|
Post by scapegoat on Jan 13, 2016 4:12:51 GMT -8
It's true -I found a pair of nippers for sewing an didn't realize they are left handed, I can't even cut a piece of thread with them. It's definitely the way the blades cross over eachother for cutting power.
|
|
|
Post by JRinGeorgia on Jan 13, 2016 6:48:55 GMT -8
I've never seen a pair of light, folding left-handed scissors, though, so I'll use the knife. I'm a southpaw as well and for most of my life scoffed at the idea of handedness for scissors. Until I tried a pair of lefties, then I realized. Having said that, I still use rightie scissors most of the time, I'm just used to twisting my hand against the finger loops to get the blades to cross each other properly. For backpacking I use a pair of Westcott titanium-bonded sewing scissors, only a quarter-ounce, small and sharp, and I don't use them enough to have a rightie/leftie problem with them. To protect the tips from puncturing anything I cut about an inch of a drinking straw, melted one end sealed, and slip that over the tips for carrying.
|
|
rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,683
|
Post by rebeccad on Jan 13, 2016 8:25:22 GMT -8
Even those with the symmetric handles? It's not the shape of the handles. The ones like THIS are the exception, though even those don't work as well as a decent pair of truly lefty scissors. I could probably use something like what JR has, but for what I do on the trail, I'll just keep on with my knife.
|
|
Westy
Trail Wise!
Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 1,960
|
Post by Westy on Jan 13, 2016 8:55:15 GMT -8
We use Coghlan's Folding Scissors at .85 oz. for trimming the top of Alpinaire and Mountain House pouches and a Victorinox Classic SD Swiss Army Knife 1.3 oz. in the first aid kit. Never had a need for a more robust cutting tool.
|
|
|
Post by Coolkat on Jan 13, 2016 10:01:18 GMT -8
Pay attention when you are hiking, and see if you really use it out there. This is a good tip for all newbies (and oldies) for all our equipment. When you return from your trip and you're unloading your pack, stop and take notice of each item and think back how often it got used. If it never got used or only once it might be that you don't really need it. Unless of course you're talking about ibuprofen! lol
|
|
|
Post by williamh4 on Jan 13, 2016 10:11:18 GMT -8
Single-edge razor blade. I don't fish, hunt, chop food, build fires or shelters, etc. I get that normally you don't have a huge use for one and admittedly my knife rarely gets used, even on a multiday trip. On my last 11 day trip I think it got used once and was only because I was bored. However, a knife to me just seems like smart thing to carry into the backcountry. One never knows when things will go wrong and you do have a need for knife. Unless of course you're never more than a couple of miles away from help. I plan on going off trail as much as possible, getting away from people as far as possible and most likely going solo. I'd like to have a knife for the reason above. If things go wrong, I'd feel more comfortable having a larger fixed blade on hand. It's easy enough to put in a sheath attached to my belt.
|
|
markskor
Trail Wise!
Mammoth Lakes & Tuolumne Meadows...living the dream
Posts: 651
|
Post by markskor on Jan 13, 2016 10:44:18 GMT -8
"It's easy enough to put in a sheath attached to my belt."
Explains a lot...When backpacking, never have worn a belt either. Columbia water shorts with drawstrings?...hate having the backpack cinch-buckle fight with another belt underneath.
|
|
rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,683
|
Post by rebeccad on Jan 13, 2016 11:04:36 GMT -8
f it never got used or only once it might be that you don't really need it. Unless of course you're talking about ibuprofen! lol I can guarantee that my ibuprofen gets used many times on a trip. Sadly, I need it most nights to prevent aches enough to sleep. And sometimes during the day. Something I carry and don't usually need but won't leave behind are my migraine pills. But that's true of lots of stuff in the first aide kit--you hope never to need it, but you don't go without it.
|
|
rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,683
|
Post by rebeccad on Jan 13, 2016 11:06:41 GMT -8
One never knows when things will go wrong and you do have a need for knife. This is going to sound stupid, but I'm not actually sure what you'd do with a big knife in a survival situation that would make a big difference. I guess the idea is cutting branches and stuff to make a shelter? Could probably be done with a smaller knife. Butchering a buffalo would of course be another matter, but...
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2016 11:29:37 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 13, 2016 11:36:00 GMT -8
After which he became a spokesperson, not for a big hunk-a-knife self amputation kit vendor but for a Personal Locator Beacon manufacturer. I wonder why? Granted they DO come with a means to hang one off your belt.
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Jan 13, 2016 11:43:39 GMT -8
After which he became a spokesperson, not for a big hunk-a-knife self amputation kit vendor but for a Personal Locator Beacon manufacturer. I wonder why? Granted they DO come with a means to hang one off your belt. I figured he knew the value of letting someone know where he was at? Or they offered him the best deal? The color of the casing matched his La Sportiva's.
|
|
Westy
Trail Wise!
Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 1,960
|
Post by Westy on Jan 13, 2016 11:52:56 GMT -8
Aron Ralston is a poor example to emulate. Risk factors associated with solo technical climbing/canyoneering vs. off-trail backpacking would be considerably higher to say the least. A Personal Locator Beacon seems like a much better technical advantage vs. a knife.
|
|
|
Post by williamh4 on Jan 13, 2016 12:32:16 GMT -8
One never knows when things will go wrong and you do have a need for knife. This is going to sound stupid, but I'm not actually sure what you'd do with a big knife in a survival situation that would make a big difference. I guess the idea is cutting branches and stuff to make a shelter? Could probably be done with a smaller knife. Butchering a buffalo would of course be another matter, but... You can use a larger knife to baton wood, make an easier job of skinning something, use for building shelter (potentially easier than a smaller knife). I'm not talking about a machete. I bought a Ka-Bar, the same knife military personnel use for survival. I'd rather have it and not need it, then not have it and need it. Easy to carry in a sheath on my belt. Self defense... link
|
|
tomas
Trail Wise!
Posts: 1,906
|
Post by tomas on Jan 13, 2016 12:40:12 GMT -8
make an easier job of skinning something To each their own, but I have always found a smaller knife to be easier to use when dressing out and processing game. But then again in a true survival situation I'm going to be relying on eating fish and rodents.
|
|