How much knife for hiking

Got a Buck 319 today and this enlightened me - any knife for short hikes, but a knife with a punch for multi-day hikes when the expanded waistline goes down.
 
Brought too much knife for hiking/camping. Wore a Cruwear PM2 both days, S30V Wave on belt both days, a Buck 119 first day, and Benchmade 200, 3V Puukko second day. Let an Ontario SP-1 as a camp knife and that saw the most use by friends maintaining fire. SAK Camper saw use for pipe-clearing, as an orange slicer, but in general, they made fires using modern techniques, and did not give a lot of credence to me wanting to try it old school, that's fine, ya know. They brought a battery pack thing, Nintendo Switch and a computer monitor so they could play Super Smash Bros in the middle of the woods, if that tells ya how outdoorsy they are haha, but they knew more than me, just from experience living in more wooded areas. For example, friend noticed Baby Diamondback in our path, I saw it, but I just thought "Now they're leaving shoelaces?!"

I was overprepared as a whole, just should have tried more things, peeling bark from trees and trying to shoot sparks on 'em, cutting feathersticks...

Definitely going to go to my local nature area with my Puukko, Cruwear PM2 and SAK and just start honing these skills this week. I can't afford to not be cutting more stuff, man, for real. Batoning or cutting through standing limbs is harder than I thought. Homie and I both tried cutting this limb, half-wrist size, had a ton of good kindling on it, couldn't do it with the SP-1 or Puukko. By couldn't do it, I mean in a minute or less, do it quickly.
 
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How much knife for hiking is an interesting question. My answer is, enough knife for the perceived tasks at hand. Mine is usually cutting up a baguette and cheese, maybe a little salami, for lunch. Any folder will do but on my day hikes in the high desert of Idaho where I live, is usually what I carry every day anyway, a little SAK and a larger folder like a Benchmade Mini-Presidio or Bugout. Back in the 70's, a Buck 110 seemed to be a do it all when I lived in Northern California. Later, the 501 Squire seemed to fit the bill (and always a small SAK). I don't bushcraft aside from being able to make a fire and whittle the occasional stick...
 
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311climber said:
imagine being in the bush talking to bush people, so you prefer a 15 or 30 degree inclusive angle? comments about weekend warriors and you actually bring physical degrees into the conversation, too funny. im sure the people who live like you fantasize, would get a kick out of your barbershop talk. i had typed a few questions to your confusing babble, but realized im just going to get a hiking warrior wannabe response. most people in the bush, keep an angle they need for the job at hand, im sure those who live in the wild dont write up doctrines based on their sharpening discoveries. thats why we are more advanced than they are. if you want bush answers maybe go live with the people who do it best and keep from being mad that most of us on the internet, dont live like we have dirt floors.
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I literally can not follow what point you are trying to make. Are you thinking that in the wilds of the US national forest, I am (a) talking to people about knives and (b) running into pre-contact (as in before Columbus arrived with arabic numbers) civilizations?

If that's what you're saying then your assumptions are leading you to false conclusions. If that's not what you're saying, you're not very good at saying things.
 
vinprom said:
Out of boredom, I've scrolled the posts to see well-worn knives taken for hiking. From the fixed blades, only the Buck 119 in post #219 show marks of use. The traditional slip joints in posts #223 and #229 look used as well, but they are pictured right next to seemingly new fixed blades. Actual knives taken during last hike are lost? Or, the knives were never used? Seemingly the fixed blades with leather sheaths were wrapped in a towel and carried in the backpack all the time? Enigma.
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I put my knife to my backpack (not wrapped though) because I rarely use my knife while walking. When I set camp I usually use my knife usually on one spot. Might not even use my knife at all but my saw for cutting sticks for the twig stove. Le shock!
 
A.L. said:
I put my knife to my backpack (not wrapped though) because I rarely use my knife while walking. When I set camp I usually use my knife usually on one spot. Might not even use my knife at all but my saw for cutting sticks for the twig stove. Le shock!
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Oh, I wish I didn't write that post - few people slapped my hands to be careful what I am typing figuratively speaking, and rightly, I admit. Anyway, apparently for most people a folder is enough for hiking, and anything more is "just because" or when hiking is combined with camping. Also, even for camping a fixed blade is not an absolute necessity, but for fun activities, or just in case? That is my impression. I can be wrong, but seemingly you are hiking/camping just with a fixed blade, if so - did you miss a small folder?
 
vinprom said:
Oh, I wish I didn't write that post - few people slapped my hands to be careful what I am typing figuratively speaking, and rightly, I admit. Anyway, apparently for most people a folder is enough for hiking, and anything more is "just because" or when hiking is combined with camping. Also, even for camping a fixed blade is not an absolute necessity, but for fun activities, or just in case? That is my impression. I can be wrong, but seemingly you are hiking/camping just with a fixed blade, if so - did you miss a small folder?
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Don't get me wrong - I would not go hiking without a knife! For daywalk I'm sure something like Swiss Army Knife is enough for me. Little bit of snack operations or little tasks is most what I do.
When I go for overnighters I definitely feel a lot more comfortable with fixed blade just in case. It never hurts.
I didn't want to "slap your hands" really, I just pointed that my (fixed blade) knife usually rides in my backpack. I just really don't need my knives until I set camp or stop for a break. I put my backpack down and take the knife out of the side pocket. :)
 
Any new additions to talk about or better yet…..see? Maybe grab my MAM or Swiza for a quick outing, walking a flea market or antique shop….my idea of a hike…more of walkabout.
 
For a hike, I’ll wear a neck knife.
As it turns out for us, the more civilized the camping, the more and bigger knives will get used. I think because of more elaborate meals and playing with fire.
The more uncivilized the camping, the less knives get used, if at all.
 
campandtravel said:
Also, doesn't it force you to use 20 degrees? That's a good angle but sometimes I want more and sometimes I want less depending on the blade/use. If it was for camping it wouldn't work because I'd have my game knife at 15 degrees and my "kitchen" knife at 25 or even 30.
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im making fun of this post you made. you literally said a 20 degree angle on everything "wouldn't work" because god forbid you would need 25 degrees vs 20 degrees in the field. pretty sure i can make a splint or do some other arduous tasks with 20 degrees or with 40 degrees. if you cant, you shouldnt even be in the field.
 
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