What do you carry on hikes?

Cold steel master hunter 3V in an older cordura sheath.

Plus leatherman pst II if camping.
 
If its just a few miles, which, for me, it always is, just a Victorinox Huntsman.
 
I do not hike but I like how it was said about taking a trek through the woods, just to have a little something on me, usually only a Swiss Army knife, Alox pioneer(?, main blade, awl, can and bottle opener). I want to take a small fixed blade, just to try it but have not needed one, so any small fixed blade usually stays in the camper. I want to try my Mora or BHK Frontier Valley, LTW Patriot, or my Next Gen. Usually it is just a few trails behind the campground.

One folder that I have enjoyed for daily carry and use that makes me want to carry it on a trek is my Manly Wasp in Sandvik and orange handles, just clips to the pocket and has been there when I reach for it.
 
I think about what photo gear I will carry and what I am likely to do with it more than the emergency stuff. I almost always have a camera tripod with me and they can be heavy and certainly bulky if they are very functional. So, the "carry stuff" gets cut way down to weather protection, bic and matches, small first aid kit and usually my SAK and small fixed blade. Water depends on distance and outside temps mostly. Rain gear often is a disposable poncho. They're hot, but I really don't like getting soaking wet.
 
Well.. A Yellow Wenger Evo18 is a main stay in my pack.. Always there.. I switch up a fixed blade and a folder all the time so nothing constant in those two.. Got waaayyy too many other knives not too.. :pJohn
 
I usually only go on few mile hikes through the woods, but I always find myself reaching for my ZT0909. It's on the heavy side, but that extra heft definitely helps if I need to do any light chopping tasks (without spine wacking it :p) ....and the thing just cuts so well.
 
midnight flyer said:
I used to carry enough crap to homestead by squatter's rights. 50+ years of never getting really lost but once, never getting into dire emergency circumstances, etc., I never carry more than I have to. Even when I was lost the one time, no knife would have helped me.

Day hikes, I usually only carry one larger folder like I do at work, such as a CS Ultimate Hunter, a RAT1, my old Kershaw Tremor, etc. In my pocket as usual is one of my small stockman knives or something similar to remove thorns, stickers, bug stingers, or open my protein bars. I am much more likely to spend more time figuring out which camera to take along with bringing enough water and snacks.

I realized one day when stopping along a trail to rest where a few younger guys had stopped that I looked ridiculous with all my crap. A large sheath knife, a large folder and a small folder and other stuff. It was a day hike, although with about 20+ miles of trails it was also available for overnights. They asked me how long I was planning to be "out"... they were serious. Perhaps they thought I was a forward search party of a rescue mission, maybe a mapping expedition leader, or I was training for disaster survival.

They were wearing cargo shorts with a couple of water bottles hanging out, had some kind of food bars in their pockets, and were just out knocking around in the 12 mile trail. They liked checking out the large folder I had and agreed it was "cool", but admitted that they usually carried one multiltool between them. They assured me that the multitool took care of everything they ran into. They hiked that park and others a couple of times every week, sometimes more when the weather turned cool as they also like to fish - catch and release in the river.

They asked me in an innocent and not at all sarcastic way if I had ever needed to use all the crap I was carrying and I had to admit I had not. I got to thinking, how many times had I hauled all that stuff around "just in case"? Waaaay too many. Sadly, I hadn't ever noticed just how "prepared" I was. I could have built a shelter, set traps, set up a first aid station, purified my own water, stayed in reasonable comfort overnight if trapped (for some damn dumb reason) in the park, and carried enough instant kindling to start a few fires. A lot of stuff for a 12 mile hike. A lot of stuff for a 15 or 20 mile hike. I felt a little bit like an idiot when thinking all the gear and how little of it I ever used.

So now I hike with the same gear I have when I go to work except I have signal whistle in case I slip in/on the rocks when exploring. A large folder and a small stockman. I take the knives that are the sharpest.

Robert
Click to expand...
This reminds me of a Jack London story set in the Yukon gold rush. The greenhorns start off on the trail loaded with heavy gear, and as the miles go by they discard things bit by bit: Bowie knives, revolvers etc. :)

I can relate to what you wrote, and my gear is definitely minimal these days - but that wasn’t always the case!
 
My back does no longer agree with sleeping rough, nor does my wife. We only do day hikes these days. I have an older Deuter Speed Lite 10 backpack, that just fits basic day hike stuff for 2. (I carry everything, my wife does not use a pack) In the pack: some food and drinks, 2 waterproof windbreakers, a small FAK, a flashlight BLF A6 (we have been caught once by nightfall an no light is no fun), and my SOG Tech Bowie for any dirty work. As for other gear on me: Sunglasses, mobile, wallet, watch (Old Suunto Core ABC), Zippo (jet flame insert), and a folding knife. Any of my regular EDC knives will work fine, but I prefer the larger ones for any outdoor stuff. Manix 2XL, ZT0562CF, Lionsteel SR11. I have Leki hiking poles, but I rather cut down a branch and fabricate a pointy walking stick.
 
Usually just do short hikes so not very much. Small flashlight with fresh batteries, BIC lighter, water filter straw, small space blanket, a couple quart sized zip lock bags, and atleast one large black trash bag. It all fits in a cargo pocket!

The zip lock bags have tons of uses from carrying water to collecting fire tender and keeping it dry. Most often they are used for picking berries to bring home! Same as the black bag it can be a poncho, used to waterproof something or to keep your butt dry while sitting on wet ground.

Knife wise almost always a Buck 112 same as when I'm not hiking.
 
microbe said:
My back does no longer agree with sleeping rough, nor does my wife. We only do day hikes these days.
Click to expand...
My wife doesn't like to hike. She has always been a Holiday Inn girl. It certainly cuts down my camping options if we go together. I'm usually alone. Sleeping rough has never been something I enjoyed, but I did it. Always loved sitting around a fire piddling and first thing in the morning.

With knives and hiking, I generally carry what I like for the fun of it mostly. Use or need to use is very limited.
 
22-rimfire said:
My wife doesn't like to hike. She has always been a Holiday Inn girl. It certainly cuts down my camping options if we go together. I'm usually alone. Sleeping rough has never been something I enjoyed, but I did it. Always loved sitting around a fire piddling and first thing in the morning.

With knives and hiking, I generally carry what I like for the fun of it mostly. Use or need to use is very limited.
Click to expand...

Even if I no longer do multi day trips, I still like campfires. I have bought a little wood stove, and on colder fall or winter days, I enjoy lighting it up and have some drinks around the (table top) camp fire.
0HCD6sH.jpg

YY6Vv1y.jpg


As for using your knife on a hike, cut a walking stick, and take dried sausages you need to cut as snacks.
 
We had a brother-sister family get together Saturday at a State Park.... could have made a fire for heating up beans and barbecue, but I used my little propane grill. Just a lot easier and cleaner too. Could have used it for cooking burgers and dogs, but we had plenty of food for the day.
 
Part of why I go into the woods is so I can use my knives, so it's kind of a backwards question.

That said, I've done several 4 day hikes up to 75 miles with just a 3" folder. Especially for those trips, I already have shelter and a stove, negating the need for something larger. Fires are easier to build than we all pretend. The fuel is literally laying on the ground around you.

As far as what I now prefer to take, it is a trio of F1, Silky F180, and Leatherman. The knife and saw can handle everything I'll need for wood processing. The Leatherman has become a safety net that I just prefer to have with me.

Dayhikes, a SAK is about perfect.
 
Short version:
For ultra light trips with stove and dehydrated foods: Leatherman PS4
Squirt

99% of trips, including day hikes: Leatherman PS4 Squirt & Opinel 9 Inox.

Trips where I'm taking an Emberlit wood stove: Leatherman PS4 Squirt, Mora Companion, Opinel saw.

Rare trips where open campfires are permitted and reasonable in terms of impact: Leatherman PS4 Squirt, Opinel 9 Inox, Buck Reaper, Silky Folding Saw

Food is my primary use for a knife.
 
If you are a knife nut, or just a gear head in general, its really easy to bring more than you need. Some times I justify this as bringing stuff I want to bring, to try out or just for fun. If its just a short walk up to an overlook, or a short "nature" trail in a relatively tame park setting, I'll just carry a water bottle and a couple things in my pocket (food bar, pocket knife). If its anything more "serious" than that, I bring my "ten essentials" day pack, loaded with at least a minimum load for an unexpected night on the trail.

Pilsner said:
This reminds me of a Jack London story set in the Yukon gold rush. The greenhorns start off on the trail loaded with heavy gear, and as the miles go by they discard things bit by bit: Bowie knives, revolvers etc. :)
Click to expand...
I used to hike a section of the AT almost every year and I've done the first section (starting at Springer Mountain and hiking north) more than once. It was funny the stuff you would find in trash receptacles along that first 10 miles of the trail. Found a nice video camera one time, and plenty of other "luxuries" people realized they didn't really need after carrying them up and down the first couple mountains! ;)
 
Last edited:
Unfortunately I am not likely to hike any place where I might get lost, maybe one day.
Still I carry a folder and 3"4" fixed blade.
BK11 is a popular choice. Sometimes a Leatherman or SAK with a saw.
 
mdauben said:
If you are a knife nut, or just a gear head in general, its really easy to bring more than you need. Some times I justify this as bringing stuff I want to bring, to try out or just for fun. If its just a short walk up to an overlook, or a short "nature" trail in a relatively tame park setting, I'll just carry a water bottle and a couple things in my pocket (food bar, pocket knife). If its anything more "serious" than that, I bring my "ten essentials" day pack, loaded with at least a minimum load for an unexpected night on the trail.


I used to hike a section of the AT almost every year and I've done the first section (starting at Springer Mountain and hiking north) more than once. It was funny the stuff you would find in trash receptacles along that first 10 miles of the trail. Found a nice video camera one time, and plenty of other "luxuries" people realized they didn't really need after carrying them up and down the first couple mountains! ;)
Click to expand...
Haha! Seems some things never change :)
 
We hike a lot, but never more than 6 or 8 miles round trip, or 4 or 5 hours (terrain dependent). But it's usually while camping, so what I'm carrying is usually more a matter of what get's used around the campsite.
- Manix 2 in the pocket
- 2-4" fixed on the belt
- LM Wave either on the belt or strapped to the pack

Bigger problem for me is what's in my pack for hiking, as I tend to become the 'mule' for the wife and daughter. You wouldn't believe how much stuff they 'require' on a simple day hike! :rolleyes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top