Week long hike, bringing one knife...

[Gadgetaholic]

Every flashlight forum, gun forum, knife forum,etc.. says the "2 is one" Mantra

I find more enjoyment in simplicity and packing light

I agree with both sides, redundancy is a good idea but you also want to keep weight & bulk down. The trick is to have a backup flashlight that is small and light like a 1xAA powered light and the backup knife can be a SAK or Opinel or Izula - you can have a small and light pack, but carry spares of important items. Even the tent & sleeping bag can be backed up by a space blanket as an emergency shelter without adding much weight or bulk.

It's all about balance and realising what is reasonable and what is over the top.

 

[Reorx]

I agree with both sides, redundancy is a good idea but you also want to keep weight & bulk down. The trick is to have a backup flashlight that is small and light like a 1xAA powered light and the backup knife can be a SAK or Opinel or Izula - you can have a small and light pack, but carry spares of important items. Even the tent & sleeping bag can be backed up by a space blanket as an emergency shelter without adding much weight or bulk.

It's all about balance and realising what is reasonable and what is over the top.

Bravo!

 

[OwenM]

But...but, Michael, aren't you scared?
You'll be out there in the heat and all. What if you need to build a fire? Shouldn't you take an axe, or a saw, or something?
Well, not "an" axe, but a couple of them. God forbid you only have one. Oh, wait. Grand Canyon.
What if one of the walls caves in, and you have to pry a boulder off your leg? Huh? What then?
You gonna use the screwdriver on your SAK, or what?
What if a plane crashes into the canyon, or the river suddenly changes course, have you thought about that?
Maybe you just shouldn't go...

 

[dd61999]

I agree with both sides, redundancy is a good idea but you also want to keep weight & bulk down. The trick is to have a backup flashlight that is small and light like a 1xAA powered light and the backup knife can be a SAK or Opinel or Izula - you can have a small and light pack, but carry spares of important items. Even the tent & sleeping bag can be backed up by a space blanket as an emergency shelter without adding much weight or bulk.

To each his own, I enjoy that my pack is very small and light. I think it goes along way when you are doing a few extra miles per day

 

[Gadgetaholic]

To each his own, I enjoy that my pack is very small and light. I think it goes along way when you are doing a few extra miles per day

Exactly! I can take a backup knife that weight 0.2 Oz and is pretty small - it is 'shaving sharp' and would be better than nothing if my knife got lost. You really don't need to take dozens of big knives in case you lose the first one and break the second one and . . .

 

[mtwarden]

I'm not one to argue redundancy for redundancy's sake I'm a very light backpacker and there is definitely some redundancy in my gear- I carry a small headlamp, but also have a photon attached to my knife "kit". I have a small firesteel on my knife kit, a mini bic lighter in my cook pot and a match safe w/ a sparklite and tinder tabs. I carry a small "working" compass and the match safe has a Suunto button compass built into it. I carry a small fixed blade, but the matchsafe also contains a hacksaw blade knife (that is shaving sharp too!).

all this redundancy comes at a weight penalty of 1.9 oz

 

[Macchina]

I'm not one to argue redundancy for redundancy's sake I'm a very light backpacker and there is definitely some redundancy in my gear- I carry a small headlamp, but also have a photon attached to my knife "kit". I have a small firesteel on my knife kit, a mini bic lighter in my cook pot and a match safe w/ a sparklite and tinder tabs. I carry a small "working" compass and the match safe has a Suunto button compass built into it. I carry a small fixed blade, but the matchsafe also contains a hacksaw blade knife (that is shaving sharp too!).

all this redundancy comes at a weight penalty of 1.9 oz

Instead of your 1.9 oz. of useless extra junk, you could instead bring:

Tropical Color Crumbles
or
8 in 1 Ecotrition Snak Shak Hamster, Gerbil, Rat & Mouse Treat Stuffers
or
Shiseido Benefiance Firming Massage Mask
or
Lil' Bean Cinnamon Bun Jar Candle

 

[dd61999]

I'm not one to argue redundancy for redundancy's sake I'm a very light backpacker and there is definitely some redundancy in my gear- I carry a small headlamp, but also have a photon attached to my knife "kit". I have a small firesteel on my knife kit, a mini bic lighter in my cook pot and a match safe w/ a sparklite and tinder tabs. I carry a small "working" compass and the match safe has a Suunto button compass built into it. I carry a small fixed blade, but the matchsafe also contains a hacksaw blade knife (that is shaving sharp too!).

all this redundancy comes at a weight penalty of 1.9 oz

I rather have one quality flashlight, a normal size quality firesteel, a decent compass and one knife to avoid the clutter from redundancy in my pack

Like I said to each his own. I used to carry lots of gear, but realized the benefits of simplicty outweigh the benefits of redundancy

 

[mtwarden]

I rather have one quality flashlight, a normal size quality firesteel, a decent compass and one knife to avoid the clutter from redundancy in my pack

Like I said to each his own. I used to carry lots of gear, but realized the benefits of simplicty outweigh the benefits of redundancy

the redundancy is between what is carried on my person AND what is carried in my pack, in the event (albeit unlikely, but it happens) that I were to be separated from my pack- I'd have the bare minimums to keep me somewhat safe- for 1.9 oz no regrets

 

[texastonydobbs]

I went camping one time w/o redundancy and it would of cost me if I was camping solo.
I had an Army LMF,slipped and fell ,snapping the rod in half...still usable but lost in the water for which I slipped, roughly 1"-1 1/8" left on handle portion....that sucked..
Lesson learned,I always carry redundancy......
1 is none 2 is one means more now after that experiance

 

[dd61999]

Well we have several types of outdoorsman

In this thread 2 types. One is "simplicity" and the other has a "back up"

Both are typically more prepared than the average joe. One a little more so and the other enjoys the benefits of extra mobility especially when running, climbing,biking, or other activities.

Neither are wrong, so lets leave it at that. Because you won't convince me otherwise

 

[tholiver]

How about one on your person and one in your pack?
The multi-tool and/or Izula on your person and a Mora Clipper in your pack?
I'd be tempted to take a solid walking/hiking stick as well.
Either way have a great trip!
I envy you, i've always wanted to visit the Grand Canyon!
Are you taking a camera?

 

[dberry]

Man, I would about give anything to go on that trip. I have almost no time for good outdooe time anymore. I would say go with what you usually do. I always have a Fixed blade and a SAK and Gerber Gator folder. I am going to switch the large Fox for a TOPS TSK. Have fun!

 

[Macchina]

How about one on your person and one in your pack?
The multi-tool and/or Izula on your person and a Mora Clipper in your pack?
I'd be tempted to take a solid walking/hiking stick as well.
Either way have a great trip!
I envy you, i've always wanted to visit the Grand Canyon!
Are you taking a camera?

YUP! It's the extra 4 oz. of the camera that prohibit the additional blades...

Man, I would about give anything to go on that trip. I have almost no time for good outdooe time anymore. I would say go with what you usually do. I always have a Fixed blade and a SAK and Gerber Gator folder. I am going to switch the large Fox for a TOPS TSK. Have fun!

I know how lucky I am to be able to go on trips like this. I am 25, don't have kids yet, and have no college classes for the second half of the summer. I am doing my best to pack in as many life list trips before the kids come...

 

[Fubarski]

Remember that one hiker, that got trapped by the boulder, and make certain you take something you can cut your arm off with.