What knife do you carry backpacking?

each trip makes for different choices:
day trip, fallkniven F1 or S1 (depending on the mood or terrain)
over night (or two) S1 at least. just for firewood if required, along with a folding saw and a folder... has always worked fine for me

years ago it was always the USMC Ka-Bar cuz its all i could afford, but it always worked fine.
 
On multi-day trips of any real distance, weight versus functionality is the trade-off. If I am doing more than 8 miles per day, in rugged terrain, for more than a day at a time, I will have a mid size multi-tool for equipment repairs (stoves, zippers, packs) and a small to mid sized fixed blade for general camp and kitchen duties. I have yet to need to baton my firewood... or sculpt a tent peg... or make a trap for my dinner. Can I do those things? I guess, yeah. But it's not a good use of energy when you think about the size of the blade you'll use or superior tools and ways to accomplish those tasks. I would stay with a lower weight fixed blade.

Just my $0.02
--Steve
 
Whenever I get tired of lugging around a large blade, I think back to how people traveled with packs hundreds of years ago and I say to myself "Be a Man!" If the weight is heavy, get stronger. I rather like having 19 oz. of razor sharp steel attached to my pack.
 
Steve6387 said:
On multi-day trips of any real distance, weight versus functionality is the trade-off. If I am doing more than 8 miles per day, in rugged terrain, for more than a day at a time, I will have a mid size multi-tool for equipment repairs (stoves, zippers, packs) and a small to mid sized fixed blade for general camp and kitchen duties. I have yet to need to baton my firewood... or sculpt a tent peg... or make a trap for my dinner. Can I do those things? I guess, yeah. But it's not a good use of energy when you think about the size of the blade you'll use or superior tools and ways to accomplish those tasks. I would stay with a lower weight fixed blade.
Just my $0.02
--Steve
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I agree, this is why I have been working with 3/32" and 1/16" steels. One can get a 4.5" blade knife with a finished weight around 3.5 oz. Using modern steels like CPM-154, and S35vn I fined I still get all the strength I need at a fraction of the weight.
 
Derek the Destroyer said:
Whenever I get tired of lugging around a large blade, I think back to how people traveled with packs hundreds of years ago and I say to myself "Be a Man!" If the weight is heavy, get stronger. I rather like having 19 oz. of razor sharp steel attached to my pack.
Click to expand...

the lighter the better is what i say. we're not living in the stone age anymore and i don't need any extra weight on my back. :p
 
Day hike or over night on the trail, what I carry might be different. When I am off for a day or so, I'll have either the Izula or Izula II, my SAK Trekker, and my SAK multi tool.
 
cards94 said:
the lighter the better is what i say. we're not living in the stone age anymore and i don't need any extra weight on my back. :p
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+1. Since this thread is regarding backpacking specifically.. One can "be a man" or "what if" or "just in case" themselves right into a 40lb pack. My reasoning is why carry 40lbs when you can 'live just as large' while carry only 15lbs. Makes for a much better experience.
 
All I take is my trusty ole ESEE-3 & my ole BENJI Hatchet and I am ready for anything that comes along.! Don't like to weigh
myself down to much when there is no need to.!* Most people that I see in the wild or Camping & Hunting are tired from carrying way to much equipment for what they need when just the basic's will do.!!**
 
As lite and small as possible, but tough enough and comfortable enough to offer a piece of mind. I try to keep my pack under 25lbs for multi day trips.
 
For a day hike i'll have an ESEE 3, ZT0200, and my Leatherman Juice.
If I'm camping I usually like to bring different things to play with - including my Scrapyard 711
 
Anything under 5 days I carry a couple disposable razor blades in a piece of cardboard. Anything over that and a case stockman comes along...That would be cool if I could do this, but I love steel:D. I always take a good fixed blade 3 inches or better and a Laplander saw.
 
Depends on what you want to do I suppose. I usually for 20-30 mile multi-day trips. Although if I am in a place with no water, I will just take my BM Nimravus and throw 2 galons in there. It sucks but having water is worth its weight in gold sometimes.
KDucky's brother said:
+1. Since this thread is regarding backpacking specifically.. One can "be a man" or "what if" or "just in case" themselves right into a 40lb pack. My reasoning is why carry 40lbs when you can 'live just as large' while carry only 15lbs. Makes for a much better experience.
Click to expand...
 
Derek the Destroyer said:
Whenever I get tired of lugging around a large blade, I think back to how people traveled with packs hundreds of years ago and I say to myself "Be a Man!" If the weight is heavy, get stronger. I rather like having 19 oz. of razor sharp steel attached to my pack.
Click to expand...
You got that right!!!!:thumbup: Would ya rather come back to camp with a mouse or a moose?

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My primary hiking knife right now is my ESEE 3 but I am going to be replacing it shortly with a Fallkniven F1, I just cant get the ESEE to be comfortable in my hand. I also always have a folder (normally my Caly 3.5) and a Leatherman or SAK with me as well.
 
I carry multiple knives hiking/backpacking. Spyderco Schempp Rock, Benchmade 162, Strider SnG.
 
"If the weight is heavy, get stronger"

That's exactly what myself, and the girlfriend (both avid backpackers) espouse.

1 or 2 pounds extra weight in larger, more efficient cutting instruments, a MUST for survival if SHTF, or even for some not-so-dire unexpected situations, is well worth the weight. The peace of mind is worth that!

You're traveling 10, 20, 50, 100 miles with 30lbs on your back - 31lbs ain't gonna kill ya - butch up!

We are getting ready for the AT (Northbound) and we hike all over the NE, Adirondacks, Catskills, Alaska, overseas, etc.

We keep hearing everyone talk about Light, Ultralight, SUPER light, Feather light, 10lb packs before food supply - and all I can think of is, "How did anyone ever do the 2K + miles with a 30lb+ pack??

Both of us hike with substantial knives, either an ESEE 4, Lionsteel M3, HEFT 4, GSO 4.1 or 5 (we each have one or another of these on our shoulder strap) mini-multi tools in our emergency kits (SwissTool) and she carries a Spyderco Junior (Dialex), and I carry a Emerson Combat Karambit (lighter version of my EDC Emerson Super Karambit)

All told, we both have less than 1 extra pound (with sheaths) strapped to us, and our firewood processing (which we do often) and other camp chores are made with ease, and comfort.

my .02
 
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