Best Camping Knife Choices for 2018: Complete Guide and Detailed Reviews

Knives are used to facilitate many things in our lives from the kitchen to the outdoors. In the range of knives that we have in the market, camping knives are very popular.

The reason for this is that these knives tend to be the hybrid between domestic and tactical knives. They are created to be durable enough to handle survival demands outdoor.

To purchase the best camping knife, you need to understand your outdoor needs and the quality of the knives available in the market. The guide below will assist you in understanding what you need to be on the lookout for. Be sure to go through the products to select your best pick.

The Victorinox Swiss Army SwissChamp Pocket Knife is your best friend if you are going for camping and you need minimal requirements. 

It offers you 33 functions from blade to a mini screwdriver. These 33 functions will help you tweak your camping site and camping experience.

You can easily use the bottle opener or the 2.45inch blade provided, you just have to pry them from their folds.

Weighing in at 6.05oz meaning that it is light to carry. Its height is 1.3inches and the length is 3.58inches. You can carry it without getting worried since the sharp ends of the tools are folded within the unit.

The Swiss army knife is made of stainless steel. This means that it won’t submit to rust or corrosion. The blades featured on the unit are sharp and can be used right off the box. If the blades get blunt, use a whetstone to re-sharpen the blade.

The Spyderco ParaMilitary 2 G-10 Plain Edge Knife is a foldable knife that you can select for your outdoor needs. The blade is created from stainless steel which is known to have excellent qualities.

Stainless still holds sharp edges for longer and rust is a non-factor. The CPM S30V steel unit will serve you relentlessly without bending/breaking.

Being that it is paramilitary it has to have some form of safety. The blade features a blade lock that allows the unit to stay in position. The locking mechanism is facilitated by pivot bushing system.

The compression lock is created in a way that locking the blade in is characterized by fluid movements.

To understand the size of the unit, you have to look at the dimensions provided. When folded it measures 4.8inches. The overall length of the unit is 8.2inches while the blade length is 3.4inches. It is not a large blade and therefore can be easily managed.

The handles have been tweaked to provide comfort and functional grip. The G-handle installed does just that. It is narrower in some sections to reduce the strain impacted on the hands.

It also has a 2-position pocket clip and lanyard hole will ensure that you can store the knife safely. The 3.9oz knife has a blade thickness of 3.5mm. Use it wisely.

The BlizeTec Survival Knife is the kind of camping knife you need around you for emergency purposes. The 5.46oz unit is light making it easy for you to carry it around.

The light unit is designed to be foldable so as to enforce safety and function. The folding ability allows you to put it in your pockets or somewhere in your person where accessing it will be easier.

As for the blade, it is created from 420 stainless steel. Stainless steel is popular for its strength and rust resistance. The blade is also good at maintaining sharpness over several uses. The unit is comprised of other features that you might find convenient.

You can use the LED light to illuminate your working areas. You also get a magnesium alloy fire starter for cold nights, blade lock for safety, seat belt cutter just in case you get stuck and a pocket clip that allows the unit to be securely stored.

There is also a window breaker feature if you need one. These features make life in the outdoors a bit more comfortable

The blade is serrated and tapers to a drop-point. The serrated blade offers more support when driving through difficult materials. The 3.5inch blade is coated with black oxide to elongate durability.

The length of the unit is 8.5inches giving you leeway to attend to light-medium applications. Safe, secure, easy to use and comes with a lifetime warranty.

The Benchmade - Bushcrafter 162 Knife, Drop-Point is a full-tang knife that you can carry along on your camping expeditions. Made from durable CPM-S30V stainless steel, this knife can take more impact than the foldable knives.

The knife is easy to hold due to the handle provided. The G10 handle is made from durable material and has indentations that allow the arm to wrap around it well.

The ergonomic handle provides adequate grip and support. The handle is securely fixed onto the blade facilitating secure cutting.

As for blade length, we are looking at 4.4inches and 4.1mm in blade thickness. The knife weighs 282gramms making it lightweight and easy to carry around.

There is a durable holster provided to hold the knife as you move. The full-grain holster will keep the knife away from moisture and keep the blade sharp.

This knife comes with a lifetime warranty. This means that in the case that your knife goes blunt or faces any other problem, the company will offer you solutions.

This dependable knife will offer a helping hand out there in the wilderness or controlled settings like a camp.

The Morakniv Bushcraft Carbon Steel Survival Knife with Fire Starter and Sheath, Black, looks cool and has a couple of tricks up its sleeve. The blade is made of high carbon steel (55-58) which as established is very durable.

The blade is 3.2mm thick ensuring that you can carve wood or baton depending on your current needs.

To help prevent the blade from rusting the blade has been given a black coating. The coating will wear off at some point thus it is important to use protective oil.

To further enhance the ability of the blade, the Scandi format is employed. This, in turn, allows the knife to bite into the material and not slip easily.

The trick about this knife is in the sheath provided. You can use the survival sheath to keep your knife sharp. This is because it has an inbuilt blade sharpener. The diamond sharpener will keep that blade in good condition.

As it is a survival knife, it might as well help you survive in all entirety. It has a fire starter that you can utilize to start campfires or seal plastic wrapping.

It comes with a removable belt together with a loop so that you can carry the knife as you please.

The 4.3inch blade is supported by an ergonomic rubber handle that offers reliable grip. It weighs approximately 229g making it an easy knife to walk around with. You get a lifetime guarantee with this knife so you can be sure that maintenance is covered.

The Condor Tool & Knife, Bushlore Camp Knife is a solid full tang knife that you can use for your outdoor or indoor if need be. As the story of good knives goes, high carbon steel has to be involved in some capacity.

This knife boasts of a 1075 high carbon steel construction guaranteeing you durability. The saber grind provides stable penetration and grip depending on the texture of the material.

Something else that can be observed in this product is the durable leather sheath that it comes with. The 100% leather guarantees that your blade will stay sharp for longer.

It has replaceable soft pads and 44 sculpted vents that facilitate durability in the long run

To keep the blade from rusting and corrosion, it has a blasted satin coating. The blade length is 4.3inches and thus you can get a few things done around the camp. As for the width of the blade, it is 1/8". Curving with this knife might be fun if you are in for it.

The ergonomic handle is made from hardwood giving it an aesthetic appeal as well as relatable functions. Hardwood is more durable compared to some forms of plastic that are out there.

They also provide you with a belt loop that you can use in keeping the knife when it is not in use.

The Buck Knives 0863BRS SELKIRK Fixed Blade Survival Knife with Fire Striker and Sheath is a drop point knife that makes skinning look like Childs play. This is due to how sharp the knife is. The blade is made from 420 carbon steel. The flat grind knife is guaranteed to be durable despite the impact it faces.

Weighing only 216g you can store and carry it with ease. Since it is a full tang knife it offers you support as you chop through difficult materials compared to semi-tang knives.

The 11.9cm blade has a thickness of 1/8". This is a thin sharp blade so be sure not to get distracted when using it. You might cause yourself harm.

When you look at this knife, you cannot ignore the handle as it has a beautiful pattern. The Micarta Handle design offers you uncompromised grip even when your hands are a bit sweaty.

At the end of the handle, you’ll notice a steel bolster that you can utilize to hammer through things.

When the knife is not in use, it is sitting inside the strong sheath provided. The sheath can be hoisted onto a belt and carried conveniently by the user. The fire starter and whistle will ensure that you feel safe and warm.

This survival knife comes with a lifetime warranty which means that any repairs or maintenance can be addressed accordingly.

Do you want a knife or multi-tool?

What tasks need to be accomplished outdoors? Are you going to be outdoors for a short period or an extended period? If you know you need a couple of tools in your arsenal like a bottle opener, and screwdriver, it is better if you select a multi-tool. Depending on the number of functions you need, you can get multi-tools of varied sizes.

Knives, on the other hand, do not have extra features but can still perform much-needed functions outdoors. You can get them for wood collection or gutting the fish you just caught for dinner. Heavy functions need larger knives compared to lighter functions. Gauge wisely before purchase.

Pocket size or full size?

In the choice of knives that you can carry for camping, you can select between having a foldable knife or the full-size unit. Foldable knives are good because they can be carried in the pocket without the risk of harming someone. They are also lightweight and therefore cannot take care of heavy-handed applications.

Full tang knives are durable and can take a more pressure. Since the whole knife is one piece from blade to handle, it is considered more proficient. They are also easy to clean compared to the foldable knives.

Blade design

In a knife, the blade is the most important thing. The material and blade design affect how effectively you can conduct your business. Let us look at the various kinds available and what exactly they can be used for.

Drop point blades are perfect for heavy-duty work like making indentations on wood or cutting through thick materials. The way they are structured, it is hard to lose control and puncture something accidentally.

Tanto blades are ideally meant for piercing through heavy material. The design of the blade features a high point and flat grain. This, in turn, creates a sharp point that is used to pierce and scrape through hard materials.

Clip point blades are the kind you need for detailed work and perforating through the animal skin. The crescent-like drop which is responsible for the sharp tip. They are not appropriate for heavy-handed work.

Spearpoint/needle-point blades are perfect for protection purposes. Due to the double edge blade, you can be able to hunt or slice through the animal skin. They are lightweight and thus cannot be expected to do the jobs tanto blades can do.

Durable blade materials

Most knives are made from steel. The variation in strength is what most people need to be aware of. High carbon steel blades are preferred due to their durability. They also have the ability to retain their sharpness. The only grapple with carbon steel blades is that if they are left exposed to the elements, rust may creep in.

Stainless steel blades are another trusted quality. They do not rust and they offer enough strength to keep up constant use. They retain sharpness better than high carbon steel but tend to snap if too much pressure is applied.

In summary ensure that the material used in construction is able to deter corrosion, bluntness, and rust.

Blade length and weight

The length of the blade matters as it facilitated how deep you can drive the knife. Long blades are good for heavy-handed work while small blades can handle detailed processes. Remember that the longer the blade the heavier it gets. If the knife is too heavy, you may find yourself using extra energy to complete a simple process.

Correct handles

The handles that you select for your knife matters. It can be wood, metal or plastic depending on the brand you are after. Wood handles look lovely but are left prone to damage when exposed to the weather elements. Plastic handles are popular but just make sure that the material. Whichever handles you select, make sure that they are securely reinforced and smoothly finished.

Final Conclusion

It is very crucial for the outdoor enthusiast to carry the right knife. Sometimes it is the only thing between you and death. If you have the strength to carry heavy knives then that is excellent.

If you are a minimalist, multi-tools are not so bad to work with. Be decisive and ensure that proper storage is maintained at all times.

Out of all, we thought that the Morakniv Bushcraft Carbon Steel Survival Knife with Fire Starter and Sheath, Black, was the best camping knife. It has the features that you might need for survival including a fire starter.

It is light and the price is not so bad in your pocket. This might not be your best so, feel free to be the judge.

That is all for now. Remember when you think a knife, think sharp!