Backpacking & Camping Knives

How do you choose the best knife to take backpacking? Why is a knife on the 10 essentials?

• I am not affiliated with any of these brands, these are just my personal favorites.

  
  

First off, I'll tell you my personal choice: Mine is a Mora Light My Fire (now rebranded as Mora Companion Spark. This knife includes a steel striker stowed away in the handle, so it's a great backup option for fire emergency (Just practice with it before you need it!). Mine is older and has been sharpened a few times and still performs for my needs.

My personal favorites for function and durability -Mora Light My Fire and Leatherman Skeletool.

Although its not full tang (Meaning that the blade is not all the way through the handle), I have never had any issues batoning wood with it.

I typically wear in attached to my person with a carabiner; in bear country I wear a fanny pack with my knife attached on one side and my bear spray on the other.

Example of how I wear my knife and bear spray on my waist for quick access (pictured in the Enchantments of Washington)

The reality for me backpacking is that a large knife is never truly needed... except in emergency situations. With that said, you can always find a reason to use it if you want to!

When choosing a knife for backpacking, the key considerations are weight, functionality, durability, and safety.

I tend to see a lot of the larger knives as a bit overkill- the biggest deciding factor for you- What are you realistically going to use it for? For me- wood/fire, cutting paracord, maybe cutting food. I hiked the entire AT with just a miniature swiss army knife.

Here's a breakdown of the types and specific recommendations:

🗡️ Types of Knives for Backpacking

1. Folding Knives (Pocket Knives)

• Pros: Lightweight, compact, safe to carry.

• Cons: Less robust for heavy-duty tasks.

• Best for: General backpacking, food prep, first aid, light woodwork.

• Popular options:

  • Benchmade Bugout – Ultra-light and durable.

  • Spyderco Delica 4 – Great edge retention and ergonomic.

  • Victorinox Classic SD – Super compact, with basic tools.

2. Fixed Blade Knives

• Pros: Stronger, better for wood processing, survival tasks.

• Cons: Heavier, requires sheath.

• Best for: Bushcraft, thru-hiking with frequent campsite setups.

• Popular options:

  • Morakniv Companion – Affordable, lightweight, reliable.

  • ESEE Izula II – Small, but tough and versatile.

  • Benchmade Puukko – Premium option, excellent steel.

3. Multi-tools

• Pros: Multiple tools in one (pliers, scissors, screwdrivers, etc.).

• Cons: Heavier than a single-use knife.

• Best for: Repairs, gear adjustments, first aid.

• Popular options:

  • Leatherman Wave+ – Feature-rich, durable.

  • Leatherman Skeletool – Lighter and more minimalist.

🏕️ What to Look For

Feature	Why It Matters
Weight	Ounces matter when backpacking. Aim for under 5 oz if minimalist.
Steel quality	Look for corrosion-resistant, edge-holding steel (e.g., 420HC, S30V, Sandvik).
Grip	Comfortable and secure (rubber or textured polymer are great).
Locking mechanism (for folders)	Enhances safety during use.
Ease of maintenance	Simple design and common steels are easier to sharpen in the field.

🏞️ Best Knife for Most Backpackers

✅ Morakniv Companion – Affordable, lightweight (4 oz), fixed blade, great for food prep and light bushcraft.

If you prefer something smaller and lighter:

✅ Benchmade Bugout – Folding, super light (1.85 oz), premium steel, good for minimalist hikers.

 I use all of my gear until failure- so by no means am I an expert on the latest and greatest, so:

What are your favorites? What functions do you look for? Share with us!