Whole Day Hike - Folders

L

LJTanzer

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Aug 4, 2013
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Over weekends I might spend close to an entire day hiking. I am looking for a folder to carry around via a pocket clip.
I would prefer a US made quality knife in the 3 to 3.5 inch range. Have looked at a Protech TR5 assisted and a Toor Merchant 2.0.
I like them both but would appreciate input from more knowledgeable members. Thanks.
 
Spyderco Manix 2 Lightweight or Paramilitary 2 are both excellent choices. The Manix is a little cheaper, and the lightweight version is a lot of knife for its weight.

No experience with the knives mentioned in the original post of the thread, unforunately, so no opinion on them.
 
The Manix 2 LW is a great choice. One of my favorite hiking blades. It is a bit of a pocket hog, width-wise though. If that's at all a concern to you, the clear and outstanding choice is the Benchmade Bugout. Best ultralight hiking folder for my money, especially since it boasts a solid 3.25" cutting edge.
 
Hogue Ritter RSK or ZT 0562CF. Those are my go to folders. The Ritter is under $200 and the ZT is around $250.

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If it has to be assisted then the only assisted opening I have is the ZT 0350. Rock solid and the thickest liner lock I have seen.
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I just picked this one up and think it would be absolutely perfect for your particular application: the Benchmade Taggedout. Light, super thin and slicely, easy to find if you drop it, in a well-balanced steel. It’s just a great no-nonsense knife.

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I would choose something with a saw. And generally choose a SAK for that job.

But no clip and not American.

A quick google and mabye a Buck or something?


The ability to make a walking stick or a digging stick, a stretcher, a splint a tripod. That sort of thing has been the bulk of my emergency knife use.

Otherwise I might cut a piece of cheese or something. Which I could theoretically no need a knife for. But I do because it is a bit nicer.

Doing a bushcraft tripod or something.
 
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If you like those knives, then you're going more for a slim, light carry. The bucks are slim, try the micarta, plastic versions for better weight savings.

Another kind of curveball recommendation would be the Benchmade Arcane if you can find one, it's a very nice knife. There are a few other older BM you can try like the Valet, 940 Osborne, that ticks your boxes pretty good.

Chris reeve small knives are good, but I'd be afraid to lose them especially after the recent price hike :)

Good luck!
 
Durable and light weight would be the controlling criteria in my mind.

Depending on your budget . . .G10 or Titanium scales might be a feature to look for.

Blade width and thickness would also be weight related parameters.

In the end, the choice between two knives that you like should come down to their difference in ounces and grams.
 
LJTanzer said:
Over weekends I might spend close to an entire day hiking. I am looking for a folder to carry around via a pocket clip.
I would prefer a US made quality knife in the 3 to 3.5 inch range. Have looked at a Protech TR5 assisted and a Toor Merchant 2.0.
I like them both but would appreciate input from more knowledgeable members. Thanks.
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What do you want to do with the knife you plan on carrying around all day? The Swiss Army knife is low cost and functional for many tasks. I edc a Spyderco Gayle Bradley which is a fearsome cutter, but it can't compete with all the variety of tasks a SAK can do on the trail.

 
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I suppose it depends on your needs, wants, and weight you are willing to carry.
I'm not an ultralight hiker. However, there are times when I just feel like carrying the minimum for what I feel is prudent for the kind of walk I'm going to be on.

In my mind, I am either looking for a folder stout enough that it can take emergency abuse without being too cumbersome or I am looking for a tool that can do the most stuff that just so happens to have a blade on it.

I have a short family trip planned next month. We are going to be hiking for 5 or 10 mile along a lot of well maintained trails. Depending ehat i find when I get there, I plan on either packing my Mini Adamas or just putting a Vic Camper in my pocket and calling it a day. The Adamas is a stout 3.25" of blade that really performs above its size. However, if I find I don't want the robustness, the Camper will do pretty much everything I will need and offer a few tools to augment any situation I am looking at.

I would probably say that if I had a Bugout, that would be a contender as well. I just find myself day to day wanting a bit more strength over weight...but I dont hike double digit miles a day 😉
 
You said US-Made, 3-3.5in? I will just tell you what I use and why.

Folding:

Spyderco PM2 in Cruwear, this is a great knife in a tough tool steel that is quite stain-resistant! But this is more of a day-hike knife, more of a slicing knife, too... An even better knife for the outdoors is the

Shaman in CPM-M4, as that has a very strong tip, it is thick, it is like my "Striderco". Except it probably bites into hardwood better, and I cut wood and stuff, so. The steel is very tough and in a tough geometry. It is like a little pocket folding fixed blade that I take out with me. Wonderfully rec'd. ''

(Of course in addition to this you should pack a SAK, preferably a 91mm model like the Camper, Explorer, or Super Tinker)

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Benchmade 200 in CPM-3V. Very tough knife, edge can take a beating from things and still cut. Also a very thick knife like the Shaman but not too thick - like a very luxury Mora, this is. Speaking of, a Mora is great to have in carbon - cheap, light, tough.

I also use a Buck 119. Basic, but tough and I like the knife for me campyard tasks.

Everything is USA made in a tough steel and M4 + Mora's carbon is the only of the bunch that require much maintenance or rust-worrying.
 
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