Upgrades , what are you changing out in your pack for next year ?

[greyghostnw]

He is using a pocket rocket.

Trevor,
We need to talk about Thursday morning.

cant go wrong with a pocket rocket.... i really cant see anything being any smaller.... i love mine and like how i can pick my size of pots.... my cook set up is pretty sweet, never liked jet boils.

 

[kaboku68]

This is a Hultafors GK. It is a Swedish knife that has a plastic sheath but it is the bomb. It has Convex or hollow ground edge. High carbon steel 59RC. It actually compares to a Helle.

 

[Aron Snyder]

I like you Shrek, so take this story for what it's worth

The first time I went Bass fishing, I was told I should buy a "level wind/bait casting" real/rod combo. I was told this by MANY professional fisherman, so I figured this set-up would be bad ass and I'd be slaying fish like a champ!

So off I went with the bait casting real in hand! Now keep in mind I'd been catching trout for YEARS, but I was running 4lb test and a UL rod/reel combo. I had also done a bunch of fly fishing for steelhead and been very successful........ SO I THOUGHT I KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING.

My first cast off the boat was with a Texas rig (I think), but it was my last cast for a while, as I bird nested the piece of chit bait casting real (it looked like an eagle could live there)!To make a long story short, this continued all day and by the time I got back I was so pissed at the "professionals" that told me use one, I felt like punching them!

I quickly swapped back to my trusty open bail real and went back to fishing, but this time we were using spinner baits and rattle traps (I think). Anyway, these made my my line twist up like crazy, which in turn caused my line to spin out like crazy when I went to cast. This was just as bad as the level wind, as the wind was stiff that day too.

So there I was, thinking that if I would have listened to the guys that did this EVERYDAY I would've been several steps towards mastering what was best for bass fishing.....BUT NO, I knew what was best, but I actually knew very little and trout fishing wasn't even close to the same thing!

Having said all of this, I don't feel superior to you, but I do feel that if I need help with fishing in Florida, I would LISTEN to YOU, as you'd be the expert in that and I'd be the rookie.

I went back and reread my post and I stand by everthing I said. I included my personal experience and reasons for my opinion. Steve's reply was also well thought out and stated. Yours was not and mostly just a butt hurt fanboy's whine. I didn't state it was junk , that was your inference. I simply related my experience. The condescending "thats well stated " gets this equally mature GFY in reply. I see I drew out some solutions to the blade changing and conversations like this often end with better understanding and the dissemination of solutions. I will always including my reasoning so that my position can be well understood and if faulty those with the inclination can provide their reasons why I'm wrong. My veiw is constantly evolving and these conversations help me refine my thought. I will not be deterred by people like yourself who feel superior to others and the need to silence those who you feel superior to.

 

[Jdog]

I will keep that in mind...

But heads like this take a little more effort than your average deer. I'm sure you have no way of knowing that I have removed a few hundred heads. What I has saying is that it is not that easy with a Havalon or that it takes more Patience to keep probing and not break the blade.

big moose and bears take some effort to separate from the spine.



Colone100 is right, never get careless with a sharp blade.

Let me just non challantly throw in this pic of a MONSTER BULL! Well played Stid! Now get back to cookin'!

 

[Mike7]

Great story Aron. It happens so often that we realize what we didn't know, only as we learn more.

 

[Manosteel]

Another vote of confidence for the havalon! Used one to debone and cape my ram, elk and moose this year already. Other than my leatherman, it's the only blade I now carry into the bush.

I have already upgraded my optics for next year - Kowa Prominar 8x33 binoculars (20oz): Kowa TSN-602 Spotting scope with TE9Z 20-60 eye piece (34oz total)
Recently bought a Rev-X 20* quilt
Picked up a used kifaru small stove - but will only see use on late winter thick bush hunts

Looking at new sleeping pad - Big Agnes Q-core SL or Neoair xtherm
Will be ordering a reg wide borah bivy
Need new trekking poles - lost mine but they were cheap anyway

 

[realunlucky]

Wish I could save that quote Mike its so true for me.

 

[Stid2677]

I'm sure Aron, can relate to this.. I learn something from every person I head into the bush with. Be it a new tactic, new gear or way to use it, even if it is what NOT to do.. The point being, to be open to new ideas and be willing to always keep learning.

PS Aron.. I can relate to your story...

How blessed and cursed we are to have so many options and the ability to debate why we like or dislike them.

 

[ScottR_EHJ]

I will throw in why I don't use a Havalon, but it has nothing to do with the quality of the tool.

I worked in a taxidermy shop for a while in college. We used scalpels every day to finish caping out the faces of many animals. I also discovered just how sharp they are and how uncoordinated i am.

The Havalons are as sharp as scalpels, and after a few friends cut themselves, and my experience i didnt want to risk it.

But for those more careful than me, should work great.

 

[a3dhunter]

I will throw in why I don't use a Havalon, but it has nothing to do with the quality of the tool.

I worked in a taxidermy shop for a while in college. We used scalpels every day to finish caping out the faces of many animals. I also discovered just how sharp they are and how uncoordinated i am.

The Havalons are as sharp as scalpels, and after a few friends cut themselves, and my experience i didnt want to risk it.

But for those more careful than me, should work great.

I will say that I definitely make sure I am careful with the Havalon, they cut so quick that you better be prepared for what happens. Shows good judgement on your part to know your limitations.

 

[Chad E]

I like you Shrek, so take this story for what it's worth

The first time I went Bass fishing, I was told I should buy a "level wind/bait casting" real/rod combo. I was told this by MANY professional fisherman, so I figured this set-up would be bad ass and I'd be slaying fish like a champ!

So off I went with the bait casting real in hand! Now keep in mind I'd been catching trout for YEARS, but I was running 4lb test and a UL rod/reel combo. I had also done a bunch of fly fishing for steelhead and been very successful........ SO I THOUGHT I KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING.

My first cast off the boat was with a Texas rig (I think), but it was my last cast for a while, as I bird nested the piece of chit bait casting real (it looked like an eagle could live there)!To make a long story short, this continued all day and by the time I got back I was so pissed at the "professionals" that told me use one, I felt like punching them!

I quickly swapped back to my trusty open bail real and went back to fishing, but this time we were using spinner baits and rattle traps (I think). Anyway, these made my my line twist up like crazy, which in turn caused my line to spin out like crazy when I went to cast. This was just as bad as the level wind, as the wind was stiff that day too.

So there I was, thinking that if I would have listened to the guys that did this EVERYDAY I would've been several steps towards mastering what was best for bass fishing.....BUT NO, I knew what was best, but I actually knew very little and trout fishing wasn't even close to the same thing!

Having said all of this, I don't feel superior to you, but I do feel that if I need help with fishing in Florida, I would LISTEN to YOU, as you'd be the expert in that and I'd be the rookie.

As a guy with a lot of experience in other hunting fields this post truly brings home the point of how essential it is to realize your short comings and take heed good advice from people with more experience that pertains to that specific pursuit. Sometimes it doesn't exactly fit your scenario but usually you can incorporate it into your knowledge or setup. There is no one answer to most situations but I've learned so much from listening to multiple different sources. I think I could offer great advice based on a TON of experience when it comes to other styles of hunting(or bass fishing for that matter) but in this case I try to meld what I know about hunting in general with good info I've gained from experienced folks on this forum.

 

[Jon Boy]

It's apparent havalons work for lots of guys on here, but just because it works for them doesn't mean it works for everyone. I won't use one personally as I prefer a more rigid knife and carry one that has sentimental value.
Just because some one posts an experience that differs from others means it should be discredited because he doesn't have the experience of others? Please.
Shrek knows his way around a knife an has boned out many many animals, not many have been on a mountain but it makes no difference.
He was making the point that a havalon doesn't function the same way as a rigid knife and don't count on it being as sturdy and that he'll be replacing it in his pack.
Some say he must have been using it wrong? Hell I only know one way to use a knife.

Let the bashing commence

 

[todd kelly]

It's apparent havalons work for lots of guys on here, but just because it works for them doesn't mean it works for everyone.

I don't think thats the point were getting at here. It's not the tools fault someone does not know how to use it properly.

Take my wife. She tried to put together some cheap furnature while I was at work. She tried to use one of my ratchets to make things go quicker. I ended up getting a phone call from her telling me my reachet is junk and did not work because it only worked turning it the one way..... Not the tools fault she did not know how to use the thing.

Same as the Havalon, it's been proven over and over again, in the right hands it can do everything a hunter could ever want a knife to do when cutting up an animal, large or small it can get the job done. Period.

 

[Jon Boy]

I keep hearing "use it properly" it's a knife, literally the most simple tool known to man kind. If I have to use it that carefully so it doesn't break than it doesn't belong in my pack.
If you think it's just fine and the small weight savings are worth it, great! Im glad it works for you! Just because it works for you doesn't mean it does for everyone, and people out there who haven't had the chance to be around a havalon have gotten two different opinions on them to conclude what they want before making that purchase.

 

[littlebuf]

Hell I only know one way to use a knife.

Let the bashing commence

not trying to bash but i have to disagree with this. a knife in truly skilled hands can be used in many different ways and methods. maybe not what were talking about here but its kinda like theres more than one way to skin a cat. ive skinned a few bobs and thats a true statement as well. i can understand why some guys dont like the havalon. they can be a little scary and need to be used with a different approach to gutting/skinning/de boning an animal than you do with a more traditional ridged blade. but there's a reason surgeons use scalpels and not a buck folder too....

 

[Jon Boy]

not trying to bash but i have to disagree with this. a knife in truly skilled hands can be used in many different ways and methods. maybe not what were talking about here but its kinda like theres more than one way to skin a cat. ive skinned a few bobs and thats a true statement as well. i can understand why some guys dont like the havalon. they can be a little scary and need to be used with a different approach to gutting/skinning/de boning an animal than you do with a more traditional ridged blade. but there's a reason surgeons use scalpels and not a buck folder too....

Ill admit I didn't convey myself that well with that one statement and it was used quite broadly and not to be meant so literal.

 

[ScottR_EHJ]

I am just admitting that i am uncoordinated and that tools as sharp as a scalpel would be dangerous in my hands.

 

[Andy Dana]

A knife can be a survival tool as well and the Havalon falls short in that department...if you are only carrying one cutting tool there are better choices..

 

[Aron Snyder]

All I'm trying to say is that using the knife ONE time isn't enough. My story was to show how opinions can change as your field experience goes up, and judgement shouldn't be cast after one use.

Example:

Deer and elk are different as elk are bigger and the hide on an elk is A LOT thicker too. That means that your knife will need to be sharpened more...and packing a sharpener on a backpack hunt may not be a good choice for him.

Shrek hasn't been on a multiday backpack hunt, especially one where multiple animals are getting broken down. That's where the Havalon shines, so that could alter his decision.

As far as using the Havalon, it does take practice and I know several guys that didn't like it at first (broke blades), but use nothing but the Havalon now after giving it a chance....so to me using it more than once does make a difference. I'd used a fishing reel before too, so that was part of my story.

It doesn't matter to me what knife someone uses, but again, using something one time may not give you sufficient data to cast judgement.

It's apparent havalons work for lots of guys on here, but just because it works for them doesn't mean it works for everyone. I won't use one personally as I prefer a more rigid knife and carry one that has sentimental value.
Just because some one posts an experience that differs from others means it should be discredited because he doesn't have the experience of others? Please.
Shrek knows his way around a knife an has boned out many many animals, not many have been on a mountain but it makes no difference.
He was making the point that a havalon doesn't function the same way as a rigid knife and don't count on it being as sturdy and that he'll be replacing it in his pack.
Some say he must have been using it wrong? Hell I only know one way to use a knife.

Let the bashing commence

 

[Aron Snyder]

I agree with this completely!

A knife can be a survival tool as well and the Havalon falls short in that department...if you are only carrying one cutting tool there are better choices..