Best knife for backpacking?

I consider my self an ultralight backpacker, but im also a knife nut so I compromise. I always pack my sak one hand trekker. For a long trip I will bring a snody boss , on a short trip Becker bk2.
 
bracer028 said:
Where are you planning to go? - Azusa Mountains
How long have you been backpacking? 2 years
How far are you going? about 7 miles
Are you going to be doing trailed hikes or off trail? trailed then off the trail
Day hike or overnight or multi day? 2 days
Are you dead set against carrying only one knife? yea...gotta carry one knife, otherwise it gets too heavy
How much does your pack weigh? 20 lbs
How much are you used to carrying ie weight wise? decent
Do you own all three of these knives or are you in the market? And would you consider a different knife? - i have a smith and wesson folding knife right now...but that thing gets dirty as hell when i cut food. lots of stuff stuck in the knife and the bearings.
What type of whether are you expecting? - clear day.
Lastly, what altitude will you be at? about 2000 ft up.
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Thank you for responding, it helps a lot to know whom I am dealing with and what kind of experience you have. Every person is different and on a different knowledge base/skill level so information on such a topic requires some background. So now that I have some info I think I will be able to provide you with some more recommendations and perhaps some insight. Keep in mind these are my opinions and like I said everybody is different. Although I personally only take advice on backpacking and hiking from others that actually do it or have done if for a while. Not to just disregard peoples thoughts but honestly if you don't actually go out and hike in the backcountry then your opinion is kinda worthless as I see it. It sounds mean but it's like asking a guy how it feels to be pregnant if you get my meaning. So anyways lets do this thing.

After reading your answers I would suggest you go with the BK7 for sure. Even though the whether is supposed to be clear you just never know. Especially up in the mountains at 2000ft. If bad whether does decide to roll in on you, you don't want to be making more work for yourself trying to get a fire started. A larger knife will make things much easier if you need to get a fire started and everything is wet. Being able to process wood and get to the dry core is much harder from my experience with a smaller knife. Although you carry more weight with a larger knife with it comes more utility.

I know you don't want to but I would really suggest getting something like a SAK Farmer to go with your knife. This will help with any small cutting you need done and you can save your main blade for real work. Also a SAK is perfect for food prep (depending on what your bringing). I mostly carry Mountain House or Wise Guy food but that’s just me. Spyderco also makes the Manix Translucent (which I carry on all my hikes) and it's only like 3oz.

Given that your pack is only 20lbs I don't think you will have any issues with carrying a larger knife and that's why you might want to get yourself a Sawvivor. I did without one for a long time but after I did get one it really hit home as to how much more wood I could process and save calories doing it. Just wanted to put that out there. I forgot to ask if you are carrying a saw as well so if your not you should consider it.

7 miles in the back is not bad at all. I am going to assume you are going to make base camp about half way and do small hikes from there before finishing the trail? That's how I hike a lot as well. Anyways, good luck and have fun. I hope this helped you out brother. If you have any other questions just shoot me a PM.
 
After reading this thread I just placed an order for an ESEE Izulu 2 as my new backpacking knife.
 
Light and simple, Mora and a Swiss Army knife, or folding saw. BK 16 or ESEE 3 if you just want one. Let us know how your trip goes, and pics are always a good thing for us here waiting to see. I know I need to get in shape and try more hiking myself. Have fun!
 
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I'm all for weight savings when back in the woods, I trim margins on maps and carry just the bristles of my toothbrush. I do that so I can carry steel that may convince someone to stay civil. For almost forty years. Have carried this Schrade 1650 Oldtimer. From cooking, whittling to small ax work, it has been steady. Lost the emblem somewhere in the Sierras.
 
The Oldtimer - what a great knife.
Ive been after one of those, but just cant justify yet another American classic, which will only go unused.
For light weight backpacking, I'd carry my titanium MPS.
 
I wouldnt take a bk 2 backpacking. It's not my style and the weight isn't worth the size. Look into the Fallkniven F1 and S1. I just bought an S1 for backpacking. Its only 6.7 oz, .20 inches thick and the edge would hold better than 1095. If I was a real stickler for weight I would get an F1. The size is good and the flat grind is something to be desired for sure.
 
Out of the knives listed in the OP, the BK11 would be the best backpacking knife in the strictest sense. If you have not purchased a fixed blade yet, I will jump on the Mora bandwagon as well. Even people who love Mora's tend to kind of write them off as throw away knives, but they are surprisingly well crafted for the paltry cost. The types of cutting done while backpacking (for me anyway) are not helped by a big, thick blade. Opening freeze dried food, slicing cheese and salami, cutting foam and moleskin, picking splinters, poking blisters, cut line, carve a tarp peg... you get the idea. Here's a few shots of the ones I have.

Mora Robust when I first got it, comparison shot with my Companion
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510 (no longer made, but the 511 is almost identical)
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Here's a nice, light combo for longer trips in places that allow fires
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The BK16 covers a lot of bases for sure.
But I'd be fine backpacking with my 11 as well.
I may be a little biased though. :D



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I have a bk2 and I think it's a great knife for survival/bushcraft,but I don't bring it hiking or backacking.Recently I've just been using a buck 110 but am going to order a bhk frontier first or valley for a companion knife for the bk2 and a edc and a backpacking/hiking knife.They are both about the same size of the izula and bk11.If you are going to get a all around knife I'd say get a esee 4,a 3 or a bk16.
 
Jonny1280 said:
The BK16 covers a lot of bases for sure.

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Wow, I love what you did with that! I wouldn't want to carry it backpacking, but looks like a great choice for hunting, car camping, or stationary backwoods living. :thumbup:
 
bracer028 said:
a BK11, BK2, or a BK7
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Are you dead set against carrying only one knife? yea...gotta carry one knife, otherwise it gets too heavy
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The BK2 and BK11 are big, thick, heavy knives. You could carry several smaller knives and end up with less total weight than either, so the original question is kind of puzzling. A 1H Trekker in your pocket and a Mora on your belt would be a good compromise.

When I hike I try to keep weight down, but I always bring a strong knife, my Bark River Bravo 1. It's the only knife I own that I know can do everything from small cutting and carving, to splitting wet wood to get a fire going, or build a shelter in a pinch.

I understand setting a target of 20 lbs, but if you could do 20 lbs, 8 oz and have a way better knife, I would deal with the 2% or so weight increase.
 
You might look at the Bark River Ultra-Lite Bushcrafter. It comes in at just a couple ounces, 3V steel and really comfortable.

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It's 2.7oz on average with micarta or G10 scales? Wow, that's nice. Thin and light, going to have to check this one out :thumbup: I wonder if the one in Carbon Fiber scales weighs even less than the spec'd 2.7oz...
 
HikingMano said:
It's 2.7oz on average with micarta or G10 scales? Wow, that's nice. Thin and light, going to have to check this one out :thumbup: I wonder if the one in Carbon Fiber scales weighs even less than the spec'd 2.7oz...
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I doubt the CF weighs much less. Most of the weight in G10 or micarta is from the epoxy, not the canvas or paper or linen or fiberglass or whatever.
 
My favorite field-blade is the NMSFNO, however that is going to be on the large/heavy side from you perspective. They are also rather spendy and take a little looking to find sometimes. And FWIW, I carry it in a SpecOps sheath with a smaller folder/firesteel/etc in the pocket.

Based on the parameters of your trip, and sticking with fixed blades, I'd also recommend a NWA Sierra Scout or one of his slightly smaller blades. They are outstanding knives well worth his very reasonable asking prices (for the quality of a handcrafted custom blade).

If you can't wait that long, or don't want to spend that much $$, Bark River or Blind Horse Knives make excellent knives, amoung others. The Swamp Rat Rodent Series is also worth a look, they have multiple sizes...the Rodent 6 is a particularly stout blade.

BOSS
 
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