prefered knive carry when backpacking

schmittie

schmittie

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Nov 28, 2009
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What do you guys do with your knife when hiking or backpacking? Do you purposely choose a backpack with no kind of waist belt so there is no issue with knife carry? Do you like to have a backpack with a belt and have no issue with carrying a knife because its IN the pack?

I suppose its possible to hang a knife on the pack's belt but then your knife is always with your pack instead of you, should you take the backpack off. I'm sure this has been discussed in the past but its a thread I've not come across yet.

What do you guys prefer? Have some of you come up with some unique ideas?
 
Wow, apparently I can't spell. Sorry. And to mess up knife in the title?.......not here on BF of all places!
 
I keep my knife in my pack until I get to camp. Unless I'm carrying an opinel, which is attached to a bit of cord, tied to my belt and sits in my pocket.
 
I have a multi tool and bigger knife in pack, and one on me. Sometimes the multi tool is on me too....depending on how I feel or if I remember.
 
I carry a small fixed blade- around the neck. My small knives are in the 6"-ish overall, 2.5"-ish blade. 1/8 or 3/32" stock- they weigh in the 2.5 oz range (sans sheath).

I also set up all these knives as "kits"- they will have cord wrapped around the sheath, small fire steel, whistle and a photon light. Lately I've been adding a couple of tinder tabs, a couple of MicroPur tablets and a MRE hot beverage bag- wrapping a ranger band around the works

I have this w/ me at all times and if I was unfortunate enough to get separated from my pack- I'd at least be able to make shelter, start a fire, signal, purify/carry water
 
In the pocket and on the belt in a sheath, sometimes in or on the pack depending what ridiculous number of knives I think I'll NEED.
 
Have been carrying it on the shoulder strap lately. Nice thing about Tek-Lok is that it allows for several different carry options. Goes from pack to belt in no time.

IMG00103-20100320-1759.jpg
 
for backpacking, I usually carry a Spyderco in my pocket and have a SAK Huntsman in my pack. That's usually all I have with me.
 
schmittie said:
Do you purposely choose a backpack with no kind of waist belt so there is no issue with knife carry?
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Haha! I'd rather not carry a knife than have a backpack without a hip belt!:eek:

I carry a belt knife on a dangler sheath, and if you don't have a dangler sheath you can use a cheap carabiner to dangle a regular sheath from a belt loop.
 
I am one of those ones that can`t leave a knife at home:eek:
When i head out I will have either my BM710 or 556 in my left front pocket, a 4ìsh fix blade on my belt, my KH kukuri lashed to the side of my pack, my Canadian Forces folder in my right front pocket and which ever of the BMs that isn't in my pocket will be deep and snug in my bag. That was last year, this year I have more knives and I have started making my own so some of them are going to have to stay home this year. I use the khuk as my hatchet and I picked up both a folding hand saw and a sawvivor like thing. All of the folders will always come with me, just because I find them that handy. I will have to rotate the fixed blades simply because I want to do some real world testing on my knives

Edit: I should say that is for an extended stay in the bush, for a day hike a folder and or a fixed blade depending on where I am going and if I intend on having a small fire. Weekend: Khuk folder fixed saw. A one handed opening folder is always in my pocket, just habit.
 
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I like to wear a neck knife as a fixed blade back-up, a leatherman skeletool clipped in my pocket for the blade and pliers, and a large fixed blade in or on my pack that I'll use as a chopper or main fixed blade once I get to my destination. Either wearing it on my belt or keeping it stabbed it into some wood while on site.
 
Here's how I carry mine. I slide the knife around more towards the back; it usually isn't very visible:

sheathrig.jpg
 
All my basic gear is on a leg rig, along with what ever fixed I decided to carry.
 
JCavSD said:
Have been carrying it on the shoulder strap lately. Nice thing about Tek-Lok is that it allows for several different carry options. Goes from pack to belt in no time.

IMG00103-20100320-1759.jpg
Click to expand...

What blade is that? I likee!
I like to carry mine over my shoulder and under my arm in a kydex sheath, much like a purse, I guess:o. The lanyard is right near my hand and I can yank it out in a hurry. (It is usually a farmer or a OHT) I hate having it simply around my neck.
Sort of like walkabouts but nearer my pocket and hanging straight down. Walkabout, what jacket is that? This may be an expensive thread for me. :D
 
In this pic I'm wearing the setup with the pack... difficult to see, but the sheath is around on the left. I'm showing my daughters how to gather the superficial bark (i.e. pretty much falling off by itself) from a birch; later they used it to start a fire with a firesteel.

barkharvest.jpg
 
Unlike Ray, I carry a Laconico fixed blade, but in my pack. I usually have a folder in my pocket (lately a Spyderco UKPK or Para, or a Buck Waimea). Plus a Vic Farmer in the pack, mostly for the saw, and frequently a stockman (Queen or Moore Maker) thrown in just for kicks.
 
beef said:
Walkabout: Nice woodlore.
And send me that wool shirt!
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Thanks :)

I'm not sure how useful the wool coat would be in Australia! It's pretty thick... much more so than my Swanndri wool jackets. It has to be about minus 5 (C) or colder before it's not too warm to wear :)

Edit to add: PS - I am enjoying my Akubra Tablelands hat!
 
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