Hiking with Spyderco
- Aladinsane
- Member
- Posts: 917
- Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2024 10:20 am
- Location: Western NC, USA
Hiking with Spyderco
I love to hike and backpack, and since lots of others here like to also, I decided to make a thread for posting hiking and backpacking photos. Try to include some shots with your Spyderco knives, but I know we carry different ones too, so those are ok!
I'll start with a set from my trip up to Mt. Sterling in the Smokies on 11-20-25
I started in Cataloochee Some famous Smokies fungus Made it to the gap A few days old, but I was surprised to see bear tracks above 5000' Mt Sterling fire tower Mt Guyot Mt Cammerer Small cascade Big burl on a tree 14.8 mile round trip!
I'll start with a set from my trip up to Mt. Sterling in the Smokies on 11-20-25
I started in Cataloochee Some famous Smokies fungus Made it to the gap A few days old, but I was surprised to see bear tracks above 5000' Mt Sterling fire tower Mt Guyot Mt Cammerer Small cascade Big burl on a tree 14.8 mile round trip!
-Jeff-
A falling knife has no handle!
A falling knife has no handle!
-
Red Leader
- Member
- Posts: 900
- Joined: Thu Oct 17, 2024 9:35 am
Re: Hiking with Spyderco
Great photos. We did a hike earlier this year I think and I got a few pictures of the Spydercos. A great combo! We live near the Rockies, so lots of great opportunities to get out and enjoy the outdoors and put these knives to work.
- Aladinsane
- Member
- Posts: 917
- Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2024 10:20 am
- Location: Western NC, USA
Re: Hiking with Spyderco
Red Leader wrote: โSat Dec 06, 2025 9:06 amGreat photos. We did a hike earlier this year I think and I got a few pictures of the Spydercos. A great combo! We live near the Rockies, so lots of great opportunities to get out and enjoy the outdoors and put these knives to work.
Very good! We were in Denver back in July and did some short day hiking in RMNP and Pikeโs Peak. BEAUTIFUL country! Yes, I went to the SFO!!
-Jeff-
A falling knife has no handle!
A falling knife has no handle!
-
Red Leader
- Member
- Posts: 900
- Joined: Thu Oct 17, 2024 9:35 am
Re: Hiking with Spyderco
Re: Hiking with Spyderco
I've got a bunch.
Here's my most recent backpacking trip, LGW with my Temperance 2:









Here's my most recent backpacking trip, LGW with my Temperance 2:









- Aladinsane
- Member
- Posts: 917
- Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2024 10:20 am
- Location: Western NC, USA
Re: Hiking with Spyderco
Excellent photos of your knife in action! Beautiful country in Linville, too! Funnily enough, I've never been there, I'm addicted to the Smokies! Looks like a great trip!!
-Jeff-
A falling knife has no handle!
A falling knife has no handle!
Re: Hiking with Spyderco
The linville / asheville / boone / eastern TN area is highly recommended. Tons of gorgeous old forests and a number of waterfalls.
Here's some more.

selection for a trail clearing day / overnighter in my local woods

Temp 1 cutting up mango on a wilderness trip

and apples

and steak


fire prep

kid brought her dragonfly and her favorite mora.
Here's some more.

selection for a trail clearing day / overnighter in my local woods

Temp 1 cutting up mango on a wilderness trip

and apples

and steak


fire prep

kid brought her dragonfly and her favorite mora.
Re: Hiking with Spyderco
Promise I'm not trying to take over your thread! Got a lot of pictures from the past 6 months.....

comparing various fixed blades for fire prep in my local woods

street beat on my go to backpacking bag, a kelty 65L pack


slicin steak. this one in particular was so good.

slicing oranges

street beat before preppin my cooking fire

Getting my final check done on my pack before heading out into the wilderness for 4 nights / 5 days
In fact I'm getting ready to head out for an overnighter after I finish up my replies here

comparing various fixed blades for fire prep in my local woods

street beat on my go to backpacking bag, a kelty 65L pack


slicin steak. this one in particular was so good.

slicing oranges

street beat before preppin my cooking fire

Getting my final check done on my pack before heading out into the wilderness for 4 nights / 5 days
In fact I'm getting ready to head out for an overnighter after I finish up my replies here
Re: Hiking with Spyderco
almost done

fire starting tools

setting up camp in uwharrie NF


slicing overcooked steak

not wild about g clips on my pack strap, and they carry too high to clip to my belt while backpacking. really hope spyderco can offer a lower ride system in the future.


from a different trip. one of the rare times I brought a folder backpacking. this trip taught me despite the super thin stock thickness, I still need to reprofile the edge on my catcherman to a thinner angle. It binds on apples and wood a bit more than I expected.

this was the other knife I brought that time, a convexed 3V SRK. Where's my 3V spyderco fixed blades???

getting prepped for steak tacos.

fire starting tools

setting up camp in uwharrie NF


slicing overcooked steak

not wild about g clips on my pack strap, and they carry too high to clip to my belt while backpacking. really hope spyderco can offer a lower ride system in the future.


from a different trip. one of the rare times I brought a folder backpacking. this trip taught me despite the super thin stock thickness, I still need to reprofile the edge on my catcherman to a thinner angle. It binds on apples and wood a bit more than I expected.

this was the other knife I brought that time, a convexed 3V SRK. Where's my 3V spyderco fixed blades???

getting prepped for steak tacos.
Re: Hiking with Spyderco

Setting up camp with the SRK in an unspecified location off the BRP.

This setup makes it easier to draw the knife with my pack on, and gives me the option to carry on my belt while hauling my pack.

Another trip. Aqua Salt helping me check various streams for fish.


cutting paracord for my tarp.


I spy a dyed pacific salt 1 clipped to my pocket.

I never get sick of mountain views. This was on the VA/NC border

Still getting a lot of use out of this Aqua Salt Sal! It's been one of my most reliable knives I've ever owned. I have a few backups in my storage bins should I ever need them....PE, SE, uncoated, coated. Great design.
If it's ever brought back for a version 2 my only suggestion would be to make the handle a touch taller like the Temps so it's a bit more palm filling, and using one of the newer steels like magnacut would help ensure better sales. I've grown quite fond of H1's incredible toughness for a backpacking knife myself, but the general public likely perceives it as a more marine oriented steel choice than one for raw toughness too.
- Aladinsane
- Member
- Posts: 917
- Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2024 10:20 am
- Location: Western NC, USA
Re: Hiking with Spyderco
This is exactly what I was hoping for! This is for EVERYONE to post all the Hiking, Backpacking, etc... photos you want to! Keep them coming! It's fun to see what other people use and HOW they use it and different purposes. Again, feel free to post those outdoorsy pictures! I love this stuff!!
-Jeff-
A falling knife has no handle!
A falling knife has no handle!
- Paul Ardbeg
- Member
- Posts: 1560
- Joined: Sun May 14, 2023 11:39 am
- Location: The Netherlands, EU, Earth
Re: Hiking with Spyderco
For camping my go to is the Manix 2 salt lw. Looking at the Chief as well, but the Manix 2 is awsome 


MNOSD member #0052
***Memento mori, memento vivere***
Re: Hiking with Spyderco
The smokies are awesome - thanks for sharing. These are some great pics.
I did a camping trip there last April with just the para 3 lightweight SPY27 and it served me very well.
I did a camping trip there last April with just the para 3 lightweight SPY27 and it served me very well.
- Aladinsane
- Member
- Posts: 917
- Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2024 10:20 am
- Location: Western NC, USA
Re: Hiking with Spyderco
Thank you! Iโm glad you had a good time out here! Photos? I love the cobalt blue handle on the SPY27 Para 3!
-Jeff-
A falling knife has no handle!
A falling knife has no handle!
- Aladinsane
- Member
- Posts: 917
- Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2024 10:20 am
- Location: Western NC, USA
Re: Hiking with Spyderco
Paul Ardbeg wrote: โSat Dec 06, 2025 12:17 pmFor camping my go to is the Manix 2 salt lw. Looking at the Chief as well, but the Manix 2 is awsome
![]()
Nice! I love the striations in the rock, Manix 2 is a heck of a knife!
-Jeff-
A falling knife has no handle!
A falling knife has no handle!
Re: Hiking with Spyderco
Didn't end up taking many and I didn't get any of my Spyderco at work. Did get one of the splitting axe (it's the GB Splitting Hatchet) though (which sort of counts?). EDIT: just noticed the silky saw "big boy" hiding out among the wood too :-)Aladinsane wrote: โSun Dec 07, 2025 9:48 amThank you! Iโm glad you had a good time out here! Photos? I love the cobalt blue handle on the SPY27 Para 3!![]()
Hope to make it back over there soon and do some more fishing next time.
FYI - the bear pic is not anywhere near as close as it looks.
- Aladinsane
- Member
- Posts: 917
- Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2024 10:20 am
- Location: Western NC, USA
Re: Hiking with Spyderco
Perfect! Congratulations on the bear sighting!toml4185 wrote: โSun Dec 07, 2025 12:48 pmDidn't end up taking many and I didn't get any of my Spyderco at work. Did get one of the splitting axe though (which sort of counts?). EDIT: just noticed the silky saw "big boy" hiding out among the wood too :-)Aladinsane wrote: โSun Dec 07, 2025 9:48 amThank you! Iโm glad you had a good time out here! Photos? I love the cobalt blue handle on the SPY27 Para 3!![]()
Hope to make it back over there soon and do some more fishing next time.
FYI - the bear pic is not anywhere near as close as it looks.
53645165344_bbd487036b_o.jpg
53645285390_f3d7a148dc_o.jpg
IMG_5808.jpg
I only saw one this year. Hopefully more next year!
-Jeff-
A falling knife has no handle!
A falling knife has no handle!
Re: Hiking with Spyderco
This is an awesome thread guys...
Re: Hiking with Spyderco
Yes, great idea for a thread.
I'm section-hiking the PCT as I find time, and recently have been carrying modified "naked" mules. I used to carry some flavor of LW Manix, and before that, a 'heavy' Caly 3.5, but 'heavy' knives had to go once I got my pack base weight down to 11 lbs. I actually don't use a knife too much on the trail, it's more of an emergency/backup tool, and I don't find the lack of scales to be a problem. But I do carefully chamfer all the handle edges so it's smooth in the hand. The mule and sheath are so light and thin (3.0 ounces total), I wear the knife UNDER my backpack belt with no discomfort.
I'm section-hiking the PCT as I find time, and recently have been carrying modified "naked" mules. I used to carry some flavor of LW Manix, and before that, a 'heavy' Caly 3.5, but 'heavy' knives had to go once I got my pack base weight down to 11 lbs. I actually don't use a knife too much on the trail, it's more of an emergency/backup tool, and I don't find the lack of scales to be a problem. But I do carefully chamfer all the handle edges so it's smooth in the hand. The mule and sheath are so light and thin (3.0 ounces total), I wear the knife UNDER my backpack belt with no discomfort.
Last edited by Bolster on Sun Dec 07, 2025 4:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Steel novice who self-identifies as a steel expert. Proud M.N.O.S.D. member 0003. Spydie Steels: 4V, 15V, 20CV, AEB-L, AUS6, Cru-Wear, HAP40, K294, K390, M4, Magnacut, S110V, S30V, S35VN, S45VN, SPY27, SRS13, T15, VG10, XHP, ZWear, ZDP189
- Aladinsane
- Member
- Posts: 917
- Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2024 10:20 am
- Location: Western NC, USA
Re: Hiking with Spyderco
Wow! Thatโs a cool setup! I carry my fixed blade knife on a length of paracord around my waist. It lays on my waist just above the hip belt. No rubbing. Then when I take off my pack, I still have my knife. Iโll take a picture when I get time.Bolster wrote: โSun Dec 07, 2025 4:36 pmYes, great idea for a thread.
I'm section-hiking the PCT as I find time, and recently have been carrying modified "naked" mules. (I used to carry some flavor of a Manix, and before that, a Caly 3.5) I actually don't use a knife too much on the trail, it's more of an emergency/backup tool, and I don't find the lack of scales to be a problem. But I do carefully chamfer all the handle edges so it's smooth in the hand. The mule and sheath are so light and thin (3.0 ounces total), I wear the knife UNDER my backpack belt with no discomfort.
PCT! Sounds awesome! Have a good time and post some pictures!!
-Jeff-
A falling knife has no handle!
A falling knife has no handle!
