Victorinox One-Hand Trekker for bushcraft and general outdoor activities..

el gigantor

el gigantor

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Hello my blade forum gurus. I come seeking your wisdom yet again..

After an exhaustive search, I believe I've set my sights on the Vic One-Hand Trekker. I want something that will be able to handle standard campsite duties. Multi-functional with a shaped and comfortable handle. One handed deployment, and a solid and reliable toolkit. Good quality that will last for years (with proper maintenance).

I've watched the youtube videos. I've read the reviews. I've determined the non-serrated blade is the way to go. I do know the blade steel is a bit softer than traditional bushcraft knives, which is a bit unfortunate.

Do any of you have this setup and can tell me how it works for you? Any suggestions for other tools to try? I'd like to stay at 111mm or greater since my hands are massive. I'd also like to stick to something with the blade as the primary implement, as opposed to a pliers-based tool like a Leatherman, and obviously the inclusion of a saw blade is key.

Any input is greatly appreciated. Cheers!
 
You can get better saws. You can get better blades.

Unless you plan on processing a bunch of firewood or building extensive primitive shelters the one handed trekker should do everything you need from a knife. It might even be a bit on the overkill side. Depending of course on how you camp and what sort of things you consider standard.
 
sideways said:
You can get better saws. You can get better blades.

Unless you plan on processing a bunch of firewood or building extensive primitive shelters the one handed trekker should do everything you need from a knife. It might even be a bit on the overkill side. Depending of course on how you camp and what sort of things you consider standard.
Click to expand...

I'm definitely planning on building shelters out of brush, as well as fashioning sticks for cooking food over the fire and such. I keep forgetting how subjective terms like "standard camping duties" are.

You mentioned better saws and blades. Can you recommend a tool that has both combined for my purposes? My trips usually involve being in the woods for a week or more at a time, rarely with any pre-established hiking paths or tent clearings..
 
I have a Rucksack, and gave a buddy a regular trekker.

Great knives, yes you won't be getting super-steel edge holding, but the flip is a much easier sharpening.

as far as will it be enough for what you want to do? that depends on you, would I want to set a new camp every night with just a trekker? no, I'd want bigger, faster tools. Would it be enough to get the job done? I think it would. Its about how much do you want to plan things out, the trekker will do the job, you just have to work within it. A small forest ax and a big silky saw will be better and faster. And heavier. Everything is a compromise.

I'd get one, and see how you go. You will quickly decide what tools you were using before that its better than, and which ones you need to keep.
 
It's a Vic SAK, so while the steel isn't the hardest, it goes way way back with a lot of us here as our first exposure to knife steel. Just learn its properties and it will take good care of you. I tend to see the saw as good for notching, cutting branches to length, and building small camp tools. Traps, too!

+1 Gadgetgeek: Get one and see how you like it. If you don't, it will sell here on the exchange.

And thanks for the compliment on the review. I had fun. When Spring comes and I'm not wearing gloves all the time and start carrying it again, I'll add to the review.

Zieg
 
el gigantor said:
I'm definitely planning on building shelters out of brush, as well as fashioning sticks for cooking food over the fire and such. I keep forgetting how subjective terms like "standard camping duties" are.

You mentioned better saws and blades. Can you recommend a tool that has both combined for my purposes? My trips usually involve being in the woods for a week or more at a time, rarely with any pre-established hiking paths or tent clearings..
Click to expand...


Can I recommend a better combination tool? Probably not. But you don't have to combine them just for the sake of combining them.

Once you separate them the sky is the limit. The constraints are how much weight want to carry and how much money you have to experiment.

A light combo could be a Mora and a folding saw.
P1010941__03376.1444834525.1280.1280.JPG


Or an ax and a bigger folding saw.
084_012_zpseipvg702.jpg

^JV3's image^

Here are some big saws.
[video=youtube;sDSzW8ljDeM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDSzW8ljDeM[/video]

Here are some small saws.
[video=youtube;7TwZ_MgeBio]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TwZ_MgeBio[/video]

Or you could go the modern backpacker route and design a system so you don't need the open fire or improvised shelter. Chris Townsend has a good book on that.
618QKRblvJL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


There are many ways to skin a cat. :D

And yes you probably should have a SAK in your bag of tricks. :thumbup:
 
I like the SAK One Hand Trekker knife. I bought one some years back, with the partially serrated blade. Never liked it, and finally picked up a camo handled one without the serrations. That one works much better for me. I have a lanyard attached to it, and just carry it in my front pocket. Very useful knife for general camp use.
 
I like the non-serrated one handed Trekker. It makes a good woods combo with my BK-15 and the Trekker in the sheath pouch. That is just one of my woods walking knife systems. I also like a small silky saw which my regular carry 111mm Adventurer. If I am not thinking about "equipment", I'll only have the Adventurer in my pocket. It all depends on the kinds of things you do and the likely wood size if sawing.
 
One thing that I love about Victorinox steel is how sharp it gets. For general carving, I find the ability to get screaming sharp and easily maintenance with a strop is more important than edge holding ability.

I am sure a Trekker would serve you well. My preference is to have a dedicated knife in addition to a multi toil. My multi tool usually serves to service my other equipment (outboard motor, axe edge, various screws, etc) than as my go to cutting tool. Your mileage may vary.
 
I have a Trekker/German Army knife, it doesn't see a lot of use as there are always better options when I go afield, BUT it does reside permanently in my pickup in a go bag. Hard to pick one knife/tool as handy for that size/weight, probably why the German Army adopted it :)
 
Oh, and if you get a serrated one and don't like it, it's easy to reprofile the blade for no serrations and no chisel grind.

Zieg
 
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The Trekker has a fairly stout blade. I have a Soldier or whatever which is basically the same thing. It's actually one of my favourite SAKs. Someone mentioned the old Rucksak, had one for maybe close to 2 decades now?, still opens with a fairly crisp snap. Light weight, big blade. I have XL hands and last year I bought one of the Delemont series. Now these are REALLY big SAKs. You get a big blade and big saw etc. The best compromise for size/weight out of these tools is the Rucksak. But hey, I'm a blade junkie, I like every one of them, lol. But for your big hands the Delemonts are monsters. The soldier/Trekker has a shorter and slightly thicker blade than the Ruck or Delemonts. If you want a knife with tools, get a SAK. If you want tools with a knife, get a Leatherman.
 
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