Equipment Crew- Part IV

[rlundregan]

Figure out what you need/want and go from there. Blade size, overall length, pocket clip, liner lock, lockback, price range, etc.

Kershaw makes some great stuff. Liner locks are all the rage these days but I actually prefer a good ol' lockback. I carry a small Spyderco (lockback) everyday and it is very well made.. though some of them can get pricey. Gerber is a bit cheaper, but still makes a pretty solid knife. I have a large assisted open SOG too. I keep that beast by my bed for self-defense. Can't really go wrong with any popular brand these days.. Nothing wrong with Buck.

Thanks, I've been a little shocked at how many options are out there nowadays. I'm used to thinking strictly in terms of my old Boy Scout and Swiss Army knives, so a lot of the features you mentioned are foreign to me. This will be a relatively small purchase for me, but I am going to take some time to learn a little more about this stuff.

I've had 2 knives in my lifetime that I haven't managed to lose or destroy--my old Official Boy Scout knife, which I got when I was 11, and my Swiss Army Super Tinker model. I bought it because it had a Philips screwdriver, which I needed for backpacking (I could use it to fix my stove). I've also found the Philips to be useful for lots of other stuff as well.

I'll definitely check out the brands that have been suggested. My impression of Buck as one of the best is based pretty much solely on the opinions of the other kids/Scoutmasters from my troop over 35 years ago.....perhaps I'm a little behind the times......

[dragon360]

As my everdays, I have a CRKT Crawford jasper, bench made, and SOG and Ontario model one. The Ontario seems to be the best deal for the price. Great folder but larger than the other 3.

[Hishiad]

Got a Kershaw myself, really like it...just gotta find it lol. Packing & moving has had it relocated on me!

[Domicron]

I'll definitely check out the brands that have been suggested. My impression of Buck as one of the best is based pretty much solely on the opinions of the other kids/Scoutmasters from my troop over 35 years ago.....perhaps I'm a little behind the times......

when i was in scouts "Buck Knife" was the term we used for all our folding knives, though IIRC only about half of us had Buck brand. i still think of folding knives with a lock back as a buck knife.

[Keetman]

I'm hell on knives. I always lose them, always.

Flashlights, sunglasses, and knives are three items I've decided not to spend too much on because they always disappear.

My current favorite knife, although I don't own one...because I lost it... is the "Boker Automatic Kalashnikov" series. These are real nice autos for the price. I have owned two and I'm pretty abusive with them. I have one on me all the time at work and most always at home. By abusive, I don't mean I tear them up. I just mean I use it a fair amount, it's always getting pulled out and thrown around, and the clip on my pocket get hung up a lot.

The Boker Autos are $30-$40 or so and they're made comparable to autos I've held that are much more money. They feel good in my hand and have a good weight to them. My first one lasted 5 years before it disappeared. I just lost the second one this past summer after having it for about 7 months. I'm the problem here, not the knife. I just haven't bothered ordering another because I have many knives and have just been carrying others for now.

http://www.bladeops.com/Boker-Kalash...-com-s/243.htm

[2MoreRepz]

My everyday carry is a no frills Sod Buster. My favorites are the Benchmade's, especially the Presidio. There is a ******** page that I am a member of called "Benchmade Buy, Sell and Trade". Ask to join if interested. There are lots of member posting good deals on new and used knives.

And thanks for the number KB!

[KBKB]

And thanks for the number KB!

Well, actually...

You voted into the crew nearly two years ago. I'm guessing that you didn't see Keetman's announcement.

That list that I posted a few days ago was compiled from earlier lists that Keetman had posted in addition to Keetman's most recent post regarding new members (which was back in May of 2014).

As I noted a few days ago, I'm currently accepting nominations for new crew members. Send me a list of (no more than three) posters here who you think would be worthy equipment crew members.

[2MoreRepz]

lol, after all these years of me wondering why I didn't cut the mustard. Well, thanks Keet!

[KBKB]

lol, after all these years of me wondering why I didn't cut the mustard. Well, thanks Keet!

FWIW, I think it's likely that a few other crew members missed that announcement too.

[Keetman]

lol, after all these years of me wondering why I didn't cut the mustard. Well, thanks Keet!

Tempted to neg for crew negligence.


You're welcome though.....although, you should thank the mens. They voted you in.

[2MoreRepz]

I shall take the lashings I deserve.

[daniel327]

I shall take the lashings I deserve.

Lashings aren't necessarily free for the taking.

Whilst there may be an EC discount available, there is generally still a cost involved.

[Cleveland33]

So I'm looking at buying a small, simple pocket knife....nothing fancy, just something with a single folding blade. The only other features I'm interested in are thumb studs on both sides or something else that would allow me to open it with one hand. I'm really thinking whatever I can pick up at Walmart, Target, etc. I'm used to thinking of Buck as the only decent brand out there, I'm wondering if that is still the case. I know SOG, Gerber, Spyderco, and one or two others are pretty popular as well.

Anyone have a recommendation, or is Buck still the way to go?

I missed this the first go around, and funny timing because I just picked one up myself a month ago.

I impulsively picked up a Buck 285 at Wal-Mart to be an EDC. Thumb studs on both sides, lock back, pocket clip, and a drop point which I find useful for EDC.

Also, it was only $18 at WalMart so I am not worried if I misplace/lose it along the way. I wouldn't want to EDC something expensive for this reason.

So far, I am very happy with it.

[dieselmike]

As I noted a few days ago, I'm currently accepting nominations for new crew members. Send me a list of (no more than three) posters here who you think would be worthy equipment crew members.

Being a non crew Member myself, I'm not sure I am allowed to nominate. But I sent you 3 names anyway who contribute regularly since that last list was updated.

[KBKB]

Being a non crew Member myself, I'm not sure I am allowed to nominate. But I sent you 3 names anyway who contribute regularly since that last list was updated.

Thanks!

But... I should have specified that I wanted only current crew members to send me nominations.

(I'll consider the names that you sent me anyway.)

[rlundregan]

I missed this the first go around, and funny timing because I just picked one up myself a month ago.

I impulsively picked up a Buck 285 at Wal-Mart to be an EDC. Thumb studs on both sides, lock back, pocket clip, and a drop point which I find useful for EDC.

Also, it was only $18 at WalMart so I am not worried if I misplace/lose it along the way. I wouldn't want to EDC something expensive for this reason.

So far, I am very happy with it.

I ended up getting a cheap little Gerber Paraframe at Walmart for the same reason--it cost $8, so I can afford to lose it. I'm really only thinking of it as an interim kind of thing, I'll keep researching this.

I can't really carry a knife everyday, as my job prohibits possessing weapons of any sort. But I do want to have a decent pocket knife on hand, because it's one of those things every guy should have......and I was a Boy Scout. It's important to be prepared.

[KBKB]

The knife discussion has been interesting.

I used to carry a Swiss Army knife almost everywhere when I was a kid. I don't remember exactly when I stopped carrying one, it might have been sometime in college.

I purchased some new backpacks recently and, in the course of moving stuff from one backpack to another, I found that I wasn't carrying a knife! (I also found that I was carrying a bunch of stuff that I probably will never need.)

My son has given me a knife to carry - apparently, he has extra - but what I'm really after is some small and lightweight multi-tool which also includes a knife blade, probably something like a leatherman or swiss army knife.

Anyway, the recent discussion has given me food for thought.

While researching backpacks, I came across this article The "Possibles" Pouch by Patrick Smith of Kifaru:

https://www.kifaru.net/possibls.htm

Some of it is hunting-specific, but it contains a lot of good stuff, much of which I had never really considered, for anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors.

[Cleveland33]

The knife discussion has been interesting.

I used to carry a Swiss Army knife almost everywhere when I was a kid. I don't remember exactly when I stopped carrying one, it might have been sometime in college.

I purchased some new backpacks recently and, in the course of moving stuff from one backpack to another, I found that I wasn't carrying a knife! (I also found that I was carrying a bunch of stuff that I probably will never need.)

My son has given me a knife to carry - apparently, he has extra - but what I'm really after is some small and lightweight multi-tool which also includes a knife blade, probably something like a leatherman or swiss army knife.

Anyway, the recent discussion has given me food for thought.

While researching backpacks, I came across this article The "Possibles" Pouch by Patrick Smith of Kifaru:

https://www.kifaru.net/possibls.htm

Some of it is hunting-specific, but it contains a lot of good stuff, much of which I had never really considered, for anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors.

Survivalists or preppers have a similar concept called the bug out bag - essentially, everything they think they need to survive for a bit in one bag they can just grab and go. I'm not at the point of needing something like that.

However, a sub-concept is the "get home bag" which is the idea of keeping a bag in your car with everything you would need to get home if a catastrophe prevented your commute home. That concept I can see the benefit of - think of that black out in NYC a few years ago and the pics of so many people walking over the bridges - granted a lot of that was due to failure of the public transport - but if there was a large shutdown of the power grid, a commute home would be a nightmare with the street lights out. One of the biggest thoughts is having a suitable pair of shoes/boots in the car for people who were dress shoes to an office, water, a knife, flashlight, change of clothes, etc.

[KBKB]

I purchased some new backpacks recently...

I thought I'd say a bit more about this.

One of the backpacks that I purchased is the Mystery Ranch 3 Day Assault pack:

http://www.mysteryranch.com/3-day-assault-pack

It's not cheap, but it's a really solid pack which is made in the USA (in Bozeman, Montana).

I liked the 3-Zip design; it allows access to the top via the top two zippers, but you can also access stuff at the bottom of the pack without unpacking everything via the front zipper.

The really compelling feature for me is that it has sleeves for up to three hydration reservoirs. This pack will allow me to carry up to nine liters of readily accessible water. On some of my longer hikes, I've been carrying two reservoirs (6L of water). On one of our hikes last month, I returned from the hike with only one liter left. In the past, I'd carry one reservoir and several water bottles. I'd have to stop and dump the water into the reservoir when I ran out. This is okay if it doesn't happen very often, but it was happening quite a lot, mostly when hiking in warm weather, but sometimes even when hiking in cool weather. There have been a few hikes where I've run out of water.

The downside of this pack is that it has no internal frame nor even a frame sheet. My previous pack had a framesheet which gave it some rigidity; I really miss this in the Mystery Ranch 3DAP. I think there may be a way to add a DIY frame sheet; I'll probably experiment with that at some point.

[urbanlifter]

Survivalists or preppers have a similar concept called the bug out bag - essentially, everything they think they need to survive for a bit in one bag they can just grab and go. I'm not at the point of needing something like that.

This is why I own firearms, if the sh!t hits the fan I plan on shooting a 'prepper' and taking his bug out bag.

I watch The Walking Dead, I know how this stuff goes down....

[rlundregan]

I thought I'd say a bit more about this.

One of the backpacks that I purchased is the Mystery Ranch 3 Day Assault pack:

http://www.mysteryranch.com/3-day-assault-pack

It's not cheap, but it's a really solid pack which is made in the USA (in Bozeman, Montana).

I liked the 3-Zip design; it allows access to the top via the top two zippers, but you can also access stuff at the bottom of the pack without unpacking everything via the front zipper.

The really compelling feature for me is that it has sleeves for up to three hydration reservoirs. This pack will allow me to carry up to nine liters of readily accessible water. On some of my longer hikes, I've been carrying two reservoirs (6L of water). On one of our hikes last month, I returned from the hike with only one liter left. In the past, I'd carry one reservoir and several water bottles. I'd have to stop and dump the water into the reservoir when I ran out. This is okay if it doesn't happen very often, but it was happening quite a lot, mostly when hiking in warm weather, but sometimes even when hiking in cool weather. There have been a few hikes where I've run out of water.

The downside of this pack is that it has no internal frame nor even a frame sheet. My previous pack had a framesheet which gave it some rigidity; I really miss this in the Mystery Ranch 3DAP. I think there may be a way to add a DIY frame sheet; I'll probably experiment with that at some point.

I do like the zipper design a lot! I had to take everything out of my old Mountainsmith pack to get to stuff toward the bottom. The one thing that always drove me nuts about internal frame packs was that you had to pack them in a particular way.

That assault pack looks like it would excel for climbing. Is there some sort of holder for a hydration pack behind the mesh part that is up against your back? I assumed that to be what you were referring to when you mentioned a DIY framesheet, although you seem to need a lot of space for water. Having never been to Arizona, I can only imagine.

[Cleveland33]

This is why I own firearms, if the sh!t hits the fan I plan on shooting a 'prepper' and taking his bug out bag.

I watch The Walking Dead, I know how this stuff goes down....

Don't even get me started on the obvious mistakes made on tWD...

[1651Naismith]

I thought I'd say a bit more about this.

One of the backpacks that I purchased is the Mystery Ranch 3 Day Assault pack:

http://www.mysteryranch.com/3-day-assault-pack

It's not cheap, but it's a really solid pack which is made in the USA (in Bozeman, Montana).

I liked the 3-Zip design; it allows access to the top via the top two zippers, but you can also access stuff at the bottom of the pack without unpacking everything via the front zipper.

The really compelling feature for me is that it has sleeves for up to three hydration reservoirs. This pack will allow me to carry up to nine liters of readily accessible water. On some of my longer hikes, I've been carrying two reservoirs (6L of water). On one of our hikes last month, I returned from the hike with only one liter left. In the past, I'd carry one reservoir and several water bottles. I'd have to stop and dump the water into the reservoir when I ran out. This is okay if it doesn't happen very often, but it was happening quite a lot, mostly when hiking in warm weather, but sometimes even when hiking in cool weather. There have been a few hikes where I've run out of water.

The downside of this pack is that it has no internal frame nor even a frame sheet. My previous pack had a framesheet which gave it some rigidity; I really miss this in the Mystery Ranch 3DAP. I think there may be a way to add a DIY frame sheet; I'll probably experiment with that at some point.

Wow...first report of one in the wild!

There was an article about them in Outside Magazine lately. If you haven't see it, its here: http://www.outsideonline.com/2058666...andards-masses

Good to know about the multi-reservoir feature. Thanks.

[Northernmoris]

I'm a big fan of benchmades. They are great knives.

[1651Naismith]

My son has given me a knife to carry - apparently, he has extra - but what I'm really after is some small and lightweight multi-tool which also includes a knife blade, probably something like a leatherman or swiss army knife.

I was looking for the same a couple of years ago. Ended up with the Leatherman Skeletool CX. https://www.leatherman.com/skeletool-cx-19.html.

[KBKB]

I do like the zipper design a lot! I had to take everything out of my old Mountainsmith pack to get to stuff toward the bottom. The one thing that always drove me nuts about internal frame packs was that you had to pack them in a particular way.

That assault pack looks like it would excel for climbing. Is there some sort of holder for a hydration pack behind the mesh part that is up against your back? I assumed that to be what you were referring to when you mentioned a DIY framesheet, although you seem to need a lot of space for water. Having never been to Arizona, I can only imagine.

The sleeves for the 3DAP's hydration reservoirs are, unfortunately, all contained in the main compartment of the pack. There's one shallow pocket at the bottom and back of the pack with a loop at the top for hanging the reservoir. The other two pockets are on the left and right sides adjacent to the long vertical zipper. These pockets are tall enough that the reservoir hangs on the top of the pocket by the handle beneath the cap. When I carry two reservoirs, I use both of these side pockets to balance things out.

I said "unfortunately" above because I prefer to keep the water separated from the main contents of the pack. Although I haven't had a problem recently (knock on wood), in the past, I've had problems with leaky reservoirs. When a leak occurs, it's often due to the cap / lid not being tightened enough or incorrectly put on. But I've also had leaks from where the hose connects to the bottom of the pack. I've also had small leaks in the reservoir walls too.

If you put ice in your reservoir - as I do - there can also be a fair amount of condensation on the outside of the reservoir on humid days.

Regardless, whether due to condensation or a leak, having the reservoir in a separate compartment helps to keep your pack contents from getting wet. On the 3DAP, the hanging position that places the reservoir nearest your back exposes the greatest amount of reservoir to the other pack contents. The other two pockets place a layer of Cordura nylon between the reservoir and the pack contents. This may be the best location for keeping the pack contents relatively dry from condensation.

I've placed the semi-permanent contents of my pack into two dry bags. One of these contains some clothing - a long sleeve shirt, a rain jacket, and a spare pair of socks. The other contains a first aid kit. In addition to keeping the contents dry, keep things together to make packing and unpacking easy. I have other stuff, head lamp, cap, and a bunch of other stuff in a pouch which I keep in one of the pockets on the lid.

With regard to the DIY frame sheet idea...

There actually is a curved frame sheet for the upper part of the yoke which attaches to the shoulder straps. It doubles as an adjustment tool for the height of the yoke / straps. You remove that curved piece of frame sheet and then use it to separate the velcro connecting the yoke to the pack. The yoke can be adjusted up or down for the height of the wearer. This velcro is contained in a pocket just behind the mesh padding that you mentioned. The pocket extends to the bottom of the pack. My thought is that a piece of semi-rigid plastic could be placed within this pocket to provide some rigidity for the lower part of the pack. A sheet of velcro (hooks) can be glued on one side of the plastic and another sheet (loops) can be glued to the other. This velcro would be used in conjunction with the velcro already in the pack and on the yoke to hold everything in place.

For climbing or canyoneering (which I'm starting to get into), the nylon for the waist belt folds into pockets intended for this purpose. This keeps it out of the way of your climbing / canyoneering harness. That said, back when I did a lot of climbing, I rarely wore my pack with my harness. Our climbs were fairly short - usually only one pitch - it was easier to leave the pack at the base of the climb. Also, the pack tended to get in the way when chimneying. The added weight of the pack was also an impediment for many climbs. I would sometimes clip a small water bottle to my harness on warm days.

There are water bottle pockets on the sides (which I use for storing energy gels). Behind those pockets are some thru sleeves which allow you to insert skis, hiking poles, or tripods. Rows of PALS webbing further on up the pack allow you to secure these items to the pack.

Here's a video from Mystery Ranch which shows the 3-Zip packs:



This video shows how the yoke is adjusted:



Finally, I'll observe that anyone considering a pack from Mystery Ranch should also look at packs made by Kifaru. Their packs are mostly hunting oriented, but they appear to have excellent designs. Kifaru packs are still made in the USA. It appears that Mystery Ranch still makes their military and firefighting packs in the USA, but that their recreational packs are now made in the Phillipines. AFAIK, the quality is still excellent, but some of us like to purchase stuff made in the USA.

[THErunCMD]

Thanks KB2, I think you just found another $300+ for me to spend. These packs look awesome!

[KBKB]

Wow...first report of one in the wild!

There was an article about them in Outside Magazine lately. If you haven't see it, its here: http://www.outsideonline.com/2058666...andards-masses

Good to know about the multi-reservoir feature. Thanks.

One of the packs in that article, the Scree, was recommended by the Mystery Ranch support representative that I contacted in January. It wasn't available yet and has only one sleeve for a hydration reservoir, so I opted for the 3DAP from the military line instead.

[KBKB]

Thanks KB2, I think you just found another $300+ for me to spend. These packs look awesome!

Take a look at the Kifaru 22 Mag as well. (The Nomad looks interesting too.) I didn't really start looking at Kifaru until I had ordered my Mystery Ranch packs. (I also have a Mystery Ranch Crew Cab.)

In some respects, I think the 22 Mag might be better for me, but I want to get experience with the packs that I have before getting anything else.

Here are two photos of the 22 MAG from Kifaru's site:





I've ordered several accessories from Kifaru, including a belt pouch. The stuff I've ordered is really well made. They have an ingenious way of attaching their pouches; it's compatible with PALS webbing, but is lighter and less bulky than the straps which are typically used for PALS attachments.

[KBKB]

I was looking for the same a couple of years ago. Ended up with the Leatherman Skeletool CX. https://www.leatherman.com/skeletool-cx-19.html.

That looks good. Thanks for the recommendation.