“One is None, Two are One” is Dumb

I think everyone has heard the phrase, “one is none, and two are one”. It is heavily quoted in the prepper communities, as well as various aspects of the military, law enforcement, bushcraft, and camping worlds. It is advice passed around when people are packing up for a trip, by others who never carry the load.

On my first deployment to Iraq, I knew a Corpsman assigned to the Battalion Aid Station (BAS) who carried seven knifes on him! Seven for a guy whose main job was to work at the military equivalent of an Urgent Care/Emergency Room. I can tell you that as a Doc walking around with the infantry the most I had was two. A pocketknife and/or either a Kabar or a big Buck 119. Grunts in Iraq were not doing much bushcraft, and even if we were seven was ridiculous.

I think “one is none” is rooted in some level of common sense though. If you break or lose your only cutting tool, then life will become more difficult. What it results in, unfortunately, is people buying too much unnecessary excess and they are packing it up to carry with them everywhere. Rather I would suggest you store up tools you have tested and know to work. If you discover we wear something out after a certain amount of time, then buy spares of that, or spare parts. Even having a spare for everything at home makes sense once you can afford it and your life or livelihood depends upon it.

When the military is issuing equipment, they don’t give you more than one unless you need it for survival. Like a water source, you will have at least two of those. Everything else you will have to keep track of, or tie off to your pack, vest, or helmet.

For instance, my compass is an important piece of equipment, so I use the lanyard that comes with it and drape it around my neck or tie it to my gun belt depending on the situation. It might fall out of a pocket, but I will not lose it if it is tied to me or my gear.

Study some of what the ultralight backpacking community does. They refuse to carry excess equipment. I think at times they refuse to carry adequate equipment, but for on trail use it works just fine for them. If you are going to be working off trail then use your best judgement and practice with their techniques as you lighten your equipment load.

Keeping spares at home makes sense, loading yourself down like a pack mule does not. Happy, light weight travels.

-Joseph