I use my "big by your standards" 4 inch blade for making kindling and tinder for when there is none, opening canned food (if I have it), I cut down and whittle hiking sticks,  and as protection from hogs, bears, mountain lions. I could probably get away with something smaller and lighter, but like I said, at 11oz, it's no biggie for me. My knife can do anything a folder can plus more. I think I'm more in the middle of the road. I belong to a gun forum and there's a subforum for "survival"where a bunch of commandos and survival "experts" talk about planning for the end of the world and stuff. Some of those guys say they camp with a big 9-10 inch, 3lbs knife for chopping, batoning wood, and building shelters. Some even say they bring an entrenching tool. They claim better to have it and not need it, but I wonder how practiced those hands really are. Ive never been out camping and needed to chop, split logs, dig holes or build a shelters (tents are amazing creations.) I think some of those guys are just trying to justify bringing a massive Rambo knife with them to feel like a badass. Couch commandos or practiced survivalists? I think they make a bigger deal out of camping than need be.

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Backpacker.com.  Good regional forums where you can get specific info on trails.  I only hang out in the Mid-Atlantic because that's where I mostly backpack (WV).  The general forum is a bit like DU though, so don't go there unless you like reading stuff like that.

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Regarding that disgusting, vile, vulgar, hate-filled site, I do not like to speak of them at all. I do not like to waste energy on so much as a thought of them or that site. I have far more respect for the extremist terrorist. At least one can give them that which is due their kind. I am just going to tell it as I see it.

The general forum is full of the worst kind of idiots. By comparison, the general forum here is full of ethical minded, spiritually sound rocket scientist with multi PhDs committed to the betterment of mankind. That is a fair comparison to give one an idea of how low and filthy most of the people on their general forum are. Oh, it gets worse. The political forums are mostly people that should be locked up. It is ran by worthless trash. There have been a handful of decent people there over the years in spite of the effort of the site moderator and general membership to run them off. Years ago I learned to not waste my time trying to help those brainless fools. May they rot in Hell for eternity.

The bottom line is that it is a total waste of time for a decent person to spend time on that Satanic site. There are more respectable people in prison for child rape and mass murder than you will find there.

That’s my heartfelt opinion. Actually, I held back quite a bit, given that I try to be polite and fair minded.

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Regarding that disgusting, vile, vulgar, hate-filled site, I do not like to speak of them at all.   I do not like to waste energy on so much as a thought of them or that site.     I have far more respect for the extremist terrorist.    At least one can give them that which is due their kind.    I am just going to tell it as I see it.

The general forum is full of  the worst kind of idiots.   By comparison, the general forum here is full of ethical minded, spiritually sound rocket scientist with multi PhDs committed to the betterment of mankind.     That is a fair comparison to give one an idea of how low and filthy most of the people on their general forum are.   Oh, it gets worse.   The political forums are mostly people that should be locked up.    It is ran by worthless trash.      There have been a handful of decent people there over the years in spite of the effort of the site moderator and general membership to run them off.   Years ago I learned to not waste my time trying to help those brainless fools.    May they rot in Hell for eternity.

The bottom line is that it is a total waste of time for a decent person to spend time on that Satanic site.     There are more respectable people in prison for child rape and mass murder than you will find there.

That’s my heartfelt opinion.  Actually, I held back quite a bit, given that I try to be polite and fair minded.