What blades are in your backpacking kit??

[pinnah]

The delica does basically everything the mora is really just for piece of mind in case I need to make a fire or something along those lines.



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Where are those mountains?!

Why carry the Endura if you already carry the Mora? Do you find the Endura easier to keep on you with a pack? This is my biggest issues with a fixed blade.

 

[jackknife]

Almost all my backpacking was done in the east, like Shenandoah National Park, Smoky Mountain National park, The Berkshires up in Massachusetts. Some canoe camping here and there. Mostly a pocket knife like a SAK and a folding saw. I didn't have much use for a large knife backpacking since everything I needed was on my back. The folding saw let me process wood faster and easier than chopping. If it was winter, I'd carry my old Optimus 8R stove and a fuel bottle.

[/url]Untitled by Carl Levitan, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[savage99]

Where are those mountains?!

Why carry the Endura if you already carry the Mora? Do you find the Endura easier to keep on you with a pack? This is my biggest issues with a fixed blade.

Thar picture was from jasper alberta on the tonquin Valley trail.

I like having the delica because it's always in my front right pants pocket so it's accessible at all times, it also works better for food prep. The mora is straped to the pack but not all that easy to reach. I use it for some of the dirty tasks or if I have to cut on top of a rock or something as well as the emergency fire prep.

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[SWCCy]

The delica does basically everything the mora is really just for piece of mind in case I need to make a fire or something along those lines.



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I have the exact same mindset with my Delica and Izzy. Plus I like to practice various skills when I'm out and if trail rules allow for it. Awesome pic by the way!!

 

[neeman]

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.

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

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

Very similar

SAK Huntsman
or
a SAK Farmer

Opinel #6
or
Classic Mora #2/0

Opinel Folding saw

a clean SAK Classic in my FAK

 

[SWCCy]

Really great responses everyone! I'm a gear nut, so seeing what others stash in their packs is some good inspiration for how I can improve my hiking kit.

Unfortunately I had to break out some gear for an actual emergency yesterday on the Gorge Trail at Treman State Park (great trail for training up or the casual day hike btw). Came across a girl who fell hiking on the trail which resulted in a nice five inch laceration across her knee. I keep a small first aid kit in my daypack so getting the wound irrigated, cleaned, and patched wasn't troublesome. But to keep it from reopening as we walked her down to the aid station we cut two sapling branches and fashioned a makeshift splint (a la Delica 4).

A little common sense preparation (and my trusty Spyderco) can go a long way. Some days I just need to keep in mind the propensity for which I'll use certain gear. Cheers ladies and gents

 

[GREENJACKET]

I always say a First Aid course is the best of all the survival courses; it should be the first to do. Then carry a first aid kit with the basics.

These I take on a walk:

But if I am going further afield I like the security of upping the build quality, robustness and efficiency:

Then it gets all a bit silly with big boys toys. I'm also a huge fan of the SAK Huntsman and Leatherman Charge TTi. Once when I was in the military yomping with weight then the view was hard to enjoy, most was sweat, blood and tears and a lot of watching ones boots make another step. Now, I am a believer of going light and enjoying the hills; you still need to carry some basics though.

 

[b yond]

I don't have a dedicated backpacking/hiking knife. I do have a wide selection of knives and edged tools that excel in certain applications and situations. I make a selection each time I go out based on where I will be going and what I will be doing. The only constant is my Swisschamp which is great for maintaining gear in the field and could be a multi-purpose survival tool if necessary.

If I'm backpacking and expect to be processing wood I usually take a hatchet or tomahawk and some kind of robust folder or small(ish) fixed blade.

If I don't expect to process much wood I'll leave the hatchet/hawk and take a larger fixed blade instead.

If I expect the trail to be overgrown I'll take something longer and lighter for clearing brush.

No matter what, I always have some form of reliable knife on my person. Usually a robust folder or a comfortable-sized fixed blade.

One piece of advice: familiarize yourself with your tools before you rely on them. I spend a lot of time playing around with primitive fire and shelter building techniques in my backyard using my tools so I know how to get the job done if I ever have to out innawoods.

Currently playing with a Buck Selkirk. It's a bit heavy but its sturdy and durable and I love the blade profile and FFG. I am not an ultra-light kind of guy. Part of the enjoyment of backpacking and hiking for me it pushing my physical limits. Even the worst backpacking food tastes wonderful if you're physically exhausted from humping a 40 pound pack 15 miles over uneven terrain. Some of the best ramen and instant coffee I've ever had was in the middle of nowhere in a downpour after a ton of physical labour to get there.

 

[HSC ///]

a Carter Cutlery neck knife I made and this utility knife I made

 

[nannybear]

silky katana boy 500 or silky big boy 2000 xl, bk9 or Kershaw camp 10, gfb small forest axe, Enzo tracker 115 & opinel carbonne #8.

 

[Herlock]

Hi. Said this somewhere else I think but, for my “walks in the woods” and the easy mountain hiking I practice today, I go with a multi-tool (or a SAK, the Spartan being one of my favourites) and one of my folders (excluding the real gentleman ones like the Mcustas ). When in the need for a fixed blade, I go with the F1 most of the times. If we’re just setting up a small camp fire, that’s enough. If we plan to have a fire going longer (e.g. to cook/grill something or because of cold weather) or just have some extra fun, I pair it up either with the X5 or the Felco 600. I am also hiking/camping in areas pretty well regulated when it comes to open fires, shelters building, wood harvesting and wild edibles collection so I don’t need more than that .
Pics of course !

 

[Mikel_24]

When I go out hiking/backpaking I usually take a SAK in the pack and a folder clipped in my pants (Spyderco Tenacious or RAT 2, because they are the lightest I have). On rare rare rare ocassions I take a fixed blade. We don't enjoy the same wilderness you guys can enjoy in the states. And whenever I go climbing (or are ropes involved) the folder is a spyderco Rescue Wave... best fibrous material cutting tool I have!

 

[DAVE_M]

BRKT Highland Special.

It's slightly smaller in the handle than a CQC-8, so it works perfect for me as a backpacking blade. If I don't have this, I have a Mora Companion and my Selby Knives Little Folsom.

Here's the Little Folsom (bottom) pictured with a full size Folsom.

 

[GREENJACKET]

Some sensible suggestions here. Good amount of SAK's, my choice being the Huntsman which just because it has a corkscrew has got me invited to parties in some very remote places.
Here are my Big boys toys for dicking around in the woods:

I have a few fixed utility blades, but in truth my fixed seem to get shorter and shorter. I might get a photo up depending how this thread progresses.

On the beaten track then not a lot of "blade" is needed. Go light, travel faster and enjoy the view, not huff and puff up hill with the sink on your back.

 

[augostos]

I am also considering carrying a fixed blade, not a slicer, a more stout one.

 

[mmmotorcycle]

I don't have pictures but many of the places I go do not allow fires. That fact alone dictates a much lighter weight carry set. For years, my Spyderco Junior was all I needed with its big flat grind. Now I sometimes carry a Silky Pocket Boy saw and a lightweight fixed blade if I am fire making.

 

[ThePeacent]

I have a folder on my person wherever I go, but my bag has a food-prep blade and a heavy use one:

Food prep: any of the Cold Steel's budget fixed blades, in AUS8 or Krupp 4116 steel

They excel at meat and veggie or fruit cutting, and steel is really corrosion resistant and easy to touch up on the field

And they weigh nothing! Cheap and replaceable if lost, just like a Mora.

Heavy use: For emergncies or occasional wood chopping/trimming/splitting

it's either a Rajah II or XL Tanto

or a FB like the Aqua Salt or SAKAI Sabi

 

[Mikel_24]

Heavy use: For emergncies or occasional wood chopping/trimming/splitting

it's either a Rajah II or XL Tanto

Keep the WELL hidden in your backpack... As much as I like the big sized folders from Cold Steel (although rather impractical for EDC) I am affraid they are directly ilegal in Spain. According to my own (could be wrong) interpretation of the Spanish knife regulations any folder with a blade (does not specify if it is blade or cutting edge) over 100mm is direcly ilegal. Less than 100mm, non auto, is fine. Which means you cannot even have it at home. Have you purchased those locally?

 

[rodriguez7]

I like a nice sturdy fixed blade, paired with a good folder. My last trip I took my swamp rat camp tramp. But the more I use my team Gemini the happier I am with it. If I'm going in on my horses I bring one of my rmj tomahawks, and a smaller fixed blade, like a gso or something. But if I'm trying to some what cut weight, I like the Gemini. Not bad, 15 ounces, but plenty capable of chopping, and possibly skinning some food, or cleaning fish. And I always have my glock!!

 

[GREENJACKET]

Staying on the track then there is a lot to be said for carry not much blade. Leave the track then sure a little more might come in handy.
I'm not a fan of Moras though a capable enough knife, I just question their cost to build; basically I like a higher build quality and more robustness.
Here are my collection of blades over the years. Don't read into the condition as some are new replacements to old friends lost and in the case of the CR Project that was factory reconditioned. The point of showing them is for the type and style. Many aren't available now. Below I've commented on the pros and cons. There are plenty of modern equivalents. Invest in a good knife and it will last.
By the way I'm also not in favour of very large folders... just have a fixed.

First up an original Cold Steel Master Tanto. The archetypal crow bar with an edge. For the urban scrap yard it excels, just not great in the woods.
Blackjack Mamba 7, lovely recurve blade and light weight; fantastic grip. I love this blade style in a folder, but as a fixed with such a fine grind its a bit fragile for hard wood forestry.
Harry Boden classic stalking knife, similar to many a bushcraft and gralocking knife. Bushcraft knives are in fashion at present with many following Ray Meer's Woodlaw. Lots of grinds and designs. I like a prominent lower guard on mine, well a lot more than many have. Weight generally is dependant on the blade stock which to me many are over built. I'm a fan of slimmer stock "patch knives". A good choice, classics are classics because they work.
Chris Reeve Project II (Now retired, had too many adventures with it). Now this has been around the world, done everything asked of it. Dispatched wild boar, cut snow holes; basically done the biz. Not a great chopper and I never needed to batton much with it. I'm a fan of 7" knives. Its long and slim which I like and has a pointy end which many modern knives forget a pointy point is useful. Fantastic.
Al Mar Modern in S30V. I love its weight and design, nice slim and compact including the sheath. Great for food prep. I haven't pushed it hard and its let down by the skinny grip. Its in my truck's picnic box.
Chris Reeve Pacific. The handle design is fantastic with multiple grip options. An accomplished blade and design. For once I find the serrations irritating (liked them on the Project). I know why they are there but on the Pacific they are in an annoying place and not needed. This plenty big enough a blade.
Susspuuko from Finland, a relatively inexpensive and tough blade (inexpensive over here). The steel is a bit solft but then not going to fail even at -40. Great grip. A very neat, slim, and useful utilitarian blade, plenty for the trail.
Glock, great for getting mud out of tank tracks, not a lot else. I'm sort of a fan, but I prefer something of more quality. Why its here is because their sheaths are compact. What is it with huge heavy paddle sized sheaths, or heavy leather contraptions? I just want secure carry and protection from the edge and point.
Survive Knives GSO, is modern and in fashion as they are always sold out. Whichever one you choose they are all great. Not heavy, very tough, very sharp, excellent investment, excellent tool. Love them to do something a little more pointy. I'm a massive fan.
Victorinox and game prep kitchen and game larder knives. Most are pretty thin and excel at meat and veg preparation. Non weigh much either. They just can't do woodwork. If you are taking big wood work tools such as an axe or Skrama then its not a bad choice to take a food prep kitchen knife or two. For a party of people then why not?

There is 30 years experience here. I'm tempted to buy a GSO 7/7 as I like a good sized knife. Trouble is they don't really see any use. Non are very good at chopping wood. Some can weigh far too much. They make a dogs dinner of food prep. I'm still a fan but my head says two tools more specialised is better than one that is poor at everything. Trying to chop a log with a 7" or 8" knife is to me just dumb... thats what a saw is for or even an axe.


Anyhow, its the style, build, and handle that is important not size. Whatever you go for make sure it can cut not bludgeon. Again, I'm leaning towards small fixed more and more with a keen edge and leave the big jobs to more specialised tools.
A multitool and a small fixed or quality folder is plenty: