Isle Royale Forums

So, what do folks prefer? Folding or straight? Larger or smaller? Brands? Multi-tool versus simple blade?

I ask out of curiosity. I just used my REI dividend on a straight blade, even though I have no rational need for one. The grown up in me says small multitool. Thoughts?

For general backpacking I use a Victorinox Ambassador Swiss Army Knife. It is a minimal knife with a small blade and scissors (which I use more than the blade). It is exactly like the more familiar Classic, but slightly larger. I find the blade and scissors are more functional when a bit bigger but anything more is not necessary.

I should have mentioned this in my first posting: I almost always carry a Leatherman multi-tool. I have used the small pliers far more than the blade.

If fires are allowed, I carry a fixed blade for batoning wood. If no fires, I just carry a little benchmade folder. Mini Griptilian.

Leatherman Micra.

I carry a Leatherman multi-tool for obvious reasons. I keep this in my backpack. I then also carry a cheap-o Kershaw on my person for quick-access.

A Leatherman multi-tool has always been on me at work and in the wilderness for around 20 years. In that time, I've had three Leatherman...the same component always breaks on them: the scissors. When that happens, I fill out an RMA on the Leatherman website, mail in the broken multi-tool (at my own expense), and a few weeks later, I get a brand-new, current model back. I've done this twice over the past two decades.

The Kershaw is a cheap, Chinese-made blade (around $26). They are extremely reliable, but if I damage the blade or lose the knife, they are cheap enough to be considered "disposable." I believe the one I'm using right now is the Kershaw Brawler 1900.

When backpacking, it's the original Leatherman PST that comes with. I've had it since the era when that was the only Leatherman you could buy, and it's held up impeccably. (It doesn't have a fancy scissor like the model Fonix has.)
As JerryB notes, the pliers gets equal use with the blade, the rest of the accessories are on a random-need basis.

The only time I carry a straight blade is scuba diving (a blunt tip dive knife) and big game hunting. (A Gerber.)

Gerber multi tool ....of course for the pliers and a buck 110

Gerber EAB pocket knife

I carry a micro Victorinox for slivers and nail issues and a Gerber Moment fixed blade for everything else.

LM Juice has always been all I really need.