If youcould only carry one folder on a three day trek

[feeny]

CE Mini Manix is what I take on treks - with a SAK in the bag for other bits and pieces.
No other folder that I have deforests like the mini manix.

[NoFair]

PE Millie no doubt.

Even the CPM D2 has little corrison issues and S30V/S90V or BG42 would all do even better in the wet.

If you choose a Salt bring something lightweight to sharpen it with. (I'd bring that anyway..)

Sverre

[Ted]

Yellow Salt 1 PE

Maintenance free - highly visible - allround shape and size - lightweight - sheeple friendly

[A.P.F.]

Another vote for the Military. Strong, light and durable, the Millie is up to the challenge.

[JaM]

I too would vote for an Endura 4, in whatever edge-configuration floats your boat.
I've had a lot of fun and use from a ZDP SE one I brought with me on a week trip. It may not be as corrosion-resistant (i.e. it stains a bit mre easily), but I carried it for a week close to my body while we were going along the Dutch coastline... no rust or whatever.

So, a CE FG E4 might be "just the one" I think. Easily replacable too, and not too big.

[RazorSharp86]

PE Military.

[grunt0331]

Grunt, the trek is going to through parts of Yunnan Province, China. I only worry about "emergencies" because this is not exactly a high end, highly organized trek with Western standards...

excellent. i have not been to Yunnan, but hear it is beautiful.
my advice to you is to bring a USA made Spyderco because it is worth more in trade. bring your trekking poles- them are mountains out there boy, and they can be used for self defense.
sounds like fun, man. whatever your knife choice, i'm sure it will be the right one. have you decided on a flashlight for the trip?

[tap]

... Folder will most likely be used only for emergency survival situations.

I wouldn't want to be in any type of emergency situation without some teeth.
CE is fine.

[bk400]

excellent. i have not been to Yunnan, but hear it is beautiful.
my advice to you is to bring a USA made Spyderco because it is worth more in trade. bring your trekking poles- them are mountains out there boy, and they can be used for self defense.
sounds like fun, man. whatever your knife choice, i'm sure it will be the right one. have you decided on a flashlight for the trip?

Thanks, Grunt. Haven't chosen a flashlight yet, but will likely also go with the lightest available options.

[SimpleIsGood229]

for emergency survival, i'd want a fixed blade, preferably H1. aqua or rock salt.

if are set on carrying a folder, i'd say... pacific salt.

I;m with clovisc on this on; a fixed blade is way better.

From your list, I'd vote Millie. However, if I had to take a folder, I'd probably grab my PE Pacific Salt and a couple of my DMT Diafold diamond sharpeners and be on my way.

As for a flashlight, I'd say the Surefire G2 LED (80 lumens) fits your criteria nicely. If your budget allows for $150 or so, the Surefire E2DL is an excellent choice with its 5 lumen low, and 120+ lumen high.

[Cricket Bite]

I would recommend something in the salt series. These are maintenance free and reliable. I would recommend getting one and using it first, and sharpening a few times to make best use of the work hardening so you will have a longer lasting edge while out. A good knife doesn't have to the most expensive. As for flashlight I would recommend something with a better battery form factor than a Surefire. They only take CR123 batteries. Unless you are sure of the availability of these types of batteries then I would go for the AA form (maybe a Fenix or Nitecore). Good luck and have fun. Let us know how it all goes.

[mark greenman]

I'd recommend something a little off the beaten path; the waved Endura 4 in SE.





It's not too heavy, not too expensive, and should serve you very well.

The wave feature is cool, and could come in handy if you need to get your knife out in a hurry. I like the blade shape better than the regular Endura, but the wider, shallower serrations (unique to the waved E4 & D4) are what make it special. They offer the usual advantages in edge retention and cutting tough materials, but cut smoother, with less snagging, than other :spyder: serrations.

I'd have a hard time choosing between PE and SE, if I were in you shoes. The waved E4 SE is a great compromise between the 2, IMO. I am really pleased with mine, and carry it every day.

+1 on that, the E4W SE is my favorite FRN folder (well, until the Stretch 2 arrives:cool :) . Its the ideal folder if you want to carry a SE weakside to compliment your PE primary.

That being said, I prefer PE for woodworking/ outdoor use, where SE is better on man-made materials IMO. I would go D4W/E4WSE on your left back pocket (deploys into reverse grip) with a PE millie in RFP. If only one folder, CE Millie is hard to beat.

As for a flashlight, the Fenix L2D premium is ideal. Lightweight, strong, uses AA batteries, looooong runtime (48 hours at 10 lumens, way longer with lithium batteries,) and can do up to 180 lumens on Turbo. More importantly, it can stand up flat on a table to be used as a candle, which I have found to be invaluable during a numerous blackouts, a feature that most surefires do not have.

Good luck, and take pictures!
Mark

[untamed]

Endura. Plain and simple.

[gac]

I have an Endura at Para and would take the Para over the Endura. I like the Para better anyway and I think it is a more solid knife. The Endura would be fine too, of course. I have both on me right now.

[dialex]

No doubt the Millie will do just fine. The Endura has a stronger tip, but it seems you don't need a knife with a stronger tip anyway.
However, I'd rather lean towards a combo edge. Although not as eye pleasing as the plain edge (at least for certain users), those few serrations greatly add to versatility.

[bk400]

Thanks Everyone for all the great suggestions. I have done some of my own tests to simulate the conditions, and here are my preliminary findings. I know that this sounds really anal, but every ounce counts since I'll be running much of the 300km race.
Basically, I tested the Military PE, Endura4 SE, Delica4 CE, Delica 4 PE, Delica 4 SE, Tasman Salt PE, Tasman Salt SE, and the Superhawk on the following medium: (i) wet branches, (ii) dry branches, (iii) thick, dry rope, and (iv) thick, dry rope, covered with dry concrete.

With the exception of shaving dry branches, some serrations clearly takes the cake in my tests. I don't care if the knife gets ruined; these tests are designed to simulate cutting during emergency survival situations.

So I am down to the Endura SE/CE, Delica SE/CE, or Tasman SE. I had a bit of a lock failure on the Military previously, so I'm eliminating that one for confidence issues.

Barring new input from the forum, I think I am going to go with the Endura CE or the Delica CE, depending on whether I can shed other gear. Speed is important, but so is survival....

[spyderknut]

On list - Mili

Off list - Pacific Salt

[JaM]

To shave weight, you could go for an E3 in CE.

Or ask Sal if he wants to make a Pacific or Atlantic in CE... :D

[FLYcrash]

I haven't used any of the knives on your list, but I'd +1 the votes for a Salt. I took the Atlantic Salt on a backpacking trip on the far side of the White Mountains (New Hampshire), and it was great except that sometimes I wanted a bit more of a point on the blade (I had my Caly 3 with me, and it saw some use for that reason). I love being able to get a knife wet and dirty and not worry about the edge rusting away. That's huge in the backcountry.

A serrated yellow Pacific Salt would be my choice. It's a more versatile shape than the hawkbill in my opinion. Just make sure to use and resharpen it before the trip so that you get the benefit of work hardening.

Enjoy the trip! It sounds intense but really fun!

[tap]

...every ounce counts since I'll be running much of the 300km race.
....... some serrations clearly takes the cake in my tests. .

I wouldn't go bigger than the D4. However, look at the specs on the Salt 1 vs D4. Salt 1 is 1/8" smaller open, smaller closed, longer cutting surface, and lighter weight. And it has 1/2" of plain edge on the SE model. For a race the Salt 1 wins. Then you take the spine to a grinding wheel and reshape it to closely match the D4 blade and you save a few more grams. If you won't be using the clip, obviously it comes off of whatever knife you choose. I believe that somebody posted pics of a reshaped Salt 1 about 4 months ago. I've only had one for about 2 weeks so I have to use it a bit before the major mods.