I’m hiking from Harpers Ferry to Katahdin this summer and planning to bring my swiss army knife with scisors and two blades. What are people’s experiance with tools on the trail? Will I need more than that? Thanks!
Beth
Knife? - Appalachian Trail
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#2
You won’t need more, Beth. Well just maybe a plastic knife for peanut butter, it really gunks up folding knives :O)
TJ
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#3
I carried a swiss army recruit because it had a can openr and the all important bottle opener. You do need a sharp knife but one blade is enough. I used my all purpose spoon to spread peanut butter or just eat it from the jar.
Darth Pacman
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#4
Hi Beth,
On my thru I took the backpacker Swiss Army knife. It was all I needed. Even used the sisors to cut my nails and the tweesers to remove ticks and slivers. The can opener worked well to open my tuna cans.
I think you will find your knife adiquate for your hike.
Happy trails.
Grampie-N->2001
Grampie
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#5
My choice is the Leatherman Micra. It weights 1.75 ounces. It has a small blade for cutting, scissors for moleskin, trimming nails, etc, and tweezers. That’s all I really need for tools. Now that tuna comes in a pouch, I really don’t need an opener anymore.
Peaks
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#6
I just got a micra too, great little tool. It’s got everything you need in a lightweight compact package. T
Thumbs up 
Ehopp
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#7
Thanks for the advice! My Swiss Army knife has held up on many short trips, so I see no reason why it shouldn’t come with me on this one. The Leatherman Micra is so cool though…
Beth
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#11
We carried a small one bladed pocket knife ($9 Old Timer at Wal Mart). Carried a small 2 inch square of 200 grit cloth sandpaper to sharpen knife. It got out splinters, cut tape, cut rope, opened cans, cut finger nails and toe nails. It even worked as a screwdriver to repair eyeglasses. Several thru-hikers borrowed it because their Swiss army knife was so dull it would cut anything. Like Virginian, we carried a plastic knife from Wendys for our peanut butter.
Papa Smurf