Light weight knife for hiking - have to admit, it makes a difference.

not2sharp · Apr 10, 2021

comis said:
....

But for serious long distance thru hikers(for example, someone like Andrew Shurka, who can hike on average 35-45 miles/day for months), I'd read people often just carry as little as a SAK classic.

Yes, a SAK, and a team of porters....

n2s

Boattale · Apr 10, 2021

When I want a light knife on me, it's a Kabar Dozier design folder. Mine are AUS 8. For just a few dollars more and no ounces more, you can have a D2 blade.

They are great knives that are very economical and weigh next to nothing.

Londinium Armoury · Apr 10, 2021

Opinel, just shove it in my pocket, can't even feel the weight, my Zippo lighter weights 3 times more.

Frank.K · Apr 10, 2021

I think a Morakniv in your pack and then whatever folder you can carry comfortably in your pocket or pack.

The Mora is super light, we’ll made and inexpensive.

Also, in my 20’s I carried an Opinel #10 out in the woods for weeks, as an only knife, and never felt the need for more.

rustyspike · Apr 10, 2021

Out in the local woods. Edura or Delica. If I feel like it Izula 2. If I take a small shoulder bag. It has a SAK. in it. Hunting gets fixed Esee 4 on my belt and a additional knife in or on my pack. Pictured day bag with Dan Tope TDC.

Rich K.

Dextar · Apr 10, 2021

One of my favorite for hiking, although may not lightweight...

NG VI · Apr 12, 2021

Dextar said:
One of my favorite for hiking, although may not lightweight...

Looks plenty light and little to me! Is that a nessmuk or just a similar looking pattern to my brainless eye?

kobold · Apr 12, 2021

I have a Hultafors OK4, a Fallknive WM1, and a Mora Bushcraft Triflex, they are cheap and light enough.
My favorites are the Bark River Ultralite Bushcrafter and the Mini Tundra.
There are also things like the Benchmade Altitude or the Bugout and many Spyderco FRN and Salt models if fixed blade is not a requirement..
But the UL crowd is much more minimal than even that. A Victorinox Rambler, Cadet or even just a small utility knife is not unheard of.

rexromic · Apr 12, 2021

Simply the best fixed blade for everything is Fallkniven F1 IMO.
Hike,bike,fishing,wood/fire prep....Great knife!

Grant Haller · Apr 12, 2021

jackknife said:
That was Colin Fletcher, author of 'The Complete Walker' and the follow up books like "The Complete Walker 2' and so on. He talks about his 6 inch fixed blade he carried in book one, but by book two he had ditched the fixed bade as it was never used, and he'd bought the little SAK. He never used the nail file blade so considered cutting it off.

Fletcher was quite the accepted expert on backpacking, and did the solo hike the length of the Grand Canyon and some other pretty epic trips. He had quite a bit of knowledge of outdoor survival from him being a British Commando in WW2, and living off the land when parachuted into hostile territory.

The Complete Walker was indeed the original backpacking bible! Outdated now undoubtedly as far as gear goes, but still with some great information for hikers.

Grant Haller · Apr 12, 2021

Grant Haller said:
I am lucky enough to have a Professional Soldier also and carry it backpacking. I tie the sheath to belt loop and stick the knife in my pocket. Very light but tough knife.

Bolstermanic said:
We'd like to believe you Grant, but we require photographic evidence that you own the epic ProSo...prefereably on a background of high tech backpacking gear...

Also, I am wondering what is the weight of the ProSo in ounces?

I must be an idiot as I can’t figure out how to post pictures. The ProSo weighs 4.5 ounces on my scale.

jackknife · Apr 12, 2021

Grant Haller said:
The Complete Walker was indeed the original backpacking bible! Outdated now undoubtedly as far as gear goes, but still with some great information for hikers.

I don't know how outdate it may be, as there was three revisions of that book for updating materials and gear with more modern and lighter gear. So between the Complete Walker, The Complete Walker II, The Complete Walker III, and The complete Walker IV, Mr. Fletcher made quite a lot of updating and changing his mind on a lot of stuff as well as outlook.

Dextar · Apr 12, 2021

NG VI said:
Looks plenty light and little to me! Is that a nessmuk or just a similar looking pattern to my brainless eye?

It's Grohmann #3 knife

cheers~

Hurrul · Apr 13, 2021

I've thought about taking something like one of these paring knives into the woods, as weight conscious fixed blades:
Dexter Russel commercial paring knife & Spyderco Paring knife

The Dexter Russel weighs .75 of ounce - would need a sheath. Very flexible blade, but thin and sharp, stainless.

Spyderco is about 1.7 ounces - also, would need a sheath.

Spyderco has a great handle, to me - well shaped, could be used with thin gloves, sanitary. Thin stock, little bit stiffer than the Dexter, easier to pinch grip due to taller blade. Very sharp and stainless, too.

Brad "the butcher" · Apr 13, 2021

I just picked up the recently discontinued broken skull for hiking with a saw....4 in blade xhp carpenter steel at 3 oz is perfect
Slicey with a sharp tapered point....perfect for kitchen, fish, hunting....its a pocket scalpel
As much as I love my spiderco millie this is a better fish knife
I use a Lexa knockoff stove.....my truck got broke into and coul not afford another titanium embertlite

HARDBALL · Apr 13, 2021

Hi all,

Lots of great suggestions. Due to age/Leg/endurance issues, I don't really do any long hiking/walking in the Woods other than my own Wooded property. Nevertheless, it's still fun to pretend/play "Jeremiah Johnson". I have a mess of knives (both Fixed Blade and Folders of all sizes) as well as a mess of Axes/Hatchets/Machetes/Multi Tools/Saws etc. I really need another Knife like a "hole in the Head" but, of course, that doesn't stop me from wanting to buy another Knife just, because. Of late, I find myself carrying (on my Person) a much smaller "Fixed Blade" Knife such as a small Wood Jewel Vuolu Little 8 Knife (sweet lil' light weight knife) when I want to go REALLY lite yet still have a sharp usable blade.
https://www.knivesofthenorth.com/products/wood-jewel-vuolu-little-8-knife

I recently have also been carrying (on my Belt) a TOPS "Light Trekker". I think this is a very well thought out/designed (all around) Fixed Blade. That being said, a Knife (with Sheath/carry system) the size of the "Light Trekker" still tends to get in my way (if on my Belt as opposed to in Pack) and so, I soon will be ordering an RK Custom Kydex Sheath for my BT&K BK-14 which will no doubt take up a LOT less real estate.
I ALWAYS carry a SAK. Living in Maine, I carry a SAK that includes a "Saw". I also keep handy my No. 8 Opinel. Recently, I scored (for twenty dollars lol) a NICE condition vintage (I believe circa 60's) "Ripple Edge" (Made in Germany) Ideal Products Inc. Canadian (style) Belt Knife (plain edge) with a lovely Leather Sheath in excellent condition. I will have this Knife Professionally sharpened as it is presently dull as a Butter Knife.
Other than that, before heading out into the Woods, I find myself always reaching for an old 22" Machete. I find the Machete very useful, not only for it's Chopping/Cutting duties, but more so as an extra long extension of my Hand/Arm which proves to be very useful for moving small Branches/Brush out of my way.

HARDBALL

HARDBALL · Apr 13, 2021

Whoops! Forgot to add (sorry, I got a bit off topic, age thing). At Home in the Kitchen, of all the damn Knives I own, Vintage Chef Knives, French Paring Knives, etc. of late, I find myself reaching for this little (EXTREMELY) light (and dirt cheap but well made) Victorinox Paring Knife. Not only is this Paring Knife extremely light, it is extremely sharp! I think it would be very wise indeed to have a couple of these lil' knives stashed in one's Pack.
https://www.victorinox.com/us/en/Pr...ives/Swiss-Classic-Paring-Knife/p/6.7606.L114

HARDBALL

jackknife · Apr 13, 2021

HARDBALL said:
Whoops! Forgot to add (sorry, I got a bit off topic, age thing). At Home in the Kitchen, of all the damn Knives I own, Vintage Chef Knives, French Paring Knives, etc. of late, I find myself reaching for this little (EXTREMELY) light (and dirt cheap but well made) Victorinox Paring Knife. Not only is this Paring Knife extremely light, it is extremely sharp! I think it would be very wise indeed to have a couple of these lil' knives stashed in one's Pack.
https://www.victorinox.com/us/en/Pr...ives/Swiss-Classic-Paring-Knife/p/6.7606.L114

HARDBALL

HARDBALL, Victorinox makes a version of the paring knife that comes with a red plastic blade cover. Makes is ideal for stashing in a pack. They also have a nylon belt sheath for them. Sometimes hard to find, but they are on the 'net. Great little knives to have in a pack, they do cut like the dickens!

Bigfattyt · Apr 13, 2021

Hidden tang puko's are pretty traditional wilderness knives.

I'd probably take the one on the left. 15n20, .07 thick. Burnt hickory handle through peened tang.

Relatively light.

I so have a Silky Saw Zubat that is very light, and might be a good option if I really needed to cut wood.

celticrogues · Apr 13, 2021

Rainer Fastpack would be my choice for ultralight hiking... feels substantial in the hand, but I barely notice its weight on my belt - about 2oz with sheath. I love the shape, comes sharp as the dickens, and elmax steel can take a lot of abuse. I have a couple of these and I love them.