Whats knives/gear do you guys take on a day hike?

R

Rifter

Joined
Dec 15, 2001
Messages
774
Just wondering what knives/gear out of your large collections you guys take on day hike's i mean most of us have so much we cant take it all, how do you narrow it down? I will be heading into the woods next weekend for maybe 10-12 hours and would like your opinions on what to take. Assume its going to be sunny and nice not raining. See this is the first year i have had any kind of real knives/gear to choose from. Before it was always just slap on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt go for it and hope i dont run into anyhting i cant handle with a SAK, this year It will be differnt. The terrain will be a combo of rocky and forested(forested as in Northwest forest, im in vancouver Canada)
From the info i have it will not be populated at all, we will be the only people there, it is not a well beaten path and we will probably end up just going cross country and screwing the trail if we even find it. There is a freshwater lake at the destination so will not need to carry much water. Im Aiming for lightest load possible, dont want to leave with a 50lb pack lol for a day hike. But at the same time just because im planning a day hike doesnt mean im not going to fall down a hill break both my legs and be stuck there for a week. So i want to be prepared. I will be traveling with 1 other person. This is a recon hike to check possible campsites to be used this summer. So what knives gear to take? here is my collection:

CS SRK
CS Recon Tanto
CS kobun(not Carbon V)
Custom Fixed 4" Blade Drop point hunter
BK&T Patrol Machete
CRKT M18-02
PCKS Buck 110(BG-42)

So what would you take? Just for refrence I will be taking a small pack, maybe large enough to fit my jacket and 1 Cubic foot of other supplies. I will be wearing Royal Robbins 5.11's and a T-shirt. Will also take my trusty M-65 Field jacket in case it gets cold/windy. And of course my feet will be fine in my Danner Arcadia's. Expected temp is 10-15C. Im thinking of taking the SRK or Custom 4" with my Buck 110, With the BK&T clipped to my pack(have reson to believe i might need to clear a path). I will list below the other gear that I will be taking just incase any of you need the info to make a knife selection:

Photon I light
Mini-mag Light
4 Days worth of MRE's
2 Liter's of water
Compass + map of area :)
Zippo with replacement wick/flint
1 Bottle zippo fluid
Casio G-Shock(has thermometer and sunrise sunset times)
Emergency blanket(you know the tin foil looking thing)
Small first aid kit
1 Bag trail mix
4 cold cut sandwiches :)


So thats it, My first Real hike with all my new gear. So what knives to take?
 
is to unpack the MRE's and get rid of the cardboard and stuff you won't need, like the extra spoons and mini tabasco bottles. I usually also chuck the nasty chocolate bars and bring real commercial candy. The heaters (if included) tend to be useless also, but if the weather gets cold, they do make good "handwarmers" when placed in a pocket...

and unless you can find more water out there, one or two more liters of water. If you can get more water, you need some sort of water treatment.
 
I always take 4 days of MRE's they dont even weigh me down anymore, dont have any extra cardboard, bottles etc. Will be able to obtain water at the lake, have water treatment already. Dont have heaters? why would you take one on a day hike?
 
BTW the above list is pretty much everyhting i will be taking, By the feel of the pack it cant be over 20 lbs. Thats light enough for me(im 5'11 and 200lbs) If you can think of anyhting else let me know.
 
and the cardboard boxes that house one or more of the retort pouches in the MRE...

The heaters are those that come in the MRE where you add water and place the retort pouch inside the bag and a chemical reaction occurs, heating the MRE...

Oh yeah, bring a small sharpening stone as well...
 
Although I'm a big fan of Zippos as collectibles, they're relatively unreliable for potential emergency firestarting. I'd ditch the Zippo and weighty fuel for a BIC, a ferrocerium rod, and some tinder (like vaseline soaked cotton balls.) Add in a poncho and some water purification tabs, delete a tad of meal weight. For day hikes with low potential for problems, your 4" fixed blade and a SAK sound good to me.

Mike

PS... With a white Photon, the mini mag may be redundant. M
 
:) i was thinking like tent heater for some reason when you said heater(not enough sleep) The zippo stays seeing as i smoke and Bic's arnt in the least wind proof :) Also i have never had my zippo fail me so why change a good thing. My photon is white but i always like to have a mini-mag around just in case. BTW MRE's are stripped down already(doesnt everyone strip them down? thats why i didnt think of the MRE heaters right away) lol
 
Rifter

I would take the 4" hunter, as well as a multi-tool. Add a few more space blankets and get the larger heavier space blanket with grommets. 2 to 3 large trash bags (can double as rain poncho) whistle and signal mirror. Some small tea candles, paracord, sunscreen, maybe a collabsible canteen (like Nalgene). Don't take up much room empty, and with the large mouth one you can stuff stuff inside to keep it dry. Water purification tabs. Maybe some Met-Rx bars. Maybe ditch the field jacket for lightweight gote-tex jacket and fleece.

If you get cold and wet, poke hole in trash bag for your head, squat down and light tea candle between feet. Warms you up in a hurry...be sure not to light "nads" on fire! :p Ditto on ferrocium rods and tinder.

Maybe most important...let someone close know where you are going, where you are going to park, and estimated return time. If something happens, at least someone will know where you are and can send help.
 
Originally posted by Rifter
Photon I light
Mini-mag Light
4 Days worth of MRE's
2 Liter's of water
Compass + map of area :)
Zippo with replacement wick/flint
1 Bottle zippo fluid
Casio G-Shock(has thermometer and sunrise sunset times)
Emergency blanket(you know the tin foil looking thing)
Small first aid kit
1 Bag trail mix
4 cold cut sandwiches :)
Click to expand...

I take pretty much the same types of things. Bic instead of Zippo, only one flashlight, granola bars instead of trail mix. I try to carry the lightest load possible and still be able to survive, in some comfort, 1-2 nights. For a knife I'd just grab one of my SAKs; probably a Camper.
 
Sounds about right. Ditto on the signal mirror, and depending where you are, a fully charged cell phone. Have a great hike. Josh
 
For those who are wondering why he is carrying 2 flashlights, the Photon light is a tiny (barely bigger than a quarter) LED light. The two button cells that run should last about 20 hours or so. Not as bright as the Mini-mag, but the Photon and 5 extra sets of batteries are smaller, and lighter than the Mini with just the batteries in it.

The only real problem I have with your choices are the clothes themselves. I hate cotton in the woods. It's not very insulating when dry, and has zero (or less than zero) insulating abilities when wet. It also takes forever to dry when it does get wet. Just about any of the modern synthetics are a better choice.

Stuff a liner for your field jacket into your pack as well. They're light and don't take up much room. The Thinsulate ones sold by Brigade Quartermasters (I think) are even warmer, and smaller, but are about twice the price. Or a medium weight fleece jacket would also be a great choice. Either of those would be better pared with a good light or medium weight Gore-Tex parka, again though, they are pricey. But they will keep you dry, and are about as warm as the field jacket w/o liner. The field jacket is just two layers of cloth anyway.
 
uhhhhhhhhh....so you'll be in the woods for 10-12 hours right??And you fell you have to carry all that!:rolleyes: Damn what kind of woods are you gonna be in??Just a simple folder,a few cans of beanie wennies with the pull off tops,and a few bottles of water should get anyone through.Just my .02,Not tring to be jerkey but that all seems to be a bit much for a few hours hike.
Todd
 
my tnt

maybe a small neck knife (for no particular reason other than I like them)

water

a hat

a jacket if it is cold

if there are varmits about or a safe/legal place to plink...a revolver (and only if wife/kids not along)

generally no food as I *hate* it when nature calls and there is only poison oak for wiping :eek: :p :eek:
 
All that stuff and no spare socks or toilet paper?
That's about how much food I carry for three days:p
 
Day hike for me means a SAK and maybe that 4" hunter or the SRK unless I know I've got to clear trail in which case I'll have a machete. In the event I need to hunker down for the nite and have to cut some fire wood, my SAK saw is usually enough in a pinch.

Otherwise, I'll take appropriate clothing, one of those thicker space blankets, a couple of big garbage bags, water, some dried fruit or trail mix, maybe some bread and cheese, and some instant soup and tea along with one of those esbit stoves. Of course there is also a little first aid kit compass, map, etc.
 
Not a bad kit, Rifter. For all the minimalists out there: what you leave behind is what you really, really need when something goes wrong. I always pack extra food and water, even if it weighs too much at the start. It's not exactly a stroll through a public park.

For utility, a multitool or SAK and a long knife, but for real, a small folder might be all you need. Is the Patrol Machete heavy enough for northern woods? I never handled one.

I hate the feel of plastic clothes. Nylon and supplex and taslan all remind me of the damn Air Force raincoats we used to sweat inside. My M-65 got me through this winter OK, even if the liner was too warm :)
 
Looks like a good collection of useful items. Here are a couple of other things to consider. All are lightweight and compact:

1. What kind of insects are emerging in your area at that time? Any black flies or mosquitos yet? I'm not familiar with Vancouver climate, but you should think about bringing your favorite insect repellent.

2. Good quality paracord.

3. Duct tape, re-rolled flat.

4. Water filter. I assume that at your destination lake, giardia can be a problem? Better play it safe.

5. I second Oni's suggestion. File a "hike plan" with a buddy or family member, so that someone knows where you are and when you are returning.

Enjoy!
 
My kit is pretty lightweight compared to yours. For a day hike that might stretch into an overnighter, I take:

Appropriate clothing (including extra socks and a good hat)
Two knives: Fixed and Folder
Large Camelback style hydration system with 3qts water, food (usually 1-2 freeze dried camp meals), space blanket, first aid kit, two methods of firestarting with 1-2 trioxane bars, duct tape, Whistle, Compass, Map (if available), Water purification tablets if longer than 4-5 hours, a small roll of extra strong string, extra ammo for my gun.
Revolver (don't forget the CCW if necessary).

Everything except for the revolver and knives will fit inside the hydration pack. The pack has chest and waist straps to keep it secure and sway-proof.

Chris
 
Good suggestions guys, I think the Patrol Machete will be tough enough to handle it. Im taking TP of course, just didnt mention it cause its pretty much a given lol. Im taking some water purification tablets. I will take a roll of 550 Paracord. Will take some duct tape. Will also take a Bic just for redundancy. I already have told my parents where im going and gave them a copy of the Map with a detailed hike plan and drew on exactly where we are going and at what times we should be there. This might strech into a overnighter but it is unlikely unless the terrain is a real pain. Will take some garbage bags. I do not like nylon, i dont know if you have noticed but its kinda flamable, i had a good nylon lightweight jacket until it melted a few years ago while camping :) I will stick to the M-65, it has never failed me. I do however have a GI issue poncho i will take. Will also take extra socks, didnt think sbout it but i might need them, you never know. keep the sugestions comeing, i dont mind the extra weight, need to be dowb to 180 and in prime shape by summer so i dont mind the extra weight at all, it just helps me get in shape for summer. Will probably add weight to get it up to at least 30-40lbs anyways.
 
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