How much knife for hiking

It matters a lot when you make asinine statements like "This forum isn't for serious discussion. It's a bunch of hobbyists sitting around the barber shop."

Again, there are hundreds of people on this site that use their tools as part of their profession or lifestyle daily - nothing "secret" about it. And there is plenty of serious discussion about it.
Please consider reading my comment before responding. You've said the same thing again. Look at your quote. You're talking about how people use their tools as part of their profession, etc. But that's not what my comment was about. I don't care about people's lives, I was only talking about the low level of conversation on this board. Like what you keep posting. And what I keep responding to. I'll use the Ignore feature so I don't get drawn into replying to you again.
 
I was only talking about the low level of conversation on this board. Like what you keep posting. And what I keep responding to. I'll use the Ignore feature so I don't get drawn into replying to you again.

Great, and you continue to insult the entire forum with statements like yours. "Low level conversation"???? Maybe you just have a hard time understanding what intelligent people post.
 
Obviously, yes. 4 oz would be "very heavy." For field use that is. For a hike, who cares?

Yep. When I do ranch work, I have a big multi-tool, maybe a sledge hammer, spool wire, pliers, pockets full of etc. But like you said, you're only carrying it from the pickup to the fenceline, and then if you have to go back to the pickup you're not carrying anything and really that walk is a break not a chore. Then at the end of the day you carry the shit back to the pickup - once. Not even close to the same as what I'm talking about.

If that's true then more power too you (and your poor knees!) but I have to call it into question. An above-average hiker is making 2mph. I do more than that but I'm experienced. So let's say you're doing 2mph. That would be 4-5 hours of walking if you walk 8-10 miles per day. That means that you've only got 3-4 hours for work (assuming an 8 hour day).

If you're really working for someone who lets you work 3-4 hours per day, all I can say is... are they hiring?
I was gonna say "4oz is really heavy?"
Then thought "Wait, is this campandtravel". Guessed it! Mr. "in the field GET ME"
 
With all this bushcraft stuff on YouTube promoting larger fixed blades, how many people head out into the woods with a folding knife? I’m expecting a Buck 112 slim to try out soon on some small hikes. Can’t image needing a 6” fixed blade unless bushcraft is really your thing.
OK, actually the OP is asking others opinion about the necessity of a big fixed blade for small hikes. And I have a answer for that - go for it unless you also carry a big DSLR camera and a drone with another camera.
 
If that's true then more power too you (and your poor knees!) but I have to call it into question. An above-average hiker is making 2mph. I do more than that but I'm experienced. So let's say you're doing 2mph. That would be 4-5 hours of walking if you walk 8-10 miles per day. That means that you've only got 3-4 hours for work (assuming an 8 hour day).

If you're really working for someone who lets you work 3-4 hours per day, all I can say is... are they hiring?
If you have a job that requires you to move around rather than sitting on your butt or standing all day in one position, 8-10 miles of steps a day would be considered working, no? How would your employer expect you to get from spot to spot? Levitation?
 
If you have a job that requires you to move around rather than sitting on your butt or standing all day in one position, 8-10 miles of steps a day would be considered working, no? How would your employer expect you to get from spot to spot? Levitation?
This guy, he walks 20 miles a day. 8-10, don't make him laugh. The liquid in toothpaste is too heavy, so he carries baking soda. I'm serious, he says this.
 
Hashishiin Hashishiin craytab craytab

Careful, you guys are going to added to his "ignore" list too. :p

Don't feed the trolls, indeed.
Ha, yeah, you are right, better to ignore this type of nonsense rather than feed into it, just crazy to see someone that antagonistic and mean for absolutely no discernable reason, I don't get it. He could carry an Opinel no. 2 and camp in a loincloth for all I care as long as he wasn't so rude. But yeah, I agree
 
Ha, yeah, you are right, better to ignore this type of nonsense rather than feed into it, just crazy to see someone that antagonistic and mean for absolutely no discernable reason, I don't get it. He could carry an Opinel no. 2 and camp in a loincloth for all I care as long as he wasn't so rude. But yeah, I agree
An opinel number 2 is too heavy, you have to cut the handle off.
 
I prefer training squirrels and raccoons to carry my gear.
Which coon panniers you runnin? 😊
I recall reading a magazine article many years ago about pack goats... It's been on my list since.
I have a friend who regularly packs with his goats. And we did a llama trip last year. It's a nice way to travel. Either option is way easier than horses.

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Obviously, yes. 4 oz would be "very heavy." For field use that is. For a hike, who cares?

Yep. When I do ranch work, I have a big multi-tool, maybe a sledge hammer, spool wire, pliers, pockets full of etc. But like you said, you're only carrying it from the pickup to the fenceline, and then if you have to go back to the pickup you're not carrying anything and really that walk is a break not a chore. Then at the end of the day you carry the shit back to the pickup - once. Not even close to the same as what I'm talking about.

If that's true then more power too you (and your poor knees!) but I have to call it into question. An above-average hiker is making 2mph. I do more than that but I'm experienced. So let's say you're doing 2mph. That would be 4-5 hours of walking if you walk 8-10 miles per day. That means that you've only got 3-4 hours for work (assuming an 8 hour day).

If you're really working for someone who lets you work 3-4 hours per day, all I can say is... are they hiring?
I don’t just walk around, they don’t pay me to hike. Lol I carry those tools to do maintenance and repair in the plant yard and some take several minutes to an hour. When you add all of the walking and climbing around up and down stairs and cat walks you know you’ve accomplished something at the end of the day.
Also I don’t know about the ranch you worked on but on ours we can’t just drive the pickup along the fence line. We have trails cut to drive the pickup through, other than that it’s atv or horse back to get around. The terrain and deep sand would put a stop to that. It’s usually about a half mile there and back. I will admit that I now use an atv to do fence work but years ago and younger we didn’t have atvs.
 
This thread makes me willing to see an Ionesco play whenever an opportunity arises.
 
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Today I exited my home and went “in the field.” I brought this with me in case I had to pry anything. Turns out the only thing I had to pry, was my butt off the front stoop, after I flicked my cigarette into the ashtray. Then I opened my door and went inside. Good times.
Can’t wait to cut something worth having a good conversation about here on the “lowest forum” of the internet.
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Whatever pocket knives are in my pocket, (usually a stockman and a 4 blade Scout/Camp/"Demo" knife or a SAK) and maybe a Buck 110 or 2 blade slipjoint folding hunter on my belt.
Sometimes (but not always) when hunting I'd put a 4~5 inch fixed blade on my belt in place of the 110. Largest knife I ever took afield is a Western L66.
Most of the "bushcrafters" on you tube believe brute force is the way. I learned long ago that knowledge and finesse beats brute force 100% of the time, and is easier on you and your tools.
A cable saw in your pocket or a folding saw in the backpack makes life a lot easier if for some reason you have to fell saplings or drop a branch (either of which is pretty much a no-no in most state and Federal lands/forests/parks now days) and add less weight to your gear than a large "chopper" knife.
You can fell a sapling or drop a branch with a folding knife. Vinnie of 'Vinnie's Day Off' on You Tube made a shelter using a two blade pen knife (master blade under 3 inches) felling saplings, cutting grass for thatch, cutting the cord/twine, etc.
"Knowledge and Finesse beats brute strength" is proven in all his videos. He used an Opinel N°9 to build a shelter and other survival items (including a bow and some arrows), in another of his videos.
 
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