After hauling my backpack up a mountain the other day I decide that maybe I should go through it and see what I could live without.

It was obvious that I may be carrying more knives than I need and would like your suggests on which knives to keep and which ones to leave at home and why you made the choices that you did.

The knives that I found on me or in my backpack when I got home were:

Cold Steel SRK
Becker Necker
Mora
Swiss Army knife
Leatherman Tool
Ritter M2 mini


And before you ask -- yes -- I really did have all of these with me.

You obviously love knives. That said you could probably pair it down to the CS SRK and the Leatherman. This gives you a large strong blade and a multitool with smaller sharper blades.

IMHO, you're carrying twice as much as you need to. Seeing what you have, I would keep the Mini-RSK and Leatherman tool and then choose which fixed blade I liked the best. I would go with the SRK

Why? The Mini-RSK is your best and safest folder and should be EDC. The Leatherman should do most or maybe more of what the SAK would do. The SAK is also unsafe to use as a knife, as it usually has no locking blade. I would choose the SRK (6" blade) since you already have the Mini-RSK with a 2.88" blade (the BN is 3.25"). BUT, its JUST my opinion.

I just carry a Victorinox Classic or Rambler, so I may be the wrong person to ask ;-)

In winter, I take the smallest, lightest multitool that will allow adjustment of bindings and repairs to skis/snowshoes.

Unless you're hunting, building a big fire, or heading off for survivalist-style living, all the other knives are for fun and play, but not necessary, in my opinion. So, take what you'll most enjoy having along.

This mountain, your doing a vigorous hike or technical climb? Is there a treeline to sub alpine zone, or are we talking rock and ice? And while you were hauling yourself up, did you make use, mundane or emergency of your cutlery? I am also curious as to carry. I love neck knives. I must be dumb, cheap or both. I use my Moras for this carry. A readily accessable, sharp blade in an emergency ( and opening that tough packaging on food when your blood sugars are in your hiking boots counts) is worth more than a 'more capable' knife in your rucksack advertised by stabbing car doors. I'm a little confused on multitools in the wild still. Now, if my dreamed of J3 Cub needed emergency repair the leatherman is the #1 choice. But frankly, I havent tightened to many bolts or screws on debri shelters. If you have personal items, ie eyeglass frame screws, then yes. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I used to carry a ColdSteel SRK in my backpack, but recently replaced that with a Becker Necker attached handle-down on my left shoulderstrap. I keep a Spyderco Native in my hiking shorts right front pocket. That's probably enough for me. The SRK now sits at home on the hikes.

I also have some old ColdSteel folder in my survival kit inside the pack (kit is stored in a 32oz Nalgene bottle). That folder is no longer made - I think it's called an "UltraLock" or something similar. It's a liner-lock, and as with all ColdSteel products, I don't know what the actual steel is. I could probably get rid of that extra folder in the kit ... I can't imagine ever forgetting my Spyderco or Becker when hiking ... but I like the idea of having everything I need inside a kit that I can move from pack to pack (even if double redundant) .

Which Mora, SAK and Leatherman? I'm not a fan of Mora's, but some are so I have a bias. I have a Necker and while it's a good knife, it's a bit small in the handle for good gripping. If the SAK is a Rucksack, Outrider, Trekker or one of the other models with a larger locking blade and saw you may have a keeper, otherwise drop it. Leathermen are heavy and while you may find a couple tools useful, you still carry the whole thing.

I'd keep the mini-RSK in my pocket as it's a good knife to EDC and keep the SRK in the pack. Then I'd look at the SAK and Leatherman and take the one which adds the most to the two good blades you carry.

Really, I have a similar collection in my pack. SAK Trekker, Leatherman Original, Dozier General Utility, Fehrman Peace Maker and RSK Mk 1 -- all keepers <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

"Unless you're hunting, building a big fire, or heading off for survivalist-style living, all the other knives are for fun and play, but not necessary, in my opinion."

I hope that statement was made in the context of having a knife for outdoor recreation. Otherwise, the word "work" was left out. Many of us use our knives (me a RSK MkI in S30V) every single day at work for one thing or another.

BTW, the RSK is perfect for me at work, too. I couldn't imagine digging a SAK out of my pocket everytime I needed a knife at work, it would drive me crazy. I can't wear pouches on my waist at work either.

I'm probably in the minority, but when I was doing a lot of backpacking/climbing, I weighed gear obsessively, in grams. We were in the "Leave No Trace" club, so campfires were pretty much out, except in extreme emergencies, so axes/large knives were not required.

I just carried an SAK tinker. Period. If you're uncomfortable with that, I'd add the Ritter mini, or maybe a Leatherman, but a light one.

Just my $0.02.

Kevin B.

When hiking/camping, I carry a Swisstool Spirit and Spyderco Native on my person and a kukri on my pack.

So it would be no surprise that I would suggest the Leatherman and Ritter mini with either the RSK or Mora in the pack. If you plan on having the SRK or Mora on your person, you could probably leave the Ritter mini at home.

I carry the kukri on hikes because I feel it is good trail etiquette to clear obstructions or hazards from the trail. And it helps with the wood cutting while camping.