Is there a Gear-a-holics support group?

jdk1 said:
I kept a Laser Strike with the great Molle backer/pouch set-up. It's my Apocalypse rig:D The 6 was great, but too large and too small at the same time for me. The 4 went after I realized my $10 Hultafors GK at 1/8" cut very well, but could also be hammered through trees:) The Junglas went after I discovered I really preferred khukuri. The 5 just went, as awesome as it was. My work truck/duty knife is a DPX HEST in Sleipner steel. It will handle all my unexpected emergency needs (including opening bottles:D).

I'm likely now to use a SAK or Swede of some sort in the woods and still be over prepared! But, I fault no one for using more stout blades. I also like the CS Gurkha khuk. I'll never need that much blade, but love it! Truth be told, if I carried a Farmer, Mora, and a Condor Eco Survivor machete, I'd never want for other blades.

The Becker khuk is a want for sure, just cuz...:)
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Sometimes I don't really take much.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRMAIxf-zyc
But it is boiling down to a hatchet and Mora with a SAK or multi. I've ran with this several times up there. It was light and handy. It sucks to have a pack and axe butt sticking up from it snagging brush and yanking you backward etc. Light and simple is good.....when I am sensible.
 
Sufler said:
Why compare yourself to the "Northern Indians"? What are you trying to accomplish by skillfully using an axe? Are you attempting to simulate the modern Indians way of life? Or, are you finding satisfaction in reigniting woods skills that the Indians likely have already lost?
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Good questions. I suppose I use the northern Indians as a reality check. I like to keep it real, and an axe is only used for splitting up there. And yes the irony is that most Canadian northern native kids have Sony X boxes and satellite TV. I don't sweat this stuff really, there is always a rational middle ground were most of us are comfortable. :)
 
I think we compare ourselves to indians/frontiersmen/etc. to give us a skill level to shoot for. Ultimately, we just play in the woods. The skills are good to know, but often academic. As many point out, if you have the proper clothing and basic gear, and are a little careful, you're unlikely to need to make friction fire or carve a spoon. I do consider basic fire making skills and knowledge of things like debris shelters important for outdoorsmen. Much beyond that is probably just for fun. Most folks don't go too far off the beaten path, so if they take a wrong turn, they may spend a night out. It'll suck, but is probably survivable. A Bic lighter and the wood laying around will likely keep you warm enough and probably get you some attention as well. But, "bushcraft" beats setting at a computer, which is what I'm doing right now...:(
 
Some play in the woods, others live it..either way, all that matters is that you are doing what you love.
 
Over the last dozen years of war, soldiers came up with another term for their never ending list of slang/lingo - GEARDO (rhymes with weirdo). It ain't a complimentary label. That might give you the shock you need.
 
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jdk1 said:
I think we compare ourselves to indians/frontiersmen/etc. to give us a skill level to shoot for. Ultimately, we just play in the woods. The skills are good to know, but often academic. As many point out, if you have the proper clothing and basic gear, and are a little careful, you're unlikely to need to make friction fire or carve a spoon. I do consider basic fire making skills and knowledge of things like debris shelters important for outdoorsmen. Much beyond that is probably just for fun. Most folks don't go too far off the beaten path, so if they take a wrong turn, they may spend a night out. It'll suck, but is probably survivable. A Bic lighter and the wood laying around will likely keep you warm enough and probably get you some attention as well. But, "bushcraft" beats setting at a computer, which is what I'm doing right now...:(
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Yes, on basicly all your points.
 
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leghog said:
Over the last dozen years of war, soldiers came up with another term for their never ending list of slang/lingo - GEARDO (rhymes with weirdo). It ain't a complimentary label. That might give you the shock you need.
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Eh, maybe we make too much of it sometimes. I know hobbyists with 10-15 metal detectors, car collectors etc. Whatever a guy is comfortable with I suppose. For myself, I have two opposing view points which create internal dissonance. On one hand I lust buy, on the other I know that a small core group is all I need. I am unsettled at this point, but don't lay awake nights over it. It's just a slightly amusing issue that I have noticed about my outdoor tool collecting.
 
bored2deth said:
Some play in the woods, others live it..either way, all that matters is that you are doing what you love.
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It's a positive form of recreation (much less disruptive than heroin and prostitutes:D) either way, and that makes it worthwhile to me.

leghog said:
I think it's more that we live in a culture where many define themselves by their own belongings.
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Unfortunately yes. You nailed it. Commercialization and a consumption culture baby!

upnorth said:
Myself, I find dealing with people to be challenging.
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Fixed it. Thats where much stress comes from, dealing with a$$holes. As an LEO, I've found it's not the people I deal with, but some of those I WORK with and FOR that cause the most stress:grumpy: Nature can be a nice place to escape. I'm finding more and more that's where I want to be. It's hard where I live. Public land is almost non-existent. It's mainly parks, which are filled with other people as well. My wife and I have been dreaming of moving out to New Mexico for years. I'm eligible to retire in six years and change. It's looking more tempting everyday:):):)

upnorth said:
Eh, maybe we make too much of it sometimes. I know hobbyists with 10-15 metal detectors, car collectors etc. Whatever a guy is comfortable with I suppose. For myself, I have two opposing view points which create internal dissonance. On one hand I lust buy, on the other I know that a small core group is all I need. I am unsettled at this point, but don't lay awake nights over it. It's just a slightly amusing issue that I have noticed about my outdoor tool collecting.
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It's hard to stick with the bare minimum. Buying and trying things is fun. I ended up with so many khukuri I would never use, as I learned they didn't fit my needs. Same with a wad of ESEE blades. They were outstanding in every way, but more than I needed. I had a considerable sum of money tied up in blades. That did cause me stress, not that I needed the cash, but it was wasteful and had become mental clutter (as well as physical). It was a big relief to sell most of them. I unlocked some cash, which never hurts, and got the blades to folks who will either enjoy them or pass them along. The best part is, now I'm not conflicted thinking "which knife do I grab? The 6 is so awesome, but the 5 is unused. Maybe the 4 is better? And I have so much invested in that 32 oz. khukuri, maybe I can find a dead tree..." It was ridiculous.

You see it around here, folks pop up and buy every knife of a certain type they find. Then you start to see them on the exchange. I haven't bought a blade which cost more than about $26 in a year or so (and that was the SAK farmer). No real stress or clutter there;) To each his own, but it makes me cringe when I see a post in general stating "I need a good folder to use on the construction site and have a budget of $250, what shall I buy...":cower: My thought is, "something much less than $250!"
 
leghog said:
Over the last dozen years of war, soldiers came up with another term for their never ending list of slang/lingo - GEARDO (rhymes with weirdo). It ain't a complimentary label. That might give you the shock you need.
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Ive finally narrowed mine down to two fully equipped bags. A large bag (spec ops T.H.E), and a smaller bag (vanquest javelin). Both of which are equipped with a small tool kit and IFAK. Both carry a fixed blade, folding knife, and multitool. One external water bottle, and one internal. Gloves, bandana, change of clothing. The IFAKs house enough supplies to treat three people. The tool kits contain a smaller multitool, along with paracord, flashlight with two sets spare bats, a sharpie, write in rain pad, mirror, whistle, a little survival pack, and duct tape. Each bag also carries a quality tarp, 100ft of paracord, as well as an emergency blanket (grabber style). Each bag carries the equivalent of two broken down MREs. Wish I had just done this to start with.."facepalm"..

Light weight, compressible, and only what I can use or need.
 
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jdk1 said:
To each his own, but it makes me cringe when I see a post in general stating "I need a good folder to use on the construction site and have a budget of $250, what shall I buy...":cower: My thought is, "something much less than $250!"
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Well that's another point of contention. I am finishing some additional post secondary classes at $600.00 a toss, then add book costs after. I can grab a toy here and there because most decent\useful outdoor tools don't exceed $150.00 on average. But I do see alter worshiping of very expensive cutting tools. This isn't sour grapes here, as I could sock away for something higher end, but why, unless it really meant something to the individual. I have a blast using some Cold Steel tools to process wood....or my Swedish axes. The status issue tends to evaporate with real world use. If dude wants the high end X tool, cool, fill yer boots. I pretty much couldn't care less anymore. I have no idea if I am going to pare down to a small core of refined cutting tools. But I have always felt this push\pull.
 
I hear you. To each his own. I'm a Dave Ramsey listener/devotee. For me, there was a period of knife buying which I'm flat ashamed of:o Awhile back I figured out this place is either populated by the wealthy, or there's a lot of folks spending cash they shouldn't on knives. I hate to sound judgmental, and I believe it's more concern than judgment, but there's some real cash tied up in blades around here! The cheaper blades carry less guilt for me. Even the great deals I got this fall/winter caused some guilt because I knew I didn't need them.
 
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