Lightweight Backpacking Knife (Folder or Fixed)

The Bailout is officially released today. The 3V, new grip and pommel/lanyard loop might be useful on your travels.

TBH, I always consider buying second-hand Bugouts but the micro chipping concerns me.
 
I would just go with the bugout.

Personally I don't do much backpacking, but my bugout is a great EDC. Theres been a few times I forgot I had it on me due to the light weight and deep carry clip.
 
wacki said:
I'm looking for a lightweight knife (I don't care folder or fixed) that's great for long hikes. Think 20 miles a day carrying food & water.

I'm shaving ounces but don't want a wimpy blade that will break or is too small to be useful.

Current Carry:

Kershaw Blur
  • Weight: 3.9 oz.
  • Blade Length: 3.4 in. (8.6 cm)
  • Blade Steel: (I've got like 5 different steels of this model)

I'm eyeballing:

Benchmade 535 Bugout
  • Blade Steel: CPMS30V (58-60 HRC)
  • Blade Length: 3.24" (8.23cm)
  • Weight: 1.85oz. (52.45g)

That's 2 ounces lighter and almost the same blade length.

Any other suggestions? I can go fixed blade as well.
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How about a Bark River Ultralite Bushcrafter? It weigh 2.9 oz blade length 3.27 inches. It is one of the sharpest and most able slicers I have.
 
Pteronarcyd said:
Given why a knife is considered one of the outdoors 10 essentials, I recommend carrying a small fixed blade knife into the bush for anything more than a casual day hike. Take a look at the ESEE Izula.
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It's worth noting that the original author of the 10 essentials, Harvey Manning, advocated for a simple Boy Scout Knife. Fuller context, Manning was the editor of the first several issues of "Freedom of the Hills", which for many decades has been considered something of the American Bible of mountaineering technique. Mountaineering, almost by definition, happens above treeline where there is no wood, and thus heat for food, warmth for the body and shelter all need to be provided by what's in the climber's backpack; stove, warm when wet clothing, tent.

I think the one place where there is a real "need" for bigger blade in the backcountry are those places where you need something like a machete to cut back the brush to make forward progress. The other situation is when the expedition is long enough between resupplies to make carrying fuel too difficult in terms of weight and there is ample opportunity for sustainable wood harvesting. I actually use this approach on long backcountry skiing day trips where the only way to complete the drip during day light is to be fast and light as possible but there is a realistic possibility of being forced to bivy overnight, possibly with an injured partner. In those cases, carrying a knife, saw, wood stove and a tarp is lighter than carrying sleeping bags and a tent. Note, I don't advocate what I just described. I find it to be pushing the red line safety wise. I do it occasionally with people I trust but don't want anybody dying from trying it.

EDIT: I confused this thread with another one.
 
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pinnah said:
99% of the reason we carry knives in the woods is to make us happy and that's really enough.
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99% of the time? Maybe in your world. I don't carry knives into the woods because they make me happy. I carry knives into the woods, because I need them to cut/chop/split/whittle wood, food, cordage, and camp/cooking tools. Your experience is geographical and geography varies from area to area, so what works for you, doesn't apply to everyone and may be insufficient for someone else.
 
pinnah said:
It's worth noting that the original author of the 10 essentials, Harvey Manning, advocated for a simple Boy Scout Knife. Fuller context, Manning was the editor of the first several issues of "Freedom of the Hills", which for many decades has been considered something of the American Bible of mountaineering technique. Mountaineering, almost by definition, happens above treeline where there is no wood, and thus heat for food, warmth for the body and shelter all need to be provided by what's in the climber's backpack; stove, warm when wet clothing, tent.

I think the one place where there is a real "need" for bigger blade in the backcountry are those places where you need something like a machete to cut back the brush to make forward progress. The other situation is when the expedition is long enough between resupplies to make carrying fuel too difficult in terms of weight and there is ample opportunity for sustainable wood harvesting. I actually use this approach on long backcountry skiing day trips where the only way to complete the drip during day light is to be fast and light as possible but there is a realistic possibility of being forced to bivy overnight, possibly with an injured partner. In those cases, carrying a knife, saw, wood stove and a tarp is lighter than carrying sleeping bags and a tent. Note, I don't advocate what I just described. I find it to be pushing the red line safety wise. I do it occasionally with people I trust but don't want anybody dying from trying it.

Getting back on point... I think this thread is more about the OP wanting a new modern folder like the Rat1 and I think he should just get it so that his curiosity is satisfied. 99% of the reason we carry knives in the woods is to make us happy and that's really enough.
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91bravo said:
99% of the time? Maybe in your world. I don't carry knives into the woods because they make me happy. I carry knives into the woods, because I need them to cut/chop/split/whittle wood, food, cordage, and camp/cooking tools. Your experience is geographical and geography varies from area to area, so what works for you, doesn't apply to everyone and may be insufficient for someone else.
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And some people forget that 99.9999% of back country skiing trips are done just to make people happy, a lot like even being in the back country, and using knives out there. I'm not sure why someone would post here not understanding such things.
 
pinnah said:
It's worth noting that the original author of the 10 essentials, Harvey Manning, advocated for a simple Boy Scout Knife. Fuller context, Manning was the editor of the first several issues of "Freedom of the Hills", which for many decades has been considered something of the American Bible of mountaineering technique. Mountaineering, almost by definition, happens above treeline where there is no wood, and thus heat for food, warmth for the body and shelter all need to be provided by what's in the climber's backpack; stove, warm when wet clothing, tent.

I think the one place where there is a real "need" for bigger blade in the backcountry are those places where you need something like a machete to cut back the brush to make forward progress. The other situation is when the expedition is long enough between resupplies to make carrying fuel too difficult in terms of weight and there is ample opportunity for sustainable wood harvesting. I actually use this approach on long backcountry skiing day trips where the only way to complete the drip during day light is to be fast and light as possible but there is a realistic possibility of being forced to bivy overnight, possibly with an injured partner. In those cases, carrying a knife, saw, wood stove and a tarp is lighter than carrying sleeping bags and a tent. Note, I don't advocate what I just described. I find it to be pushing the red line safety wise. I do it occasionally with people I trust but don't want anybody dying from trying it.

Getting back on point... I think this thread is more about the OP wanting a new modern folder like the Rat1 and I think he should just get it so that his curiosity is satisfied. 99% of the reason we carry knives in the woods is to make us happy and that's really enough.
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Ya Pinnah, how would you like it if you needed/wanted specifically a knife for cross-country skiing above treeline and someone just dismissed your reasoning as simply coming up with an excuse to get a new knife? o_O

To the OP, imo for general uses the most knife you're gonna get for the lightest weight would be a Daniel Fairly carbidized ti alloy camping knife: https://bladeforums.com/threads/new-model-beta-titanium-kwaiken.1657713/

Should be virtually weightless, freeing up a few ounces in your pack that could be used for additional beef jerky or whiskey.
 
Stick with something light, batonning is not what I think you would be doing based on your own words, but you could gather wood by what is around if needing a fire. get an Opinel no. 8, a SA type knife for basic tools, and a White River backpacker, should not be that heavy.
 
I say you man up girly man and stop worrying about weight. You probably need the workout anyway. Carry just the biggest knife you can, a sword. No need for a pack at all. Just a fire starter. When you need warmth you chop down a tree or just leave it up and light it on fire. Animals need heat to. When you need warmth, just go find an elk or buffalo and split him open, take out his guts and sleep inside and you can eat from inside out. The animals bladder is your drinking source. See no need for a pack. This sword will do it all for you.

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That Pendleton Mini Hunter looks handy. Does the weight include the sheath?

EDIT: I confused this thread with another one.
 
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Pilsner said:
Yeah, I missed that too. I was thinking it was an ‘either/or’ scenario for some reason. Silly me.
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In fact, in the thread title and the op, folder or fixed is one of the criteria. The op is clearly asking for recommendations of either.

These recommendation threads go more smoothly when folks read and understand the specifics the op is looking for rather than imposing their own off topic beliefs while saying the op is looking for something he/she is not....

On topic, I'm really starting like the idea of that ti knife several people have posted above. For me personally I'd like something a bit bigger. Perhaps a large ti sword Mecha Mecha ? :D But I'm not as concerned about weight as the op.
 
craytab said:
...

On topic, I'm really starting like the idea of that ti knife several people have posted above. For me personally I'd like something a bit bigger. Perhaps a large bigass ti sword Mecha Mecha ? :D But I'm not as concerned about weight as the op.
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Fixed!

I like Fairly's ti knives a lot. Good all-purpose designs and then he makes them even lighter by skeletonizing the tang. The tungsten carbide treatment makes a ti knife good for cutting the sort of things one finds in the woods: fibrous materials, meat, cords, wood, leather, fish, beef jerky bags, whiskey pouches, etc. And ridiculously easy to sharpen.
 
Ti knives, and especially swords, are my first choice since many moons. I have one or two, all forged by some talented guy.
To be honest, the tungsten carbide treatment - i have carbidized a bunch of untreated 6al4ti knives myself - is doing ok, but it is really no match for a properly treated Ti alloy that is suitable for bladewares (which could be still carbidized).

For best results on a carbidized Ti knife, you have to put an edge on the non carbidized edge only and sharpen only that one side, which is by default not very sharp to start with and you also end up with a micro chisel edge. Sure, it "should" kinda sharpen itself with use but still, it's a workaround backup knife for me only. That is something you should consider, and this is all my personal experience only.
 
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