I will apologize ahead of you reading this.
I’ve been a member of an active mountain search and rescue group for over 20 years. Normally between 70 to 100 calls per year. Multiple times a year we do minimal equipment 24hr isolated survival training. It’s nothing like what’s in the books. This isn’t pretty swept floor log shelter stuff. This is “don’t waste time and energy on non important stuff survival” it’s only what you need to give you the best chance at surviving in that environment and the rest is collecting dry firewood. Don’t be shy. Make a big fire. When you think you have enough dry fire wood go collect x3 more. I’ve been on a lot of calls and seen a lot of stuff. I could easily run on about the subject but I won’t. That along with decades of large and small game hunting experience have made it clear to me what I would want out of a knife if I could only have one.
My first choice is going to be a Victorinox knife I’ve never owned oddly enough. The Alox Farmer X. Very sturdy and all the important stuff. I’m not normally looking for a knife with a saw if I’m honest. I’m not sawing up little bits of wood. If they’re only that big I’m breaking them between two trees that are close together. The saw is a versatile tool worth having though. Handy for cutting old pine tree roots underground for fire starter, etc.
I do favour a medium sized knife over a large one every time. I just find It’s much more versatile. Just try cleaning a small animal with a big knife. Everything is easy to do when you can see it in daylight or you have a good work surface but you likely won’t in real life. You might be hurt or in a bad spot. Real scenarios are quite a different thing.
My second choice would probably be a Handyman. Yes it has a lot of versatile tools but the big thing for me is it also offers backup options and creative possibilities.
If I can offer a couple of tips. Use a Fox40 (yes that brand) whistle as a zipper pull on every jacket you take into the wilderness. You’ll need to make your presence known and shouting doesn’t cut it. The Fox40 is super cheap with a very loud high pitch that can be heard over lots of natural forest sounds. It’s also unbreakable. Put a super small cheap Mylar space blanket in the pocket of every jacket and bag. You’ll never be sad that you have an extra. I also physically attach a decent sized farrow rod to every jacket. I have the little ones they make to fit on a cork screw and also the tooth pick replacement ones. They are last last resort and I wouldn’t want to count on one to save my life. I have done lone, remote 24 hour survival training with just those items and a knife every year. It’s all about basic shelter from the elements and fire.
I’m sorry if I sound a little preachy or like a know it all but I train new SAR members these skills and it’s also a “type A” kind of thing I just can’t turn off. This isn’t the only way but it’s just what I’ve learned and what I’ve been taught. I have put it to the test in all the conditions I have here and it works.
