CPK Camping/Backpacking Trio.

h7per

h7per

Joined
Apr 13, 2020
Messages
228
Hello there to every CPK lover.

I have some kind of question to you guys, who are in love with CPK more than me, and who got different models.

I want to make 3 knife set for my backpacking and camping trips.
All 3 must be CPK. 1 chopper, 1 big knife and 1 small knife.
Small knife for preparing food and some utility jobs, for light use and etc.
Big knife for all around camp use, medium/hard use, sort of bushcraft and etc.
Chopper obviously for hard usem chopping everything on your way.

Lets begin from largest one, the chopper.
Ive decided to gram MC as Nathan always mentioned it as best camping chopper, but the Heavy Duty version, as Im in love with big knives which can handle even abusive situations, and also as Im eyeballing K18 I wouldnt need Behemoth(er) chopper as K18 will do those cutting tasks better than BC in my opinion, because of that MCs size and essy to swing around took over BCs size snd cutting power for me.
So HDMC is on its way to my home and it will be my camping chopper.

Now the big knife.
Currently Im using FK2 and I love it, but I'm intrigued with HDFK, because of my love of large and indestructable knives 😁.
So FK2 does most of my needs but is it worth upgrading to HDFK, there is so much hype about it.

And the small knife.
I have handled EDC2 but sold it, now Im eyeballing DEK1 (or maybe DEK2 preorder) or should I buy EDC again?
But what makes me hard to make decision is next: as Ive said I want to have trio, set of 3 knives which will match eatch other and fill each other.
So if I will buy DEK it has large blade almost like FK2, so that makes me want to upgrade FK to HDFK which has larger blade, but Im afraid if its larger than big knifr I need and steps in category of chopper...

So to make it easier and TL;DR. I will write list of set of knives and please help me to choose one as sadly I dont have condition to own all the CPKs, despite of fact that I would love it.

1.
EDC2 3.3" Blade
FK2 4.6"
HDMC 10"

2.
DEK1 4.5"
HDFK 6.5"
HDMC 10"

Im not considering other lists like EDC, HDFK and HDMC becsuse there is big difference between blade length of EDC and HDFK and I think it wont fit my needs. And also I havent put DEK and FK in same list as they are almost identical in blade length..
Some may say why you have put DEK in small knife category, but Ive said I love big knives so whats wrong with using DEK as utility knife? Plus its thinner than FK so it can be good in clean cutting taks like food preperstion and etc.

Honestly my heart tells me go on sell that FK and buy DEK and HDFK.
So what you guys will sugest me? Should I do that or simply buy EDC and fill list number 1?

Thanks in advance.
 
IMO, 3 knives are too many.

There is not that much difference in use for me in between FK2 and EDC (Don't have EDC). For me, it's kinda awkward to have small knife like EDC, HDFK and a chopper. The medium one-HDFK is kinda surpassed by other two. Chopper will chop better, and for finer tasks EDC would be better.
I would go chopper, FK2/DEK1/EDC and a folding saw.
YMMV
 
SharpPancake said:
IMO, 3 knives are too many.

There is not that much difference in use for me in between FK2 and EDC (Don't have EDC). For me, it's kinda awkward to have small knife like EDC, HDFK and a chopper. The medium one-HDFK is kinda surpassed by other two. Chopper will chop better, and for finer tasks EDC would be better.
I would go chopper, FK2/DEK1/EDC and a folding saw.
YMMV
Click to expand...
I always have my silky gomboy in my backpack. I havent mentioned saws and axes as Im interesting in choosing knives, as for saws and axes I have my decisions made already.
But because of my love of sharp things I always carry many knives with me lol, even edcing 2 folders time to time 😂.
But for camp use I dont likr folders, I will always prefer EDC or DEK for small knife in camp instead of folder.. tho I always have my m390 pm2 in my pocket 😂
Anyways carrying knives isnt problem for me, large knives arent problem also, now problem is money, I cant afford all the CPKs, if I could, I would. Thats why I want set of 3 for backpacking adventures.
 
Edited to add: just saw your replay, so you can ignore my comments. In respect to your three knife, still probably limit to HDFK and DEK1. Large chopper of your choice.

The above is correct. Honestly a small pack axe, medium knife and a folding saw would be better.
The axe just gives you more leverage for chopping, splitting and can be choked up on for finer details.
Another point is how long are you really going to be out there and how much wood are you harvesting? If it was a weekend trip or less, I wouldn’t bother with more than a HDFK, folding saw and a pocket knife.
In the end, though, treat all trips a learning experienceso don’t be afraid to try different combinations and see what really works for you. Start with what you have and see what you need to make life in the wild easier.

Oh, remember one thing: in the world of hiking, lighter = faster = less sore back/muscles. You have to be really critical of what you really need in order to make long miles.
 
When I go camping or hiking it is typically on well travelled trails where shelters or camp sites are already established. Because of this I’ve never needed to have a chopper with me. Most of the time I would take my HDFK in/on my pack and my trusty EDC2 on me. The last multi day hike I took my FK2 and EDC2. The FK2 was more than sufficient for camp tasks.
If I was going backcountry hiking or camping I would take my HDMC, FK2 and EDC2. Unless I was traveling light, in which case I would just take EDC2 and HDFK.
I realize I haven’t addressed your question directly but my point here is this. The HDFK is an incredible knife - a little awe inspiring for me. But it also falls into the “jack of all trades, master of none” category. It really can do smaller knife tasks, as well as chopping and batoning to process wood for fire or primitive shelter. It can clean game. And, perhaps most importantly in this category, it is highly unlikely that it would fail or break. For me it is the “if you could only take one” knife.
So, as to your question - “which three?” - I would say:
EDC
FK2/DEK1
Any of the choppers

I am excited to see the basic line SDFK and will probably have to get one. And if you ever have a chance to grab a HDFK I would certainly go for it.
 
Well...if you can only take one knife...take Behemother (saying that as i have one plus Dek1 arriving tomorrow).
Big knife will do everything small knife can do (obviously not that efficient) ....it doesnt work the other way around
 
Lorien said:
for backpacking with some self supported camping...I'd go for EDC, integral dagger and K18
Click to expand...
Well, darn... if you'd only said DEK1, Integral Dagger and K18, I'd at least know you were backpacking in the zombie (or other) apocalypse 😁

That said OP, the choices really come down to personal preference.

Over decades of backpacking, my preference for "ONE knife to do it all" has been a Large Camp Knife with a 9" - 10" blade. I can do most any knife/edged tool task with one, from field dressing game (maybe not optimal, especially for small game like squirrels or birds, but still doable), to bushcraft/woodwork including making feather sticks, kindling, chopping, batoning, building a shelter from natural materials etc.

If I had to choose ONLY 1 CPK (or just one edged tool) to take into the backwoods it would absolutely be the MC (which is why I call it my Goldilocks CPK, aka the "Cold, Dead Hands CPK"). I can do just about everything needed in the backwoods with an MC, and appreciate the greater chopping power and batoning ability vs smaller knives.

Again though, that is completely personal preference. Lots of folks prefer something smaller for their do-all knife, and prefer an FK2 or HDFK.

Since you've already mentioned that the MC (or HDMC) will be your choice for the big knife, it comes down to EDCx, DEK1, FK2 and HDFK.

*** I sold the HDMC as after examining it, as I realized I don't need something that overbuilt. The MC is everything it needs to be, and for backpacking where I'm carrying everything, the excess weight of the HDMC had no usage advantages over the MC. Similarly, the weight and added length of the BC or Behemother simply didn't have enough benefit/advantage to me for the extra weight (and the bigger size makes them even more biased for chopping and against finer tasks).

I also sold my HDFK. It's a GREAT knife and IMO, for a do-all backwoods knife, an ideal choice for people who prefer mid-sized knives (5" - 7" blades).

It works well for just about all backpacking/backwoods uses for folks who prefer mid-sized knives, and you're not going to break it unless you're trying to split a boulder, or something equally ridiculous. The reason I sold mine, is simply preference.

For me, the HDFK is like an MC light/short. As I already prefer the MC, the HDFK would go unused. The bigger MC has a distinct advantage not only in chopping power, but especially making it easier for batoning.

If you camp in colder, wet weather, batoning is potentially important for getting to dry wood. Smaller knives are harder to baton through thicker wood, which you may need to use, as the outside (and smaller wood) maybe too damp.

As for the smallest knife:

EDCx vs FK2 or DEK1 - all comes down to YOUR individual preferences. The EDCx (x = 1, 2 or 3) are great little knives. The handles are very well designed to fit a wide variety of hands, but personally, I prefer a bigger knife for a fixed blade, which is why I sold my EDC2.

On the other hand, there are MANY CPK'ers for whom the EDCx is their favorite CPK, and they literally EDC their EDC.

As mentioned, I prefer bigger knives for fixed blades, so the smallest fixed blade I'd carry is either the FK2 or DEK1.

The choice between the two really depends on use. Both have about 4" blades. The DEK1 is slimmer and has a thinner blade (making it easier to carry without noticing it).

Both will do just about anything you'd use a ~4" bladed knife for, but the blades and ESPECIALLY the handles are the defining difference and it all comes down to YOUR personal usage. The FK2's handle is the better design if it will be used more for woodworking/bushcraft. It's optimally designed to be more comfortable for longer for those types of tasks and can also handle any other 4" blade tasks.

If you intend to use a 4" knife for a lot of woodworking/bushcraft, i.e. things like making feathersticks/kindling, making notches in wood etc. where you'll be applying more pressure, then I'd pick the FK2 hands down.

If OTOH, the 4" blade will be relegated more towards lighter duty tasks like field dressing, cutting meat, rope etc. the DEK1 will do that with zero problems (it will do bushcraft just fine, but you'll have less hand fatigue with the FK2's handle).

For me, it's simple; if I'm headed into the backwoods and have the MC with me, it handles all the woodwork/bushcraft tasks, so if I'm also bringing a smaller blade for finer tasks (that stays on me at all times), I'd pick the DEK1.

If OTOH, I'm backpacking on established trails etc. in warmer weather where fire making isn't potentially a life/death proposition, I don't need the MC, and in this case, I'd pick the FK2 over the DEK1.

All that said, my standard backwoods setup is MC + Silky Ultra Accel + Zero Tolerance 0562 folder.

The folder handles all the tasks I'd prefer a smaller blade for. The Silky is much more efficient for sectioning thicker wood. If I really wanted a 2nd fixed blade with the MC, I'd bring the DEK1.

For more casual camping where I won't need to chop/baton a whole lot and won't need the MC and leave that at home, I just bring the FK2 (the ZT0562 is ALWAYS in my pocket, as is a Swiss Army Knife whenever I'm in the boonies. I like some redundancy/backups, and while nowhere near as stout as a CPK, the ZT0562 is a decent design for a do-all backwoods folder).

Carrying 3 differently sized fixed blades is NOT something I'd do if any decent amount of hiking is involved.
 
Guess I have to post in WTS/WTB/WTT thread that Im looking for EDC2/3 with ECAM scales 😁
At the moment I think my trio will be EDC/FK/HDMC and if I will have some money I will grab HDFK just for being so awesome 😂
Actually I think that there is no CPK which isnt worth of buying, gotta own at least one of each patter if you have $$$
bluemax_1 said:
Well, darn... if you'd only said DEK1, Integral Dagger and K18, I'd at least know you were backpacking in the zombie (or other) apocalypse 😁

That said OP, the choices really come down to personal preference.

Over decades of backpacking, my preference for "ONE knife to do it all" has been a Large Camp Knife with a 9" - 10" blade. I can do most any knife/edged tool task with one, from field dressing game (maybe not optimal, especially for small game like squirrels or birds, but still doable), to bushcraft/woodwork including making feather sticks, kindling, chopping, batoning, building a shelter from natural materials etc.

If I had to choose ONLY 1 CPK (or just one edged tool) to take into the backwoods it would absolutely be the MC (which is why I call it my Goldilocks CPK, aka the "Cold, Dead Hands CPK"). I can do just about everything needed in the backwoods with an MC, and appreciate the greater chopping power and batoning ability vs smaller knives.

Again though, that is completely personal preference. Lots of folks prefer something smaller for their do-all knife, and prefer an FK2 or HDFK.

Since you've already mentioned that the MC (or HDMC) will be your choice for the big knife, it comes down to EDCx, DEK1, FK2 and HDFK.

*** I sold the HDMC as after examining it, as I realized I don't need something that overbuilt. The MC is everything it needs to be, and for backpacking where I'm carrying everything, the excess weight of the HDMC had no usage advantages over the MC. Similarly, the weight and added length of the BC or Behemother simply didn't have enough benefit/advantage to me for the extra weight (and the bigger size makes them even more biased for chopping and against finer tasks).

I also sold my HDFK. It's a GREAT knife and IMO, for a do-all backwoods knife, an ideal choice for people who prefer mid-sized knives (5" - 7" blades).

It works well for just about all backpacking/backwoods uses for folks who prefer mid-sized knives, and you're not going to break it unless you're trying to split a boulder, or something equally ridiculous. The reason I sold mine, is simply preference.

For me, the HDFK is like an MC light/short. As I already prefer the MC, the HDFK would go unused. The bigger MC has a distinct advantage not only in chopping power, but especially making it easier for batoning.

If you camp in colder, wet weather, batoning is potentially important for getting to dry wood. Smaller knives are harder to baton through thicker wood, which you may need to use, as the outside (and smaller wood) maybe too damp.

As for the smallest knife:

EDCx vs FK2 or DEK1 - all comes down to YOUR individual preferences. The EDCx (x = 1, 2 or 3) are great little knives. The handles are very well designed to fit a wide variety of hands, but personally, I prefer a bigger knife for a fixed blade, which is why I sold my EDC2.

On the other hand, there are MANY CPK'ers for whom the EDCx is their favorite CPK, and they literally EDC their EDC.

As mentioned, I prefer bigger knives for fixed blades, so the smallest fixed blade I'd carry is either the FK2 or DEK1.

The choice between the two really depends on use. Both have about 4" blades. The DEK1 is slimmer and has a thinner blade (making it easier to carry without noticing it).

Both will do just about anything you'd use a ~4" bladed knife for, but the blades and ESPECIALLY the handles are the defining difference and it all comes down to YOUR personal usage. The FK2's handle is the better design if it will be used more for woodworking/bushcraft. It's optimally designed to be more comfortable for longer for those types of tasks and can also handle any other 4" blade tasks.

If you intend to use a 4" knife for a lot of woodworking/bushcraft, i.e. things like making feathersticks/kindling, making notches in wood etc. where you'll be applying more pressure, then I'd pick the FK2 hands down.

If OTOH, the 4" blade will be relegated more towards lighter duty tasks like field dressing, cutting meat, rope etc. the DEK1 will do that with zero problems (it will do bushcraft just fine, but you'll have less hand fatigue with the FK2's handle).

For me, it's simple; if I'm headed into the backwoods and have the MC with me, it handles all the woodwork/bushcraft tasks, so if I'm also bringing a smaller blade for finer tasks (that stays on me at all times), I'd pick the DEK1.

If OTOH, I'm backpacking on established trails etc. in warmer weather where fire making isn't potentially a life/death proposition, I don't need the MC, and in this case, I'd pick the FK2 over the DEK1.

All that said, my standard backwoods setup is MC + Silky Ultra Accel + Zero Tolerance 0562 folder.

The folder handles all the tasks I'd prefer a smaller blade for. The Silky is much more efficient for sectioning thicker wood. If I really wanted a 2nd fixed blade with the MC, I'd bring the DEK1.

For more casual camping where I won't need to chop/baton a whole lot and won't need the MC and leave that at home, I just bring the FK2 (the ZT0562 is ALWAYS in my pocket, as is a Swiss Army Knife whenever I'm in the boonies. I like some redundancy/backups, and while nowhere near as stout as a CPK, the ZT0562 is a decent design for a do-all backwoods folder).

Carrying 3 differently sized fixed blades is NOT something I'd do if any decent amount of hiking is involved.
Click to expand...
while ive been typing upper message, new forum alerted me about new post so after seeing how bit it was first I "liked" it and now grabbed some popcorn and will read it, thanks for being informative and helpful my CPK brother 😁❤
 
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bluemax_1 said:
Well, darn... if you'd only said DEK1, Integral Dagger and K18, I'd at least know you were backpacking in the zombie (or other) apocalypse 😁

That said OP, the choices really come down to personal preference.

Over decades of backpacking, my preference for "ONE knife to do it all" has been a Large Camp Knife with a 9" - 10" blade. I can do most any knife/edged tool task with one, from field dressing game (maybe not optimal, especially for small game like squirrels or birds, but still doable), to bushcraft/woodwork including making feather sticks, kindling, chopping, batoning, building a shelter from natural materials etc.

If I had to choose ONLY 1 CPK (or just one edged tool) to take into the backwoods it would absolutely be the MC (which is why I call it my Goldilocks CPK, aka the "Cold, Dead Hands CPK"). I can do just about everything needed in the backwoods with an MC, and appreciate the greater chopping power and batoning ability vs smaller knives.

Again though, that is completely personal preference. Lots of folks prefer something smaller for their do-all knife, and prefer an FK2 or HDFK.

Since you've already mentioned that the MC (or HDMC) will be your choice for the big knife, it comes down to EDCx, DEK1, FK2 and HDFK.

*** I sold the HDMC as after examining it, as I realized I don't need something that overbuilt. The MC is everything it needs to be, and for backpacking where I'm carrying everything, the excess weight of the HDMC had no usage advantages over the MC. Similarly, the weight and added length of the BC or Behemother simply didn't have enough benefit/advantage to me for the extra weight (and the bigger size makes them even more biased for chopping and against finer tasks).

I also sold my HDFK. It's a GREAT knife and IMO, for a do-all backwoods knife, an ideal choice for people who prefer mid-sized knives (5" - 7" blades).

It works well for just about all backpacking/backwoods uses for folks who prefer mid-sized knives, and you're not going to break it unless you're trying to split a boulder, or something equally ridiculous. The reason I sold mine, is simply preference.

For me, the HDFK is like an MC light/short. As I already prefer the MC, the HDFK would go unused. The bigger MC has a distinct advantage not only in chopping power, but especially making it easier for batoning.

If you camp in colder, wet weather, batoning is potentially important for getting to dry wood. Smaller knives are harder to baton through thicker wood, which you may need to use, as the outside (and smaller wood) maybe too damp.

As for the smallest knife:

EDCx vs FK2 or DEK1 - all comes down to YOUR individual preferences. The EDCx (x = 1, 2 or 3) are great little knives. The handles are very well designed to fit a wide variety of hands, but personally, I prefer a bigger knife for a fixed blade, which is why I sold my EDC2.

On the other hand, there are MANY CPK'ers for whom the EDCx is their favorite CPK, and they literally EDC their EDC.

As mentioned, I prefer bigger knives for fixed blades, so the smallest fixed blade I'd carry is either the FK2 or DEK1.

The choice between the two really depends on use. Both have about 4" blades. The DEK1 is slimmer and has a thinner blade (making it easier to carry without noticing it).

Both will do just about anything you'd use a ~4" bladed knife for, but the blades and ESPECIALLY the handles are the defining difference and it all comes down to YOUR personal usage. The FK2's handle is the better design if it will be used more for woodworking/bushcraft. It's optimally designed to be more comfortable for longer for those types of tasks and can also handle any other 4" blade tasks.

If you intend to use a 4" knife for a lot of woodworking/bushcraft, i.e. things like making feathersticks/kindling, making notches in wood etc. where you'll be applying more pressure, then I'd pick the FK2 hands down.

If OTOH, the 4" blade will be relegated more towards lighter duty tasks like field dressing, cutting meat, rope etc. the DEK1 will do that with zero problems (it will do bushcraft just fine, but you'll have less hand fatigue with the FK2's handle).

For me, it's simple; if I'm headed into the backwoods and have the MC with me, it handles all the woodwork/bushcraft tasks, so if I'm also bringing a smaller blade for finer tasks (that stays on me at all times), I'd pick the DEK1.

If OTOH, I'm backpacking on established trails etc. in warmer weather where fire making isn't potentially a life/death proposition, I don't need the MC, and in this case, I'd pick the FK2 over the DEK1.

All that said, my standard backwoods setup is MC + Silky Ultra Accel + Zero Tolerance 0562 folder.

The folder handles all the tasks I'd prefer a smaller blade for. The Silky is much more efficient for sectioning thicker wood. If I really wanted a 2nd fixed blade with the MC, I'd bring the DEK1.

For more casual camping where I won't need to chop/baton a whole lot and won't need the MC and leave that at home, I just bring the FK2 (the ZT0562 is ALWAYS in my pocket, as is a Swiss Army Knife whenever I'm in the boonies. I like some redundancy/backups, and while nowhere near as stout as a CPK, the ZT0562 is a decent design for a do-all backwoods folder).

Carrying 3 differently sized fixed blades is NOT something I'd do if any decent amount of hiking is involved.
Click to expand...
Jesus, Max, that is gonna take me at least three sit downs to read........😉
 
bluemax_1 said:
Well, darn... if you'd only said DEK1, Integral Dagger and K18, I'd at least know you were backpacking in the zombie (or other) apocalypse 😁

That said OP, the choices really come down to personal preference.

Over decades of backpacking, my preference for "ONE knife to do it all" has been a Large Camp Knife with a 9" - 10" blade. I can do most any knife/edged tool task with one, from field dressing game (maybe not optimal, especially for small game like squirrels or birds, but still doable), to bushcraft/woodwork including making feather sticks, kindling, chopping, batoning, building a shelter from natural materials etc.

If I had to choose ONLY 1 CPK (or just one edged tool) to take into the backwoods it would absolutely be the MC (which is why I call it my Goldilocks CPK, aka the "Cold, Dead Hands CPK"). I can do just about everything needed in the backwoods with an MC, and appreciate the greater chopping power and batoning ability vs smaller knives.

Again though, that is completely personal preference. Lots of folks prefer something smaller for their do-all knife, and prefer an FK2 or HDFK.

Since you've already mentioned that the MC (or HDMC) will be your choice for the big knife, it comes down to EDCx, DEK1, FK2 and HDFK.

*** I sold the HDMC as after examining it, as I realized I don't need something that overbuilt. The MC is everything it needs to be, and for backpacking where I'm carrying everything, the excess weight of the HDMC had no usage advantages over the MC. Similarly, the weight and added length of the BC or Behemother simply didn't have enough benefit/advantage to me for the extra weight (and the bigger size makes them even more biased for chopping and against finer tasks).

I also sold my HDFK. It's a GREAT knife and IMO, for a do-all backwoods knife, an ideal choice for people who prefer mid-sized knives (5" - 7" blades).

It works well for just about all backpacking/backwoods uses for folks who prefer mid-sized knives, and you're not going to break it unless you're trying to split a boulder, or something equally ridiculous. The reason I sold mine, is simply preference.

For me, the HDFK is like an MC light/short. As I already prefer the MC, the HDFK would go unused. The bigger MC has a distinct advantage not only in chopping power, but especially making it easier for batoning.

If you camp in colder, wet weather, batoning is potentially important for getting to dry wood. Smaller knives are harder to baton through thicker wood, which you may need to use, as the outside (and smaller wood) maybe too damp.

As for the smallest knife:

EDCx vs FK2 or DEK1 - all comes down to YOUR individual preferences. The EDCx (x = 1, 2 or 3) are great little knives. The handles are very well designed to fit a wide variety of hands, but personally, I prefer a bigger knife for a fixed blade, which is why I sold my EDC2.

On the other hand, there are MANY CPK'ers for whom the EDCx is their favorite CPK, and they literally EDC their EDC.

As mentioned, I prefer bigger knives for fixed blades, so the smallest fixed blade I'd carry is either the FK2 or DEK1.

The choice between the two really depends on use. Both have about 4" blades. The DEK1 is slimmer and has a thinner blade (making it easier to carry without noticing it).

Both will do just about anything you'd use a ~4" bladed knife for, but the blades and ESPECIALLY the handles are the defining difference and it all comes down to YOUR personal usage. The FK2's handle is the better design if it will be used more for woodworking/bushcraft. It's optimally designed to be more comfortable for longer for those types of tasks and can also handle any other 4" blade tasks.

If you intend to use a 4" knife for a lot of woodworking/bushcraft, i.e. things like making feathersticks/kindling, making notches in wood etc. where you'll be applying more pressure, then I'd pick the FK2 hands down.

If OTOH, the 4" blade will be relegated more towards lighter duty tasks like field dressing, cutting meat, rope etc. the DEK1 will do that with zero problems (it will do bushcraft just fine, but you'll have less hand fatigue with the FK2's handle).

For me, it's simple; if I'm headed into the backwoods and have the MC with me, it handles all the woodwork/bushcraft tasks, so if I'm also bringing a smaller blade for finer tasks (that stays on me at all times), I'd pick the DEK1.

If OTOH, I'm backpacking on established trails etc. in warmer weather where fire making isn't potentially a life/death proposition, I don't need the MC, and in this case, I'd pick the FK2 over the DEK1.

All that said, my standard backwoods setup is MC + Silky Ultra Accel + Zero Tolerance 0562 folder.

The folder handles all the tasks I'd prefer a smaller blade for. The Silky is much more efficient for sectioning thicker wood. If I really wanted a 2nd fixed blade with the MC, I'd bring the DEK1.

For more casual camping where I won't need to chop/baton a whole lot and won't need the MC and leave that at home, I just bring the FK2 (the ZT0562 is ALWAYS in my pocket, as is a Swiss Army Knife whenever I'm in the boonies. I like some redundancy/backups, and while nowhere near as stout as a CPK, the ZT0562 is a decent design for a do-all backwoods folder).

Carrying 3 differently sized fixed blades is NOT something I'd do if any decent amount of hiking is involved.
Click to expand...
Have you thought about starting a memoirs page/thread?o_O:p
 
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Holy heck y'all are carrying a lot of firepower. Last backpacking trip I went on I took my small inkosi as a luxery item because I like it, although a SAK would have been fine. Can't imagine wanting to do anything that a DEK or EDC couldn't handle.
 
from back when I was really interested in this topic because I was camping a lot- which is a long time ago now- the concept of three different cutting tools was something I was on board with.
Full size locking folder, multi tool, fixed blade. I always had a small hatchet, (which I still have) which was good for hammering tent pegs and making kindling, so I had a pretty small and light fixed blade.
I feel like maybe I'm past the years where I do multi day hikes with camping, although the idea of multi day bike packing is pretty appealing, so I'm thinking what I'd bring from the current and past CPK catalog would be either DEK1, FK/FK2 or EDC depending on the season, (lighter knife in the winter due to needing extra other stuff) in addition to my beloved Swiss Tool and my beat up Griptilian
 
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