When you get into the deep wilderness, bears can spell trouble, and its good to be prepared. One is usually not much of a problem but if two or three of them get onto your camp/food scent, they will hound you mercilessly.This problem is compounded by some campers who feed bears, so they learn to hang out waiting for canoists. I favor this hollow handled knife , simply because it can easily be made into a spear from any straight sappling, and it offers formidable protection against a bear.
Two men each with a spear could easily kill a bear, well not easily, it would be work. I usually make my spear the first day out and it doubles as a canoe pole and hiking staff.Two are better than one.I try to make it 6 to 7 feet long. I keep it handy at night by thrusting the butt end of the spear into the ground outside my tent door. The blade comes with a cordura sheath and doubles as a knife until you make a spear of it. Costs about 20 bucks, and is available from many suppliers, I use SMKW , Smokey Mountain knife works. This knife could save your life, it is called the " Cold Steel Bushman", 12-1/4 inches overall, with a seven inch razor sharp blade: 