How many tools do you take (be honest)

RescueRiley

RescueRiley

Joined
Mar 22, 2006
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How many cutting tools do you bring with you when headed out lets say for an over night, vs a day hike?

For me
I always have a laplander saw in my bag (which get used the least)
a stainlesd mora in my bag
a heavy work knife or hatchet strapped to my bag
a locking sak on my belt
and lately an additional carbon mora around my neck
I know this seems like overkill but that;s my gerneal setup whether out for a practice day or an overnight.

I can do away with the saw I think
and for a while I did away with out the 2nd mora limiting the tools I used to the
work knife , the sak, and the mora in the bag
but it;s all convenient to have a sharp blade to hand..

what about you
how many do you carry?
 
For an overnight, day hike, or a week-long trek I've only ever carried a small folding pocketknife. Opinel usually, or very small fixed blade.

Working and living for years in the forests, deserts, and mountains, I've rarely encountered anything in the wild that needed cutting. I'm not a hunter though...

Car camping at a campground, a very rare occurrence, I take along a small hatchet in case any kindling needs splitting. But I've always able to find enough small sticks.
 
I havent been out overnight for awhile, but Ive been haulin these all over the hills when Ive been out....

Belt Knife (BRKT Gunny)
Wetterlings axe (bushcraft), or Condor 14in El Salvidor (rarely)
Opinel saw
Spoon knife
swisstool spirit, or US knife, or Vic Farmer

I have the knife on my hip, crossdraw usually, and the folder in my pocket. My Axe rides in or on my pack. The spoon knife, saw, and sometimes the multitool ride in a wool stuff sack in my bag.

I have a Turley PSK too that has been in my tool bag, and just got a nice puuko that will probably go in as well....

Alot probably, but I like options when im out. Thats what I would take for any trip out to practice skills or do an overnight+.....If I was logging a ton of miles backpacking, I would lose some of the tools...
 
i went last week and wanted to have everything fit in a 900 cubic inch Kifaru Tailgunner. I only took a GEC pocket knife and Leatherman which never got used. I carried a tomahawk in my blanket roll.

I've never relied on so little before esp. with the temps dropping down to 35 at night but i wanted to see how much i didn't need and save useless weight with redundancy.

My friend who was with me took a hawk too and a small Swamp Rat. Next time i would leave my hawk at home and take one of my large fixed blades in its place.
 
Going hiking today with the Wife and Dog--Just 2 miles

Everytime I go hiking I bring a few knives to test and play with

The number of knives depends on the distance we plan to hike.

This time Carol has 4-- 4" blades to compare(Fehrman,Custom,Okuden,and Becker Neck Knife)

and I have 2(Becker Tac Tool and a SAK)--and the rest of the gear in a Maxpedition Jumbo

We whittle and chop depending on what we bring

Will post photos later when we get back

If it was a Backpacking trip--I would not carry that many.I usually bring more than I need but not of the same size.
Usually a folder,a 4-6" fixed blade and also a Chopper.
Carol usually has a Neck Knife and a 4" fixed blade.
 
It kinda depends on the hike and purpose of the hike. On a day hike, where I just want to relax and play with different toys, I'll be loaded with knives and different gear :D On a more serious multi-day hike (fast backpacking / 20 miles per day minimum), I may go with a Mora and a Leatherman Micra.
 
Gerber Yari(original PE) or CRKT ABC
Vic Forester
12" Ontario Machete(inside pack, as not to frighten yuppies)

This is most likely overkill. But, I try to be prepared.
Often i am with larger groups of less experienced people and feel somewhat responsible for them.
 
I carry a 4-5" Scandi fixed blade on my belt, folding saw in my pack, ESEE-5 in my pack, and a Vic Farmer in my pack.

When I am out I like practicing different skills, so alot of times I section up wood with my folding saw, I love splitting wood with the ESEE 5, as well as digging up roots with it, and I use the bow drill divot in the handle allot.

The Scandi fixed blade probably gets used the most for carving, taking out sapplings to make different things, etc...

The SAK usually only gets used if I need the awl for a project.

Again, I only use all these tools to practice different things, I would probably be fine with just 1 of the knives, but when time is an issue I use the right tool for the job to get it done quicker..
 
Leatherman Wave
BRKT Gunny or B-1
Fallniven A1
15" Wetterlings Ax

Too many, I know. To me, it's part of the fun to get outside and use them. Now, if I am backpacking on established trails, then I only bring my gunny and LM.
 
Day hike : always one large ,one small. Usually an Esee 4 on my belt ,and either a Junglas or BK9 on my pack. Overnighters about the same. Longer trips I take those and a thickster like the Esee5 , plus a back-up fixed like my Esee 6 ,BK7 or SRK. I always carry a multi-tool ( LM Kick) ,and a folder .
I have to admit, I've taken as many as 10 knives with me ,but end up only using 2 or 3. Someday , maybe I'll just take one :eek What would the "one" be ? Probably an Esee 4 or 6. :)
Bahco Laplander usually is with me , as well as a 13" Wetterlings or a 30" Estwing , depending on the trip.
The saw is a recent addition , and for it's weight , I find it indispensible. Great to bring if you can't/don't want to bring an axe. There's a heck of a lot of bushcraft and stuff you can do with a 6-7" fixed and a saw.
 
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Always on me for a day hike:
Pocket folder, neck knife, keychain SAK.

Overnight in warm weather I'll add a Leatherman skeletool, mostly for the pliers.

Overnight in cold weather I'll also add a Busse BWM or hatchet for processing wood.
 
I carry a BK2, FB Hunter, and ESKABAR. Thats the new setup, old setup was a BK2, ESEE 3, and ESKABAR. I usually do it pairs, Large small, ESEE 4/ESKABAR, BK2/ESEE3. Now that I have my new FB Hunter, its gonna be in the lineup somewhere. Its the most comfortable knife to use for extended periods. Pics to come. Moose
 
A chopper of some sort, a 4-5 inch blade, a saw, a Vic Farmer, and whatever the EDC for the day happens to be. Sometimes I will add, but I usually don't take away. :)
 
For dayhiking:
- 4-5" fixed blade on the belt
- W&SS Necker and Vic Hiker in the PSK pouch on the belt
- Vic Spirit on belt, or EDC Farmer in the pocket.
- Silky folding saw and backup Stainless Mora in my pack.
- And since we're talking cutting tools, I do have a Leatherman Micra on a keychain in my pocket along with a whistle, LED light, etc. I carry it pretty much for the scissors.


If I were overnighting/camping and I knew I'd be processing firewood, I'd add my 14" Fiskars hatchet. If I need a machete, I'd bring one (14" or 18" Condor carbon).

I might drop the Vic Spirit for dayhikes and replace the Vic hiker in the PSK pouch with a Farmer or OHT. Then I'd just take the Spirit when overnighting/camping.
 
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I generally take 3-4.

A Victorinox Outrider always goes. Then I take a combo of:

20" HI CAK and R-10

or

19" GB hunter's axe and Jarvenpaa puukko

or

Vechawk and Busse Bushwhacker.

When my Busse CABS comes in, (the current offering), it'll probably replace the R-10 and puukko in their respective combos, and be added to the Vec/BWM combo.


I always carry the same, whether for a dayhike or weekender. On a week or more sojurn, I'll add a cruiser axe like the GB Scandinavian to the outfit.
 
Belt knife
leatherman wave,
neck knife
farmer SAK in survival pouch on my belt. In that little survial pouch I carry a small psk fixed blade also.
Folding hand saw,
Big knife or my axe. Depending on where I am at and what I am doing.
 
Opinel 12 and folding saw in pack (saw varies for time of year/enviroment)
Anywhere from 3''-5'' fixed blade on belt
GEC pioneer in pocket
Axe on pack (either Plumb or GB)

I definately see this as overkill, but I like to cut stuff.
 
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