I bring one big heavy curved upholstery needle, one small sewing needle, a singer 99 bobbin spool full of heavy nylon thread, and a plastic thimble. I think I've probably used them maybe 2 or 3 times in the past 20 years. Glad I had them when I did though.

We have lots of chert here, and in most places you could find some that has a sharp enough edge that you could probably clean small game and fish. I've used it many times to scrape some tinder fuzz for starting a fire, and I've played around using it to cut rope and other stuff. It can be close to razor sharp, I know that first hand.

I tried tooling it a couple times, and I cut myself good enough once to stop trying until I took some time to learn about it, which I still haven't done.

One of the first things to learn is to protect your thigh, the traditional work platform for knappers, with a leather pad. It would also be a good idea to wear safety glasses. I understand Australian aborigines linked as they struck the rock, accomplishing the same end. It takes real skill to fashion a decent tool, but if you are content with a sharp edge, simply bash the rock and sort through the debris until you find a suitable blade. That was the extent of humankind's tool making abilities for quite a few millenia - I personally haven't gotten beyond that stage myself, which is why I usually carry a knife (just as I was typing this, my wife asked me to open a tube of spackling paste - can't be the man of the house without the right tools!)

Modern knappers can replicate just about anything known from antiquity, but the skill set takes time to acquire...

The above really made me laugh. I'm from the Ozarks as well and have had the exact same experience. Tried often to nap chert, including one afternoon stuck sitting by a "braanch" (sound familiar, Bill?). Got several very sharp edges and cuts (including one on my knee that infected a bit), but never succeeded in learning how to do it properly.

I also now carry what I believe is the smallest Swiss Army knife, and have used the tooth pic and tweezers more than the blade. Far cry from the sheath knife that was my pride as a kid.

best, jcp

OK--so on a somewhat related note, I will now derail this thread entirely. ON a visit to Spain a few years ago, one of the people who was hosting me took me out into the field to show me some ancient ruins. While we were there, he showed me the local rock, and how easy it was to give it a couple of whacks and create a primitive knife. Very cool.

Before he threw the knife back on the ground, I asked if I could keep it, and tossed it into my shoulder bag. I also promptly forgot about it.

Four days later, I am checking through the security line in Frankfurt, and the alarms go off. I am pulled aside and they ask me what's in the bag. I have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. He grabs the bag from the outside and shows me there is something about five inches long there. I still have no idea. He asks me to slowly pull it out of the bag. I reach in....and realize that it's the damn stone knife!

With as much innocence as I can possibly muster on my face, I pull it out and hold it out flat on the palm of my hand. I look him straight in the eye and say: "It's a rock."

He looks at the knife. Then he looks at me. We lock eyes for a few seconds. He knows that I know that he knows its a stone knife. But it's a really rustic looking chunk of rock.

"OK," he says. "You can go."

I still have the rock!

Jim has me pegged! I only take a small scissors all the time and a small super-light kitchen paring knife if I fish. Gutting fish with the little knife is not easy but hey, it only takes a few more minutes and I do not have to lug around a big heavy knife. If I had to, I could gut a fish with my teeth. Some fishermen can, but I cannot bite fishing line when I tie on a fly. A fingernail clipper is nice to have but when I forget to bring it, my teeth work fine. I do not bite nails now, but did as a kid, so am pretty good at it! I could still bite my toenails if it came to that. I really have very little feet or toenail problems- if I did I would be more inclined to always take a nail clipper.

I think you find uses for stuff you bring; you get creative and usually do just fine without. When I am solo, I can bite off cheese chunks and then spit them in the macaroni- nobody around to gross out.

I tossed the compass after 30 years and never using it. I read maps by matching topography and find north by shadows.

I never have had a need to make kindling- I find plenty of dry tiny twigs under trees and a good assortment of sizes of branches already no the ground for my fires.

My essentials include: needle and thread (or dental floss), one extra button, several safety pins, duct tape, small tube of seam seal, roll of FA tape, one ace bandage, one square of moleskin, a few bandaids, and my bottle of assorted pills- allergy medicine, Advil, a few cold tablets. I am a bit obsessive about taking several small boxes of matches and put them in different places. I take very little sunscreen (mostly wear clothes and hat), and an extra tube of lip balm (I am absolutely addicted to lib balm!). And although this sounds silly, several hair bands to tie a ponytail. You cannot believe how annoying it is not to be able to tie up long hair.

I have actually USED every item listed above, some several times. I really do not think I have anything I regularly take that I have never used.

I take either a multi tool or a knife. Scissors don't do the job. The little nail scissors just mangle whatever I'm trying to cut.

I cut stuff - cord for tie outs or shoe laces, webbing, moleskin, tape that's too tough to tear. Whittled a spoon once. Used the knife to shave off a sharp toenail projecting over the end of the toe. Fishing line or cleaning fish is easier with a blade, as is chopping off the tail and head so it'll fit in a pot when I'm above treeline and can't make a fire. Opened a can once...

I think a knife is one of those things that you can't really make do, if you really really need one. It would be pretty bad being left holding a bunch of tubular webbing you had to cut and trying to do it with your teeth.

Daisy,

I have one of those nail clipper like dealies on my flyvest for cuting line. I do generaly carry nail clippers in my first aid kit - they are good for digging out ticks and splinters of fixing a busted nail and I always carry a small nail file.

I have found that those blue hydrogel burn pads are really wonderful on all kinds of wounds from scrapes to burns and they heal much faster too. I haven't had to use them on myself but a couple of friends have benefited from them.

And eyedrops. I always carry a tiny bottle of eyedrops like just a couple grams worth, but if you get something in your eye camping, being able to rinse it out just might save an agonising trip home.

I've never sewn anything while camping and I would NEVER put duct tape on any of my expensive gear and have goey stuff on it later - I'd rather lose the down and replace it and repair it later.

I carry a Gerber LST knife. Its about 3 inches long open. Many trips it never comes out and is prety much only used to cut up food.

With dogs you have to carry extra - sometimes I carry my gun to protect my dog. Carrying a bowie knife might not be unreasonable instead under the circumstances, but you have to be prepared to actually knife something lethally or it don't matter.
Jim

Lori- my little scissors are high quality and cut cord, moleskin, and just about anything I need to cut. I have not had any need to cut tubular webbing. Were I to take tubular webbing that may need to be cut, I would take something suitable to cut it! I am much more adept at scissors than a knife. Jim- I think the need to sew stuff has a lot to do with how long you are out. I am often out 12+ days and things do rip and need to be sewn. The needle comes in real handy to take out slivers too, or pop a blister (I know first aid people say not to do this, but it sometime is needed). I do use the duct tape sparingly, but have an anciet down jacket that has very artsy duct tape patches all over it!

Jim - what are hydrogel burn pads? Do you get them at a drug store?

I think the point is that those of us who are out a lot, end up taking what we use and need. Each of us has different circumstances, thus different needs. A lot of those little things are really handy but not absolutely necessary. If I take ALL of them, my ditty bag starts weighing over a pound and half! You sort of get on a slippery slope adding stuff. Packing for any particular trip is always a game of choosing wisely.

But, over all, I think the "Ten Essentials" has been good for beginners over the years and probably has saved some lives. I think the Ten Essential list is more important for day hikers because few think they ever would have to spend the night out.

A knife must not be essential because I don't carry one. I do carry scissors.

I don't need a knife to cut moleskin because I don't bring mole skin.

There could be a time when I need to make a sling from a corner of my footprint. Scissors would be a lot better for that. I could need to cut up a shirt for a bandage. Scissors would be better for that. Scissors are fine for cutting 550 line.

The one thing scissors are not good for is accidentally cutting myself. I like that feature.

Hydrogel burn pads are sterile - well hydro gel - a gelatin type stuff in a thin sheet about 1/32" thick and they are like 96% water and they breath, kind of like skin. If you slap it on a wound your body thinks it has skin and spends its time healing the wound rather than protecting the wounded area with scabs and stuff. Tape it down and you're good. My friend had a fairly large abraded area on his leg after slipping on granite. I had a big pad, maybe 4x4 and we put it on the worst of the wound and a couple of weeks later the area under the hydrogel pad definitly healed better and faster. Of course they were meant to be a second skin on burned areas. They feel very soothing and cool.

I've been using a pair of medical scissors about 5" long - maybe "plaster cast" scissors with blunted ends, but man do they cut!!!

I have a serrated edged "belay knife" to cut the leader free, but I only carry it when climing with certain people Carrying a knife under those circumstances could be essential to life - mine.

Now that I've said all of this - I have a confession: I have a large knife collection and it really upsets me that I have to leave them at home. because no one has yet given me a convincing arguement to carry any of my skinners, slayers, tantos or short sword... not even a reason to pack a machete... Maybe the buck fillet knife on occasion - like I should need a 7 inch blade to clean my fish.
Jim

I loved this post! Thanks Jim!

Once again, it's becoming clear from this discussion that ther are different ways of solving problems on the trail, and the people on these boards have developed successful ways to do that. Which is why we are able to have so much fun in the mountains.

And yeah, for newbies it is probably a good idea to overpack--at least until they know what they are going to use best!

I carry these guys:

I first started carrying them in Iraq. Much easier to open MREs with them then my big knife, and safer. I just stuck them in my flack jacket. Since I always had them, I used them the most. More than my multitool, and more than my big knife. I carried a big knife for last ditch self defense, in case I ran out of bullets. Anyways, I was young and dumb. Anyways, these scissors will cut through most stuff, including webbing, and they are pretty light for their ruggedness.

Jim, unless you go hunting, you won't need your skinner. The tanto is great for stabbing someone, but that's about it. Unless you are planning on a quest through middle earth to fight orks, a small knife will suffice.

Darn Orcs started carrying nickels to get into my Bearikade!

[shakes fist]

I found tantos actually skin really good, you just have to watch the tip.

Fme
I remembered your mention of using those in Iraq and when I found a pair out in the back room, I adopted them. WOW is about all you can say. Its one of those ultimate solutions that works so well that you have to be cautious using it.

Anyway I sort of put together a list for my personal use, for driving up the ridge for a day in the snow. Since its a day hike (ski), its mostly all "ten" essentials.

remember the winter trails are not the same as the summer trails and a map may you no good at all especially following a winding ski or snowmobile trail through a forest.


Little pack
Fire - 2 BIC lighters
Sit pad - against back in pack
Water bottle and maybe a thermos flask of hot coffee
Flashlight
GPS and map if available - often available at trailhead
Montebell puffy down UL jacket with hood (snow proof)
Insulated hat with ear flaps and under chin strap - brim
Waterproof warm real winter snow gloves or mitts
Packlite over pants - most probably worn if its snowing

this in addition to what I wear to ski:
long underwear - probably Montebell
a 200 weight fleece jacket with pit zips
ski gloves
smart wool balaclava
goretex shell jacket with hood and pitzips
boots/socks

Well, I just got back from a couple nights out and I used my little 4" fillet knife after one of the whippersnapper backpackers I went with stumbled over his feet and fell into my tent and tore it up.

I suppose I could have tore the duct tape instead of cutting it with the knife, but I'm really glad I had that tape to fix my tent!

Ooo... I also filleted a big can of beans with my knife! Don't know how I would have got into them without it. I would never carry in a can of beans myself, but another whippersnapper did (with no way to open them) so I sliced my way into a share of them with no arguments.

Didn't see any bears again, not even any signs of them, so I didn't have to kill any of those again with my knife. It was still a close call though because they're sneaky. They were probably hiding and sizing me up when they watched me cut up that can of beans and duct tape and knew better than to mess with me after that.

That's why I figure a knife is still essential in the Ozarks. Unseen Bears and whippersnappers need to know you have one, and that you know how to use it too.

Bill your a goofball!

Interesting..."can of beans". These days, I'm finding all sorts of cans with pull-top lids. I never hike with cans but while hiking the Chisos mountains last month, one of my friends pulls out a can of mandarin oranges with a pull top lid. Seemed odd and smart at the same time, because he ended up with a spiffy drinking/cooking pot and Esbit pad (the lid) when done. I've carried a p-38 can opener on my key ring for years but can't remember the last time I used it, so I might take it off (it pokes me in the thigh ).
A sign of the times....when can openers pass into history.

Costco has Leatherman PS "TSA Compliant" 1.58oz. tools in a 2 pack for $25. I bought a couple packs for gifts. No knife blade. Scissors, nice pliers, tweezers, file/screwdriver, and slick bottle opener/carabiner. Good for airline travel but still doesn't beat my little Swiss Army Classic for hiking. I play a lot of darts so the Leatherman PS bottle opener and pliers could come in really handy.

I used to carry one of those little folding can openers. They're really light, and really small, but after going through my gear list over and over I realized I'd probably never use it again, so it sits somewhere on my shelf with other old gear.

That guy carried a BIG can of beans too. I couldn't believe it when I saw it, but it wasn't the only heavy stuff some of those guys carried. One carried a big steel wok, and they had steaks and potatoes and onions and eggs and sausage and all kinds of heavy food and drinks.

They were glad to share it, and I was glad to have a share. Luckily I was able to share a few things too. Not much, but I had salt and pepper, and I brought way more instant coffee than I needed and they were really short on that, and I pulled out a few other niceties to share, so it worked out pretty good for all of us

Ah, that sounds like a kayak/canoe outing. No such thing as ultralight.

Bill, I guess you really "opened up a can" on that whippersnapper.

I usually find a can or two of something when I inspect my scout's packs. Sometimes I let them bring it (for character building) and sometimes I ask them to find something else that is lighter (like a sandwich). I will usually require them to come up with their first dinner, and the troop will supply the remainder of the meals. One kid brought a foot long subway, just strapped it to the back of the pack. Ate the whole thing too.

I guess essentials depend on what I'm doing. I do backpack fishing, snowshoeing, trail venturing, kayak camping.
When I get into deep forest road or 4W trails, one thing I always ensure is that I have a spare tent, warm changes of clothes, water, bedding (blankets or sleeping bag), and food in my Jeep. The tent is probably overkill, but I hate carrying things between the Jeep and house, so I put "stuff" in the Jeep.
Leatherman is an essential for me, again because I'm lazy - it's a prime house tool for me and it just goes where I go. It's handy for fishing, performs many tasks with knife, scissors, screwdriver, even sharpens hooks if I need it.
I carry a 50' length of paracord always, it has been useful many times both on trail and road, sometimes more to help other trekkers. First aid kit and repair kit I always carry, and I've used the repair kit. Sewing kit I have used, but I would have to say I didn't "have" to. I would not be without first aid kit, though I rarely use it. I don't know about the value of an "essentials" list, except when just starting out one should have something to go by I suppose.

10. sunshine
9. Or clouds and rain
7. wildflowers
6. Mountain air
5. river
4. fly rod
3. flys
2. A good dog
1. Some one to tell me where to find the trout

Cute, But you can cut down on your pack weight if you can find trout on your own, so that you don't need someone to tell you where to find them...

Good advice , the last guy just said , you know there in the river right.

In all seriousness though Ive always have some kind of blade on me while anywhere!
Weather dedicated fixed blade, multi tool , folder or what hAve you