Knife recommendation for niece to take on Appalachian Trail?

This is a good thread, it's realistic. When I met my girlfriend, she was already carrying a folding knife, and for some reason she won't get rid of it. It's a mini-disposable-blade (large hardware store type) folding utility cutter. It's actually the fuller metal construction one. One of the things I've done is get her to carry a Vic classic because of the tool ability, and telling her that if she had to use one of the tools and it broke that it's only $10 to replace it. She is an independent type, so I bought the best pack of replacement blades that I could find for her. We also bought her a small Rei backpack that they fit to her back length, then we got talked into some light weight hiking boots for her somewhat out of shape body. I was also able to talk her into a survival kit:
http://www.amazon.com/Adventure-Medical-Kits-Pocket-Survival/dp/B000G7WRDU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344612425&sr=8-1&keywords=adventure+survival+kit
So that's what I recommend, Sak classic, fitted pack and boots, small survival kit (that is usable and easy to replace the components) and a survival book. That's The only other thing that hasn't been mentioned, a good survival book to read for once she takes a break. I recommend the SAS pocket sized book (in here she will see about the "survival tin"):
http://www.amazon.com/SAS-Survival-Guide-Collins-Gem/dp/0061992860/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1344612621&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=SAS+survival+book

Regards,

TrailEdge

FYI, this is the type of copy that my local city library has:
http://www.amazon.com/SAS-Survival-Handbook-Survive-Climate/dp/0060578793/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1344613977&sr=8-3&keywords=survival+handbook
 
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neeman said:
A SAK Huntsman has everything you need for backpacking, from two simple blades, can and bottle openinrs, a good saw, pot holder, and a decent sized scissors
This is what I carry

Tie a long bright cord on the ring of the knife so it can be easily seen
Click to expand...

I agree with everything here. It is the AT - she is mostly going to be opening noodle packages with it - but she would have a lot of other tools if needed with this knife - put a GOOD edge on it for her before she goes - and it will last the season.

TF
 
I did the AT about 3 years ago and I have done a bunch of small sections since then. The 10 essentials aren't as needed on the AT now a days. So many people are on the trails it's ridiculous and your never very far from leantos and cabins and such. So I wouldn't worry to much about her. That being said its always good to have the 10 essentials no matter where your camping, just incase but if she forgets something I wouldn't worry. Going ridiculously light weight is all the rage now on the AT, I personally went heavy and for lots of gear for comfort.
As for the knife, I carried a folder standard size, a multi tool, and my Kbar. I think the most important thing is comfort and something she likes. Every single night shell have other people all around her where she camps, and many people hke in groups depending on the speed they hike. So if she has a small knife and needs a larger one for something, there will be someone there to let her use one. I lent my Kbar out more time then I can remember, a lot of the hippys don't carry knives when camping LOL. I'd say get her a multi tool and fixed blade like a bushcraft type knife.
 
Also if she decides she needs or want something you can just throw it in one of her mail drops. I sent home and adjusted a bunch of stuff along the way. I had per made all my mail drops so that the person sending them would be able to just pack it and send it along, but I made sure to keep each box open so that I could tell them take this out or put this in. So of she decides hey I want a big ass knife like crocodile Dundee then you can toss one in the next mail drop and shell have it in about 2 days. Just tell her to be there waiting for mail drops because they will not hold them long & I saw many people go without much needed stuff and have to go buy things to replace stuff they already had but missed in a mail drop.
 
I'd recomend a izula but thats because I like fixed blades more than folding but I've had good experiances with th buck 110 if all she is going to do is open freeze dried meals and stuff like that.
 
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