Car camping knife - folder adequate?

[Shotgun]

Car camping? Bring an axe.

Car camping means you have the car at camp. You don't need to worry about weight when you have a vehicle.

Defiantly an option if you like axes and I would consider one too in dispersed car camping where you need to cut your firewood. But IME a large knife is faster for taking a bought precut log down to kindling. The only guys I've seen split kindling with an axe as fast as I can with a large knife are the guys that have a story on how they almost severed their thumb off. For me the large knife is the best tool for developed campgrounds with precut firewood for sale. YMMV

 

[GrReaper]

You got a car, might as well take all the toys.

Yeah, half the fun of camping is getting to use all those big knives you bought. When car camping, you can dispense with the idea of "necessities" and take everything you want.

 

[Bigfattyt]

If you have a machete, you don't need more than a folder. The machete can cover any larger chopping tasks.

Honestly, for car camping, I bring more than I need, because I don't have to lug it!

 

[Inazone]

My go-to camping spot is a walk-in site about 100 yards from where I park, so while not exactly car camping, it allows me to bring extra stuff and dig it out if I want to use it. That usually means a bunch of knives, a folding saw and a hatchet. Last time out, I mainly used a Mora Companion and a folding saw for fire prep, and a Kizer folder for other general cutting tasks. The trip before that, I used a hatchet, a fixed Schrade X-Timer XT2B and a Coast FX350 folder. Variety being the spice of life, and all that.

If the botanical garden you're describing is anything like the state parks here, you're supposed to either buy firewood at the camp office or from a state-certified retailer. I've scavenged a fair amount of fallen branches to supplement purchased firewood when staying multiple nights, as well as twigs for my folding stove, but chopping anything down is strictly forbidden, and fires are too depending on conditions. I would check prior to your trip. Getting back to the knife, though, really anything with a flat or scandi grind is great for most purposes, but I do like having both a folder and fixed blade for convenience.

 

[jackknife]

for car camping.I prefer a cut down Martindale machete.whith a headliner tuckaway sheath..I'm not kidding Lol

Lots to said for that!!!

I do a lot od car and canoe camping now as a senior citizen, and the small machete and SAK do cover a heck of a lot of ground. Makes a great combo that handles near anything.

 

[fishiker]

We car camped over the holiday weekend at a primitive campground. For cutting tools I carried a fixed blade on my belt, a folder in one pocket and a small fixed blade in a slip sheath in another pocket, a folding saw, and a hatchet. It rained a lot and I did my best to have a fire each morning and evening. Normally I would have gotten by breaking pieces of dead wood for the fire but due to the wetness found the saw a hatchet a true necessity. The small fixed blade was used for the majority of cutting chores except for food processing when a longer blade was more convenient. The only use the folder saw was a few times when my wife needed a knife and refused to use the "dirty" fixed blade. You may be able to get by with a folder but for me the fixed blade was much more convenient.

 

[DPC]

I never paid attention to the fact that the knives had no sheaths and were sewn into the coat and clothing. Either all of them are extremely dull or his coat is made of adamantium bathed kevlar (died black)

 

[DAVE_M]

I never paid attention to the fact that the knives had no sheaths and were sewn into the coat and clothing. Either all of them are extremely dull or his coat is made of adamantium bathed kevlar (died black)

Movies bro! The two large machetes wouldn't even come out of the leather sleeves.

 

[Mannlicher]

sounds like a knife is not needed at all. Cuticle scissors should do everything you need in that park.

 

[22-rimfire]

The folder is enough. You can bring a few things from the kitchen to supplement any kind of longer knives and silverware you might want to have around when cooking. I would bring along a machete or larger fixed blade and leave it in the car (until needed). The larger knife is for chopping and splitting IF necessary.

When I have camp site electricity (car camping), I go as far as bring extension cords and electric lights. Bring along a lantern for general light and the battery operated ones are really efficient these days if you have one. Been pretty pleased with a Coleman (uses D cells) that I obtained for work stuff (dark places like attics and crawl spaces) and at 200 lumens max, it puts out a lot of light. It would do nicely car camping.

 

[Raymond1000]

An SCA tournament isn’t quite car camping. We’d usually park half a mile from the action. Then hump in multiple loads: pavilion, sleeping bags, coolers of food, firewood or stove, tournament weapons and armor, maintenance tools, first aid kit, marshalling staff, medieval clothing, mundane clothing…it takes a few trips.

At one tourney I was properly garbed. Period outfit, Wilkinson sword on my left hip. 12” Randall Arkansas toothpick on my right. Someone had brought a watermelon. But no knife long enough to dissect it. I drew my Randall. “Will this do?” The lady was taken aback. Not frightened—not in that environment. But that Randall is no kitchen knife. But she agreed and I proceeded. That melon quivered in terror, but it never had a chance.

When I’m not car camping SCA style, the Randall and Wilkinson stay home. I do bring a ten inch trail knife. That’s more than able to handle uppity melons and firewood that’s too big for its britches.

 

[22-rimfire]

I'd quiver too facing a 12" Randall Arkansas toothpick. I have just the knife for that kind of action, a 10" Condor Kumunga. Doesn't quite have the class of the Randall, but around a campsite, it would work nicely for any angry water melons.

 

[Raymond1000]

Yeah, the Randall toothpick is classy.

But when it comes to batoning, it’s useless as t!ts on a boar.

 

[Boris74]

Some city, heck any campground can have some tough rules on wood usage. Some only allow the use of the wood they sell, not even picking up twigs is allowed at some to start a fire. You will need to make kindling from the wood you buy and a folding knife will not do unless you don't mind damaging or breaking it. Since the wood is pre spilt even a cheap mora will easily take out smaller pieces to start the fire. Or if you have anything larger it will do as well.

Maybe find out ahead of time on what the camp fire rules are and go from there.

 

[craytab]

Personally I've found it far less dramatic, and that a folder like a Vic Farmer is more than enough, and anything beyond that are just toys to bring along for fun.

Right! Bring a much of knives and have fun! If that is your thing that is. Some folks get off on the minimalist thing. Whatever, if they are having fun is what counts. That is one of the reasons we all do this right? If it isn't fun, why do it? No one is making you go car camping or backpacking for 3 weeks with nothing but an opinel or whatever.

 

[sideways]

You folks seem a little lost to me.

He is car camping at a botanical garden.

Bring along a charcoal grill (and the charcoal, lighting fluid, matches) or a camp stove. Bring a cooler full of food and drinks. You'll want plenty of food that suits your cooking system. A little home prep of salads/veggies and some tupperware goes a long way. Throw in a tupperware with some paring knives, forks, spoons and butter knives. A bit of aluminium foil, some kitchen roll and condiments. Grill tongs, toilet paper, sunscreen and bug-spray if you are squemish about that kind of thing. Bring garbage bags to carry out your trash.

 

[stabman]

You folks seem a little lost to me.

He is car camping at a botanical garden.

That's why I figured that any folder is enough.

Sure, I'd have 5 or 6 knives with me, but not because I needed them.

 

[sideways]

Yup, but an assortment of kitchenware is even better.

BTW: External frame packs with shelves are a pretty awesome invention for hauling awkward loads that last mile. Reference for example the kelty cache hauler.