3 Best Folding Knives for Camping

Hey there campers and welcome to my post where we will check out my three best folding knives for camping this year.  During our stay in the great outdoors, we often find ourselves cutting certain things to meet a particular need and for this reason, a handy, folding camping knife is a handy ally.

However as usual, there are a number of different types and options out there so to help you out I have had a good look around and come up with three decent options below.

Let’s check them out…

I will review these in more detail below however if you just want to get moving without all the carry-on, my recommended products are listed here for your convenience: 

02/19/2024 01:46 pm GMT

Folding knives, which are typically categorized as pocket knives, are a single-bladed knife option that folds down onto itself for safety when not in use.  They generally have a somewhat larger blade than a traditional pocket knife with a locking mechanism that holds it in place when extended for use on harder materials.

And as with traditional hunting knives, some also incorporate other tools such as serrated edges, files and even bottle openers as well.

The following should be considered as you hunt around for a good folding knife to meet your camping needs.

1. Opening mechanisms
2. Blade steel
3. Type of blade
4. Type of edge
5. Blade length
6. Additions

Opening mechanisms

There are a number of opening mechanisms when it comes to folding knives as follows:

1. Thumb stud: This opening mechanism refers to a blade-mounted opening fulcrum. Thumb studs usually thread together via a hole in the blade to keep in place, making dual thumb studs on both sides of the blade “ambidextrous.”
2. Flipper: A knife with a locking mechanism typically has a flipper, which functions similarly to a thumb stud. These knives are excellent for one-handed deployment, which is vital in various situations, such as when you need to cut a fishing line while keeping it taut or when your other arm is pinned.
3. Nail nick: The slip joint and manually opened knives, such as the Swiss Army Knife, are where the nail nick is most frequently encountered. Your nail can sink into the machined groove and offer enough security to pry open the knife.
4. Automatic button: The automatic and aided opening knives are incredibly similar. However, it doesn’t need your movements or aid to start the rollout. When using an automatic knife, you must press a button; the knife takes care of the rest.  Note – these are illegal in some areas.

Blade steel 

This factor affects the durability of the folding knife and commonly consists of the following:

1. Stainless steel: This blade material contains at least 13% chromium and other elements that promote corrosion resistance. The corrosion resistance, however, comes at the expense of reduced toughness, hardness, and edge retention. This is not to say that stainless steel is inferior to other steels for pocket knives; instead, it should be used when corrosion resistance is critical.
2. High carbon steel: Folding knives made from this blade steel contains a higher carbon component than others, which gives the blade more hardness, durability and edge retention. You can sharpen high carbon steel blades to a more refined, sharper edge than stainless steel knives.
3. Tool steel: The last steel type is a high-carbon steel commonly used to make cutting tools for workshops and industrial purposes. This is because of its superior edge retention, hardness and longevity. These characteristics of the steel make it an ideal choice for knife steel and a popular choice among knife producers.

Type of edge

In buying camping folding knives, you will meet at least three kinds of blades. These are the plain edge, a partially serrated edge, and a fully serrated edge.

1. Plain edge: Pocket knives with a plain edge have a straight edge without any serrations. The straight edge is best if you need to make exact cuts because it is more stable than serrated edges and they are simpler to sharpen. Its inability to make sawing cuts is its biggest flaw however
2. Partially serrated edge: The completely serrated and plain-edged pocket knives meet at this point. There are serrated and non-serrated areas on the cutting edge giving you the best of both worlds.  The serrated portion of the blade’s difficulty in being sharpened is one of its key drawbacks however.
3. Fully serrated edge: When cutting needs to be done with a sawing motion, this kind of edge is ideal. Serrations add strength to the blade, enabling you to use it on harder materials and serrated edges are thinner than straight edges. Compared to knives with a plain edge, they can cut more effectively.

Type of blade

The type of blade used to make folding knives for camping is also a factor. The most typical varieties of folding knife blades are listed below.

1. Clip point: This is a very popular pocket knife blade. The name comes from a straight or curved cutaway region on the blade’s unsharpened rear edge. The clip point is excellent for piercing and general cutting, but its small tip leaves it vulnerable.
2. Drop point: This blade type has a straight spine that slightly slopes down to meet the blade’s bottom half, producing a drop point. This pocket knife functions similarly to the clip point but with a significantly sturdier point.
3. Sheepsfoot: This blade was initially used to clip sheep hooves. It features a sharp cutting edge and a spine that slopes gently towards the tip. Its straight edge has a vast surface area that is great for slicing and cutting.
4. Tanto point: Also known as a chisel point, this blade comprises a straight cutting edge with an angular tip. It is powerful and used to create push cuts, stab, and penetrate complex materials.

Blade length

In choosing folding knives for camping, you do not want to use products with very large blades because they defeat the idea of portability. It is advisable to buy folding knives whose lengths are below 4 inches.

Blades between 2.75 and 4 inches in length have the advantage of being tiny enough to be transportable yet big enough to do a more extensive range of jobs. This blade length also has various locking features that allow you to push it during demanding work.

Additions

Other potential additions include:

1. Grip: Choose a folding knife that has an ergonomic handle along with an anti-slip feature. This quality ensures you can use the knife properly as needed.
2. Ease of sharpening: Folding knife that offers ease of sharpening saves you time and energy, which you need for outdoor fun.

So based on the information above and my own experience, I recommend the following options:

Grand Way Pocket Folding Knife

This first folding knife option is made from durable steel with a spring assisted opening blade and pocket clip for ease of use. See its specifications below:

• Brand: GRAND WAY
• Blade steel: Black-coated 440C stainless steel
• Blade length: 3.42 inches
• Blade edge: Plain
• Opening mechanism: Thumb stud
• Weight: 4.40 ounces

Other inclusions:

• Spring-assisted opening
• Pocket clip
• Safety latch

Why have I chosen it?

The folding knife is modest in size but has a wide range of applications for the user. The sturdy clip-point blade makes it easy to work on almost anything and the assisted-opening feature simplifies one-handed usage, making it perfect for demanding campsite activities.  the perfect addition to any campsite.

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2. Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops Folding Knife

My second folding knife features a black oxide high carbon stainless steel blade with a black, aluminum handle making for a perfectly balanced and light weight cutting option. See its specifications below:

• Brand: Smith & Wesson
• Blade steel: High carbon stainless steel
• Blade length: 3.1 inches
• Blade edge: Partially serrated
• Opening mechanism: Thumb stud
• Weight: 3.84 ounces

Other inclusions:

• Comfortable grip
• Pocket clip

Why have I chosen this?

The folding knife is well-made and well-designed, with a long-lasting carbon steel blade and a good edge for easy and effective cutting. Because of the rough material and finger indentions on the handle, the blade will not slip if you have a good hold and with its compact pocket clip, finger flipper, and ambidextrous thumb knobs, this item is ideal for fast usage.

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3. Buck Knives 110 Folding Hunter Lock-back Knife

This last knife option is made of premium materials and high-quality blade steel, resulting in a knife built to last and an excellent pocket companion for everyday use and for trekking and camping. See its specifications below:

• Brand: Buck Knives
• Blade steel: High carbon stainless steel
• Blade length: 3.75 inches
• Blade edge: Plain
• Opening mechanism: Lockback and nail notch
• Weight: 7.2 ounces

Other inclusions it has:

• Leather sheath
• Integrated  belt loop

Why have I chosen this?

This folding knife has a blade with a very sharp controlled tip that is ideal for precise operations like piercing and slicing. You can effortlessly access the product due to its lockback system which ensures consistent strength and safety as you operate. This folding knife’s high carbon steel boasts outstanding toughness and is designed to handle harsh outdoor situations.  This knife will handle anything you could throw at it whilst camping or hiking.

02/19/2024 01:46 pm GMT

There you have it,  my three best folding knives for cutting situations while you camp. I would be pleased to know how this article helped you, and as usual,  let me know of your experiences with them.

Also, please do not hesitate to comment below if you have any questions, concerns, or corrections or would like me to check anything else out for you.

Until next time.

Have fun

Paul