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If you are running whitewater I strongly believe that all members of the paddling group should carry and throw line/bag AND know how to use it safely/effectively. I would also say that if you are carry a line you must also carry a knife that is capable of cutting it.
The choice of throw lines/bags is vast and although they may look the same there are some distinct differences that you must consider before selecting the right one for you. Continue reading
Made by CRKT and designed by knife maker Russ Kommer the Bear Claw is a rescue knife like no other.
Specs –
Full tang taper ground AUS 6M stainless steel blade with a fine bead blast finish.
Finger hole and friction grooves located on blade spine, choil and near tip for maximum blade control and safety.
The handle is contoured black Zytel.
Includes a injection molded black Zytel sheath that has seven lanyard holes and belting slots with lanyard and black stainless steel Teflon plated pocket clip.
AUS 6M stainless steel blade hardened to 55-57HRC, Blade length: 2″.
I picked up one of these knives from a climbing shop in Hailey, Idaho. I had been after a decent knife for kayaking for some time and was probably going to pick up a Gerber on my return to the UK. However after checking the Bear Claw out for a few minutes I decided it was going to be a better choice.
The Leatherman Wave is solid piece of kit. As a river knife this bit of kit isn’t upto the job, but as a tool to carry in the boat, car or PFD for getting out of a fix then this is the daddy.
This made in the USA tool is 100% stainless steel (also available in titanium) and comes with a load of features including: needlenose pliers; five screwdrivers, including Phillips head; two knives, one serrated; a wire cutter/splicer; a saw; file; can/bottle opener; and scissors. Newer versions also come supplied with a bit driver.
I remember some years back that quite of lot of paddlers were wearing large PFD’s with multiple pockets for this and that, back pockets for 30m throw bags and more straps/buckles than you could shake a stick at. One of the must have add on features for any self respecting river runner would be a large knife fastened (usually to the shoulder) on the PFD.
If you carry out quick search on most kayak forums for topics around knives for river use and you will also find topics turning into heated debates about where to wear the knife, entrapment/entanglement issues etc etc….. The rule however is very simple – if you carry a rope/sling you should also be carrying a knife.
Personally I prefer the PFD to be as clean and as uncluttered as possible. This really comes from years of WW rafting and having to climb back into a raft after a flip. The more cluttered the PFD the harder it was to climb back in.
I currently have two PFDs 1) Astral 200 and 2) Palm Extrem RV. So I need a knife that is compact, super sharp, very reliable and can be swapped between the PFDs easily. I am a big fan of Spyderco knives and have started to acrrue quite a collection, so I turned to Spyderco to source my river knife. I have for the moment settled on the Spyderco Delica 4.
This a Spyderco Tasman Salt. The blade is a rust resistant H1 steel. This knife has now found a new home in my PFD. A review will follow shortly.
Carrying and being able to use a rope effectively/safely are key skills that every paddler should have and practice. First things first, if you intend on carrying/using a throw bag or a rope then you should also be carrying a knife. That knife should be capable of cutting through your throw line with ease, therefore it must be super sharp and hold its edge. Lots of great information about all things sharp and keeping them sharp can be found over on British Blades.
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