Rambo or House of Flying daggers, you can’t seem to figure out which knife fits you. You’ve checked every survivalist store and can’t seem to find the right blade. Your hands are in the air, and you’re about to call it quits. It’s not all over; there are simple ways to find the best knife for you.
Firstly, you need to understand it’s your knife, not Rambo or Bear Grylls. So ask yourself. What environment will I be in, jungle, snow or desert? Also, what will my knife be doing?
- Save my life/self-defence
- Cook/ peel a fruit/ open a can
- Cut small branches, bandage, rope, fish etc
- Making a spark.
- Digging a hole
- Cutting a trail
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No matter how insignificant, put it on your list then prioritize them from one to ten, one being the most important. You won’t find a blade that does everything, but you will find one that specializes in at least two tasks. After you have completed your list, pull out your kitchen knives and hold them one by one, and decide which has the best handle length for you. If your hands are small, like mine, then big handles will be uncomfortable after continuous use. Finally, pick the blade length that is most comfortable for you to work with and measure it. Above 3 inches would be best. Now you have solid information to start your search.
Before we go into the types of knives, and important features you need to look at, there are some vital tips to keep in mind.
Your knife needs to be on you at all times; so a comfortable fit on your person is essential; belt, pocket, back etc. It’s best for any camping gear to have more than one function. You save on weight and space. In the end, the best knife is the knife you have on you.
Some common knives include the switchblade, multi-tool, survival knife, pocket knife, folding knife and machete, to name a few. Survival knives are best suited for the outdoors; based on material, durability and design. There are some features that set them apart.
Contents
Important features for your best knife
Most survival knives are between 7” to 11” long. As ladies that could be a bit bulky, but don’t worry most brands have the small versions to their popular counterparts. So keep your hand measurements, comfortable blade lengths and handle size in mind as we go through these features.
Full Tang
Survival knives are usually full tang meaning the metal runs the full length of the blade. This makes it more durable and less likely to break or fail at the finger guard. Folding knives tend to be weakest at the joint. Full tangs are great for batoning.
The Blade
Fixed blades are sturdy and are less likely to have mechanical issues as would a pocket or folding knife. Ensure the knife you choose is either high carbon steel or stainless steel. High carbon steel is better at making a spark than its stainless steel counterpart. But stainless steel won’t corrode as easily thus making it great for marine or other wet environments. On the other hand, high carbon steel will need to stay dry to prevent rust. Serrated blades (saw-like teeth often located close to finger guard) usually stay sharp for longer and are mainly used for cutting coarse microfibers. Depending on how high on your priority list cutting coarse material is you can choose between fully serrated, partially serrated or non-serrated blades.
Sturdy Handle
Some survival knives have hollow handles to store small emergency gear or fire lighting equipment. This is a great feature if you have to store items as one of the priorities on your list. Be careful when choosing this type of knife as most of them are not full tang. A solid grip and a comfortable finger guard are great safety features to prevent your hand from sliding down the blade. Good handle materials include rubber, 550 cord and hardwood. Make sure your knife has a grip for both wet and dry conditions.
Sheath
Your knife’s sheath is very important. It is what attaches your knife to you, unless you are going for a neck knife or pocket knife. See to it that your knife and sheath have a solid lock and doesn’t fall out if shaken. Best materials for sheaths are kydex and leather. For wet conditions, kydex would be the ideal choice.
Choosing a knife is important. Your life may depend on it; take time to choose the best knife for you. Be sure to watch the reviews of the knife you choose before purchasing. It will be your new companion so get to know all you can.
Mitra Cazaubon is a nature-loving, free-spirited explorer from the small island of St. Lucia in the Caribbean. You will have her energized with the mention of camping or sustainable living.
When she isn’t blogging about her adventures she is writing and giving relationship advice. Her soon-to-be-open blog will feature thought-provoking philosophies and her journey to finding true happiness.
She is married to the love of her life, a survivalist, and they spend most of their time gardening in their off-grid home. The remainder of their time is spent keeping up with their active son.
- Mitra Cazaubonhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/mitra-cazaubon/
- Mitra Cazaubonhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/mitra-cazaubon/
- Mitra Cazaubonhttps://www.campingforwomen.com/author/mitra-cazaubon/
ooh boy , this post throws so much light onto factors that we take for granted. The whole bit about the sheath and the handles was something I never really considered. I am glad I read this coz you are right – your life does depend on the choice!
Wow. I never would have guessed so much thought goes into choosing the perfect camping knife. Before reading this I would have chosen a folding knife. I know better now, great tip that the joint is weak.
Had never really thought much about this issue ever although a knife is such an important possession on a camping or outdoor trip. As you rightly pint out it has different uses and hence it was quite interesting understanding the features. What is good is that there are so many varieties available these days. Thanks for the informative article.
Hubby is a knife enthusiast so he would definitely be picking the knives. I am sure he has thought of all of these considerations when picking knives. But I did not realize how much there was to consider. Luckily hubby and I have the same size hands so it would be easy to share a knife or two.
This is very helpful! I haven’t really gone on an outdoor adventure long enough to require one, so I haven’t thought to much into this. But it is fascinating to see all the ways that these knives vary and how they are specialized for different tasks. This will be useful in the future as I do hope to get out on some longer adventures and would need one.
This post came to me at the right time as I plan a long hike – possibly over night – next summer. I don’t realize there are so many things to consider if you plan to buy a knife. I just know I will choose a stainless steel blade since I don’t think I can keep my knife dry all the time.
I never knew there were so many types of knives and blades!!! Never really gave much thought to picking blades for a purpose during hikes to be frank; didn’t even know what tang was – forget full tang! This article was so informative! Thank you Mitra Cazaubon for shining a light on the blades literally! 😀
I had no idea there were so many different kinds of knives and so many features to think about. I’m a big hiker but haven’t yet graduated to camping. I’ll keep this post handy for when I do and need a great camping knife!
That’s so informative to know what the tang is. And honestly, I’ve never really thought about knives having a variety of purposes. I guess I assume they’re a lot like kitchen knives, but not so!