Which SAK for backpacking?

hughewil said:
Take a farmer and a mora clipper. light weight and will be all you need.
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Take a Farmer and the Mora is just dead weight. The Farmer and Huntsman are the two best, IMO. I've yet to see a task for a Mora that a SAK couldn't do better.
 
Take the Farmer and a Mora, nice lightweight combo, then add a Vic Classic for the scissors if you like. Total lightweight package and you get tweezers to boot!
 
I like both of the options you listed. The ranger is an appealling option and smaller. However, I think the bigger saw on the huntsman will be much appreciated given the situation when you need it. I have a huntsman and find the length to width ratio more practical than the ranger. The ranger is smaller and I think just as thick as the huntsman. The one thing that holds me back from the ranger is just that.
 
The Outrider is basically a larger Huntsman, so if you like the option of longer blade (locking, to boot) and saw, and more hand filling handle then it would be a good choice. If you like smaller, then I think the Huntsman would work. But, I like the Huntsman as more of a companion tool to a larger fixed blade, as it's a bit smaller than the beefy Outrider. Have you considered the PS4? Pliers, scissors, and other little goodies:
http://www.leatherman.com/product/squirt_ps4
 
This may surprise some folks, but consider the Executive. It has scissors, which I agree are a must. Yes, the blades are small, but what do you really need a blade for? Going to be doing a lot of whittling? For opening packages, spreading peanut butter, etc., the little blade is plenty. Remember: take care of the ounces, and the pounds will take care of themselves. I have never once used a saw while backpacking, and I've been at it since '72. The bane of backpacking is thinking like a gear head -- "This could come in handy" -- instead of like a tired, sweaty backpacker with too many pounds on his back and four more miles of uphill to go before the next campsite.
 
My favorite is the Pioneer Harvester. it has a second blade in place of the can opener. I much prefer the alox handles for I have had the red plastic handles come off before. Farmer is another good model.
 
If you're not married to Victorinox, check out Wenger EVO S17 or S18. Has both saw and scissors, plus locking blade. 3.1oz.
 
Suveges said:
If you're not married to Victorinox, check out Wenger EVO S17 or S18. Has both saw and scissors, plus locking blade. 3.1oz.
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I have the evo S10 and love the locking blade, I also think they are lighter than vics
 
Suveges said:
If you're not married to Victorinox, check out Wenger EVO S17 or S18. Has both saw and scissors, plus locking blade. 3.1oz.
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Oh crap! *smacks own forehead* I completely forgot that I bought a Wenger Evolution SoftTouch 14 last summer. I wanted a bottle opener for drinking beer at this pool we belong to. 2.6 oz. It doesn't have a saw, but I can live without that for backpacking. I always did think that Wenger has better scissors than Vic. I just dug it out of my pool bag. It'll do just fine, especially if I also bring along the Koster neck knife.

Sorry for starting a pointless thread, everyone.
 
Well, glad you happened along a solution, BG. Now you have more money for Moras!
 
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I think any of the SAKs (huntsman, outrider, ranger) you are considering would be fine. Any SAK is a lot of tool for the money and weight so you can't go wrong IMHO. Personally, I like a locking blade for safety, and would lean towards the outrider but YMMV. None of my SAKs have got scissors, but now you have me thinking that every pouch of food doesn't need to be opened by a fixed blade knife ... And using scissors might be a tad bit safer for some tasks that many of us on this forum use knives for ...:eek:

I also think that a leatherman is too much for the typical backpacking trip ... and I have never needed the pliers for anything on the trail. So, even a larger SAK is a much better option. (I would rather have the weight for a lightweight defensive pistol & ammo: Ruger LCP only weighs 9.4 oz unloaded)

You can save weight much easier in other parts of your kit: (pack, bag, shelter, clothes ...)

I'll second those that think a light weight fixed blade is a good option to bring too. (MORA...neck knife, etc...) At least for the redundancy of having a second cutting tool. Chances are you won't really use 2 knives though ...
 
I always carry a Huntsman - has it all. Also a Busse Warden.

Also have a backup Farmer in an altoids tin along with backup lighter, small LED, hank of paracord, an FMF fire steel, and an AH-i arrowhead, that I slip into my pocket whenever I'm out on the trail. Also a Busse SAR-3.

Also take a look at the Victorinox Forester.
 
The Solo or Pocket Pal would work well for me. But it would be nice to have a model with the scissors and tweezers to avoid having to carry those as individual items in the First Aid kit.
 
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