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

[Paracelsus]

If you are going to be staying in that area later this year, you may want to consider a water purification filter instead of using tablets (yuck).

As for knives, one folder in your pocket and one fixed blade on your belt should be more than enough cutting power. Take your custom fixed or the SRK. A SAK is always good to have around. The 110 is pretty heavy for pocket carry but if it has a sheath, take it along for backup use.

I would not suggest a big knife (bigger than 5 inches) for bushwacking unless you know you are going to a real jungle. Use a walking stick to push the brush out of the way.

My day and multi-day hiking knives are some combination of 1. small light SAK 2. PJ Tomes Remington folder (3.5 inch blade) or two-bladed Moose folder (2.5 inch blades) 3. Jim Crowell five-inch hunter and 4. Jim Crowell boot knife or John Perry bird and trout for fishing and whittling.

Generally I have at least two of these handy on any outdoor excursion. The exact choice depends on what I plan to do (e.g. mostly fishing or mostly walking). I am not a fan of large fized blades although I know some people swear by them. It is almost never necessary to do much firewood chopping during short trips.

Do not underestimate the potential need for water or the ability to make potable water. That is far more important than a multiday food supply.

Para

 

[Ebbtide]

OK, here's what you do...
Bring everything on the list.
Keep careful track of what you use and what you don't use.
When you get home make a pile of all the stuff that you didn't use and leave it home next time
Of course that doesn't include emergency gear.
(I use a G.I. ammo pouch that has a spare compass, candle, lighter, bootlaces, spaceblanket and firestarter cubes.)
Rain poncho always goes along and the G.I. canteen & cup.
Instead of a 'chopping' type knife, I prefer a folding backpacker's saw (SvenSaw or What-A-Saw)
Knives? usually a 'food' knife (Buck 102, Dozier, Sharpfinger) and a bigger FB, to make me feel warm and cozy
Food? Do yourself a favor and bring real food. We did an annual winter day hike for years, the MRE's are OK, BTDT, but kielbasa and ramen noodles rule!
You just need to think food that cooks fast, or is already cooked and just needs to be heated.
I admit I like Beefaroni and franks and beans too
Wool and fleece rule, cotton kills.
Stay safe and tell us how it goes.

 

[PWork]

A fully charged cell phone is lightweight insurance if there is service where you are going. FRS radios are a good idea too.

Knives...a SAK with saw and a fixed blade you are comfortable with. Actually, a larger SAK like the Rucksack should serve you well for the day.

Other items should include:
cordage (para cord)
firestarter (ferro rod and lighter)
good boots
first aid kit
whistle
water carrier and purification
metal container (sierra cup)
a good walking stick
Rain gear
toilet paper
extra socks (2 pair is a good idea)
bandana (or two)
sun glasses
any personal items you may require (meds, spare eye glasses)

Good luck and have fun.

Paul

 

[Clint Simpson]

Originally posted by Rifter
The terrain will be a combo of rocky and forested(forested as in Northwest forest, im in vancouver Canada)

If you need to clear a trail, you probably won't camp there. Go around the undergrowth and leave the place looking good for the next hikers coming through.

From the info i have it will not be populated at all,

Nix the cell phone.

There is a freshwater lake at the destination so will not need to carry much water.

My preferred method of water purification is to use iodine to kill the nasties and then use a filter to clear all the gunk. Iodine will kill the viruses that can pass through a filter. The filter removes the iodine.

So what would you take?

1)CS SRK and SAK (if you still have it, if not...)
2)CS SRK and Buck 110
If you really need to clear a path (I have no idea why you would, the SRK should cut/get-out-of-the-way anything you snag yourself on but...)
3) Patrol Machete, Custom Fixed 4" hunter, and SAK
IF you are not willing to destroy the edge on your custom...
4) Patrol Machete, Buck 110, and SAK
For the fun factor...
5)CS Recon Tanto, 4" hunter, Patrol Machete... and SAK

Will also take my trusty M-65 Field jacket in case it gets cold/windy.

I know many Marines and soldiers who prefer the field jacket to the current issue Gore-Tex. Good choice.

And of course my feet will be fine in my Danner Arcadia's.

Good socks and cheap boots are better than cheap socks and great boots. Sad, but true. Tholos combat boot socks are my choice, my dad likes thick wool socks.

...the other gear...

Photon I light
Mini-mag Light

I didn’t buy a photon until I knew it’s limits. Then I bought one without fear if it was all hype. Photons are great for all-day light but useless past 10 feet. Mini-mags are great for a few minutes of mid-range lighting.

4 Days worth of MRE's
more on this later

2 Liter's of water

Drink lots of water the night before and the few minutes prior to starting your hike. Your body will rid itself of excess water but won’t work well with too little. For long trips, I carry a Camel-bak and an extra bottle of water.

Compass + map of area
Zippo with replacement wick/flint
1 Bottle Zippo fluid

With the extra everything you should be OK. If the Zippo gets soaked, just remove the cotton, ring it out, put it back and fill it up. Should work just fine. (but I pack water/windproof matches as well)

Casio G-Shock(has thermometer and sunrise sunset times)
Emergency blanket(you know the tin foil looking thing)
Small first aid kit

There are two needs for a first aid kit. 1)Mommy, I have a booboo 2)Dude, is THAT my Blood? For #1, Band-Aids and a .5 oz tube of Neosporin are all you need. For #2 the best things the have are athletic tape and combat field dressings. Since you don't find combat field dressings at the supermarket, replace with Maxi-pads (non-sterile but will work for 12 hours and you will be seeing a doctor anyway...) or 4" by 4" (10cm x 10cm) gauze/sponges.

1 Bag trail mix

Better that bars IMO, you can take one or two bites at a time and not have a mess.

4 cold cut sandwiches

So what are the MRE's for? Are you packing all the food for the two of you?

 

[ExamonLyf]

Some good posts guys.., very interesting thread. Amazing so many would take so much gear to me.., but to each his/her own.


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"

 

[Clint Simpson]

Also bring...
Toilet paper and a spade. It helps to bury your “stuff.”
Duct tape, bring some neon colored tape to make you more visible if you get lost.
All the other stuff mentioned by other people except..

Signal mirror? I don’t carry one, leave he space blanket out and it should work just as well. Also, a fire is a better signal. Young green branches make nice smoke.

About the MRE’s... USMC tries to feed us Marines 3 times a day. Are you packing 12 MRE’s!? Some of our training involves one and a half MRE’s over 54 hours, but most training is two MRE’s and a field chow (cooks come and whip something up).

I keep the boxes because after you put the food pouch into the heater bag, you put the bag into the box. This lets the heater act like an oven and warms the food nicely.

 

[Iverson]

Hey Rifter... You've gotta be real careful here... I mean, you live in 'The great white north' right? I mean it is always below freezing there, and the snow drifts can cover up your igloos!


Just kidding. I live in Blaine, so we are neighbors. Have fun on your hike/camp trip. Nothing I could advise that you haven't already read here... except... do what I did and quit smoking... it makes hiking MUCH easier.


GO CANUCKS!!!!


-Dave

 

[SIFU1A]

if ya do stick w/the MRE's, take the tabasco, dont think i can consume them w/out the pepper sauce..........and bug spay is VERY important some times also....


sifu

 

[redvenom]

Bladewise, I used to carry a parang (a local version of the machete) for general brush clearing and chopping and a small fixed blade for the rest. Recently I added a couple of HI khukuris (WWII and Sirupati) to my stash which I plan to take along a jungle hike this June.

Andrew Limsk

 

[Samurai6]

Hey, I'm a knife nut. I would rather carry knives than water.

My usual carry is a Camillus ARCLITE neck knife, a Rinaldi TTKK on the belt, and a Mad Dog Bayou Hunter strapped to the pack.

If I am hiking alone, I don't carry much food. At least a half gallon of water and a filter pump - I'm a lot more concerned about running out of that. A PBJ and bagel sandwich and some trail mix, a couple of Power Bars. A good book. A sleeping pad. A flash light. Long pants and a rain jacket if I am hiking in shorts or changeable weather. Waterproof matches in a water proof container. A hat. Bug juice, sun block. A small first aid kit. A bandana. Some cargo pocket hiking shorts, and some trail running shoes. A cell phone - I called my wife at home in CA from the tree line on a peak in the Alaskan panhandle a couple of years ago. That was too cool. I will always hike with a cell phone when I can. Oh, a map and compass, usually.

Kinda light for a safety firster, I guess, but I know from experience that as long as I keep moving, and the snow is no more than a couple inches deep, I won't freeze; I can go a couple of days without food if I have water; and if I get disabled in the snow without water, I'm screwed.

 

[allenC]

Wow! So much gear for just a day in the woods?
If I'm only spending about 12 hours in the woods I would go ultra-light:
Some beef jerky or peanut butter crackers,
a few power bars,
two 2-quart canteens or a filter if water is plentiful,
my CRKT Bladelock,
two Bic lighters,
insect repellant,
sunscreen,
a map and compass,
maybe a poncho and some 550 cord if the weather is iffy.

Good luck,
Allen.

 

[Buzzbait]

I do a lot of hiking trips of this size and duration. My standard carry items are:

1. Altoids Survival Tin – Has a bunch of small goodies. Do a BF search for more information.

2. Handi-Wipes – Good for cleaning hands (dirty hands are the primary reason for catching Giardiasis) and wiping your butt.

3. Swiss Army Knife – Should have a good saw and awl. Any other SAK tools are icing on the cake.

4. Compass and Map – The compass is not worth carrying unless you actually know how to use one.

5. A fixed blade capable of limited light chopping.

6. A whistle.

7. Extra Bic lighter to supplement the lighter in the Altoids tin.

8. Mini-Mag flashlight to supplement the Photon2 in the Altoids tin.

9. 2 full Nalgene water bottles.

10. PopTarts and Snickers bars – The ultimate hiking meals!!!!

11. Thin Space Blanket

12. Rain Poncho

13. Small First Aid Kit

All of this is held in one of those hiking lumbar packs. The whole arsenal is quite light in weight, and takes up very little room.

 

[matthew rapaport]

I can go a couple of days without food if I have water; and if I get disabled in the snow without water, I'm screwed.

If there's snow, there's water. Especially if you can make fire. What am I missing here?

 

[Esav Benyamin]

All your nice, dry, seasoned wood for making that fire is under the snow. What are you catching the snow melt in, anyway, the one-, five-, or ten-quart kettle you didn't bring?

Water at the end of the trail is good. If it is hot weather, I bring enough along to pour over my head and neck, at the least, to keep cool, too.

Also, everyone has different needs. I'm diabetic. Four hours into a good hike and I better eat a lot, or you can pick my cold, dead body up on your way back.

Guys, I only agree with traveling light if: 1) I'm on a quick-in, quick-out assault on a radical environmentalist secure habitat or, 2) the "day hike" is really an afternoon stroll of an hour or so but, 3) half the fun of hitting the trail is bringing as many toys as I can haul along to play with. So don't forget binoculars!

 

[xsrdx]

Great comments on an interesting subject...

Two things I've found that work better than others in their category-

To make fire I carry a Gerber StrikeForce as a backup, with a Windmill Delta ceramic/butane lighter as a primary. These lighters rock - a small torch, not the lazy flame of a bic or Zippo. In the Delta config, they are waterproof and shock proof. Not cheap but you'll never need another lighter.

For flashlights, I can't stand to use a maglite after using the lithium powered lights from SureFire and Streamlight. The Streamlight Scorpion is MiniMag sized, about $40, and about 5x as bright. Equivalent SureFire products are a little more $$ but slightly more durable and with more switch options.

 

[Taz]

Well, you know I would be kinda partial for you taking your custom knife Should be able to handle everything from prying crates apart to fixing axles


Take your damascus and Ti necker and kitchen knife, give them some field tests JK! Hope they arrive for you today!!!

 

[Daniel Koster]

Originally posted by Rifter
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.

Well...

in that case take this:

Tooth Cleaner

 

[Oni]

 

[Samurai6]

Originally posted by matthew rapaport If there's snow, there's water. Especially if you can make fire. What am I missing here?

Nothing, Matt. It was sort of an off-hand jibe at people who go for a day hike with a tent, a week's provisions, and a PC with a satellite link so they can check in at Bladeforums.com. That's all.

 

[shane45-1911]

Originally posted by OwenM
...no spare socks or toilet paper?

No spare socks or toilet paper - or - No spare socks FOR toilet paper?

Reminds me of a funny story......no....never mind. So I forgot my toilet paper one fishing trip....