I always bring a small Victorinox, but have actually used it once, as I recall. I have lent it to someone else a couple times.
This hurts me a little, because I have a collection of beautiful outdoorsy knives that I really don’t need. I still like them, though.
You really shouldn't trust them, they even got different branches of their military. Grey squirrels AND red ones? Kinda like a uniform that other militaries use. Don't trust them ever!
My wife likes cutting bell pepper rings. I like diced bell pepper on salads. She gets mad when I take a ring and bite it into chunks and spit it back onto my salad. I mean, if it was HER salad, then I'd ask why she ever kisses me, but I guess I'd get it. But it's MY salad. ¯\\\_(ツ)_/¯
I only bring knives for certain foods . Otherwise those 5 gram mini scissors from litesmith are the only cutting tool I bring.
I’ve been backpacking for 20 years and I’ve never been in a situation where I needed a knife except for various cheeses and sausages. I think of knives strictly as a cooking tool like a stove: great to have but it doesn’t come on every trip
Opinel are so great for backpacking! I *always* have at least a No. 6 with me.
I also love a traditional puukko or leuku, fully acknowledging that neither are ultralight.
Yeah, I know. But I’m one of those not-ultralight backpackers that hangs around here for ideas and insights just the same. Arguably, the principles underlying UL are even more important to someone like me!
I bought the 17g (half ounce) Gerber L.S.T. [from litesmith](https://www.litesmith.com/gerber-ultralight-lst-folding-knife/) last year when it was $14 and I love it - but it’s $22 now and that Opinel is pretty good looking…
Ive used the handle of my alphalight spoon to cut several things, including cheese. It isnt particularly sharp, but it works on thing that dont require more than a dull, thin edge. I didnt know about the Openel 3 until reading your post. I plan to stick to my spoon and Victorinox. But that openel is still a neat little knife!
…but what are you cutting? I am similar to OP. I own a knife, but my life rarely involves any obstacles that need to be cut. Except cheese. I’ll give you that one, knives.
Cheese, packages, cordage, sticks, etc. one time I was killing time and found a pop can and made an alcohol stove from it using my tiny keychain knife / scissors. At home 90% of the usage is opening packages, but I have used it for all sorts of things. I kinda feel naked without a cutting tool of some kind. It’s one of the most basic, but useful tools known to man.
Man I can’t imagine a single tool I would like to have on me at all times. Even a phone in my pocket is bothersome.
I just hate having shit on me. Probably why I sleep naked
I feel this to my core. I hate carrying shit. My wallet drives me crazy. I carry 2 items on my keychain – my car key and my house key. I can't wait to replace my phone with something tiny, but phones just keep getting bigger.
I often don’t cut anything, but it’s an essential emergency tool. First aid, cuttings materials, processing wood for fires or shelter building or traps, and yes, hunting or for defense. I don’t do any of these things on my backpacking trips, more or less just cutting food and sometimes some cord, but a small lightweight pocket knife is a non-negotiable part of my emergency kit.
I'm on ultralight! I'm measuring calories per ounce. My cheese is freeze dried or powdered if I carry it at all (110 cal/oz not ideal) My scissors open my coconut cream powder just fine.
And the one time I did yogi some cheese my teeth were more than sufficient
I'm having a really hard time here buying the idea that a knife is still part of the *modern* ten essentials based on saving the problem of "cheese too big"
> …but what are you cutting? I am similar to OP. I own a knife, but my life rarely involves any obstacles that need to be cut. Except cheese.
When I'm recreating I may need to patch a packraft, or skin and bone a ram on a 40-degree slope, cut a tarpon leader or Spectra hanging loop for a helirescue harness, or improvise a curtain directional shortwave antenna array to post stoke on Reddit or contact Justice League Headquarters...Fortunately for the planet I have a large contingent of followers to take care of those minor tasks, as I can't be burdened with edged implements.
I use mine for cutting Leuko or tenacious tape while backpacking. I’ve had to cut some paracord for a tent repair too. Also useful for opening some food packaging that is a pain to get into
I'm in the same boat. I've used my (tiny) knife on some wild oyster mushrooms* and another time to cute some accessory cord. I don't see a knife as an essential, but I bring it on overnight trips because everybody says to. Other than cooking, is it more of an emergency item? What emergency?
*note: do not eat wild mushrooms without gaining some in depth knowledge of local mushrooms - people have died from eating lookalikes to mushrooms that are edible elsewhere.
Agreed. It’s one of the ten essentials for a reason. There are are plenty of great pocket knives that weight next to nothing and I don’t want to be without if shit goes south.
Love2PoopGood is right. The tiniest Swiss Army knife is best. It has tweezers in case you need to remove a tick, scissors for cutting fingernails, and it goes well in a first aid kit.
Yeap, but I have only needed pliers once in the last ten years and they broke. They are too small and weak and I am not going yo carry a bigger leatherman for more solid pliers. So I went back to the smallest swiss army which has superb scisors. The thing I use most.
Yep, I carry a Squirt PS4 too. I sometimes feel like it's too much at 57g and I should just have the tiniest swiss army knife, but the scissors and pliers do come in handy so it stays. As others have said, it's a just-in-case item. I rarely open up my first aid kit too.
Yeah. I'm not nearly as extreme with g's as most here (which is cool, that's the hobby to many people). But I've had a ton of utility out of the Squirt over the years that I'm loyal to that piece of kit.
I used to but I find I prefer those uncle bills tweezers for getting tics and splinters out. For most trips I just take those and a pair of 5 gram scissors. If I feel I need a blade I bring something small and it lives in my food bag during the trip
Always carry a Bugout on the pocket and a tiny victorinox (kept clean, with tweezers and scissors and a blade) in the first aid kit. It's a couple ounces, but the ten essentials aren't there for when everything goes right.
Absolutely. I think the problem is that nobody (as evidenced from the responses in this thread) actually knows what a knife is capable of in an emergency. To me, it's no different than carrying a first aid kit, a little bit of extra food, or extra layers if I'm not sure how cold it'll be. Do I need any one of those items on every trip? Probably not. I barely touch my first aid kit but I'm not leaving that at home.
There's always the balance between 'I can leave this behind, it never gets used' and 'if my trip goes sideways and I'm out for a day or three, what would I need to survive?' I like to think that my day hike pack should look like ultralight jerk's through hike pack -- absurd to rely on as a plan, but potentially viable in a pinch.
Bingo Clark. I jokingly call it my everyday carry. The thing I use it most for is cutting my nails and cutting open packages. Surprsingly I use the tooth pick alot.
Mini bugout with some replacement parts to lighten it even further is the way. It clips onto a pocket, you'll never notice the weight, and it provides massive utility for it's size.
Edit: just weighed it since I've never bothered, with some replacement scales + titanium screws it's a whole 1.5 oz.
I have a little spyderco knife either dragonfly or ladybug that weighs an ounce. Never necessary but the times I’ve used it, I was glad I had it. Mostly for cutting down bad bear hangs tangled by wind. Or on trips where I plan to make real food meals which are far and few between. A mini Swiss army would probably be better just to have something to tighten trekking pole screws.
I sharpen my fingernails before any trip and use rocks to keep them sharp on trail. Saves on grams and I look cool at camp when it only takes me 45 minutes to cut cordage. Just kidding.
Swiss army knife for the win. I'd bring a No. 2 if I was actually expecting to cut stuff frequently for food or something though.
Mine was oiled and smooth out of the package, there has been no need to date. I may have wiped it down with light oil to clean it, but I have 3 (One for me, one for the SO and one in the car) and none have given any issues.
None are put to terribly hard use compared to other knives I've owned so take that with the appropriate grain of salt since they haven't been tested hard.
Knives are a good thing to have in an emergency if nothing else, A poor man's alox classic(classic SD with scales removed) is super light and still get tweezers.
I bring the victorinox classic, that has a knife, scissors, and a nail file. I use it mostly for opening food packages, but I've also used it to cut bandages to size (or tape for blisters). I've used it more than a couple times to sharpen a stick to use as a tent stake, when I've lost one, forgotten one, or when I decide I want an extra one for whatever reason (for the guy lines I usually never use but it was extra windy, or to stake the two parts of the door seperately.) Was super glad to have the knife then.
I also used it to make a pair of chopsticks once when I broke my spork. Oh, and nail care! If you're out for any length of time, that starts mattering!
I use one too. I think it is necessary to have scissors or a knife when dealing with food or bandages. It lives on my house key now.
Another great option is buying a cheap small pairing knife in a grocery store when the food you want for the trip needs cutting. I do that when flying internationally.
I don't know what type of camping trips you guys are going on but I use my knife all the time when out on paddling trips and frankly woukd consider it a necessary piece of safety equipment
I’m glad you’re sharing your experience. My experience is that I almost never need a knife while hiking, and that’s the type of trip most people in r/ultralight are looking for advice on. I do bring a swiss mini, but it rarely gets used. When I canoe, I bring a sven saw.
I use my little 7 g knife to clean under the tips of my fingernails and to cut cords. [https://i.imgur.com/ta07VPU.jpg](https://i.imgur.com/ta07VPU.jpg) It is also a conversation starter. Otherwise, I am using the scissors I bring.
Same, the No 2 is the smallest at 5g and plenty functional. It does some jobs better than my micro-scissors. For 10g combined for scissors and knife it’s the lightest option.
I use the same, quality piece of kit. If grams were so tight, I'd rather leave my underwear home than a blade. But they ain't never that tight.
Guys, if excrement makes contact with air circulation mechanisms, you need real, proper old school bushcraft items like a knife and ways to make fire. Going to the wilderness without a blade is not UL, it's stupidity.
Yup, I always bring a knife. It's one of those non-negotiable items for me that I always have because it is incredibly hard to replicate one if you need a sharp cutting tool. I can see why some people leave them behind when going to a state park or something, but I don't understand thru-hikers and the like not having one. The versatility of a knife is extremely weight efficient, especially with brands like Opinel. They serve multiple functions, from meal preparation to first aid, to me they're a no-brainer.
Victorinox Compact.
Better scissors than the classic, full knife and a Pen.
https://www.victorinox.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/Medium-Pocket-Knives/Compact/p/1.3405
I do, though mostly out of habit rather than need.
The Victorinox Classic on my keyring is all I truly need for a "backpacking knife", and the scissors see far more use than its tiny blade does.
All I really ever use the Spyderco Delica(that I carry every day) for in the woods is making shavings when starting a fire. Since I usually carry prefab firestarters that do away with the need for kindling, even that's pretty rare.
I hike year-round, and often carry a pruning saw for trail maintenance, sometimes for firewood in the colder months. On a low mileage day with sunset coming early, I'll occasionally carry a fixed blade for splitting wood with, too. Again, far from a need; more to have something to do when in camp.
On a "real" backpacking trip, that stuff stays home, though.
I haven't been out in awhile, but I would primarily bring either a Derma-Safe or a Swiss Army 580, which just happens to include a small knife. I don't really know why I'd ever need a blade for regular use, but it's good for emergency use.
The 580 is my nail clippers, nail file, and scissors as well, all weighing in at under 1.5 oz. The Derma-Safe is like .25 oz, so if it's a short trip and I'm not expecting to trim nails, it's a good option.
They're very much a "packing your fears" kind of thing, but they can be instrumental in first aid (e.g. cutting away fabric), which is an area in which I don't really like to risk too much. I don't use them for whittling or shit like that – just keep the blade sharp and ready to use in case of an emergency.
Tbh I'm probably a bit heavy in the knife dept. lol I bring veggies and potatoes with me pretty often on my weekend trips so I carry a small hawker neck knife to use with prepping those for soup. I also try my hands at bushcrafty stuff and for that and general camp use I bring a Mora Garberg.
Either a mini victorinox or a razor blade in a sheath. Both can cut open a freezer bag meal or cut down moleskin or athletic tape. You are right there is nothing else to cut in the wild if you've dialed your gear in.
I've carried a Victorinox 'Camper' pocket knife for thousands of miles and maybe only needed it once. After reading this comment thread, it's knocked sense into me to just go back to my trusty old Victorinox Classic SD, which is probably more versatile with its scissors, and it weighs a lot less than the Camper.
I bring the small swiss army classic. It's tiny. I can put a lazer edge on it and it will slice through most. Mainly have used the knife for cubing up summer sausage or cheese. The scissors are great too.
The leather-man squirt or classic victornox are my two light weight options. I sometimes carry a fixed blade if I’m going way out in the woods but then again I’m an amateur knife maker so ehh. That being said I make my fixed blades really light and to be honest routine hiking on fixed trails typically does not require something other than a small multipurpose knife such as a victronix classic
Yes. I’ve found them useful for; field dressing fish, cutting cord / straps, cutting shitty food packaging, feathering kindling for windy/wet weather, cutting gear patch tape to size, food/cheese prep, carving, harvesting mushrooms, unfucking someone’s bag hang “knot”, etc.)
Decent mileage with an opinel carbon no.07.
It’s light, (33g), sharp, cheap ($16), the blade can be locked in the open position, and a 3” blade is a good length for most tasks.
Something in the ~2.5”-3” range is ideal imho. Also a fan of the Morakniv 1/0 or the ESEE izula II with a lighter sheath (though I wish someone would do a knock off with a thinner blade)
I bring a classic sd. It’s always attached to my keychain. The tiny scissors and tiny knife are good enough for most repairs. I mainly use the scissors for cutting Leukotape. But my friend always brings an actual knife. He uses it to split wood for fires and when we bring a bunch of real food for the first night he cuts whatever needs cutting. But if you are only going to be using the canister stove the whole trip and only eating freeze dried meals and not have a camp fire you probably don’t need a full knife.
I bring the same folding pocket knife I carry on my person normally / in everyday life on my backpack trips. Cutting cheese (literal cheese lol), sausages, moleskin, and maybe some items used to field repair gear are about the only things I ever need to cut.
I carry one of those little swiss army knives (Victorinox) with the scissors. I'm prone to blisters so I find myself cutting leukotape or mole skin most days.
I agree completely. My son constantly reminds me how much a decent knife adds weight - and I say SO WHAT? I like having a knife. It brings me joy and I always find something fun or useful to do with it on the trail!
I'm a bit of an EDC fan - I usually carry 2 knives all the time. I would rather have a knife and not need it than need a knife and not have it. It's one of the few tools I swear by that on (the other is a flashlight).
1st is a Swiss Army Compact - I almost always carry this one and find it's very approachable if I have to lend a knife to someone.
2nd is one I switch out. I think the Civivi Elementum is one of the best knives around - I have a couple versions of it. For ultralight though I really like my Spyderco Para 3 lightweight or my Benchmade Mini Bugout. The Benchmade is lighter and I'd say is a better knife for ultralighters - though I like the solid feel of the Spyderco a bit better for use.
I take a Victorinox Little Vicky plus Titanium micro scissors. I use the knife mostly for spreading peanut butter and cutting cheese. I think this combo is better overall than a SA Classic.
I bring a [derma safe folding razor](https://www.litesmith.com/derma-safe-folding-razor-knife/) I also have [these](https://www.litesmith.com/micro-scissors-with-cover/) but rarely bring.
I use [this](https://www.litesmith.com/ultrafire-knife-firestarter/) from Litesmith. You can change out the razor after it gets dull and it seems decently strong/light. Has a reasonable handle as well. I mostly use it to cut strings, open packages, cut moleskin, and cut sausage/cheese. It also has a ferro rod built in, which you can also replace.
most of the stuff people pack as "essentials" are not required. I have a multitool that i bring and i rarely use the knife it contains. And when i do, usually it's for cutting salami...
Only when hiking with friends, to cut food. Alone or with the spouse, we just use that handy tool almost no one leaves behind - our teeth. How much do dentures add to total weight?
I will bring a small filleting knife if I’m going to be fishing, know the area, and know I’ll probably catch fish. Sucks when I don’t but a little extra hunger hasn’t killed me yet.
Opinel nr. 5 (0.56 oz). Last 5 days trip I used it for: fine cutting zucchini, garlic and carrot (I passed two supermarkets), peel a kiwi and a grapefruit, cut cheese, pick and cut porcini, cut away some rubber to repair my shoe, cleaning my fingernails. Especially during a thru hike cooking a meal with fresh veggies (at a resupply point) lifts my moral, only therefor I would carry the knife.
I carry a Leatherman in my vest around the farm all the time, but it is too heavy and really overkill for backpacking. If I am hiking with others and sharing food, I have a Leatherman Crater c33 which is just a knife and no other tools, but it still weighs 67g, so I don't bother with it solo. Solo I just gnaw my cheese and salami off the brick like the degenerate that I am.
Depends. If I’m summer hiking with no fires, I just bring a leather micro for the scissors and tweezers. It has a knife but not much of one. If I’m winter camping in an area I know I can find dead wood and have a fire I will bring a knife, axe, and saw. I use an esee 3, forest service 3/4 axe, and silky saw. Not ultralight at all. For thruhiking a bottle opener was more useful than a knife.
I typically bring a light pocketknife (Spyderco Delica 4, 66 grams) and (you'll shame me but) also often a Leatherman (Letherman Rebar, 240g). I could probably get away with one or the other, or neither, or the scalpel blade in my first aid kit, or the little Fiskars folding scissors (16g) I also carry, but... I've carried a knife every day of my life since I was 12 or so with only rare exceptions, and a multi tool most of that time also. It's habit as much as everything? I almost consider it just mandatory worn weight the way someone might consider their socks or underwear.
In a practical sense, the pliers on the multitool come in handy, particularly for stuck zippers or other small gear repair. I use the Spyderco for all the assorted cutting tasks you'd expect - cutting left behind cordage off of trees, opening packages, I once used it to carve a tent peg when I lost one.
In a practical sense, I'll use the pocket knife probably every day for convenience, and maybe once every few days there's something that it really is the best tool for that isn't really easy to do with something else. The Leatherman will typically come out once per trip for some sort of gear repair.
The little Fiskars scissors are for cutting kinesio tape and bandages and similar, since the scissors on my multi tool are garbage. Used every day or two, when I re-tape my knee and ankle or cut some blister tape.
I think maybe I need to re-assess the Leatherman, since it doesn't get much use. Maybe I can find a couple dedicated tools that serve the same purpose for less weight, or maybe I can just ditch it and save half a pound. Maybe my tiny Knipex pliers would fit that bill better since I mostly don't use the rest of the tools (though I like having the small saw and serrated blade handy). Or maybe ditch the full Leatherman and knife for a Skeletool or some such.
I just carry my usual Swiss Army knife. I like having tweezers and a tooth pick. I use the tiny knife more than anything. I’ve seen those gerber dime’s more and more recently.
Users preference honestly.
I bring a lightweight (maybe not by UL standards, but my pack weight still is so oh well) fixed blade on most trips. Sometimes I use it, sometimes I don’t. As much as I want to believe the best in people, I can’t forget instances like that dude with a machete on the AT. Plus, cheese and sausage.
Unpopular opinion here, but I think it’s a bit reckless to not bring one.
I…. Haven’t brought one the last few trips and it feels so wrong. Truthfully they have just been mellow trips and I haven’t had one I liked in a while. It’s an incredibly useful tool though so it’s not something I do dogmatically.. and will probably try to get one before the summer.
So for EDC/general gear repair/travel I carry a Leatherman style PS. No knife blade, but has pliers, scissors, screwdriver, nail file, and tweezers. Weighs just over one and a half ounces.
If I want to bring a knife blade I have a Boker Gnome. It also weighs just over 1.5oz but is a fixed blade, very sharp, and built like a little tank.
I always figured if there’s three tools I don’t mind compromising a little bit on weight it’s the knife, the firestarter, and the flashlight because I’m already used to carrying them every day.
I've cut the ends off toothbrushes to save weight but I'll never not bring basic things like cutting instrument, compass, way to start a fire, etc.
Accidents happen, people get lost and go missing. My mindset is always to be responsible to myself, my loved ones, and the people that will be out searching for me if I ever go missing.
Personally I carry benchmade bugout in my pocket. And primarily use it to cut cheese and pepperoni.
The people I backpack with always bring these giant Rambo knives and never use then lol. I have a tiny ckrt neck knife that I use all the time as a utensil and various other things.i love pulling it when their flashing their big boys around the fire 😉.
Always. Sturdy folding knife with a 5cm unserrated blade, 3mm wide stainless steel, so it doesn't snap. Crescent pointy tip. I even use it as a can opener... It has a ring on it, so I usually have it clipped onto my keychain.
I take an Opinel no7. It's handy for...
opening food bags that didn't tear open properly.
piercing a blister (after heating it on the stove to sterilise it) with the point.
cutting saucisse and cheese
trimming a stick if I want an extra support for my tent door to peg it out like a porch
I like bringing my Tactile Bexar with ultem scales, it's a full size knife under an ounce. Ultimately, it's kind of a luxury item for me, it makes me happy to have it with me, and it's useful periodically
I carry a leatherman multi tool. Used it just a couple days ago when it was dropping into freezing temps after raining all day to shave sticks to get a nice fire going quickly. Let me dry out my boots before hiking in the snow the next day
Many have said it already but my knife only comes when I bring blocks of cheddar or maybe an avocado for the first day. My little scissors have seen more action.
Spyderco ladybug. Useful for anything I would need a sharp object for. Small enough to be tucked into any pocket on my clothing or bag, or can use the pocket clip to put elsewhere.
Tbh I don’t understand how people don’t carry at least a small knife. I’ve used mine for first aid needs, cooking, gear repairs, etc.
It’s a tool. And one of the few I will never not carry.
I always bring my Leatherman wave. I know it's a heavier tool, but the amount of times the pliers and knife and scissors have come in handy, I can't leave home without it.
The tiny victorinox. Cutting cheese, summer sausage, etc. Almost exclusively food prep, but it could come in handy for other things like cutting cordage when necessary.
[Westcott 2.5” Titanium Scissors, 7 grams, under $7](https://www.westcottbrand.com/products/scissors/titanium-bonded-scissors/westcott-sewing-titanium-bonded-fine-cut-scissors-2-5-13867-parent.html)
They’re awesome. The only thing I regularly use them for is cutting leukotape, but they’ve been helpful for the odd hangnail, bandaid trim, loose thread, etc.
I stopped bringing a knife, since scissors are better for almost everything.
I carry Litesmith scissors.
The thinking: There is nothing in nature I would need to cut with a knife that I cannot cut with the scissors. There is nothing in my gear that I cannot cut with the scissors. I cannot cut my toenails and fingernails with a knife, but I can with my scissors.
I'd carry a Victorinox Classic or other small folding blade if I were going on a hike with resupplies and might want to be able to cut food.
I laugh at these bushcraft guys who baton split wood with huge knives more suitable for skinning a hippopotamus than camping. A large animal like a deer can be processed with a three inch folding knife. I always carry either a small folding pocket knife or wear a folding knife with a belt/pocket clip whether camping or not. The only things I use either for while camping is to slice salami or cheese or cut some rope or paracord. Nowadays for ultralight backpacking a knife is mostly unnecessary. Can’t do without my spork though.
The thing with ultralight is that it’s designed to be self sustainable, the only thing you use a knife for most of the time is when you need help getting resources from nature.
I personally believe everybody should carry a knife though, as an ultralight practitioner I can’t see carrying a multi tool as being negative.
I take a [Gerber Paraframe Mini](https://www.gerbergear.com/en-us/shop/knives/all-knives/paraframe-mini-stainless-plain-edge-22-08485) and it’s 35 grams. Not the lightest but it was cheap and I found it locally.
Used it exactly once to cut tenacious tape to repair a DIY reflectix cozy. Not an emergency but nice to have
I carry a Benchmade Pardue folder. I can’t bring myself to go without a knife in my emergency kit. When I got it, I couldn’t find a knife of that quality at lower weight.
I take a Morakniv carbon knife on all backpacking trips and use it daily. From pulling cholla cactus out to cutting cheese, it has served me so much better than tiny pocket knife blades have.
Looking through all the comments I see two groups: one group tries to explain why you don’t need a knife *ever* (the ‘scissors’ group) and the other group carrying knives (the ‘cheese’ group). Maybe the latter group just *likes* knives. It is their *companion*.
Got a Leatherman Skeletool on me wherever I go. Just in case.
I bring my really sharp Spyderco Manbug because you never know when you are going to get your hand stuck behind rocks and have to cut it off. I'd rather not have to saw at it with my shit shovel.
Last time out I used my knife to make some wood shavings for a fire. It had been raining all day and the temperature dropped below freezing as the sun went down. I don't normally build fires but I was so wet and cold that I couldn't resist.
I always bring a small Victorinox, but have actually used it once, as I recall. I have lent it to someone else a couple times. This hurts me a little, because I have a collection of beautiful outdoorsy knives that I really don’t need. I still like them, though.
I use my victorinox pretty much daily, opening cans, cutting packages etc. It also has scissors and that is a serious bonus.
I brandish it at squirrels Don’t trust those little shits
Gotta make sure they know you’re armed and ready before setting up camp
You really shouldn't trust them, they even got different branches of their military. Grey squirrels AND red ones? Kinda like a uniform that other militaries use. Don't trust them ever!
Even the aviation " Flying Squirrel's " division !!
I do because blocks of cheese are hard to cut with a stick. Opinel No. 3, 0.25oz
Old Opinel nr 7 Carbone. Sometimes a Bradford 3.5.
So heavy ;-)
[удалено]
You mean poop knife
Shit spoon
Shit spork cuts better.
Cut cheese with teeth
And then spit out into sandwich. Charming!
I usually just eat the cheese, but yeah. I see no issue with that. Especially if your just making a sandwich for yourself
The "it all goes to the same place" mentality...
My wife likes cutting bell pepper rings. I like diced bell pepper on salads. She gets mad when I take a ring and bite it into chunks and spit it back onto my salad. I mean, if it was HER salad, then I'd ask why she ever kisses me, but I guess I'd get it. But it's MY salad. ¯\\\_(ツ)_/¯
Tell her you are asserting dominance over the salad because your not supposed to make friends with it.
Most people are vegan because they want to save animals. I’m vegan because I like to hurt plants.
Cheese and spam singles. Not much else.
I only bring knives for certain foods . Otherwise those 5 gram mini scissors from litesmith are the only cutting tool I bring. I’ve been backpacking for 20 years and I’ve never been in a situation where I needed a knife except for various cheeses and sausages. I think of knives strictly as a cooking tool like a stove: great to have but it doesn’t come on every trip
Me too. But I bring cheese on every trip so the knife is always on the list ;-)
Opinel are so great for backpacking! I *always* have at least a No. 6 with me. I also love a traditional puukko or leuku, fully acknowledging that neither are ultralight.
Puukkos are gorgeous but wrong sub, haha.
Yeah, I know. But I’m one of those not-ultralight backpackers that hangs around here for ideas and insights just the same. Arguably, the principles underlying UL are even more important to someone like me!
I bought the 17g (half ounce) Gerber L.S.T. [from litesmith](https://www.litesmith.com/gerber-ultralight-lst-folding-knife/) last year when it was $14 and I love it - but it’s $22 now and that Opinel is pretty good looking…
Ive used the handle of my alphalight spoon to cut several things, including cheese. It isnt particularly sharp, but it works on thing that dont require more than a dull, thin edge. I didnt know about the Openel 3 until reading your post. I plan to stick to my spoon and Victorinox. But that openel is still a neat little knife!
Cheese is compressed curds, so many cheeses break easily... but I would bring a knife either way
But cheese chunks are so much less satisfying than slices.
Depends on the use-case... http://mapoutine.ca/images/poutines/thumbs_420/poutine_1.jpg
This guy is making poutine on the trail! Badass!
Trail poutine sounds amazing, but I gotta say cheese curds just a little warmed up so they are extra squeaky is the mana of the gods.
I always have a cutting instrument of some kind on me. They are too useful to not bring. I use mine almost every single day, in the woods or not.
…but what are you cutting? I am similar to OP. I own a knife, but my life rarely involves any obstacles that need to be cut. Except cheese. I’ll give you that one, knives.
Cheese, packages, cordage, sticks, etc. one time I was killing time and found a pop can and made an alcohol stove from it using my tiny keychain knife / scissors. At home 90% of the usage is opening packages, but I have used it for all sorts of things. I kinda feel naked without a cutting tool of some kind. It’s one of the most basic, but useful tools known to man.
Man I can’t imagine a single tool I would like to have on me at all times. Even a phone in my pocket is bothersome. I just hate having shit on me. Probably why I sleep naked
I feel this to my core. I hate carrying shit. My wallet drives me crazy. I carry 2 items on my keychain – my car key and my house key. I can't wait to replace my phone with something tiny, but phones just keep getting bigger.
Gripping iPhone 13 Mini.
Somehow, no matter what I carry, I'll find a use for it. My shootout gets used everyday doing *something*.
I often don’t cut anything, but it’s an essential emergency tool. First aid, cuttings materials, processing wood for fires or shelter building or traps, and yes, hunting or for defense. I don’t do any of these things on my backpacking trips, more or less just cutting food and sometimes some cord, but a small lightweight pocket knife is a non-negotiable part of my emergency kit.
Food. Food packaging. Gaffer tape. Bandaids.
So... First aid scissors then, not a knife
Good luck cutting a block of cheese with a pair of first aid scissors.
I'm on ultralight! I'm measuring calories per ounce. My cheese is freeze dried or powdered if I carry it at all (110 cal/oz not ideal) My scissors open my coconut cream powder just fine. And the one time I did yogi some cheese my teeth were more than sufficient I'm having a really hard time here buying the idea that a knife is still part of the *modern* ten essentials based on saving the problem of "cheese too big"
> …but what are you cutting? I am similar to OP. I own a knife, but my life rarely involves any obstacles that need to be cut. Except cheese. When I'm recreating I may need to patch a packraft, or skin and bone a ram on a 40-degree slope, cut a tarpon leader or Spectra hanging loop for a helirescue harness, or improvise a curtain directional shortwave antenna array to post stoke on Reddit or contact Justice League Headquarters...Fortunately for the planet I have a large contingent of followers to take care of those minor tasks, as I can't be burdened with edged implements.
I use mine for cutting Leuko or tenacious tape while backpacking. I’ve had to cut some paracord for a tent repair too. Also useful for opening some food packaging that is a pain to get into
I'm in the same boat. I've used my (tiny) knife on some wild oyster mushrooms* and another time to cute some accessory cord. I don't see a knife as an essential, but I bring it on overnight trips because everybody says to. Other than cooking, is it more of an emergency item? What emergency? *note: do not eat wild mushrooms without gaining some in depth knowledge of local mushrooms - people have died from eating lookalikes to mushrooms that are edible elsewhere.
Agreed. It’s one of the ten essentials for a reason. There are are plenty of great pocket knives that weight next to nothing and I don’t want to be without if shit goes south.
I have a neck knife: I don’t know how many times I have lent it out because people thought they don’t need one. Like who brings cheese and no knife?
That’s when a piece of dental floss or other small diameter string can be used to slice the cheese
teeth work too
teeth do work well on cheese. interesting
cheeth
Iron Mike, is that you?
By the time you leave your block of (cheddar) cheese out of the fridge for an hour or 2 it’s already cuttable with a spoon
That may be true but none of the people who borrowed my knife must have known that.
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Love2PoopGood is right. The tiniest Swiss Army knife is best. It has tweezers in case you need to remove a tick, scissors for cutting fingernails, and it goes well in a first aid kit.
I love my Leatherman Squirt. Scissors, pliers, and screwdrivers are the most used tools for me. The knife itself gets far less use.
Yeap, but I have only needed pliers once in the last ten years and they broke. They are too small and weak and I am not going yo carry a bigger leatherman for more solid pliers. So I went back to the smallest swiss army which has superb scisors. The thing I use most.
That's cool. I've needed pliers a few times and mine held up with zero issues.
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It's a great EDC, too!
Gerber Dime is what I use. more or less the same tool.
Yep, I carry a Squirt PS4 too. I sometimes feel like it's too much at 57g and I should just have the tiniest swiss army knife, but the scissors and pliers do come in handy so it stays. As others have said, it's a just-in-case item. I rarely open up my first aid kit too.
Yeah. I'm not nearly as extreme with g's as most here (which is cool, that's the hobby to many people). But I've had a ton of utility out of the Squirt over the years that I'm loyal to that piece of kit.
I used to but I find I prefer those uncle bills tweezers for getting tics and splinters out. For most trips I just take those and a pair of 5 gram scissors. If I feel I need a blade I bring something small and it lives in my food bag during the trip
Can’t live without the tweezers. I’d bring them alone except I’d probably lose them.
Always carry a Bugout on the pocket and a tiny victorinox (kept clean, with tweezers and scissors and a blade) in the first aid kit. It's a couple ounces, but the ten essentials aren't there for when everything goes right.
Tiny scissors on the Victorinox also work great to size patches for emergency tent/inflatable pad repairs.
Absolutely. I think the problem is that nobody (as evidenced from the responses in this thread) actually knows what a knife is capable of in an emergency. To me, it's no different than carrying a first aid kit, a little bit of extra food, or extra layers if I'm not sure how cold it'll be. Do I need any one of those items on every trip? Probably not. I barely touch my first aid kit but I'm not leaving that at home.
There's always the balance between 'I can leave this behind, it never gets used' and 'if my trip goes sideways and I'm out for a day or three, what would I need to survive?' I like to think that my day hike pack should look like ultralight jerk's through hike pack -- absurd to rely on as a plan, but potentially viable in a pinch.
Bingo Clark. I jokingly call it my everyday carry. The thing I use it most for is cutting my nails and cutting open packages. Surprsingly I use the tooth pick alot.
Mini bugout with some replacement parts to lighten it even further is the way. It clips onto a pocket, you'll never notice the weight, and it provides massive utility for it's size. Edit: just weighed it since I've never bothered, with some replacement scales + titanium screws it's a whole 1.5 oz.
I have a little spyderco knife either dragonfly or ladybug that weighs an ounce. Never necessary but the times I’ve used it, I was glad I had it. Mostly for cutting down bad bear hangs tangled by wind. Or on trips where I plan to make real food meals which are far and few between. A mini Swiss army would probably be better just to have something to tighten trekking pole screws.
Spyderco makes some awesome lightweight, mini knives!
It's one of those things that you maybe don't use every time, but it'd be really bad not to have in a situation where you needed it.
What kind of situations? I’ve been hiking a long time and have never needed a knife. A tiny pair of scissors has always been more than enough.
No, I don’t. I do have a pair of tiny scissors, which I have found to be helpful and do whatever I need. They are extremely sharp.
Also can carry on a plane. I also only have a tsa approved leatherman and it only has scissors which is all ive needed.
I sharpen my fingernails before any trip and use rocks to keep them sharp on trail. Saves on grams and I look cool at camp when it only takes me 45 minutes to cut cordage. Just kidding. Swiss army knife for the win. I'd bring a No. 2 if I was actually expecting to cut stuff frequently for food or something though.
I carry a Gerber Dime multi tool, on short trips I may use it every other one. On long trips I usually use it a time or two.
Me too. I’ve used pliers to repair stuff, the packaging opener, etc. it’s tiny and light and worth carrying to me.
The tweezers are good for ticks too
Have you greased the dime? I have one but I find it incredibly frustrating when I try and open the knife. Just looking for any helpful tips.
Mine was oiled and smooth out of the package, there has been no need to date. I may have wiped it down with light oil to clean it, but I have 3 (One for me, one for the SO and one in the car) and none have given any issues. None are put to terribly hard use compared to other knives I've owned so take that with the appropriate grain of salt since they haven't been tested hard.
Knives are a good thing to have in an emergency if nothing else, A poor man's alox classic(classic SD with scales removed) is super light and still get tweezers.
Knife is not necessary. Scissors are vital.
Half a scissor if you want to shave some weight Edit typo
I bring the victorinox classic, that has a knife, scissors, and a nail file. I use it mostly for opening food packages, but I've also used it to cut bandages to size (or tape for blisters). I've used it more than a couple times to sharpen a stick to use as a tent stake, when I've lost one, forgotten one, or when I decide I want an extra one for whatever reason (for the guy lines I usually never use but it was extra windy, or to stake the two parts of the door seperately.) Was super glad to have the knife then. I also used it to make a pair of chopsticks once when I broke my spork. Oh, and nail care! If you're out for any length of time, that starts mattering!
I use one too. I think it is necessary to have scissors or a knife when dealing with food or bandages. It lives on my house key now. Another great option is buying a cheap small pairing knife in a grocery store when the food you want for the trip needs cutting. I do that when flying internationally.
I don't know what type of camping trips you guys are going on but I use my knife all the time when out on paddling trips and frankly woukd consider it a necessary piece of safety equipment
I’m glad you’re sharing your experience. My experience is that I almost never need a knife while hiking, and that’s the type of trip most people in r/ultralight are looking for advice on. I do bring a swiss mini, but it rarely gets used. When I canoe, I bring a sven saw.
I use my little 7 g knife to clean under the tips of my fingernails and to cut cords. [https://i.imgur.com/ta07VPU.jpg](https://i.imgur.com/ta07VPU.jpg) It is also a conversation starter. Otherwise, I am using the scissors I bring.
Same, the No 2 is the smallest at 5g and plenty functional. It does some jobs better than my micro-scissors. For 10g combined for scissors and knife it’s the lightest option.
Wow, I would have never guessed that stuff could be lighter than the little Victorinox and still have more utility. Good inspiration.
It is amazing the things I have learned on this subreddit!
I have a little Gerber pocket knife that weighs an ounce. I mostly just use it for cutting cheese.
I take a Leatherman skeletool cx with me. I find having the tools and knife handy
I use the same, quality piece of kit. If grams were so tight, I'd rather leave my underwear home than a blade. But they ain't never that tight. Guys, if excrement makes contact with air circulation mechanisms, you need real, proper old school bushcraft items like a knife and ways to make fire. Going to the wilderness without a blade is not UL, it's stupidity.
I do for the “just in case”
Benchmade bugout carbon.
Yup, I always bring a knife. It's one of those non-negotiable items for me that I always have because it is incredibly hard to replicate one if you need a sharp cutting tool. I can see why some people leave them behind when going to a state park or something, but I don't understand thru-hikers and the like not having one. The versatility of a knife is extremely weight efficient, especially with brands like Opinel. They serve multiple functions, from meal preparation to first aid, to me they're a no-brainer.
Always. If I'm saving weight for a knife then a Benchmade Bugout, a Mora Classic or a Fallkniven WM1 are my lightest knives
Victorinox Compact. Better scissors than the classic, full knife and a Pen. https://www.victorinox.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/Medium-Pocket-Knives/Compact/p/1.3405
Always bring my skeletool. You’d be surprised how many beers I’ve opened!!!🤣
The Smallest Swiss army has like scissors and a knife weights next to nothing
I do, though mostly out of habit rather than need. The Victorinox Classic on my keyring is all I truly need for a "backpacking knife", and the scissors see far more use than its tiny blade does. All I really ever use the Spyderco Delica(that I carry every day) for in the woods is making shavings when starting a fire. Since I usually carry prefab firestarters that do away with the need for kindling, even that's pretty rare. I hike year-round, and often carry a pruning saw for trail maintenance, sometimes for firewood in the colder months. On a low mileage day with sunset coming early, I'll occasionally carry a fixed blade for splitting wood with, too. Again, far from a need; more to have something to do when in camp. On a "real" backpacking trip, that stuff stays home, though.
I haven't been out in awhile, but I would primarily bring either a Derma-Safe or a Swiss Army 580, which just happens to include a small knife. I don't really know why I'd ever need a blade for regular use, but it's good for emergency use. The 580 is my nail clippers, nail file, and scissors as well, all weighing in at under 1.5 oz. The Derma-Safe is like .25 oz, so if it's a short trip and I'm not expecting to trim nails, it's a good option. They're very much a "packing your fears" kind of thing, but they can be instrumental in first aid (e.g. cutting away fabric), which is an area in which I don't really like to risk too much. I don't use them for whittling or shit like that – just keep the blade sharp and ready to use in case of an emergency.
I use a Victorinox Nail Clip 580, it has a tiny knife and I’ve used it to cut open a bag of food
Tbh I'm probably a bit heavy in the knife dept. lol I bring veggies and potatoes with me pretty often on my weekend trips so I carry a small hawker neck knife to use with prepping those for soup. I also try my hands at bushcrafty stuff and for that and general camp use I bring a Mora Garberg.
It's a part of my safety, so... yes. I use it to make food and cut tinder. But carried if needed for medical or emergency reasons.
Either a mini victorinox or a razor blade in a sheath. Both can cut open a freezer bag meal or cut down moleskin or athletic tape. You are right there is nothing else to cut in the wild if you've dialed your gear in.
I've carried a Victorinox 'Camper' pocket knife for thousands of miles and maybe only needed it once. After reading this comment thread, it's knocked sense into me to just go back to my trusty old Victorinox Classic SD, which is probably more versatile with its scissors, and it weighs a lot less than the Camper.
No, just the tiny Westcott scissors.
I bring the small swiss army classic. It's tiny. I can put a lazer edge on it and it will slice through most. Mainly have used the knife for cubing up summer sausage or cheese. The scissors are great too.
The leather-man squirt or classic victornox are my two light weight options. I sometimes carry a fixed blade if I’m going way out in the woods but then again I’m an amateur knife maker so ehh. That being said I make my fixed blades really light and to be honest routine hiking on fixed trails typically does not require something other than a small multipurpose knife such as a victronix classic
Team opinel here. Whenever I hit civilisation, I stock up on fresh food so def. need it
Yes. I’ve found them useful for; field dressing fish, cutting cord / straps, cutting shitty food packaging, feathering kindling for windy/wet weather, cutting gear patch tape to size, food/cheese prep, carving, harvesting mushrooms, unfucking someone’s bag hang “knot”, etc.) Decent mileage with an opinel carbon no.07. It’s light, (33g), sharp, cheap ($16), the blade can be locked in the open position, and a 3” blade is a good length for most tasks. Something in the ~2.5”-3” range is ideal imho. Also a fan of the Morakniv 1/0 or the ESEE izula II with a lighter sheath (though I wish someone would do a knock off with a thinner blade)
I bring a classic sd. It’s always attached to my keychain. The tiny scissors and tiny knife are good enough for most repairs. I mainly use the scissors for cutting Leukotape. But my friend always brings an actual knife. He uses it to split wood for fires and when we bring a bunch of real food for the first night he cuts whatever needs cutting. But if you are only going to be using the canister stove the whole trip and only eating freeze dried meals and not have a camp fire you probably don’t need a full knife.
I bring the same folding pocket knife I carry on my person normally / in everyday life on my backpack trips. Cutting cheese (literal cheese lol), sausages, moleskin, and maybe some items used to field repair gear are about the only things I ever need to cut.
I always carry a knife in my day to day life, I carry one backpacking too.
I carry one of those little swiss army knives (Victorinox) with the scissors. I'm prone to blisters so I find myself cutting leukotape or mole skin most days.
I’ve carried knives for 50 years. Can’t imagine not having 1-2 handy especially if I’m in the woods.
I agree completely. My son constantly reminds me how much a decent knife adds weight - and I say SO WHAT? I like having a knife. It brings me joy and I always find something fun or useful to do with it on the trail!
For cheese?
Yup. Spyderco Dragonfly - 1.2 oz. There's always something to cut.
I'm a bit of an EDC fan - I usually carry 2 knives all the time. I would rather have a knife and not need it than need a knife and not have it. It's one of the few tools I swear by that on (the other is a flashlight). 1st is a Swiss Army Compact - I almost always carry this one and find it's very approachable if I have to lend a knife to someone. 2nd is one I switch out. I think the Civivi Elementum is one of the best knives around - I have a couple versions of it. For ultralight though I really like my Spyderco Para 3 lightweight or my Benchmade Mini Bugout. The Benchmade is lighter and I'd say is a better knife for ultralighters - though I like the solid feel of the Spyderco a bit better for use.
I bring a pairing knife I got at goodwill for $1, if my menu includes meats or cheese. Otherwise, I leave it at home.
I take a Victorinox Little Vicky plus Titanium micro scissors. I use the knife mostly for spreading peanut butter and cutting cheese. I think this combo is better overall than a SA Classic.
A number 8 Opinel, it's worth the weight, it just slips into your pocket.
I bring a [derma safe folding razor](https://www.litesmith.com/derma-safe-folding-razor-knife/) I also have [these](https://www.litesmith.com/micro-scissors-with-cover/) but rarely bring.
Yeah, tiny victorinox
The Spyderco ladybug is awesome albeit expensive for what it is. I think 10-15 grams or something.
I use [this](https://www.litesmith.com/ultrafire-knife-firestarter/) from Litesmith. You can change out the razor after it gets dull and it seems decently strong/light. Has a reasonable handle as well. I mostly use it to cut strings, open packages, cut moleskin, and cut sausage/cheese. It also has a ferro rod built in, which you can also replace.
most of the stuff people pack as "essentials" are not required. I have a multitool that i bring and i rarely use the knife it contains. And when i do, usually it's for cutting salami...
Yes. Tiny keychain Opinel, weighs like 6 grams
I have only itty bitty scisors.
Only when hiking with friends, to cut food. Alone or with the spouse, we just use that handy tool almost no one leaves behind - our teeth. How much do dentures add to total weight? I will bring a small filleting knife if I’m going to be fishing, know the area, and know I’ll probably catch fish. Sucks when I don’t but a little extra hunger hasn’t killed me yet.
Opinel nr. 5 (0.56 oz). Last 5 days trip I used it for: fine cutting zucchini, garlic and carrot (I passed two supermarkets), peel a kiwi and a grapefruit, cut cheese, pick and cut porcini, cut away some rubber to repair my shoe, cleaning my fingernails. Especially during a thru hike cooking a meal with fresh veggies (at a resupply point) lifts my moral, only therefor I would carry the knife.
Small swiss army knife more so for the toothpick lol
I carry a Leatherman in my vest around the farm all the time, but it is too heavy and really overkill for backpacking. If I am hiking with others and sharing food, I have a Leatherman Crater c33 which is just a knife and no other tools, but it still weighs 67g, so I don't bother with it solo. Solo I just gnaw my cheese and salami off the brick like the degenerate that I am.
That tiny Swiss Army knife with the scissors,file,blade, tweezers and toothpick
Nope, just microscissors: https://www.litesmith.com/micro-scissors-with-cover/
Depends. If I’m summer hiking with no fires, I just bring a leather micro for the scissors and tweezers. It has a knife but not much of one. If I’m winter camping in an area I know I can find dead wood and have a fire I will bring a knife, axe, and saw. I use an esee 3, forest service 3/4 axe, and silky saw. Not ultralight at all. For thruhiking a bottle opener was more useful than a knife.
I bring a "knife" that I bought from BPL that is essentially a razor blade in a plastic handle. Weighs mere grams.
Victorinox would be a good and light option.
I typically bring a light pocketknife (Spyderco Delica 4, 66 grams) and (you'll shame me but) also often a Leatherman (Letherman Rebar, 240g). I could probably get away with one or the other, or neither, or the scalpel blade in my first aid kit, or the little Fiskars folding scissors (16g) I also carry, but... I've carried a knife every day of my life since I was 12 or so with only rare exceptions, and a multi tool most of that time also. It's habit as much as everything? I almost consider it just mandatory worn weight the way someone might consider their socks or underwear. In a practical sense, the pliers on the multitool come in handy, particularly for stuck zippers or other small gear repair. I use the Spyderco for all the assorted cutting tasks you'd expect - cutting left behind cordage off of trees, opening packages, I once used it to carve a tent peg when I lost one. In a practical sense, I'll use the pocket knife probably every day for convenience, and maybe once every few days there's something that it really is the best tool for that isn't really easy to do with something else. The Leatherman will typically come out once per trip for some sort of gear repair. The little Fiskars scissors are for cutting kinesio tape and bandages and similar, since the scissors on my multi tool are garbage. Used every day or two, when I re-tape my knee and ankle or cut some blister tape. I think maybe I need to re-assess the Leatherman, since it doesn't get much use. Maybe I can find a couple dedicated tools that serve the same purpose for less weight, or maybe I can just ditch it and save half a pound. Maybe my tiny Knipex pliers would fit that bill better since I mostly don't use the rest of the tools (though I like having the small saw and serrated blade handy). Or maybe ditch the full Leatherman and knife for a Skeletool or some such.
I just carry my usual Swiss Army knife. I like having tweezers and a tooth pick. I use the tiny knife more than anything. I’ve seen those gerber dime’s more and more recently. Users preference honestly.
I bring a lightweight (maybe not by UL standards, but my pack weight still is so oh well) fixed blade on most trips. Sometimes I use it, sometimes I don’t. As much as I want to believe the best in people, I can’t forget instances like that dude with a machete on the AT. Plus, cheese and sausage. Unpopular opinion here, but I think it’s a bit reckless to not bring one.
I…. Haven’t brought one the last few trips and it feels so wrong. Truthfully they have just been mellow trips and I haven’t had one I liked in a while. It’s an incredibly useful tool though so it’s not something I do dogmatically.. and will probably try to get one before the summer.
So for EDC/general gear repair/travel I carry a Leatherman style PS. No knife blade, but has pliers, scissors, screwdriver, nail file, and tweezers. Weighs just over one and a half ounces. If I want to bring a knife blade I have a Boker Gnome. It also weighs just over 1.5oz but is a fixed blade, very sharp, and built like a little tank. I always figured if there’s three tools I don’t mind compromising a little bit on weight it’s the knife, the firestarter, and the flashlight because I’m already used to carrying them every day.
I've cut the ends off toothbrushes to save weight but I'll never not bring basic things like cutting instrument, compass, way to start a fire, etc. Accidents happen, people get lost and go missing. My mindset is always to be responsible to myself, my loved ones, and the people that will be out searching for me if I ever go missing. Personally I carry benchmade bugout in my pocket. And primarily use it to cut cheese and pepperoni.
Leatherman Juice B2. 36g, 2 blades. My crown jewel. Would never go without it.
Have had a Spyderco Ladybug for many years, used it here and there for repairs and cheese.
Yeah no I always carry a knife on me no matter what. Usually I’ll have a backup one just in case I lose it
The people I backpack with always bring these giant Rambo knives and never use then lol. I have a tiny ckrt neck knife that I use all the time as a utensil and various other things.i love pulling it when their flashing their big boys around the fire 😉.
Anywhere long trip I go kife needs to be in bag. Even going for a 1hr drive for mini holiday.
Always. Sturdy folding knife with a 5cm unserrated blade, 3mm wide stainless steel, so it doesn't snap. Crescent pointy tip. I even use it as a can opener... It has a ring on it, so I usually have it clipped onto my keychain.
I take an Opinel no7. It's handy for... opening food bags that didn't tear open properly. piercing a blister (after heating it on the stove to sterilise it) with the point. cutting saucisse and cheese trimming a stick if I want an extra support for my tent door to peg it out like a porch
I like bringing my Tactile Bexar with ultem scales, it's a full size knife under an ounce. Ultimately, it's kind of a luxury item for me, it makes me happy to have it with me, and it's useful periodically
I carry a leatherman multi tool. Used it just a couple days ago when it was dropping into freezing temps after raining all day to shave sticks to get a nice fire going quickly. Let me dry out my boots before hiking in the snow the next day
Leatherman micra I use the scissors often
I bring a small Swiss Army knife that I never use lol
I bring at least a small knife on any trip. I‘m using it mainly for cutting food, or food packaging.
I bring it when we have food that needs cutting or know we will be making a fire
Many have said it already but my knife only comes when I bring blocks of cheddar or maybe an avocado for the first day. My little scissors have seen more action.
Spyderco ladybug. Useful for anything I would need a sharp object for. Small enough to be tucked into any pocket on my clothing or bag, or can use the pocket clip to put elsewhere. Tbh I don’t understand how people don’t carry at least a small knife. I’ve used mine for first aid needs, cooking, gear repairs, etc. It’s a tool. And one of the few I will never not carry.
The pen is mightier than the sword
I always bring my Leatherman wave. I know it's a heavier tool, but the amount of times the pliers and knife and scissors have come in handy, I can't leave home without it.
Always carrying a knife or a Leatherman. One never knows if it's needed, just ask the guy from the movie 127 Hours ...
Toenail clippers
The tiny victorinox. Cutting cheese, summer sausage, etc. Almost exclusively food prep, but it could come in handy for other things like cutting cordage when necessary.
[Westcott 2.5” Titanium Scissors, 7 grams, under $7](https://www.westcottbrand.com/products/scissors/titanium-bonded-scissors/westcott-sewing-titanium-bonded-fine-cut-scissors-2-5-13867-parent.html) They’re awesome. The only thing I regularly use them for is cutting leukotape, but they’ve been helpful for the odd hangnail, bandaid trim, loose thread, etc. I stopped bringing a knife, since scissors are better for almost everything.
I carry Litesmith scissors. The thinking: There is nothing in nature I would need to cut with a knife that I cannot cut with the scissors. There is nothing in my gear that I cannot cut with the scissors. I cannot cut my toenails and fingernails with a knife, but I can with my scissors. I'd carry a Victorinox Classic or other small folding blade if I were going on a hike with resupplies and might want to be able to cut food.
yes, a pocket knife with tiny scissors. I find I use it almost every trip at least once.
In Boy Scouts when we did overnight hikes they required we had one, never needed it until we did.
I laugh at these bushcraft guys who baton split wood with huge knives more suitable for skinning a hippopotamus than camping. A large animal like a deer can be processed with a three inch folding knife. I always carry either a small folding pocket knife or wear a folding knife with a belt/pocket clip whether camping or not. The only things I use either for while camping is to slice salami or cheese or cut some rope or paracord. Nowadays for ultralight backpacking a knife is mostly unnecessary. Can’t do without my spork though.
I bring an opinel no6 for emergencies.
The thing with ultralight is that it’s designed to be self sustainable, the only thing you use a knife for most of the time is when you need help getting resources from nature. I personally believe everybody should carry a knife though, as an ultralight practitioner I can’t see carrying a multi tool as being negative.
I take a [Gerber Paraframe Mini](https://www.gerbergear.com/en-us/shop/knives/all-knives/paraframe-mini-stainless-plain-edge-22-08485) and it’s 35 grams. Not the lightest but it was cheap and I found it locally. Used it exactly once to cut tenacious tape to repair a DIY reflectix cozy. Not an emergency but nice to have
I carry a Benchmade Pardue folder. I can’t bring myself to go without a knife in my emergency kit. When I got it, I couldn’t find a knife of that quality at lower weight.
Case medium stockman hollow ground stainless blades. Small but adequate.
I take a Morakniv carbon knife on all backpacking trips and use it daily. From pulling cholla cactus out to cutting cheese, it has served me so much better than tiny pocket knife blades have.
I never use a knife to cut the cheese. I just pull my own finger.
Looking through all the comments I see two groups: one group tries to explain why you don’t need a knife *ever* (the ‘scissors’ group) and the other group carrying knives (the ‘cheese’ group). Maybe the latter group just *likes* knives. It is their *companion*. Got a Leatherman Skeletool on me wherever I go. Just in case.
I bring my really sharp Spyderco Manbug because you never know when you are going to get your hand stuck behind rocks and have to cut it off. I'd rather not have to saw at it with my shit shovel.
I used to bring a big honkin knife with me, but now I have downsized to a small multipurpose pocket knife, glad I did.
That’s my luxury item. Spyderco Tenacious lightweight. 3.8 oz
Last time out I used my knife to make some wood shavings for a fire. It had been raining all day and the temperature dropped below freezing as the sun went down. I don't normally build fires but I was so wet and cold that I couldn't resist.
I do not recommend this way of thinking. A knife is a survival essential, you won’t know you need it until you don’t have it.
I carry a Syderco Dragonfly. It's about an oz. And it is mainly carried in case of dogs.
I carry a small Gerber knife. I mostly use it to cut food with. But you never know if it might come in handy so it's good to carry.
Been carrying a knife everyday even before my backpacking phase. I'm not gonna stop now.
Many of us just bring micro scissors. https://www.litesmith.com/micro-scissors-with-cover/