Minimalist camping without a fixed blade

No idea on the camel stuff, I wasn't there. His adventure. I'll ask.
Two months later he was on the Barrier Reef, with an even more ridiculous beard:
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Only showing because I'm as jealous as heck. Shame works gets in the way of going on an adventure. He is now reading History at uni...skint as he blew his savings on his trip.


Military, my Riflemen could take what they liked so long as it didn't effect combat effectiveness. Think I lost it with the guy who insisted on carrying a catering sized bottle of Ketchup everywhere he went.

If I can find an excuse then I too carry a decent sized blade. But I agree that sometimes no excuse can be found and go small is plenty. Altitude work and speed distance traveling are a couple.
 
Getting your kids hooked on the outdoors rocks.

My eldest, the young woman on the left, just got back from helping lead a canoe trip for the outdoor program at her college. She's hoping to work as a caretaker in the Whites this coming summer.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr
 
Regarding what to carry or not carry, there is no definitive answer. Folks carry what they like to and what they believe they need. For me personally, I do not hike/camp/backpack without my S&W 386 and a fixed blade like the Bravo1. I may never need either, but I would rather have them and "err on the side of caution." The extra weight is negligible.

Some people prefer fixed blades and others believe them to be extraneous. If you subscribe to either group, and you can have fun and accomplish the necessary tasks for your adventure, that makes you "right," no matter what side of the coin your preferences lie.
 
I am coming into this discussion a bit late.
My plan is to hike the JMT next summer. Hopefully I can get out while some of the passes still have snow so the only axe I will have with me will be my Grivel Air Tech Racing ice axe. Since most cutting tasks will be food related my main cutting tool will be either an MSR Alpine Kitchen knife or my Victorinox 6" Chef's knife with a Blade safe as a sheath. My other knife will be a BM 530 which is more of a personal "luxury" and is coming because I would feel naked without a pocket knife. My scissors which are from a Victorinox Swiss card will be in a FAK.
No wood fires in the Sierras so no axe or batoning tools needed. Guns will be illegal as well.
 
I tend to carry what Lynn C.Thompson would proudly call a fixed blade

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Compact, fits in the pack, or even in the pocket, weight savings tend to be made in water weight/camping gear

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Solid as a tank vault after 2 years :D. Use it with gloves, though

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And paired with a SAK for the small, medical and delicate stuff

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or a micro MT such as the Squirt or Pinnah's pick, the Micra

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Great photos everyone :).

I just want to point out again that not everyone that says "fixed blade" means a "chopper class" (large) fixed blade.

I agree that the usefulness of a fixed blade (particularly larger ones) is substantially lessened above the treeline. I do agree that with proper gear, the need for a knife goes way down, mostly being used to open food packages, etc, and that this can be applied to lower elevation hikes/camping as well. Especially if you are in large groups, or on a very well traveled trail.

Almost all of my hiking/camping is under the treeline though, and while not deserted, they're not the as popular as the PCT/CDT/AT, which may explain my proclivity for fixed blades. They serve as a light "backup" in case of equipment failure (tent/tarp being irreparably harmed, stove fuel runs out early/tipped/leaked, etc) in this environment. No, its not a great fix/replacement for any of those things, but it at least provides options that would be a great deal harder to provide if your only cutting tool was a razor blade.

That said, I balance the likelihood of those events with the weight of the object. On a normal hike, I can't imagine that my BK9 would come along, even though I believe it would start a fire and construct a shelter faster than a Mora. The need just isn't that likely.

By the same token, thats why I don't consider a SAK classic viable, as even if "push came to shove"... it would be a real pain to do much real work with something that small. Somewhere in the Opinel/svord Peasant to BK16 sized knife range feels like the "sweet spot" for me. They can do real work, but don't weigh a huge amount. The Mora is more or less in the middle of that self perceived "sweet spot", which is why I have used it on the majority of my hikes so far.
 
See post 144.
This threads has gone on a right old merry go round about. Most are reading from the same song sheet. Still think a high quality folder such as a Spyderco Military is preferable to an inexpensive Mora style.

Beyond a small knife for camping then to me the next step up isn't the utility/combat size but a specialist tool like a Skrama or Small Forest Axe. Something capable of doing a lot of work comfortably... and don't forget the saw:
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GREENJACKET said:
I can think up more dangers by carrying a knife than not, and even more for too big a blade thats not needed.
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Strangely, one of my friends manages to cut himself almost every time he uses a small knife.
Literally within a minute or so many times. :D

He has never cut himself with a big knife though, be it his Ka-Bar, or his Junglas.
So paradoxically, for him a big knife is demonstrably safer.
 
I saw your original post there (144), as well as your response about broken Moras (post 158, which you said may have partially been mindset, as you view them as inexpensive). I'm not sure if I'm needlessly gentile on knives, but as of yet I haven't had any problem with mine, which I'm grateful for. I keep mentioning the Mora, not because I am in love with them (although, they are great value), but more as a point of reference. There are quite a number of ~4in bladed knives that are lightweight, and fairly sturdy. Enough so that I feel their few oz of added weight (usually ~2-3) is worth it over a folder in my mind.

Not sure if its directed at me, but I don't believe I've mentioned any combat/utility sized (~7in) blades at all. Like you, I don't find them useful for most woods use. Too short to chop, to large to be truly light/nimble. And I love my folding saws. Ever since my first one, I've hardly ever chopped anything, as usually its so much more effort to chop something than it is to saw it. Not to mention safer. And a small Survive! (or other fixed blade knife) when paired with a saw like that can make as much kindling as you'd need both quickly, and efficiently. I think we're pretty closely aligned on most of this from the sound of it (other than you prefer folders for the small knives).

You've mentioned the skrama before, and I wasn't familiar with it and I had to go look it up. It looks somewhat like a Leuku, of less "traditional" materials? Or in other words, just a big beefy fixed blade?

The specs indicate its almost identical in size to a BK9/Junglas style blades that you mention you have mentioned repeatedly that you have a profound dislike for. Its a slight bit thinner (4mm vs 3/16in, but a lower saber grind), roughly the same blade length (~9.5in), overall length (~16in), and weight (1.15lbs without the sheath, vs 1.05lbs for the BK9).

I'm curious, what makes you like the skrama so much over those other knives that on the spec sheet at least look so similar? It seems as if they should fill the same role, and excel at more or less the same tasks. Not trying to attack here at all, just curious.

And, while my daughter still isn't old enough to take camping much (she's not quite walking yet), I am excited to be getting some dirt time this weekend. Headed out with the scout troop I help out with for an overnighter :thumbup:.
 
Here's my fixed blade that I carry backpacking, I guarantee I can get more firewood with it than you can a knife! Lol I always carry some kind of a ZT usually a 350...
 
lzeplin said:
Here's my fixed blade that I carry backpacking, I guarantee I can get more firewood with it than you can a knife! Lol I always carry some kind of a ZT usually a 350...
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For getting firewood, sure.

I guarantee that you'll be slower at blazing a trail though than I am with my Junglas! :)
My brother brings a saw like yours along with a large fixed blade, and he was clearing a trail, and it was taking way too long; lot's of mosquitoes biting me as we stood there.
So I decided it was time to switch to the Junglas; way, way faster. :thumbup:

Also good for getting to the dry wood at the center.

Basically, my brother likes to saw the wood with his saw, then split with the RD9.
 
GREENJACKET said:
Next time I'm looking over some panoramic view at the top of some alpine mountain,
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I guarantee that the last time I was at the top of a mountain (many years ago now), I was way more efficient than you or pinnah.
I did the most super efficient thing of all; I took the gondola to the top of Sulfur Mountain. ;)

"A gondola on the eastern slope goes to the summit ridge which has an upper terminal containing two restaurants, a gift shop, and multiple observation decks. The summit ridge provides views both westward up and east down the Bow Valley. A boardwalk can be followed on the north side to the top of Sanson's Peak (2,256 m or 7,402 ft)."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulphur_Mountain_(Alberta)

So while all you inefficient slaves were lugging unnecessary weight up a mountain, I wisely took the gondola to the top, soaring through the air.
Then I had a nice sandwich, and enjoyed the view. :)

I did have a 6 inch fixed blade on me though. :D
Buck Nighthawk.
 
leghog said:
Does make me wonder when the last time some bickerers were actually in the mountains afoot on a trail even for just a couple of days.
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In the mountains:
Well, that would have been back in 1998, and like I said, it wasn't exactly lugging stuff on a trail of any sort. ;)

You might have noticed that I have never, in any thread, given advice about what gear to take mountaineering, because I have about the same amount of knowledge about that as I do about advanced astrophysics...not much at all. :)

I talk about what to do in wooded areas, because I spend time in wooded areas.

Caves, mountains, deep-sea crevasses, nope.
But places with trees and things, yep. :thumbup:
 
ocnLogan,
I have Moras too and for the price they are unbeatable, just that I prefer something with a bit more investment in when venturing afar.
The Jungalas is one of the better in class, there are others that I really really don't like. The bulk and weight forwardness make them tricky to control for the finer tasks. The big thing the Skrama brings to the table is the choked up neutral balance that the hand and half handle allows. Its a bit of a revelation and when combined with quite a fine grind makes it excellent as a large cutter. Basically choked up the blade feels small so its very controllable. Not too heavy either, but the build up from any machete. Pretty compact too. I did a review. I'm a huge fan and think it truly worth giving a big shout about; its also very keenly priced. Far far better than some of the fairly iffy high cost stuff hyped about. There are some good y tube vids on it.
I actually take one of my utility/combat knives when hunting deer/boar.

stabman, I was an extreme skier so took the cable cars to the top and then went a bit further. Now I can hardly keep up with my children... maybe thats the Glühwein. Your Junglas won't beat my Victorian pole slasher. Get a Skrama and you will see why I rate them.

Mountain time with my son. He is taller, heavier, fitter, so goes quicker.
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GREENJACKET said:
stabman, I was an extreme skier so took the cable cars to the top and then went a bit further. Now I can hardly keep up with my children... maybe thats the Glühwein. Your Junglas won't beat my Victorian pole slasher. Get a Skrama and you will see why I rate that more too.
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One of these days I'll check out the Skrama.
I'll give it a fair try, but many other knives have tried to beat the Junglas and failed.
Some have performed equally well, or chopped better at the expense of utility for other tasks.

The funny thing?
ESEE knives' owners don't think the Junglas is all that great.
They made it as a compact machete at the request of the Junglas squads, as full-length machetes are unwieldy when fast-roping out of a helicopter and things like that.
The ESEE guys prefer a full-sized machete for regular use.

But I think they are wrong, and the knife they don't think is great, actually is.

But I'm open to trying new knives at any time. :)
 
stabman said:
One of these days I'll check out the Skrama.
I'll give it a fair try, but many other knives have tried to beat the Junglas and failed.
Some have performed equally well, or chopped better at the expense of utility for other tasks.

The funny thing?
ESEE knives' owners don't think the Junglas is all that great.
They made it as a compact machete at the request of the Junglas squads, as full-length machetes are unwieldy when fast-roping out of a helicopter and things like that.
The ESEE guys prefer a full-sized machete for regular use.

But I think they are wrong, and the knife they don't think is great, actually is.

But I'm open to trying new knives at any time. :)
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Have you tried a BK20 yet? I know they're sold out but I don't remember if you managed to get one or not.

I find mine to be superior to every other big knife I've chopped with, but I have yet to really get a good shot at chopping with a Junglas.
 
Its a shame no one makes a Blackjack Marauder II style any more, its the only knife I ever found that could compete with a Small Forest Axe:
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But these are Base Camp tools. Travel heavy with beer.
 
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