How to Choose The Ultimate Outdoor Knife

A good outdoor knife is your best friend on the trail. It will prep your food, provide you with tinder for a fire and might save your life if things go south.

Pick a bad one though, and you’re in for some serious pain!

But which factors should you consider when choosing this essential travel companion? 

Let’s begin by talking about the basics..

What do you need your knife for?

Knife types are varied, so the first step is identifying their main intended usage.

Are you looking for something small, pocket sized, perhaps to cut a sausage or some veggies at home or in a camp? 

You might have something more durable in mind, maybe for some bushcraft.

Or perhaps you’re looking for a proper survival knife, something that is able to resist the harshest environments and all the abuse you can throw at it.

Whichever it is, there are key construction factors to consider in any knife. Let’s walk through the characteristics of each.

Which Type of Steel Should You Consider?

Most blades are made of either stainless or carbon steel. But what is the difference between the two?

Carbon steel has, as the name implies, a high carbon content. It is easier to sharpen, maintains a sharp edge for longer but it is very sensitive to rusting, and therefore requires more careful maintenance.

It is also a very hard but brittle steel, meaning it is more likely to chip under a heavy impact than a stainless steel knife. Another characteristic of carbon steel is that it has the chance of leaving a slight metallic aftertaste if used on acidic food, like some fruits. It’s not too noticeable, but it is still something to consider if you are planning on using it for food prep. 

Stainless steel on the other hand has a larger content of the element chromium. This gives it its main advantage over carbon, its resistance to rust. Stainless steel is also more difficult to sharpen and will loose its edge faster. It is more impact resistant than carbon steel and will not leave any aftertaste.

So, which one should you choose?

In general, I find that most stainless steel knives will perform just as well as carbon steel knives, and will remain sharp for a long time if properly taken care of. That, coupled with their rust resistance, makes them much more durable and suitable for beginners.

If the superior edge retention and sharpness is a must for you, then a carbon steel knife is the way to go, just remember that it is bound to rust unless properly taken care of, which is not always easy to do when you’re out and about. A solution to this problem is to choose a knife with a protective coating, or to form a patina.

A patina is a layer of oxidised material that forms over time on the surface of the blade, partially protecting it from rusting. You can force a patina to form by covering the blade with slightly acidic substances, such as vinegar or lemon juice, for a few minutes. Just remember that these methods will help with preventing rust but do not substitute regular maintenance!

Fixed Blades vs Folding Blades

Of course all knives have a blade and a handle, but the way the two connect affects the characteristics of the knife.

Folding knives have a pin connecting the blade to a hollow handle, allowing it to rotate upwards with a locking mechanism to keep it in place. A fixed blade instead has an unsharpened section below the blade called a tang, around which the handle is wrapped.

Because fixed blades are generally made out of a single piece of steel with no moving parts, they beat out any folding knife when it comes to safety and durability. Unless put under extreme pressure, a fixed blade will not break, preventing serious accidents and making sure you’re not left with a useless knife.

A folding knife, on the other hand, is much less durable, and therefore more restricted in usage. If put under excessive stress they risk breaking at the joint between the blade and the handle, either causing the blade to detach from the handle, putting yourself and others at risk, or the locking mechanism can fail, causing the knife to close shut on your fingers.

Even though some locking mechanisms, like a lockback, are advanced to the point that they almost rival fixed knives, they should only be used for cutting and light bushcraft, never for heavy tasks like chopping, batoning or prying.

Where folders have the advantage is in portability. Most are pocket sized and none need a sheath, making them more adapted for travelling. They will also be less visible if you’re afraid of making people uncomfortable in public, but always make sure to consult the local knife carry laws before doing that!

The Tang

The tang is the unsharpened part of the knife that extends inside the handle.

It comes in different lengths and shapes, some extending all the way through the handle (full tang construction), some only halfway (partial tang construction). Others, known as “rat tails”, will go through the entire handle but are very thin and not very durable.

Choose the tang based on the usage of the knife. You’re more likely to find rat tails on cheap blades, or combat and hunting knives meant primarily for stabbing and slicing soft targets. Partial tangs are good for bushcraft and light tasks. A full tang construction can be found on higher end models, especially in larger blades meant for survival use.

This will make the knife heavier, but will also ensure the maximum level of resistance and safety.

The Handle

When it comes to the handle, the key is ergonomics.

A good handle needs to be ergonomic, to sit comfortably in your hand, it must not be slippery and should not have no ridges and strange shapes that poke your hand. The best materials are rubber and wood-like synthetics, such as micarta. Both provide a good grip and won’t become slippery when wet.

Natural materials such as wood and bone are more visually pleasing, giving your knife a more unique and classic look. They are, however, more fragile and prone to cracking and breaking, especially when exposed to high humidity. They also tend to get more more slippery when wet. 

Blade Thickness

The thickness of the blade will determine its weight and durability.

A knife with a thick blade will be able to support more stress without bending or breaking, making it more adapted for heavy tasks. That advantage comes of course with an added weight, which factors in both carry and usage.

The best example of this is the Becker BK2. It’s a massive survival knife with a 13.2 cm coated carbon blade that is 6.6 cm thick! It is essentially a sharpened pry bar. It is widely considered one of the best survival knives on the market but, because of the size, it also weighs 422 g. This makes it very unpractical to carry on trips where you need to watch the weight of your backpack, as well as uncomfortable for long use, as it is sure to quickly tire your hand and arm.

Try to find the compromise between size and weight that will best suit your needs. 

Grind and Profile

The grind and the profile are the way your knife is shaped and thinned out. They are both extremely important in determining the characteristics of the blade. Learn more about the grind and profile, as well as how to properly maintain your knife.

Sheath

As far as the sheath is concerned, all materials work great and the quality will generally depend on the model and brand. The main thing to look out for is that the knife is securely held inside the sheath without rattling. A rattle can mean that the knife is at risk of falling out and that the edge is hitting the inside of the sheath, dulling the blade.

Another bonus point for a good sheath is a drainage hole. This hole is found at the bottom and lets water run out if the inside of the sheath gets wet, protecting your knife from humidity.

If you’re not satisfied with the quality of the sheath, there is huge after-sales market for most brands.

These are the main points to look out for when choosing a new knife:

• The type of steel

• Folding or fixed blade

• The tang

• Ergonomics

• Grind and profile

I hope this article will help you make an informed choice that leads to years of fun on the trail!

𝘿𝙞𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙚 ?

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘴 !

Other articles you will enjoy: