Best Camping Knives

A camping knife is an essential tool for camping trips. So essential that approximately 35 million US households own an outdoor or pocket knife. When you’re off the grid, a camping knife can prep wood and food as well as help in a pinch for campground projects and improvements. It’s also handy for self-defense if it comes to it. However, you don’t want to take just any knife on the trail. 

The best camping knife is designed for outdoor use and rugged terrain and projects. Depending on the type of camping you enjoy will determine what type of camping knife is best suited for you. To help you find the best knife for your next camping trip, we list the ten best camping knives of this year.

Preview Best Overall Premium Pick Best Value
Product Name Grand Way 6681 Spring Assisted Knife CRKT Provoke Kinematic EDC Folding Pocket Knife Grand Way 6772 Tactical Folding Knife
Specifications
  • Price: $14.99
  • Blade Length: 3.42 inches
  • Blade Thickness: Black coated 440C Steel
  • Overall Length: 7.75 inches
  • Weight: 4.4 ounces
  • Price: $166.95
  • Blade Length: 2.41 inches
  • Blade Thickness: D2 steel
  • Overall Length: 7.25 inches
  • Weight: 6.1 ounces
  • Price: $10.99
  • Blade Length: 3.7 inches
  • Blade Thickness: 420 Stainless steel, .1 inch thick
  • Overall Length: 8.4 inches
  • Weight: 4.23 ounces
Pros
  • Very lightweight for everyday carry
  • Secure Locking
  • Multi-functional folding knife
  • High-quality steel
  • Very affordable
  • Lightweight
  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • Rapid Blade Deployment
  • Discreet lock lever for safety
  • Lightweight
  • Pocket clip and lanyard
  • Excellent quality and safety lock
  • Very affordable
  • Specially designed for camping
Cons
  • Slide lock can be difficult for some people to use
  • The clip can come loose with heavy use
  • The pocket clip can sometimes catch on fabric
  • Expensive
  • Can be big for some pockets
  • Can be a bit stiff initially
Price $12.99 at Amazon $164.7 at Amazon $7.99 at Amazon
See more See the Grand Way 6681 Spring Assisted Knife See the CRKT Provoke Kinematic EDC Folding Pocket Knife See the Grand Way 6772 Tactical Folding Knife

Filter Camping Knives by Category

  • All Categories

  • Editor’s Choice

  • Premium Pick

  • Bang for Your Buck

  • Cooking

  • Wooden

  • Sheath

  • More

  • Spoon and Fork
  • Flint
  • Firestarter
  • Compass

Spoon and Fork

Ka-Bar Tactical Spork

Ratings

  • Sturdiness: 10/10
  • Craftsmanship: 9/10
  • Security Features: 10/10

Bottom Line

The ultimate camping multi-use tool, the Ka-Bar Tactical Spork, is ideal for camping, hunting, and fishing trips. Made from durable polymer plastic, the spork pulls apart to become a spork and knife set. Affordable and lightweight, this spork doubles as a utensil and a decent serrated blade for camping utility.

Specs

  • Price: $6.49
  • Blade Length: 2.3 inches
  • Blade Thickness: N/A
  • Overall Length: 6.875 inches
  • Weight: 0.1 pound

product_pros

Pros Cons
  • Very lightweight
  • The knife is relatively sharp
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Made from durable ABS plastic
  • The spork is smaller than a standard spoon
  • The knife is also plastic

Flint

iFIELD Survival Knife Workout

Ratings

  • Sturdiness: 9/10
  • Craftsmanship: 8/10
  • Security Features: 10/10

Bottom Line

The iField Survival Knife Workout has a Mova satin blade, orange and black cord, whistle, flint, sharpening stone, and leather sheath. A fixed blade hunting knife, the iField Survival Knife Workout, is beautifully designed for outdoor use. A practical multi-tool with a decent flint for starting fires.

Specs

  • Price: $77.88
  • Blade Length: 5.9 inches
  • Blade Thickness: 5 millimeters
  • Overall Length: 10.8 inches
  • Weight: N/A

product_pros

Pros Cons
  • Sheath attaches easily to a pack or belt
  • Quality flint and sharpening stone
  • Comes with a ten-year warranty
  • Has a saw on the spine
  • Can be too heavy for some people

Firestarter

Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Knife

Ratings

  • Sturdiness: 9/10
  • Craftsmanship: 9/10
  • Security Features: 10/10

Bottom Line

A fixed, half-serrated blade, the Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Knife is a reliable multi-functional tool to take hiking. The knife includes a fire starter, blade sharpener, whistle, and pommel for rugged outdoor use. The Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Knife is made from stainless steel with a textured, rubber grip handle. It comes with a military-grade, nylon sheath that is mildew resistant.

Specs

  • Price: $39.99
  • Blade Length: 4.75 inches
  • Blade Thickness: N/A
  • Overall Length: 10 inches
  • Weight: 11.2 ounces

product_pros

Pros Cons
  • Great quality utility knife
  • Ergonomic handle for comfortable grip
  • Affordable multi-tool
  • Made from a durable, rust-resistant material
  • Needs to be sharpened when opened
  • May struggle to hold an edge

Compass

Morpilot 5 in 1 Stainless Steel Tactical Folding Knife

Ratings

  • Sturdiness: 9/10
  • Craftsmanship: 8/10
  • Security Features: 10/10

Bottom Line

The Morpilot 5-in-1 Stainless Steel Tactical Folding Knife is our last pick of the best camping knives. This multi-tool comes with a knife saw, bottle opener, portable clip, seat belt cutter, magnesium fire starter, glass breaker, compass, and whistle, making it the ideal tool for long hiking trips. A foldable knife for easy portability and storage, the Morpilot 5-in-1 Knife is built for all-weather conditions.

Specs

  • Price: $17.09
  • Blade Length: 3.14 inches
  • Blade Thickness: N/A
  • Overall Length: 7.87 inches
  • Weight: 5.6 ounces

product_pros

Pros Cons
  • Anti-skid handle design
  • Safety lock where you must manually unlock
  • High-quality stainless steel
  • Portable clip
  • Manually opens
  • Screws can sometimes come loose

Editor’s Choice

Grand Way 6681 Spring Assisted Knife

Ratings

  • Sturdiness: 10/10
  • Craftsmanship: 10/10
  • Security Features: 9/10

Bottom Line

The Grand Way 6681 Spring Assisted Knife is our best overall pick for best camping knives because it’s a lightweight, versatile, tactical knife for various uses. Made from durable 440 C stainless steel with an aluminum handle, the Grand Way 6681 Spring Assisted Knife is also very affordable and durable.

The semi-automatic, spring assisted folding knife comes with a clip to easily attach it to your belt, pocket, or backpack for convenient accessibility. This tactical pocket knife can be used for hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, survival, or emergencies.

And at only 4.4 ounces, it’s incredibly lightweight for extended backpacking trips or everyday carry. It has a very secure locking feature for trusted safety. The blade is paper-slicing sharp out of the box. And you can’t beat the quality for the price, making the Grand Way 6681 Spring Assisted Knife a no brainer.

Specs

  • Price: $14.99
  • Blade Length: 3.42 inches
  • Blade Thickness: Black coated 440C Steel
  • Overall Length: 7.75 inches
  • Weight: 4.4 ounces
Pros Cons
  • Very lightweight for everyday carry
  • Secure Locking
  • Multi-functional folding knife
  • High-quality steel
  • Very affordable
  • Slide lock can be difficult for some people to use
  • The clip can come loose with heavy use

Premium Pick

CRKT Provoke Kinematic EDC Folding Pocket Knife

Ratings

  • Sturdiness: 9/10
  • Craftsmanship: 9/10
  • Security Features: 9/10

Bottom Line

The CRKT Provoke Kinematic EDC Folding Pocket Knife is a unique camping knife and our premium pick for style, craftsmanship, and durability. The most expensive knife on our list, the Provoke knife, is bound to draw attention with its innovative blade deployment with a quick push of the thumb.

Specs

  • Price: $166.95
  • Blade Length: 2.41 inches
  • Blade Thickness: D2 steel
  • Overall Length: 7.25 inches
  • Weight: 6.1 ounces
Pros Cons
  • Lightweight
  • Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • Rapid Blade Deployment
  • Discreet lock lever for safety
  • The pocket clip can sometimes catch on fabric
  • Expensive

Bang for Your Buck

Grand Way 6772 Tactical Folding Knife

Ratings

  • Sturdiness: 8/10
  • Craftsmanship: 8/10
  • Security Features: 10/10

Bottom Line

The Grand Way 6772 Tactical Folding Knife is by far the biggest bang for your buck because it’s an excellent quality, multi-functional knife for a fantastic price. The knife includes a fire starter, whistle, and paracord handle for when you’re off-grid. Designed specifically for camping, survival, and emergencies, the Grand Way 6772 is a very affordable tactical folding knife.

Specs

  • Price: $10.99
  • Blade Length: 3.7 inches
  • Blade Thickness: 420 Stainless steel, .1 inch thick
  • Overall Length: 8.4 inches
  • Weight: 4.23 ounces
Pros Cons
  • Lightweight
  • Pocket clip and lanyard
  • Excellent quality and safety lock
  • Very affordable
  • Specially designed for camping
  • Can be big for some pockets
  • Can be a bit stiff initially

Cooking

Herbertz Germany Natural Golden Rosewood Pocket Folding Kitchen Chef Knife

Ratings

  • Sturdiness: 9/10
  • Craftsmanship: 9/10
  • Security Features: 9/10

Bottom Line

Simply put, the Herbertz Germany Natural Golden Rosewood Pocket Folding Kitchen Chef Knife is a chef’s knife built for the outdoors. Strong, sharp, and foldable, making it perfect for camping. The blade has a thumb stud for easy opening and a liner lock to maintain safety.

Specs

  • Price: $25.90
  • Blade Length: 4.5 inches
  • Blade Thickness: 0.1 inches
  • Overall Length: 9.9 inches
  • Weight: 5.78 ounces
Pros Cons
  • Fits inside the pocket
  • High-quality blade for cooking
  • Beautiful wood handle
  • Easy, one-hand opening
  • The handle is a bit large

Wooden

Mossy Oak 14-inch Bowie Knife

Ratings

  • Sturdiness: 10/10
  • Craftsmanship: 9/10
  • Security Features: 8/10

Bottom Line

The Mossy Oak 14-inch Bowie Knife is a beautiful, functional camping knife with a full-tang wood handle and genuine leather sheath. One of the longest blades on our list, this knife has incredible strength and durability. This fixed blade is designed for various outdoor uses, including camping, survival, hunting, and industrial.

Specs

  • Price: $24.99
  • Blade Length: 8.5 inches
  • Blade Thickness: 21 millimeters
  • Overall Length: 14 inches
  • Weight: 14 ounces
Pros Cons
  • Easy, sturdy grip
  • Leather sheath attaches well to packs or belts
  • Extremely sharp, high-quality blade
  • Affordable price
  • Could possibly rust over time

Sheath

Mossy Oak Survival Knife

Ratings

  • Sturdiness: 9/10
  • Craftsmanship: 9/10
  • Security Features: 10/10

Bottom Line

A 15-inch fixed blade camping knife, The Mossy Oak Survival Knife, is our sheathed knife pick from the best camping knives. The heavy-duty, nylon sheath comes with a sharpener and fire starter, making it ideal for camping. Made from 440C stainless steel that is rust-resistant and very durable, the Mossy Oak Survival Knife has excellent strength and stability.

Specs

  • Price: $27.99
  • Blade Length: 10 inches
  • Blade Thickness: 3.8 millimeter
  • Overall Length: 15 inches
  • Weight: 16.8
Pros Cons
  • Has additional saw blade
  • Great functionality
  • Handy belt holster
  • Very affordable for the quality
  • The blade must be sharpened before first use
  • Firestarter is inconsistent

Spoon and Fork

Ka-Bar Tactical Spork

Ratings

  • Sturdiness: 10/10
  • Craftsmanship: 9/10
  • Security Features: 10/10

Bottom Line

The ultimate camping multi-use tool, the Ka-Bar Tactical Spork, is ideal for camping, hunting, and fishing trips. Made from durable polymer plastic, the spork pulls apart to become a spork and knife set. Affordable and lightweight, this spork doubles as a utensil and a decent serrated blade for camping utility.

Specs

  • Price: $6.49
  • Blade Length: 2.3 inches
  • Blade Thickness: N/A
  • Overall Length: 6.875 inches
  • Weight: 0.1 pound
Pros Cons
  • Very lightweight
  • The knife is relatively sharp
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Made from durable ABS plastic
  • The spork is smaller than a standard spoon
  • The knife is also plastic

Flint

iFIELD Survival Knife Workout

Ratings

  • Sturdiness: 9/10
  • Craftsmanship: 8/10
  • Security Features: 10/10

Bottom Line

The iField Survival Knife Workout has a Mova satin blade, orange and black cord, whistle, flint, sharpening stone, and leather sheath. A fixed blade hunting knife, the iField Survival Knife Workout, is beautifully designed for outdoor use. A practical multi-tool with a decent flint for starting fires.

Specs

  • Price: $77.88
  • Blade Length: 5.9 inches
  • Blade Thickness: 5 millimeters
  • Overall Length: 10.8 inches
  • Weight: N/A
Pros Cons
  • Sheath attaches easily to a pack or belt
  • Quality flint and sharpening stone
  • Comes with a ten-year warranty
  • Has a saw on the spine
  • Can be too heavy for some people

Firestarter

Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Knife

Ratings

  • Sturdiness: 9/10
  • Craftsmanship: 9/10
  • Security Features: 10/10

Bottom Line

A fixed, half-serrated blade, the Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Knife is a reliable multi-functional tool to take hiking. The knife includes a fire starter, blade sharpener, whistle, and pommel for rugged outdoor use. The Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Knife is made from stainless steel with a textured, rubber grip handle. It comes with a military-grade, nylon sheath that is mildew resistant.

Specs

  • Price: $39.99
  • Blade Length: 4.75 inches
  • Blade Thickness: N/A
  • Overall Length: 10 inches
  • Weight: 11.2 ounces
Pros Cons
  • Great quality utility knife
  • Ergonomic handle for comfortable grip
  • Affordable multi-tool
  • Made from a durable, rust-resistant material
  • Needs to be sharpened when opened
  • May struggle to hold an edge

Compass

Morpilot 5 in 1 Stainless Steel Tactical Folding Knife

Ratings

  • Sturdiness: 9/10
  • Craftsmanship: 8/10
  • Security Features: 10/10

Bottom Line

The Morpilot 5-in-1 Stainless Steel Tactical Folding Knife is our last pick of the best camping knives. This multi-tool comes with a knife saw, bottle opener, portable clip, seat belt cutter, magnesium fire starter, glass breaker, compass, and whistle, making it the ideal tool for long hiking trips. A foldable knife for easy portability and storage, the Morpilot 5-in-1 Knife is built for all-weather conditions.

Specs

  • Price: $17.09
  • Blade Length: 3.14 inches
  • Blade Thickness: N/A
  • Overall Length: 7.87 inches
  • Weight: 5.6 ounces
Pros Cons
  • Anti-skid handle design
  • Safety lock where you must manually unlock
  • High-quality stainless steel
  • Portable clip
  • Manually opens
  • Screws can sometimes come loose

How to Choose the Best Camping Knife

When buying a camping knife, you’ll need to determine how you want to use the camping knife. The most popular uses are the following:

  • Cooking
  • Setting up camp
  • Self-defense

Different knives cater to different needs. Pay attention to how they’re constructed, what features they include, and what their main purpose.

Types of Camping Knives

Here’s a closer look at the major types of knives used for camping:

Folding Blade

The American Knife and Tool Institute states that 80% of new knife sales are easy to open, folding knives. A folding blade is where the blade folds into the handle for storage and safety. It is meant to be stored in a pocket, backpack, or on your belt for safe but accessible everyday use. These can be manual or spring-loaded.

Fixed Blade

A fixed blade permanently extends from the handle securely. You usually see a fixed blade come with a sheath for protective wear. Blades tend to be longer on fixed blade knives.

Multi-tool

The advantage of multi-tools is you get more than just a blade. Multi-tools often include:

  • Firestarter
  • Flint
  • Whistle
  • Compass
  • Eating utensils
  • Glass breaker
  • Paracord

Multi-tools are very common camping knives because space is usually limited, so you need to combine features for extended backpacking trips.

When it comes to picking out the best camping knife, personal preference and utility will largely determine which knife will be your favorite. Obviously, we feel the Grand Way 6681 Spring Assisted Knife is the best overall pick because it’s a lightweight, tactical knife you can use for a variety of camping needs.

If you’re planning a camping trip, make sure you check out our best backpacking tents and best camping mattresses so you stay comfortably and dry when you spend the night in the great outdoors.

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