Proper or best way to carry a Hoodlum

[mars5l]

I've decided to carry my Hoodlum while hiking because im not liking my Reaper as much if wanna chop a limb out of the way. The Hoodlum is 3x weight and twice as long so it pulls down a bit more when just on a belt loop. Is there a better way to attach it? Is there supposed to be a hip strap or something?

 

[Lesknife]

I’ve seen some guys carrying a heavy machete with a shoulder sling attached diagonally across to the belt and sheath. I don’t know if that’s the proper way but it looked like it was working well.

 

[Makael]

I've decided to carry my Hoodlum while hiking because im not liking my Reaper as much if wanna chop a limb out of the way. The Hoodlum is 3x weight and twice as long so it pulls down a bit more when just on a belt loop. Is there a better way to attach it? Is there supposed to be a hip strap or something?

Good move switching to the hoodlum. I would attach to pack.

 

[GPyro]

Good move switching to the hoodlum. I would attach to pack.

I was gonna say the same.
That's where I carry my machete.

 

[pinnah]

I've decided to carry my Hoodlum while hiking because im not liking my Reaper as much if wanna chop a limb out of the way. The Hoodlum is 3x weight and twice as long so it pulls down a bit more when just on a belt loop. Is there a better way to attach it? Is there supposed to be a hip strap or something?

I guess this depends on how often you realistically need to chop a limb out of the way and if you plan on going after said limb while wearing your pack.

If I was forced to carry the Hoodlum while hiking, I would attach it to the side compression straps of my pack (or side pocket sleeve, depending on which pack), much like how I carry tent poles or skis. But then, cutting a limb isn't something I generally do while hiking and if I had to do it, I would be taking my pack off anyway.

Machete use for clearing out thick underbrush is a different thing, I think, but again, isn't something I need to do where I hike.

 

[mars5l]

I don't use it that much. Part of it being carried is a partly protection since I dont carry a firearm yet when hiking. I only wear a day sling since most of my hikes are only a few hours and maybe 5-6 miles. I don't mind it at myself, just a way to support it better, if there is a way

 

[MT_Pokt]

Strapped to the pack is how I would carry it if I felt like I needed to drag it along.

If "defense" is your purpose; you're going to be in trouble if you need it though. "Flight" is a better option...lol. I won't preach; but for defense you want something more accessible and wieldable. Big knives are slow, and you're inviting someone (or some critter) to within arms length and you're going to draw a 12" blade from a sheath with multiple retention devices? I would have something small and devastating if it were me; a karambit for instance (along with proper "know-how".

I carry a 10mm Glock 29 in a chest rig when I hike. In my pack is a folding saw and on my hip (or waist strap on pack) is my Punk or Thug depending on where and how long.

 

[pjsjr]

carry a 10mm Glock 29

Good for just about anything that walks or crawls...or flies!

 

[300Bucks]

We have discussed this issue several times, but the ideas and stories are good reading.
The biggest knife I would likely be carrying would be a Selector in a belt sheath. If your memory is really good, you might remember a couple of us interviewing a guy in Alaska while on a Buck Knife cruise. He saved his life with a 110 against a Kodiak Brown Bear (he showed us the scars). Bottom line went like this. Hunting Blacktails in AK, shoots deer, props gun against tree, starts gutting deer, out of willows rushes bear. Fight begins with him stabbing bear in neck, blood spews, bear chews on him as he stabs some more and bear then quits and falls down, he crawls to rifle and get the job done with several shots to be sure. Several major muscles hanging loose so he crawls to beach and fires rifle some more. Son on big boat sees him and comes as quick as possubke. Fellow was a concrete worker most of his life and seemed fit (aka tough as nails), even as a older man than me. Coast Guard flies him to hospital, son returns a few days later skins bear. Its told with photos we took at his house, here several years ago. He has newspaper articles mounted on wall with skin. So...…..All I got is a 119 and only travel in black bear and wild pig areas. Have Hickory hiking stick that's hard as a rock, and if carrying firearm all I got is .357 wheel gun with Buffalo Bullets Hardcast Bear bullets. (Best case event, pig steps out, my aim is good, build fire, cut out backstraps, BBQ, eat)
300Bucks

 

[Makael]

We have discussed this issue several times, but the ideas and stories are good reading.
The biggest knife I would likely be carrying would be a Selector in a belt sheath. If your memory is really good, you might remember a couple of us interviewing a guy in Alaska while on a Buck Knife cruise. He saved his life with a 110 against a Kodiak Brown Bear (he showed us the scars). Bottom line went like this. Hunting Blacktails in AK, shoots deer, props gun against tree, starts gutting deer, out of willows rushes bear. Fight begins with him stabbing bear in neck, blood spews, bear chews on him as he stabs some more and bear then quits and falls down, he crawls to rifle and get the job done with several shots to be sure. Several major muscles hanging loose so he crawls to beach and fires rifle some more. Son on big boat sees him and comes as quick as possubke. Fellow was a concrete worker most of his life and seemed fit (aka tough as nails), even as a older man than me. Coast Guard flies him to hospital, son returns a few days later skins bear. Its told with photos we took at his house, here several years ago. He has newspaper articles mounted on wall with skin. So...…..All I got is a 119 and only travel in black bear and wild pig areas. Have Hickory hiking stick that's hard as a rock, and if carrying firearm all I got is .357 wheel gun with Buffalo Bullets Hardcast Bear bullets. (Best case event, pig steps out, my aim is good, build fire, cut out backstraps, BBQ, eat)
300Bucks

yeah, I would rather bet my life on a more substantial knife than a folding 110 in a similar situation. Its a good thing blade was already out while skinning when bear rushed. otherwise a two handed opening blade would be mighty tough to do with all that going on. lol. A fixed I suppose would be my preference, Any of the Hood lineup would work.

 

[pinnah]

I don't use it that much. Part of it being carried is a partly protection since I dont carry a firearm yet when hiking. I only wear a day sling since most of my hikes are only a few hours and maybe 5-6 miles. I don't mind it at myself, just a way to support it better, if there is a way

Local hiking "cultures" vary considerably so what I'm about to say may have absolutely nothing to do with your local context.

I hunt in northtern New England and during hunting season, it's common to see hunters getting coffee in village stores before or after hunting with suitably big fixed blades on their belt. Couldn't even begin to count the number of fixed blades I've seen in that context.

I also hike in both Vermont and New Hampshire. Been hiking, climbing and backcountry skiing up there since the 80s. I can count the number of times I've seen somebody wearing a fixed blade of any sort on 1 hand. I'm not making this up. The hiking culture up here is much more shaped by mountaineering and ultra light hiking where a humble SAK is about as much as anybody carries. That won't make sense to some people and will make perfect sense to a lot more.

Last year there was a horrible attack on the AT down in ?Tennessee? (if memory serves right). A mentally deranged man was released (instead of being hospitalized) after threatening people with a large knife and went right back out on the AT where he attacked a group of hikers, tragically killing an veteran who was thru hiking as way of working through is PTSD. Really awful story.

The story is something of a Rorschach test in terms of self defense on the trail. Some people see it as an example where a handgun would have saved the day. Other people see it as why large knives on the trail should be treated with suspicion.

There are very, very few places on Earth where a large fixed blade is needed for safe backcountry travel. Witness Will Steger's crossing of Antartica by ski or Himalayan style Alpinism.

Here's what I'm getting at... I support your right to carry a large knife. Your hike, not mine. But in all likelihood, you don't need it. You want it. It makes you happy and that's cool. I'm not telling you not to carry it. Just noting that whatever you think the need is, thousands among thousands of people who know more than you and I combined travel in the backcountry safely without a large fixed blade.

In terms of self-defense against human attackers.... Statistically speaking, it's insanely rare on the trail. And in my neck of the woods, if you were seen walking the trail with a large chopper prominently displayed within easy reach, likely or not, you would instantly be perceived to be threat, just like that young man how killed the vet last year.

It may be that fixed blades are common in your neck of the woods. If so, that's cool. And regardless, you should carry what makes you happy and if that's a broad sword, have at it.

My pick out of the Buck line would be something like the Bucklite Max large fixed blade, or a 110 light with a plastic handle. YMMV

 

[st8yd]

I hate to contribute to the spiralling derail but here's my peace.
In any situation in the wild when it comes to fight or flight, well we aint birds so there wont be any flying and there aint many viscous animals we can out run. So it would be a good idea to be prepared.
Sure the likelyhood of needing it is extremely slim, but it may save your life. Kinda like parachutes and life jackets.
Just because nobody else does, is sad that it makes the prepared one to look like the perp.

 

[jbmonkey]

I hate to contribute to the spiralling derail but here's my peace.
In any situation in the wild when it comes to fight or flight, well we aint birds so there wont be any flying and there aint many viscous animals we can out run. So it would be a good idea to be prepared.
Sure the likelyhood of needing it is extremely slim, but it may save your life. Kinda like parachutes and life jackets.
Just because nobody else does, is sad that it makes the prepared one to look like the perp.

yep. better to be a bit over prepared than massively under prepared.

I'm of the opinion if your using any knife to defend yourself against a wild animal of a larger size and a predator, good luck. sure it's been done, but I'd prefer a revolver in a magnum myself or a 10mm full size auto loader........where I am anyways. no guarantees even then but least more potential to stop it.

 

[st8yd]

ya, firearm for sure. Even during archery season hunting I try to carry a pistol.

 

[GPyro]

Just hiking....
I carry my Ruger .357 revolver and maybe a 117.
Hunting I usually have a fixed blade Skinner of sorts. Machete in/ on the backpack. Just a Condor, but I like carbon machetes with big handles.
Just black bears where I hunt, but I have seen wolves..... Sorta unnerving when you see the tracks in the snow the next morning where they followed you the previous night.

 

[st8yd]

Just black bears where I hunt, but I have seen wolves..... Sorta unnerving when you see the tracks in the snow the next morning where they followed you the previous night.

Ya I had a friend that was watching his son down a mountain side while hunting and watched a big wolf stalk him, it made a nice full body mount.