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Reading Time: 11 minutesLast Updated on July 4, 2025 by Paul Clayton
Table of Contents
Best Camping Knife – Reviews and Buying Guide
A camping knife is an essential tool for any outdoor enthusiast. Whether you’re an experienced adventurer or a weekend camper, having a reliable camping knife can make all the difference in your outdoor experience.
Key Takeaways:
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- Essential Outdoor Tool: A camping knife is a fundamental piece of gear for any outdoor enthusiast, crucial for various tasks from simple chores to emergencies.
- Prioritize Reliability and Durability: The most critical aspects of a camping knife are its reliability and durability. Look for knives made from high-quality steel (like D2, stainless, or high-carbon steel) that can withstand demanding outdoor use.
- Consider Your Intended Purpose: The “best” knife depends on your specific needs. Are you primarily cutting ropes, preparing food, starting fires, or needing to defend yourself? This dictates the ideal blade type (e.g., plain, serrated, drop-point, tanto), size, and additional features.
- Fixed vs. Folding Blades:
- Fixed-blade knives (e.g., Schrade SCHF36 Frontier, SOG Instinct) offer superior durability and reliability for heavy-duty tasks due to their single, solid construction.
- Folding knives (e.g., CIVIVI Brazen, Eafengrow Snake Head, Kershaw Clash) are more compact, safer to carry, and convenient for everyday camping chores.
- Versatility vs. Simplicity: Some knives are highly versatile, integrating features like fire starters, glass breakers, or multiple blade types (e.g., Hori Hori Multi-use). Others are more “plain” and excel at basic cutting tasks. Choose based on your comfort level with complexity and the range of chores you anticipate.
- Balance of Features and Cost: While cheaper knives exist, investing in a higher-quality knife often translates to superior reliability, sturdiness, and long-term performance, making it a worthwhile investment for safety and peace of mind in the wilderness.
Camping is always fun—being in the vast outdoors, surrounded by fresh air, and enjoying good company. Leaving your worries aside usually begins and ends as soon as you pack up, and that’s precisely what we want to talk to you about.
Among the most essential gear pieces a camper needs is a good knife—today, we’ll discuss the best camping knives on the market, so without any further ado, let’s get straight to it.
The Best Camping Knife
CIVIVI Knives Tactical Folding Camping Knife
Features:
The first camping knife we’re reviewing today is the CIVIVI Brazen Folding Pocket Knife, 3.5-inch Tanto D2 Plain Blade, G-10 Outdoor Camping Hiking Knife with Thumb Studs and Flipper Opener. It’s a unique tool for its price point.
What we liked about this knife:
First of all, this camping knife is plain and easy to use—it doesn’t come outfitted with complex features that only veteran campers would benefit from. Moreover, with a blade as small as 5 inches long, you can cut, pierce, or carve pretty much anything.
Secondly, the D2 steel material used in the manufacturing process of this knife shows considerable promise. This blade is uniquely durable, and it’s safe to say it’s one of the most reliable camping knives we’ve seen.
What we thought could be improved:
We only had one issue with the CIVIVI Knives camping knife—it’s rather expensive. Similar knives could achieve the same result but at a lower cost. However, this model is your safest bet if you want premium quality.
Why we picked this knife:
Camping knives are usually versatile, and this pick might seem odd as it doesn’t particularly excel in this field of performance. However, it compensates for this little flaw with exceptional reliability, supreme stability, and excellent build materials.
This knife is also very easy to use, and it’s a perfect option for campers of all experience levels (newbies, experienced campers, and veterans).
Our verdict:
Surely enough, most people think that CIVIVI Knives’ camping knife is too expensive to be valuable.
If your budget is tight, you might want to consider our other picks. However, if you have the means to afford this knife, it will be your companion for years, if not decades, to come.
Pros:
- Outstanding build quality
- Available in multi-color variations and two finishes
- Looks fantastic
- Caged ball bearing system
- Suitable for campers of varying levels of experience
Cons:
- There are cheaper options
Eafengrow Snake Head G10 Folding Camping Knives
Features:
Next up is the Eafengrow Snake Head G10 camping knife. It’s a 7.9-inch folding knife with a D2 blade, a half-serrated edge, and a titanium alloy handle.
It also has a frame-lock mechanism that prevents the blade from escaping the handle unless necessary. This knife is available in blue, gray, and green color variations.
What we liked about this knife:
Aside from its sharpness, the Snake Head boasts a plain design that is ideal for camping. This knife’s serrated edge can easily cut ropes of all thicknesses, and its durability is exceptionally high.
The blade is neither too long nor too short; at 3.3 inches, it’s just perfect.
What we thought could be improved:
Just like our previous pick, this knife isn’t exactly versatile. It’s lightweight and sharp, and the majority of features it comes outfitted with are very simple—it could, perhaps, be used for self-defense, but the lack of features such as a fire starter doesn’t help in terms of versatility.
Why we picked this knife:
We primarily selected the Snake Head for our best camping knife reviews because it boasts superb durability and reliability.
The blade is small enough to be labeled as “easy to use”, and its lightweight properties make it easy to carry – in fact, you’d barely even feel it in your backpack or on your belt.
Our verdict:
There’s an unwritten saying among campers that whichever knife you possess on a person will be the best knife you could have while camping.
Any bladed tool could come in handy for cutting ropes, opening tin cans, or such, but if you’re not looking for “just about anything”, and instead search for quality, Snake Head is what you need.
Pros:
- Small blade suitable for all kinds of applications
- Available in three color variations
- Titanium lightweight handle
- Frame lock
- Great value
Cons:
- Mediocre versatility
- Pricey
Schrade SCHF36 Frontier
Features:
Knife lovers adore Schrade, one of the most famous brands in this branch, and it’s widely known that they make some of the best camping knives on the market.
The SCHF36 Frontier is made of powder-coated HC steel and features a drop-point blade, ring-textured handle, lanyard hole, polyester sheath, Ferro rod, and sharpening stone.
The blade’s length is 5,05 inches, while the knife’s overall length is 10,5 inches.
What we liked about this knife:
This is, in essence, a durable knife made by a leading brand. It will get you out of a pinch, serve you well in virtually every scenario, and come laden with a plethora of convenience features, such as a lanyard hole, polyester sheath, and finger choil.
What we thought could be improved:
Apart from being pricey, the SCHF36 Frontier isn’t precisely light per se. Namely, it weighs 1,44 pounds, nearly twice (if not thrice) as much as your regular camping knife.
Why we picked this knife:
Any camper who’s worth his (or her) salt should have the Frontier tucked in his (her) belt. If you need to cut a rope, start a fire, sharpen your other knives, or defend yourself, rest assured the Frontier will give you the means to do so.
Our verdict:
Schrade’s knives are top-rated, and we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to check out one of their finest works. The SCHF36 Frontier is one of the most valuable pocket knives despite not being lightweight or inexpensive.
Pros:
- A plethora of convenient features
- Polyester sheath
- Exquisite level of durability
- Premium-quality HC steel build
Cons:
- Heavy and pricey
Kershaw Clash Pocket Camping Knife
Features:
Kershaw Clash Pocket Knife, Black Serrated (1605CKTST). The 3.1” Stainless Steel Blade with Black-Oxide Coating looks excellent.
This knife’s ideal features include a glass-filled Nylon Handle, a SpeedSafe Opening, and a Reversible Pocket clip. However, it doesn’t feature any fancy convenience features (such as a fire starter or glass breaker).
What we liked about this knife:
First, we loved the sheer plainness of the Kershaw Clash Pocket Camping Knife.
It’s a simple knife intended for simple purposes, and campers who don’t wish to pay a fortune for a good knife should consider this excellent knife. It’s very durable, reliable, and sharp – all qualities a good knife needs to possess.
What we thought could be improved:
The only thing about Kershaw Clash Pocket Camping Knife that’s not exactly likable is the grip. Namely, this knife doesn’t feel too comfortable once gripped, although it’s far from uncomfortable per se.
Moreover, the blade is incredibly sturdy, so you might need to invest extra time and effort in sharpening it.
Why we picked this knife:
If you come across a camper or outdoorsman who owns a Kershaw Clash Pocket Camping Knife, you’ll probably hear that this knife has a rugged steel build. On top of that, it doesn’t cost much, so there’s no reason for you not to give it a shot.
Our verdict:
Our verdict on the Kershaw Clash Pocket Camping Knife is as favorable as can be—this is a valuable, moderately priced camping knife with a strong build that deserves its excellent reputation.
This great, nearly flaw-proof knife does a significant bang for the buck.
Pros:
- Plain construction
- Outstanding steel durability
- A flat grind makes it perfect for slicing
- Great value for the buck
Cons:
- Hard to sharpen
SOG Instinct Fixed Blade NB1012-CP knife
Features:
Next up on the menu is SOG’s Instinct NB1012-CP knife. This is perhaps the smallest camping knife in our review, measuring only 4.9 inches in length overall. The blade is petite, measuring 2.3 inches in length.
The NB1012-CP is a straight, fixed-blade knife with a clip-point edge. It comes outfitted with a machined G10 handle (alternatively, you can order a stainless-steel handle), and includes a complimentary nylon sheath.
What we liked about this knife:
Small knives are ideal if you are sporting other bladed camping equipment, such as machetes or hatchets. This is a remarkably small knife that will easily complement your other gear—it’s lightweight, can be carried on a belt or even boots, and is as sharp as they come.
What we thought could be improved:
In truth, this is a perfect knife, but it won’t do you much good if you intend to rely on it standalone. Even though it’s sharp and durable, the blade is tiny, so it’s suitable for specific tasks, whereas most camping knives could be used in numerous applications.
Why we picked this knife:
We selected SOG’s Instinct for campers seeking a compact knife. It offers a quick solution for simple problems and regular camping chores, and it doesn’t cost much.
Our verdict:
SOG’s Instinct is a beautiful knife—it’s small, easy to carry and use, and its fixed blade can pierce just about anything. As a complementary feature, you’ll even get a hard-molded nylon sheath.
Overall, it’s very good value for the money, especially if you don’t intend to camp in high-vegetation areas.
Pros:
- Ultra-small camping knife
- Straight edge and fixed blade
- Machined G10 handle
- Very easy to use and carry
- Decently affordable
Cons:
- Intended for specific purposes
Hori Hori Multi-use Camping Knife
Features:
Essentially, Hori Hori’s multi-use knife is, by far, the most versatile knife in this review. It’s treated as an “all-in-one tool,” as it can be used in various applications, including gardening, mountaineering, camping, and any other outdoor activity.
It features an exquisite concave blade that can cut, slice, and pierce a wide range of conventional materials. It can also be used for digging. The blade has a serrated side for easier cutting and a “clean” side for easy slicing.
The handle of Hori Hori’s knife is made of African Rosewood, which is both beautiful and sturdy. As a complementary feature, you’ll also get a leather-stitched sheath and a neat little whetstone for sharpening.
What we liked about this knife:
The plain answer to “what we liked about this knife” is “everything.” It’s perfect for camping—it’s hard to imagine a chore with which this knife won’t help you out. That being said, it’s safe to say that this knife’s versatility is sky-high.
What we thought could be improved:
Although you’ll receive a complimentary sheath, this knife isn’t compact. You can carry it on your belt, but it’s slightly larger than some of the models we’ve reviewed.
Why we picked this knife:
Affordable, durable, reliable, and versatile—these are just some of the qualities that Hori Hori’s multi-purpose knife possesses, which have intrigued us. With this model, you can cut, dig, slice, rip, and pierce your way through any obstacles that may come between you and your unique camping experience.
Our verdict:
Although initially unconventional, the Hori Hori knife is intended for all-purpose use. It’s great for camping, hiking, mountaineering, and any outdoor activity.
On top of that, it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, so it’s easy to see why it’s so valuable for the buck.
Pros:
- One of the most versatile knives on the market
- Decently affordable
- Half-serrated, half-clean
- Complementary whetstone and sheath
Cons:
- A bit big for easy carry
Camping Knife Buying Guide
What makes the best camping knife “the best”? There are several qualities you should look for.
Purpose of the Knife
The first thing to consider when buying a camping knife is its purpose. Will you use it to cut ropes, prepare food, start a fire, or defend yourself?
Knowing this will help determine what type of knife you need. For example, a larger knife is excellent for wood cutting but not essential for food preparation.
Reliability
For starters, you’ll need a reliable knife that won’t break down on you when you need it the most. Most camping knives are made of steel, with the primary difference between various models being the type of steel used.
Stainless and high-carbon steel knives are your best bet and are relatively easy to find.
Blade Type
Secondly, you should pay attention to the blade type – will it be fixed, straight, folded, or unfolded?
You’re free to choose according to your requirements—people who value convenience usually choose folded or pocket knives, while those who rely on performance usually choose fixed-blade knives.
Furthermore, whether you’ll use a straight-edge knife, tanto, or drop-point blade knife depends on the chores you expect to do.
Some knives are better suited for cutting, while others are designed to slice or pierce. Knife’s complexity – easy to use vs performance
Thirdly, there are “plain” knives that do not come outfitted with any special features, and there are “more versatile” models that do. These unique features mean that the knife has more than one function, but they also make it harder to use.
Again, if you value simplicity and intend to perform the most basic chores, plain camping knives will suffice. Those unique features include the fire starter, glass-breaker, and serrated edges (or edges).
Fixed or Folding
Fixed-blade knives are more durable and reliable for heavy-duty use while folding knives are compact and safer to carry.
Price
Lastly, be sure to consider the knife’s price. Some models cost significantly less than $10 and can perform the same job as models that cost $100.
However, the reliability, sturdiness, and overall performance of more expensive knives can’t even begin to compare to low-cost knives.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, a camping knife is indispensable for any outdoor enthusiast. Its importance cannot be overstated as it provides much-needed assistance in performing various tasks such as preparing food, cutting ropes, and carving wood, among others.
Camping knives are durable and versatile, making them reliable companions in the wilderness. They come in different sizes and styles to cater to users’ varied needs.
It is designed with robust handles to ensure a firm grip, thus allowing precision and control during use. Moreover, it is equipped with safety mechanisms to prevent accidents, providing the user’s safety at all times.
However, like any other tool, a camping knife requires regular maintenance for its longevity. This includes keeping it rust-resistant to maintain its functionality and effectiveness.
Therefore, when selecting a camping knife, one should consider these essential factors to ensure they choose a tool that will serve their needs and stand the test of time.
