Backpacking knife

Questions about equipment and supplies to bring on a trip (including reviews).

Moderator: hooky

User avatar
dcclark
May actually live on IR
Posts: 385
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017 1:39 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 4
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Has thanked: 156 times
Been thanked: 133 times
Contact:

Backpacking knife

Post by dcclark »

Not specific to Isle Royale, but my trusty old Swiss Army knife finally gave up the ghost, so now I'm in the market for a knife to take on backpacking trips. I'm hoping you all can give me some suggestions.

I'm looking to simplify down to just a blade. I rarely used any part of the Swiss Army knife except the two blades anyhow. Use will generally be lightweight.

Intended uses in deceasing order of likeliness: Cut open small food packages, slice moleskins or tape, cut cord, occasionally some whittling or making a "fuzz stick"
Unintended uses (or things I don't need the knife to do) in same order: Cut food, start a fire, knife fight with a bear, mumbleypeg

I'm not an ultralight backpacker, but I do want something I can keep in my pocket without trouble. Under 3 oz would be nice. I'd rather not pay an arm and a leg, but I'm willing to pay for something that will last more than a few trips and keep its edge.
User avatar
thesneakymonkey
May actually live on IR
Posts: 357
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2017 5:43 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 3
Has thanked: 23 times
Been thanked: 36 times
Contact:

Re: Backpacking knife

Post by thesneakymonkey »

https://www.swissarmy.com/us/en/Product ... D/p/0.6223

Everything you are looking for with it only being 0.7oz. It's all I have ever needed while hiking. It does have more than a blade but the other (only 2) things are useful too. Esp the scissors (cut quite a bit of leukotape with ours)
glitch99
NewbieCake
Posts: 39
Joined: Sat Nov 14, 2020 3:18 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 1
Has thanked: 17 times
Been thanked: 18 times

Re: Backpacking knife

Post by glitch99 »

I'm a huge fan of the Gerber LST. $23 on Amazon, weighs in at 1.3 oz with a 2-1/2" blade and thin enough to keep in your pocket all the time. Wouldn't do much against an armed bear, but more than adequate to take on an ornery chipmunk.
84 WC-FL-SB-DS-HL-DF-RH
21 Win-FL-SB-DS-TH-MC-LC-RH
User avatar
odd man out
LNT Expert
Posts: 76
Joined: Tue Feb 23, 2016 3:13 pm
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 15 times

Re: Backpacking knife

Post by odd man out »

I have the SAK Victorinox Ambassador. It is the same as the SAK Classic, but slightly larger which makes the scissors more functional for people like me with fat fingers. The blade is small, but still larger than the Classic.

https://www.victorinox.com/global/en/Pr ... r/p/0.6503
johnhens
Forum Moderator
Posts: 1993
Joined: Wed Oct 03, 2007 4:10 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 34
Location: Big Rock, IL
Has thanked: 56 times
Been thanked: 112 times

Re: Backpacking knife

Post by johnhens »

Another vote for the Gerber LST.
Vandy
Trailblazer
Posts: 153
Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 2:33 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 5
Location: Raleigh, NC
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 9 times

Re: Backpacking knife

Post by Vandy »

I took a different path. I went with this as my knife option: https://www.rei.com/product/738186/gerb ... ated-knife 1.4 oz
I went with this for multi tool: https://www.rei.com/product/840641/leat ... multi-tool 1.58 oz < 3.0 oz for both.
User avatar
hooky
IR Expert
Posts: 791
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2012 11:26 am
Isle Royale Visits: 2
Location: Central Indiana
Has thanked: 138 times
Been thanked: 54 times

Re: Backpacking knife

Post by hooky »

I carry a little Benchmade drop point Mini Griptilian that weighs between 2 and 3 ounces. It's been a great knife and has been in my pocket almost every day for over 15 years.

If I'm fishing, I carry a little Leatherman Skeletool. It's gotta be 6-7 years old now, so I'm not sure if they even make them anymore.
User avatar
dcclark
May actually live on IR
Posts: 385
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017 1:39 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 4
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Has thanked: 156 times
Been thanked: 133 times
Contact:

Re: Backpacking knife

Post by dcclark »

Thanks, all -- this has been very helpful. The Gerber LST looks like a perfect fit for me (and the price is right) so I've ordered one.

I forgot to mention that, while I did love my old Swiss Army knife, I hate its thumbnail notch with a fiery burning passion. So, no more of those for me!
JerryB
May actually live on IR
Posts: 381
Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2011 7:30 am
Isle Royale Visits: 14
Has thanked: 36 times
Been thanked: 49 times

Re: Backpacking knife

Post by JerryB »

For what it is worth, i bring a Leatherman, with the pliers. I use the pliers to lift hot lids and, once, when the metal shank in the arch of a boy scouts boot somehow jutted out of the boot, to remove that.
User avatar
Grandpa
LNT Expert
Posts: 54
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2016 10:43 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 15
Location: Southern Michigan
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 29 times

Re: Backpacking knife

Post by Grandpa »

I've been using the Gerber LST for quite a few years now. It works well for me. I hope you like it too.
First visit 1982. Last visit August, 2022. Isle Royale is my favorite National Park!
Bobcat1
Bushwacker
Posts: 277
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2019 10:01 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 8
Location: Pickerington, Ohio
Has thanked: 40 times
Been thanked: 90 times

Re: Backpacking knife

Post by Bobcat1 »

I bring a Leatherman squirt in the first-aid/fix-it kit, and a Gerber LST in with the food prep stuff. Pliers, scissors, tiny screwdriver for my eyeglasses, and a knife for peanut butter, bagels, and trimming paracord.
22 WC-HC-BCZ20-WC
19 RH-ML-TI-RH by kayak
16 RH-DF-MB-TI-RH-3M-RH by kayak
09 RH-DF-MC-TH-HL-SD-WC
00 WC-IM-WC
96 WC-FL-SB-SD-HL-CE-3M-RH
94 RH-DF-MB-3M-RH
92 RH-DF-LR-CW-HL-SD-IM-WC
torpified
IR Expert
Posts: 594
Joined: Wed Apr 20, 2016 4:06 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 6
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Has thanked: 238 times
Been thanked: 120 times
Contact:

Re: Backpacking knife

Post by torpified »

Am I the only person who has the burning question:

what is a fuzz stick??
backwoods doc
Trailblazer
Posts: 191
Joined: Tue Aug 06, 2019 5:38 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 6
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Has thanked: 77 times
Been thanked: 87 times

Re: Backpacking knife

Post by backwoods doc »

2018, 2019, 2021 (all inland lakes by canoe); 2022 X2 (RH and WC); 2023 HC
User avatar
dcclark
May actually live on IR
Posts: 385
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017 1:39 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 4
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Has thanked: 156 times
Been thanked: 133 times
Contact:

Re: Backpacking knife

Post by dcclark »

I don't remember when I learned about fuzz sticks, but it was a long time ago, but I didn't have a name for them. I also definitely don't make them as well as the guy in that video!

A few years ago my father in law gave me a copy of a delightful book from the early 1970's called "On your own in the wilderness". It's a bizarre combination of detailed, step-by-step instructions for people who have never been outside, dramatically out-of-date gear advice, and offhand references to things that "everybody" knows (most of which I have no clue about). One of those offhand remarks is about a "fuzz stick", and that's how I learned the name.

I don't recommend the book, except as a glimpse into a very different era of both backpacking and the world in general, but for those purposes it's quite interesting.
Bobcat1
Bushwacker
Posts: 277
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2019 10:01 pm
Isle Royale Visits: 8
Location: Pickerington, Ohio
Has thanked: 40 times
Been thanked: 90 times

Re: Backpacking knife

Post by Bobcat1 »

Fuzz stick - was in the Girl Scout handbook back in the 1960s. I learned how to make them at day camp when I was like nine years old, as they taught us to respect and safely handle knives.
22 WC-HC-BCZ20-WC
19 RH-ML-TI-RH by kayak
16 RH-DF-MB-TI-RH-3M-RH by kayak
09 RH-DF-MC-TH-HL-SD-WC
00 WC-IM-WC
96 WC-FL-SB-SD-HL-CE-3M-RH
94 RH-DF-MB-3M-RH
92 RH-DF-LR-CW-HL-SD-IM-WC
Post Reply