Camping outdoors or backpacking is all fun and games until the lack of tools spoils the joy of it. On the contrary, being equipped with essential tools such as the best camping knives will make you comfortable and allow you to make the most of your camping trip. Camping Knives are also gaining popularity at the same pace as the best throwing knives are in the USA.
The most pertinent and useful tool for it would be to have the best camping knife. In order to tackle tasks while camping such as kindling, rope cutting, or firewood a camping knife would come handy. It also assists as a self-defense weapon because the risk is always there in the wild.
The camp knives may vary based on size, shape, and quality. On a very basic level, the camp knives which are proven to be expedient are either fixed blade camping knives or folding camping knives. But, don’t you worry, we have cherry picked the coolest camping knives for you among all the brands and products.
Best Camping Knives List & Reviews of 2022 (Top Brands):
These are the best camping knife picks for the year 2022. Our team has researched extensively and after reviewing tons of products we have cherry-picked these 10 products so that you can select knife as per your needs.
We have also rated the knives as per their reputation in the market and hope that this table proves to be helpful for you.
This knife for camping is like a match made in heaven hence it is our top choice. It has a premium quality blade material, a clean design, and is multi-purposed.
Construction/Material:
Tasks required while camping such as cutting vegetables or trimming the wood etc for the Morakniv Companion is an easy task as the blade of this knife is ultra-sharp and sturdy. The grip of the knife ensures the control and safety of the user and it’s easy to maintain and clean. The four inches long blade may puzzle you but it does the job in the best possible way.
This is not your ordinary knife, the renowned television personality and adventurer, Bear Grylls has launched a series of knives in collaboration with Gerber out of which this Fixed Blade Knife is picked as one of the best camping knives. The Gerber Blades is a trusted brand and has earned respect by producing paramount quality consumer knives and multi-tools.
Construction/Material:
What makes it distinct is its super sharp blade and a great rubber grip. Its grip gives a lot of control and enhances the performance of the knife even in moist and sloppy conditions. Such a knife helps exceptionally well while camping, hunting, or such outdoor activities.
Some other helpful features are a lanyard cord with a whistle attached to it for emergency and to make a spear a notch is available at the back of the knife which comes extremely handy while camping. So apart from chopping vegetables and cutting rope, it provides everything required in a camping knife.
Specifications:
Blade Material: Serrated Carbon Stainless Steel.
Blade Length: 4.75 Inches.
Knife’s Base: Stainless Steel Pommel.
Sheath Type: Military Grade & Mildew Resistant.
Pros
Ultra Sharp & Durable.
Valuable Additional Features.
Rubbered Waterproof Handle.
Multi-purposed.
Cons
None.
Conclusion:
It is an exceptionally well built knife and has a good repute when it comes to camping knives. It has been built under the supervision of the great adventurer Bear Grylls and this is why the additional features it comes with resonate with a camping knife and adds huge value to it.
Undoubtedly this piece of art created by the renowned brand “Benchmade” is among the topmost robust camping knives.Its durability and quality are what makes it distinct from the other average knives. This fixed blade knife may be a bit heavy on your pocket a bit but it is something you may keep for your entire life.
Construction/Material:
The fixed blade stainless steel enhances the stability of the knife. It is a full tang blade with an American made high graded steel. The steel is water and corrosion resistant which makes it ideal as the best camping knife because it can bear all the conditions and weather.
When it comes to the handle, it has resin-soaked fiberglass which by protecting the knife from moisture gives you much better control and comfort as compared to the other knives. It also comes with a lanyard hole at the of the blade to attach.
Specifications:
Blade Material: Full Tang Stainless Steel CPM-S30V.
Handle Material: Resin-Soaked Fiberglass.
Blade’s Design: Drop Point.
Sheath Material: Leather.
Overall Length: 9.15 Inches.
Blade’s Length: 4.40 Inches.
Knife’s Weight: 7.70 oz.
Pros
Aesthetic Design.
Strong & Convenient Grip.
Ergonomic & Reliable Built.
Secure & High Quality Leather Sheath.
Limited Lifetime Warranty & LifeSharp Service for Repairs/Sharpening.
Cons
Not Easy to Sharpen.
Conclusion:
Overall the knife’s construction is outstanding and it is built to last long. The handle plus the blade from head to toe the knife is robust with a beautiful design.
This Gerber knife was built having a combat knife in mind but it has proven to be an outstanding fixed blade knife for outdoors. It is a sturdy serrated fixed blade knife with a great grip and a simple design. It is an ideal knife for activities such as camping or backpacking.
Construction/Material:
The high grade full tang carbon steel used in this knife is what makes it a rugged knife. The additional factors such as the pommel at the end which can be treated as a hammer is a great value addition. The pommel can be used efficiently in case of an emergency or to break a surface covered in extreme cold weather.
The blade has a ceramic coating and the rubberized handle improves the knife’s performance in terms of control and stability. The grip has a diamond texture to beautify the design of the knife.
Specifications:
Blade Material: 420 HC Stainless Steel.
Blade’s Length: 4.8 Inches.
Sheath: Durable with Four Mounting pieces.
Overall Length: 9.8 Inches.
Weight: 0.7 oz.
Pros
Ergonomic Built.
Efficient Grip.
Multi-purposed.
Mounting Pieces.
Cons
Some users may not prefer serrated blades.
Conclusion:
Overall it’s a great outdoor knife by Gerber and something you can rely on during your camping adventures. The additional features such as mounting pieces with sheath and pommel really make it a package of value.
The Victorinox Swiss Pocket Knife can be defined as a super efficient knife. The knife is versatile with many tools and has a surprisingly sharp blade which makes it an ideal choice as the best camping knife.
Construction/ Material:
It has a Stainless Steel blade made in Switzerland which has a polish of red ABS scales which enhances its design. It is ideal as a camping knife and hiking knife too.
May it be a screwdriver, can opener, scissor, or a bottle opener it has it all. So, it would also work as the best camp kitchen knife. In total, it has 33 features and on top of that, it is compact so it is like you are carrying a toolbox in your pocket.
Specifications:
Blade Material: Swiss Stainless Steel.
Weight: 6.5 oz.
Knife’s Length: 3.6 Inches.
Blade’s Length: 2.45 Inches.
Pros
Multi-functioned Knife.
Compact Carry.
Built to Last.
Lifetime Guarantee of Material & Workmanship.
Cons
Some users prefer fixed blade knives.
Conclusion:
Anyone who is looking for a bundle of value in a knife should go for it. As the various tools it offers you may come in handy not only in your camping or hiking adventures but also in your daily life. The lifetime warranty is another factor that adds value to this knife for the user.
The Ka-Bar brand has been delivering premium quality knives since 1989.But specifically talking about Ka-BarBecker BK2 model, this knife has been built with having the best camping knives in mind. So, no matter whether you have to chop vegetables or you want to baton a firewood for the sake of kindling it does it all smoothly.
Construction/Material:
It is a heavy knife, weighing around a pound and the entire construction of the knife is a full tang. The knife is extremely tough and sturdy due to its steel, construction, and coating no matter what the task is it is enough to bear all the abuse.
All the heavy duty tasks can be performed with it. The uniqueness of its design is that its blade is thick and is a bit on the outer side from the handle.
Specifications:
Knife’s Weight: 1 Pound.
Blade’s Material: 1095 Cro-Van.
Blade’s Length: 5.25 Inches.
Sheath: Nylon, Black Color.
Blade’s Thickness: 0.25 Inches.
Pros
Ergonomic Built.
Ideal for Heavy Duty Tasks.
Reliable Thick Blade.
Cons
Some people might not prefer heavy knives.
Conclusion:
It is a pretty sturdy and reliable knife and the best of all is it’s specifically built as a camping knife. Ideal for people looking for a heavy duty camping knife that does it all.
The Schrade SCHF36 Frontier is a valuable knife when compared to the features of it. It won’t be wrong to say that this knife is one of the best camping knives under $50.
Construction/Material:
The blade is a full tang high carbon steel and thermoplastic elastomer handle. The handle gives it a unique look, control, and stability over the knife. But, wait, there’s a lot more to this. The knife comes with a stone sharpener, ferro rod, and a lanyard hole. You will also get a sheath with it.
When performing a task in which you need to hold your knife closer there’s a notch underneath the knife for a comfortable grip. The thermoplastic coating on the handle gives it an extraordinary grip which makes it better for all kinds of weather conditions and an ideal choice for both camping and survival.
Specifications:
Blade Material: 1095 Powder Coated High Carbon Steel.
Knife’s Weight: 12.3 oz.
Blade Length: 5 Inches.
Handle’s Material: Thermoplastic elastomer handle with Ring Texture.
Sheath Material: Belt Sheath, Easy to carry.
Pros
Durable Material.
Versatile Usage.
Reliable Ergonomic Construction.
Remarkable Grip.
Cons
Coating has a gap for improvement.
Conclusion:
Overall a great choice of all value for money and its versatile features such as ferro rod and sharpening stone may not be found in other knives of a similar price range.
This Japanese made lightweight knife is undoubtedly the best selling folding knives in the world. The most prominent features that deserve some praise are its ultra sharp blade and sturdiness.
Construction/Material:
The opening and closing function of the knife is quick and smooth because of the thumbhole it has and can be easily opened even with using a single hand. It has a serrated blade and is super sharp.
No matter whether it is about cutting a rope or carving a wood it does it all. The Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon provides an outstanding grip and makes the handle strong. The upper portion of the knife is plain which provides fibrous performance whereas the lower portion has a serrated blade for more control.
Specifications:
Knife’s Weight: 3.6 oz.
Blade Length: 3.75.
Blade Material: VG-10.
Pros
Lightweight & Sturdy.
Ultra Sharp Blade.
Efficient & Secure Grip.
Cons
Some Users may Choose Fixed Blade Knives Over It.
Conclusion:
This is the top choice of folding knives for camping as the blade is pretty sharp plus it is lightweight which makes it efficient and easy to carry. The grip of the knife is like ice on the cake as it gives more control over the knife. It also has a unique design of Bi-directional texturing which prevents it from slipping.
The Fixed Blade Tanto Knife of Smith & Wesson is razor-sharp right out of the box. It is a suitable knife for outdoor, tactical, and EDC purposes. It outclasses the other knives in terms of the blade and its TPE handle.
Construction/Material:
It has a grip like a handgun and is more suitable for campers, backpackers, and survivalists. The knife’s blade is high graded and has a titanium coating. The knife has a limited lifetime warranty which is a great value adding feature of this knife.
Specifications:
Blade Length: 5.2 Inches.
Blade Material: 9Cr17MoV High Carbon Stainless Steel.
Weight: 8.5 oz.
Blade Shape: Tanto Point.
Sheath: Thermoplastic Material.
Pros
Balanced Camping Knife.
Limited Lifetime Warranty.
Reliable Ergonomic Construction.
Secure due to its handgun-like handle.
Cons
Some Users May not like its Sheath.
Conclusion:
It is a sturdy and comfortable knife to carry for your camping and other needs. It can perform all tasks such as assisting in preparing food, cutting rope or to hammer the tent pegs. The handgun handle gives it a distinct look.
The versatile and aesthetic knife Benchmade Griptilian knife is a good choice as a camping knife, outdoor or a tactical knife. It is foldable, multi-functioned, and can be opened quickly single handedly.
Construction/Material:
It has a robust tip that is ready to bear the abuse and is rust resistant too which is great for all the general camping needs. Apart from that it also comes with a limited lifetime warranty from Benchmark.
The handle has been made from Glass-filled Nylon which makes it robust yet has an aesthetic look. The blade of the knife is plain yet is sturdy and lightweight. This Tanto blade can be used as a camping, hunting, or a general everyday carry EDC knife. The compact design of the Griptilian makes it easy to carry and provides the utmost comfort for the user.
All in all this is a great foldable camping knife as it has a sturdy construction and design. It is multi-purposed and can be used for various outdoor adventures. Last but not least it has a limited lifetime and sharpening warranty by Benchmade which makes it even more desirable.
How to Choose the Best Camping Knife for Your Needs:
Types of Camping Knives:
Camping knives are differentiated on the basis of their types and tang. Let’s check out what are those:
Fixed Blade Knives:
The best choice for a camping knife is a fixed blade knife as when it comes to a camping knife the weight and the size of the knife don’t matter much. This may not be true in all cases but generally speaking, the fixed blade knives are better than folding knives and are deemed to be more reliable comparatively.
People who are looking for an even more robust knife should go for a full tang fixed blade knife. The reason being, its entire structure is built of steel and is extended from the tip of the blade to the handle of the knife from head to toe. The users looking for a knife that would last longer and also looking for a survival knife should consider a full tang variant.
Folding Knives:
It is all about the choices of the users. Some users may prefer knives that are light in weight, compact, and can be accessed easily. This is why some would prefer folding knives for camping.
The differentiating factor for a folding knife is the comfort it provides while carrying it. What more could you ask for if it performs the camping chores efficiently along with providing complete comfort and ease to carry.
What does a tang mean? It means how many portions of the knife is covered by steel. If the knife is half tang it means half of its body is covered by steel. If it’s a full tang knife it means that the steel in the knife is extended till the handle of the knife.
Half Tanged or Quarter:
Although the knives with a half or a quarter tang also do the job and fulfill your camping needs some users want a knife with even more reliability and stability.
Full Tang:
Fixed Knives are the most robust knives when they are built with full tang as its stability improves manifolds and last much longer than the ones without a full tang.
Best Camping Knives Buying Guide & FAQs:
Now when you know what are the types of camping knives you also need to know the various other critical factors one needs to consider before making the purchase decision. Here are those:
Blade Material:
Although there are a plethora of steel types that are used in the knives and each one of them has some unique qualities which make them distinct. Honestly speaking we can’t conclude all of them here but we will be following some rule of thumbs to make a better decision.
Both kind of blade materials come with their own advantages and disadvantages. The softer blades are advantageous because when it’s sharpened it gets razor sharp but they aren’t considered much reliable by the users. Whereas the harder blades are more reliable but it isn’t easy to sharpen them and that’s the disadvantage it has.
Coating Material of the Blade:
The coating material’s basic purpose is to protect the blade by making it hard and resultantly increases its reliability. It also increases the aesthetic appeal of the knife.
Knives that don’t have a coating on it on the other hand are easier to sharpen and may not grind off.
Spark a Fire Feature:
Although with any of the knives it is possible to ignite a fire with the help of a ferrocerium rod but the best camping knives often have an edge provided on the spine which helps them ignite the fire without using the blade. Because if the blade is used too often then it might harm it and the ones with a coating might have a much more adverse effect.
Handle Type:
The handle of a camping knife is important as having a firm grip on the knife in the wild is necessary. In order to save yourself from slippage, there are knives that have a finger handle that enhances the grip of the knife.
Let’s check the types of handles!
Synthetic Knife Handle:
This is one of the most in-demand material used for camping knives and is also an easier on the pocket option. It is a reliable material but the only issue users face is that it has a slightly slippery material.
Wooden Knife Handle:
This material is lighter in weight, is expensive than the synthetic material but is not commonly used in the camping knives. It is less slippery and soft too.
The bottom line is, according to the users of the camping knives “blade” is what matters the most according to their needs. So, if the blade of the knife is sturdy and efficient then they focus less on the other materials.
Blade Design:
There are two types of blade designs for different purposes one is a flat design and the other one is a serrated blade design. The plain design fulfills all the utilitarian needs of the camping adventures but some users still might prefer a serrated blade knife.
The benefits of a serrated blade is that it helps in cutting rope or to saw wood etc. But, honestly speaking, in the expert opinion whatever the tasks are performed by a serrated blade could also be performed by the plain one or the non-serrated blade.
Camping Knife Care Tips:
A good camping knife may not just assist you in your camping adventures but a quality knife will be a one time buy. But to keep it for a lifetime it demands maintenance so here are some great camping knife care tips you need to know to make it last longer:
The Dryer & the Cleaner the Knife the Better:
When a knife is used in the dirt such as performing tasks while cutting ropes or igniting a fire. So, if you keep the knife untidy and wet it can affect the quality of the knife. So before you keep the knife in sheath you need to clean and dry the dirt so that it may not stick to it and affect the quality.
Honing Knife from Time to Time:
Just like any other machine after getting a bit abused requires some sort of servicing your camping knife would also need to be honed as time passes. So honing the knife would keep the blade sharp and retain its performance.
Other advice would be to only perform the task a knife is capable for. Some knives we have reviewed have a special pommel base so that it can be used as a hammer to hit something but not every knife has a pommel base hence can’t be used for that purpose.
Knife’s Lubrication:
Camping knives, especially folding knives do have the need to get lubricated more often as they have several tools and moving parts within them.
FAQs:
What is the best knife for camping?
Ans. These are the top 3 camping knives we havechosen and all are of top-notch quality:
But the fact remains the same that it depends on the needs of the user which would determine what is the best camping knife.
What makes a good camp knife?
Ans. The most critical factors a good camp knife should have are a quality blade, coating of the blade, and last but not least its features. A pommel base, resin-soaked fiberglass handle, whistle for emergency situations might be a requirement for a particular user but may not be for some other user. So to make an educated decision we would recommend to go through the detailed buying guide we have prepared for you.
Can I carry a knife when camping?
Ans. The laws to keep a knife may vary from state to state but the safest option is to keep a folding pocket knife instead of a fixed blade camping knife. The length of the folding camping knife must not exceed the limit of 3 inches or 7.62 cm in length. Staying under or to the length mentioned is what you should stick to to be on the safer side but checking the laws of your state is a must and something we would recommend.
What are the best bushcraft knives?
Ans. The top 3 choices we would recommend as the best bushcraft knives are as follows:
Morakniv Bushcraft Knife.
Ontario Knife Company 8696 Bushcraft Knife.
Boker Arbolito Bushcraft Knife.
Final Verdict:
No matter what sort of outdoor activity you are trying to get yourself involved in having the best camping knife is an extremely important tool that you need to be equipped with. Same is the case for a throwing knife activity. Having the best starter throwing knife is extremely important and this is why we have written a complete Buying Guide and top 10 reviews.
Knives that we have reviewed are a great fit for backpacking, hiking, or camping activity, etc. Just having a good quality knife means the job is half done but having a camping knife as per your needs is what would allow you to have the perfect purchase decision.
I would recommend you to read the buying guide and then decide the knife for you as in this case you would make an educated decision and choose it according to your requirements. We wish you good luck with your camping adventures ahead and we would appreciate your comments and welcome your thoughts in the comments below.
