Best folder for a hike

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illumination

Joined
Nov 21, 2005
Messages
125
Looking for something to drop into my backpack. I don't want anything too large, nor too small. Its going to be in a pack. Blade should be under 4" but over 3".

Most likely use to cut an apple on the hike...but I need something that I'll be able to use in an emergency (e.g., cut rope, split firewood, make tinder, etc.)

Been drawn to the Paramilitary, Manix and Mini Manix. All seem to have plusses and minuses...

Any thoughts.

And whats the difference in the locks? What is a compression lock?
 
illumination said:
And whats the difference in the locks? What is a compression lock?
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Take a liner lock, rip it out, reinstall it on the top of the handle, as opposed to the bottom of the handle, and you have a rough estimate of what a compression lock is.

The concept is similar, but the compression lock is infinitely superior to the liner lock in my opinion.

Sorry, I don't have a better explanation for you, that's the best I can come up with.:o

Personally, I'd go with the Manix. It's huge though. The other two are a little smaller, but no less functional.
 
For emergency use, I'd take the Manix, mainly because it's got the strongest lock of the choices you listed. It's a bit big and heavy, but you're carrying it in your pack. If you have the space, I'd recommend carrying a small axe - it's saved me from a cold night many times.
 
The Manixeseses seem too heavy for hiking if you ever go light. The Para is a good choice, as is the new Remote Release (which can clip anywhere, for easy access or if your bag is full).

smcfalls13 is correct about the comp lock going up top instead of the bottom, but there's more. Instead of the long length of liner being under stress, as you see in a linerlock, there's one very small piece of the liner being compressed between the tang and the stop pin (hence the name). Much stronger and, more importantly, more resistant to accidental release.
 
I say take a Moran, Temperence or Perrin. As a back up take a folder or two.
:)


Blades
 
For a good knife in an emergency i would say the manix because it will stand up to almost anything you can throw at it. If your worried about weight (which i think is silly with something this vital and small) go with the paramilitary.
 
Hard to say as "going hiking" means different things to diff. people. One of the salt series seems like a nice light weight blade you can depend on...but it isn't even on your list of choices.
 
zenheretic said:
Hard to say as "going hiking" means different things to diff. people. One of the salt series seems like a nice light weight blade you can depend on...but it isn't even on your list of choices.
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If I was to go hiking, my Pacific Salt would be with me for sure.
 
rusty edge said:
If I was to go hiking, my Pacific Salt would be with me for sure.
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Glad to read someone with a similar line of thinking. For hiking, since I wouldn't expect much need, I want something light weight, the rustproof steel is an added bonus for rain and the like. If it was an extended backpack campout, then I might opt for a heavier duty blade...although I've never needed to use a pocket knife to cut firewood (just a bit of tinder). ;)
 
smcfalls13 said:
Take a liner lock, rip it out, reinstall it on the top of the handle, as opposed to the bottom of the handle, and you have a rough estimate of what a compression lock is.

The concept is similar, but the compression lock is infinitely superior to the liner lock in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Sort of........except on compression lock the stress is applied in vertical plane between the stope pin and blade tang, on linere lock the stress is horizontal along the lock bar itself. With liner the stress pushes "back " ALONG bar, on compression stress pushes "up" AGAINST the bar. Importance? On liner lock the stress simply has to defeat spring action in bar to cause failure, on compression lock the stress must crush entire bar or shear off the stop pin to cause failure which is in practicale terms impossible--blade will break far before that can happene. On compression system the lock maybe can be accidently disengaged, but much less likely then on liner since it has little or no contact with hand, and palm on top (compression) less likely to disengage then fingers on bottom (liner .)
 
This is where I disagree. On a hiking trip, no matter how long you're going to be out in the wilderness, it's always better to over-prepare than under-prepare. The weather can change for the worse at any moment as well as a myriad of other things. Since he's already said that he's carrying a backpack, I don't think carrying a Manix would be too heavy or burdensome, but in case of an emergency, you might be able to use to to build shelter or get firewood. I don't think a FRN folder could do that.
 
safong said:
This is where I disagree. On a hiking trip, no matter how long you're going to be out in the wilderness, it's always better to over-preprare than under-preprare. The weather can change for the worse at any moment as well as a myriad of other things. Since he's already said that he's carrying a backpack, I don't think carrying a Manix would be too heavy or burdensome, but in case of an emergency, you might be able to use to to build shelter or get firewood. I don't think a FRN folder could do that.
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Before I got my Pacific Salt, which was my first frn Spydie, I thought that they were "cheap plastic". Now I have complete faith in frn, that stuff is extremely tough. I love my Para with nested liners and G10, but after using both knives I realize the Pacific Salt in frn can stand the same abuse that the Para can. I would probally go as far has saying the frn could take MORE abuse. Ever wonder why Glock and other handgun manufacturers are using hi-tech polymer for the gun frame instead of steel? "Plastic" Glock frames take much more abuse than steel or aluminum frames, and are much lighter. I think steel would bend and G10 crack before the frn gave away.
 
Just remember, Rusty_Edge, that H&K was making outstanding polymer frame pistols before Glock existed ;-). And yes, the Salt line, particularly in serrated edge, is utterly outstanding. Still, for the stated purpose, I'd carry a SAK one-handed trekker or the new Victorinox German Army issue knife which is similar and has a certain "cool factor". Light, cheap ($23-40) and extremely capable. Carry a Mora as well, if you really want a bigger blade. If shelter is a concern, one of these, 10-20 meters of 550 cord, and an ultralight tarp is what you want. If you're really caught out, making a tarp shelter uses far less energy & time than making one from brush, and of course if it's brightly colored, it will help SAR people locate you in exactly the way that a brush shelter will not!
 
I'm with spinynorman on this one. While I carry any one of several big Spydercos daily, if I were out in the great outdoors for a hike, I'd be totin' along something else, either a Vic Trailmaster/Trekker or the OHT. Supplement with any Spydie you want for backup.
 
RustyEdge, I'm wouldn't disagree with you about FRN's strength or toughness, but I wouldn't use a FRN knife as a wedge to split wood.
 
I wore my Manix IWB all day today and never felt the least discomfort. Everyone I showed it to was wowed by it. It is an awesome knife.
 
safong said:
This is where I disagree. On a hiking trip, no matter how long you're going to be out in the wilderness, it's always better to over-prepare than under-prepare. The weather can change for the worse at any moment as well as a myriad of other things. Since he's already said that he's carrying a backpack, I don't think carrying a Manix would be too heavy or burdensome, but in case of an emergency, you might be able to use to to build shelter or get firewood. I don't think a FRN folder could do that.
Click to expand...

As I said earlier it depends upon what you mean by hiking. A lot of towns have a "nature trail" that winds along the river banks right through the middle of town or hikes up to Watertowers, Hollywood signs, or those ugly whitewashed letters that many towns adorn on nearby hillsides. You would be more concerned with aggressive panhandlers and the like in such a situation over Tarp shelter. A light weight Salt would be perfect in such situations. Like I said, I've never needed a pocket knife to make firewood.
If the deep wilderness survival situation that you envision was on the docket, cutting firewood with a pocket knife would be a negative energy endeavor. The heavy duty folder would indeed render the construction of DIY shelter much easier vs a Salt knife, but I would argue that it would be due to ergonomics over perceived toughness. If I was going to bother with a tarp for potential shelter, or a rain poncho (I've used both for camping shelter) I don't need to saw down trees or split wood to build either one. I take enough paracord to mount each one. (It snowed on the tarp, and rained on the poncho and I stayed dry for both.) Of course if I was caught out in the wilds and only had one knife, I would want it to be reasonable fixed blade, like a Temperance.
In the end, I'm not sure how we ended up the wilderness on this little expedition, the initial question was just a hike and a backpack. I'll let Illumination set the parameter of his needs, and since I already acknowledged the light weights weren't in his choices, I find it humorous we are disagreeing at all.:p
 
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