I need help selecting a fixed blade for ultra-light camping.

S

statesevens

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Mar 7, 2016
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I'm looking to pick up a fixed blade knife that will be my primary cutter on ~1 week long camping trips. I'll be using it for meal prep, bushcraft duties, self defense (if needed), etc. Hell I might even use it to help build a shelter.

I've narrowed my choices down to 3. Possibly 4. What are your thoughts? Which one would you go with if you were about to trek into the woods for several days? Oh, and don't mind the prices. Those are Canadian dollars you see there. I want a robust, quality blade I can depend on.

Cold Steel Survival/Rescue
http://www.warriorsandwonders.com/Cold_Steel/Cold_Steel_38CK_SRK?cPath=243

Mora 003
http://www.warriorsandwonders.com/Online_Only/Mora

Mora Bushcraft
http://www.warriorsandwonders.com/Online_Only/Mora_10791_Buscraft_Black_Online_Only?cPath=291

Becker BK22
http://www.warriorsandwonders.com/Ka-Bar_Knives/Ka-Bar_BK22_Becker_Companion_w_Polyester_Sheath

Also, if you have other suggestions, I'm all for that!
 
No contest. For your uses, Mora Bushcraft. I have a small collection of fixed blade camping knives. All of them are more expensive than the Bushcraft. Yes, the Bushcraft is the one with me most of the time.

The weight to performance ratio of the Bushcraft can't be beat, IMO.

(BTW, stay away from the Mora 003. When your hands are wet, that handle is dangerous.)

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
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The Buck Selkirk will serve you well.. Good sheath as well.

BU-863BRS.jpg
 
I don't have any experience with any of them but from your choices I would choose the Mora. Looks like a solid little blade. Love that weight as well.
 
Recently used my Mora Heavy-Duty Companion (carbon) on a short camping trip. Great knife, more robust grind angle, and all but invisible in terms of weight. Subsequently, I got an orange Bushcraft (stainless); same thickness at the spine, robust Scandi grind, etc. No, I haven't compared them head-to-head; the gripping surfaces are different (as are the sheaths, but those not so much to notice).

If I knew I'd be in wet conditions, I'd probably opt for the Bushcraft in stainless.

If you could accept a bit more weight (and cost), you might consider the new Garberg, which has a stronger full-tang arrangement.
 
Ultra-light camping? What do you mean by that?

Most people when they do ultra-light backpacking, actually say they have little need for a knife beyond opening food packages, etc. But then again, most "ultra light" backpackers have base weights (pack, all main gear other than food/water) under 10-20lbs ("technically" most people say that lightweight means below 20, and ultralight is below 10). And if you're trying to make sure all of your gear weighs 10-20lbs or less (including clothing, shelter, insulation, etc), its hard to "justify" a really heavy knife like the BK22 (which is ~1lb by itself).

I'm still new to backpacking, and have tried to stay lightweight in most things, but not go crazy with cutting down toothbrushes/etc.

For my trips so far, I've taken a Mora twice, and an Opinel once. Both have worked fine, and both are lightweight and capable of plenty of work if you are willing to work within their limitations. Its what I'd plan to take again on "most" trips in the future.

If you're doing more primitive camping, I might want something more robust than a Mora. But a BK2/22 would be more than I'd personally want to carry for a week of walking. I'd instead look at something like the BK16. Its fairly lightweight, but plenty strong for pretty much any normal use (just don't try to cut up your buick with it like you might try with a BK2).

Good luck finding something that works for you :).
 
Mora companion. Buy two; still cheaper than anything else, and twice lighter than anything else even as pair. :D
 
statesevens said:
I'm looking to pick up a fixed blade knife that will be my primary cutter on ~1 week long camping trips. I'll be using it for meal prep, bushcraft duties, self defense (if needed), etc. Hell I might even use it to help build a shelter.

I've narrowed my choices down to 3. Possibly 4. What are your thoughts? Which one would you go with if you were about to trek into the woods for several days? Oh, and don't mind the prices. Those are Canadian dollars you see there. I want a robust, quality blade I can depend on.

Cold Steel Survival/Rescue
http://www.warriorsandwonders.com/Cold_Steel/Cold_Steel_38CK_SRK?cPath=243

Mora 003
http://www.warriorsandwonders.com/Online_Only/Mora

Mora Bushcraft
http://www.warriorsandwonders.com/Online_Only/Mora_10791_Buscraft_Black_Online_Only?cPath=291

Becker BK22
http://www.warriorsandwonders.com/Ka-Bar_Knives/Ka-Bar_BK22_Becker_Companion_w_Polyester_Sheath

Also, if you have other suggestions, I'm all for that!
Click to expand...


For me, none of the above.

I rely on tent, stove, clothing and sleep systems to stay dry and warm on the trail. 99.9% of my camping is done on public lands that forbid the harvesting of living plants and trees and that discourage the use of fires. I still make fires when in the low lands where wood is plentiful and that's the sort of trip I'm on, but generally, when I'm out for more than a few days, I'm looking to cover ground and rack up miles and ounces are the enemy.

As for gear you can "rely on", IME, learning more about stoves, tarps and clothing systems is more important than knives.

This is my general carry for backpacking. For ultra light trips, I ditch the Opinel.
Outdoor Carry by Pinnah, on Flickr


On trips where I may make a fire, I swap the Opinel out for a Mora Companion and if you're looking for a fixed blade for ultra-light camping, I wouldn't go beyond that in weight.

Mora Companion by Pinnah, on Flickr

Now... if making fires and shelters and doing survivalish practice/role-play is your cup of tea, you may want something bigger. I'd recommend something with at least a 5" blade for batoning (maybe bigger) and a folding saw like this:
Winter fire tools by Pinnah, on Flickr

But this isn't what I would consider ultra-light.
 
Get an old hickory 7" butcher for 14$ or less and make a sheath for it, they're full tang and cost a bit less than a mora plus they have a 90o spine for striking a ferry rod. Ontario's Steel is awesome, and with their size you could turn it Into whatever blade shape you want.
 
I love fixed blades always have one on me, I have the guardian 3 with kidex it is light and made of m360 steel. I have always wondered about ultra light backpacking, givin the weight if I wanted to drop weight I would go with my benchmade 940-1 and (deep breath) skip the fixed blade (that was harder than I thought!) I would not go any where with less than I normally carry, but that is me!
 
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