We’ve had our share of cheap knock-off “Swiss Army Knives,” so when we opened up the real deal, we were absolutely amazed at the quality. This knife is super-easy to carry around and is hardly noticeable in its folded position. Striking the blade itself gave us sparks, but we stopped pretty quickly to prevent damage to the thin blade. If you like having different colors to choose from, here’s a great selection. Just so you know, this page contains affiliate links. He also takes it with him on short backpacking trips as an ultralight backpacking knife. There’s an opening hole for your finger at the base of the blade to help you get a better grip for heavier duty cutting and slicing. At 2.63” long, the blade is legal to carry as an EDC knife in many states and countries. But it’s incapable of any heavy duty cutting work. Here’s a fantastic lightweight open-frame design folding pocket knife from Gerber. Fixed Blade – Although heavier, quality fixed-blade knives can be stronger and more durable than folding knives. The knife feels extremely solid and well made. (Coincidentally, some hardcore ultralight backpackers intentionally remove the plastic sides to shave a little weight.). These days he keeps the Classic SD on his keychain for simple everyday tasks and takes it with him on short backpacking trips. The sheath adds another 0.8 oz. We couldn’t find many drawbacks with the Delica 4. Overall, this is the best backpacking knife and possibly inexpensive backpacking knife with this kind of performance and ruggedness. Note: If you’re looking for knives you can use while camping and aren’t as concerned about weight, check out our guide to the best camping knives. The knife is a solid option for ultralight backpackers with minimal needs, he says. It impressed us with how durable it actually was, though. You’ll need to take decent care of this knife and cleaning can be a nightmare without a good maintenance routine. Picking the best knife for backpacking is a very personnel and subjective task. It’s incredibly easy to clean the knife with a minimalistic and rugged profile. It’s far from the easiest knife to hold. This would make an excellent gift for both kids and adults who are interested in the outdoors or are passionate about backpacking. In my opinion, this is the best backpacking knife under $100. Back Lock – A piece of metal along the back of the handle holds the knife open. Mini fixed blades, folding, serrated, plain, automatic, flipper, and ball-berring knives. Weight: 1.3 oz Blade Length: 2.2" Tools: 2. If you carry a fire starter (aka ferrocerium rod) backpacking, the ability to strike a spark with your knife will be crucial. It's an engraved quality small pocket knife of 3.5 inches. The seven functions include: blade, scissors, nail file, screwdriver (2.5 mm), key ring, toothpick, and tweezers. A good knife is one of the most essential backcountry tools you can carry. In general, softer steels will shape easily into a razor sharp edge and will be easier to sharpen, but they tend to be less durable and lose their edge quicker. Right out of the box, the blade was by far the dullest. This type of lock can be very stable, but it requires two hands to close the knife. You’re getting VG-10 steel that’s flat ground to give you a thinner and sharper cutting edge. This, combined with how lightweight the knife is, makes it exceptionally effortless to handle and work with. Its compact size is an advantage, but for a budget backpacking knife, we’d choose the Opinel No8 over the Gerber Paraframe Mini. Getting the best backpacking knife is all about getting the perfect knife for you. We’ve seen this knife on sale at many online retailers. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. A: The knife needs to be pretty versatile. COMPACT CARRY. One of the rings is fixed and the other slides into place to securely lock the blade into place. The blade shape is a drop point design with piercing in mind. Its assisted open is sharp and snappy, and the frame lock felt solid and reliable. We measured the number of strikes it took on a ferrocerium rod to get a ball of dryer lint to ignite. The sturdy steel will give you a durable blade that will last for long. The Opinel uses the unique “Virobloc” safety lock, where a metal ring twists to lock the blade either open or shut. We timed how long it took to cut through a 2-foot section of cardboard with each knife. A simple paracord wrap made it even better. Now that we’ve taken a look at considerations and the importance of a knife for backpacking, it is now time to start shopping! So don’t ever rush into purchasing a knife without first considering all the variables. If versatility and functionality are important to you, here’s a king in the field. One of the beauties of this knife, though, is how customizable it is. 99Boulders owner and editor Alex Beale has used the Victorinox Swiss Army Classic SD as his pocket knife and ultralight backpacking knife for nearly two years. This video is a top 5 list and overview of the best pocket knives for backpacking. It was able to strike a spark on a ferro rod, though not easily and with noticeable wear to the back of its blade. It’s still an investment, but if you want to buy one backpacking knife that you can use on every adventure, the Delica 4 is it. The Best Knife for Backpacking and Hiking Fallkniven U2: $90 With laminated steel, a dead simple design, and Grilon handles, the U2 is an excellent … Partially serrated blade. A sharp knife should be able to slice through a piece of standard printer paper cleanly with minimal effort. Most people overlook ergonomics when buying a knife. It’s a small knife, and we don’t expect it to be as comfortable as knives with a more generous handle, but it never felt stable in our tester’s hands. 2. This also helps to keep down the overall weight – leaving you with a high-performing knife that won’t hurt your wallet. Considering what you’re getting for the money, this knife is hard to simply pass over. We loved its simplicity. Let’s jump into the guide! We brought each knife with us on our camping and backpacking trips, and used them for daily activities for over a month. There are some variations from the same company Readyman, particularly for lock picking, first aid, and fishing tools. MINI VERSION: No. The company's reputation is the reason that Benchmade knives are sold in stores worldwide. While we loved its performance and solid feel, it would be hard for us to justify dedicating 3 oz in our pack for it. From their price and performance to more subtle features like sheaths and carrying options, we’ll show you what’s worth paying attention to. If you want to learn what to look for in the best backpacking knife… Victorinox Swiss Army Classic SD. You’re getting all the corrosion and rust resistance you’d need in a robust outdoor knife. With folding knives, we prefer knives that can easily strike a spark from their spine while closed for safety reasons. No Lock – Many small knives don’t have room for a locking mechanism. In addition to the blade it has scissors, tweezers, a toothpick, and a nail file. Thick cardboard is a challenge for knives due to its abrasive and inconsistent surface. Lightweight; ... Time to go Backpacking with the best … Despite its tiny size, it made short work of 2 feet of cardboard in our testing. Benchmade Mini Griptilian This company makes some of the best pocket knives around. Finally, the Deejo Wood 37g won an honorable mention for its beautiful design and high-quality blade. It was one of the slower knives in our cutting speed test, but that was mainly because of its tiny size. While this locking mechanism is relatively slow, it’s extremely safe and secure. The opening and closing action is swift and can be done one-handed with a little practice. Opinel No8 Stainless Steel Blade Folding Knife, Victorinox Swiss Army Classic SD Pocket Knife, How to Hang a Hammock: 4 Best Ways (w/ Videos), How to Use Hammock Straps: 5 Steps (w/ Videos! The Opinel No 8 Folding Knife made it to the top of our best backpacking knives list, because we consider it being the best value for your money. The blade is secured by a Virobloc safety ring which hasn’t been changed in over 100 years. By the end of the reviews, you’ll have a clear picture of what you need and where to find it. The Delica 4 opens and closes smoothly, and its thumb hole makes for easy one-handed opening. On top of that, they put a nice ergonomic bolster on it to separate the handle from the blade. Liner Lock – Similar to a frame lock, here a small metal liner inside the frame holds the blade open. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Paper, cardboard, vegetables, cordage, the Deejo made quick work of it all. You should now have a good idea of what you’re looking for the performance and quality you can expect at the different price points. The blade still sliced easily through 2 feet of cardboard. Opinel is a French knife making company that really outdid themselves in the last couple of years. The traveler set pocket knife has compact dimensions (1.57inch x 1.57inch x 4.13inch and just about 3.5 inches when closed) which is amazing considering just how many tools you’ll find in there. 7 / VICTORINOX CLASSIC SD / KERSHAW LEEK / BENCHMADE 585 MINI-BARRAGE On multi-day backpacking adventures a knife can be useful for cooking, the odd repair job, or small cutting tasks around camp. It didn’t handle whittling or fire starting as well as most of the other knives we tested, nor was it the sharpest or quickest at cutting. Apart from this, the knife’s built-quality is superior and it’s available at a reasonable price. Best of all it is one of the lightest options on our list. Other – Some manufacturers have unique methods of locking a blade open or closed. It has qualities of cutting ropes and some forms of glass. Keep the strokes smooth and try to use the whole length of the tapered rod to get the best results. It has excellent edge retention and can be sharpened to a razor’s edge without too much difficulty. It is released by pressing on the back of the handle. We did really love the large carabiner hole for clipping the knife to our packs for quick access. Also, it is the best EDC knife available in the market right now. We loved the handle’s non-slip textured surface and its ergonomic profile. One of the best foldable hunting knives, the Benchmade North Fork Knife features a 2.97’’ CPM-S30V stainless steel drop-point blade and weighs in … A: Take a tapered sharpening rod and work each of the individual serration (the teeth). This 3.5” folding knife is just the right size to give you awesome versatility and functionality without being too bulky or heavy. You’ll find out what’s unique about each knife and why it’s worth your time. It’s tip-locked when it’s closed and this stops accidental blade opening. It’s designed for wilderness and survival usage and made by Randall’s Adventure and Training, which started as a jungle survival school in the Peruvian Amazon. It’s an exceptionally durable knife with the functionality and versatility of a whole set of knives. Because of its minimalist design, the Deejo Wood 37g initially felt a touch flimsy. In our cardboard cutting test, we were basically ripping the cardboard rather than cutting it. BEST BUDGET POCKET KNIFE. A lighter, more practical handle for the Izula II. The Spyderco Delica 4 blew us away in nearly every aspect of our testing. The Tactical Knife & Pocket Knife Sharpener Set is an amazingly affordable choice in Best Backpacking Knife options. The open frame helps to keep the knife as light and functional as possible – without losing any grip strength or durability. Here are the best backpacking knives: Spyderco Delica 4; ESEE Izula II; Kershaw Leek; Spyderco Honeybee; Opinel No8 Stainless Steel Folding Knife; Deejo Wood 37g; Petzl Spatha; Victorinox Swiss Army Classic SD Pocket Knife; Gerber Paraframe Mini; How to Choose the Best Backpacking Knife for Your Needs Types of Backpacking Knives Knife Features Locking Blade. They’re all incredibly well-suited to the outdoors and give a backpacking adventure on-the-go utility and functionality. However, cutting or carving wood, chopping veggies, and most other camp tasks were awkward at best. While it’s not a cheap backpacking knife considering its size, it’s money well-spent. Perhaps our favorite feature of this knife is the intelligently designed pocket clip. JUMP TO: OPINEL NO. Harder steels, on the other hand, are more durable but harder to sharpen. The Leatherman Juice B2 gives you 2 good blade options, straight and serrated, for getting any cutting job done right. We pushed this little knife into much more heavy-duty use than it was intended for. Overall, this is a great little tool for carrying around town and having on hand. It’s a fantastic all-rounder knife for adventurers and travelers. If you already have (or plan to buy) the Spatha for your climbing gear, it can capably double as a backpacking knife. Frame Lock – A piece of the frame will slide over behind the blade to hold it open. This gives you additional piercing power and makes it an excellent choice for outdoor utility. We loved slicing and chopping food with the Opinel. The Classic SD could also be called a multi-tool. Also Read: Best Utility Knife – for Better Performance and Bigger Savings. Buy on Amazon Gerber Obsidian Pocket Knife. ), Backpacking Gear List Spreadsheet (w/ Weight Calculator). Check Price on Amazon. If we were unable to get a spark from the spine of a knife, we used the blade. The Opinel Carbon Steel Folding Pocket Knife provides an excellent cutting edge which stays dangerously sharp for a good long time. Benchmade is a name synonymous with superiority in the world of knives. While a shorter blade is ideal for tasks such as opening packets, cutting cord and nylon, and chipping wood. It’s a handy feature that lets this knife double as a tactical carry. The ESEE Izula II was the only fixed-blade knife in our review. There’s a finger ring at the bottom of the handle that lets you slip your pinky or pointer finger into depending on the way you grip the knife. With a little experience and practice, you’ll learn how to care and handle this knife at its best. Most knives are made from steel, but there are hundreds of varieties out there, each with its own unique characteristics. It’s friction-held and gives you all the protection you’d need for using this knife outdoors. You’ll need resistance to rust, corrosion, and have a handle that’s non-slip and comfortable. While the MSRP is on the high side, it’s frequently on sale for less. Our goal is to get you ready and prepared to make an informed buying decision to get the best possible value for your money – and a knife that gets you where you want to go. Even without the full handle, the Izula was comfortable to hold. This best backpacking knife are compact, versatile, and an overall fantastic choice if you’re on a tight budget and still want decent performance and durability. Now let’s talk about a higher quality knife. For travelers and backpackers, this is a complete set of tools that will come in … The Leek was the heaviest knife in our test (not counting the ESEE Izula II, which could be customized for lighter weight). While it did show some wear and weaknesses, it was more capable than we expected. This is a knife that can endure some pretty rough treatment and harsh elements. The handle is slick, and combined with the minuscule size, it requires a careful grip. It’s made from 1095HC steel which isn’t super-common and quite easy to sharpen. In other words, this knife is legit. The slick handle also wasn’t the best for tougher tasks that require a precise, stable grip. Over the last seven years, we've purchased and tested 37+ unique folding knives side by side, with 18 knives in our 2020 review line-up. We did manage to get a fire started. It is pushed to the side to release the blade. We could cut through a length of cardboard much faster than with some of the sharper knives. WARNING! Some people like small folders, some like tradition Swiss Army Knives while other will only take a fixed blade knife. The blade wasn’t as stable as the Delica 4 during tasks like whittling wood or boring holes, and we could feel a small amount of give in the handle. Reviewed By Jason Rhodes September 7, 2020. For weight-conscious backpackers who recognize that a knife is still an essential part of their kit, or for anyone who wants an ultralight backup knife, the Honeybee is a sweet little piece of gear at a great price. Links to the best pocket knives we listed in today's pocket knife review video: 1. It wasn’t the sharpest knife in our test, but it more than made up for it with its long blade. One blade is all you need, but it has to be the right one. It’s technically a multi-tool and is of the lightest options available. Kershaw Leek Pocket Knife; Gerber Paraframe Mini Knife; Spyderco Delica Lightweight Folding Knife; Opinel Folding Knife; ESEE Knives Izula-II Fixed Knife; Spyderco HoneyBee Folding Knife; Victorinox Swiss Army Multi-Tool; Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Q: What Should I Look for in a Best Backpacking Knife? There’s nothing worse than having a knife that keeps slipping out of place when you’re backpacking. I focused on features, weight, and price to choose these knifes. If you are hoping to find the ideal knife for any backpacking situation, there are some things you are going to want to consider when reviewing your options. This Swiss Army pocket knife is constructed with stainless steel and encased in polished ABS scales that provide ultimate durability in a sleek and vibrant yellow finish. You’ll love the sleek profile of the knife and how light it feels in your hands. Stephanie grew up in Pennsylvania and is a life-long adventurer. The handle is crafted from durable and robust Beechwood and shaped in a very ergonomic and intuitive way. The Victorinox Swiss Army Pocket Knife is the right tool to get you set for anything in the jungle. The ambidextrous thumb studs aren’t too pronounced – they’re just the right size for a quick one-handed opening and closing. Let’s get into the best backpacking knife reviews! The Honeybee was capable of whittling wood, although it was awkward and hazardous due to the lack of a locking mechanism. The knife comes with a handy black sheath that’s well-fitted and robust. It was also the least comfortable knife to hold. Seeking the best pocket knife? The best knife for backpacking should be comfortable for use, with a handle that allows for a safe and firm grip. It needs to be able to cut through ropes and possibly have a wire-cutter and a serrated portion on the blade. We put 9 of the best backpacking knives to the test. You don’t have to deal with “iffy” linear locks and back-locks that accidentally release half-way through cutting. As we were whittling, we noticed a little bit of play in the blade. We’ve carefully selected 7 knives we feel to address a broad enough set of needs and possible uses. Here’s a fantastic value-for-money knife if you want something sleek and compact. We made sure to spend time whittling wood, cutting cordage, and chopping food with each knife. This knife was designed to cut through the body of an aircraft, and still be tough enough to handle other tasks after. This bulk is a necessary evil for the massive utility and selection of tools. Top 7 Best Backpacking Knife Reviews in 2020. The Deejo Wood 37g is a sleek, lightweight, and well-designed knife with an amazing blade. Alex’s well-worn Classic SD has a permanent spot on his keychain. It’s beyond the scope of this article to describe all the varieties, but it’s worth taking a minute to research a steel type to see if its qualities suit your needs and usage. A longer blade is best for hunting tasks, providing a longer knife stroke. Review for pocket knife models from Kershaw, Gerber, CRKT, SOG, Spyderco, the James Brand and more. We think its design, style, and weight make the Leek better suited to everyday carry than the backcountry. / 4.25 in. The MSRP is a little steep, but we’ve regularly seen the Izula on sale. 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