Sure, but that has nothing to do with the discussion at hand. Knowledge and judgement and carrying anything other than say an Opinel or small multitool are not mutually exclusive.
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Minimalist camping without a fixed blade
- Thread starter kalan850
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Sure, but that has nothing to do with the discussion at hand. Knowledge and judgement and carrying anything other than say an Opinel or small multitool are not mutually exclusive.
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This.
I feel like we're seeing the ghosts of old declarations of "Fixed blades aren't needed for camping, and in fact, they may unnerve people you meet on the trail!". Can't recall who said that, it completely escapes me at the moment.
Car camping at established sites, I always have a few fixed blades.
On multi day backpacking trips over rough terrain, however, I never have. I usually bring a small Leatherman PST and a small folder (Rat 1 or 2). I did however recently pick up a couple of small fixed blades from Ka-bar which are actually lighter than any of my folders and one of these fixed blades may go on my next trip.
https://www.kabar.com/knives/detail/268
https://www.kabar.com/knives/detail/269
The advantage is that both weigh less than any of my folders and there is no joint to worry about getting stuff in (food goo, pine pitch, dirt, etc). Great little neck knives that you can get to without taking off a pack or asking a buddy to get for you (because your large fixed blade is probably lashed to your pack and you may not want to take it off). Plenty of knife for a back-packing trip. The disadvantage is that it's less knife to play with.
On multi day backpacking trips over rough terrain, however, I never have. I usually bring a small Leatherman PST and a small folder (Rat 1 or 2). I did however recently pick up a couple of small fixed blades from Ka-bar which are actually lighter than any of my folders and one of these fixed blades may go on my next trip.
https://www.kabar.com/knives/detail/268
https://www.kabar.com/knives/detail/269
The advantage is that both weigh less than any of my folders and there is no joint to worry about getting stuff in (food goo, pine pitch, dirt, etc). Great little neck knives that you can get to without taking off a pack or asking a buddy to get for you (because your large fixed blade is probably lashed to your pack and you may not want to take it off). Plenty of knife for a back-packing trip. The disadvantage is that it's less knife to play with.
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I think pinnah said it.
Sure...there is that claim, which is silly.
What bothers me is that claim that was just made that the increased fitness that might be needed to deal with the weight of a fixed blade, is trumped by knowledge and judgement.
That doesn't make sense, the two have nothing to do with each other. If you carry only a folder or go "minimal" in the woods, that doesn't magically give you "knowledge and judgement." Just as carrying a knife that can baton also doesn't give you "knowledge and judgement." Just as posting pictures of knives on pine branches does not give you "knowledge and judgement."
Implying that carrying a fixed blade means you don't know what you are doing is utter nonsense.
I didn't read that as "people carrying fixed blades don't know what they are doing". My take on that comment was: knowledge of the outdoors and what you are doing is more important than ANY type of blade you choose to bring with you... But I could be wrong. I frequently am.
I'm not sure we're involved in the same thread. Here's the OP...
"How many of you go minimalist camping without a fixed blade?"
I've just reread the posts and nobody has said that one needs to be more fit to carry a heavier knife.
Craytab said it's better to lose weight off your belly. That's generally a good thing no matter what.
Dan said more generally it's better to be fit, and I agree, that it's always better to more fit.
But I also said that knowledge and judgment are more important than fitness. And that is very, very true.
Here's one of a bunch of stories from my local mountains. These guys were fit. They lacked knowledge and judgment. Knife choice wasn't the issue.
http://publications.americanalpinec...ampshire-Mount-Jefferson-and-Mount-Washington
Nobody said that. But I will say, that if you have "knowledge and judgement", you can safely travel in the backcountry with only a small folder for a knife. Thousands upon thousands of long distance hikers and mountaineers do this routinely.
Again, nobody said this. But I will say that anybody who claims that a fixed blade is needed for safe backcountry travel is displaying a lack of knowledge.
I like fixed blades. I sometimes carry them on backpacking trips. Depends on the trip. People should carry whatever makes them happy.
Well, nobody is denying that knowledge is more important than equipment, but that idea is not the one being discussed.
What was being discussed is that added fitness might be required to carry a fixed blade in addition a folder. That was the point when it was pointed out that knowledge trumps the added fitness that might be required to carry a fixed blade in addition a folder.
Seems like we are being told that the added fitness is a cover for lack of knowledge, but I could be wrong. I frequently am.
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And to add, just like those other things don't equate, the opposite is true in concern to tools when you drop a few lbs and exercise a bit: as a purported knife enthusiasts you can use those saved pounds to carry your favorite fixed blade!
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I'm in the "bring a fixed blade" camp as well for 2 reasons.
1- I'm a knife enthusiast and I dig fixed blades. That one is pretty simple (and probably pretty common on this site).
2- I'm a rancher in a northern state. I work outside, even when it's cold. There's been many times that I've been wet and cold enough that my fine motor skills went out the window. Simple tasks that are part of my work became very, very difficult, despite being repeated well beyond the point of muscle memory. Your hands being absolutely stupid can get very frustrating in a hurry. In those situations, I know I can go back to my house or vehicle and warm up, possibly put on dry clothes. If you know you can't (out in the woods) I could see frustrating turning the corner to fear.
Techniques don't always work like they should when you only have gross motor skills, let alone when you aren't thinking right. You shouldn't count on your practiced techniques for using a minimal tool without breaking it being there if your life actually depends on it. Fixed blades aren't needed for the many times things go right, they're insurance against the one time things go wrong.
1- I'm a knife enthusiast and I dig fixed blades. That one is pretty simple (and probably pretty common on this site).
2- I'm a rancher in a northern state. I work outside, even when it's cold. There's been many times that I've been wet and cold enough that my fine motor skills went out the window. Simple tasks that are part of my work became very, very difficult, despite being repeated well beyond the point of muscle memory. Your hands being absolutely stupid can get very frustrating in a hurry. In those situations, I know I can go back to my house or vehicle and warm up, possibly put on dry clothes. If you know you can't (out in the woods) I could see frustrating turning the corner to fear.
Techniques don't always work like they should when you only have gross motor skills, let alone when you aren't thinking right. You shouldn't count on your practiced techniques for using a minimal tool without breaking it being there if your life actually depends on it. Fixed blades aren't needed for the many times things go right, they're insurance against the one time things go wrong.
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Truth be told, fixed blades are not needed during camping. An opinel and a Leatherman squirt can do what ever needs to be done. Regardless of the task.
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Things rarely fail according to plan.
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Wrong dude, that useful duo can't do everything.. sometimes a fixed blade is safer and the more appropriate tool.
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Are you arguing with yourself, my friend?
That guy shiny thinks a squirt and opinel can do everything under any circumstances, I was just setting him straight lol
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not me, that's for sure. Makes zero sense. 
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I think it really depends on the setting. If i were going deep into the back country i would want a good quality fixed blade just in case things didnt go as planned and i really had to get creative to survive and make it out. All of my outdoor adventures have been here in the midwest where i have been at best a half days walk to a road. Since this is my reality i feel pretty comfortable with a folder, sometimes its only a slipjoint. A folding saw or hatchet is pretty handy if one is expecting to process firewood. Its even better when the need to do so is unexpected.
Jim
Jim
stabman
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Well heck, camping isn't needed either, and if you aren't on the trail, no one will be unnerved.
I always like a fixed blade when camping, and no one has given a crap about them.
Any time I have met anyone while out there, they just seemed to be happy that someone else was outdoors enjoying being there!
There have been time we were cutting wood with huge knives or an axe, and the person who came along was a middle-aged woman with no cutting tools of any sort, the type of person that the internet forums would have you believe would freak right out.
Instead of freaking out, it was genuine smiles, and sometime stopping to say hello.
For the original topic, no, I don't camp without a fixed blade, but I have hiked through areas where one certainly wasn't needed.
I just kept walking till I was somewhere that a fixed blade was handy, because I like knives.
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