Camping Panda
Whether you love car camping or backpacking, an item you need in your kit is a camping knife. This tool can help you cut food, twigs, or open cans. In survival situations, you can also use it for self-defense or catch prey.
A few things the best camping knife should have are rust-resistant blade and ergonomic handle. The market is full of choices and to help you out, we roamed around and found the most promising models. Check them out in our rundown.
Sharpness
Is it sharp enough?
Grip
Is it ergonomic?
Portability
Is it easy to carry?
Sharpening
Is it easy to sharpen?
Usability
Is it easy to use?
Design
Is it practical?
Lifespan
Is it build for years to come?
Durability
Is it sturdy enough?
14
Hours Researched
20
Products Evaluated
20k
Reviews Considered
2
Sources Researched
Withstanding whatever you’re throwing at it, the Morakniv Bushcraft is a capable survival knife that won’t let you down no matter what. It comes with a rust-resistant, carbon steel blade that’s sharp enough to slice through anything. The smooth edge also allows for easy sharpening time and time again.
An oversized handle allows for easy, non-slip grip. Knife apart, we also like the heavy-duty sheath, as well as the functional fire starter. Built for surviving but perfect for leisure camping, this is the best camping knife for most people.
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Smaller than our best choice, the Morakniv Companion is an excellent choice for adventurers on a budget. It’s designed with casual camping in mind, thus it doesn’t pack too many bells and whistles.
Nonetheless, its quality is superlative. You can expect a razor-sharp, stainless steel blade with smooth edges. The knife is suitable for cutting, slicing, kindling, and much more. It’s well-balanced and easy to hold. Ideal for those who don’t want to break the bank.
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The Boye Folding Knife may have an eye-watering price tag, but it’s definitely worth every dime if you want a premium quality tool. Designed with survivalists in mind but equally suitable for car camping, it delivers performance in a compact design.
When folded, it can easily fit in a pocket. Open, it’s large enough to perform a wide range of tasks. Its greatest benefit is the denditric cobalt blade that is never affected by corrosion or rust. The handle is also ergonomic and well-balanced. Made to last for a lifetime, this is by far the best camping knife around.
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Somewhere in-between our best choice and premium pick, the Extreme Ops knife delivers utmost quality at an affordable price. Maybe it won’t last as long as the Boye, but it comes with a carbon blade steel and plenty of survival elements you can use while exploring the outdoors.
The blade not only features both smooth and serrated edges, but it’s also corrosion resistant. The knife also features a conveniently-sized handle, balanced grip, and a bottle opener. Sturdy and dependable, it appeals to adventurers on a budget.
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Big and mighty, the Mossy Oak survival knife may not fit into a pocket, but it can suit all outdoor activities, from leisure camping to hunting. It features a durable stainless steel blade and balanced, rubber handle.
A smooth edge as well as a serrated side enhance versatility. The 10-inch blade can easily slice through anything, and you can also use it for chopping twigs or making tinder. The knife comes with a convenient nylon sheath and survival accessories. No doubt, a great choice for most camping situations.
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Gerber is known as one of the best camping and survival gear brands, and the Bear Grylls folding knife is one of your best bets for outdoor adventures. It has a tough, carbon steel blade and a textured grip that won’t let you down in wet conditions.
Capable for anything, from prepping food to cutting firewood, this knife is also beautifully balanced, but the nice heft is not all. Thought for survival, it comes with a whistle attached to the handle with a lanyard as well as a flint for starting fires. No doubt, the ultimate survival and primitive camping knife.
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The SOG Flare suits primitive campers and car campers alike. Made from heavy-duty steel, it boasts a satin finish that enhances durability. The balde might not be razor-sharp straight out of the box, but its smooth edge makes it very easy to sharpen.
Well-balanced and ergonomic, it also impresses with a fiberglass-reinforced nylon handle. A clip point keeps the blade in place when folded, preventing accidental opening. Another highlight is the sleek, easy-carry clip that allows you to attach it to a belt without a sheath. Made to last, it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a mid-range knife.
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Moving forward with our list, the Kershaw Scallion is a small yet mighty camping knife you need in your life. It’s pocket-sized when folded, yet capable of handling most camping and survival tasks.
We particularly like its pointed tip that can easily untie knots or open cans. The edge is straight and easier to sharpen than a serrated edge, but the knife still features a serrated portion on the back of the blade. Made from sturdy materials, it won’t get dull too fast. All in all, a great choice for hikers and backpackers.
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Designed with avid adventurers in mind, the JEO-TEC N°51 is one of the best camping knives you can get your hands on. Boasting an oversized blade, it can be used for everything from prepping food to hunting or making tinder.
The heavy-duty blade is made from proprietary molybdenum-vanadium alloy, and the knife boasts a Mikarta handle. It is balanced, ergonomic, and a pleasure to use. It will add some heft to a backpack, but it’s amazing for car camping.
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Coming from the famous French brand Opinel, this carbon steel folding knife comes as an alternative to our range-toppers if you’re looking for good quality at a price that won’t break the bank.
The knife encompasses the Opinel essence. It boasts a polished, stainless steel blade that’s razor-sharp in the true meaning of the word. The beechwood handle is finished to a high standard, nesting the blade when not in use. Amazing from all points of view – just make sure to keep it away from children.
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For a lot of us, the camping knife will mostly be used to prepare food. But aside from food preparation a camping knife can also be used for some wood work and sometimes can be used for emergency purposes as well. The buying guide below aims to narrow your choices and be able to pick the best camping knife for you.
Generally there are only two types of blade design for camping; folding blade or fixed blade. However a multi-tool has garnered popularity due to convenience in carrying multiple tools in one. Camping Panda as a separate article for the best multi-tool you can use. Check it out here to find out which we prefer.
This is commonly called a pocket knife. It is very easy to carry and can fit in your pocket or your pack’s small compartments. Like the Boye Folding Camping Knife it easily fits in a pocket but delivers performance in a compact design.
The blade folds into the handle. This add to safety in carrying the knife while in transit and also prevents the blade from puncturing your equipment. Folding knives have locking mechanism to keep blades locked in place. The locking mechanism can either be a liner lock or a frame lock.
Folding blades are generally preferred when performing bigger tasks. Fixed blades offer a sturdier and stable build because there is no moving parts. They are made from a single piece of steel from the handle to the blade. Given this they are easier to clean and safer to use. Fixed blades also then to be heavier because they have larger handles and have a more comfortable grip. Check out the Morakniv Bushcraft Survival Knife, its fixed blade made of carbon steel is attached to its oversized handle for a non-slip grip of the knife.
Two materials commonly used for blades are: stainless steel and carbon steel.
Stainless steel is a more common choice due to it tough composition. We like the Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Knife, it has razoer-sharp stainless blade thats is suitable for common camping tasks.
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High-carbon steel is a modified type of steel that has carbon mixed into its composition. We like the Opinel Carbon Steel Folding Knife, it’s blade is made of carbon steel that can withstand camping tasks that are more heavy-duty than cutting.
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Recommended length is between 3 inches to 5 inches. Knives has to be precise otherwise, it cannot perform its function outdoors. Long knives tend to lose precision as it becomes dangly. The 10-inch blade of the Mossy Oak Survival Knife is perfect for cutting through short grass in the campsite and for preparing tinder. Short knives like the 2.4 inches blade of the Kershaw Scallion Pocket Knife, will not be usable for some tasks like cutting through meat but this knife is still a powerful one as the blade is made from high-carbon steel that is sturdy enough to untie knots or open cans.
The edge type of the blade affects its performance. You can either pick a straight edge type that offers longer cutting surface. Or a serrated edge that functions like a saw and can be used for cutting woods. However serrated edge blades are very hard to sharpen due to its uneven ends. We recommended the SMITH & WESSON Extreme Ops Folding Knife because it has a partial fine straight edge and a serrated edge making it ideal for any cutting needs.
The handle is equally important as the knife blade and should be considered as well when choosing your camping knife.
Handle design provides comfort and thus has impact on your knife’s performance. It has to be ergonomic for ease of use to be able to perform heavy duty tasks. The grip should not be stressing your hands too much. A hand guard or cross guard is a useful feature to protect fingers from sliding into the blade. We love the Mikarta handle of JEO-TEC Nº51 Bushcraft Camping Knife that has a balanced and ergonomic feel that makes it a pleasure to use.
Rubber is one of the most commonly used handle materials due to the grip it provides and it is water-resistant. Check out Gerber Bear Grylls Folding Sheath Knife’s handle that is made from textured rubber that does not slip even when wet. Metal are durable however can be very slippery too. Plastic is often preferred for being low cost and water resistance however like metal they can get slippery which can cause accidents while in use. Wood like the Opinel Carbon Steel Folding Knife, provides a good grip like the rubber material but the downside is wood is very easy to break.
A camp knife, according to its definition, is an all-purpose knife larger than a hunting knife, with a blade between 8 and 10 inches. In the general understanding, though, it is a utility knife that can be used for camping, survival, or tactical purposes. The category includes large knives, pocket knives, and hunting knives.
The Morakniv Bushcraft Survival Knife is one of the best camping knives if you’re looking for a versatile, multifunctional model you can use in all circumstances.
A quality camping knife should have a strong, corrosion-resistant blade, sharp edge, and ergonomic handle. You should opt for a blade that is easy to sharpen and that doesn’t get stained, such as stainless steel or carbon steel. Make sure the joints are also sturdy, and that it feels balanced when using it.
A camping knife can serve a wide range of purposes, from preparing food to splitting kindling, cutting branches, and even help you survive should you find yourself in a dangerous situation. The main difference between the camp knife and a normal knife is the rugged, heavy-duty design thought exclusively for outdoor use.
If you want a multifunctional knife, get one that comes with both straight and serrated edge, ideally with folding blade, and other accessories. Some of the best camping knives feature a heavy-duty sheath, flint for starting a fire, whistles, and even paracord.
