Big Giant “Rambo Knives”
There are some that choose to carry the biggest Rambo knife possible when they are in the backcountry. And this may be a legitimate choice if they are practicing bushcraft, hunting or fishing. But it is not a great choice if you are backpacking, climbing or skiing.
Backpacking or Hiking
Before selecting a knife you have to decide what you’re going to use it for. In most backpacking and hiking settings, you need a knife primarily for food preparation. You may want a scissors for fingernail or toe nail care if you’re on a longer trip.
The goal here is to choose the lightest possible knife available that covers your needs. Many use two to three-inch Swiss Army Knives for this purpose.
Climbing
Climbers primarily use knives for cutting cord, ropes and webbing to build fixed anchors. As such, they want knives that can easily be clipped to the back of a harness.
There was a period of time when people regularly used “gas station knives” for climbing. The problem with these cheap over-the-counter knives is that they would open on your harness, creating a potential hazard.
The most ideal knife for a climber is a knife that is light, serrated, won’t open accidentally, won’t close accidentally and has a place to clip it to the harness. Though there are a lot of options out there, the most popular models tend to be the Trango Piranha and the Petzl Spatha.
Multi-Tools
Multi-tools are incredibly heavy, but they do have their place. If you are a backcountry skier or splitboarder, you generally want a multi-tool in your kit. There are plenty of things to break on bindings and the better the kit you have the better the first aid you can do on your gear.
Mountaineering and climbing expeditions are another place where multi-tools make sense. If you’re out for over a week with a lot of equipment, having the tools on hand could be a lifesaver.
The number one concern you should always have when it comes to equipment selection is weight. And if you’re carrying a giant knife with a lot of gadgets that you don’t need, you are potentially slowing yourself down. Never forget that ounces equal pounds and pounds equal a slower pace…
–Jason D. Martin