What knife should I bring on my backpacking trip?

[supertac916]

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.

Thanks 22-rimfire, I haven't really used either one of them very much. They all have pretty good reputations and feel pretty nice in hand. I'd love to bring all of them, but I'm getting to old to pack around 80lbs..haha

 

[bdmicarta]

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.

I was thinking the same thing. I've backpacked high in the mountains many times, and encountered rain, sleet and storms. We carried stoves with us for cooking, we carried enough cold weather gear that we didn't need a fire to keep us warm. Even in summer we would wake up in the morning and it would be well below freezing. We had no problem keeping warm with our gear, even in the rain and sleet. We used our stoves so we could heat some oatmeal for breakfst, or whatever. I carried a small light folder, usually a Gerber LST, and hardly used it for anything. These days I would carry a small multitool, probably needing it more to fix a problem with our packs than to chop down a forest to build a bonfire with.

I think in this forum we have the hammer/nail syndrome. If we all have a lot of hammers, we are looking for things to drive nails into, if you get the comparison.

 

[supertac916]

I was thinking the same thing. I've backpacked high in the mountains many times, and encountered rain, sleet and storms. We carried stoves with us for cooking, we carried enough cold weather gear that we didn't need a fire to keep us warm. Even in summer we would wake up in the morning and it would be well below freezing. We had no problem keeping warm with our gear, even in the rain and sleet. We used our stoves so we could heat some oatmeal for breakfst, or whatever. I carried a small light folder, usually a Gerber LST, and hardly used it for anything. These days I would carry a small multitool, probably needing it more to fix a problem with our packs than to chop down a forest to build a bonfire with.

I think in this forum we have the hammer/nail syndrome. If we all have a lot of hammers, we are looking for things to drive nails into, if you get the comparison.

Personally, I've always enjoyed a nice small fire to hang around at night to catchup with guys I only see once a year. Sitting in the dark around a lantern or with headlamps doesn't really cut it. Also, out in Desolation wilderness there's tons of fallen trees and debri, so if it's not a extremely dry time with significant fire danger, than burning some of the fuel that makes forest fires worse doesn't hurt. I also tend to go off after setting up camp and leave most of my gear at the site, while trying to find a spot to fish. I always bring a small pack with me with a few just in case items. I'd rather have them and not need them, than need them and not have them. Do I want to have to use a ferro rod and the spine of my knife to start a fire? No, that's what a lighter is for, but I've jumped in the lakes with it in my pocket before. I like the two is one attitude and always having a backup. Too each his own because I would never just head out into the wilderness with just a folder. They're great for small tasks, but not really a good choice should a unplanned event happen.

 

[Boris74]

I was thinking the same thing. I've backpacked high in the mountains many times, and encountered rain, sleet and storms. We carried stoves with us for cooking, we carried enough cold weather gear that we didn't need a fire to keep us warm. Even in summer we would wake up in the morning and it would be well below freezing. We had no problem keeping warm with our gear, even in the rain and sleet. We used our stoves so we could heat some oatmeal for breakfst, or whatever. I carried a small light folder, usually a Gerber LST, and hardly used it for anything. These days I would carry a small multitool, probably needing it more to fix a problem with our packs than to chop down a forest to build a bonfire with.

I think in this forum we have the hammer/nail syndrome. If we all have a lot of hammers, we are looking for things to drive nails into, if you get the comparison.

Different style for different folks. I won't pack a stove, I won't pack fuel for one, I don't carry all my potable water and I never make a Bon fire. What is someone going to do when the GPS batteries die, they don't have fuel for the stove and drank their last drop of potable water the night before? There are too many people who hike who rely on equipment to replace skill. If you don't know what to do when batteries die, equipment fails and you get lost then all that do fancy stuff packed in is of no use but dead weight, emphasis on dead. Not saying you don't but lots of "hikers" have no clue on what is natural tinder, how to find fat wood, how to find dry wood, even in the PacNW, and start a fire to purify water, cook food and warm up to stay alive. I get along fine without all the fancy fluff and it makes traversing the terrain much easier. I lived in the PacNW for 4 years and was in the mointains ever single weekend hiking, many were multi day hikes.

If I wanted I could take three trash bags, a canteen cup, 50' of para cord, and my mora light my fire knife and stay in the wilds for a week. It's not hiking but it's a skill set I can't go to Cabelas and buy. You also discover so much more when you rely on nature to find tinder, fat wood, water and food. My other choice would be pondering footwear choice while carrying too much weight, that's not what I think of as fun.

We all need to do what's fun for us though, that's all that matters.