When I had just become a Boy Scout, there wasn’t anything I wanted more than a pocketknife. I thought they were the coolest thing in the world. I was so certain that with a pocketknife in my hand, grizzly bears, mountain lions, snakes, and even Bigfoot would cower and run at the sound of my approach. Now… while I’ve grown a little more realistic in my thinking, I’m pretty sure that there is still a small part of me that believes that. I’m also willing to bet that many hikers, backpackers, hunters, and outdoorsmen share similar feelings, and have the comfort of knowing that they are much safer and more prepared when they have a knife with them. I encourage all outdoorsmen to own and carry a pocketknife. With that being said, I also believe that carrying a pocketknife isn’t something that should be waved around. While I do have a couple of knives that I can carry in a sheath on my belt, most I carry in my pocket… close enough to quickly access, yet unseen.
A pocketknife is a crucial item to carry with you at all times while in the backcountry. Hopefully, you won’t need to use it during your adventures, but it is something that can be quite essential in a variety of situations. Get in the habit of always carrying one with you on hikes. In my opinion, besides a first aid kit, a pocketknife is the one of the most important things that an outdoorsman can have.
There are many different types of pocket knives or multi-tools that one can choose, and I’m here to help you make an informed decision on what knife would work best for you, and any pros and cons of each.
There are a couple of things to know about before you choose your pocketknife. While it is important to choose a pocketknife that has all the features that you want, it also needs to feel comfortable in your hand. The knife needs to fit the action that you’re doing. Don’t carry a machete if you’re just going on a one half mile family hike to a popular waterfall. For many hikers, the weight and size of the knife is the most important thing they are looking for. Some hikers just want a small folding blade, while others want to have a knife with multiple functions. If you choose a knife that has multiple functions, know the purpose of each, and how to properly use each function safely.
Here are some things to consider when choosing a pocketknife:
– size
– weight
– cost
– single blade knife
– multi-functional knife/multi-tool
– folding blade
– fixed blade
– locking blade
– smooth blade edge
– serrated blade edge
– smooth and serrated blade edge
The Leatherman is an excellent tool to have with you while out on the trail. It has a tool for just about any situation, whether it’s pliers, two different saws, both types of screwdrivers, or can opener. The Leatherman is sturdy and well-made knife. On most Leathermans, the main knife blades and saw blades both lock when opened so they won’t accidentally close on your fingers. Pressing a metal spring then releases the locking mechanism allowing the blades to fold back in. A Leatherman can be expensive, but there are several different models to choose from. Some have just a few tools, while others models can have fifteen or more. Depending on the number of tools, a Leatherman can weigh as much as two pounds.
The fixed blade knife is another option that is popular with hikers, especially when on trails deep in the backcountry. The blade is typically longer than any knife blades found on multi-tools, and is also much more durable than the typical blade. While a fixed blade knife doesn’t have all the features of a multi-tool, you may find that you never use those additional functions enough anyway. One reason why a fixed blade knife is the choice of many backcountry hikers using it to defend yourself from aggressive animals. If I was face to face with a snarling mountain lion, I’d much rather have a five-inch long fixed blade in my hand than a two-inch Swiss Army knife blade. With that being said, the chances of that happening are remote, but you’d definitely be prepared. You pull it out and the blade is ready, no unfolding it, no chance of accidentally pulling out the scissors or can opener instead of the knife blade either. The one downside to a fixed blade is that you can’t fold it and hide and protect the blade, so one has to be extra attentive. It is also a little bulky to wear on the waist. This is not a knife I’d recommend for young hikers.
The Swiss Army Knife is always a popular choice with hikers, especially young hikers, like Boy Scouts. They can be very simple with only one or two knife blades, or they can have a dozen other tools. A Swiss Army knife is compact and easily carried in a front pocket. One of the disadvantages of most Swiss Army knives is that none of the blades lock in place. It just takes a little pressure and the knife blade could accidentally close on a finger. This was my dream knife as a Boy Scout.
If you find that the multi-tool has too many gadgets, and that the fixed blade is too cumbersome, the locking blade knife may be the one for you. While the blade isn’t quite as long as a fixed blade, it is longer and more rugged than a multi-tool knife blade. The blade is locked in place when open, and can be unfolded with only one hand.
