There are many different options when it comes to knives for camping, but the best knife for camping will tend to have a few things going for it. For one, something that you need to think about when picking out a camping knife is the weight of the knife itself. Remember that unless you’re car camping you will have to carry that knife around, and a chunk of metal can get heavy quickly. A lightweight camping knife may not be quite as strong as something bigger and heavier, but a lighter option will likely be better for the overall camping experience.
Best Knife for Camping
Features to consider when shopping for a knife for camping.- Folding or Fixed – There are two main kinds of knives that you can take camping. Fixed blades are the kind that usually come in a sheath, and are made of one solid piece of metal. They’re strong, being all one piece, but also tend to be relatively heavy. Folding knives, on the other hand, are usually lighter and smaller, but also weaker, because of the folding joint.
- Weight – Remember that you’re carrying a chunk of metal around with you, and that can get heavy after awhile. If weight is a concern, and it should be if you’re carrying your camping gear, then it can pay off, in terms of how your back and legs feel at the end of a day on the trail, to carry a small, lightweight knife as opposed to a big, heavy one.
Best Knife for Camping Reviews
A few of the best knives for taking camping with you in the outdoors.- Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Knife - You might be put off by the Bear Grylls promotion, but Gerber makes solid knives that are ideal for taking camping. This is a solid fixed blade knife with 4.8 inches of blade to work with. Besides the knife itself you get a whistle on a lanyard, a diamond sharpener built in to the sheath, and a ferrocerium fire starter, also in the sheath. The whole unit weighs 14.7 ounces, or 416 grams, so not even close to lightweight, but if you're interested in the survival aspect, it's a great knife. Incidentally, if all you're looking for is a fixed blade knife, the Big Rock, also by Gerber, is an excellent choice.
- Baladeo 34 Gram Pocket Knife - At the complete other end of the spectrum from the Bear Grylls knife is this folding knife from Baladeo which, as the name suggests, weighs just 1.2 ounces, or 34 grams. The blade is actually quite long, at 3.6 inches. Part of the blade is also serrated, to give you cutting options. It's made of steel and coated with titanium, so you get both strength and light, an ideal combination.
- Gerber Paraframe I Serrated Edge Knife - Another folding knife, this one a bit bigger and heavier to stand up to more wear and tear. It's still relatively lightweight, at 2.6 ounces, or 73 grams, and has a full 3 inch blade. Just like the Baladeo, a portion of the blade is serrated, so that you can get through materials like rope with relative ease. Not as lightweight as the Baladeo, but likely quite a bit stronger.
