A quality camping knife makes food preparation or tinder carving process easier and smoother. Cooking while camping is not as easy as it might seem to most of the new campers. The lack of proper camping cooking gear can really hammer the enjoyment of camping. A camping knife is one of the essentials that is not only required for cooking but also helps in preparing tinder, cutting branches, and ensuring safety in the wild.
Camping knives come in various designs, shapes, and price ranges. You need to pick one carefully while keeping your camping knife requirements in mind. For instance, some people just need to prepare the food, and some also use it to cut ropes, small tree branches, and prepare tinder. Based on our experience and field testing, we reviewed the top camping knife options that work well in most of the camping situations.
Quick Recommendations
- Best Overall Camping Knife: Moraknive Companion Fixed Blade Knife
- Best Folding Camping Knife: Kershaw Clash Knife
- Best For Multi-Purpose: Victorinox Swiss Army Huntsman Knife
- Best For The Budget: Jellas Knife 440C
- Best Fixed Blade Camping Knife: KA-BAR Becker BK2 Companion
Best Overall Camping Knife
1. Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Knife
The Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade knife takes the top spot on our list with its quality material, traditional design, and outstanding performance. It weighs just 3.9 ounces, including the sheath, which makes it a lighter option for regular camping trips.
We take it regularly on our extended camping trips, and it never disappoints. Also, this is one of the most popular knives on Amazon, with its exceptional 4.8-star ratings from thousands of customers. The blade is made of Sandvik stainless steel, solid and rust-resistant, with a thickness of only 0.08 inches.
The stainless steel blade has the advantage of staying sharp for years, as compared to carbon steel blades. It resists rust and damage due to its durable and high-quality steel. That’s why you can use it for almost anything, including tinder, meat, wood carving, or cutting thin shrubs. Another great feature that I love is that you can attach it to your belt while roaming around camp.
The knife measures around 8.5 inches in length, with the blade being a little less than half of it, around 4 inches. It has a 4.5-inch ergonomic handle made with strong and durable polymer that provides an excellent grip. Your hand won’t slip, even when you use it on hard materials such as plant branches, hunting fish, or cutting wood.
Thanks to its soft rubber coating, I never got any blisters, even during extensive use. I used it during the rain, and my hand never slipped from the handle. This knife is so sharp that with just a small touch, my finger got cut. So, keep it in the sheath when you are not using it, and carefully pull it from the sheath, not in a hurry, to avoid any injury. Overall, this is a high-quality, affordable, and reliable camping knife.
Read More: Morakniv Companion Knife Review
Best Folding Option
2. Kershaw Clash Knife
If you want a folding camping knife, then the Kershaw Clash is a beast of a folding knife made from superior quality material. The cutting precision of the knife is amazing, thanks to its black oxide coating, which enhances its cutting precision.
The drop-point blade, with partially serrated edges, is a nice feature for this knife that even helps to cut fibers, such as thick fabric, camping material, or cutting through thick, woven materials. The handle’s deep indentation really helps improve the hand grip, which significantly enhances its performance.
It’s also heat-resistant and incredibly sturdy due to the glass-filled nylon, a thermoplastic material. We had no problems with grip or durability during our camping trips. We loved the foldable design of this knife, which gives it a good advantage over the Morakniv Companion in terms of space-saving.
Like the Morakniv Companion, the blade of the Kershaw Clash is also sharp. You don’t need to sharpen it for long, even if you use it extensively, as sharpening is long-lasting. The whole knife measures 4.25 inches when closed, which makes it highly portable and easy to carry.
The overall length of the camping knife is around 7.5 inches, and it weighs only 4.3 ounces. If we talk about ease of use, that is incredible, as it can be flipped open and closed using a single hand with just a single stroke. For safety, make sure you keep the liner lock on to avoid opening it accidentally. All in all, this is a nice, foldable camping knife that does the job well while camping.
Best For Multi Purpose
3. Victorinox Swiss Army Huntsman Knife
No camping knife list is complete without the Victorinox Swiss Army Huntsman Knife. This is a multi-tool knife that offers additional features that are useful for camping.
It has a total of 15 functions, and the most common are the knife, scissors, wood cutter, toothpick, bottle opener, and wire stripper, which we use frequently while camping. The rest of them are not that frequently used, but considering the knife is small and compact, they are still helpful. Victorinox is a popular brand that delivers one of the highest quality products.
The build quality of this knife is amazing, with its durable stainless steel construction. I was not expecting that all functions would work fine except for the knife, bottle opener, and toothpick, as there are too many for the company to focus on and maintain the quality. But honestly, they are all really well made and provide value. The only drawback is that even though this multi-tool knife is compact and foldable, it’s a bit bulky.
I suggest you take a look at the functions, and if you use most of them, then it’s worth buying this knife. That way, you won’t have to carry a separate bottle opener and scissors, which can be handy while camping. Having said that, this is the perfect knife if you are looking for a top-rated, all-around, multi-task knife for your camping needs.
Best With Replacement blades
4. Razorlite ECD Outdoor Edge
The Outdoor Edge 3.0 RazorLite EDC knife is the solution for those who want a durable, ergonomic knife with replaceable razor-sharp blades. So, if you like the idea of replaceable blades, then it’s worth the investment.
Additionally, unlike other knives, the curved handle provides a much better and more secure grip than the competition. It does not slip from the hand, even if the hands are sweaty. In addition to the replaceability, the blades (a total of six blades) that come with the knife are razor-sharp, so you don’t need to sharpen them again. On top of that, the handle is made from fiberglass nylon polymer, which improves the hand grip for maximum performance and saves you from blisters on your hands.
Like the Morakniv Companion Fixed, it also comes with a stainless steel pocket clip to attach it to your belt or pants. However, this knife has a drawback, which is that the blade tends to become dull quicker than other high-quality hiking knives that we reviewed.
Another thing is that, although changing the blade is pretty easy, it’s annoying to keep the replaceable blades with you or at home securely. Plus, the point is that you don’t need to change the blade frequently, as they are durable and don’t get rusty soon.
However, this is a budget-friendly knife, priced at $26.95, which makes it a reasonable bargain considering the quality of the knife. And Outdoor Edge provides a lifetime of customer support once you purchase from them, which means they care for their customers.
Best Fixed Blade Camping Knife
5. KA-BAR Becker BK2 Companion
The KA-BAR Becker BK2 Companion is another great fixed-blade knife and comes with high-quality construction. The KA-BAR Becker Knife is made in Olean, New York, U.S.A., and designed by Ethan Becker. This knife is an excellent option for camping trips due to its small size and brilliant performance with its sharp blade.
The sheath is also not made from plastic; instead, it is a hard-shell nylon polymer, which is strong, just like the blade it is keeping. The KA-BAR blade can cut small woods, especially not dry wood, which is handy for clearing the campground. It is only 5.25 inches long, which makes it quite handy too. Like other quality knives, this one also comes with a sharp blade, so make sure you tighten the sheath using screws and nuts when not in use.
The blade is wide and thick, which makes it robust and strong in the field. For more tough tasks, you need a longer blade than the KA-BAR Becker BK2 knife blade. But I think it’s more than enough for all camping needs. Also, this is a heavy-duty knife because of its thick carbon steel construction, which makes it durable as well as heavier than its counterparts. It doesn’t feel as heavy in hand, but it is heavy and bigger for lightweight camping.
The coating looks cool and durable. It’s also a bit pricey compared to other knives on our list, but it can do more advanced work while camping. If you are looking for a durable, solid, and quality knife for a camping trip, the KA-BAR Becker BK2 Companion Knife is a great option.
Best Lightweight Option
6. Kershaw 3-In Leek Knife
If you are looking for a stylish yet durable knife, then look no further than the Kershaw 3-Inch Leek Knife. Not only is it stylish, but also sharp, durable, and, best of all, affordable. Its size is just three inches, but it performs well.
The sharp blade is made from high-quality Sandvik stainless steel. It is also easy to sharpen whenever needed. It’s also slim and has a compact sheath, and you can take it in your pocket. The stainless steel material really helps to protect it from rust, which extends its life.
Unlike most knives, its handle is made from stainless steel instead of nylon polymer or plastic, which is a bit hard. It weighs only 3 ounces, and the total length is 7 inches. This makes it one of the lightest on our list. The frame lock is another great feature that we like. It keeps the blade open and in a straight position while using it. The blade tip helps to close it tightly to avoid any injury or damage to your camping gear.
Coming to its performance, the knife is sharp and efficient; it can cut through plastic, paper, and wood, but I suggest going light with it. The blade may be sharp and made of steel, but it has been kept a bit thin to reduce the weight.
One other thing we noticed is that if you have big hands, it can be difficult to use this knife, as the handle is also relatively small, making it difficult to grip. All in all, if you want a beautiful and lightweight knife for your camping trips, then the Kershaw 3-Inch Leek Knife is worth the investment.
How To Choose a Camping Knife?
Types Of Camping Knives
Generally speaking, there are two most common designs for camping knives: folding and fixed blade. However, there is a third type of design as well, where the knife comes as part of a multi-tool. So, we can divide the designs into three categories:
- Fixed blade knives
- Folding knives
- Multi-tool (Knife comes as part of it)
Now, you might ask, “Which design is best?” It really comes down to the use of the knife while you are camping. Fixed-blade knives are much stronger in general, but folding knives are also great in terms of packability.
Folding knives have a pivot point that helps them swivel into action. The sturdiest locking system is a ‘liner lock,’ which contains a spring to hold it in place without the risk of the blade collapsing.
Here are some good folding knife options:
On the other hand, fixed knives remain fixed to their handle and mostly come with a sheath for protection.
Never compromise on the sheath quality and always pack them safely. They can seriously damage your belongings or hurt you if not taken care of properly in the backcountry.
Here are some fixed-blade knife options for camping:
Multi-tools are also popular among outdoor lovers since one tool can perform multiple activities. For instance, the Victorinox Swiss Army Huntsman Knife comes with a can and bottle opener, screwdriver, wire stripper, scissors, wood saw, toothpick, and knife among the most used functions. It’s actually handy for family or car camping.
Edge
Edge is one of the most important features that you cannot ignore when buying a knife. Most of the camping knives we reviewed remain sharp for a long period of time, even with extensive use. However, they do need sharpening once in a while for better performance.
You can buy a budget-friendly knife sharpener and use it whenever needed. In addition to the edge, hardness and corrosion resistance play key roles in the quality of the edge.
Pay close attention to the material and look for a high-quality stainless steel knife. That’s why you’ll want to spend a little extra to get the best value for your money. Better quality materials will also resist corrosion.
Usually, I prefer a plain and simple edge instead of a serrated blade. However, a serrated edge provides better assistance when you want to cut through manufactured goods such as ropes and tarps. You can also use a plain edge to cut such materials, but it takes a little more time.
Ergonomics
Your hands take a lot of beating when you try to cut heavy items with a knife. A poor-quality handle can pinch your hand, causing annoying blisters.
Ergonomics play a key role in knife performance. Heavy-duty knives typically provide better ergonomics, but they are less portable if weight is an issue for you.
The handle should also be comfortable and fit well in your hand. It should not slip, even when it gets wet.
Availability of a Sheath
A quality sheath is very important, especially for the fixed blade knives as the folding knives are still secure when they are folded and locked.
Therefore, we recommend always carrying your knife in a sheath, even if it adds extra weight to your pack. Otherwise, It can damage your other gear, and worst, it can even hurt you badly.
Conclusion
To sum up, consider where and how frequently you will use the knife. The Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Knife stands out as the top performer, offering a durable, compact design. However, other models like the Kershaw Clash Knife and KA-BAR Becker BK2 Companion provide excellent alternatives. If you want a knife along with other tools, the Victorinox Swiss Army Huntsman Knife should be your top pick.
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