Ultimate backpacking knife: $7.48 (for a set of four)

i never understood giving up the right equipment to shave off 3 grams... as far as i'm concerned, adding 1lb of weight, and having a gear bag with the RIGHT equipment, seems to be a good trade off.
 
BePrepared said:
i never understood giving up the right equipment to shave off 3 grams... as far as i'm concerned, adding 1lb of weight, and having a gear bag with the RIGHT equipment, seems to be a good trade off.
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Define "right equipment". My father's been hiking/climbing for 35+ years and I've been doing the same for 15 years with 85MM SAKs. The only change was about three years ago doing a section of the Pacific Crest Trail when decided he wanted small pliers because in his own words one of his buddies got a "hardon for tarps and the things always need the eyelets fixed". So now he carries a Gerber Clutch.

These aren't day hikes. These are minimum 7 day pack in/pack out hikes in varied terrain where you often have to carry 2-3 days of water with you. Every ounce counts, and big choppers are about as useful as a hole in the head and at least as problematic.

Edit: Oh, and to the OP - I personally like Victorinox 3 inch paring knives if you're going the ultra-light route. Same steel as in a SAK, molded plastic handles and a lifetime warranty. Same penknife blade profile as well. They go on sale pretty regularly for $4-$5.
 
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I like a big chopper. But then again I'm not a backpacker. The looks the same to me. If you've seen one tree or rock you've seen them all. I don't have a lot of fun or even see much use of a small knife. But to each their own.
 
ThriftyJoe said:
See there's this thing now among backpackers. The smaller and cheaper your knife, the more experienced and knowledgeable about backpacking you are supposed to be. It's like a disarmament race. Some guys are taking it to extremes and foregoing a knife completely in favor of a single edge razor blade. That almost seems like showing off to me. ;)
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Alfaholic said:
If I were to buy such a knife for backpacking I would buy the basic Victorinox paring knife. Still cheap but properly made and heat treated in a quality factory.
Chinese knives still have a way to go..............
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These Vics are great little knives. I've been using one in the kitchen for a while now.

However, I'm going to take something a little more stout when I backpack.

I do not cut the edges off my maps or cut the tags out of my clothing.
I don't think the OP is describing knowledge. He's describing a form of zealotry.
If it's knowledge you want to show off, just don't carry a knife, and flintknapp what you need as you go. :p
 
a real man would eschew steel all together, and make do with flint and chert, found along the way, and napped in his spare time. :D
 
I hike with no gear at all, just the iPhone so I can upload videos of how cold and wet and hungry I am ;)
 
RandomAyes said:
I hike with no gear at all, just the iPhone so I can upload videos of how cold and wet and hungry I am ;)
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This is perfect. :thumbup: :D
I would rather go hiking and simply take along the memory of the last knife I looked at. ;)
 
RevDevil said:
This is perfect. :thumbup: :D
I would rather go hiking and simply take along the memory of the last knife I looked at. ;)
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Amen to that. My last hiking/camping trip was with a group that had a strict "no electronics" rule. While I would like to have taken some photos and videos of the fun/enlightenment/suffering that went on, I am happy to have it as a memory that I can only share in text.
 
Alfaholic said:
If I were to buy such a knife for backpacking I would buy the basic Victorinox paring knife. Still cheap but properly made and heat treated in a quality factory.
Chinese knives still have a way to go..............

http://www.victorinox.com/ch/produc.../Paring-Knife-SwissClassic-orange/6.7606.L119
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Steven,

Those Victorinox pairing knives are a solid deal for sure. The Bakers & Chefs knives ThriftyJoe referenced in his first post are actually made in Brazil out of German steel. I don't have any additional info on what specific steel used. I've been using some Bakers & Chefs knives as kitchen beaters for quite a while now and have almost no complaints. I would put the pairing knives in the same quality range as the Victorinox.

Jason
 
When I was much younger and did the light weight backpacking thing I had an old Gerber Pixie that was just about perfect for that kind of thing. It lives in the kitchen knife block now and I carry a little more substantial f.b. for my woods bummin hikes.--KV
 
unit said:
Amen to that. My last hiking/camping trip was with a group that had a strict "no electronics" rule. While I would like to have taken some photos and videos of the fun/enlightenment/suffering that went on, I am happy to have it as a memory that I can only share in text.
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Uh, sorry, but no way..... I don't want to waste a trip and not be able to take pictures. There is no such rule with me. You don't like it, the "group" can go on without me. I don't have time in my life to conform to such silly "rules".

Doc
 
I'd still rather put up with the extra ounces and carry something more sturdy such as this new necker Bryan breeden is making for me. At 5 1/2" long and made of 3/32" stock it's still hardly gonna break the scales.And the cost, well that's a whopping $20( That might be because I ordered a larger knife as well but the price will still be low) so it's hardly gonna break any bank accounts either !;):thumbup:

IMG_0442.jpg
 
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Morrow said:
Steven,
Those Victorinox pairing knives are a solid deal for sure. The Bakers & Chefs knives ThriftyJoe referenced in his first post are actually made in Brazil out of German steel. I don't have any additional info on what specific steel used. I've been using some Bakers & Chefs knives as kitchen beaters for quite a while now and have almost no complaints. I would put the pairing knives in the same quality range as the Victorinox.
Jason
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Interesting Jason thanks for that.
Bladeforums.........you learn something new every day!:)
 
Alfaholic said:
Interesting Jason thanks for that.
Bladeforums.........you learn something new every day!:)
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I think they are manufactured by Mundial. I'm speculating though and am only basing this assumption on the same style handles on the bigger knives. The handles on these bigger knives are my only complaint. Blocky....too thick nearest the blade making a pinch grip uncomfortable and sharpening a pain in the rump. :p
 
A member on here has a slick piggyback kydex sheath that holds a 14" Condor El Salvador machete and a Victorinox paring knife. Seems like a good combo to me, and the sheath probably cost more than the machete and knife combined. :D

The Victorinox paring knives are good stuff and will hold up to a lot if you use them judiciously and within their limits.
 
DocGP said:
Uh, sorry, but no way..... I don't want to waste a trip and not be able to take pictures. There is no such rule with me. You don't like it, the "group" can go on without me. I don't have time in my life to conform to such silly "rules".

Doc
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That is cool. We all have choices to make and I considered myself lucky to be invited on this trip.

Sometimes trying something different turns out to hold pleasant learning opportunities (this was one such occasion;))
 
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