Recommendation for a female friend of mine. Inputs are highly appreciated!!!

[AreBeeBee]

Sugguestion: If you haven't already done so, ask her to outline what her day-to-day trail routine will be with regard to meals, overnighting, and such.

She sounds experienced and probably has already a well-tried routine that any knife/tool will need to fit into smoothly. Novelty is fine and fun, but for a new piece of gear to earn its place on the trip, it has to fill an important need and do so with as little fuss as possible.

That will probably point her toward some kind of hybrid solution such as Pinnah recommends.

 

[22-rimfire]

I think she needs to be very careful and it would be a lot safer to go with a buddy.

 

[VermontEdge]

Not sure what you're looking at for budget and also not sure if just weight is important or if overall size matters as well.

Not knowing those two details, I would say that of all the fixed blades I've had, if I was going onto the trail for that long, I would either take a Benchmade 162 Bushcrafter or a Bark River Gunny in stainless. If she's going to have one blade on her and will be doing a lot with it (like prying, as you said) I think that the 162's tip strength and overall robustness would be a good fit.

I've also been really impressed by the gunny for the same reasons. Also, if she carries a small strop loaded with compound it wouldn't be too hard to keep a convex edge touched up.

Just my 2 cents!

Gunny comes in around 5 ounces and bushcrafter is almost 8.

 

[Mathieu85]

Thank you very much for your contributions, you made me get a different perspective.

I also came the the conclusion that the F1 is already to big of a knife like gadgetgeek said. I really like the suggested Saddle Mountain Skinner but it looks like the blade has a slight recurve (not the best option for a non-knife-nut to sharpen I would say). Also the Salt and the Mora have been mentioned a lot so I will look into these as well.

The reason I ruled out Busses is because I am a big fan and know them well. Myself I would take my CABS on a trip like this and I am sure I would be very happy. I have travelled and enjoyed the great outdoors a lot but I don't have any experience that comes even close to a 4 month hike and even the CABS might be overkill for a 5'2 person. More or less all the posts point in that direction as well.

Pinnah and AreBeeBee, your posts has helped me a lot. Pinnah, you said that long distance trips of this nature tends to drive a person to a lightweight or ultralight approach that's hard to comprehend if you haven't been there/done that. I truly love Opinels and also SAKs. In fact I am Swiss and I think I got my first SAK when I was 8 and my first Opinel when I was 10 and I have always appreciated them. I also do agree with all your points about the Opinel. It is probably THE best slicer/food prep etc knife I have ever EDC'd but don't you think that a Squirt or SAK plus a blade that is a bit more sturdy than an Opinel might be a good choice? Just in case...

22-rimfire she has thought of this as well and she won't be doing the full trip alone. She will not always be with the same person but there will be different friends hiking with her.

At the moment I think a Bark River Gunny (has also been mentioned by someone) plus a small multitool like the Squirt or Juice would be a pretty good combo.

 

[22-rimfire]

If she chooses one knife, I would go with a Vic SAK such as the Tinker. I edc the Vic Adventurer every single day. It is just the Tinker up sized to 111mm and it is most useful. Many multi-tools are heavy, but a pliers might be useful which might come in handy for repairs. The Trekker suggestion was made to include a saw . My choice is the Vic Spirit but it is a lump of steel. But it is very versatile.

I doubt she needs a fixed blade unless it is for self defense.

 

[matus]

I also have Mora 2000 and it is very capable blade (food prep and much more) and lightweight blade. But I would note that the handle could be a little on the large side for small hands. But there are plenty other Mora stainless knives that have different handles. Before doing the choice it should be more clear what is the intended use. It is well possible that a SAK would be all that is necessary, but if she will need to prepare firewood than fixed blade is definitely the way to go (the knife should not be too small for such purpose obviously).

 

[22-rimfire]

I like the Mora 2000. My only complaint is that it is a bit loose in the sheath and could fall out.

 

[DeadOnTarget]

Before doing the choice it should be more clear what is the intended use. It is well possible that a SAK would be all that is necessary, but if she will need to prepare firewood than fixed blade is definitely the way to go (the knife should not be too small for such purpose obviously).

Any outdoor trail hiking should be prepared for survival. So you plan to go with a group, stay close to roads and towns... Great! But prepare for the worst, getting separated from the group, loosing the trail and one careless step leaves you injury. Now a SAK, though nice to have is not ideal for the situation you have found yourself in.

With that being said I can second a Mora due to quality, weight and cost. However there's always nicer blades to, not to say they will do anything the Mora won't, but may do somethings a little better. IMHO I would yo with the Mora and spend extra on MREs, Paracord, Ferro Rod, anything else she does not yet have on her list that should be.

BTW totally jealous, would love to go on an extended hike like that, but with the family my hikes don't go over a weekend.

 

[pinnah]

Pinnah, you said that long distance trips of this nature tends to drive a person to a lightweight or ultralight approach that's hard to comprehend if you haven't been there/done that. I truly love Opinels and also SAKs. In fact I am Swiss and I think I got my first SAK when I was 8 and my first Opinel when I was 10 and I have always appreciated them. I also do agree with all your points about the Opinel. It is probably THE best slicer/food prep etc knife I have ever EDC'd but don't you think that a Squirt or SAK plus a blade that is a bit more sturdy than an Opinel might be a good choice? Just in case...

Mathieu,

There are several things interwoven in your question. I'll try to unravel them with the caveat, these are based on my experiences and others will have very different (and legitimate) approaches.

First, it is hard to explain how hard excess weight is on a long trip. My long trip was a self-supported coast-coast bike tour. I compare notes with AT thru hikers a lot (we see them often in New England). About 2 weeks into a trip, a big purge takes place. Putting the knife into a larger context, I think weight and gear of all sorts are a hedge against fear of the unknown. As the trip becomes more known and confidence grows (and skill increases), one can very naturally make do with less. Less of everything. Less cooking supplies. Less shelter. Less sleep system. Less clothing. And less in the knife department.

Second, the backpacking/climbing/ultra light mindset doesn't think of a knife alone. Instead, the entire kit is seen as a system. All of it is necessary for safe travel. Losing a sleeping bag or stove is as catastrophic as losing a knife. But if you have shelter and a stove, your need for a heavy knife is lessened. Harvey Manning wrote one of the great books on backpacking, "Backpacking: One Step At a Time". He was also the first editor of "Freedom of the Hills" which is considered to be the "bible" of climbing in the US. Here is what he wrote in one of the early editions of FotH.

"For special purposes a hunting knife is superior, as are double-bitted axes, cavalry sabers, Gatling guns, and dynamite, but a modest mountaineer contents himself with a modest blade."

He carried a "boy scout" type knife. Colin Fletcher, author of "The Complete Walker", perhaps the most widely known backpacking book carried an SAK. If you hit any of the thru-hiker web sites, you'll find that razor blades and Victorinox Classics are favored.

I should mention, that in all the years of bike touring, backpacking and ski touring, I've never had to make a fire or build a shelter to deal with an emergency situation. A part of this has to do with being conservative but I've messed up before. So really, this is a statement about the benefit of thinking about the whole equipment list as a system.

Third, despite the weight, the Opinel 9 and 10 are the toughest folders I've ever used. I've never had one develop blade play and with the lock disengaged, can be used to baton wood if you are careful. I think a strong man could break the handle of an 8, but a small woman probably wouldn't. This is why i suggest the 8, 9 and 10. They're very tough and imo, among the toughest ounce per ounce. The problem with any fixed blade, is that you pick up the weight penalty of the sheath.

[Note: when ski touring in New England in the spring, wood is often caked with wet, refrozen snow and I can see more of a need to split wood for fire making and in that case, I'll replace my Opinel 10 with a Mora, or similar fixed blade.]
South View from Pine Island by Pinnah, on Flickr

Fourth and finally, I carried a Victorinox Classic as my primary backpacking knife for many years and they justifiably remain popular for good reason. I also tried bigger multi-tools for several years. But, I find the tool selection on the SAKs was not as well suited for modern backpacking as a multi-tool, primarily for zipper, sewing and stove repair. I consider the pliers and scissors to be must haves and really appreciate the mini-file. I also found though that the number of times these are need are rare and the weight of full sized MT is not justified. "Bad weight" as they say.

This remains the most functional and toughest combo I've used.
Outdoor Carry by Pinnah, on Flickr

Sorry for the length. Hope this helps. She's lucky to ahve a good friend.

 

[christopher]

I hate to break this up, but how would she feel about a small hatchet? Smoothing in the 10- 12 inch length. They are available from several manufacturers and cost $30 -50 for the average one. Weight is around 14.5oz a way of sharpening must be included. I prefer a Lansky Puck sharpener, but there are several of a light weight.

The reason for suggesting a hatchet instead of a knife is the number of uses that it has over a knife, while still retaining the uses, other than stabbing. Think about it for a second before you reject the idea out of hand. It's a matter of preference, but I would vote for a hatchet and a Vic.

 

[leghog]

If she chooses one knife, I would go with a Vic SAK such as the Tinker.

Yes. Again, this. It's all she'll need. Seriously.

Think about, you say she is well versed in the outdoors yet she doesn't have a knife. Why? Likely because she hasn't needed one thus far. The Victorinox Tinker will really be all the knife she'll need.

I hate to break this up, but how would she feel about a small hatchet? Smoothing in the 10- 12 inch length. They are available from several manufacturers and cost $30 -50 for the average one. Weight is around 14.5oz a way of sharpening must be included. I prefer a Lansky Puck sharpener, but there are several of a light weight.

The reason for suggesting a hatchet instead of a knife is the number of uses that it has over a knife, while still retaining the uses, other than stabbing. Think about it for a second before you reject the idea out of hand. It's a matter of preference, but I would vote for a hatchet and a Vic.

Do you really think anyone will walk the PCT with a hachet and a puck sharpener? What does the lightest weight hatchet weigh (and that's not even considering its volume)? A SAK alone will be plenty adequate.

 

[christopher]

Leghog, The type of hatchet I'm talking about is 14+ oz. More than a knife to be sure. My thought was that I thought it would be wise to consider both before making the decision. Not to make a decision for any one. Just to think about it. Take the topic "hatchet vs knife" and put it into your favorite search window and I think you'll be surprised.

I had second thoughts about this and I went looking and got an education.

 

[christopher]

Another item of discussion might be just how the girl is going to travel. Is she willing to cut down trees/lop off branches for a fire? Or is she carrying her fire in a stove?

There is no doubt that a neck knife is handier than a hatchet, but then a knife small enough to be a neck knife probably won't do half the work of a small hatchet. Then again, there is the weight and size factors in long distance backpacking. Ounces will feel like pounds a the end of each day.

Boy, I just don't know. Whatever's right. It's an individual choice.

 

[pinnah]

Christopher, thru-hikers want to keep their knife weight to under 2 oz.

 

[Steve6387]

Christopher, thru-hikers want to keep their knife weight to under 2 oz.

+1

I'm not a thru hiker but do many multi day treks and used to do a lot of mountaineering. I go a little heavier than that. My backpacking combo is a Leatherman PST for equipment repairs and a Rat 1 for gen knife duties.

 

[bdmicarta]

A lot of people on this forum want to buy a massive blade so they can chop down a forest in order to "survive". Maybe it's just the desire to buy more knives and play with them. I've done a lot of backpacking and carried only knives such as the Gerber LST. Most hikers these days go self-contained so they carry specific survival gear and don't have to cut down trees in order to improvise.

When I first read the thread title I was thinking Spyderco Delica or Endura because they are good knives, not expensive, and very light weight. A Manix 2 lightweight would also be a good choice. Then all I'm reading is recommendations for large fixed blade knives. It wouldn't be hard to find a 7" fixed blade in good stainless steel. It would be worth asking the hiker if she is interested in fixed blades or folders and then go from there.

 

[TravisH]

Agree with pinnah - "Nothing more than a Mora is needed.

Fixed ...
Mora Craftline Allround TopQ - 4", SS, 3oz, $10
http://www.bladehq.com/item--Morakniv-Craftline-TopQ-Allround--31075

Folding ...
Opinel 8 Trekking - 3.25", SS, 2oz, $14
http://www.bladehq.com/item--Opinel-No-8-Trekking-Oak-Stainless--20463

Spyderco Salt - 3", H1, 2oz, $67
http://www.knifeworks.com/spydercosalt1yellowfrnhandleplainedge.aspx

 

[DocT]

Cold Steel Full Tang Pendleton Mini Hunter is one tough knife and only 2.4 oz.

Adaptable sheath.

 

[A.L.]

I would recommend 3 "blades":
- nail clippers
- Leatherman PS4 Squirt
- Spoon or spork (lexan or titanium)

Optional luxuries she might consider adding:
- Narrow pointed splinter tweezers
- Light folding food knife such an Opinel 8, 9 or 10 or a Mora Classic
- Medium grit DMT "credit card" sharpening tool
- Edited to add: an army style, folding can opener

My thinking...

Long distance trips of this nature tends to drive a person to a lightweight or ultralight approach that's hard to comprehend if you haven't been there/done that.

As Harvey Manning noted, backpacking is really footpacking. Care for feet, and in particular, care for toe nails is critical. IME, nail clippers are a must have.

The Leatherman PS4 Squirt is a nearly ideal tool for modern backpacking repair work. The pliers can be used to drive a needle through webbing and tough nylon and can be used to deal with most zipper jams and repairs. Little in a modern backpacking kit demands screws or adjustments. One exception is hiking pole straps. The screw driver blades on the PS4 are sufficient or easily cut off with a dremmel if judged to be not needed. The scissors are useful for sewing repairs and 1st aid bandage prep. The knife blade is sufficient for cutting what little cordage is cut (not often, paracord is typically the heaviest she'll deal with) and can be used to open food packages.

90% of backpacking food can be handled with a spoon/spork. Foods that need to be spread can spread with the spoon handle.

This covers the "must haves" of my lightweight kit. Now, for the optional items...

Deep splinters can fester and left untreated, can force you off the trail. SAK or Leatherman Micra style tweezers just aren't enough. For short trips, I am comfortable forgoing tweezers. For a long trip, I would definitely carry them. They are standard part of my "10 essentials" kit.

A food/wood knife isn't needed for modern backpacking. It just isn't. Literally, thousands of people complete the major trails every year with nothing more than a Squirt or Victorinox Classic. Still, some foods are just easier to deal with with a proper knife and if you're going to carry a knife, it might as well be great at food prep. The Opinel 8, 9 and 10 and the classic wood handled Mora Classics (both in stainless) are both insanely tough and light enough to be reasonable luxuries. I have huge XL hands and prefer the Opinel 10 for 3 seasons and I carry a Mora Companion in the winter, when I carry a wood stove. I'll be getting a Mora Classic soon to drop weight.

Outdoor Carry by Pinnah, on Flickr

Speaking of stoves and fires... She may consider a "multi-fuel" stove capable of burning twigs, such as one of the Caldera Cone variants. I've been using a twig stove (most in the winter) for several years (Emberlit) and generally you don't need to batton wood to feed them and if you do, an Opinel 9 is enough knife for the small wood these stoves are made for. Larger fires on the trail just aren't that common or needed. EDITED TO ADD: I'm not advocating for a wood stove. I think their horribly fiddly and prefer alcohol for a multifuel stove can extend range between alcohol resupplies on long sections of the PCT or AT. Main point to make here is that a diminutive Opinel 9 is sufficient to feed these stoves (I prefer the 10 or a Mora). Nothing more than a Mora is needed.

Both the Opinels and Moras use Sandvick 12C27. IMO, this is the nicest fine carbide steel I've used. I . it over "carbon steel" now. Both companies harden it in the 58Rc range, which seems like the sweet spot. Softer similar stainless (Case SS, or Victorinox Inox) dulls noticeably faster for me.

This steel sharpens easily in the field. I can't imagine a knife that will make the trip without being sharpened. The DMT "credit card" sharpener is my favorite lightweight stone. Some people just pack sections of wet/dry paper but I find that to be less durable and a lot more "fiddly".

edited to add:
Regarding opening cans, 99% of trail food is not canned and increasingly, that which is has easy opening tops. If a can opener is really deemed needed, an army style folding can opener can be tied to the draw cord of the food or stove stuff sack. Weighs a matter of grams, won't get lost and easily jettisoned when deemed extra weight. When, not if.

Hope this helps,

Man, I am glad that works for you but I have seen you post that combo for like seventy nine thousand times already.

 

[pinnah]

Man, I am glad that works for you but I have seen you post that combo for like seventy nine thousand times already.

Sure. Glad to help. Almost as often as the question gets asked (176 thousand times) but not as often as the proposed answers of "carry a large chopper" or "carry a hatchet" are offered (2.5 million and 1.5 million times, respectively).