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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Overall best knife for hiking/ trekking
- Thread starter ratherthanlater
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2002
- Messages
- 2,167
Sir, the knives that you have chosen are not really appropriate.
I "third" the Swiss Army Knife. Take your pic. I like the Trailmaster.
That and a folding saw - something like a Bahco Laplander
I "third" the Swiss Army Knife. Take your pic. I like the Trailmaster.
That and a folding saw - something like a Bahco Laplander
Ratherthanlater,
Since you're new here, you may not know who that masked man recommending the cheap machete is. He makes these incredible things: http://www.mayoknives.com/
Just be careful. I hear he has a nasty bite
Since you're new here, you may not know who that masked man recommending the cheap machete is. He makes these incredible things: http://www.mayoknives.com/
Just be careful. I hear he has a nasty bite
- Joined
- May 12, 2001
- Messages
- 2,947
RTL, you have received many comments about the propriety of carry knives for the outdoors.
IF I could only choose one of the two you posed - CS Recon tanto because of the carbon steel blade and better (IMO) kydex sheath than the steel.
However, if my choice set were expanded to SAKs or the whole CS or SOG line, I wouldn't choose either of the knives you asked about.
IF I could only choose one of the two you posed - CS Recon tanto because of the carbon steel blade and better (IMO) kydex sheath than the steel.
However, if my choice set were expanded to SAKs or the whole CS or SOG line, I wouldn't choose either of the knives you asked about.
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2002
- Messages
- 1,273
If you don't hike regularly or haven't hiked the AT before, I'd first go on a weeklong test hike. That'll give you an idea of what kind of gear you need or don't need.
The AT is a very well-defined trail that has fairly frequent road access points, so it's not like you'd be stuck out on a cliff ledge of some snow-capped mountain waiting for a rescue helicopter. Just be careful (take off your pack!) when you pee off high ledges.
Knives:
I carry an AFCK on the trail. It's fairly heavy, but I trust the lock and I also EDC it back in civilization. The edge does get a little rusty after it gets soaked though, so I recommend dunking your knife in some kind of rust prevention treatment before heading out.
I don't recommend carrying a large fixed blade, because I really can't think of any purpose it might serve out on the AT. If you're making a fire for kicks, it can and should be made with a sparing amount of deadwood anyway, so you can just pick it up off the ground and snap it to length.
Multitools:
I brought a SOG Powerlock on my first week-long hike. That, along with overly safe water management, made the hike much harder than it could have been. On the next week-long hike, I took my Gerber Compact Scout multitool. Still too heavy (and not useful at all). Next time I'll be going with just a SOG Crossgrip or maybe a Micra.
Once I ran into two completely tired-out fellows sprawled out on a large rock on the AT. They told me that they were turning around to hike back to their car, because the trail was too much for them. I couldn't help but notice that one of them had a large folding saw clipped to the outside of their pack. They probably overpacked, and didn't have hiking poles to offload some of that weight.
Weight is a real killer.
The AT is a very well-defined trail that has fairly frequent road access points, so it's not like you'd be stuck out on a cliff ledge of some snow-capped mountain waiting for a rescue helicopter. Just be careful (take off your pack!) when you pee off high ledges.
Knives:
I carry an AFCK on the trail. It's fairly heavy, but I trust the lock and I also EDC it back in civilization. The edge does get a little rusty after it gets soaked though, so I recommend dunking your knife in some kind of rust prevention treatment before heading out.
I don't recommend carrying a large fixed blade, because I really can't think of any purpose it might serve out on the AT. If you're making a fire for kicks, it can and should be made with a sparing amount of deadwood anyway, so you can just pick it up off the ground and snap it to length.
Multitools:
I brought a SOG Powerlock on my first week-long hike. That, along with overly safe water management, made the hike much harder than it could have been. On the next week-long hike, I took my Gerber Compact Scout multitool. Still too heavy (and not useful at all). Next time I'll be going with just a SOG Crossgrip or maybe a Micra.
Once I ran into two completely tired-out fellows sprawled out on a large rock on the AT. They told me that they were turning around to hike back to their car, because the trail was too much for them. I couldn't help but notice that one of them had a large folding saw clipped to the outside of their pack. They probably overpacked, and didn't have hiking poles to offload some of that weight.
Weight is a real killer.