Pocket knives with foldable blades don’t take up much space and are ideal for hiking, backpacking, and everyday tasks. They also protect the sharp edge in the handle when not in use. If you’re planning on hiking or backpacking, you really should have a knife with you. For most hikers, the affordable and lightweight Swiss Army knife with lots of useful features is the best option
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The easiest knife to take with you on a hike is a small, foldable blade that you can put in your pocket. That’s what your grandfather may have carried with him religiously when he pulled it out to help you open Christmas presents, or to set up your fishing rod for you. The obvious choice here is the Ka-Bar Becker knife, of which there are many great variants. From the standard Marine Corps Fighting Utility Knife to the BK2 and BK7 adaptations, this knife was made with survival in mind
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Choosing the right knife for a backpacking or hiking trip is a very important decision that you shouldn’t make lightly. The Bugout was designed to be carried in EDC style and although it is of course great in the EDC department, I believe it also meets all the requirements for a lightweight backpacking knife. When you go on a longer day hike or even a multi-day hike with an overnight stay, a knife becomes an indispensable item. As a final treat, the sheath includes a slit for a sharpening stone, which is included with the knife, and just like the handles, blade, and leather sheath, the sharpening stone is actually very nice as it is
a bonus item.
I’m not going to tell you that this knife will last for generations, but I can say that the Gerber Paraframe II is definitely a good deal for the price. If you’re planning to camp every evening on a hike, a knife is an essential tool for preparing food. Safety is one of the main reasons to bring a knife when backpacking and hiking. Apart from that, you can also use a knife for things like opening food cans, cutting and chopping meat, vegetables, and other foods, cutting ropes, branches, or other similar animals. The more time I spent hiking and camping away from civilization, the more I realized that I was ill-prepared for a real survival situation without a solid folding knife or a small
fixed blade.
A knife is simply not absolutely necessary for most short hiking situations, even if you get lost and spend the night in the woods. Many people who specialize in truly remote camping and hiking may choose to have a hatchet and multi-tool with them too, but this knife can be used independently for both applications if you only carry that with you. Multi-tools are not suitable for self-defense and offer absolutely no use for trekking in rough terrain. They may even be more difficult to use than a traditional fixed blade or a folding knife. In most light cases, this knife is overkill, but if you want to be prepared for literally anything life throws your way, this knife is an excellent addition to any arsenal
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