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Wooly 
Washington Fan
Member since Feb 2012
11241 posts
| ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 3:13 am)
as you all know im hiking a portion of the AT in about a month, trying to make sure i have all the right gear... i have everything i need except for a flashlight and a knife.
i was recently given the Buck Redpoint knife
which i like as a knife, light weight and very sharp.
but im thinking of getting a leatherman, the model is the 831426.
i am planning on getting the leatherman regardless, its just a useful item to have. but im wondering which one do yall recommend to bring, the Buck or the leatherman?
also im still searching for a small handheld LED flashlight that is VERY bright but not very expensive.. any suggestions would be great
This post was edited on 3/21 at 5:10 pm
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Funreaux 
USA Fan
Member since Jun 2007
7163 posts
| re: ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 3:51 am to Wooly)
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Wooly
Washington Fan
Member since Feb 2012
11241 posts
| re: ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 3:56 am to Funreaux)
i looked at that today... its over kill, too heavy, not paying that much for it, and im not buying into the whole bear grylls special edition stuff
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Nodust 
LSU Fan
Member since Aug 2010
15488 posts
 Online
| re: ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 5:07 am to Wooly)
Cree flash light is the way to go. I got one at the LaSportsman show for $20. Lights up my neighbors house 150 yards away.
I have three leathermans and like then, but I still carry a pocket knife. I just like the leatherman for the pliers and screwdriver accesories, not sure if I ever use the knife part of it.
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puffulufogous
USA Fan
New Orleans
Member since Feb 2008
4777 posts
| re: ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 6:35 am to Nodust)
having the right knife is pretty essential. The leatherman would deliver a good bit of functionality for the weight, but the truth is having a decent fixed blade is indispensable. A folding knife may make it through the trip if you don't have any hard cutting tasks, but I say that if you are going somewhere where you might need to baton wood or do a lot of cutting a fixed blade is called for. I recent bought a SOG seal pup at walmart for like 45 bucks and I know it could handle more punishment than any of my folders that are twice as expensive.
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Blue Velvet 
Colorado State Fan
Venice, LA
Member since Nov 2009
12739 posts
| re: ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 10:27 am to Wooly)
None of those. Bring the smallest lightest blade you can find (swiss army small, a tiny spyderco). I brought a tiny pair of medical scissors) and a headlight. You don't need a flashlight or a multi-tool.
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LSUintheNW
LSU Fan
Here and there
Member since Aug 2009
20411 posts
| re: ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 10:39 am to Wooly)
I carry a small gerber. You need a headlamp not a flashlight.
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Nodust
LSU Fan
Member since Aug 2010
15488 posts
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| re: ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 10:40 am to Blue Velvet)
quote:
Bring the smallest lightest blade you can find
Ounces are important when packing. I wouldn't see the need for a big knife.
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Blue Velvet
Colorado State Fan
Venice, LA
Member since Nov 2009
12739 posts
| re: ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 10:47 am to Nodust)
quote:
Grams are important when packing
I started the AT with 45 pounds on my back in Georgia, finished with 15 on my back in Maine and that was with luxury items included. The price of the heavily loaded pack was fatigue, burning shoulders, and plantar fasciitis. Every gram counts. I cut my toothbrush in half before I even made it to North Carolina.
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Nodust
LSU Fan
Member since Aug 2010
15488 posts
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| re: ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 10:49 am to Blue Velvet)
quote:
I cut my toothbrush in half before I even made it to North Carolina.
Never thought of that. 15lbs is light.
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wareagle1113 
Auburn Fan
Alabama
Member since Jun 2011
144 posts
| re: ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 11:08 am to puffulufogous)
quote:
you might need to baton wood or do a lot of cutting a fixed blade is called for
+1 even tho it may add weight it could save your life. Id rather carry few more ounces than be cold all night.
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LSUintheNW
LSU Fan
Here and there
Member since Aug 2009
20411 posts
| re: ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 11:13 am to wareagle1113)
I've never had a problem finding enough branches/loose wood to burn w/out having to cut.
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Cracker
LSU Fan
in a box
Member since Nov 2009
3261 posts
| re: ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 11:17 am to wareagle1113)
skip the hand held flash light get a nice head lamp, but if you do the in expensive small led that you can get at sams club are not bad. If you get both head lamp & hand held make sure they both use the same battery. How far you going
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Wooly
Washington Fan
Member since Feb 2012
11241 posts
| re: ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 12:22 pm to Cracker)
From springer mt to blood mountain.
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Blue Velvet
Colorado State Fan
Venice, LA
Member since Nov 2009
12739 posts
| re: ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 12:33 pm to wareagle1113)
There is not a single place on the AT that you need to chop wood or cut down any trees. Why kill something when there is plenty of dead wood already on the ground? Besides, it burns better.
ETA: Dressing properly is your best bet to avoid being cold at night. That fire isn't goig to go far when you're stuck in freezing rain.
This post was edited on 3/18 at 12:38 pm
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Nodust
LSU Fan
Member since Aug 2010
15488 posts
Online
| re: ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 12:48 pm to Cracker)
quote:
If you get both head lamp & hand held make sure they both use the same battery.
Good idea.
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Hammertime
LSU Fan
Hiding in your back seat
Member since Jan 2012
8875 posts
| re: ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 1:27 pm to Blue Velvet)
IMO having a big knife is not even a question. I normally carry an ESEE 5, a Leatherman charge, and a Spyderco Military combo with me in the woods. I have no problem carrying all of those plus a Camelback with tp, a flint striker, an MRE, maps, tree painting cans, 3 rolls of flagging tape, etc. I also carry on my person a 100ft logger's tape, an aluminum clipboard, compass, GPS, and cell phone and cigs.
The first few days I was working, my back muscles were a little sore, but after 2 or 3 days, I was good to go.
That was all of my "essential" items for a day in the woods that would normally last 10-12hrs and I (70% of the time) would walk between 10 and 15 miles. I had to think about the "what-if" factor of me getting hurt or not making it back home that night.
I think that you definitely need a big, solid knife, a multitool, and a pocket knife for all of the random uses that a knife needs to be readily accessible.
Some other quality knife companies that I have used or seen are Swamprat, Zero Tolerance, the Gerber Gator, and Busee. I have also used SOG, Benchmade, Columbia River, and Gerber. The Spyderco Military, Zero Tolerance, and Benchmades were tha best out of that bunch. I have broken a few SOG and Columbia River knives over the years.
As far as a headlamp, Petzl makes some very nice ones, as well as CREE. You really get what you pay for with these.
Here are the links for some very good, bigger knives:
Swamp Rat
ESEE
Busse
Zero Tolerance
You might also start thinking for a camping axe or axe/shovel combo.
For knives, this is the best company that I have dealt with: http://www.knifeworks.com/
They are fairly local to BR and I normally get shite within a day or two. I get all of my Zero Tolerance and Spyderco knives from them.
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Blue Velvet
Colorado State Fan
Venice, LA
Member since Nov 2009
12739 posts
| re: ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 1:40 pm to Hammertime)
I carry a big pocket knife too when I'm doing a day hike and can afford the weight; not when I'm also carrying food, clothes, a bed, and shelter on a 2,200 mile trek.
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Cracker
LSU Fan
in a box
Member since Nov 2009
3261 posts
| re: ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 3:29 pm to Blue Velvet)
thats what 30-40 miles?
not a nice hike either I would suggest packing heat you'll get up there in the NE GA mountains with those ridge runners all jacked up on meth carry 2 wallets one to give away and your real wallet that you keep but not in your back pack good chance they will take that too
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faxis
LSU Fan
La.
Member since Oct 2007
6596 posts
| re: ***Official Hiking/Camping Thread*** (Posted on 3/18/12 at 4:14 pm to Cracker)
Spyderco Endura straight edge VG-10
Thread over.
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