Camping knife

If I were to choose only one knife to take with me to bushcraft and even week-long camping, I would take this Ontario Knife Company fixed blade knife…and for countless reasons. 

And that’s what made it this list’s Editor’s Choice.

We’re not even in the highlights yet, but its historical significance alone makes it a very worthwhile purchase that I would make again and again with no regrets. 

For one…

…it’s the standard-issue knife in the U.S. Army and even the U.S. Air Force. That also makes it the pilot’s number one survival knife. 

Many veterans still look for this pattern and many new brands and models take after this retro classic camp knife. 

So what makes it so great?

It’s a fixed knife, first and foremost. It’s also full tang. The five inches blade is made from high carbon steel, which means it’s quite indestructible and easy to sharpen, as well.

But what do you expect? It’s made specifically for survival, after all. 

One part of this knife that tends to disappoint some users is the rat tail tang. 

Yes, it’s a rat tail tang, which means that the steel goes all the way to the knife’s pommel but it’s much narrower than the usual handle of a full tang fixed blade knife. 

That being said…

…although it’s indeed a shame (it could’ve been so perfect if not for that), that’s also an opportunity to see how strong your full tang knife is!

Did it disappoint?

Well, let me just say that I’ve used and abused it for two weeks straight, enough time to break a weak, newly-purchased knife. And I’m glad to inform you that the handle didn’t budge at all. 

In fact, I almost forgot that I was using a rat tail tang knife as I struck small tree roots and twigs with it. I was also able to use it to build a small improvised wooden table with it (the size of a lazy bed desk). 

As for slicing…

…the blade’s widest point is about three millimeters so it’s a bit thicker than other survival knives but not too much. That being said, it’s more ideal for rougher tasks such as chopping twigs or ropes. 

If you’re planning to slice a tomato or fish with it, be ready with not-so-perfect results. And by that, I mean not super clean and smooth slices. But I doubt you’ll be looking for perfect aesthetics if you’re trying to survive in the wild. 

Just take note that while the blade is durable, it’s also not rust-proof because it’s not stainless steel. Nonetheless, it still has a corrosion-resistant quality to it. 

What’s cooler?

It comes with a rustic leather sheath. 

The sheath is a thick leather that feels very genuine to the touch. But it’s also a bit rough so you can sand it if you want it smoother. 

What I like about it is it also has a belt loop so you can have it at the ready at all times. 

And it doesn’t end there.

This sheath also has another pocket in front for your grinding stone…and the sharpening stone is included in the purchase as well!

On the other hand…

…the stone isn’t much to work on so I ended up bringing a better sharpening stone with me but it’s still nice to have a smaller one ready at hand. 

Another minor design flaw that I’ve encountered is caused by the rivets or grommets inside the sheath. They’re used to attach the stone pocket to the sheath. 

The thing is, they tend to scratch the surface of the knife whenever I slid the knife inside the sheath. 

What I did was cover them with gorilla tape. 

Past the blade…

…is another feature that I liked. It’s the pommel of the knife. It looks like a bolt and you can use it to break glasses or even as a little hammer. Just a nice, multipurpose capability for one single knife. 

If you’re a beginner, this fixed knife is both good and bad for you. 

First of all, it’s not very razor-sharp like other pocket knives. So that makes it a safe knife to practice with for beginners. 

On the other hand, it’s also a challenge to sharpen. It took me a considerable length of time just sharpening it to an agreeable level. Anyhow, it’s still a good exercise and training, I’d say. 

And because parts of it are leather…

…such as the handle and the sheath, you’d do well to always remember to maintain it in good condition. 

The leather is quite raw to the feel. So I opted to soak it in neatsfoot oil to give it a better form and also to add more protection to it.  

It also gave the leather a darker and richer color.

This big guy is so strong and durable that this quality alone is enough to make this the ultimate Best  Value for Money.

For its price, I didn’t even expect it to have this kind of quality but it did. The Mossy Oak Survival Hunting Knife is one of the best qualities that we’ve tried during all this knife testing period. 

Let me tell you…

…its price makes it look like a cheap knockoff but it caught my attention after I’ve read a review stating how it saved a user from falling from an icy mountain by having it stab the knife and the user literally standing on it!

It’s that durable. 

And it didn’t disappoint. 

At fifteen inches overall length, it’s a beefy knife, that’s for sure. The blade is long, too, at ten inches.

It’s made of stainless steel, which is a common material for the best camping knives as stainless steel doesn’t rust, doesn’t corrode, and is hard to break. 

In short, it’s a very cost-effective and yet very reliable material. 

As for its thickness, it’s not too thick but not thin enough for it to slide as smooth as butter through a tomato.

We did the throwing test…

…and it came out undamaged, even after throwing it nearly 40 times. With this test, we’re mainly testing the blade’s durability as well as that of the handle. Surprisingly, the handle didn’t loosen one bit as our other knives did in the throwing test. 

This alone makes this a very satisfying purchase. 

The blade came oiled so I had to wash it first. I also did the paper test and the blade wasn’t able to smoothly cut through the paper like a razor but it did with very minimal tears. 

The spine of the blade or the backside is serrated so we tested it out, too. 

We initially thought that it was only decorative as it was a bit dull right out of the box. So I sharpened it a little and alas! I was able to cut through a very thin and small string with it. 

I’d say the serrated side would be good for cutting ropes or chopping small wood and such other tasks. 

The blade’s edge was also finally able to cut smoothly through paper after I sharpened it with my own blade sharpener for about fifteen minutes.

As for the handle…

…there’s nothing special with it, but it’s very efficient and still well-made. It’s made of rubber and is integrated into the knife excellently so that whatever stress we put the knife in, it never came loose. 

That’s when I knew that I’d have this knife for years and years. 

The handle is also non-slip so it really fits for bushcraft and camping as it will never escape your hold even if you’re working with sweaty hands or under the pouring rain. 

Yes, it’s big but even our female teenager with small hands was able to hold it firmly and securely. 

As if that’s not enough…

…it also came with a few inclusions such as a nylon sheath, a sharpener, a fire starter, and even a smaller extra pocket knife.

Yes, this whole lot! The sharpener, of course, worked as expected of a freebie. It can sharpen, alright, but I just knew that it’s not as long-lasting as my sturdier sharpeners. But it’s still a very thoughtful thing to add. 

Meanwhile, the fire starter was the champ! At first, I thought it wasn’t going to work and I was okay with that. It was a freebie after all.

But then, I tried it against the saw back and it worked. 

These inclusions also have their own pockets in the sheath, which is very, very nice. Yes, even the smaller knife has its own place, too!

How about the sheath?

Well, it’s made of nylon, so I was a bit hesitant about its capability of holding the knife safely. I’ve had a few experiences when the knife just came through and ripped the sheath. 

But surprisingly, it has a plastic insert inside to protect the nylon fabric from the blade. What a nice detail!

Another thing that I like about this champ is it’s indexed for both left and right hand so literally, anyone can use it- young or old, left-handed or right-handed, beginner or veteran.

Going canoeing or kayaking? Well then, you need a knife that you can use in and out of water for that. 

There’s no surprise when I say that this Morakniv fixed blade knife didn’t disappoint. I’ve had a few Mora knives before and they didn’t fail me. 

If you’re looking for a much smaller and handier knife that can aid you with tasks that need more precision, then this Morakniv Companion outdoor knife may be the one for you. 

This is so well-crafted that it excels in so many aspects (you’ll see later) so we didn’t hesitate to give it the Top Pick award!

I initially got this simply because of its very reasonable price and the bright colors. Little did I know, I was in for more.

It comes in nine colors and varieties- quite wide for a camping knife! If you’re the type of camper who always loses their knives, a brightly colored knife will undoubtedly help you as it’s very easy to spot not only in the dark but also among the leaves and grass. 

At 4.1 inches in length, it’s much shorter than the previous camping knives, but that’s also where its specialty lies.  

As a matter of fact, it came razor sharp right out of the box, thank goodness. It sliced through our meat and vegetables ever so smoothly and without jagged edges. 

But that’s not all there is to it. 

Just when we thought it was only ideal for slicing vegetables and other delicate tasks, we’re surprised to see it emerge from abuse still in one piece!

The thing is, I can’t not put it to the test. So I threw it first several times. It’s not full tang so I was ready to lose it. But lo and behold, it stood the test and the knife didn’t break, not even the handle. 

Aside from that, I also used it for a bit of batoning. I’m aware that it’s not ideal for batoning but I wanted to see it. 

Suffice to say…

…it was able to split a branch that was about three inches thick. Not bad!

The fact that it can do rougher tasks such as that while still being ideal for delicate tasks makes this reasonably-priced purchase very worth it. 

In addition to that, the handle is also very well-made. 

Not only the stainless steel blade is rust-proof so you can definitely take it into the water, but the handle grip helps, as well. It’s textured rubber so it never slipped from my hand even once. Not even when I was at the lakeside or when I was making fish fillet. 

And not only that…

…its sheath is also very secure in its design. It has a kind of hook that you attach to your belt (or even your buttons or suspenders) and it won’t ever come off, not without a considerable amount of effort. 

I actually had to remove my belt just to yank the knife out!

Thanks to its size and very relaxed and casual design, I think it can also be a good EDC knife, that is if the thick hook is alright with you.

If you’re not into anything crazy and are just looking for a simple but reliable knife that you can carry with you every day and help you with every task, then Smith  Wesson’s folding knife is your best bet. 

For one…

…it’s very small, smaller than most folding knives that we’ve tested. It also folds so it’s very handy and convenient. 

That being said, it’s both weighty and lightweight. What I mean is, it’s lightweight so it won’t pull your pocket or pants down but it also has some nice weight to it that indicates a good quality of metal. 

At just over three inches, the blade is not fit for heavy-duty tasks such as batoning or chipping wood, but it was able to cut through a rope for our shelter and even through small twigs for our fire. 

But aside from that…

…its serrated edge let us saw through thicker wood and even skin a deer in less time than we usually do. 

If you’re getting a camping knife for protection while you’re out in the woods, this is also quite ideal. Not only is this very easy to conceal, but its edge can also cut through seatbelts and whatnot. 

Who would’ve thought serrated knives could be this helpful?

On the other hand…

…because it’s a foldable knife, some people might expect it to open and close automatically and easily. 

At first, it didn’t. It doesn’t have a spring mechanism so it just opens halfway and I had to manually open it with my hands for it to fully open and lock in place. 

Closing it was quite a challenge too. 

But that being said, I also found out that all you need is a bit of practice. After repeatedly opening and closing it repeatedly, I was finally able to do so with only one hand and a flick of my wrist. 

Aside from that… 

…while holding it up, we’ve also noticed its perfect balance. When it’s open, most of its weight is actually on the very center of the knife. 

That’s undoubtedly a sign of a well-crafted knife right there. 

It’s made of carbon steel so don’t expect it to be rust-proof. But with some care and maintenance, its longevity will be outstanding.

Looking for something that will make you feel perfectly ready and armed for the adventure that awaits ahead?

This Holtzman’s survival knife kit will make you feel like a boss with its dependability as well as its cool inclusions. 

Opening this up in its classy black gift box was like opening a gift. That said, if you’re looking for a present for a beloved adventurer or survivalist, this may be it!

And let me tell you…

…we’re especially thrilled to get this when we saw how it barely got any negative reviews from its users!

The first thing to be noticed in this masterpiece is the handle’s design which makes it look like a small piece of art. It’s a G10 handle, which is interesting. It felt as solid as my other metal knives’ handles but the difference is this one is much lighter with more texture for a better grip.

Aside from its solidness and grip, it’s also made with a finger guard to make sure that your fingers stay safe from the blade. 

Speaking of blades…

…it has a compound bevel and is much thicker than most of my camping knives. That makes it just perfect for tough tasks such as batoning. 

I was also able to make feather tinder with consistent size and thickness successfully. 

The blade was sharp right out of the box and was full tang and solid. Some people may have hesitations because it’s made in China. I did, too. 

So I was surprised when we studied the knives (I got three of these for my buddies) and not one of them has any defects. I found out later on that they’re quite well-known for their great quality control and it really showed. 

But here’s the kicker. 

It comes with a few cool inclusions that are as well-made as the knife itself.

First is the sheath. Like the handle, it’s also solid and holds my knife perfectly. It makes a clicking sound that tells you that the knife is already securely held inside. 

But what’s cooler is it has detachable attachments for the included Ferro rod and scraper. 

You can attach them to the sheath with an Allen wrench or you can remove them for a more streamlined knife. 

The Ferro rod and scraper are not there just for the novelty value – and they proved it impressively. These two gave us high-intensity fire on more than a few occasions that we needed it. 

Then there’s the paracord included. You can put it in the knife or you can turn it into a lanyard and hang the rod and scraper there. 

Additionally…

…the sheath also has a leather strap to guard the knife against accidentally slipping out. But honestly, I felt like it wasn’t really needed because the knife was already very secured in the sheath without the strap’s help.

But then, it’s good for the aesthetics too. 

And to complete the package, it also has a belt clip that can be flipped 90 degrees to enable other mounting options. 

You can adjust the belt clip with the Allen wrench, which is, by the way, also provided in the package. Then, you can now carry your knife on your belt horizontally or vertically. It also has a locking feature so you won’t have to worry about losing your knife.

Who would’ve thought you can have a whole toolbox within a 3-inch tool?

I’m talking about none other than the well-loved Swiss knife. And what other place to get it but the company that literally stood the test of time? 

This Victorinox Swiss Army Multi-tool SwissChamp pocket knife is a well-loved treat for both the adventurers and the everyday worker. 

In case you didn’t know…

…it has a staggering number of 33 functions inside the three inches red tool!

And since we’re looking for a good camping knife here, we like how it has not one but two blades inside. 

The large blade is three inches, pretty small and compact. But it’s razor-sharp right out of the box. And oiled, too, so I had to wash it before testing it out. 

The smaller blade is two inches long and was as sharp as the large one. 

I took it out on a weekend bushcraft trip to test it out. I was very excited just imagining the things I can do with all of its 33 tools!

Quite expectedly, the blades were effective in making tinder. It’s light and easy to slice with, gliding smoothly and without any problem through the wood. 

I forgot to worry about its stability as the blade didn’t show any sign of instability while I was using it on wood. 

But take note…

…the blades don’t have a locking mechanism. That being said, small as it is, you’d want to be careful with it so you won’t cut your finger. 

On the other hand, it’s small and pretty tight on its case so it’s still pretty harmless, especially if you’re already used to handling knives. 

Also expectedly, it’s not meant for heavy-duty tasks but the blades can cut ropes, small pieces of wood for a shelter or a fence, clean games and fish, open boxes, and many more. 

I lost count of how many times it saved the day for me since I got it. 

I also like how the tools click whenever I flick them open. One of the signs of good quality design and engineering. 

The other tools are a can opener, a pair of scissors, wood saw, corkscrew, tweezers, bottle opener, 2.5 MM, 6 MM, and 3 MM screwdrivers, Philips screwdriver, nail file, reamer, punch, sewing awl, keyring, wire stripper, hook disgorger, inch, and CM ruler, wire crimper, metal saw, metal file, multipurpose hook, toothpick, pressurized ballpoint pen, magnifying glass, wire cutters, pliers, nail cleaner, 4 MM chisel, pin, mini screwdriver. 

Phew.  That’s a lot. 

Over time, you may notice the tools being harder and harder to get out of the case. If that happens, you just have to oil it again and it’ll work as new. 

So far, in the six months that I have had it, I had to oil it just once. 

Yes, it needs a bit more loving than your usual camping knife, but that’s such a small price to pay for such a useful tool that I literally use every day.

It sure is a lot of tools, and it did make me doubt their individual qualities. But having used them all, they proved to be solid and hard to break, especially the pliers. I was even able to wrench them on without them breaking!

One thing I’ve just noticed is it tends to catch a lot of dirt. But it’s no wonder since it sure has lots of crevices. That’s what I mean when I said it needs a bit more love and care!

Feel powerful and strong with a Gerber StrongArm fixed blade at your side.

And I mean it. 

This Portland-made knife has been building its fan base since its release, thanks not only to its lightweight quality but also to its sheer handiness and convenient design. 

Going straight to the highlights…

…at least for me, one of its best selling points is its four mounting pieces that come with the knife. 

This system allows you to either mount your knife horizontally on your waist and belt, vertically on a mole webbing, drop-leg style, or just vertically on your belt. 

Isn’t it impressive? I actually haven’t seen any knives with this design. 

On the other hand, I must admit that the handle was a bit too long so the pommel tends to poke my elbow whenever it’s mounted vertically on my belt. It could also stick out if worn horizontally, although it might also depend on the size of the wearer. 

As for the blade…

…there’s nothing fancy with it, but it sure is one of the most useful out there. It’s a fine blade. Some say they’ve got badly-grinded ones, but what I got was just fine. 

It was averagely sharp right out of the box and was able to smoothly cut through paper without jagged lines. 

If you want it to be sharper for certain tasks, you may want to grind it more first. 

But after I did, it was unstoppable. 

Cutting small trees, making tinder, skinning, and cleaning a game, just name it. It sliced through meat and vegetables like butter and it was also as smooth with wood. 

The blade stops short about half an inch to the handle and it’s honestly a bit of a shame, especially if you’re using it to split wood. But it’s not much of a deal breaker as I was still able to split the wood successfully. 

In case you’re wondering…

…it’s full tang, although it doesn’t look like it at first glance. That being said, that alone ensures its durability and longevity. Aside from that, the balance is lovely. The blade is not heavy, as well as the handle, although it was definitely tough. 

The handle may look simple but I like how it flails out to help with the grip. Aside from that, it also has diamond rubberized patterns to add a non-slip quality to it. 

One thing I’ve noticed, though, is how the pattern didn’t spread to the front and back spines of the handle so it could still move in your hand, especially if it’s wet. 

On the other hand…

…this boss of a knife ends in a striking pommel that’s designed to effectively break glass in case of any emergency.

If you don’t care that much for aesthetics and are all about performance, then this heavy-duty camping knife from Morakniv is for you.

The Morakniv Companion Heavy-Duty is basically the sturdier version of the regular Morakniv Companion knife that we tested earlier. 

And when I say sturdy…

…it is really sturdy and solid. After all, it’s made for rugged use and it shows. 

What’s surprising, though, is the fact that it’s not full tang. The knife goes down about three-fourths of the handle but that didn’t keep us from abusing the knife during our trip. 

And I’m glad I did.

We were able to do a lot of things with it, most especially with our firewood. 

In case you’re wondering, it has a thick blade, so even if it’s not full tang, I was still confident to strike wood with it. I was able to do some batoning, not with big logs, of course, but it was enough to split slim wood for our fire.

Right out of the box…

…it wasn’t razor-sharp. It’s sharp enough to cut fruits but not to smoothly slice through paper without a jagged line. 

I had to sharpen it for a few minutes and it was worth it. It came out quite sharp.

This blade is stainless steel so it only got moderately razor-sharp, unlike its carbon steel Morakniv counterpart that could get frighteningly sharp. But for rugged use in the mountain or in the forest, this kind of sharp is just perfect. 

On the other hand…

…you can still skin or fillet fish and slice vegetables with it but it won’t be so flawless every time. On the flip side, I was also able to skin a big game with this successfully. 

Its handle is also made to be much bigger and thicker than the regular Companion knife, so it felt much, much better on the hand.

It’s moderately ergonomic, as well, nothing crazy. Again, just perfect. 

Although it’s less sharp than the regular Companion, this one held its edge much longer, so if you’re looking for something that’s not so high maintenance, you’ll like it. 

In case you’re wondering….

…we were also able to use it to light a fire! That’s all thanks to the 90 degrees on its spine. It wasn’t a high-intensity fire but enough to start one, especially if you don’t have many options or materials. 

Oh, and I also like how it’s brightly colored as I tend to lose some neutrally colored knives before.

If you like to do more than camping and bushcraft, then you need a good drop point blade that is resistant to rust. 

This 440 stainless steel drop point blade knife by StatGear is one of the most rust-resistant fixed blade knives on the market. 

The blade is four inches long and a bit softer than other steel knives, although the overall design felt very solid. 

That being said, it’s also full tang so that pretty much makes up for it. 

What’s surprising…

…was the fact that I was able to chop both softwood and hardwood with this baby. They’re small wood pieces but it worked out just fine.

Just be careful not to drop it hard or use it on rocks and the like because it could break. So far, mine hasn’t been broken yet and it’s still in one piece. 

It sure is a bit softer than other knives, but it proved its chopping power well on our 4-day camping and fishing trip. 

Yes, I also used it to gut fish and clean games. The handle was rubberized so it never once slipped from my hold, even if my hands are wet. 

And it doesn’t end there.

It also comes with a knife sharpener and fire starter…all integrated into the sheath. 

Yes, you’ve read that right! It’s all in one unit. The sharpener is placed on the rear of the sheath. It’s actually placed quite awkwardly, but it’s still good to have it just in case. 

The fire starter is securely stuck on the sheath, as well. It took a bit of an effort to pull it out so I was confident the whole time that it wasn’t going to fall off. 

And as an icing on top, it also has a thick wrist cord, also integrated into the sheath.

Last but not the least, we have one of the best camping knives when it comes to durability and resilience. 

So if you’re looking for a very low-maintenance camping and bushcraft knife, the Benchmade Bushcrafter 162 is your dream come true. And I mean it!

For one, it’s resistant to corrosion and it doesn’t need meticulous and high maintenance, as it’s designed to withstand changing weather and climate, humidity and moisture, and of course, the hard work that it will be put through.

That said…

…this hard worker had proven itself when we tested it for three months of weekly outdoor activities. I had high hopes for it so we made it a point to use and abuse it to the max. 

The outcome?

Its handle never came loose even once. The blade has very good edge retention, as well. 

Three months on and it’s still sharp enough to do challenging tasks. It only dulled when it was approaching four months of use. And take note: It’s regular use and abuse. 

So if you’re just using it once a week or a few times a month, its sharpness can stay even much longer than this. 

The blade is also quite beefy. And that explains why it’s very good with woodwork and tough jobs. 

As for delicate tasks such as producing a see-through slice of tomato or apple, I’d say you can do it with this knife as well but don’t expect it to be perfect. 

To add to that…

…it’s also encased in a beautiful leather sheath with a vintage kind of a wash in it. It looks like it’s an old and special sheath made last century!

It has a belt loop as well as another loop where you could put your own fire starter in for easier access. 

Just a reminder…

…despite its amazing edge retention, it proved to be a bit of a challenge to sharpen. It took me almost an hour to get a sharp edge. If you’re still not an expert at sharpening knives, then it could take you a lot longer than that. 

But hey. I also thought that it’s such a small price to pay for such versatility and unbreakable durability of this Benchmade knife.