Where do you go to use your knives?

How long do you guys go out for with the 45lb packs? And how far do you go altogether? And how deep into the country? Not being funny but I have also carried those weights on multi night trips, usually comprising mainly solid metal climbing equipment plus the rest. The idea that an extra 10-15lb is neglible over long distances and multiple nights in shit weather certainly indicates high levels of ... something.

Genuinely curious. Perhaps I need to re-examine my manliness? But the funny thing is, all the other people I know who do this sort of stuff, many of them ex-forces, are of a like mind. Why take the boat anchor knife if you have an equal or better, lighter option? I really don’t get it.
 
But what I do understand is taking a single piece of totemistic kit that just makes you happy. In my case it would be an extra knife. In my daughter’s case it is Snoopy.

Horace Kephart also recognised the phenomenon and described it beautifully:

If you have some such thing that you know you can’t sleep well without, stow it religiously in your kit. It is your “medicine,” your amulet against the spooks and bogies of the woods.

Worth reading the whole passage, to be found in Chapter 1. It is a joy to read, as is the rest of that book.
 
Pilsner said:
How long do you guys go out for with the 45lb packs? And how far do you go altogether? And how deep into the country? Not being funny but I have also carried those weights on multi night trips, usually comprising mainly solid metal climbing equipment plus the rest. The idea that an extra 10-15lb is neglible over long distances and multiple nights in shit weather certainly indicates high levels of ... something.

Genuinely curious. Perhaps I need to re-examine my manliness? But the funny thing is, all the other people I know who do this sort of stuff, many of them ex-forces, are of a like mind. Why take the boat anchor knife if you have an equal or better, lighter option? I really don’t get it.
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Why do I carry a 34-40 lb. pack? Because I can! lol I like all the creature comforts if I can carry it. It beats my 70lb. rucksack that I humped in the military. They didn't call that pack the "green tick" for nothing! I carry multiple knives, maybe 2 choppers, a couple of mid-range fixed blades and few folders. On top of all the gear I mentioned on the previous page, we usually have a 1/5 of Maker's Mark too! Frozen t-bone steaks, potatoes, the works! My wife and I usually hike 5-10 miles in away from the nearest road. If you have seen any of Bravo and MTM's adventure posts, you'll see our deep woods excursions look more like a car camping site! My wife is tough and her pack is usually around 30lbs as well.
 
91bravo said:
Why do I carry a 34-40 lb. pack? Because I can! lol I like all the creature comforts if I can carry it. It beats my 70lb. rucksack that I humped in the military. They didn't call that pack the "green tick" for nothing! I carry multiple knives, maybe 2 choppers, a couple of mid-range fixed blades and few folders. On top of all the gear I mentioned on the previous page, we usually have a 1/5 of Maker's Mark too! Frozen t-bone steaks, potatoes, the works! My wife and I usually hike 5-10 miles in away from the nearest road. If you have seen any of Bravo and MTM's adventure posts, you'll see our deep woods excursions look more like a car camping site! My wife is tough and her pack is usually around 30lbs as well.
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Sure man. I’m questioning the idea that 10-15lb is neglible for multi-night excursions. Don’t think you personally said that? But that seemed to be coming up in this thread. Frankly I call horse manure on that idea. I know you walk the walk, Jonny, no doubt about that. :)
 
Pilsner said:
Sure man. I’m questioning the idea that 10-15lb is neglible for multi-night excursions. Don’t think you personally said that? But that seemed to be coming up in this thread. Frankly I call horse manure on that idea. I know you walk the walk, Jonny, no doubt about that. :)
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Here's just one of MANY adventures we have taken over the years, posted in the Becker forums. A lot of folks live vicariously through our adventure threads...
https://bladeforums.com/threads/a-becker-in-the-woods-super-pic-heavy.1468344/
 
91bravo said:
Here's just one of MANY adventures we have taken over the years, posted in the Becker forums. A lot of folks live vicariously through our adventure threads...
https://bladeforums.com/threads/a-becker-in-the-woods-super-pic-heavy.1468344/
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I think people live vicariously through my experiences. But I am sure you agree that it is very different humping 70lb or 40lb and merely claiming that you do. Such people become easy to spot. A little less than a year ago I was sinking up to my chest in wet snow drifts carrying 45lb++ and it was not particularly fun. Satisfying, yes, fun at the time, no. Just gruelling, wet, cold, shite for hours at a time. And yes, I also bring whisky. It is worth its weight. ;)
 
Pilsner said:
I think people live vicariously through my experiences. But I am sure you agree that it is very different humping 70lb or 40lb and merely claiming that you do. Such people become easy to spot. A little less than a year ago I was sinking up to my chest in wet snow drifts carrying 45lb++ and it was not particularly fun. Satisfying, yes, fun at the time, no. Just gruelling, wet, cold, shite for hours at a time. And yes, I also bring whisky. It is worth its weight. ;)
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Talking and doing are two different things! We backpack to get away from the stresses of the daily grind. Backpacking the trails from the bottom of the mountains to the top, is what we do for fun. The woods bring us a sense of peace and tranquility, away from all the assholes of normal civilization. If I could and if my wife would allow me, I would live in a log cabin in the middle of nowhere! Doing this kind of stuff, lets you know what works and doesn't work, when you're away from civilization.
 
91bravo said:
Talking and doing are two different things! We backpack to get away from the stresses of the daily grind. Backpacking the trails from the bottom of the mountains to the top, is what we do for fun. The woods bring us a sense of peace and tranquility, away from all the assholes of normal civilization. If I could and if my wife would allow me, I would live in a log cabin in the middle of nowhere! Doing this kind of stuff, lets you know what works and doesn't work, when you're away from civilization.
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We are cut from the same cloth, I think, my friend. And my wife won’t let me live in a log cabin either. :)
 
I'm gonna get MarriedTheMedic MarriedTheMedic , my wife, to post another one of our adventures in the Becker forums and I'll send you a link. We have documented our backpacking trips for the last 10 years. I'll have to get you access, so you can see some of the areas we have backpacked. Those that have known us for a while, know what we do. Indeed, if we are cut from the same cloth, maybe one day, we can have a drink by the fire!
 
91bravo said:
I'm gonna get MarriedTheMedic MarriedTheMedic , my wife, to post another one of our adventures in the Becker forums and I'll send you a link. We have documented our backpacking trips for the last 10 years. I'll have to get you access, so you can see some of the areas we have backpacked. Those that have known us for a while, know what we do. Indeed, if we are cut from the same cloth, maybe one day, we can have a drink by the fire!
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Anytime you cross the pond, you are very welcome. I’ll be on your side in 2019 but will not be in your beautiful neck of the woods, sadly. Maybe next time.
 
I use mine in the city...for self-defense...but don't tell anyone.

I also have a little Swiss mini on my keys for opening mail.

I have knives for NYC and I have knives for everywhere else.
 
Pilsner said:
How long do you guys go out for with the 45lb packs? And how far do you go altogether? And how deep into the country? Not being funny but I have also carried those weights on multi night trips, usually comprising mainly solid metal climbing equipment plus the rest. The idea that an extra 10-15lb is neglible over long distances and multiple nights in shit weather certainly indicates high levels of ... something.

Genuinely curious. Perhaps I need to re-examine my manliness? But the funny thing is, all the other people I know who do this sort of stuff, many of them ex-forces, are of a like mind. Why take the boat anchor knife if you have an equal or better, lighter option? I really don’t get it.
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I'm not saying lighter isn't better ... but I am saying that I don't notice 10 lbs one way or the other ... I have never weighed my own pack ... I have had over 90 lbs packs for some long walks whie working ... much as a military pack with basically the same equipment ...

now that I don't do that job anymore my packs probably don't get over 35 or 45lbs ... but unless I have to climb into tiny places (which a large man doesn't do well to start with) ... or climb high altitudes ... an added 10lbs to a pack when it is a low fraction of your body weight isn't noticable ...

Where I live now most walks aren't over a 5 to 10 mile round trip ... when I lived in Montana they may have been twice that ... but again I don't measure the distance ... I don't hike or walk or do it for the exercise or to climb something ... I do it hunting/camping/just to get away from so called "civilization" for peace and quite ...

and if you don't believe it ... that's your right ... I'm not posting to show off or claim I'm superman ... it's just a fact that not everyone worries about a few extra lbs in a pack ...

just as some worry about 2ozs. in a knife saying it's to heavy to pack around ... to me that's ridiculous ... but if it's what works for them that's all fine and dandy.
 
JJ_Colt45 said:
I'm not saying lighter isn't better ... but I am saying that I don't notice 10 lbs one way or the other ... I have never weighed my own pack ... I have had over 90 lbs packs for some long walks whie working ... much as a military pack with basically the same equipment ...

now that I don't do that job anymore my packs probably don't get over 35 or 45lbs ... but unless I have to climb into tiny places (which a large man doesn't do well to start with) ... or climb high altitudes ... an added 10lbs to a pack when you it is a low fraction of your body weight isn't noticable ...

Where I live now most walks aren't over a 5 to 10 mile round trip ... when I lived in Montana they may have been twice that ... but again I don't measure the distance ... I don't hike or walk or do it for the exercise or to climb something ... I do it hunting/camping/just to get away from so called "civilization" for peace and quite ...

and if you don't believe it ... that's your right ... I'm not posting to show off or claim I'm superman ... it's just a fact that not everyone worries about a few extra lbs in a pack ...

just as some worry about 2ozs. in a knife saying it's to heavy to pack around ... to me that's ridiculous ... but if it's what works for them that's all fine and dandy.
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That’s great to hear - why would I disbelieve you? You are truly very impressive to shrug about that sort of weight differential over long distances. By which I mean dozens of miles.
 
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Not saying you disblieve me or not ... just from your post since I believe it may have been me that first brought the extra weight issue up ... is why I responded to your post ...

Not taking it personal at all ... and I get most people do talk about saving ounces ... and I get for them why they think that way ... it was just after reading not only this thread but a few others today that want to say a 5 oz. knife is unacceptable that made me post ... that not everyone is a minimalist or worries about every bit of weight in a pack.

It's all good here :thumbsup:
 
JJ_Colt45 said:
Not saying you disblieve me or not ... just from your post since I believe it may have been me that first brought the extra weight issue up ... is why I responded to your post ...

Not taking it personal at all ... and I get most people do talk about saving ounces ... and I get for them why they think that way ... it was just after reading not only this thread but a few others today that want to say a 5 oz. knife is unacceptable that made me post ... that not everyone is a minimalist or worries about every bit of weight in a pack.

It's all good here :thumbsup:
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Cool. :thumbsup:
 
And that log cabin in the middle of nowhere ... now there is the great American dream !!! ... lol at least for a simple countryboy at least. :p
 
I don't remember pack weight ever being an issue for me. I'm 44 years old, stay active, and am in fairly good shape. I bring what I want to bring, whenever I go backpacking. It's funny what some folks consider as surviving, my wife and I do for fun!
 
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