Choosing a knife for hiking

The knife is one of the oldest tools known to man. Thousands of years ago, primitive man used shards of obsidian or flint to create edged tools for cutting. It's one of the things that sets us apart from the animals. In fact, some would say that a man without a knife is really just a monkey. Needless to say, every man (and woman) needs a knife.

A knife is one of the few items that features on every essential gear list for hiking or camping and there is a good reason for this. A knife is an incredibly versatile tool that can be used for a variety of tasks, including:

•  Food preparation
• As a utensil
• Chopping firewood
• Clearing the campsite
• Fashioning other tools
• Building a shelter
• Cutting things – rope, vines, branches, etc  (it’s amazing how hard this is without a knife).
• Prying things
• Opening things (cans, packages, etc)

 So now we've established you need a knife for hiking, the real question is which knife?

Fixed blade, folding knife, or multi-tool?

Let’s get this out of the way first – there is no ‘best knife’ for hiking.  Your choice depends on your preferences, the environment you are traversing, and the local laws and regulations on carrying knives. The best knife is always the one you have with you, not the one sitting at home. Each style of knife has it’s pros and cons. That said, there are some important considerations in choosing your knife that go beyond preference and will ensure that you choose a reliable piece of equipment that will serve you well for many years.

A folding knife  is smaller, lightweight and can be placed in your pocket and so you are most likely to have it with you when you need it. It has limitations because of its size, as it cannot be used for tasks like clearing scrub, chopping wood etc. It is also more prone to breaking as it has a thinner blade and moving parts and could fail under pressure.

A multi-tool offers a range of tools, including knives, saws, scissors, screw drivers, can openers, tweezers and just about anything you can imagine. They tend to be somewhat heavier than folding knives but are relatively lightweight have the same limitations of strength and blade size.

A fixed blade knife is strong, tends to have a larger blade, is capable of heavy duty tasks like chopping and prying and is more comfortable to use for longer periods of time because you can grip it easily. It is likely to endure a lot of mistreatment and keep on performing, meaning that you can rely on it when you need it most. The downside, it’s a bit heavier to lug around.

Personally I like all of these options for different scenarios and would recommend that you have at least one of each to try out and decide which best suits your purpose. But if I had to choose just one knife to stake my life on, it would be a fixed blade knife. When Aron Ralston of 127 Hour fame had to make the agonising decision to cut off his arm to escape, all he had was a cheap, blunt, multi-tool. Ouch. Don’t be that guy. Overall the fixed blade knife will accomplish most tasks and is the more reliable should you find that your life depends on it. So let's have a look at how to choose a good fixed blade knife.

What to look for in a fixed blade knife

Full Tang Construction

The tang, is the part of the blade steel that extends into the handle of the knife. Many knives are made with partial tangs, in which only a portion of steel continues into the handle. Obviously this saves on cost for manufacturers but it is at the expense of the strength and durability of the knife. A full tang is illustrated here and makes for an extremely sturdy construction. Even if the handle material breaks you still have a usable tool.

The Size

Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Survival Knife with firesteel

The optimum sized blade that can tackle batoning, chopping, slicing, and finer bushcraft tasks is between 4 1/2-6 inches (blade only) for a total length of 9-11 inches length. You also want to consider the thickness of the steel as this is what will determine how much abuse the knife can take before cracking or bending. If you are an ultralight hiking fanatic, you may be willing to sacrifice some functionality in your bladeware to keep your pack weight to a minimum. On the other hand, maybe you should use your man-sized chopper to carve off the weight somewhere else!

The Steel

ESEE Izula

There are so many different steels to choose from but in the end it boils down to buying a knife from a trustworthy bladesmith that comes with a good warranty. You want to consider stainless steel if you are in areas of high humidity, or are working in or around water often. Stainless steel can still rust, but it will resist corrosion and require less frequent care. High-carbon steel is commonly used in tool making and is more durable and tends to hold a better edge. The downside is, just looking at it causes it to rust. Some knife manufacturers have developed corrosion resistant coatings which help protect the blade. ESEE Knives applies an Epoxy coating to their knives which works really well and gives the knife a unique and appealing look.

The Sheath

ESEE 5 sheath with Molle backing and pouch attachment

Your knife will live in the sheath most of the time. The sheath needs to be of a sturdy construction so that it won’t drop your knife out in the wild. It needs to be easily accessible and comfortable so that you aren't chafed and bruised after wearing it. You will want to consider how high the sheath rides on your belt, as this can vary considerably and can be very uncomfortable.  Does the sheath have Molle or Alice compatibility for attachment to webbing or a pack strap? Buying a custom sheath can be
expensive so it’s worth doing your research
 to find a good one first off.

                                             

The Handle

Gerber ASEK

The handle should be comfortable to grip and use for long periods without forming hot-spots that cause blisters. It should also have a lanyard hole. A lanyard is essential for using the knife for chopping. Some knives have a handle that features a glass breaker or hammer pommel which can be useful.

Conclusion

Now you're armed with the knowledge you need to choose a great knife for hiking and make the transition from a mere monkey to a real man. Choose a tried and tested knife from a reputable maker and you won't go wrong. The internet is also full of reviews and product tests that can make you an expert overnight. (Please note: If you are a monkey, following this advice may not actually change your species but good job on the reading skills!).

Here are some of the knives that I have and use. I have no affiliation with these companies I just think they make great products. . 

 ESEE 5

A Survival knife designed by SERE instructors, it has a blade length of 5.25in. and thickness of .25in and is built like a tank. It was designed to enable a downed pilot to cut his way out of an aircraft hull and when you hold this weighty hunk of metal you can believe it. It’s a full tang construction forged out of 1095 High Carbon steel, sabre ground for strength and epoxy coated to protect it from rusting. The handles are made from micarta, which consists of layers of compressed linen or canvass infused with an epoxy resin. The ESEE warranty is simple: If you break it, they replace it. It is the best warranty out there. The knife comes with a top notch Kydex sheath that has the option of Molle backing and a utility pouch.

ESEE 4

This is a bushcraft knife with a 3/16 in. thick, 4-inch long, flat ground blade. It's a full tang construction and features removable handle slabs of canvas or linen micarta or the orange G10. Made from epoxy coated 1095 high carbon steel it is an excellent size and weight for most camping chores. It slices well and has a finger groove cut into the blade to allow the user to grip the knife closely for finer tasks. You can choose between the plain edge or the partial serrations. The serrations on the ESEE are easy to sharpen and only take up a small portion of the blade. It also comes with a good quality kydex sheath that allows a range of carry positions.












        

SOG Seal Pup Elite

SOG Seal Pup Elite

This is a tried and tested knife. Made from Aus-8 stainless steel and featuring beautiful craftsmanship, this knife has been a favourite carry for military personnel the world over. It is tough and reliable. Featuring jimping (small ridges) along the spine for extra grip or for notching. The handle is made from a plastic-glass hybrid called Glass Reinforced Nylon which fuses to the handle and is incredibly durable as well as providing ergonomic and slip-proof grip. The knife comes with a choice of sheath;  A Nylon sheath with a utility pouch, or alternatively a water friendly hard Kydex sheath that comes with Molle compatibility.

Off The Track at Mount Tanglefoot

It was Anzac day, April 25th 2014 in Melbourne, Australia; a national day of remembrance for the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. My brother-in-law Pete and I had been planning an adventurous day-hike for months, hoping to get away from our usual parental responsibilities and off into the untamed wilderness – just man vs wild. The spot we had chosen for this trek, was the Toolangi State Forest just about 50 clicks North-East of Melbourne. Toolangi is a dense temperate rainforest, filled with thickly growing underbrush, tall ferns, and the towering Mountain Ash. It is as spectacular as it is imposing.

  

The state forest encompasses the aptly-named Mount Tanglefoot, and around this are various, overgrown and sparsely maintained tracks cut through the vegetation (Tanglefoot Track, the Myrtlewood Track). These tracks circle the mountain, but none attempt the steep and impenetrable slopes to the summit. Having trekked these routes before, Pete and I had determined to go off the track to climb through the rainforest undergrowth to the top. Previous experience in this forest had taught us to be prepared for leeches. A few years earlier, we had planned to set up camp in the forest for a two-day adventure. As we prepared a rare clear space on the forest floor to set up our tents we noticed armies of leeches crawling their way along the dead vegetation, up our boots, and onto our pants. The prospect of setting up a campfire here and spending the evening fighting off swarms of these sanguineous beasts did not appeal to us, so we hiked the remaining 9-kilometres back to the carpark.

It was a cold but fine day, and this time we had equipped ourselves for the occasion with carefully selected outerwear and a day-pack to survive any eventuation. We wore wet weather clothing, wool underlayers, sturdy cargo pants, shell-rainjackets, gloves, wool beanies and army boots. I also wore gaiters for an extra level of leech protection. I carried a map, compass, 3-litres of water, food for a day+, a survival blanket, first-aid kit, survival tin, iphone, a length of paracord, and of course my trusty ESEE 5 with Molle attachment strapped securely to my waist. Pete also carried a SOGfari machete (he loves ESEE knives but hasn’t got one yet – poor fella). Back at the carpark we had a cooler stashed with cold beer and sausages for a hot BBQ meal on our return. 

We set out along the Tanglefoot track, map in hand, to look for suitable point to veer off into the forest and make our attempt on the mountain. Consulting the map, we determined to try from the South East side. Unbeknownst to us, this side of the mountain has a distinctly different flora – consisting of entangled shrubs about 8-10 feet high intermingled with a vine-like creeping grass that clings to skin and clothing alike. The forest floor is littered with fallen trees to such an extent that a false floor is often formed and when stepped on can give way suddenly underfoot . The gradient was also very steep – a ratio of 2.5m/1m – it was hard going. 

Towards the top we happened upon a clearing which showed promise as a possible future camping spot. After nearly an hour and a half we had travelled 1.6km (nearly a mile) to reach the top. To our disappointment and chargrin, at the top we were met with a radio tower and small building which could be accessed by a 4X4 track on the opposite slope of the mountain. The track was not on the map and probably is official access only, but it took the edge off our previous sense of ‘going where no man has gone before’. 

Being about lunch time, and high time for a hot billy of tea, we found a clear spot out of the wind and away from the radio tower to make a fire. Using my ESEE, I chopped some wood (rather needlessly given the amount of dead timber around but more fun this way). We built a small fire, which took some effort to get going due to the dampness of the timber but we soon had a crackling fire to heat up our water and our food. We amused ourselves by using rocks to build a little oven which I warmed my sandwich on. Using the ESEE as a BBQ tool I toasted my sandwich to perfection! After a satisfying meal we put out the fire and made sure we left no trace of our presence before setting off to descend the other side of the mountain. 

The South-West side of the mountain proved to be a much darker and wetter trek than the ascent, and was characterised by thickly growing ferns. It was beautiful but difficult to navigate in as it was sometimes only possible to see a short distance ahead. With no track to follow, we slipped and slid our way down, climbing over enormous fallen logs and taking in the sights and sounds of the forest. There was evidence of Lyrebirds everywhere - small freshly scratched holes in the soft earth. The Lyrebird is a flightless bird, a relative of the Peacock and is quite incredible at mimicking sounds. They frequently mimic other bird calls but more amusingly they mimic many other sounds they hear, like ringtones and chainsaws. I happened upon a large tail feather which I quickly placed in my pack as a memento of the hike. 

I’m not sure what caused me to check, but after about forty minutes of steady descent, I felt my belt and to my horror, noticed my knife was gone! The sheath was empty. I couldn’t believe it! Thinking back, I realised that I must have failed to secure the clasp when we were eating lunch and could have dropped it at any point during the hike down. Somewhere in the moist darkness of the forest, far from any trail, lay my ESEE 5 where no one would ever find it. Pete immediately proposed that we re-trace our steps and try to find it and although I knew it was futile I agreed to give it a try. 

We began to search the ground very carefully both for signs of our own tracks and for anywhere the knife might have fallen. At times our tracks could be seen clearly, in the form of scuff marks on the soft forest floor, disturbed moss on a log, or broken branches but at other times we lost the trail completely and after searching in vain, had to back-track in the hopes of picking up the trail again. As we searched we pondered the mystery of the fact that God knew exactly when and where I would drop my knife and questioned how exactly such trivial things could be part of a bigger plan? After another 30-40 minutes of tracking our own path back up the mountain, we had really honed our tracking skills and were beginning to quite enjoy the challenge. At this time I came across an extremely large fallen tree, covered in moss which had earlier required me to clamber up and then jump some 7-feet down the other side. I repeated this manoeuvre and searched the ground on the other side. Moving a few dead fern fronds aside , there on the ground in front of me, was the knife. I had found it! In all of this vast, trackless wilderness I had found the needle in the haystack! I couldn’t believe it. Needless to say, I quickly sheathed the blade, clasped it, and did up the sheath tensioner. The remainder of the hike we were glowing with the success of our find. It also made us contemplate how God really does care about even the most trivial things that are important to us. 

We soon found the Tanglefoot track and resumed our journey around the mountain. On returning to the car we lit a fire, BBQd sausages and onion, drank cold beer, and reminisced about our day’s adventure. 

We also found where the leeches had managed to wriggle their way into our clothing and get a feed of their own. In the end I couldn't really begrudge the little buggers their meal – After all, I could appreciate their excitement in stumbling across an incredible find in the forest!