Recommendation? hiking knife

M

metulburr

Joined
Jan 22, 2017
Messages
24
I have problems when hiking when it is hot out. I have a T-shirt, shorts, socks, and sneakers. The knife i like to carry is my buck 110. However the weight of it in a shorts pocket while hiking pulls the shorts down (between that and my wallet). I wear pull string and tie shorts type. So there is no where to belt up a knife at. I like to have my knife quickly accessible if the need arise. So stuffing it in my shoe or something seems like i might as well leave it in the car.

I was wondering if there was some type of specialty sheath or rig that would hold a knife at the ankle or something that i am unaware of. But i cant imagine something that would be comfortable hiking either like that. Or maybe there is a lighter knife with the same size as the buck 110 and not junk? Or a necktie option?
 
Insipid Moniker said:
Take a look at the 110 LT options and 110 Slim.
Click to expand...

Those are good inexpensive options that keep you with a brand you already know, and at a fraction of the weight of a standard 110.

What is your budget? There is a whole world of knives out there in the same size class as the Buck 110, and if we know your budget we can offer other suggestions, too.

I see you are in Elmira. I grew up in Big Flats.
 
Go look at SKBlades, they sell Buck knives and are a dealer here.
If you decide on a different version, you can have a kydex sheath made for neck carry.
 
If you want a lighter knife, and don't mind carrying it around your neck, a Becker BK-13 would be a good small, cheap option. Otherwise you can get a kydex carrier made that will allow neck carry.
There are a lot of 110 sized knives that are much lighter, and very high quality, just depends on your tastes. I would recommend looking at spyderco models like the delica.

There are a lot of options. What else do you own? What are features you like? What makes you want to carry the 110? What are thing on a knife you don't like? And last, what do you typically use your knife for/ why do you carry that one?
 
When I hike, I wear a fanny pack in the front at the 12 o'clock position. It allows me to keep a bunch of stuff I need regular access to while hiking that I want to be able to get to without removing my pack. As another bonus, I have a set of things handy with me even when the pack is off.

Note, I hate stuff on my belt or in my pockets when hiking. This solution works well for me even with a full sized pack. I just keep the fanny pack slightly above the pack's hip belt buckle.

Any lightweight folder will go in a fanny pack carried in this way.

Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

If you really like the traditional Buck 110, take a look at the Aluminum framed 110 sold by Copper and Clad.

If you want a traditional knife that is even lighter, I usually hike with an Opinel #9 Inox. Their stainless is very similar to Buck's 420HC and it's a more rugged knife than the weight would suggest.
 
I second the neck knife but you can also carry it as a boot knife.I dont go on any decnt hikes without a good sturdy pais of boots,even if its hot out,I prefer the solid footing and stability over sneakers.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
Take a look at the 110 LT options and 110 Slim.
Click to expand...
I never even knew they made they models.

lambertiana said:
What is your budget? .
Click to expand...
Im one of those people that do not like to put more than 50 to a knife. Mainly in case i lose it. I would hate to spend 250 for a knife and lose it or stolen out of the car, or similar. I would rather get decent knives at $30-50 range and just buy another one if i lose it. I have bought knives upwards to 100 but that is about as high as i go. I dont really carry them around with me because they are labeled as "fighting knives" for the wrong cop. I dont usually break knives at all. I do not use them for the wrong job and i take care of them. But i like good quality ones if i needed to go beyond its true ability in a survival situation for example.

gadgetgeek said:
What else do you own? What are features you like? What makes you want to carry the 110? What are thing on a knife you don't like? And last, what do you typically use your knife for/ why do you carry that one?
Click to expand...
Some off the top of my head would be the SOG team leader survival knife. I dont like that as the handle is uncomfortable and it has no protection from the saw on the back side. I own a buck 119. I dont like that for skinning as its too big. I own a kabar, but i dont carry that at all because its labeled a fighting knife. I love it though. I own a few multi tool swiss army knives. Nice novelty knives, but really unpractical. I own a few leathermans. I have a full size wave on my key chain i use for daily use. I also keep this on me as it does not draw attention from police in town where fixed large blades do. I have other knives that i got from yard and estate sales, but i cant really say what they are as i have not researched them yet.

The reason i carry the buck 110 is because the lock is solid. It snaps into place and gives no wiggle at all for a folder (as long as you dont chop with it). The blade is sufficiently long. Not too long, but not too short. I like the sharp point for poking. I like that it is a thick enough blade that i could somewhat use it as a splitter with it (even though the tip may break off) as a last resort survival need i guess. Also its labeled as a hunting knife. So i can always claim purpose of carrying it is for hunting if i use it for self defense against people where i could not for a Ka-Bar fighting knife. I use it for everything, from cutting watermelon at a picnic and spreading mayo on my subs, to skinning deer hide, opening packages, and carry for self defense while hiking.

Mainly while hiking, i would use it for the feeling that i have at least something besides my bare hands if an animal attacked. That would be the main purpose while hiking.
 
Last edited:
If I was looking for a lightweight hiking knife, I'd start with a Benchmade Bugout. If that is too small, either a Griptilian or the new Hogue Ritter. All a little over your budget, but probably worth it if lightweight is a priority. Opinel, if weight and price both are important.
 
I would be curious to hear what region of the country you live, what sorts of dangerous animals are in that region, and how far you typically hike.

If you're out for something more like fitness walking and aren't going into the woods too deep but want to have a knife for peace of mind, you might want something very light and with a pocket clip that can be worn clipped inside of your short's waist band. In the Buck line-up, perhaps the Spitfire?

Even on short fitness type walks, I like to have water and a few essentials. For super light loads like that, I like a fanny pack big enough to carry a water bottle. Good place to carry a cell phone, keys, wallet, water and your current Buck 110.

Walmart typically carries Outdoor Products brand stuff and I've found their small day packs and fanny packs to be a great value.
1233_OP_H2O_Mojave_WP_BLGR_3QTR@2x.jpg
 
Im not a big fanny pack person. It doesnt feel comfortable to me having something like that around my waist.

I live in upstate NY near the PA border. There are coyotes, boar, black bear, and rattlesnakes. I think that the worst fear is rabies. We have had encounters with rabid animals before. Though its obvious the best course of action would be to not be close at all and get out of there, I would like to put myself (with at least a knife) between my family and the rabid animal.
 
I think you should look at neck knives as another option to the Buck 110. Choose the one you like.

If you like the 110 type knives, go with the light version and rig it up to carry around your neck.

Consider a shoulder bag to carry your odds and ends hiking. You can carry water in one. I often carry one made by 5.11 if I am trying to go light and still carry what I consider essentials. Slip your 110 into the bag or attach it on the outside for quicker access.

I would absolutely hate to have a regular 110 in my pants pocket, shorts or otherwise.

A lot of the business with a small fanny pouch or shoulder bag is just getting used to wearing or carrying it.

Consider shorts that have belt loops.
 
Last edited:
metulburr said:
Im not a big fanny pack person. It doesnt feel comfortable to me having something like that around my waist.

I live in upstate NY near the PA border. There are coyotes, boar, black bear, and rattlesnakes. I think that the worst fear is rabies. We have had encounters with rabid animals before. Though its obvious the best course of action would be to not be close at all and get out of there, I would like to put myself (with at least a knife) between my family and the rabid animal.
Click to expand...

a good hiking stick will be much more useful if you do run across a rabid coyote...
& get a small key chain pepper spray if you want extra (and safer) protection

still carry a knife ofc - the buck 110 LT (plastic) is a great low cost & weight option yet still very strong and reliable
 
metulburr said:
Im not a big fanny pack person. It doesnt feel comfortable to me having something like that around my waist.

I live in upstate NY near the PA border. There are coyotes, boar, black bear, and rattlesnakes. I think that the worst fear is rabies. We have had encounters with rabid animals before. Though its obvious the best course of action would be to not be close at all and get out of there, I would like to put myself (with at least a knife) between my family and the rabid animal.
Click to expand...

I like the idea of carrying a knife (and I do), for a multitude of reasons, one of which includes self-defense, but that is against people, and is way down on my list of priorities. I sure wouldn't rely on a knife to defend myself against any of the threats you mentioned. We have coyotes in large numbers around us and I've never even considered having to defend myself from one (my dog used to play with one that would come and lay 10' from me when they both got pooped from running). There have only been two documented incidents in recorded history of a coyote killing a human, and one of those was a small child. Not to mention I've been bitten a number of times by dogs (GSD's, Mals, and Pits), and defending myself against them is not something I worry about.

Rattlesnakes are a legitimate threat, but using a knife against one would be sketchy as all get-out. Around where I live we have big cats, and I sure would hate to defend myself against a mountain lion with a 9mm pistol, let alone a knife. Where I backpack in the Sierra, there are on average, more than one black bear per square mile of forest area. But again, saving myself from a black bear with a folding knife or small "non-fighting" fixed blade...no thanks. I'll take a stick or a rock every time if it came to that. So my only reasonable defensive use of a knife would be against humans, and the many I've seen seldom worked out well (or fatal) for anyone involved. I'd prefer a large flashlight to the noggin, or a taser, personally. Speaking of tasers, they work very well on aggressive dogs, as does OC spray (but OC spray sucks on humans). The best (preemptive) self defense in the woods is a good dog. Bears and cats keep their distance from dogs. The biggest limitation is that many nice hiking areas don't allow them.

As for knife recommendations for hiking, a lightweight, weather impervious knife like a Spyderco would be at the top of my suggestion list.
 
Last edited:
I think your dominant reason for carrying a knife hiking is self defense and there are much better inexpensive ones than a 110 for that. Using a knife against animals, even rabid ones, is a poor choice. Carry a handgun. A stout stick works better in most cases if you don't have a gun.
 
Do you use a walking stick? They are obviously great for protection but you can use it to carry your knife too.

I still have a walking stick I made in Boy Scouts 30 years ago. That is a self contained survival kit. Including a 6 inch fixed blade.
 
Last edited:
I think a lot of good ideas have been mentioned, the Buck 110 Slim is a great choice, can the clip switched out with a longer or deeper clip and attach it to your waistband? Or shorts with belt loops? Or I have seen kydex neck sheaths they can hold a knife like the 110. One idea that was mentioned that seems interesting is can there be a way to attach a knife securely to a walking stick?
 
metulburr said:
Im not a big fanny pack person. It doesnt feel comfortable to me having something like that around my waist.

I live in upstate NY near the PA border. There are coyotes, boar, black bear, and rattlesnakes. I think that the worst fear is rabies. We have had encounters with rabid animals before. Though its obvious the best course of action would be to not be close at all and get out of there, I would like to put myself (with at least a knife) between my family and the rabid animal.
Click to expand...

We have a family member who is relocating to the southern tier. What a stunningly beautiful part of the country you live in.

You are right to think about keeping yourself and your family safe. While pretty, wild places can be tough if things take a bad turn.

In our experience, hypothermia and exhaustion are the biggest threats and closely related to this is getting lost. I've been tramping around woods in the north east for well over 40 years and have never seen a rabid animal out there (I've seen a few in town) not have I had a wild animal encounter that would have been handled with a knife.

Food, water, map & compass, rain gear, warm hat ... these are some of the things I always want with me.

I would encourage you to think about some sort of carry system that allows you to carry some basics. If neither a backpack nor fanny pack work for you, then perhaps sling pack would work.

Bottom line: I think your Buck 110 is fine. I would recommend looking for a small pack of some sort.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top