What To Look For In a Camping Knife

Camping Knife

When preparing for your next big camping trip, you might be thinking about upgrading your old camping knife to something better.

 It’s important to consider a number of key factors while shopping for your next camping knife, so consider the following points before you make your purchase. 

Folding vs. fixed blades

Make sure you consider the primary purpose that your knife is going to serve when shopping for the idea camping knife. You can’t expect a single knife to do too much.

As a general rule, more heavy-duty tasks should not be performed with a folding blade. You might want to get a smaller folding knife for lighter tasks like whittling and opening packages, and look for a fixed blade camping knife that will be well-suited to more rigorous jobs and survival situations.

Knives with fixed blades also lack the weak point of a hinge, offering better leverage for tasks such as trimming firewood.

For the strongest possible construction, opt for a blade that has a full tang, or one continuous piece of metal running from the blade all the way to the end of the handle.

Different types of blade steel

The metal that your camping knife is made of is highly important, and should be a core factor in determining which knife to buy. Camping and bushcraft knives usually come in two types of steel: High carbon steel and stainless steel.

High carbon steel blades can offer advantages such as affordability and a higher level of hardness that helps them stay sharper over time. However, high carbon steel has very poor rust resistance. 

Stainless steel will not only prevent rust from becoming an issue, but it’s less likely to leach metal into your food as well.

Since you’ll probably want to use your camping knife for a variety of tasks that include food prep or other exposure to moisture, stainless steel will likely be the better fit.

Adequate but moderate blade length

While it might be tempting to think that bigger is better when it comes to camping knives, an oversized blade will only get in your way. Four inches is a good size limit for a camping blade, and will be able to handle most jobs that you’ll encounter during your camping trip. 

Keep local regulations in mind as well when choosing your camping knife, especially since acceptable blade lengths will vary depending on whether the blade is hinged or fixed. Enter your text here...

To Recap:

When you’re shopping for your ideal camping knife, first consider what you’ll be using the knife for. If you’ve got tons of firestarters and pre-packaged items to take on your camping trip, you might simply need a good folding knife. 

If you’re going to be using your knife for everything from cutting kindling to fireside food prep, opt for a fixed blade knife instead.

Additionally, make sure you choose the type of steel that offers the precise advantages that you want. If sharpness matters more to you than durability and food safety, then high carbon steel might be for you. Otherwise, opt for stainless steel. 

Lastly, check up on local regulations and then decide upon the ideal blade length for your knife. Don’t go overboard, since oversized knives can be unwieldy and weigh you down.