Tested: The Best Camping Knives For The Outdoors

Packing up and heading out into the great outdoors means leaving behind the vast majority of our creature comforts from home and replacing them with a minimalistic selection of gear needed to handle basic tasks such as fire prep, camp cooking, and even light bushcraft work. And we’d argue no one single tool provides as much utility or versatility in as compact of a package as a quality field or camp knife. Between blades engineered specifically for outdoor and camping applications and other knives that just happen to be highly conducive to camp use, there’s absolutely no shortage of admittedly solid options to pick from when shopping in this space. With this year’s outdoor season just around the corner, now seems the perfect time to explore this space for our hands-on review and complete guide to the best camping knives. 

Selection & Testing

There’s an enormous number of available options when it comes to acquiring a camping knife. So, in a bid to sort through the proverbial sea of available offerings in order to hone in on the best the segment has to offer, we began our search by first making a list of qualities and criteria that would be used to guide our search and judge each knife. Alongside limiting our hunt to knives spanning no more than 10”, we also scrutinized each knife’s blade steel, blade shape, blade thickness, handle construction, hardware and secondary elements, and if applicable, sheath, locking mechanism, and deployment. With these areas guiding our search, we then generated a shortlist of knifes that we suspected may stand as some of the best camp knife options that money can currently buy. 

Looking at the shape of a handle or profile and thickness of a blade, you can often get a sense of how a knife might feel in the hand or perform when cutting. And while we don’t deny this, the reality is that the only way to really get a comprehensive sense of how a camp knife performs is to get your hands on one and then go camping with it. So, that’s exactly what we did. After sourcing each one of the knives on our shortlist, we packed up the rest of our gear, hopped in the truck, and headed into nature where we could set up our basecamp and then spend the next few days discovering how each of these blades performed on and around the campsite. This hands-on testing phase helped reveal other areas of immense importance such as each model’s ergonomics and grip, how it feels in the hand, how well-balanced it is, how sturdy it feels, and what level of build quality it exhibits. 

Just as important, the hands-on testing performed over the course of our most recent camping trip also shined a light on just how versatile each knife was, and how well it lent itself to basic tasks around camp. This battery of basic camp tasks included whittling sticks into tent stakes, feather-sticking, carrying out basic food prep using both meat and veggies, and cutting both paracord and climbing rope. What’s more, we also considered whether any of these knives could be utilized for more hard-use survival and bushcraft, such as being hammered through logs, used for prying, or being used as a hammer. After extensive note taking, reviewing each knife and its performance individually as well as side-by-side, we then returned home from our trip, armed with a final hard list of the best camping knives. 

Opinel No.12 Outdoor Explore

Best Affordable Pick: The Opinel No.12 is unquestionably one of the most iconic pocket knife designs of all time. One of the original dozen designs/sizes developed by Opinel in 1897, this so-called “peasant knife” has gone largely unchanged over the more-than-a-century that it’s been in production — save for the addition of Marcel Opinel’s Virobloc locking collar in the 1950s. In 2016, the French firm delivered the biggest update the knife has ever received with the introduction of the Opinel No.12 Outdoor Explore — a modernized, adventure-ready take on the No.12 that gains additional functionality while retaining much of the original No.12’s DNA. 

Measuring 10.25” overall, the knife sees the standard No.12’s timber-construction handle jettisoned in favor of a lightweight yet rugged fiber-reinforced polymer item that features an integrated 110-decibel pea-less emergency whistle, a tick remover insert, and a removable gut-hook and strap-cutter that doubles as a lanyard hole when set in the knife. Decorated in a topographical pattern motif, the handle comes mated to a 3.86” clip point blade that’s made from Sandvik 12C27M steel. Made in France, the No.12 OE manages to tip the scales at around half-a-pound, which isn’t terrible considering the fact the thing spans over 10” when open. 

Unlike Opinel’s similar but more compact 7.5-inch No.08 Outdoor knife, the No.12 OE is a full-sized knife that had no problem accomplishing any of the camp tasks that I carried out while testing the thing. Even with a blade thickness of just 0.09”, the Outdoor Explore-spec No.12 is actually capable of being hammered through logs — a fact that not only speaks volumes about the knife’s overall durability and workhorse capabilities, but also one that made it abundantly clear to me just how robust the knife’s Virobloc lock truly is.  While it was by no means on par with camp knives costing 6-8-times as much, I was nonetheless impressed with how sharp the Opinel’s factory edge was — and how well the Sandvik steel was able to maintain an edge across the entire course of my testing phase. The fact that it can actually serve as a workhorse and doesn’t merely look the part also affords this French-made model pretty terrific bang-for-your-buck. 

Even with the benefit of the outdoor-focused updates it received in 2016, the somewhat antiquated nature of the Opinel No.12 Outdoor Explore did reveal itself in several ways while I was testing it. While these flaws are no doubt outweighed by the knife’s strengths, I wasn’t particularly impressed with the handle’s ergonomics. Despite being decently-sized and fitting nicely in my hand, the thing’s lack of contours and grooves are noticeable while performing hard use tasks. The knife’s handle polymer construction does provide solid grip, and the topo pattern actually manages to bolster this area as well, rather than simply being an aesthetic decision. Like all of Opinel’s Virobloc-locking knives, the No.12 Outdoor Explore requires two hands to both open and close. What’s more, between the fact the blade sits very low in the handle when closed, and is deployed using a nail nick, the knife can be somewhat difficult to open — even more so once the thing has been gunked up a bit from outdoor use. It’s also almost certainly the most difficult knife to clean out of all the models I tested. 

Verdict: With updated materials, a full-sized length, and a utility-bolstering insert, the Opinel No.12 Outdoor Explore makes for a great camp knife for anyone that’s on a budget — or anyone with an appreciation for timeless and thoroughly iconic designs.  

ESEE Knives Izula-II

Best Overall Camp Knife: Since its debut roughly a decade and a half ago, the ESEE Knives Izula-II has proven without a shadow of a doubt that good outdoor knives can come in small packages. Ticking just about every box one could ask for in a camp knife, the second-generation ESEE Izula features a full-tang 1095 high-carbon steel construction with a 2.63” blade set between a pair of thoroughly grippy and rugged canvas Micarta scales. Weighing less than 3.5oz, the knife is small enough to be comfortable worn as a neck knife yet large and robust enough to take on just about any general tasks on and around the campsite, including hard use applications — no doubt helped along by its generous 0.156-inch blade thickness. The jimping at the base of the blade’s spine also helps it excel at more fine-use applications.  

The choice of steel, blade thickness, and overall rugged construction of this knife actually allows it to easily handle batoning, though its sub-7” length no doubt hinders its ability to lend itself to splitting logs — though again, it can do it. This alone is a pretty huge deal considering the size of the knife. Likewise, the 6.75-inch length and fairly svelte 3.2-ounce weight also pretty hugely limit the Izula-II’s chopping power — though it’s hard to fault ESEE for this as it clearly wasn’t intended for such. I do appreciate the fact that the Izula-II comes with a hard injection-molded sheath rather than a leather item (personal preference), though I didn’t love how the thing performed. With that said, Armatus Carry fortunately produces a top-notch KYDEX sheath for the Izula-II that instantly remedies this issue. 

Thus far, every ESEE knife that I’ve tested has exhibited a decently-sharp blade, however, the Izula-II’s factory edge is even more impressive, with a level of sharpness that I’ve seldom seen outside of top-shelf folders. What’s more, the textured black powder coating on the blade not only looks and feels great, but it also appeared to do a terrific job of fortifying the knife’s underlying 1095 construction. Despite its oval shape, the Izula-II’s handle affords stupendous ergonomics and grip, whether held regularly or reverse carried, and whether being used for delicate tasks or hard-use applications. It very much appears that the American brand opted to improve the first-gen iteration of the Izula by modifying and lengthening its handle — only by a small amount, but still enough to pretty hugely elevate overall grip. While I absolutely love the ergonomics of this knife and how it feels in the hand, I did notice that the oversized lanyard hole at the base of the handle can at times create a bit of a hot spot — especially under hard use. 

Made in America, the knife features great build quality that, when coupled with its rugged material selection, practically guarantees a lifetime of use. Having said that, if you do somehow manage to damage an Izula-II, ESEE stands behind the blade with a “no questions asked” lifetime warranty — literally guaranteeing a lifetime of use. Its minimal proportions and incredibly hardwearing nature also allow the ESEE Izula-II to lend itself just as well to off-roading, backpacking, and everyday carry use as it does camping. In fact, I have yet to come across another knife that delivers the same level of actual utility in this small of a package. The thing really can do it all. This is made even more impressive by the fact that this knife can be picked up for less than $100. ESEE also offers a range of optional upgrades and accessories for this knife, plus it’s immense popularity has given way to numerous available aftermarket items — such as a plethora of different scales and a myriad of sheaths including the aforementioned Armatus Carry item. 

Verdict: I’d argue that the ESEE Knives Izula-II is just about as close to perfect as a camp knife can get, affording an incredible amount of control, utility, and durability, in a decidedly diminutive package that’s still capable of handling everything from food prep to feather-sticking to batoning. 

Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter

Most Rugged Folder: Typically speaking, fixed blade knives pretty much always make for better hard-use cutting tools compared to folders. And while this may be true the vast majority of the time, Cold Steel’s Ultimate Hunter is an exception to this rule, with a beefy construction, hardwearing, premium materials, and a ridiculously sturdy locking mechanism that collectively offer a level of performance — and an ability to withstand abuse — that’s normally reserved for rugged outdoor fixed blades. Born out of a collaberation between Cold Steel’s Lynn C. Thompson and Andrew Demko (of Demko Knives fame), the Ultimate Hunter was meticulously developed over the course of more than three years, during which time the folder was extensively field-tested across four continents. 

Boasting an overall length of 8.50”, the Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter is pieced togehrter around a triple-locking, Tri-Ad mechanism-equipped handle that’s been precision-machined from G-10 before receiving a heavily bead-blasted finish. The handle comes paired with a 3.50” drop point blade that’s deployed via a thumb-stud setup and forged in premium CPM S35VN steel. Once getting the knife in-hand, it quickly becomes abundantly clear just how calculated of a design that its handle sports. Between its low-profile finger guard, sloping bottom-end, and jimping just below the blade’s spine, the Ultimate Hunter affords excellent ergonomics and grip — an area furthered by the small depressions in the handle that perfectly accommodate the user’s trigger finger when they’re hand is wrapped around the scales. 

What’s more, the heavy jimping on the top of the handle below the blade’s spine does do a great job of providing traction and bolstering grip — even when wearing work gloves — though I wish the knurling extended onto the actual blade, as this would no doubt increase its conduciveness to fine-use tasks. Though it felt incredibly natural and fit almost perfectly in my palm, I imagine users with smaller hands may find the ergonomics a bit awkward. And, while it’s admittedly a very minor detail, I defiantly appreciate how Cold Steel ships this knife with two different pocket clips (a left-handed and a right-handed item). With that said I was less impressed with how the stiffness of its pocket clip required me to use two hands in order to slip it over the front of my pocket. The Ultimate Hunter’s back-spacer and lockback-style mechanism also completely cap off the back of the handle, preventing dirt and grime from entering and gunking things up. Even though I’ve used countless high-end knives over the years, I was still pretty impressed with how sharp this model’s edge came straight from the factory — plus the use of S35VN steel ensures that razor-sharp edge will remain for an extended period. 

As much as it has going for it, no knife is perfect, and Cold Steel’s Ultimate Hunter is no exception. Having said that, I will acknowledge that almost all of my gripes are either very minor, or completely subjective. For starters, the handle’s texturing does help to increase grip, though a deeper, more pronounced texture would almost certainly improve this area. Based on the price of the knife and the rest of its materials, I’d have preferred if Cold Steel opted for a back-spacer made from an alloy (or at least one with a matching G10 construction). Additionally, I don’t love the fact that the backlock-style Tri-Ad mechanism requires two hands to use — whether opening or closing the thing — though this lock more than makes up for this with its unparalleled strength. Despite being a folding knife, the Ultimate Hunter has no problem whatsoever being hammered through a log. With that said, I do need to touch on the fact that the lock sometimes takes a few tries in order to properly disengage, though it constituently snapped into place every time I opened the blade. I imagine this mainly stems from the fact this knife is mass-produced in Taiwan.  

Verdict: With its premium materials and a locking mechanism that allows it to stand up to ultra-hard-use tasks damn-near as well as a fixed blade, the Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter makes for a camping knife that’s as sturdy as it is unique — plus the thing is a markedly more pocketable and travel-friendly alternative to a rigid full-tang model, and one that can also lend itself to everyday carry use. 

The James Brand The Redstone

Best Super-Compact Pick: In 2021, The James Brand set out to deliver a compact yet capable folding knife aimed specifically at off-grid use. In order to bring the project to life, TJB called on professional climber and adventure photographer Savannah Cummins to help ensure the knife would come loaded with everything that outdoor enthusiasts would want in a blade. This process would ultimately give way to The James Brand Redstone. Spanning just under 6.5” in total, The Redstone is crafted around a one-piece die-stamped alloy frame fitted a two-piece grooved polypropylene scale setup that TJB calls an “island design.” Pieced together using stainless steel and black-oxide hardware, The Redstone’s handle features a finger groove 3/4s of the way up, The James Brand’s first-ever formed-wire pocket clip design, and a Benchmade AXIS-style ambidextrous Slide-Lock mechanism. 

Because of its size. I expected The Redstone to be noticeably lacking behind the rest of the knives on this list in terms of utility. And while it can’t be employed for harder-use tasks such as being hammered through a log, it nonetheless excelled in pretty much every area I tested, with its partially-serrated drop point blade affording a decided amount of utility. The Redstone’s textured polypropylene “island” scales help to bolster grip, while the jimping at the base of the blade’s spine provides additional support when being used — plus jimping half-way up the spine massively increases the blade’s conduciveness to more delicate, fine-use applications in and around camp. The prolonged popularity of the knife has also resulted in several available aftermarket scale upgrades for The Redstone, including titanium units from Flytanium. Sold at a more accessible price point than normal — at least for The James Brand — The Redstone actually offers pretty solid value, too. 

Though its tip-up, deep-carry formed wire pocket clip doesn’t feel as sturdy as most pressed steel (or billet) pocket clips, it nonetheless offers enough retention to ensure the knife remains in your pocket — even in the midst of ample movement such as when rock climbing or mountain biking — plus no doubt contributes to The Redstone’s super svelte 1.8oz weight. When gripping the handle tightly, I did notice the pocket clip can create a bit of a hotspot at certain angles. I The knife also comes with an included looped piece of paracord that actually made it much easier to get out of my pocket. The knife can also easily be opened or closed using one hand. 

Unlike most (non-integral) folders, The Redstone’s handle’s spine features a closed-off design that mitigates the likelihood of dirt and grime finding its way into the knife. This element is a bit of a double-edged sword, however, as it also makes the knife a bit harder to clean. When used side-by-side with the AXIS lock on a Benchmade Bugout, The Redstone’s mechanism feels a bit flimsy, with a bit more side-to-side, up-and-down play than I’d like. I’d also have liked to see The James Brand opt for a slightly-thicker blade (and even a more premium blade steel option), though I also realize this is one of several elements that collectively allow it to weigh in tales than 2oz in total. And, while it felt a tiny bit too small to be comfortable in my hand (with my fingers unable to fit into the handle’s finger groove), I still imagine The Redstone would be perfect for individuals with smaller paws. 

Verdict: Engineered specifically with outdoor use in mind, The James Brand’s The Redstone offers remarkable levels of performance and utility despite its compact and ultra-pocketable size. And while it might not be as large or robust as most of the other models on this list, pound for pound and inch for inch it’s unquestionably one of the best camping blades on the market. 

Quiet Carry The Current

Best Corrosion-Resistant Pick: If you regularly bring an axe and a saw camping and thus primarily use your camp knife for feather-sticking and food prep, there are very few camp knife options that can hold a flame to the Quiet Carry Current. The Current benefits from a well-balanced design that includes a tall drop point blade and a simple yet clearly calculated handle design that affords an incredibly firm yet natural and comfortable grip. These attributes make it wildly conducive to all manner of tasks around the campsite, though as previously mentioned, where it really shines is in the camp kitchen — though that’s not to say it isn’t an all-around versatile knife, as my testing uncovered. 

Clocking in at 7.23” tip-to-pommel, The Current is comprised of a set of lightly-textured machined G10 scales set of a 0.12-inch-thick full-tang construction that culminates in a 3.0” drop point profile with a flat-ground edge. Weighing in at 4oz even, The Current is composed of LC200N. Made by European steel purveyor ZAPP, LC200N is a nitrogen-based was originally developed for use as ball bearing steel for NASA but was quickly utilized as a blade steel as it not only offers great toughness and edge retention, but it’s also practically impervious to moisture, making it a go-to choice for knives utilized in marine environments or more moist and damp climates such as the Pacific Northwest. I would also normally complain about the 0.12-inch thickness of the blade, as I generally consider that figure to be towards the very bottom of acceptable blade thicknesses, though in the case of The Current its 0.12-inch dimension allows it to slice through both meat and fruit and vegetables effortlessly — an area that I imagine would be hindered if that number increased. 

I liked The Current as soon as I got my hands on it, though it only grew on me the longer I spent with it. The handle ergonomics are just superb, and the jimping that runs from the base of the blade halfway up its spine bolsters grip when held normally, plus allowed me to easily choke up on the blade when taking on more delicate cutting tasks. There’s also jimping on the inner finger guard and at base on bottom of handle that contribute to an even higher level of grip. Shipping with a KYDEX sheath, the knife also sports a hidden lanyard hole at base of handle — keeping it out of sight if unused but still there if needed. When writing this, I had to double-check that Quiet Carry’s knives are made in Taiwan, as I thought I remembered reading that at some point, though the quality and construction of the knife really had me question whether or not it was made domestically. Fit and finish is top-notch and its factory edge was razor sharp. Put simply; the thing boasts fantastic craftsmanship. Small touches such as The Current’s use of all-titanium hardware further elevate this fixed blade, and push it more squarely into premium knife territory — despite its manufacturing origin. 

The only real complaint I had when testing The Current around camp is the fact that it’s spine protrudes out from blade on all sides of the handle. Granted this is only by a fraction of a centimeter, but it was nonetheless noticeable. It admittedly didn’t hugely impact grip or performance but I still found it to be a fairly odd detail that, despite pondering extensively, still had trouble making sense of. Aside from that, I really enjoyed every second I spent with this knife, and it was almost disappointing when I’d run out of food to process and prep. It’s also almost just as good at whittling stakes for camping tents, cutting rope, or handling a myriad of other around-camp tasks. It isn’t the cheapest knife by any means, but I think that based on it’s craftsmanship, materials, and the extraordinary amount of time that must have gone into developing this knife, its nearly $200 MSRP seems more than justifiable. 

Quiet Carry’s The Current is unequivocally one of the absolute best camp chef’s knives that’s still more than capable of tackling other tasks around camp. The premium materials, top-notch fit and finish, and stellar ergonomics are just the icing on the cake. 

Gerber Terracraft

Best USA-Made Pick: In late 2020, Gerber announced the launch of its all-new Gerber Reserve lineup which would consist of a more premium range of small-batch knives made entirely in America. To kick off this exclusive new collection, Gerber debuted introduced the Terracraft. This fixed-blade outdoor knife sees Gerber step up their game in practically every possible area, from the knife’s level of design to its material selection to its craftsmanship to its performance. Even the appearance of the knife is more striking than Gerber’s most value-focused offerings. 

The Gerber Terracraft features a 9.125” full-tang construction that’s been brought to life in premium CPM S30V. On either side of the blade is a set of layered and well-contoured G10 scales. Thanks to a generous thickness of 0.18”, the Terracraft no doubt performed best at batoning and other hard-use tasks out of all the camp knives that I tested. The blade’s sheer brute force did outperform all others — allowing it to no doubt excel as a full-on survival knife — though it does come at the cost of the Terracraft falling behind when it comes to more delicate and precise uses. The total lack of jimping on the spine or handle don’t help in this department. And, while it’s a purely subjective gripe, I didn’t like how the brushed finish on blade’s spine doesn’t match stonewashed finish on the rest of the knife. I did, however, enjoy the fact that the Terracraft might be one of, if not the sharpest Gerber knife I’ve used in a long one — an area made all the more impressive by the blade’s beefy thickness. 

Overall, the Gerber Terracraft’s handle is well-thought out, and provides a level of grip that inspires a lot of confidence. With that that, I do wish it had just a bit more texturing to it, and I did find that the oversized tubes in the handle occasionally form hotspots under hard use — though I also understand they serve as stelar lashing points for the knife. This brings me to the next area I want to discuss, which is this model’s bevy of outdoor and camp-specific features and amenities, which include the aforementioned lashing holes, a 90° spine for striking with a Ferro rod, and a beefy pommel that has no problem doubling as a pretty effective hammer. 

Backed by a lifetime warranty, this American-made knife also ships with an American-made leather sheath — an item that’s admittedly well-crafted, but one that’s devoid of rivets for mounting and can only be configured in vertical belt-carry mode. Gerber also makes the similar Principle knife, which is also made in America, though features a 420HC construction with a 0.13-inch blade thickness, a shorter 7.50-inch length, and more bushcraft-focused zero-edge Scandinavian grind — plus MSRPs at just $67. 

Verdict: The Gerber Terracraft is a survival-grade outdoor knife that’s made in America in small batches using premium materials, and a design that boasts a myriad of integrated camp-specific features and capabilities — making it the perfect knife for anyone looking for a hard-use-task-ready cutting tool capable of delivering a lifetime of dependable performance. 

Montana Knife Company Speedgoat 2.0

Best Lightweight Pick: From Spyderco in 1976 to Benchmade in ’79, most of today’s most renowned knife brands spend decades developing a world-class reputation and a devoted customer base. The Montana Knife Company has managed to do it in just a few short years (and fresh on the heels of a global pandemic no less), with Master Bladesmith Josh Smith having founded MKC in 2021. Based in Frenchtown, Montana, the company’s reputation has been built on the strength of boutique, USA-made knives that boast a combination of stellar designs, meticulous handworked craftsmanship, and premium materials — attributes that the Montana Knife Company Speedgoat 2.0 possesses in spades. 

The second-generation MKC Speedgoat measures 7.875″ overall, yet tips the scales at a measly 1.7oz. This is achieved through the use of a skeltonized 0.095-inch-thick full-tang construction composed of either black-Parkerized 52100 ball bearing carbon steel or CPM MagnaCut with a near mirror-polished finish — both of which are cryogenically heat-treated before ultimately being hand-wrapped in 7’ of 550 paracord right here in the USA. Starting with premium materials, this knife is made all the better by its hand-crafted construction, hand-finishing, and beyond-stringent quality control standards. I had the privilege of getting hands-on with and testing both the 52100 and MagnaCut versions of the SG2 and was just beyond impressed with the build quality — especially on a knife this simple. 

I’ve personally owned one of these knives for over a year and have come to love the thing. While I at first looked down on the blade’s sub-0.10-inch thickness, I quickly chanced my tune once I actually experienced how effortlessly the SG2 cuts. Unsurprisingly, the blade’s thin profile also benefits from an absolutely superb — and razor sharp — factory edge. With decent ergonomics that include a super effective thumb guard, this sub-2oz knife is also unbelievably easy to wield and control. I’ll admit I wouldn’t attempt trying to baton the Speedgoat 2.0 through a log, but what it lacks in hard-use prowess I’d argue it sufficiently makes up for in sheer slicing ability — and that’s before even factoring its excellent fit and finish into the equation. 

The Montana Knife Company Speedgoat 2.0 does have its issues, but almost all of them are problems that stem from the same elements that allow it to cut so well. The paracord-wrapped handle doesn’t provide as much support or grip as rigid scales — though still affords a sufficient amount — and it can’t handle some of the more hardcore uses as its more survival knife-like counterparts. The other downside to this MKC knife is that it can be extremely difficult to get your hands on. The Montana Knife Company’s sterling reputation has lead to practically all of its knives getting snapped up almost instantly upon going up for sale on the MKC site — with the Speedgoat 2.0 being no exception. Then again, it is difficult to fault MKC for making knives this desirable. 

Verdict: If you’re after excellent slicing capabilities in a ridiculously lightweight and well-crafted package and don’t need a camp knife for hard-use tasks — plus are willing to potentially wait until the next drop — the Montana Knife Company Speedgoat 2.0 is the way to go.

Best Camping Knives Comparison Chart

What Exactly Is A Camping Knife?

As you may have guessed based on the name, camping knives or camp knives are knives that are typically built for use off-grid and on and around the campsite. As such, these blades need to be both tremendously utilitarian and extremely versatile, plus they need to have no problem taking on a wide range of uses, from processing wood to camp cooking. On top of being super versatile and packed with utilitarian potential, camp knives also need to be hardwearing, well-built, and able to stand up to the elements, no matter what season. Because of their potential to be exposed to dirt, grime, and other debris that can gunk-up a knife, a good camping knife also needs to be easy-to-service and clean. It’s also paramount that a quality camping knife be able to be easily and quickly-accessed with just one hand. 

In some sense, camping knives can almost be described as smaller, more compact takes on survival (and some bushcraft) blades, with their immense durability, utilitarian nature, and general conduciveness to outdoor and off-grid use. Unlike survival knives, however, camping knives are typically packed along with a few other camping gear essentials such as an axe, folding wood saw, or hammer. So, while it’s great when a camping knife can excel at the type of tasks that are typically reserved for larger survival blades, they don’t always need to be able to perform ultra-hard-use tasks in order to qualify as a quality camping knife. As briefly touched on below, another pivotal factor that defines any good camping knife is its compact size— and ability to deliver ample utility despite their usually rather diminutive form. Consequently, any decent camping knife should feature comfortable, natural-feeling ergonomics and excellent grip. 

What To Consider When Shopping

While outdoor and camping knives don’t differ all that much from regular everyday carry blades, there are a handful of small but important differences that are crucial to be aware of when shopping. Below, we’ll briefly break down the most pivotal areas to think about when purchasing a new camping knife. 

Overall Size: There’s a balance that exists when dealing with camping knives. Typically speaking, the larger a camping knife is, the more utility and functionality it will offer, though this performance will come at the cost of the knife being markedly less portable and/or pocketable. On the other side of the coin there are smaller, more totable camping knives that don’t offer the same level of utility as their larger counterparts

Blade Shape: The shape of a knife’s blade will play a major role in its conduciveness to outdoor use as well as its overall performance. Blades with a finer, more tapered point — such as Wharncliffe, clip point, and tanto blades — offer superior piercing abilities and are a better choice for finer tasks, though aren’t as proficient at chopping compared to a beefier drop point profile. 

Blade Steel: Another factor that will massively effect a knife’s performance and durability is the type of steel used to construct its blade — an always-crucial element when looking at any knife, though even more pivotal when discussing fixed blades as this steel runs the entire length of the knife, comprising the tang/handle section before culminating in a sharpened blade. The more modern powder metallurgy steels will almost always do a better job of retaining a sharper edge for longer, however, the same elements that afford them these properties also make them more difficult to sharpen. 

Blade Thickness: Because outdoor knives are often used for hard tasks — such as being hammered through a log for splitting firewood — a thicker blade is preferred as this beefier construction makes for a markedly more hardwearing knife with much greater structural integrity. 

Handle Material & Ergonomics: The type of construction used to make a knife’s handle is important on several levels, as it’s directly responsible for the handle’s durability as well as the level of grip it provides — though this latter area is also owed to whether or not the material has been bestowed with any type of ridging or texturing to enhance traction and grip. Additionally, grip is also determined by the shape of the handle and how well said shape fits in the human hand — another crucial factor for outdoor and camp knives in particular as solid ergonomics and grip are a must for hard-use tasks. 

Build Quality: Areas such as the materials used to construct it and how a blade was heat-treated play an enormous role in deterring a knife’s overall quality, though the time, attention, and skill that goes into piecing each knife together can also hugely separate the more premium knives from their cheaper counterparts. While there are big-name brands that offer great quality despite producing their knives in huge numbers — such as Benchmade and Spyderco — boutique outfits tend to offer a superior, more hardwearing build quality along with a better overall fit and finish. 

Number Of Components/Moving Parts: With exceedingly few exceptions, when it comes to outdoor and camping knives, the more spartan and minimalistic designs are usually the best choice. Fewer moving parts essentially means fewer chances for components or mechanisms to break or fail, and fewer sensitive areas and recesses where dirt and grime can collect.

Ease Of Cleaning/Maintenance: Because camping knives are meant for outdoor and off-grid use, they unsurprisingly tend to get dirty and gunked-up pretty quickly. As such, you’re going to want to consider how difficult a knife will be to clean and maintain. As previously touched on above, you’ll want to look for knives with very few components and moving parts, though you should also avoid knives with skeletonize handles and other elements that are susceptible to collecting dirt and grime. You’ll also want to look at the blade steel and type of grind to determine ease of re-sharpening.

Sheath &/Or Clip: Even the most utilitarian knife suddenly becomes a lot less convenient and practical if you have to dig and fish it out of a loaded backpack every time it’s needed. This is what makes a camp knife’s deployment so important, as the way it’s carried when not in use plays an enormous role in the overall user experience. 

Honorable Mentions

Spanning 7.63″ overall, the Spyderco Mule Team is a compact workhorse of a skeletonized fixed blade that’s capable of easily taking on the vast majority of tasks typically needed in or around the campsite. On top of a design that allows it to punch well above its weight from a utility perspective, the Mule Team is also offered in a wide range of blade steel constructions, plus can be optioned with Spyderco’s available handle scale sets and Boltaron or leather sheaths — though it can also easily be wrapped in paracord. 

Made by one of our favorite micro watch brands, the RZE HexEdge Ti is a super compact folding knife that, despite its size, has been engineered from the ground up for adventure and outdoor use. Like RZE’s watches, the HexEdge Ti features a titanium construction that’s been fitted with a framelock mechanism and a stubby 1.66” D2 sheepsfoot blade. Sure, it may not offer the same level of utility as its full-sized counterparts, though it still offers impressive levels of performance relative to its diminutive size. So, if you’re looking for a tiny knife still capable of taking on most cutting tasks, the HexEdge Ti is an obvious choice.

Offering the performance capabilities — and blade thickness — of a full-sized survival knife in a more compact 8.125″ package, the Toor Knives Field 3.0 is a beautifully-crafted yet insanely rugged outdoor blade with a full-tang CPM 154 construction sandwiched between a set of handworked ebony scales with contrasting copper liners. Despite its size, its robust construction and versatile blade shape ultimately allow this knife to deliver tremendous levels of utility while still being small enough to pack in a bag or comfortably wear on your hip around camp. 

The James Brand’s The Hell Gap represents the PDX outfit’s first-ever take on a fixed-blade design — though you’d never know it based on the stellar ergonomics and incredible versatility it offers. Forged in CPM S35VN and fitted with Micarta scales, The Hell Gap excels at all manner of activities on and around the campsite, though it’s particularly effective as a camp chef knife — not at all unlike Quiet Carry’s The Current. 

Though it was technically designed for use on the trails, the Chris Reeve Knives Backpacker is lightweight, compact, and utilitarian enough to make for a stellar camp knife. Crafted around a full-tang CPM MagnaCut construction cloaked in grippy Micarta scales, this highly-sought-after fixed blade benefits from CRK’s usual world-class build quality and fit and finish. Unfortunately, the massive demand for this knife can make it difficult to get your hands on one — at least in between drops. 

One of the latest additions to the Oregon City outfit’s ever-expanding catalog, the Benchmade Mini Bushcrafter is a more compact, scaled-down version of Benchmade’s updated Bushcrafter design. With a beefy 0.16” blade forged in CPM S30V, this 7.58-inch-long USA-made fixed blade is legitimately capable of taking on hard use tasks that are typically reserved for much larger knives. Fitted with red G-10 liners, the handle of this bushcraft-focused blade is offered in either OD green G10 or carbon fiber constructions. Thanks to its size and utility, this model makes for an exceptional camp knife —especially for those interested in taking on some bush-crafting tasks while camping. 

Tested: The Best Survival Knives for Off-Grid Living

If you’re looking for some larger outdoor knives capable of handing more hardcore use? Then be sure to check out our guide to the best survival knives for our hands-on review and testing of the latest and greatest the survival blade segment currently has to offer.