Choosing The Best Camping Knife

When it comes to setting up and maintaining a campsite, a lot of work needs to be done. Finding the best camping knife is no small task and everyone is going to have different styles and features they value. Based on how you camp and the type of tasks you need to complete, there are countless knives to choose from.

Here at The Knife Connection, we have created a section of our store dedicated to helping you find the best camping knife. Like we just said, there is no perfect all in one camping knife, so this category includes hundreds of options. It’s difficult to find the one true best camping knife for fulfilling every potential camp chore, so you have to make your selection carefully.

Now, everyone camps differently, but no one should camp without a knife. Knives are among the most versatile tools known to man and they can help with countless tasks around the campsite. The only decision is what knife, or knives, to bring with you on your next trip into the great outdoors.

If you are looking for a knife for light and delicate tasks, a smaller knife will provide much more control. Small fixed blade knives and folding pocket knives are perfect for simple jobs like cutting rope, preparing food, and detailed tasks like whittling. A large knife can handle some of these jobs, but a smaller blade size offers additional control that will make these jobs much easier to perform.

Sometimes, you need a knife that can handle some serious work. A folding knife will accomplish quite a few tricky tasks, but it would not be the knife of choice to baton firewood with use to chop. For these more intense tasks, you will need a fixed blade knife made with quality steel that can stand up to the abuse. We have plenty of sturdy options for these kinds of knives, including large machetes for chopping tasks.

To give you a good idea about the different knives in our inventory, let’s take a look at some of our most popular camping knives based on their build and use.

Pocket knives and small fixed blades
Sometimes you want to go camping, but you are taking a relaxing trip with almost everything prepped ahead of time. When this is the case, you might not need to baton firewood or create any structures that would require the use of a large knife. Instead, you can probably get by with a folding knife or a small fixed blade.

● Great Eastern Cutlery Tidioute #62 Pocket Carver - Great Eastern Cutlery is great at producing classically styled pocket knives. This particular model features a congress style design, with 3 1095 carbon steel blades designed for the fine task of preparing writing quills. The main wharncliffe blade features a 2.1875” cutting edge while the smaller carving blades have 1.125” edges. The knife is finished with a set of gorgeous scales and the construction features slip joint locks. This compact knife fits easily in the pocket and is an excellent choice for completing all of the little tasks that pop up around your campsite.

● ESEE Knives IZULA II - Described by ESEE Knives as a small workhorse knife, the IZULA II is compact and ready to handle a wide range of jobs. The IZULA II takes the original IZULA design and adds an extra half inch of length to the handle for incredible control. The 2 ⅝” 1095 blades sharpens up quick and holds its edge so you can work with confidence for your entire camping trip. The thumb jimping on the back of the blade aids in controlling the blade and the skeletonized handle keeps the blade light. You can also purchase our G10 handle scales for the IZULA II, or wrap the blade in useful paracord.

● ESEE Candiru - Another small but mighty blade from ESEE, the Cardiru has a 2 inch cutting edge on its drop point saber ground blade. Like the IZULA II, you can find the Candiru with or without handle scales depending on your preference. The Candiru has an overall length of 5 ⅛”, making it over 1 ½” smaller than the IZULA II. With a set of our textured G10 handles and the thumb jimping on the blade, you can get some incredible control when working with the Candiru.

● LT Wright Frontier Trapper - If you are looking for a knife that has a traditional look and feel, the LT Wright Frontier Trapper is sure to impress. LT Wright is a brand dedicated to handcrafting incredible knives made with quality steel and handle material. The Frontier Trapper features a 2.375” clip point blade constructed from O1 tool steel. The clip point is ideal for detailed tasks and can even be used when skinning small to medium game. The scales, which are secured with traditional brass pins, are made from sturdy micarta. Every LT Wright knife also comes with a leather sheath for easy storage.

● TOPS Knives Fieldcraft Folder - Finally, let’s look at a knife that bridges the gap between being a folder and offering the utility of a larger knife. The Fieldcraft Folder is a rugged folder that imitates the TOPS Fieldcraft knife, designed by the Brothers of Bushcraft. With a 4.28” blade, this knife is definitely the largest in this category and it comes packed with useful features. The handle features a bow drill divot and the finger choil and thumb jimping combination give the user a surprising level of control when working with this large blade. It is still a folding knife, so it might not be the best candidate for jobs like batoning, so let's look at some knives more suited to those applications. 

Larger fixed knives
When you need a knife that is a little more rugged, a larger fixed blade is always a perfect option. These knives can handle a wider range of tasks and are great options for bushcraft and other outdoor activities. 

● ESEE Knives Camp-Lore PR4 - This ESEE knife has camp right in the name, and for good reason. This knife has been designed to be the best camping knife for anyone looking to enjoy some bushcraft while they camp. The 4 inch 1095 spear point blade features a 90 degree spine that is perfect for striking a ferro rod. The sculpted micarta handles are both comfortable and non-slip, so you can work with confidence.

● ESEE Knives 6HM - Another ESEE offering, the 6HM takes their ESEE 6 design with a handle modification(HM) to create the perfect outdoors knife. Simple modifications like removing the finger choil and rounding the handle have made the 6HM more suited to difficult tasks like chopping, batoning, and other essential bushcraft jobs around the campsite. With this 5.75” drop point blade, you will be able to handle almost anything the wilderness throws at you.

● Becker BK62 Kephart - Knife enthusiasts will know about Horace Kephart’s Kephart knife. This simple but effective spearpoint design created its own genre of outdoor knives. The BK62 is a take on this classic design that has been designed and manufactured by the experts at KA-BAR. The 5 inch blade is extremely versatile and the full flat grind makes this knife perfect for slicing. The handle’s small raised area helps to provide a secure grip while doing fine work and the knife comes with a classic brown leather sheath.

● LT Wright GNS - The GNS is built with LT Wright’s simple and functional style. This knife was designed to offer a perfect “sweet spot” for all of your common camp chores. The GNS features a 4.5 inch O1 tool spear point blade. Like many popular bushcraft knives, the spear point provides a wide range of uses. Perfect for dressing game or working around the campsite, you will find that the GNS will be one of your favorite knives once you get your hands on it.

● Great Eastern Cutlery Hunter - Great Eastern Cutlery is probably best known for their traditional folding pocket knives, but they also produce some amazing hunting/outdoors knives. The Hunter features a classic hunting knife design with a 3.5” clip point flat ground 1095 carbon steel blade. The Hunter comes with a sturdy leather drop loop style sheath embossed with an acorn and oak leaf pattern to match the handle. 

Big workhorse knives
Finally, sometimes you need a big knife for big jobs. Machetes can help handle tough jobs like chopping and clearing brush with ease. We also offer a selection of hatchets and small axes that are perfect for camping. 

● ESEE LIBERTARIAT - The LIBERTARIAT is not just a machete. This tool is both a powerful chopping tool and a great knife. The rectangular 2” by 9” 1075 carbon steel blade pacts plenty of heft for batoning or chopping wood and its sharp cutting edge is perfect for more refined tasks like prepping meals. The blade features an attractive black hammered finish and a 90 degree edge for striking a ferro rod.

● TOPS Machete .230 - For a more traditional machete profile, the Machete .230 fits the bill. With a 15.75” 1095 steel blade, this machete features a 6.75” handle for balance and is surprisingly light and fast for its size. In order to make handling this large blade a little easier, the Machete .230 comes with a ballistic nylon sheath with 2 flap and buckle closures for holding accessories. With one of these on your hip or pack, you will be able to blaze your own trail wherever you go.

● 1901 Michigan Bowie - Now we all know about Bowie knives, but this one is sure to impress. Bark River Knives have taken a classic Bowie design from Webster Marble in Michigan to create this incredible knife. With a 10” clip point blade constructed from A2 tool steel, this knife is built for chopping. Even with a few modern upgrades like a thicker guard, this knife is accurate to the original 1909 Marbles knife. The wood handle and metal crossguard offer a safe and secure grip during heavy work and every Michigan Bowie is sold with a period accurate leather belt sheath.

● Becker/Reinhardt Kukri BK-21 - If you are a fan or kukris over machetes, this is the blade for you. The BK-21 excels at chopping work and is perfect for shelter building, chopping firewood, and other big camp chores. The end of the 13.25” 1095 blade can be used as an axe once you have found the “sweet spot” for your swing. The curve of the blade can function as a draw knife and is also great for making quick snap cuts. Finally, you can choke up on the handle to do finer work with the back of the blade. The BK-21 comes with a dangler sheath and we offer G10 handles to upgrade your new kukri.

● ESEE Gibson Axe - Okay, this one might not be the perfect fit for the “best camping knife” category, but it is an extremely useful tool for any campsite. Designed by James Gibson, a bushcraft and survival expert, this 10.5” little axe is compact enough to throw in a pack, but it also packs a punch. A perfect tool for camp chores, this axe can chop, carve, and the bearded head design provides an alternative grip for more controlled cuts.

There you have it! Here at The Knife Connection you can find the best camping knife for any job or chore you might encounter out in the woods. Finding the perfect knife for you all depends on how you camp or what jobs you want to accomplish. Casual campers will probably only need to bring a folder or utility knife, while intense bushcraft enthusiasts might want to bring a selection of tools with them. Whatever kind of knife you need for your next big camping trip, you will find plenty of quality options when you visit the Camping Knives category of our store. If you have any questions about the knives we carry, you can reach a member of our team by calling 1-866-336-2834 or emailing support@theknifeconnection.com.