Favorite Tool System For Backpacking?

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Dishonor39

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Jan 5, 2011
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I've recently been getting back into backpacking after taking a number of years off from the activity so I've been having to replace a lot of gear I bought when I was younger with a smaller budget and less knowledge than I have now. I was wanting to hear some of your opinions on the subject of tools when it comes to woodcrafting/firemaking/defensive/survival blades. I've been looking at the ESEE-4 CP and the Junglas mostly. The ESEE-4 CP would be my general camp knife with some defensive abilitys (not sure what sort of defensive abilities I would have against curious 4 legged animals, but I would feel pretty good defending against the 2 legged kind) and the Junglas would be my woods blade. Batoning, chopping, clearing a path, etc. I have some blades that I was thinking about using, but I have heard nothing but great things about ESEE so have opted to go with them instead of the Fox USMC Predator, Gerber Sport Axe, and the Emerson A-100 I was previously going to bring with me into the backcountry. I will also be bringing an UST (Ultimate Survival Technologies) Sabersaw with me, regardless of the blade selection. I have used it a number of times and it does what I need it to in a manner I find very acceptable. When broken down into weight, the Fox, Gerber, and Emerson weigh about the same as the ESEE-4 CP and the Junglas would weigh. Trying to keep the total package down to around 40-45ozs as far as tools are concerned. Thanks in advance for your wisdom and assistance in this matter.

P.S. As far as the needs of my tools, I just expect them to allow me to fell trees, split logs, start fires, and make shelters if needed. Most activities will be taking place in Big Sur or Yosemite.
 
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When backpacking, I carry only my Izula. Most of the time you can find dead wood on the ground near your campsite so I really only use it for small tasks. As for animals, you typically hang your food in a bear bag so that they arn't attracted to your smell. I don't usually bring my larger blades. Then again, I'm a minimalist when backpacking and this is my personal philosophy. :)
 
ESEE 6, Victorinox Ruck sack, Bacho lapplander folding saw..
Get;s it done everytime whether back packing, Hunting or survivng
if I was to minimize the kit
It would be junglass and a victorinox rucksack.
 
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Yea, I too hang my food or anything that might be mistaken as food, but I'd still feel a little better having a knife at my side just in case an animal perceived me to be that food more easily acquired than that in the tree. I would like to think I would know what to do in that situation, having read some of the recommended ways to deal with those situations, not trying to get into animal attack philosophy, but if I have no other option but to fight or die I'd sure hope I'd give it all I could. I respect the minimalist backpacker but it is not for me personally. Couldn't imagine spending 7 days in the backcountry with nothing but a 3 inch blade. Again, I'm sure it's done all the time, just not for me. Thanks for the input.
 
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I think some kind of saw is a must for backpacking. A saw and a mid sized knife can be a fantastic fire and shelter making combination. It's probably the best and lightest way to "do it all." Not to mention that sawing then batoning your firewood is extremely safe compared to the alternatives.

Or you can get a nice big chopping tool and power your way through the woods. However, if you want a big chopping tool, skip the Junglas. It's cool, no doubt, but it isn't the right tool for chopping. I don't really think large knives are appropriate woods tools; they try to be too versatile and end up sucking at just about everything (with the exception of batoning) when compared to appropriate counterparts. Specialized tools are better. A small knife for fine work, and a big tool for chopping and heavy work.

So, if you want something big, get a machete or an axe for chopping. I'm personally partial to a good axe at about the 20" length while backpacking. It will weigh about the same as a big knife like a Junglas, but will out chop it every time simply because of the weight distribution being at the top of your swing and at the point of contact rather than spread evenly through the blade. You can't argue with physics. Some guys who prefer a machete will hopefully give their input as well.

I carry a small fixed blade (currently either a Mora Clipper or a simple neck knife) as my primary blade, a 19" axe for fire and shelter making (a Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe), and a Saw for straight cutting smaller pieces of wood that I don't feel like chopping (currently a Bahco Laplander Saw). I can do everything with these three tools. The axe is the only one that weighs anything, but I carry it instead of a tent and a stove/fuel (because the axe can make both of those), so I actually end up saving weight.
 
When I go backpacking I carry my ESEE 3 Mil, my Leatherman Wave, and a folding saw, bacho lapplander. This trio covers ALL of my cutting and tool tasks, repairs opening cans etc, that I have ever run into while backpacking, and is pretty light weight when all is said and done. Sometimes I will add a machete, small axe, and or a bigger saw, if I think I will need to do some trail clearing or lots of fire wood processing. But honestly the only one I ever really use is my 3 mil and that gets used most for cooking, eating and other mundane chores like that. But I have used it enough that I feel comfortable being able to do most things with it if I get into a survival situation. For protection I always have the 3 on me plus I usually carry bear spray with me when I go out so that will work pretty well for defending myself against most threats, 2 or 4 legged, plus a good stout walking staff makes for a formidable weapon against most animals and it doesn't raise any questions while out hiking.

Personally I don't really feel the need to carry a big knife or axe with me while backpacking. In a survival situation, as in I got lost, I would already have my shelter with me, my tent, I would have my warmth with me, my sleeping bag and extra layers, and for cooking I would have my stove. For firewood I usually just find stuff laying on the ground or dead trees that I can push over to burn.

As far as a SHTF scenario, where I lose my pack with all of my stuff in it to the river during a crossing or it falls off of a cliff or something, my big knife or other tools wont do me any good as I won't be carrying them on my person they will be in/on my pack so they will get lost as well. This is the primary reason why most of my training and practicing revolves around my 3 or other small knife + a firesteel, so that if I lose everything I still have that knife and I will be okay.

So sorry for the long post but thats what I carry I hope it was helpful.
 
Wanderlust said:
As far as a SHTF scenario, where I lose my pack with all of my stuff in it to the river during a crossing or it falls off of a cliff or something, my big knife or other tools wont do me any good as I won't be carrying them on my person they will be in/on my pack so they will get lost as well. This is the primary reason why most of my training and practicing revolves around my 3 or other small knife + a firesteel, so that if I lose everything I still have that knife and I will be okay.
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This is a good way of thinking! :thumbup:

People always focus on their big survival kits and gear... but lets be honest, your backpack and the items in it (often times "survival kit" included!) is your real survival kit. And when you have your backpack with you, you are just camping, not surviving, so what's the point?

But when you have to rely on the items on your person? That is true survival. Knowing how to survive a night or two with just the stuff on your belt or in your pockets is important.
 
For most of the year, I backpack with a folding Silky saw, Fallkniven F1, and a pair of needle nose pliers. I can accomplish all my camp tasks and keep my load light with those three. During the colder months, I was adding a small camp axe to split firewood with. Recently though, I've replaced the axe for an ESEE-6. I was able to substantially lighten my winter load, but can still easily split all the firewood I need batoning with the 6.
 
A 12" Ontario or Condor machete, a ESEE3 and a pocket knife are all I really needed. Most of the time it's just the pocket knife. And the ESEE 3 could be replaced in most cases by the $10 Mora Triflex Craftsman I have.

The Junglas is extreme overkill and is basically the $20 12" Ontario machete perfected.

I'd check out Condor for a large blade. Check the thicknesses on each model, many aren't "machetes" in the traditional thin and flexable vein but instead heavy duty choppers.
 
My system consists of a folding saw (Kershaw "Bahco Laplander"-type), a fixed blade with a 4-5 inch blade (right now it's a Swamp Rat RMD), a multitool (Victorinox Swisstool) and a folder (Benchmade Griptillian).

I use this system for fire and shelter making.

I also carry a fire steel or two.

I've recently purchased a Wetterlings "Bushcrafter" axe, which I'll take out from time to time.

But the folding saw/medium fixed blade combo does a lot when it comes to fire and shelter making and is very light and easy to take on any backpacking trip.
 
Seems like the common theme is a Bahco Laplander, good multitool and solid 4-8" bush blade. For me it's commonly:

Bahco Laplander Saw
Leatherman Wave
Victorinox Farmer
Junglas with Izula companion
 
ESEE-3, SAK, and in areas where I won't be in alpine territory, a Wetterlings 19".

No need to carry any more than that.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions, I am starting to lean more towards the ESEE-6P and the ESEE-4P CP, for some reason I really like the idea of the 4 for a general camp knife. Im not sure why Im hung up on the CP but sometimes you just get an idea in your head and cant get it out. I dont have much experience with folding saws - my saw experience thus far has been with the Gerber Gator Saw 1 (its more like the Trailblazer Sawvivor, but heavier) and the UST Sabersaw - both work well but the Sabersaw is a mere 6 ozs where as the Gerber weighs in at around 17 ozs. I appreciate the one handed operation of the folding saws and if I were to get one to replace the Sabersaw that would be my primary reason. I try to avoid carrying large multi-tools like the Wave because for me its a lot of excess weight for items I wont use. All the various screw drivers, bottle openers, and rulers just dont seem to have a place in my kit. I carry a smaller Leatherman Squirt PS4 for the pliers, wire cutters, scissors, and small blade for precision cuts. The reason I was leaning towards the Junglas was just in case my saw broke, good to have a back up way to fell trees. Does anyone have any chopping experience with the ESEE-6? I know it wouldnt be as ideal as say a machete, axe, or the Junglas - but in a contingency situation has it worked well or poorly? The reason I'm leaning away from the machetes such as the ESEE Lite or the Ontario / Condor are strictly due to wanting more to baton with it, and less to chop with it. Correct me if I am wrong, but I would assume that those 3 above listed machetes would not baton as well as the Junglas. Thanks again for the shared wisdom and assistance.

P.S. Part of the reason I am trying so hard to justify the Junglas is because it just looks so damn sweet! It also weighs exactly the same (21.4 oz axe vs. 22 oz Junglas) as the Gerber Sport Axe I was previously going to bring.
 
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Every time I hit the woods (backpacking/hiking, camping, mountain biking, etc.), I have an izula, esee 4, and folding saw(not biking). And the 4 always sees the most use - from cooking, batonning, hacking, cleaning the dirt from my fingernails.. It's a great all around woods knife
 
The Ontario 12" Cutlass machete is 1/8" thick. It's that thick for it's entire height, until the last 1".
The thing will baton and chop very well. It's 1095, just like the Junglas, and thicker towards the edge. The Junglas has a thicker spine, but the grind starts pretty quick, so it's thinner. The Ontario is longer, so you have more power for chopping, and can baton through bigger material.
The Ontario handle does kinda suck, and you'll have to get a sheath, but it's $20.
Modify or replace the handle with micarta slabs, and you've got an excellent wood chopper, batoner, and self defense tool.
PS I own the Junglas too, it is a cool tool, I love the handle. In a backpacking situation, with wood to process, I'd take the Ontario.
 
Just curious. Do you live somewhere, where carrying a firearm against 4 legged critters is out of the question?
 
How many trees are you guys cutting down when out in the woods? For cutting things down, saws rule. Axes just wear me out. I understand making kindling, but why are you guys wasting all your calories splitting firewood? Break it, burn it in half, make a star fire, etc. Save your calories for something more important.
 
Here's my 2 cents on saws. IMO the Gerber saws are garbage. If you ever get to use a good one, you'll see why a "chopper" isn't necessary at all to take down trees or cut them to length. There's a reason arborists, landscapers, tree removal professionals etc. prefer saws over axes. They really are the best tool for the job. Even when I packed an axe, I didn't use it take down trees or cut pieces to length. That's what a good saw is for. To be honest though, I've rarely had to cut down a dead tree to get firewood. I would say 98% of the time, I'm able to forage dead wood that is lying around. As long as it's not in contact with the forest floor, I'll use it. If you're interested in folding pack saws there are really good choices available now. I can't say enough about the Silky brand. Mine will absolutely rip through wood. Silky saws are used by professionals all over the world. The Bahco Laplander is another favored by many backpackers though I don't have any personal experience with it. The Corona folding saw found at Lowe's is also a good saw that I have used. It works really well, but I prefer my Silky saw. Any of them will last as long as you need them to.

As far as batoning firewood goes, if you end up with the ESEE 6, I'm sure you'll find it more than adequate for this task. Same thickness as the Junglas, not nearly as heavy, easier to pack, and in many ways more useful than a larger blade. These are all just my opinions and your mileage may vary.
 
I carry my ESEE 4 & SAK Rucksack & LM Wave 80% of the time

my alternate is an Izula ,BRK&T Fox River & LM Wave & ESEE Lite Machete
 
paperairplane said:
For cutting things down, saws rule. Axes just wear me out.
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I hear this a lot and I hear axes are more effecient a lot. I think how the tools are used can determine which is more efficient and that depends on the user and what the user wants to do. I find that saws are best on horizontal branches and axes better on vertical branches. Saws like the folding pruners tend to bind on vertical pieces IME. I use my hawk mainly for limbing wich it does considerably faster than a saw. So for my use, axes are better. Axes are also a lot more versatile and durable. I can do everything with my hawk if I need to. I can't say that about a saw.

My load out for hiking:
Folding knife (SAK Farmer or Spidy Military)
Cold steel trail hawk and/or a fixed blade of 3-4inches long depending on what I'm doing. Sometimes I'll take one or the other and sometimes both.

I do want to play around with machetes so the hawk might get switched out if they work for me.
 
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