What blades are in your backpacking kit??

S

SWCCy

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Jun 17, 2016
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Hey y'all, new guy in the forum looking to stir up some good discussion on backpacking/hiking blades. Once I figure this thing out I'll get some pictures of my kit up but until then, what do you carry? What do you use it for? Do you supplement with other gear items? Etc, etc, etc.

I personally carry an ESEE Izula-- which has a permanent home in my hiking pack-- with whatever I happen to have in my pocket that day... usually a Delica 4 and Leatherman Style PS. Since most places I go don't allow for open fires I carry an MSR pocket rocket backed up by an Emberlit titanium stove. The Izula gets used most when I'm using my Emberlit for prepping tinder/kindling and if I decide to leave my folder at home. I've been carrying my Izzy for two years now and have become very comfortable with it and it's limitations.

A quick disclaimer, I do my backpacking in the Northeastern part of the states (Adirondacks, Appalachian Trail, NYS parks) mostly during the summer months and practice LNT principles as much as possible when out on the trail. The exception being when I use squaw wood or downed branches for the Emberlit. But enough about my kit, WHAT ABOUT YOURS??

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I usually hike in the North East as well, but do most of my over nights in the winter up in the whites and in the summer along the AT.

For overnights; Big fan of the Delica for the vast majority of my needs its perfect, always pack my sliding fiskars/gerber saw too. If we are in a place that allows open fires then I'll pack either my blackjack 125 or Lon Humphrey Muley, and the saw, or Collins boys axe. In the winter I'm eating alpine meals and boiling water in my jetboil, so the Delica is about all I need, sometimes I'll pack a multi tool as well if its a longer hike or multi-day, and the muley or a GEC folder if there will down time for whittling. I always carry one of those tiny DMT stones for sharpening, only a course one though and I will pack a strop or use an old leather belt as a strap thats loaded with compound. I think I've needed sharpening supplies a dozen times or so, and I've been camping with scouts and solo since for 20 years.

For longer day hikes I like the muley, its handy, fun, and I'm not using a hip belt so the smaller fixed blade is more comfortable than having folder in my pocket with thin hiking pants. Usually throw in a crook knife too for making spoons and whatnot for fun.

The only thing I don't do anymore is pack only an SAK, last fall I got caught in a snow storm on the way out and needed to cut a line holding my fly down but I only had my SAK and my hands were too cold to open it. Chipped a tooth opening it with my teeth... never again. Handy things to have though.

There are some wildly different opinions on what good hiking gear is around here, so hopefully everyone plays nice.
 
I've hiked/backpacked hundreds of miles and for weeks at a time in the Appalachian Trail and other mid-Atlantic mountains/forests.
All I ever carried was a 4+ inch puukko in my pack and a SAK champion clipped/tied to my belt. Never needed anything else.
Rich
 
The last few years a Victorinox Farmer. In all my time on the trail I've never needed more than a SAK. Most of the time I need no knife at all.
 
Normally I carry a Leatherman wave but that thing is a boat anchor. I'm just starting to get into knife making and the first knife I'm making is very similar to an Izula. I wanted a small light weight but capable knife.


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Eric, I couldn't agree more, "good" hiking gear is a major point of contention for a lot of people. That being said, it really comes down to user experience, where you hike, and what you're comfortable using.

90% of the time the Style PS would be fine (I pack mountain meals too) but never felt comfortable enough to overnight without a knife of some sort. More often than not I just enjoy carrying my Izula. Especially for whittling!

And I've been looking into lightweight folding saws as an "in case of emergency" gear item. How donyou like your fiskars saw? I've checked out Opi's offering, Bacho, Silky, and even TOPS little folding thingy but haven't bit the bullet on one yet. Any input would be great!
 
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Rich S said:
I've hiked/backpacked hundreds of miles and for weeks at a time in the Appalachian Trail and other mid-Atlantic mountains/forests.
All I ever carried was a 4+ inch puukko in my pack and a SAK champion clipped/tied to my belt. Never needed anything else.
Rich
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I used to keep a Marttiini Condor before I opted for the Izula after downsizing my pack size. I do miss having a good scandi grind when whittling! What do you use your Puukko for when you're out on the AT or other areas?
 
SWCCy said:
I couldn't agree more, "good" hiking gear is a major point of contention for a lot of people. That being said, it really comes down to user experience, where you hike, and what you're comfortable using.

90% of the time the Style PS would be fine (I pack mointain meals too) but never felt comfortable enough to overnight without a knife of some sort. More often than not I just enjoy carrying my Izula. Especially for whittling!

And I've been looking into lightweight folding saws as an "in case of emergency" gear item. How donyou like your fiskars saw? I've checked out Opi's offering, Bacho, Silky, and even TOPS little folding thingy but haven't bit the bullet on one yet. Any input would be great!
Click to expand...

To answer your saw question, a cheap lightweight alternative would be a coughlans Sierra saw from Walmart. They're fairly light, cheap, and they cut extremely well. I carry one on winter hikes or anytime I think I'll be having a big fire like on large group hikes.


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For the past decade it has been my Fallkniven F1.

27y047b.jpg


Paired up with a cheap Fiskars folding saw. Plus a folder clipped in my pocket, for almost the past year that has been a Mini CQC-15.
 
campergf23 said:
To answer your saw question, a cheap lightweight alternative would be a coughlans Sierra saw from Walmart. They're fairly light, cheap, and they cut extremely well. I carry one on winter hikes or anytime I think I'll be having a big fire like on large group hikes.


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Awesome, I'll definitely check it out. How reliable has it been in your experience? Any binding or problems with the lock failing?
 
Backpacking, where I am carrying my own food, shelter and water, then a Leatherman Charge TTi. Thats plenty enough weight and function.

Bushwhacking, or living in the woods then thats a whole other game; Hunting too.
 
SWCCy said:
Awesome, I'll definitely check it out. How reliable has it been in your experience? Any binding or problems with the lock failing?
Click to expand...

No problems yet, I've had it for about a year, cuts fairly fast. It's a pretty simple locking mechanism, even if it were to break the saw would still be usable


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I figure if I ever end up in a survival situation it's not going to be because my plane went down. It's going to be because I was already in the woods hiking, camping, hunting... so I always bring my "big" knife with me. It's a 8.5" (4" blade). I also usually have at least one other knife with me (SAK or Opinel) and usually an axe. The way I see it, there's not much point in having a knife that I've learned to survive with if I'm not going to bring it with me when I put myself into situations in which I might get in trouble. Anyway, I just really like my knife. I got a Bahco Laplander for Father's Day but it's sitting at my feet in a box waiting for Sunday.

27436502320_8483474ed2_z.jpg
 
Swwcy and Eric, your approaches closely match mine.

I hike almost exclusively in New Hampshire and Vermont now. Used to live in CA too. Winter hiker and backcountry skier too.

For ultra light trips, I take only a Leatherman PS4 Squirt. Pliers for zipper repair and pushing needles. Scissors for first aid.

For most trips (doing a Pemi Traverse across the Bonds next weekend), I add a light folder, almost always an Opinel.

For winter ski trips, I carry an Emberlit and when I do, I swap the Opinel for a Mora Companion and Silky Saw. We're taking a big group of kids on this next trip, so the Emberlit is coming as is the Companion.

This is what it looks like in the places I like to hike.
Howker Ridge by Pinnah, on Flickr

Here's a typical "hard core" knife action shot (taken on Spur Trail, near Pentadoi).
Lunch by Pinnah, on Flickr
 
These 6 knives can be found in my backpacks the most.
ESEE RC6
ESEE RC3
BOKER Rhino
Spyderco Manix2 LW TB
BM 940
CS A.Lawman
 
Vic Compact (or Explorer, on occasion), and my Mora #2/0. No real need for more than that, when backpacking. If I'm going with some older, out of shape buddies, I'll carry the full complement: ESEE 6, Bahco Laplander, Mora Forest, Vic Spirit, and sometimes a SFA Wildlife hatchet.
 
Usually carry my Protech or S&W auto + a small hatchet in my backpack for prospecting outings.


 
mds said:
I figure if I ever end up in a survival situation it's not going to be because my plane went down. It's going to be because I was already in the woods hiking, camping, hunting... so I always bring my "big" knife with me. It's a 8.5" (4" blade). I also usually have at least one other knife with me (SAK or Opinel) and usually an axe. The way I see it, there's not much point in having a knife that I've learned to survive with if I'm not going to bring it with me when I put myself into situations in which I might get in trouble. Anyway, I just really like my knife. I got a Bahco Laplander for Father's Day but it's sitting at my feet in a box waiting for Sunday.

27436502320_8483474ed2_z.jpg
Click to expand...

First of all, that's a handsome knife. And I agree, experience with the gear you'll be using and actually carrying it when you're out hunting, hiking, etc is very important. That being said I find that when I'm backpacking I can usually afford to carry a folder and small multitool since I'm carrying various other gear items like a tent, tarp, water filter, cordage, extra food, as well as a two or three ways of starting a fire (matches, lighter, ferro rod). On longer day hikes when I carry less gear I'll carry something more substantial like a Mora 2000. But like you said I just enjoy carrying my knife (an Izula in my case). Oh and once you break open that Bahco I'd like to hear your thoughts on it!

And Pinnah, I actually carried a Leatherman Squirt too for awhile but downsized to the Style PS (mostly for weight and the carabiner attachment). Loved the old PS4 though, definitely could have made a few trips only carrying it!
 
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