ranging from a 17" Bowie knife to various universal tools, Swiss Army knives, Kershaw carry knives and small pen knives. They are just toys to me.

I am surprised that most of the hikers don't carry a knife. I am no expert on camping but most of what I have read and seen on the subject suggests that a good full tang knife is indispensable when you are more than a half hour or an hour from civilization, or roughing it for roughing it's sake. The reasoning seems to be flawless.

If you are walking and camping on a trail a few hundred yards from an Interstate Highway or campground I could see a knife being less useful. After all, if you are in it for the nature walk and/or the exorcise, vs hunting and pitting oneself against nature. weight becomes the main thing I guess.

If you read about knives they always refer to EDC knives (every day carry). They are knives that you don't leave home without. I know my Granddaddy never left home without one and it always seemed like a manly thing to me. If he didn't need it for anything else he needed it to trade for another knife.

I hate things in my pocket and I have never cared to carry an EDC. I do have a small knife on my key chain and it often annoys the hell out of me.