Your favorite day hiking folder

[Pilsner]

If I’m out with the missus and kids and we take the hobo stove and kettle, then the kids get busy with SAK saws, and my daughter likes to whittle, too. I agree with Marcinek; unless you are doing woodsy stuff then who needs the saw? I still like having it, though. So yeah, the Farmer works for me. Not least because it is a very pleasing knife.

On the other hand, my advice to anybody else is to take with you whatever gives you the most joy.

 

[James Y]

The Hiker is good, but I'd personally choose the Camper over that, because it's the same knife, except with a corkscrew instead of the Phillips screwdriver. I store a mini eyeglass screwdriver in the corkscrew, and occasionally find uses for the corkscrew (loosening overly-tight knots, etc.), more than I do a Phillips.

Or I'd just carry my Spartan.

Jim

 

[marcinek]

If I’m out with the missus and kids and we take the hobo stove and kettle, then the kids get busy with SAK saws, and my daughter likes to whittle, too. I agree with Marcinek; unless you are doing woodsy stuff then who needs the saw? I still like having it, though. So yeah, the Farmer works for me. Not least because it is a very pleasing knife.

On the other hand, my advice to anybody else is to take with you whatever gives you the most joy.

Pilsner's right. Really on a day hike where you are just taking a walk in the wood, your knife isn't terribly critical. You want something that makes you feel "woodsy", or makes you feel like you are ready for long term outdoor living, or makes you feel like you are ready to kill a bear, or makes you feel like Nessmuk or Scagel, or whatever. Or maybe something that looks woodsy.

Would a Delica or Mora work? Sure. But we all have enough knives to where we can pick the one with the right "vibe." Maybe some nice natural materials...stag scales....two handed opener....that kinda thing.

Or something with a saw. Because, really, when you are talking a walk on a trail, you feel cooler if you are prepared to take down a small tree. Or at least I do. (Ferrorod also makes you feel totally awesome..must have.)

 

[Pilsner]

Pilsner's right. Really on a day hike where you are just taking a walk in the wood, your knife isn't terribly critical. You want something that makes you feel "woodsy", or makes you feel like you are ready for long term outdoor living, or makes you feel like you are ready to kill a bear, or makes you feel like Nessmuk or Scagel, or whatever. Or maybe something that looks woodsy.

Would a Delica or Mora work? Sure. But we all have enough knives to where we can pick the one with the right "vibe." Maybe some nice natural materials...stag scales....two handed opener....that kinda thing.

Or something with a saw. Because, really, when you are talking a walk on a trail, you feel cooler if you are prepared to take down a small tree. Or at least I do. (Ferrorod also makes you feel totally awesome..must have.)

Damn straight.

So many choices I make in terms of equipment result in smug moments of, ‘I could totally do x because I have y with me.’ This suggests to me that the smug moments enforce a feedback loop that influences my future decisions.

It’s all good, I own a BK9. All I need to do to take down a bear is cross the English Channel, travel for a thousand or so miles, crossing numerous national borders, and it’ll all be golden. Right?

 

[Comeuppance]

When I was hiking more often, I typically carried a Cold Steel Rajah II. It was as close to a folding machete as I could find.

I usually also had something small and more maneuverable on hand as well, like a small fixed blade or a 3-4" tactical folder. I don't know if I ever had cause to use any of them, however, aside from when I pulled out my smaller fixed blade when there was a lot of rustling nearby and was in an area where wolves had been spotted recently.

 

[marcinek]

So many choices I make in terms of equipment result in smug moments of, ‘I could totally do x because I have y with me.’ This suggests to me that the smug moments enforce a feedback loop that influences my future decisions.

Hey, on a day hike, all that really matters is ‘I feel like I could totally do x because I have y with me.’

 

[Pilsner]

Hey, on a day hike, all that really matters is ‘I feel like I could totally do x because I have y with me.’

Yes, that is a good refinement.

 

[knoefz]

Love to bring my orange Military on day hikes.
Light weight, slim in the pocket, plenty of edge.
But must admit a fixed blade usually comes along as well.

 

[rje58]

of the knives I own:

Inexpensive choice: Ontario Rat 1
Dayhikes: Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter
Backpacking/Severe conditions: ZT 0550

 

[laker199]

I have a Mora Companion that's always in my pack. Great knife for the money, if I happen to loose it it's not the end of the world.
The folder I carry is a Vic. Alox pioneer. It's got the what I need in a SAK without feeling like a rock in my pocket.
My wife carries a Mora Eldris on her neck. It's short and fat but tough as hell.
I also plan on getting a Bugout for hiking this summer.

 

[McFeeli]

Usually when I go out I go trail riding on the KLR until there's no trail left. From there I hike the mountains and valleys until I decide to pack it in. My constant companions been my mini Ritter. On an occasion or two I'll pack my Guardian 3(but this about folders, right?).

I'm betting my little orange buddy'll be losing a few rounds to this gem in the near future, though.

 

[ecallahan]

I dayhike a lot in the same type of terrain. I usually carry a Doug Ritter version of the BM mini-Grip. At times I also have a Bark River ultra lite bushcrafter for a small fixed blade. My mini-Grip has Wilkins scales which fit my hand nicely. This should be plenty of blade for a dayhike, and to help build a fire if you get stuck out overnight.

 

[Ace Krampus]

Pink Large Lum. Bought it on a whim and it's not super useful elsewhere, so I figure.... what the heck? Definitely not misplacing that sucker, either.

 

[Knives&Lint]

When hiking I carry a fixed blade in my pack, but as for folders it is currently a Ritter Grip. Before I purchased that it was an Adamas

 

[Grateful]

Victorinox Fieldmaster.

 

[jstn]

PM2.

 

[Golden Goal]

I took this guy out for a 9 day trip to the Smokies and then canoeing in the Ozarks. Congratulations on moving to an amazing place.

I frequently bring a north fork with wood handles on day hikes but I just picked up a para 3 in s90v/CF so that Benchmade isn't going to climb mountains anymore.

 

[22-rimfire]

lets see them. I realize fixed blades are best for outdoors. I just moved within 20 minutes from the Smoky Mountains National Park and would like a new folder to carry for day hiking.

I think a 111mm Victorinox swiss army knife will handle just about every task for routine hikes in the Smoky Mt NP. Big enough for food prep if you want or just cutting a walking stick. Visit the large knife store in Sevierville. They have a near complete selection of SAKs normally. The Farmer model is a favorite since it has the saw. I like the Adventurer myself which is essentially a large Tinker model.

I visit that store a couple times a year. Wanted to stop by today, but I would have barely made it before they closed at 6:00 PM this time of the year on weekdays.

Hard to beat many of the Spyderco models. The Native 5 is a favorite.

 

[22-rimfire]

..... I agree with Marcinek; unless you are doing woodsy stuff then who needs the saw? I still like having it, though. So yeah, the Farmer works for me. Not least because it is a very pleasing knife.

If you are willing to carry the extra layer (thickness), the saw does come in handy for cutting a walking stick; essentially cutting the ends flat/square. But I don't carry a SAK with a saw myself regardless. Of course, technically, you're not allowed to cut trees inside the park, but I don't see it as a big deal.

So, which community near the park are you living now? Marysville, Townsend, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg?

 

[buckfynn]

Either a 4" trapper or stockman. I've been carrying either one everyday for 50+ years. I don't see any any reason to change what works for me this late in my life.

I do like pairing a slip joint with a Mora HD Companion or Enzo Trapper.