Looking for a bob under $50, + knife w/kydex holster

[wolverine_173]

Anybody know of any clearance sales for bug out bags under $50?

I am also looking for a knife with a kydex holster found a cold steel gi tanto that i like for $35 anybody have experience or know of another knife i could check out?

[kaligaran]

For an inexpensive good knife I would highly recommend a Mora.

This knife was recommended to me a couple of years ago and my first thought being 'you get what you pay for' but at $15, I had to try it. I am SUPER impressed with this knife. It's light, uber durable and you can get them in many colors. My Mora Clipper has replaced quite a few of my other more expensive knives in my kits.

I got the Clipper with the stainless blade in OD Green from Amazon for $16. Carbon steel blades also available.
http://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Companio ... ra+clipper

Google some reviews if you are as skeptical as I was. You won't be disappointed. I plan on buying a couple of more for various kits.

[kaligaran]

Hit 'submit' too soon.

For an inexpensive bag, check out Redrock Outdoors and Fox Tactical. They both offer good durable products and are really a maxpedition knock-off brand but still good stuff at a fraction of the price. I have bags from both companies and they have survived abuse without an issue thus far.

http://www.redrockoutdoorgear.com/catalog.html
https://www.foxoutdoor.com/foxoutdoor.aspx

[JohnnyMayhem]

Also the CS outdoorsman and Tanto light are good options as well. (and a bunch of us here on ZS do custom kydex too)

[sigboy40]

What size bag are you looking for? I could make you a nice deal on this one:
http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=94268

[Whiskey]

For 50 bucks, your best bet for something that will actually hold up to real use is a USGI ALICE pack. Fox and all those other popup tactical companies do not have the same quality. Surely they look cooler, but if you are serious about building a bag you may need to use in a disaster, the way the pack looks matters far less than the abuse it can take.

The Mora is not a knife I would carry for a bug out bag, but it seems to be the best you can afford right now. I say that just because it is thin, not a true full tang blade, and has a poor sheath (though, not for the price). I like a thicker, full tang blade for a bug out bag, one that can be trusted to do things in a pinch you really shouldnt do with a knife.

However, the knife you can afford and buy now is a lot better than the knife you are looking and lusting over on the internet.

Just some things to think about. Good luck.

[lokifz1]

If you want a knife so you can stab err stuff any tactical one will do.
If you want to chop stuff get a hatchet.
For just about everything else a mora will take care of it.

[kaligaran]

The Mora is not a knife I would carry for a bug out bag, but it seems to be the best you can afford right now. I say that just because it is thin, not a true full tang blade, and has a poor sheath (though, not for the price). I like a thicker, full tang blade for a bug out bag, one that can be trusted to do things in a pinch you really shouldnt do with a knife.

This is true, the clipper has roughly a 1/2 tang but some have 3/4 tang. (S)he had mentioned a $30 or less knife which is why I suggested it.

I like thick knives as well, but the mora is a nice lightweight option. At the price the OP posted and the light weight design, you can even sport 2 of them (not always a bad option to have a backup). So far I've abused my mora pretty heavily and it's kept it's edge and I've no problems thus far.

[Whiskey]

Yeah, like I said, for the amount of money he wants to spend, I really think the Mora is THE option. It is a quality knife. But its not quite rugged enough for me.

However, the Mora, or any other small knife can do a lot of things big knives can, as long as you use proper technique. My buddy recon_rt used a Mora for his survival/bushcraft knife for quite some time. He could do the same things I could with my bigger thicker knife, but he had to use technique vs. my brute strength.

[kaligaran]

Yeah, like I said, for the amount of money he wants to spend, I really think the Mora is THE option. It is a quality knife. But its not quite rugged enough for me.

However, the Mora, or any other small knife can do a lot of things big knives can, as long as you use proper technique. My buddy recon_rt used a Mora for his survival/bushcraft knife for quite some time. He could do the same things I could with my bigger thicker knife, but he had to use technique vs. my brute strength.

If you don't mind, post up your knife recommendations too.
Wouldn't hurt to have a nice big heavy duty one just in case. The last couple budget big knives I bought had crappy steel. Dulled really fast. The others I've been recommended were more than I was willing to spend on something that would rarely get used since I use the mora for most bushcraft.

[JohnnyMayhem]

Another option would be getting a decent sized "Old Hickory" butcher knife and getting a sheath whipped up for one of those. Also other options would include the Herter's Improved Bowie, the CS Finn Bear, Roach Belly and Canadian Belt knife.

[Whiskey]

I typed up something about a page long about my recommendation for a survival knife. It really needs its own thread, as I feel it would take away from this thread and what the OP asked.

but...

As I said before, for 30 bucks, you cant really beat a Mora or two. If money was not such a severe issue, I would suggest an ESEE blade. They are solid, rugged use knives that have been tested in some of the nastiest and most demanding situations on Earth. I will fully admit, I am an ESEE fanboy, but it is well deserved. If you manage to push your blade past its breaking point, ESEE will replace it, free of charge.

The one closest to the Mora in my mind is the ESEE 3. Its got a great thin blade (but one that I feel is far stronger, and could be pushed a lot harder) like the Mora, and it just slides through wood.

Look at your other assets, and see if you can free up some "trade capital." See if anything you have and no longer need is something you could trade off for a blade or towards a blade. That is how I got most of my ESEE blades.

[kaligaran]

Thanks whiskey! Something to look into for later!

OP, would you mind posting with what you end up getting when you do make a purchase? I'm always looking for cool new stuff that others have found.

[none1]

Mora's already been covered, its THE PAW knife to have in the $15 range.

For bags under $50 ...

1) Medium alice, used $12, with frame, $20, large with frame, $35. I'd recommend the medium with frame, I think its a good balance of size and extra room on frame to strap stuff below the pack. I tend to stuff too much into the large, medium keeps me honest.


2) For more $$, you can often find ILBE used on ebay for $125, or sometimes even $100, IMO, those a GREAT packs, awesome frame / load bearing, very durable, slightly heavy compared to the civy version because of the heavier duty material.

3) Looking to round out your cheap BOB kit? Hit up the dollar tree or dollar general, get a $2 metal dish to cook / boil water / eat in, $1 for a couple forks and spoons, $10 blue tarp (make a shelter), find some rope, $6 to $15 dollars for a used USGI foam sleep pad or blue walmart pad. Free = 1 liter empty bottles of gatorade, they fit great in the alice sized side pockets . (note, most water pure tabs are designed to purify 1 liter of water ) $30 = USGI wool blanket, firesteel for $4, lighter, 75 cents. $15 for the mora .... DUCT TAPE ...

You CAN have a regular camping set up, pack, shelter and all, that will work for years, for under $100.

Now go camping and practice your bob skills.

[Whiskey]

Excellent suggestions, none1.

[none1]

Thanks Whiskey. In between the mora and the esee you might look into a kabar, they have the 7 inch old school with kydex sheath for $60 new, and if you look around, you might find a used kabar with leather sheath in that $30 price range.

[870 Shell Shucker]

Another option would be getting a decent sized "Old Hickory" butcher knife

I recently bought a new 7" example, with a horrible edge on it from the factory. I've spent a generous amount of time trying to get a good edge with wet / dry sandpaper, but to no avail. I don't recommend an OKC OH.

[awmiscool]

Another option would be getting a decent sized "Old Hickory" butcher knife

I recently bought a new 7" example, with a horrible edge on it from the factory. I've spent a generous amount of time trying to get a good edge with wet / dry sandpaper, but to no avail. I don't recommend an OKC OH.

I think bushcraftusa as a whole would recommend OKC hickory knives. I have one, and a paring knife. Definitely good for the price.

However: the new mora "robust" is the bee's knee's.