Qualities you should be looking for in a camping knife

Clearing up the campground or skinning the hunt, chopping wood for fire or removing the branches over your tent, a smart camper knows the many uses of a camping knife. Although not a multi-tool, a good knife often comes with a smooth blade that is designed to last and can be used in various situations.

Read below for some qualities you should be looking for in a camping knife.

A sharp blade comes in handy for different campsite activities, such as cutting rope, sticks for shelter or fire, skinning your hunt and miscellaneous tasks. A good hard-steel blade holds the sharp edge well but needs regular maintenance to resist corrosion.

A fixed blade knife is an important piece in your luggage when camping in the remote wilderness. A large and sharp blade can come to use for your survival when attacked by a big wild animal, like a bear. 

When out in the remote wilderness, it’s advisable to use a knife that is strong and won’t break when cutting or chopping hard materials. A knife made of carbon steel or stainless steel material is the most reliable when it comes to camping knives put to use in different survival situations. A full tang knife has a blade that runs from the tip to the handle and hence offers the maximum strength and stability.

The weight adds stability and strength to your knife. You should first give a good thought to how you intend to use the knife. If you’re planning to use the knife primarily on hard surfaces, like wood or potatoes, then a heavy-weight knife will suit your needs. For softer materials, like tomatoes and some fruits, a lightweight knife is a better option. It also depends on personal preference to use a heavy knife or a lighter type.

A crucial factor when it comes to choosing a knife, balance plays a huge role in determining the user’s comfort when holding the knife. Correlated to the weight, a knife’s balance should also complement its cutting edge based on if the user is left-handed, right-handed or ambidextrous to maximize the knife’s versatility.

The type of steel used determines the sharpness, hardness and toughness of a knife. With hardness comes the ability of a knife to hold its edge well. Toughness indicates how prone to breaking a knife is. When buying a knife, you should be on the lookout for one that holds well in both these criterias.

Stainless steel is a popular choice for its resistance to rust makes it easier to maintain and last, but its hardness is usually low. Carbon steel, on the other hand, makes for sharper and harder knives but requires more maintenance. This makes it important to find optimal blends for a knife to last for a longer time period in its original condition.

A folding knife allows the user to fold its blade back into the handle of the knife, but cuts down on the ability of the knife during emergencies. A user with a full tang knife has the option of using a sheath or keeping it open. Nomatter what the handle is the most important part of a knife. It offers the grip required to chip, cut or slice through any surface. Strong and sharp knives used for survival generally have handles that are stronger, with a better grip. 

The above mentioned qualities should now help you determine a choice of knife for camping and survival.