What knife should I bring on my backpacking trip?

5.1 and 3.5, nothing those two can't handle in our woods! Jealous you're going to Desolation! Going to be gorgeous this time of year and warm!
 
EChoil said:
It sounds as though this may not be your first trip but you don't mention your experience, how long you'll be out, the rest of your loadout, average terrain or potential weather conditions. Truly, your statement that "In all reality the only purpose of a knife would be to clean trout, cut tent pegs, and a emergency tool.." concerns me. :)

If your main goal is to go as "light" as you can and that is first and foremost, just take the necker, a pack of razor blades and maybe a piece of broken glass. In which case I hope everything goes as textbook as you envisage, nothing unforeseen occurs, the weather is sunny and mild and you have plenty of opportunities to glimpse faeries dancing in the meadows.

If you want to go what I would consider intelligently and properly equipped for the true wild and its contingencies, limited by only the list you provided my choices would be either the Fallkniven or the Bravo 1 (if you're sure handle will be comfortable for you over hours of hard task work [my only contention with the Bravos is a smallish, slick handle but that's due to my hand size.] They're good knives). Your choice.

Again, chosing only from the list you posted, my secondary would be the Izula which should easily suffice. If you want to spend more money go with the GSO.

Only other thing I'll say in that regard is that I'd strongly recommend pocketing some kind of SAK in addition.

Before I get fire-bombed here let me state that I really have an aversion to this "how light can I go" stuff when trekking into true wilderness. I know of way too many disasters that have befallen people who, for the sacrifice of a single pound or two on such trips have fallen into some nasty, nasty outcomes...even had to be rescued. But that's just me. I assume the feeling of accomplishment to such folks when they ARE successful at this somehow outweighs big risk.

And don't forget, often the need for a tool for a bit heavier wood work (the hatchet, saw, axe or "other" you say you are leaving at home) can occur for many other reasons than just the need for a fire.

Good trip to you and the best of times. :)



:rolleyes: Geeze....wish I'd read this before I wrote all that. I guess that's why I'm not familiar with and never done the "Desolation Wilderness." OK, I'm done. Sorry, Supertac.
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Lots of good advice here, even if the "desolation wilderness" is apparently not very aptly named :P.

That's why if it were me, I'd take one of the smaller, but tough blades (GSO 4.1, etc), and then something smaller. The SAK's, Opinels, etc (something along those lines) will also be very useful. And in my mind, the ~4in blade of something like the GSO, could be enough (with a baton) to build an emergency shelter (crossgrain battoning instead of chopping) without weighing you down needlessly for the rest of the trip.

Also, you could spread the load around with your other friends on the trip. Maybe have one bring (or even just carry) a folding saw. That alone would be enough to help in case of an emergency.

Of course, if you just want to play with some fun knives, then bring whatever you want, because really, you're out there to have a good time, so you might as well bring what you want :).

Good luck with the choice.
 
EChoil said:
It sounds as though this may not be your first trip but you don't mention your experience, how long you'll be out, the rest of your loadout, average terrain or potential weather conditions. Truly, your statement that "In all reality the only purpose of a knife would be to clean trout, cut tent pegs, and a emergency tool.." concerns me. :)

If your main goal is to go as "light" as you can and that is first and foremost, just take the necker, a pack of razor blades and maybe a piece of broken glass. In which case I hope everything goes as textbook as you envisage, nothing unforeseen occurs, the weather is sunny and mild and you have plenty of opportunities to glimpse faeries dancing in the meadows.

If you want to go what I would consider intelligently and properly equipped for the true wild and its contingencies, limited by only the list you provided my choices would be either the Fallkniven or the Bravo 1 (if you're sure handle will be comfortable for you over hours of hard task work [my only contention with the Bravos is a smallish, slick handle but that's due to my hand size.] They're good knives). Your choice.

Again, chosing only from the list you posted, my secondary would be the Izula which should easily suffice. If you want to spend more money go with the GSO.

Only other thing I'll say in that regard is that I'd strongly recommend pocketing some kind of SAK in addition.

Before I get fire-bombed here let me state that I really have an aversion to this "how light can I go" stuff when trekking into true wilderness. I know of way too many disasters that have befallen people who, for the sacrifice of a single pound or two on such trips have fallen into some nasty, nasty outcomes...even had to be rescued. But that's just me. I assume the feeling of accomplishment to such folks when they ARE successful at this somehow outweighs big risk.

And don't forget, often the need for a tool for a bit heavier wood work (the hatchet, saw, axe or "other" you say you are leaving at home) can occur for many other reasons than just the need for a fire.

Good trip to you and the best of times. :)



:rolleyes: Geeze....wish I'd read this before I wrote all that. I guess that's why I'm not familiar with and never done the "Desolation Wilderness." OK, I'm done. Sorry, Supertac.
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LOL, your biggest danger would be having to camp by Lake Tahoe in Emerald bay and maybe lose some money on the slot machines :D

I've been up through there a lot this summer and even drove through a couple wild fires on the 50. Hopefully the smokes all gone for your trip, and there's alot of water in those waterfalls. There was some about two weeks ago I was up there last! Since I don't have a 5.1 anymore I just bring the GSO 10 to pair with the 3.5, but I can't wait for that GSO bushcraft knife. Oh man.
4OJdvSe.jpg
 
Back in the day, when I was young, strong and dinosaurs roamed the earth I backpacked. I learned quickly that while gear is your friend, weight is your enemy. Todays materials and technology make backpacking a cakewalk compared to the stuff we used to have to use. I think that today's packs loaded are about what our used weight empty; but I digress. You asked about knives.

+1 on the Mora HD Companion; light weight, strong for its size and very functional.

+1 on a SAK and/or a multi-tool. If you want to spend the money and will be doing more backpacking in the future, consider a titanium based multi-tool to save precious ounces.
 
B34NS said:
LOL, your biggest danger would be having to camp by Lake Tahoe in Emerald bay and maybe lose some money on the slot machines :D.......
4OJdvSe.jpg
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No wonder I missed it. I was always downhillin' at Squaw Valley.:thumbup:
 
Tachead01 said:
It's better to have and not need then need and not have imo. There are always emergencies and unexpected situations that can happen. Plus, a fire ban stops you from having recreational fire not life saving ones. If I were freezing to death because I fell through the ice exc. the last thing would be worried about is a fire ban lol.
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No offense but I can't see any scenario in which you would need a fire in summer while backpacking. If you need a knife at all to start a fire(because you lost ALL of your other gear?) you're doing it the hard way. All you need is a lighter. Hot summer in a drought. Think about it.
 
Gso 4.1 and a multi tool of some kind. I would throw a light weight Mora in my back as a back up should I lose my belt knife. But that's just peace of mind for me.
 
I never leave home without a Busse/Busse Kin, something about the warranty that encourages you to test and abuse thier knives gives me a sense of security that when dire circumstances happen my knife will likely be the last thing to fail. IMHO this is infinitely worth more than worrying about a few ounces of steel.
 
Shotgun said:
No offense but I can't see any scenario in which you would need a fire in summer while backpacking. If you need a knife at all to start a fire(because you lost ALL of your other gear?) you're doing it the hard way. All you need is a lighter. Hot summer in a drought. Think about it.
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Really? OK, I've given it an hour of thought. I don't need a knife to start a fire, but....Even in summers I don't always find deadfall the size I'd like to burn for a real fire. I guess it depends on how high you go. Lot of times I still find some chopping or cutting to be done. And I always want a fire when in the outdoors, summer or winter.

I like to be able to cook and make water potable too when necessary, especially when it's droughty. :) Plus, I'm not going where I do without a knife, period.

I'm never in a total minimalist mind in the wild.
 
Firestrike said:
....IMHO this is infinitely worth more than worrying about a few ounces of steel.
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Same here. When I want to save ounces I just leave a pair or two of socks and the car key at the trailhead. NEVER one of my knives.

If ounces are going to be that critical I'll work out a little harder pre-trip....
 
With all the chit chat, my recommendation stands. As I see it, you really don't need a fixed blade at all in this case. But if you want one, go relatively light with the BK-15 and a SAK. IF it makes you more comfortable, carry the Vic Trekker which includes the longer saw blade. I would slip it inside the pouch on the BK-15 sheath.
 
Thanks guys for all of the replies and recommendations. I got the destination that we'really headed to this morning. We're going to Lake Aloha, which I haven't been to yet. I'm heading out with 4 other guys and we'll have 4 dogs with us as well. Im not looking into Ultra Light gear, but would like to keep my pack weight down to 40lbs or so. The knives I listed are some of the knives that I already own. I don't have any Esee's besides the Izula. I do have a BK15, but I actually prefer to choose from the knives I listed. I forgot to mention that I always carry a Leatherman Skeletool.

I think I cut the list down to GSO 4.1 or BravoLT for the primary.
The smaller knife will be the GSO 3.5 or Izula.

Thanks again
 
Fallkniven F1 is my choice. But the others on the list are all good.
And purchase a Silky Pocketboy Folding Saw in 170mmm or 130mm blade.
They are made by the company that owns Mcusta, unbelievable performers, very light and compact
and are remarkably inexpensive. I carry one in my backpack as standard gear.
 
KenHash said:
Fallkniven F1 is my choice. But the others on the list are all good.
And purchase a Silky Pocketboy Folding Saw in 170mmm or 130mm blade.
They are made by the company that owns Mcusta, unbelievable performers, very light and compact
and are remarkably inexpensive. I carry one in my backpack as standard gear.
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Thanks, I have a silkypocket boy. Great little saw. I will toss it in my pack just to have.
 
I don't think it makes the least bit of difference between the knives you have listed as far as taking them along. I didn't realize that you already had all of these knives. I'd go with the one you have used and have the most confidence in.
 
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