So Wave is probably a way to go. That's the only thing I carry when backpacking, unless I a am going winter camping, in which case I bring a "survival" type knife as well.

You certainly don't need an axe for camping. Or a knife that will imitate one. In all the years I've been camping and backpacking, never once have I needed such a thing. I do carry a larger knife, but not gigantic. A ColdSteel SRK. Never once have I actually NEEDED a knife that large. I think on my next trip the SRK will probably be replaced by a much smaller Becker Necker.

Most chores are easier done with a blade in the 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 inch range. The SRK has stayed burried deep in the pack, in case a real survival situation presented itself. I can't imagine needing to access it quickly (especially since I've never REALLY needed to access it the first place!) While it may look manly to pull out a 14" Kurki to cut a piece of paracord, it's hardly necessary. Leave that showmanship some neanderthal future Darwin winner in one of their "He yall, watch THIS!" moments. A Spyderco folder will do the job faster, neater, and safer.

In layman's terms sometimes you just have to go camping and risk getting a little uncomfortable. Some folks advocate ultralight camping that reflects more philosophy than real world needs. Thats great if your seeking a beautific vision like a mendicant monk. On the flip side some people set up a perimeter defense with dedicated bear rifles and fail to notice the butterflies. Everyone's needs fall somewhere in between the two, depending of course on experience, finances and the minimum wage for Sherpa guides to shlep this stuff for you. Go camping and then you'll know better than anyone here what YOU need. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

While yes, most outdoor tasks can be done by a smaller knife and a huge knife is more often than not overkill, don't underestimate the usefulness of a good bigger fixed blade knife. The real utility of a fixed blade knife, like the Becker Crewman, is that some tasks are easier and quicker than with a smaller knife. When the SHTF and you are scrambling to build a shelter, fire, etc using less energy and time is a good thing! Again, yes these tasks can be completed with a smaller knife but it is easier and quicker, requiring less energy with a larger one.

If you have the money to buy one and neither weight nor room are an issue than bring a good fixed blade knife. I do leave my fixed blade knifes home from time to time, but I prefer to have one with me in the field!

For what it is worth, Boy Scouts, who do LOTS of camping (pretty much the core of the Scouting experience) are taught to carry/use three different tools when camping:

1. Pocketknife - for food preparation, cutting small stuff. My son's troop recommends a locking blade. Younger Scouts tend to carry Swiss Army Knives; older Scouts tend to carry multitools (Leatherman & others). The screwdriver tools aren't much use, but the pliars get used a bunch. We tend to use real can openers rather than mess with those on knives.

2. Axe - mostly used to split wood and chop small 1-3 finger sized sticks. Any larger and it is much easier to use a saw to do the cutting. My son's troop tends to limit this to hatchets (battoning with logs to split larger wood) rather than axes, but my own bias is that hatchets are more dangerous than full length axes since hatchets have a slightly higher tendency to get close to fingers, legs, etc...

3. Bow saw - used to crosscut larger logs

If you want to learn how to camp, consider getting a Boy Scout Handbook, which is packed with simple but very usefull camping/hiking skills. If you don't know where to buy one the Chicago Area Council's web site is http://www.chicagobsa.org - call them and they'll tell you where to buy one.

Where are you camping were you think you'll need to split wood?

Seriously, most public campgrounds are stoves only these days, or you use a fire ring at a fixed site using supplied wood. And most privately owned land that is worth camping on will have someone with a rifle investigating an open fire and campsite if you dont' have permission. (Something about meth labs and pot patches makes people with land kinda cranky.)

You honestly don't need a big knife 99% of the time. Trust me, I grew up in the woods. Most of the time a saw is a lot more useful for the weight and bulk, and a lot safer if you are just learning.

While you can split wood if with a long knife if needed, you usually don't need to nor do you want to. I know I'm about to scandelize people, but I've only broken three fixed blades in twenty years, and two of those were by batoning. I've also bent a machete to the point it was unusuable trying. The technique just isn't one I can recommend.

If you want to split wood, you want an axe or better yet, a maul. Or best, a hydraulic log spliter- trust me on this, my parents house is heated with wood. But in the woods, while there is the romantic ideal of splitting wood, that's all it is for the most part. Open fires, just roll something so big you want to split it over to the edge of the fire to form a reflector while it dries, then feed it in a little as needed. Rolling is good, you are less likely to pull something in your back or your belly than if you'd picked it up.

What do I carry- a folding saw, a back up single blade folder and a swiss army knife in my pack, and my leatherman and my Ka-bar MKII on my belt. And I only carry the Ka-bar becuase it is has been with me so long, it is basically a part of me. If I was going to replace it, I'd go with the Becker Crewman.

Thank you all for your sound reasoning. I appreciate the pure honesty in your responses and reasoning with me instead of just answering my question in black and white.

I will stick to my WAVE tool and mini RSK knife.

Reason is the point of existance, along with experince. And without reason, there no true understanding of those experinces, you'd just kinda bob along like a sheep tossed into the ocean. *cue soundtrack and robot shark*

And don't get me started on the human created ideas about these mythological black and white. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I carry a Gerber LMF. Big, thick and holds an edge. You can chop wood and abuse it without fear or ruining it.