Camping Equipment Questions

[Dionysusigma]

Going to be going on a camping/ hiking trip with a friend in SE Oklahoma in about a month or so, and had a few questions regarding people's experience with various camping tools.

Keep these in mind:
- We are doing this on the cheap, with plans to spend no more than $40 apiece for whatever more equipment we need.
- The trip will be over a 4-day span.
- We plan to be carrying everything with us, so the fewer things, the better.
- Conditions are hot (105-110 expected), rain possible, terrain is forested mountains about like the Appalaichans.
- Camp will be made every evening and broken every morning as needed, nothing left behind at a "base camp."
- We will not be hunting, so no provisions need be made for such. We can (and have on several occasions) survived for a week or two on very little food. Knives need not have the option to be possibly made into spears.
- First Aid kits, multiple methods of emergency signalling, multiple means of not getting lost (including his GPS and my lensatic compass and topo maps), multiple means of communication (cell phones, walkie-talkies), and extensive experience with all, are already covered.

1) I have a CS Kukri Machete, and a combination pry-hatchet-hammer. I have chopped wood, successfully, with both, but I'm wondering if I will need a folding camp saw as well/ instead.

2) We will both be carrying a fixed-blade knife. IIRC, he has a Gerber Profile, and I'll either be using either a 3/4 Ka-Bar or Buck 119. What would be considered the limitations of these knives? Which two of the three would y'all recommend we take?

3) Would a multi-tool (like my Leatherman) be helpful or just extra bulk? How about a cheapo Swiss Army copy? I have a few P-38 can openers, FWIW.

4) Barring the aforementioned budget, would a CS Spetznaz shovel be useful for both digging and chopping, for its price? Would we be better served just buying a folding shovel?

5) Is there something blatantly obvious I'm leaving out?

 

[BrianB]

www.alpharubicon.com may offer some tried and true suggestions here. They only report what they've ACTUALLY USED in the field.

 

[Pilot]

I always like to take a folding camp saw with me when bacpacking to cut firewood. If you are car camping you can take a regular saw. Either take plenty of water or have some type of water purifier/filtration device.

http://www.campingcomfortably.com/coleman-folding-saw.html

 

[22-rimfire]

Folding camp saws are very handy. The Kukri machete should be enough for 4-days. You have the chopping need covered.

The knives are okay for general use. Neither are big choppers. With the machete, you really don't need the Buck or Kabar, but you would need a folding knife and a real SAK is the best choice there. Probably one that has a saw blade and not too thick. The Rucksack would be a good choice. http://www.newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=3669

Don't know anything about the effectiveness of the CS shovel.

You can't do much with $40 these days. (Not even a tank of gas for most.) Take lots of water. I enjoyed the country down in SE OK. Spread the stuff around between the two of you.

 

[theotherwaldo]

Sounds like you've got it covered. Water, then first aid, then transportation or shelter, then food. Communication is nice, too.

Knives are good, but only critical if something goes seriously wrong.

Just don't go on any "three hour tours."

 

[Dionysusigma]

No car camping (tried it once, and it was a big let-down). I'm talking middle of nowhere, car is two days' walking away (at furthest point), but we'll be one day's walk to any major road if need be.

What we have is what we carry.

You can't do much with $40 these days. (Not even a tank of gas for most.)

Gas is covered, and we already have most of what we think we need. Minimalism is a major part, too... my shelter (since it's not going to be cold) will most likely be a big plastic sheet and some paracord. The $40 is for whatever we might want to buy, as far as equipment goes, that we haven't thought of.

No silly BS like toilet seats, chairs, showers (wet wipes will do), drinking alcohol of any kind, etc.

Just don't go on any "three hour tours."

Isolation is not going to be a big problem. Far enough out to not be bothered by anyone, but not so far that we can't get found. Itineraries will be left with appropriate people.

 

[Eleven Mike]

Don't forget your belt-swords.

 

[Dionysusigma]

...eh? Got no use for snake-oil.

Well, I just got back from a quick shopping spree at Sportsman's Warehouse, and picked myself up one of these:

Upon arriving home, I promptly sawed through a 4" piece of firewood with no effort whatsoever. I think I'm now set on any kind of woodwork.

Now, it looks like the biggest concern is water--how much to carry and how to ration it.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

haven't been to OK in a while, but from what I remember there are a lot of jack and yellow pines.

If there are pines where you're going, then you shouldn't even need a saw. You should be able to builda fire and keep it going with deadfall and the odd fallen/rotten tree, chunks of fat/lighter heartwood, straw, etc.
I wouldn't even bring the saw.

But you've picked a decent enough saw that if you want a roaring blaze, you can have one.
Personally, on hot days the last thing I want is a big fire in camp. I fire up my stove, cook supper, and douse the flame so I can turn in and get some rest.

Leaving that saw at the house will save you a pound or so. Spend money on better food for the trip (not freeze dried or canned), and/or a simple camp knife that will handle fish cleaning, food prep, general cutting, and work chores.

Really, any wood you need for a fire can be gathered and broken over your knee or in your bare hands in southern conifer forest
Edit: water

Carry two water bottles and two collapsible bladders like cheapo bota bags (budget) or platypus 1 liter collapsibles.
It may be nowhere to you, but it's home to lots of animals and unless you want giardia, learn or remember how to not only disinfect the contents of a water bottle, but the thread of the cap and drinking surface as well. And, only use your hard bottles to disinfect the water, then fill your soft ones. you don't have to use nalgenes, but soda bottles can puncture much easier. So use extreme caution if you decide to use soda bottles for water storage. Murphy is alive and well.
The volume I mentioned here is bare minimum for the heat you're going to be camping in. Consider that you'll have to refill it all twice a day at least.

 

[Dionysusigma]

What about water tablets? I've got a few of them...

 

[wheelgunslinger]

water tablets are fine. just be sure to use them at home and actually drink the water you purify. Some people really don't like the taste. Make sure you're not one of them before you have to drink that water.

Another budget alternative to pills and pumps and steripens is a simple bottle of chlorine bleach with a dropper. A few drops in the water and everything is dead. A handful of coffee filters over the top of the bottle will keep chunks out while you're filling it. Tastes like city water. But, again, taste and use before you commit. Lots of hardcore hikers use both tablets and the coffee filter/chlorine method.

If I were you, I might do a dry run/overnight trip with this gear before you take off on a 4 day excursion. but, that's my opinion and worth what you paid.

 

[sm]

Dionysusigma,

Just me, still I think about feet:

-Trim toenails correctly before this trip.
-Take nail clippers.
-Wear thin silk or poly socks as first layer of socks.
(prevents blisters as sweat is wicked away from skin into other sock, and therefore socks do not stick to skin causing blisters).
-Moleskin.
-Second Skin (or similar clear brush on band-aid).

Naturally wash and dry feet, and socks.

Other handy items:

-Good pair of tweezers to remove ticks, and splinters.
-Tea lights/ small B-day candles.
-Baby Powder.
-Bandannas
-Bandage scissors.

-Channel Lock Pliers (tongue-n-groove).
I am a big believer in these, and with your group at least one pair amongst you.

These are great for not only cooking (use with bandanna) these come in handy for countless uses.

Tip: File the end of one handle at least like a flat screw driver.
The other can be a smaller flat head screw driver, that "might" fit a Phillips.
Just stealing from Linesman Pliers is what I do.

Now these tips can be used to dig, scrap, pry and other uses too.

Have fun!

Steve

 

[Stainz]

An often overlooked folder for such use - even with a decent saw - is the Vic Farmer - an Alox SAK without tweezers or toothpick, but a good awl, too. I like my Buck 110 in the woods, but the Farmer has possible future merit, albeit on day trips. Amazon had the $40 knife for $16 - and free s/h over $25.

Stainz

 

[TimboKhan]

The leatherman is not a bad idea. You have all of your cutting needs covered, but there is nothing handier than having pliers out in the boonies...

 

[alaskanativeson]

Leatherman has a multi tool that has a 154CM locking knife blade. You get the convenience of a great multi tool and a great folding lock blade knife at the same time.

Salt tablets. Drinking plenty of water is good but salt tablets will help you make sure you don't lose all the water you take in.

Rain gear. Don't get wet. You may know that it's going to be blistering hot but Ma Nature has a way of screwing with you when you're out and about. Hypothermia's a bear to deal with.

As for the drinking water, I like wheelgunslinger's advice about the bottles. I'd say definitely don't go with the soda bottles, though. Good nalgene or lexan bottles are pretty cheap, Sportsman's Warehouse should have them. I always wanted to use a filter whenever I could, the original Katadyn was what I carried but they're pretty pricy. The tablets do generally work just be sure to folllow directions (don't just put one in and start drinking.)

I always carried my Boy Scout shovel with me on trips, I definitely believe in having something to dig with. The CS shovel is really good, it can be used to chop with but I wouldn't plan on having it replace a saw or the kukri. For that matter the Glock folding shovel and the Gerber are also really good quality shovels.

Camera - We want to see pictures of the trip!