Paramilitary 2 for Hiking

[Fish Boy]

Is the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 a feasible folder to bring with me on hikes and the occasional camping trip?

I've also been considering getting a fixed blade to bring with me on hikes. Some names that keep coming up are the BK14, ESEE Izula, and the Mora Classic 1. Which of these should I get, if any?

 

[Todd21969]

I would not feel under knifed with my PM2 in my pocket and my F1 at home in my knife drawer.

No experiance with anything from ESEE, had a BK11...great knife for woods use.

 

[Bob W]

Well, simply "hiking" is one of those activities that generally doesn't require the cutting of anything at all. But I do think everyone should carry a basic blade, after all "knife" is one of the Ten Essentials.

If you said a little more about your hiking adventures it would be easier to recommend a particular knife style and size. Do you hunt or fish when hiking? Do you car camp and need a large blade for splitting wood for the campfire? Long-distance backpacking? Food prep? Chopping wood for winter camping? Or just want a small blade to have in your pocket?

I've lived and worked outdoors for years, and still frequently dayhike and travel in a wide variety of conditions. Deserts, canyons, rain forests, alpine mountains...
Working in the Philmont backcountry for ten years and encountering thousands of backpackers, I feel confident in saying that more hikers and backpackers carry a Swiss Army Knife than any other single piece of gear.

During a career a professional archaeologist I hiked all day long, for weeks or months at a time, for twelve years. The #8 Opinel was my standard carry during that time. It easily performed every cutting task ever encountered.

I've moved on from the Opinel now, preferring a fixed blade for safety and hygiene. My first choice, the AG Russell Hunters Scalpel. Can't rave about this knife enough. HUGE Thumbs Up. :thumbup:
Believe it or not, even with 500+ knives in my collection, including Spyderco, Benchmade, customs, Becker, KaBar, Gerber, Buck, SAK... this is my first choice every time I head to the woods.

 

[dalefuller]

I would not feel under knifed with my PM2 in my pocket and my F1 at home in my knife drawer.

Neither would I. I've carried Paras and Millies for years now when hiking/camping. Often they were my only knife. Never any failures, never any damage. They all still have their tips, too. These days, I carry a FB just about everywhere because of issues with fine motor skills in my hands, but I still carry a folder many times along with the FB. The Para 2 will be fine for anything you'd want to do with a folding knife.

If you want a FB to go along with the folder, and assuming it's for heavier jobs that you'd want to do with the folder, I'd go with something a little bigger than the Izula or BK14. Something along the lines of a BRKT Bravo 1 or ESEE 3 or 4 would give you enough blade for just about anything you need to do on a camping trip.

 

[Fish Boy]

If you said a little more about your hiking adventures it would be easier to recommend a particular knife style and size. Do you hunt or fish when hiking? Do you car camp and need a large blade for splitting wood for the campfire? Long-distance backpacking? Food prep? Chopping wood for winter camping? Or just want a small blade to have in your pocket?

I usually mill around camp most of the day, going on short strolls through the woods with my friends. Once a day I'll go on a long hike, usually up a mountain or up a waterfall. Last Saturday, my friend and I went and climbed up a three level waterfall in the Appalachians.

I usually only carry a knife in the spirit of preparedness. Some weird stuff has gone down in the woods, including a tent-mate going into a coma and a very close rattlesnake encounter. I'm a little concerned that carrying a folder may have me a little under-prepared.

Sometimes I need to split wood, but I'd rather use an axe for that. I should get one of my own soon.

 

[flarp]

I think the PM2 would be a perfectly viable folder for hiking and camping. For a fixed blade, the BK14 or Izula would also both be perfectly serviceable. The BK14 will give you a slightly longer blade. The Mora sheath does carry lower on the belt (loop is on top of the sheath, so the handle rides below your belt), if you prefer belt carry. Personally, I like the Izula 2 for its longer handles and micarta (cord wrapped handles are an improvement over bare metal, but still not the most comfortable if you're doing any appreciable amount of cutting).

 

[EChoil]

I don't own one but the PM2 is a good knife. I'd advise against a BK-14 or similar because it would pretty much duplicate what you already have.

A two knife system would give you a fixed blade larger than the PM-2 for the heavier jobs. That way you're covered for about anything. A lot of good larger knives out there to pick from.

 

[Ulf Krogstad]

I'd rather have the Vallotton as a "Outdoor folding knife" . That or get a Para and Becker BK9, 2 or 24. Maybe Kabar D2 Extreme or Busse Boss Jack also.

 

[Spey]

Yes, by all means a PM2 is "a feasible folder to bring" on hikes.

Then again I have been carrying one almost daily for over 2 years. A PM2 or PM is a great do-all type of knife (well, I suppose not one to baton with considering that sliver-diggin fine tip, but ...). Also, carrying a PM2 does not preclude you from also carrying something else (bigger fixed-blade, tomahawk, etc., etc.). Days outside civilization however, are days to enjoy multiple cutting tools without sheeple oversight.

 

[Nikkogi]

The Para 2 will serve you well. Another seriouscontender in my opinion is the plain edge Victorinox One Handed Trekker. Awesome kind with many uses that could potentially come in handy hiking and camping even more so

 

[Fish Boy]

The Para 2 will serve you well. Another seriouscontender in my opinion is the plain edge Victorinox One Handed Trekker. Awesome kind with many uses that could potentially come in handy hiking and camping even more so

Already own two, don't much like them. To me, the SAKs seem like jack of all trades and ace of none. I'd rather carry a saw that saws well and a knife that cuts well than something that performs both in a mediocre fashion.

And if I had to carry something like that, I'd rather have a Leatherman.

 

[The_Knife_Man]

It would probably do the job; personally I would add a fixed blade. Or take a beefier folder.
Survive Knifes; or an ESEE for a more budget cautious blade.

 

[PatrickKnight]

I personally would carry an SAK with a saw on it before I would take a PM2 on a hike or any folder for that matter.

 

[Ankerson]

Is the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 a feasible folder to bring with me on hikes and the occasional camping trip?

I've also been considering getting a fixed blade to bring with me on hikes. Some names that keep coming up are the BK14, ESEE Izula, and the Mora Classic 1. Which of these should I get, if any?

It will work fine.

 

[1AbominAble1]

No doubt it'll do the job and will last a real long time if treated properly. I have 2 PM2's but don't carry either because I'm occasionally hard on my knives and I worry about busting the tip. The ergo's of the knife are absolutely top notch though and lend to a comfortable grip pretty much any way that you can hold it. Add good steel and a great lock and it'd be a fine choice.

I second the tomahawk vote, they're light to carry and fun to use.
I'd also suggest an ESEE 3 or 4, a Survive Knives 4.1, a medium sized Becker, or a similar type of fixed blade that'll suit you very well in the woods and is much easier to clean if pressed into duty in the camp kitchen or for splitting the fuel for the fire.

 

[TravisH]

PM2 would work just fine.

Check out YouTube - several good vids demo'ing the PM2's abilities in the woods.

For a fixed blade the Mora Companion HD would be a good one for about $15.

 

[Bob W]

I usually mill around camp most of the day, going on short strolls through the woods with my friends. Once a day I'll go on a long hike, usually up a mountain or up a waterfall. Last Saturday, my friend and I went and climbed up a three level waterfall in the Appalachians.

I usually only carry a knife in the spirit of preparedness. Some weird stuff has gone down in the woods, including a tent-mate going into a coma and a very close rattlesnake encounter. I'm a little concerned that carrying a folder may have me a little under-prepared.

Any knife will suit you then, whether it's one you already own or if hiking is an 'excuse' to buy something new.

Sometimes I need to split wood, but I'd rather use an axe for that. I should get one of my own soon.

By all means, get a hatchet for car camping and "camp life."

To me, the SAKs seem like jack of all trades and ace of none....

Understand completely. It's not a great knife, nor a great cutter, nor a great pair of scissors, nor a great can opener... It's a trade-off between having those things in mediocrity, or perhaps not having them at all. On the other side of the balance scale is the fact that you don't need a separate tool for each of those tasks, and having even a smalll SAK can eliminate the need for multiple pieces of gear, like tweezers. My primary grudge against SAKs when camping, too much 'stuff' gets caught down in the mechanisms.

And if I had to carry something like that, I'd rather have a Leatherman.

I'd only carry one of those if I was purposefully setting out to fix something, or check on something that might need fixing.

 

[sir_mike]

As others have said, the PM2 would do fine but I too would also throw in a fixed blade of some sorts.

 

[Fish Boy]

I'd also suggest an ESEE 3 or 4, a Survive Knives 4.1, a medium sized Becker, or a similar type of fixed blade that'll suit you very well in the woods and is much easier to clean if pressed into duty in the camp kitchen or for splitting the fuel for the fire.

I'd love to get an ESEE 3 or a BK14. What're the pros/cons of each?

For a fixed blade the Mora Companion HD would be a good one for about $15.

I've been considering the Mora 1, but I'm a little skeptical because it doesn't seem to have a full tang. Does the Companion have full tang?

 

[pathwinder14]

It depends upon what you want the knife to do. If you are considering the PM2 as your only knife, in place of a fixed blade, I would consider that a problem. If you are taking it in addition to a fixed blade that would be better. Something in the 5-7 inch range + the PM 2 should be good.