What knife do you carry backpacking?

The lightest one possible for the hike, depending: Roselli Carpenter's knife (puukko) or Dozier K1 or Fallkniven F1 would be my top choices.
 
Hiked 400+ trips/7k miles over the last 20yrs(I'm well into my 50s now). Used to go 45+ weekends(plus a few 1 week trips) per year for several years. Doing most trails in the SE mtns.

Carried(still do) a SAK Spartan(bench grinded the cork screw thingie off) and a Delica (CPM55). And my beloved ti spoon. All 20+ yrs. Also note titanium cook set and 2.8oz ti Power Giga stove.

Did the first 220 miles of the AT in 1 week solo trips. Mostly Mar. and Nov. Shorter cooler days. Most miles days was typically 14-15ish. Average was around 10-12.

I like winter the most. Also do multi night mild mtneering in the Rockies and Sierras typically in April or May.

Winter pack load runs 20-22ish lbs. ..depending. Typical winter shelters are Integral Designs MK1XL, Bibler Eldorado(both being singlewalls), or Black Diamond Megamid or Betamid(both floorless). Pack is the 2.1lb Granite Gear C60. Bag is Western Mountaineering Ultralite at 1lb 8oz is rated at 25*(newer versions are rated lower, but are somewhat heavierusing more fill at 1lb 13oz) and is good down to the single digits(I personally can take it that low).




3 season pack can be 9.8lbs and still live large. 15-16lbs is average.

Fav pack currently is the Granite Gear Crown 60.

I also preach a light pack. If you can get the Big 3(pack,bag,shelter) below 10lbs cumulative, you have a good chance of having a fairly light pack overall. My 9.8lb setup is a 1.7lb frameless 1800ci pack, Sierra Designs Light Year w custom carbon poles(or Black Diamond Betamid-both just over 2lbs), and Western mountaineering Highlite bag at 16oz total(I've had it regularity in the 20s and was fine). =4.9lbs.


Whats funny is I hear of guys cutting the handle off their toothbrush and the like, but then use a 6lb pack, 6lb tent, and 4lb bag(16lbs right there).=40+lbs by the time they get thru.
 
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At 0.8 oz, this is my choice.

huntersscalpel.jpg
 
^^^^Bob, you just cost me $20, but there is a small piece of AUS-10 on it's way to my house right now (2 actually). I had seen that knife somewhere and wanted to buy one but completely forgot about it. I ordered a second one for an x-mas present to make the shipping worth it. Thanks for posting the picture!


KDucky's Brother, you have some nice gear there! I actually use the same WM Ultralite sleeping bag and Gigapower stove. I have a Titan Kettle and Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2, but that's about it for my ultralight gear. I think the lightest my pack has been (dry) is 16lbs, and I always carry at least two liters of water. It still amazes me how light some people can go. I know that a lighter pack would shave off a couple pounds, but man, the hip belt on my Osprey Xenith just feels incredible regardless of the load. I've been considering ditching the tent for a tarp, but one thing that bugs me is hearing mice scamper over my sleeping bag right when I'm starting to doze off. I used to use a hammock, but kept finding mouse turds inside my pack on my clean underwear :grumpy:
 
I prefer a 4 inch fixed blade, nice and thin blade (1/8 or 5/32), scandi or even better full convex or high saber convex without a secondary edge. The lightest and cheapest version would be my Mora Companion, my custom made would be my Fiddleback Arete in convex (removed secondary bevel/edge). I can use it for cutting food, rope, wood, shavings etc. I have a 9-10 inch blade too but it is really more for fun. Sometimes it is nice to have for chopping branches off a thicker stick. What I think makes my life much easier in terms of shelter, fire etc. is a hatchet and a folding saw. Of course, a hatchet has a weight issue.
 
I'm a field biologist and used to spend 100+ days in the woods and mountains (less now that I have kids)

One of these if I carry a fixed blade:



If I carry a large one it is this or an ax coupled with a small saw


If I'm not carrying a fixed blade then I carry this:


I always have a Leatherman Wave or SAK Farmer in my pack.

The Farmer and a Mora would probably be enough, but I like knives:D
 
billygoat162 said:
^^^^Bob, you just cost me $20, but there is a small piece of AUS-10 on it's way to my house right now (2 actually). I had seen that knife somewhere and wanted to buy one but completely forgot about it. I ordered a second one for an x-mas present to make the shipping worth it. Thanks for posting the picture!
Click to expand...

You're welcome. :D

Actually the knife in the picture is the older version, with AUS8 steel. There are things I prefer about the original, the handle. And there are things I prefer about the current version, the steel; the new AUS10 is better. The original was also available in ATS34, but those are hard to find.

You really can't beat either the old or new version for a backpacking knife. :thumbup:
 
I always carry my JK Rule #9 on my hip and a Benchmade 710 in my pocket. Along with them I will have a scout knife of some type and either a Trapper or Stockman. I like having choices.:D
 
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billygoat162 said:
^^^^Bob, you just cost me $20, but there is a small piece of AUS-10 on it's way to my house right now (2 actually). I had seen that knife somewhere and wanted to buy one but completely forgot about it. I ordered a second one for an x-mas present to make the shipping worth it. Thanks for posting the picture!


KDucky's Brother, you have some nice gear there! I actually use the same WM Ultralite sleeping bag and Gigapower stove. I have a Titan Kettle and Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2, but that's about it for my ultralight gear. I think the lightest my pack has been (dry) is 16lbs, and I always carry at least two liters of water. It still amazes me how light some people can go. I know that a lighter pack would shave off a couple pounds, but man, the hip belt on my Osprey Xenith just feels incredible regardless of the load. I've been considering ditching the tent for a tarp, but one thing that bugs me is hearing mice scamper over my sleeping bag right when I'm starting to doze off. I used to use a hammock, but kept finding mouse turds inside my pack on my clean underwear :grumpy:
Click to expand...

I used to have the Osprey Xenith back in the early 90s. Was my first real backpack(used Alice gear before then). Huge pack!! Theres truly new packs now that are super comfy with much less suspension, padding, width of belts and buckles. I can't believe how comfy the new Granite Gear Crown 60 is(2.1lb). I've also got the old Spectra material using TNF Thin Air(70ltr) at 4lb oz and first yr Osprey Ether 60 at 4lb 3oz. Arcteryx Bora 70 at 5.5lb. Sold my old US made Dana's. My 1lb 13oz ruck is an old Osprey summit pack called The Ether. No frame, just a bag at 1800ci. I can get the Light Year tent, Highlite bag, 48" ultralite pad, chair kit, filter, stove, cookware, Precip shells, multi 3-season layers, etc into its and it be under 10lbs with fuel but no water or food.

Highlite bag. Can go down to the 20s(its rated for 35*, but I take it lower).. Stuffs to the size of a Grapefruit.. Weighs 16oz w the stuff sack. The Grail. Megamid floorless.


Ultralite bag. Not a good pic of the bag tho. You can see my old ti pot, cup, skillet in this pic. ..and a lot younger dog lol. Betamid floorless. Both being 4 season rated.


Been using a single Snow Peak 1.3ltr ti pot, ti coffee cup, ti spoon and ti skillet for 20yrs. Just this summer switched out to this 3 piece ti pot/skillet set. Love it. Nests together with the Giga wind screen(seen in this pic) as well as a small Snow Peak gas canister, all riding inside together as a kit.
 
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For a day or two I almost always carry a Mora Robust (sometimes switch up with a BK11) and a SAK Huntsman. Nothing I have encountered has required more knife and the tools of the SAK are indispensable.
 
Generally a Fiddleback Hiking Buddy is all I need. Lovely little cutter for most chores. I can pair it with one of my HI khuks for base camp. However, if I want to be really conservative and pack One-n-done, my Fiddleback Woodsman can handle 90% of everything I could ever need done in the wilds. Pair it up with a Wildmanh sheath, and I'm pretty much set.
 
I love this quote from Harvey Manning, who advocated an SAK/Camper style pocket knife [1].

"For special purposes a hunting knife is superior, as are double-bitted axes, cavalry sabers, Gatling guns, and dynamite, but a modest mountaineer contents himself with a modest blade."

Manning was one of the guys who "wrote the book" on modern backpacking and mountaineering and if you buy into the premise of low impact (or better said, impact elsewhere) and carry a stove, adequate shelter and clothing, then Manning is right. An SAK or it's equivalent is all you need. Students of Ray Jardine take this a step further and content themselves with something like a Vic Classic.

I've settled on the following combination: Opinel #9 in my RFP (where it is most days anyhow) and a Leatherman PS4 Squirt in my ditty bag. I just prefer the larger Opinel to any SAK or teeny knife. It's super light, gives plenty of blade without being unweildly and if absolutely needed for fire making, can be used to baton kindling with the lock ring open.

The PS4 is carried mostly for the scissors, which are used for bandages and the pliers which are used to drive a large needle and heavy thread for field repairs.


Howker Ridge by Pinnah, on Flickr

For ski touring or mountaineering with crampons (or bike touring), other equipment specific tools come into play.

I carry a full sized multi-tool in my EDC day pack but in the backcountry, don't consider it "good weight". Lastly, if I'm on a trip and I know that fire making is a possibility that won't damage that area, I'll carry a larger fixed blade and folding saw. Also more prone to carry those on winter trips. Just recently moved to my essentials kit for the cold months.


Lunch spot by Pinnah, on Flickr
 
My hikes can be LONG. Gotta be small and lightweight. I always have a leatherman of some kind on me, and usually a Koster in 3v (either the W&SS neck knife or bushcrafter with a simple kydex sheath).
 
Last time I did a weight comparison and swapped out my LMF II for a Seal Pup Elite and a Pocket Bushman... same weight.

My next trip will require some bushwacking, so I'm planning to take a SOG Jungle Primitive and some sort of small backup.
 
Lately, I've been carrying my Paramilitary 2 in CTS-20CP along with a ZDP-189 DragonFly. I replaced the G10 on the Para2 with micarta scales which shaved off 10 grams. I also carry a folding camp saw for firewood. They break pretty frequently, and I can't remember which one I have currently - but I like Silkys.

TedP
 
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