A good knife is an essential part of any camper’s gear. A good camping knife will make your life in the wilderness much easier, whether you are cooking food around a campfire or cutting up some firewood to build a shelter.
By knowing what features to look for when searching for the best camping knife, you can ensure that you have all of the tools necessary to survive in nature and enjoy yourself while doing it.
At its most basic level, a great camping knife should be able to cleanly slice through wood easily without getting stuck in it, which means that it needs both sharpness and strength.
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What is the Best Camping Knife?
To decide on the absolute best camping knife, we have examined dozens of knife for camping and reviews left by real users who bought and used them. Based on what they geniunely shared and experienced, we have shortlisted the top 6 camping knives for you to consider, including their most important features, in order for you to make an informed decision.
On top of that, to make it easier for you, we have also compiled a list of critical things and frequently asked questions (FAQs) to consider before purchasing knife for camping. You can find later further down in the article. So without further ado, here’s introducing the best camping knife.
1. Edelrid Rope Tooth Knife
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 0.1 Pounds (0.1 kg) |
See it in your local store:
Can attach to harness with carabiner Can be used with one hand Serrated and smooth blade
The Edelrid Rope Tooth Knife has a very similar design to the Petzl Spatha. It has a stainless steel blade and a large swivel hole that easily fits a carabiner.
Another great feature is the lanyard hole on the handle. Simply girth hitch the lanyard to your harness and you won’t risk dropping your knife while climbing.
Pros
- Can attach to harness with carabiner
- Can be used with one hand
- Serrated and smooth blade
Cons
- The plastic handle may not be as durable as a metal handle
2. Spyderco Salt Folding Knife
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| Price: 💲💲💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 0.1 Pounds (0.1 kg) |
See it in your local store:
High quality H-1 steel blade Smooth or serrated blade option Anti-slip handle
The Spyderco Snap-It Salt is a high quality, lockable folding knife. We like that it has a rust proof blade, which will help maintain a sharper edge for longer.
The addition of anti-slip panels and the ergonomic design of the handle gives you more control when cutting. This is a great feature, as control is the key to safety when using a knife mid climb. However, weighing in at almost 2.4 ounces, it is on the heavier side for climbing knives.
Pros
- High quality H-1 steel blade
- Smooth or serrated blade option
- Anti-slip handle
Cons
- Pricey
- Made for people who are right handed
3. Petzl Spatha Blade
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| Price: 💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 0.1 Pounds (0 kg) |
See it in your local store:
Blade locking mechanism Attaches to harness with carabiner Serrated and smooth blade Light weightThe Edelrid Rope Tooth Knife has a very similar design to the Petzl Spatha. It has a stainless steel blade and a large swivel hole that easily fits a carabiner.
Another great feature is the lanyard hole on the handle. Simply girth hitch the lanyard to your harness and you won’t risk dropping your knife while climbing.
Pros
- Blade locking mechanism
- Attaches to harness with carabiner
- Serrated and smooth blade
- Light weight
Cons
- The plastic handle may not be as durable as a metal handle
4. CRKT Delilah Folding Pocket Knife
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| Price: 💲💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 0.1 Pounds (0 kg) |
See it in your local store:
Belt buckle clip Hole to secure knife to harness with a chord Blade locking mechanism
Designed with the aim to create a quality compact knife, the Delilah’s P.E.C.K delivers. It is only 4.25 inches when open and weighs in at just 0.9 ounces. Due to its small size, this knife could be a good option for people who want to stash their knife in their chalk bag.
Pros
- Belt buckle clip
- Hole to secure knife to harness with a chord
- Blade locking mechanism
Cons
- No serrated blade
5. Trango Piranha Knife
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 0.1 Pounds (0 kg) |
See it in your local store:
Serrated blade Carabiner hole Blade locking mechanism Lightweight
The Trango Piranha is a small knife for rock climbing that ticks many boxes. Made from surgical grade 440-C stainless steel, it is a robust small climbing knife. It weighs in at a mere 0.7 ounces and is smaller than the size of your average carabiner. What is unique about the design is that the blade locks closed when clipped to a carabiner – genius!
Pros
- Serrated blade
- Carabiner hole
- Blade locking mechanism
- Lightweight
Cons
- No smooth blade
6. HX Outdoors Fixed Blade Tactical Knives
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| Price: 💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 0.4 Pounds (0.2 kg) |
See it in your local store:
Durable Protective sheath Versatile
This knife is designed as an all-purpose outdoor knife, which will come in handy on countless odd-jobs at your base camp.
This knife doesn’t just have one, but three blades – a cut blade, hook blade, and a notch blade. We like the feature of an anti-skid handle, making this knife also a go to if you are venturing into canyoning. In addition, the blade has a ceramic coating which prevents corrosion.
Pros
- Durable
- Protective sheath
- Versatile
Cons
- Heavy
- Not a folding knife
Following all the comparisons, research and information we have gathered about these top camping knives, we can confidently say that Edelrid Rope Tooth Knife is the best camping knife out in the market.
However, if you are on a slightly tighter budget, you can also consider the Petzl Spatha Blade as an affordable alternative.
Lastly, if you are going all the best features with high quality materials and would like to consider all the premium options out there, we will strongly recommend the Spyderco Salt Folding Knife. We look forward to hearing from you in the comments below what are some other models that you might have experienced that are even better!
What You Should Know Before Buying Camping Knives
Most Important Features To Look Out For
We have five key features that we look for in camping knives.
- It should have a blade locking mechanism
- It should be easy to use with one hand
- It should have a serrated edge, as it cuts through rope easier
- It should have a hole that allows you to easily clip it to your harness
- It should be small and lightweight
What You Should Know Before Buying Camping Knife
Tape your knife shut
If you want complete peace of mind that your knife won’t open mid-climb, you can tape it closed. Simply put some tape around the knife when it is closed.
Clean regularly
Remember to clean your knife regularly. A simple wipe with a cloth will keep it in good working order. There is nothing worse than a knife that is jammed closed.
How to Pick the Best Camping Knife
When looking at camping knives there are a few key considerations we kept in mind. This may seem an obvious point, but the most crucial aspect of any camping knife is that it can be securely closed and there is zero chance of it opening accidentally.
Precautions To Take Note Of
Above all, no matter what knife you ultimately settle upon, it is critical that your blade can be locked closed and that there is zero possibility that it could accidentally open.
If you do find yourself in a situation where you need to use your knife whilst climbing, take extreme caution. A blade will cut through a loaded dynamic rope like butter.
Questions and Answers About Camping Knives
When would a climbing knife be useful?
A climbing knife is often used to cut old webbing found at anchor points on rock-climbing routes. Clearing and replacing old slings is important to maintain safety of anchors on routes and is considered an act of good climbing etiquette. Another common use for a climbing knife is to unjam a belay device. Things like hair, clothing, or prusik cords can jam a belay device and will need to be cut out to free the abseiler.
Do I need a rock climbing knife?
If you are climbing at a climbing gym, no, you can leave your knife at home. In fact, that is recommended. Climbing knives are useful when you climb outdoors, particularly multi-pitch or alpine routes. If you are doing sport routes, we suggest you get a climbing knife, it is a useful component of any outdoor climber’s kit.
Using a climbing knife in a rescue situation?
Using a knife in a rescue situation should be considered a last resort. Whatever your situation is, consider how you may be able to solve the problem without having to use your knife. If you are climbing outdoors, you should be trained and confident in self rescue and rescue of others.
Climbing ropes wear out over time, and tattered ends need to be cut. If you have never cut a climbing rope before, it’s best to do it the first time with your feet on the ground. This video takes you through the basic steps for cutting a dynamic rope.
What’s the difference between a climbing knife and camping knife?
A climbing knife has a secured blade, is lightweight, and has a serrated edge for cutting rope and can be easily attached to a harness.
Should I get a folding camping knife?
In our opinion, yes! A folding knife that can be securely closed is the gold standard of climbing knives. Whilst fixed knives with a protective sheath may be safely used when climbing, they are more cumbersome to unlatch.
DIY a folding knife into a climbing knife?
f you have a folding knife with a plastic handle that can’t be clipped to your harness, you can turn it into a climbing knife. Simply drill a hole in the handle small enough to put a lanyard through it.
Alternative uses of a rock climbing knife?
If you get a climbing knife with both a serrated and smooth blade, you will find many uses for your knife. Every time you split a bagel and add a smear of avocado you’ll be so glad you packed your climbing knife.
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