Owning the best camping knife is not a matter of style, convenience or even preparedness. It’s a matter of survival, pure and simple. A camping knife is a necessary tool that makes everything the individual does easier while they’re in the outdoors but is also a lifesaver when things go wrong. Which is why everyone should have one on their belt when they go camping, hunting or fishing. Finding the best camping knife isn’t as hard as people think it is, however. All a person has to do is to determine their needs and select from some of the models currently on the market. It’s with that aim in mind that I’ve gone ahead and selected what I feel are the best knives for camping currently available.
10. Hikenture 4-In-1 Set With Storage Case
This 4-in-1 camping set not only comes with a knife, which also happens to double as a bottle opener, but it also comes with a spoon and fork. It’s an ideal kit for campers who don’t need a durable camp knife but do need something to help with meal preparation. It has a handle that’s made of aluminum, which makes it both durable and rust-resistant, and it comes with a convenient nylon carrying case. This lightweight tool only weighs around 5-ounces and is fairly compact, so it’s easy to throw into a backpack, day-pack, glove box or even an office drawer for use during lunch.
9. DAX Industries Survival Knife
This knife is not only a useful tool for use at a campsite but is also a tool that is ideal for hunters, hikers or preppers as well. It has a full-tang blade made of 420 stainless-steel that sharpens easily and holds its edge for a long time. Its spine is serrated for sawing through objects, and it comes with a sturdy handle that’s wrapped in a 550 paracord. It’s also equipped with a magnesium alloy fire starter for starting campfires, a lanyard for attaching to a belt and a built-in emergency whistle. It’s a knife that’s a welcome addition to just about any backpack or survival kit.
8. Tac-Force Spring Assisted Pocket Knife
This folding EMT knife has a 440 stainless steel that makes it both durable and corrosion resistant. This blade is approximately 3.25-inches long and is about 3-millimeters thick. Overall, it has a 4.5-inch closed length that makes it easy to pack and has a spring assisted feature that allows it to be easily opened with just one hand. Another great feature which can be found on this knife is an aluminum handle that has a seat-belt cutter and a glass breaker on the end of it. These tools allow it to be used for auto emergencies as well, so it’s a knife that’s useful for first responders and rescue workers as well as hikers and campers.
7. Schrade SCHF36 10.4-Inch Knife
With a full-tang design blade with a finger choil, a handle that’s textured with a lanyard hole in it, this knife is not only durable and easy to hold but is also easy to carry from place to place. Its blade is made of 1095 powder-coated high carbon stainless-steel that’s 5-inches long. Overall, this knife has a total length of 10.4-inches and comes with both a sharpening stone for keeping it sharp and a Ferro rod for making campfires. It’s a light and easy-to-use knife that comes with a polyester belt sheath and is useful for just about any outdoor situation.
6. Grand Way Folding Pocket Knife
This folding spring-assisted tactical knife is not only ideal for use around the campsite but can be used for a variety of different situations. It has a 440C stainless steel blade that’s approximately 3.42-inches long and has a blade thickness of about 3-millimeters. This knife also has a handle length of 4.33-inches, which gives it an overall length of 7.75-inches. It has an aluminum handle that’s designed with finger grooves for a comfortable grip. All things considered, this knife is an inexpensive but quite useful knife that’s a good tool to have while exploring the great outdoors.
5. MTech USA MT-086 Fixed Blade
This hunting knife has the features most people need out of a knife they plan on taking to the outdoors. It has a fixed blade design that’s made of black stainless steel and has a 7-inch length with a 3-millimeter thickness. Overall, this knife has a 12.25-inch length and has an ABS handle that gives the user excellent grip even in slippery or wet conditions. On the end of the handle is a glass breaker that can be used to shatter a car’s window during an emergency or can be used to crack nuts. It’s a useful tool that just about anyone can use.
4. Gerber Bear Grylls Folding Sheath Knife
A part of the Bear Grylls Survival Series, this knife has a number of features which make it useful for camping, hunting or wilderness survival. It has a half-serrated high carbon drop point stainless-steel blade with a dual-sided thumb-stud that makes it easy to open with just one hand. It also has a textured ergonomic rubber grip that’s easy-to-hold and is resistant to slippage, even during wet conditions. Another key feature of this knife is that its blade lock securely in place, which not only makes it easy to use but also safer to use. Overall, it’s a knife that’s ready for the outdoors.
3. Gerber Strong Arm Partial Serrated Knife
Although it’s specifically built for combat and survival situations, this knife is a good tool to have at the camp site or while hiking that lonely wilderness trail. It’s equipped with a full-tang 420HC steel blade that has a partially serrated edge and is covered with a ceramic blade coating. It also has a handle with a rubberized diamond texture grip that makes it easy to hold and has a striking pommel at the base of the handle. This product also has a modular sheath system that can be mounted horizontally on a belt or vertically on compatible MOLLE systems.
2. Morakniv Bushcraft Carbon Steel Knife
Made with a high-carbon steel blade that’s 1/8th-inch thick and 4.3-inches long, this fixed-blade knife is useful for just about any outdoor situation. It’s equipped with a plastic sheath that holds onto the knife well and has an integrated fire starter and a diamond sharper in it. The fire starter can take approximately 7,000 strikes and can produce sparks even when it’s wet. The handle of this blade is ergonomically designed, so it’s easy to hold and has a high-friction rubber grip that keeps it in the user’s hand even during extremely moist conditions.
1. Morakniv Companion Outdoor Knife
Made using Swedish Sandvik 12C27 steel that has a razor sharp edge and a hardness rating of HRC 56, this knife is able to handle just about any outdoor situation. It has a blade length of 4.1-inches, a blade thickness of 0.1-inch and the entire knife has an overall length of approximately 8.6-inches. This knife has a high-friction grip that’s easy to use and hold and comes with a plastic sheath that can be clipped to the knife user’s belt. Offering its users superior toughness and corrosion-resistance, this knife is a welcome companion to any campsite, bug out bag or hunter’s pack, and is sure to provide many years of trusted service.
Camping Knife Guide
You don’t have to be a survival expert to know a good camping knife can make a few nights out in the wild a lot easier. You never know when you are going to need to slice through something or use it to help carve through a rough patch in the woods. This is where you need a reliable brand as if it breaks you can find yourself struggling.
A camping knife is no ordinary knife and is heavy-duty yet compact, usually with a blade measuring under the 6″ mark to make it easy to fit in your pocket when safely stored. They can be used to prep a fire, help slice food and anything else you can think of. There are different types to make your trip more enjoyable, here is our guide.
Find A Durable Camping Knife
You can’t rely on the smaller blades on a multi tool. They are designed to be used when you don’t have anything better to hand, so make sure you do. A camping knife will remain sharp even after extended use and will perform just as well when you haven’t used it for months. A multi tool will go blunt much quicker and although it has other useful options to choose from, a durable camping knife will be able to work in their place most of the time.
Knife Length
If you choose a blade that is too long, it can not be considered a camping knife. When choosing any type of knife you need to think about what you are going to be using it for. If you are looking to chop down a tree then a camping knife is not what you need. For prepping sticks for a fire or using it to gut a fish when camping, a smaller blade will suffice.
You should also consider how portable the knife is. If you are walking long distances and hiking, then something more compact will be a better fit.
Serrated vs Non-Serrated
Some camping knives will come with both which is always a good option to have but not essential. Serrated blades do have their uses and even when a little blunt can still offer some cutting power although it is heavily reduced. Their main problem is how hard they are to sharpen. You are better off taking care of a non-serrated blade and making sure it is always sharp enough to make light work of whatever you put it through.
Different Types of Camping Knife
Fixed Blade
These blades do not fold away and should only be handled by someone who is aware of what they are doing. They should come with a sheath to protect the user and if you are a novice handler, then make sure you buy one with safety in mind. Of course, it means carrying it is less convenient than that of a foldable knife but they are often sturdy, and better for bigger tasks such as making a hut or shelter as they are less likely to break.
Foldable Knife
A common knife for the less serious camper but they are also very convenient and sometimes, safer. Most foldable knives come with a lockable feature that means they do not pose a risk to the carrier and can be stored away in bags with ease. They are a great entry-level camping knife but also make a good back-up for the more experienced camper.
Different Types of Steel
The most commonly used are stainless and carbon. Because they perform to different levels, they vary in price, with carbon being more expensive because it can be used on tougher activities such as carving our large branches. If you are planning on surviving in the woods for a few months then it can be a good option, otherwise Stainless steel will suffice.
Stainless steel is easy to sharpen and more forgiving, making it a better choice for the irregular camper.
Tips For Camping Knife Care
Sharpener
It’s always good to make sure your blade is sharp before you go, and if possible, taker the sharpener with you. They can be cheap to buy and easy to use, extending the lifespan of your camping knife for years.
Sheath
Especially important for fixed knives, a quality sheath should always be in good working condition. Anything that can protect the blade from the elements will help it last longer and keep it clean.
Lubrication
Making sure your foldable camping knife is well lubricated so the action works and stays reliable over the years. Make sure the blade is always clean and dry before storing and it should last for years.
