Minimalist camping without a fixed blade

[kalan850]

How many of you go minimalist camping without a fixed blade?

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[pinnah]

I do.

 

[LG&M]

Always room for a small FB.

 

[Ducksandcuse]

Awh hell no

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[Dangerously]

Never. A small fixed blade is great for so many things at a campsite, not the least of which is entertainment.

 

[craytab]

I'm a knife nut. So no.

 

[cEdge]

Only when Im staying at a hotel. Oh wait, who am I kidding...

 

[DeadboxHero]

I had a long distance training event where I brought a Delica to save weight..... for a tomahawk hahaha

 

[hiwa]

In my mind, " Minimalist camping" is going with ONLY a fixed blade.

No fixed blade with me , I'm not going into the woods period.

 

[rcb2000]

In my younger days a Swiss Army knife seemed to be sufficient.
Granted in Utah finding dry deadwood was never an issue so no need for an ax or a large fixed blade

 

[Frailer]

The vast majority of my evenings in the woods have been spent with a SAK as my only knife.

 

[jpm2]

Always carried a fixed blade but rarely ever used it, and can't say for certain I ever needed it.
My folder took care of everything from removing thorns to cleaning fish to making wood shavings to processing deer.

 

[Agith]

The only time I've ever really done anything like that was with a small 3.5" fixed blade, some paracord, and a canteen of water + food. And I have to say, that was one miserable first night. Primitive fire took a long while given Michigan's boggy climate. But I found myself relying on that knife for almost everything, and I couldn't imagine myself going without one. God I wish I had pictures, may have to go again some time to net a few.

 

[marcinek]

I'm a knife nut. So no.

Exactly. To me "minimalist camping" is either:

1) Camping with no knife at all. Either go minimal or dont. "Minimal" shouldn't stop at the point when one becomes inconvenienced. (Very similar is when people come in here looking for a good knife to use for when they go out and "practice survival". ); or
2) Camping with no gear on you whatsoever. One can do that on your sofa at home. Or go take a walk at the park.

Note: I don't believe you necessarily need a fixed blade when camping. But if you own one, and don't take it in the woods, then why did you even buy the darn thing? And a 4 -5 inch fixed blade isn't "too heavy." Stop it.

 

[pinnah]

Exactly. To me "minimalist camping" is either:

1) Camping with no knife at all. Either go minimal or dont. "Minimal" shouldn't stop at the point when one becomes inconvenienced. (Very similar is when people come in here looking for a good knife to use for when they go out and "practice survival". ); or
2) Camping with no gear on you whatsoever. One can do that on your sofa at home. Or go take a walk at the park.

Note: I don't believe you necessarily need a fixed blade when camping. But if you own one, and don't take it in the woods, then why did you even buy the darn thing? And a 4 -5 inch fixed blade isn't "too heavy." Stop it.

It's unclear what the OP is fishing for but will add this...

As a knife enthusiast, I think the best approach is to match the best knife to the job. Why do otherwise?

If the OP is talking about minimalist backpacking, then many UL backpackers end up with something like a Victorinox Classic or a mini multitool like the Squirt.

As a backpacker, I can attest that there are trips where anything beyond that is extra weight and extra weight is always a drag on enjoyment and the ability to achieve the goal without undue risk.

As a knife enthusiast, I can appreciate the design excellence and the inherent trade-offs involved in producing a tool like the Squirt (or Dime, or Micra, or Classic, or whatever). Among these small tools, I think the Squirt is among the best for UL backpacking.

 

[jackknife]

In my younger days as a knife nut, I always had a fixed blade or two with me. A Randall number 14 was my go-to knife. Then as I got older and gained more experience, the fixed blade got ditched. I just never needed a fixed blade that much. But when I did, I found the fixed blade not big enough. Evemnturally I settled for a pocket knife and small machete. The pocket knife does the small jobs, and the small machete takes care of everytibng else. I have no need of any fixed blade under 10 inches. The small machete can be choked up on, and the machete makes a great bread knife, ham slicer, kindling chopper, fish beheader, and hot dog stick maker.

I have no use for a regular fixed blade.

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[Larcivs Lepidvs]

Sometimes I only carried a Victorinox and that was enough.
depends on what you've planned to do

 

[craytab]

Exactly. To me "minimalist camping" is either:

1) Camping with no knife at all. Either go minimal or dont. "Minimal" shouldn't stop at the point when one becomes inconvenienced. (Very similar is when people come in here looking for a good knife to use for when they go out and "practice survival". ); or
2) Camping with no gear on you whatsoever. One can do that on your sofa at home. Or go take a walk at the park.

Note: I don't believe you necessarily need a fixed blade when camping. But if you own one, and don't take it in the woods, then why did you even buy the darn thing? And a 4 -5 inch fixed blade isn't "too heavy." Stop it.

Yup. As a knife enthusiasts my enthusiasm for knives is worth the extra ounces. I'd consider cutting calories for a month or two if weight was that big of a concern to my enjoyment. In fact I have done that!

 

[Dantone05]

Yup. As a knife enthusiasts my enthusiasm for knives is worth the extra ounces. I'd consider cutting calories for a month or two if weight was that big of a concern to my enjoyment. In fact I have done that!

Agreed. Conditioning ones body and self is the most important part while being outdoors for any prolonged period or distance travelled.

To answer the OP I do always carry a fixed blade while in the bush because I enjoy to do so.

 

[pinnah]

Conditioning ones body and self is the most important part while being outdoors for any prolonged period or distance travelled.

Life is better when healthy and in condition.

But IME, knowledge and judgement trump fitness in the backcountry. The backcountry (in NewEngland) is littered with spots where fit people died through a lack of knowledge and judgement. In almost none of these situation would a knife of any kind have made the difference.