tools for a missionary

[SPARTEN117]

Ok I have a "friend" who is a very rookie missionary , I know she needs a good flash light and knife and want to get here one . I was thinking an Inova X1 or X5 and some type of milti tool maybe a juice in blue. Oh and I would like to keep it $100 or less. Thanks:thumbup:

 

[Hondo.3]

A friend of mine has an X5. He loves it. On-Scene Tactical has one in stock, and can cook up a sweet concealex sheath for her at a reasonable price.

I think the Juice might be a good idea. If you want to get a pure knife, on the other hand, for $100 you could get a Ranger RD7 or a Himalayan Imports British Service Model, both of which would serve her well for heavy duty use. Although, she might attract unwanted attention from knife knuts, "Hey baby, nice blade!"

 

[Dune]

I don't carry a multi tool so I can't really comment on that, but I love my Surefire 6P. It's a litttle bigger then a mini-mag light and it's as bright as a 4 D-cell one. Shelf life on the batteries is very long too, so you don't have to worry about not needing the light for a long time and having a set of dead batteries when that time comes.

What kind of envoriment is she doing her missionary work in, too? Is it something where she's likely to need to defend herself or are the light and knife/multi tool more for an "incase stuff happens" or "it's just useful to have" situation? Also, what's legal where she'll be working? If it's reasonable to expect her to need to defend herself and it's legal I'd look into getting her a fixed blade instead of (or in addition to, you can never have too many blades =P) the multi tool.

 

[Grampa]

Where is she going? (general area or topography type only, please) This could make a difference in recommendations. Is she going to be in one place, or moving around? If the latter, then weight and size is a big consideration.

Flashlight: Something like a AA Mini-mag would be very portable and useful - whatever you get her, make sure she's got extra bulbs, and can easily get batteries in country. AAs are usually available.

Knife: A Juice or a Wave (sturdier) would be a good choice for a multi-tool. If she's using it primarily for kitchen work, then a smallish 4" fixed blade would be great - the multi-tool will just get nasty with gunk if used as a kitchen tool. If she needs more of a machete/camp knife, I'd recommend whatever is most used in country - not becuz it'll be so good, but becuz it will be less likely to be stolen or cause her hassles. For instance, a BK7 would be great, but its got way too "tactical" a look to be good for a missionary.

Unless she's into knives and steels, go with stainless steel, not carbon.

 

[Purple Haze]

Ok I have a "friend" who is a very rookie missionary , I know she needs a good flash light and knife

Is that a pretty robust denomination then? Round here they use religious tracts.

 

[Barrabas]

I think your on the right track with an Inova of some kind.
Concerning Leatherman - your on the right track there too.
I would suggest you trying to find one with on the the 154cm blades though.
But, not sure of any models with that kind of blade steel that would be under 100.

 

[OwenM]

Our church supports a couple of missionaries in the Phillipines(who are either native or married into native family), and I know a few more that are in South and Central America. Humid, and sometimes saltwater environment, very primitive in the outlying islands, though pretty normal, if poor, in the cities. They do building projects, and one has even gotten a kit and made a seaworthy boat. They have a multitude of needs/uses, but are frequently traveling by truck, boat, or foot, and are very limited in what and how much they can carry.
They highly favor knives like the Victorinox Hiker and Mechanic. I think a quality multitool would be a good choice as well.
AA lights with single 5mm LEDs and long runtimes go over really well with them-I bought a bunch of CMG Ultra-Gs when they were available, and have heard nothing but praise for them. When there is no power, and little ambient light, it doesn't take much output to make a light usable, and the issue becomes size, weight, runtime, and battery availability.

Grampa is right, though. It would help to give some more detail about the environment she'll be in if you want good suggestions.

 

[SPARTEN117]

SOUTH AMERICA, but like I said she is a rookie, and not a knife person. I don’t think she could defend her self she is athletic but she has been very sheltered all her life were as I have trained to be a soldier since I was 11. So the knife would be for utility only and has to be non-tactical looking I was also thinking maybe a BM mini-grip. I personally like surefire I have a G2 and a E2d I would love to get her one but they are a little battery hungry so that’s why I was thinking of the X5 20 hour battery life on two C123's that beats both my surefires I want a box of batteries to last her a while

 

[ksc73164]

When I went to Costa Rica on a short term work trip, I took a Vic SAK, Leatherman Super Tool, and AA MiniMag. The only thing I'd do different now would be to take my Fenix L1P instead of the Mag. The new Inova X1 with the reflector or an old Infinity Ultra G would also be good choices. I have Surefires for emergencies and love them, but for utility, I would stick with AAs for the world wide availability and a small longer running light. The SAK and the Leatherman are great utility tools. If I needed to do food prep, I would take my AG Russell Deer Hunter in D2. If I needed something bigger, I'd wait till I got there and buy a machete.

 

[Grampa]

Okay then, definitely stainless steel, to prevent rusting. Leatherman (Juice or Wave) probably better, Victornix okay. On the flashlight, from a "been there, done that" point of view, SERIOUSLY consider going with something that can use locally available batteries, like AAs. She will not want to tote a box of batteries around; jungle heat, humidity, fungus and bugs mess up more high tech stuff than you can imagine!

BM mini-grip a nice complement to the Leatherman - it'll do fine for the kitchen too!

 

[JD Mandrell]

One the knives, I'd say:

Stainless steel Mora #760 and a Opinel folder.

2 or each for "spares".

Good solid reliable knives and not to expensive.

The reason I stress that, is that going on past experiences with friends and family that have been to Africa and So. America as missionaries, anything that's noticably nice and expensive is going to disappear the first time she turns her back on it.

 

[Monocrom]

I love my Inova X5. Hate the fact that it doesn't come with a carry-clip. But as a missionary, I doubt that the lithium batteries will be readily available; where you friend is going. Best bet is a light that uses LED bulbs with regular AA batteries. One idea is to get her a mini-maglite with an after-market LED conversion kit. (The LED bulbs last much longer than standard ones). Here's one source ==> http://www.niteize.com/category.php?category_id=28
Another good choice would be Gerber's Infinity Ultra Task light. (the new model). Small, sturdy pocket clip, 1 LED, uses 1 AA battery. Not as powerful as a mini-maglite with a conversion kit, but very handy!

As for the Juice, everyone I know who owns one refers to it as a toy. Leatherman's other multi-tools, even The Original, are much better!

 

[Halfneck]

Leatherman Wave
Benchmade Griptillian/Spyderco Delica
LED converted Maglight - AA's are easier to find than lithium and cheaper.

And my suggestion - Photon Microlight.

 

[ahgar]

I wish her the best of luck and a safe return. as far as a knife I would go with either a spyderco delica-plain edge, or an endura plain-edge. if either of these is too tactical then I would opt for a sak or one of the mora's. both of which are good quality but not too expensive if lost or stolen. later, ahgar

 

[aidyen]

I don't think you should get her a Maglite, I've actually found them to be quite fragile. I would go with a Gerber Infinity Ultra. It has 100 battery life on a single AA with an LED. You could get the Gerber, a Leatherman Juice C2 and a Frost Mora fixed blade for about $75 total, before shipping. For instance:

http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=lm70101
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=FT860M
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=GB80010

That should cover everything she needs with high quality, non-tactical looking items---light, mini toolkit, and a fixed blade for kitchen and cutting tasks....

 

[Hondo.3]

You know, a headlamp might be more useful than a conventional flashlight. I've got a Petzl. It uses LEDs, has long burn time, and takes AAs.

I think the theft factor needs to be taken into consideration. Maybe it would be a good idea to get her something that she can keep on her person at all times. On-Scene Tactical makes pretty cool neck rigs for folders. She could keep it on her at all times.

 

[beefangusbeef]

Another thing that might prove very very useful is a good water filter/purifier. Especially in lesser developed areas even "drinking" water might need to be filtered. Just a thought. I would reccomend something with a cleanable filter or the new MSR purifier is really nice too. They last just about forever.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Good idea on keeping all these gadgets with her -- a fanny pack will do fine.

Definitely consider a stainless steel Mora or clipper. It's a knife women relate to, being basically a paring knife. Ragweed Forge has them. A small Juice is good for routine fix-its.

Flashlight must be LED, not bulbs, and AA or AAA batteries. I like my Inova X-1 but if you can get one with better battery life, go for it. Consider also the PALight which takes a 9-volt.

 

[1gailt]

for the flashlight recommendation since cr123 batteries could be difficult to find or expensive.I would recommend the fenix L1p 1aa battery or L2p 2aa batteries a lot more light than the x5 innova.these are excellent little lights and not much more than the innova X5.
I'm not familiar with the innova X1 but I hear its good also.

 

[Quiet Storm]

Victorinox Trekker and one of the Streamlight Twin-Tasks.