Lightweight Overnight Camping set ups

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14.2lbs with all of the gear so far.

The internal storage is full, I could move something to underneath.

3 external pockets to fill.

So, med kit, knife, light, fire starter, saw, food, map, compass, what else now?
 
If I'm in the mountains I usually have a light fleece jacket. That is rolled up as my pillow. Camp pillows are worthless anyway. Always look at gear in multi purpose ways. If you can use something more than one way, you save space and weight.

If you have to add things to the outside, you can usually tell a newbie by how much crap is outside the bag lol, add it to the top or bottom. Any weight added to the back does not balance and actually pulls like it's heavier than it is. I had an Osprey pack that had a detachable day pack on the back side. My instructor convinced me to shove it under the fanny pack/top instead. World of difference in how it carried.

Speaking of packing, heavy items close to the back and/or to the bottom. Sleeping bag, clothes, tent, etc. Closer to the back helps keep it from pulling into the shoulders and pulling you back. Closer to the bottom gives you a better center of gravity when hiking.
 
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Axes are great in a big camp, but the weight and size of one, relative to its use in a lightweight, one-man camp isn't going to be worth it. A good, sturdy knife (Ka-bar or similar) and a folding pruning saw will be lighter and do anything you need the axe for.

No need for a huge roaring fire. Its just extra work for you. A quote I heard years ago "White man builds big fire, and stands far away. Indian builds small fire, and sits close."

Something I always pack with me is a few feet of thick aluminum wire. Good for hanging pots, fixing gear, making an jury-rigged handle, you name it.

I've not seen any of the milsurp wool blankets around in a long time. Anyone got a good source for them? I've been wanting to pick up a few.
 
Ordered the Teton 3400 Scout, it's a 55l bag. Should give me the extra room I need and more comfortable than the Alice. Also not burning up cash if I don't end up using it as much as I think I will
 
Don't forget the TP and a light, maybe a headlamp.
 
I met a guy once that had gone to the trouble and expense of creating a special toilet paper roller. Basically bit was a way to make a small lightweight toilet paper package for camping. I've seen similar devices for sale. I appreciated his efforts, but I just take a regular size roll, not a mega roll, mash it flat and put it in a zip lock while holding it down to create a vacuum effect. FWIW
 
I met a guy once that had gone to the trouble and expense of creating a special toilet paper roller. Basically bit was a way to make a small lightweight toilet paper package for camping. I've seen similar devices for sale. I appreciated his efforts, but I just take a regular size roll, not a mega roll, mash it flat and put it in a zip lock while holding it down to create a vacuum effect. FWIW

Baby wipes.... I have 1000s of them
 
I met a guy once that had gone to the trouble and expense of creating a special toilet paper roller. Basically bit was a way to make a small lightweight toilet paper package for camping. I've seen similar devices for sale. I appreciated his efforts, but I just take a regular size roll, not a mega roll, mash it flat and put it in a zip lock while holding it down to create a vacuum effect. FWIW

Wanna get fancy? Pull the cardboard tube out and start the TP coming out of the middle. Reach in, pull some out, re seal bag. Did that a few times when I was hiking a lot.
 
Got my Teton 3400 in today. Sucks I won't be able to us it for a month probably.

Going to stock up on other gear
 
Remember, no matter what size pack you use, you will be tempted to fill it up. I use a smaller bag for that express reason. Everything fits inside except my tent and bag. Those get strapped to the top and bottom. I use a mil-surp bag that is heavy, but waterproof unless submerged.
 
I have one and have really enjoyed it. Good general bushcraft knife in my opinion. Got my first Bark River knife the other day with the help of @thrillhill, I haven't had a chance to really put it through it's paces yet. I did put the Esee-4 through it's paces and it never let me down. When it comes to knives talk with @thrillhill he is the man when it comes to knives!
 
I would not be afraid to go to the woods with an ESEE-4 as my only knife. Especially in a lightweight overnight scenario. It's a good all around knife.

I use my ESEE 3 more than I do my ESSE 4, but that is mostly in a homesteading/meat cleaning capacity. If I were hitting the woods with it I would appreciate a little extra length that the ESEE 4 provides.

Just bear in mind, if you are gonna use a ferro rod at all, you may want to grind a little of the powder coat off the back of the spine. Half inch is plenty.
 
@thrillhill

Do you have a good break down for different knives and such for what my goals are? 3-5 day hikes?

I've considered 2 knife options, I do have a CKRT folder that's nice for a pocket knife. But I had looked at 2.5" fixed blade full tang and then using a larger knife like a kukri style for a chopper.
 
There are very few hard and fast rules for knife use or selection in the outdoors. As the Avette Brothers say, what works for me may not be right for you.

But, I'll throw out what I have come to learn from my experiences.

There is virtually nowhere in NC that you can go where your "survival" will depend on what knife you bring. For a 3-5 day trip it is a comfort thing. Almost anything you bring will be fine. You might cut some cordage, you might use it when you are eating. You may whittle some stakes or cooking setup. You may even make some "feather sticks" to help start your fire. It's all fun and not life or death. Most campers or hikers are not out trapping, or gathering edibles, or hunting and processing meat. Nowadays it's not much different than going out for the weekend.

Any knife or chopping or cutting tool that is sharp will do just fine for 3-5 days so carry what you are comfortable with.

When you approach it from the Daniel Boone angle, then things get different. I am walking into the forest with what I have and I don't know when and/or if I am coming back or where I will end up, that is when it becomes much more important to carefully pick and choose your equipment.

So for the most part, it is merely an academic pursuit. Something we like to talk about theoretically. Makes for fun internet conversation though! LOL!

Anyway, I'll throw some of my broader thoughts out. Some may be mildly controversial, but I am half buzzed and tired after bush-hogging the better part of the day and then getting soaked by a little flash storm. Most of these thoughts are in reference to a longer stay in the woods. Maybe you are running to the woods with no plans to come back. But sometimes it's helpful to look at long term then back it up to short term just to get the practice, or experience.


Knowledge almost always trumps equipment in these scenarios. Don't fret over the knife too much. Just get out there and do it. You'll figure out the rest.

Stainless steel SUCKS unless you carry a sharpening stone as well.

Cheap stainless sucks worse than cheap carbon steel.

Carbon is easier to sharpen. If you have any experience sharpening.

SOG, Kershaw, modern Case, Spyderco, Benchmade, ZT, most Cold Steel, Microtech, anything branded with a gun manufactures name, CRKT, most Gerber products, anything by Old Timer after Schrade bought them, Al Mar, most things "tactical", and most things made outside the US, Sweden, Germany, or El Salvador, all suck and are pretty much GARBAGE for anything outside of a planned vanilla hike or camping trip.

If I missed anyone's pet brand let me know and I'll try to offend it as well.

I'd rather have a $10 Old Hickory butcher knife made of soft 1075 in the woods than I would a $200 flipper office box opening virtuoso made of stainless or a poorly heat treated "super steel".

I can sharpen carbon steel on a rock. Or other found items. Try sharpening your Elmax or S35VN blade on a rock and let us know how that turns out.

There are exceptions. And in this conversation money does not automatically translate to quality. Swiss Army knives made by Victorinox are good even in the long term, and they sharpen well. Swedish stainless especially as offered by Morakniv (Mora) would stand the test of time in the wilds, and can be sharpened.

Randall knives are for killing not living. You may substitute the word tactical for Randall.

One handed opening is not really a big deal in the woods unless you only have one hand. The price of that one handed opening is fragility. There are exceptions.

Practice with your "chopper" at home. Whether ax or machete or kukri. These are the tools that can injure you so grievously that you may die in the wilds. You know how we practice defensive shooting laying on our backs and other awkward positions? The way I match my stocks and optics on my deer guns for awkward shooting stances? Keep that in mind when selecting your chopper. Imagine splitting kindling while kneeling. Think about chopping upside down or from beneath a limb. Will it notch as well as cut/chop?

Don't necessarily worry too much about whether or not your chopper can be used as a hammer. You are in the woods. The dude abides and rocks abound. Pick up a rock, watch your fingers, and drive that tent stake or peg.

If you use a carbon steel knife daily, as life in the woods would necessitate, rust is not an issue.

Just a few of my thoughts and OPINIONS. Company has arrived so I must cut this short.


One last thought.

If I had to go to the woods with the notion that I may never come back, I am carrying the following as far as cutting tools, assuming I have to pack this stuff in.

An Old Timer made in the US, without the words Schrade or China anywhere on it. It will have 3 blades and be about 3.5 inches long.
A Bark River Gunny in A2 tool steel.
A Mora Companion Heavy Duty in carbon steel.
A camp hatchet. Carbon steel. Wetterlings, Gransfors, Condor, certain Marbles, or certain Council all would work.
A Sven Saw with a 21" blade.

If I carried all those, whose combined weight would be significantly less than a gallon of water, I could build a cabin from scratch, and leave the woods fatter and happier than when I entered. And that is saying something right there!
:cool:
 
And:

...batoning wood with a knife is only something you do when you don't have a chopper or have picked your chopper poorly. It is not a negative if your knife can baton well, but it should not be a qualifying factor unless you are planning to fail.

And on that note, whether it is knife or gun, never forget, if you have a tool that can do a variety of tasks, it is not gonna do any one thing well. I love my Gerber multi-tools, still have the first one I bought in 1993. But it is a convenience that is useful in the modern age. Nothing more, nothing less.
 
ESSE-4 is a very good choice. Good American 1095 carbon steel. Easily sharpened. Enough point to clean a squirrel or frog. Enough belly to cape a deer. Could fight with it if pressed to do so. Fair carver. And You ain't gonna break it unless you try.

Shovels are shovels. Surplus e-tools are the best thing going. Bonus points for the WWII or Korean War era e-tools with wooden handles. Spetsnaz fighting shovels, especially as manufactured buy Cold Steel, are kind of a joke.

Shovels are for digging. Not chopping. Not throwing. Despite what we might have seen on 80s movies or in Soldier of Fortune magazine. Don't believe me. Dig a few holes with your knife then try cutting or chopping.

An e-tool does reside on the side of my "get home bag". But it will also be one of the first items I jettison if weight becomes an issue. I can carve a fair to middlin shovel out of wood if need be.
 
I would spend your knife money on a Silky saw. Plenty of good inexpensive knives, but a saw as good as the Silkys can't be found. For a lightweight setup I would just have a good saw and a small knife. Splitting wood isn't as necessary as we think it is. Especially in NC where you should always be able to find reasonably dry wood to use.

Leave the hatchet and big knife for the tv stars or for group camps.
 
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My "go-to" knife when I just want a knife. The 2 pounds of bacon never stood a chance. Lol

Serious though, I've been putting the Bark River Canadian through it's paces for about a year now. It's truly a boring knife, both aesthetically and it's plethora of capabilities. It just does what it's supposed to do, doesn't look cool doing it, but gets the job done, and done well.
 
What about the Esee Izula ?
A little small IMO, but if you like it, that's all that matters. I think your ESEE 4 choice was a little better, you can make a big knife do small jobs, but it's pretty hard to make a small knife do any big jobs.
 
I know theirs no such thing as a dumb question, but since I'm being an inquisitive dumbass here.

What about TOPS BOB knife?
 
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Just bear in mind, if you are gonna use a ferro rod at all, you may want to grind a little of the powder coat off the back of the spine. Half inch is plenty.

Also, a 3-4" section of hacksaw blade will throw a lot of sparks off a ferro rod and IMO easier to use than a knife. Smaller and handier. I put some tape on one end so it does not dig into your hand. I have a rod with the plastic cap so the rod and blade are on a piece of para cord I can toss over my head while I initially tend the fire.

If you want a good sturdy knife and a handy knife, just take a pocket knife with you. I use my pocket knife 99% of the time camping but have a good fixed blade for food prep and rougher tasks than I would use my pocket knife for. Basically a Spyderco Delica 4 in my pocket and a Cutco fixed blade somewhere close.
 
For fires, I keep at least a chunk of conventional compacted sawdust type firestarter. But like most things I want a backup and some Vaseline mixed in with some good dryer lint in something like a film canister is a great waterproof firestarter.

I always bring a MSR Whisperlight shaker jet stove with white gas fuel to cook on. I like the option of being able to refill the fuel bottle with almost any combustable liquid. Being hungry and needing to cook food in a wind driven downpour over a fire isn't fun.

Small aluminum nonstick pot with lid. Aluminum potholder, Lexan spork, and a cup that will hold hot liquids (old plastic mug is fine). Make a small spice kit and eat like a king. Some fishing line and a little tackle can make for some delicious meals that don't weigh anything too.
 
+1 on the Mora suggestion.

Have Esee Izula, nice knife
But for ten bucks shipped I'd rather risk my Mora
 
Honestly you can't go wrong with the Mora knives. I bought a stainless one to see what all the fuss was about, for ~$15 what do you have to lose? I resharpened mine on my DMT dia-sharp stones as I always do to remove the dips that come from the factory by sharpening with a belt. Holy shit, something about that scandinavian grind is magic, you can get them unbelievably sharp. The sheath kinda sucks but the blade is awesome. I have way more expensive knives, but honestly the price difference isn't worth it. I'm going to buy several more to put in the jeep and hunting bag, as I'd rather tear up a great 15 dollar knife than a great 100+ dollar knife. At the very least, buy one in addition to the ESEE or whatever you choose.
 
A quote I heard years ago "White man builds big fire, and stands far away. Indian builds small fire, and sits close."

To be fair, Injuns probably weren't in a nylon tents.

As far as a knife, I carry a pocket knife or a very small, thin sheath knife (actually a kitchen knife, I modify Old Hickory knives into belt knives), but I'm not one of these assholes that feels the need to beat my knife through a log with another log; I mostly just cut up food, clean a squirrel, or whittle a stick.

If I feel like I may need a tool for making larger wood into smaller wood, as is the case in popular areas where the good tinder has been picked over, I take my Estwing E45. It may look big and unnecessary, but it has kept me and my no-longer-skeptical buddies warm on many nights where the only dead wood around were fallen pine trees with all the branches already broken off. A saw may have worked, but I'm 10x faster with an axe. It's surprisingly light weight too. I think every man should be issued one at the age of 10.

When ever I take a newbie I tell them to take less than they need, most are surprised with what they can live without.* They sure as hell won't be happy with a 55lb pack.



*this advice does not apply to women
 
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