- namely prepping small wood for my stove, prepping food and cleaning fish & foul

for my needs a small fixed blade makes the most sense and my go to knife for the above is a Fallkniven WM1, lot's of knife for 2.5 oz

 

[Sep]

For you "extended stay" packers that need a robust knife to process kindling, make shelters and other heavy knife use chores.. what about something double edged?

I'm not an experienced hiker but I do spend a lot of time around a hunting camp. Recently I made a 6" bladed double edge knife that in my mind would be useful for camp/hunting chores like kindling, brushing ground blinds, clearing shooting lanes, etc.. with one edge leaving the other nice and sharp for cutting chores.

Would something like this be useful for extended backcountry trips or just wishful thinking?

Here is a pic..

.

First: a double edged knife is considered a weapon (dagger) in many jurisdictions, so you're limited in where you can carry it. Second: while the ideal tool to process wood is a saw or an axe, sometimes you have to use the knife because you're traveling light; a double edged knife is terrible for batoning.

 

[Thomas Linton]

First: a double edged knife is considered a weapon (dagger) in many jurisdictions, so you're limited in where you can carry it. Second: while the ideal tool to process wood is a saw or an axe, sometimes you have to use the knife because you're traveling light; a double edged knife is terrible for batoning.

Chews up the baton something fierce.

 

[jimnolimit]

If you are going to be carrying a multi-tool already why carry another folder. nothing beats a good fixed blade for backpacking. In the $150 price range you can get a lot of knife like the ESEE 3 or 4. Buck also make some good fixed blades that will run you even less.

^ +1.

to the OP, for $150 (or less) you can pick up a multi tool, fixed blade, fire starter and small diamond sharpener.

p.s. i doubt anyone has ever regretted being prepared, but many have regretted being unprepared .

 

[freq18hz]

Forget the folder. Dont buy an esee, or anything else. Get a decent SAK or Leatherman, and a Fallkniven F1. Nothing is as capable or strong for the size and weight. You can get all the opinions you want, but when it comes to real world, wet or bloody or cold hands, tired, or even survival, nothing I've seen beats the f1, not bark river, or esee or any of the rest. its sheer ability to push through wood like butter and make tinder is worth packing it alone. Other knives look sexier or more ninja, and may have better warranties, but when the rubber meets the road, you'll want the F1. It's the one to get, hands down.

 

[Thomas Linton]

Which is why they are called "fans."

 

[chiral.grolim]

"extended stay" for me means lots (and lots) of miles, I want the lightest knife that is still robust enough to handle the chores I need it for- namely prepping small wood for my stove, prepping food and cleaning fish & foul

for my needs a small fixed blade makes the most sense and my go to knife for the above is a Fallkniven WM1, lot's of knife for 2.5 oz

I'm confused by the bolded part above. I'm a backpacker, but only recently did I start bothering to carry any sort of stove, and what I carry is a simple homemade Penny-stove (out of Heineken cans) along with sufficient EtOH to boil water in my little pot in case I cannot find alternate fuel for a fire - i.e. the stove+EtOH is for emergencies (why carry all that fuel around? Waste of space and weight). My normal cooking is performed over a small fire composed of wood from the near vicinity, no stove involved. WHY would you bring a stove to put WOOD in?? I don't understand.

Prepping "small" wood can be accomplished with an SAK and your own hands (making tinder and kindling) - an additional fixed-blade of similar length is unnecessary weight, imho.
The fixed blade you should carry (again, imho) is for preparing LARGE wood, where chopping and batonning come into play, i.e. supplanting the role of a hatchet or axe which is extra weight. For this purpose, the fixed-blade should be ~5"+ and thin enough to slide through batonned sections of wood - a role in which I have personally experienced the insufficiency of smaller knives.

Now, if a hatchet or axe is presumed unnecessary for the proposed venture or will be packed regardless of being extra weight, then I totally agree that the small fixed-blade is more than sufficient - heck, you'll probably only use the SAK as a back-up, especially if the most "robust" chores are merely "prepping small wood..., prepping food and cleaning fish & foul" (chores for which an SAK is sufficient).

I'm worried I'm hijacking the thread by presenting these opinions, I'm sure this topic is commonly dealt with in WS&S.
To sum-up: if no hatchet is necessary for the venture, a Mora Clipper, Izula (I or II), or BK11 or 14 all seem good choices as your primary blade, 3" :thumbup:. However, for processing larger or frozen wood, bring a hatchet or a bigger knife.

Oh, and be darn sure to bring a camera with lots of photo space to those parks!!! Scenery that'll leave you breathless...

 

[Shotgun]

I'm confused by the bolded part above. I'm a backpacker, but only recently did I start bothering to carry any sort of stove, and what I carry is a simple homemade Penny-stove (out of Heineken cans) along with sufficient EtOH to boil water in my little pot in case I cannot find alternate fuel for a fire - i.e. the stove+EtOH is for emergencies (why carry all that fuel around? Waste of space and weight). My normal cooking is performed over a small fire composed of wood from the near vicinity, no stove involved. WHY would you bring a stove to put WOOD in?? I don't understand.

Prepping "small" wood can be accomplished with an SAK and your own hands (making tinder and kindling) - an additional fixed-blade of similar length is unnecessary weight, imho.
The fixed blade you should carry (again, imho) is for preparing LARGE wood, where chopping and batonning come into play, i.e. supplanting the role of a hatchet or axe which is extra weight. For this purpose, the fixed-blade should be ~5"+ and thin enough to slide through batonned sections of wood - a role in which I have personally experienced the insufficiency of smaller knives.

Now, if a hatchet or axe is presumed unnecessary for the proposed venture or will be packed regardless of being extra weight, then I totally agree that the small fixed-blade is more than sufficient - heck, you'll probably only use the SAK as a back-up, especially if the most "robust" chores are merely "prepping small wood..., prepping food and cleaning fish & foul" (chores for which an SAK is sufficient).

I'm worried I'm hijacking the thread by presenting these opinions, I'm sure this topic is commonly dealt with in WS&S.
To sum-up: if no hatchet is necessary for the venture, a Mora Clipper, Izula (I or II), or BK11 or 14 all seem good choices as your primary blade, 3" :thumbup:. However, for processing larger or frozen wood, bring a hatchet or a bigger knife.

Oh, and be darn sure to bring a camera with lots of photo space to those parks!!! Scenery that'll leave you breathless...

From his previous posts I believe he doesn't carry a SAK or multitool and instead prefers a small fixed blade. Something that I'm liking more and more too. So what I get from his post is that he's recomending a small fixed blade regardless if you have a multitool or not. As far as the stove, wood burning stoves are more efficient and I believe are legal in areas where a campfire is not. Not sure of that though.

 

[Shotgun]

For you "extended stay" packers that need a robust knife to process kindling, make shelters and other heavy knife use chores.. what about something double edged?

I'm not an experienced hiker but I do spend a lot of time around a hunting camp. Recently I made a 6" bladed double edge knife that in my mind would be useful for camp/hunting chores like kindling, brushing ground blinds, clearing shooting lanes, etc.. with one edge leaving the other nice and sharp for cutting chores.

Would something like this be useful for extended backcountry trips or just wishful thinking?

Here is a pic..

.

Yep, the spine should be flat so that you can use it as a baton or as a draw knife. However that is one awesome blade and would be pretty awesome for woods bumming if it had just the one edge. I really like that one.

 

[Cobra281]

Sounds like a great trip. Stay safe.

Personally, I wouldn't want to be in the woods that long without a good fixed blade. (and a lot of other stuff) but you asked about knives.

You already got the SAK. Good idea. I'd add medium fixed and a hatchet.
(JMHO)

BK 2 or 7 (yes, I'm bias)
ESEE 5 or 6
Fallkniven S1
Bark River Bravo 1
Swamprat rat mandu

Couple ideas that are readily available.

If you can fit it, a Mora is nice to have. Amazing how much I use mine when I'm out and for $20, good deal.

Again, stay safe. Got any bear spray ?

 

[Thomas Linton]

Yep, the spine should be flat so that you can use it as a baton or as a draw knife. However that is one awesome blade and would be pretty awesome for woods bumming if it had just the one edge. I really like that one.

The pointed pommel is good in a weapon but I wonder how useful in a woods knife.