Best knife for camping/hiking?

J

JDX

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Mar 2, 2014
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Now that the warmer weather is coming, I'm going to be camping, hiking and backpacking again. Looking back, there were times when it would have been beneficial for me to have a knife. I'm not looking for anything expensive, because I'm a college student, so my budget is right around $50. I can spend more, but for a knife, id rather not.

I will probably use this knife for cutting branches off, chopping wood, and cutting through vines and rope. I'm looking for a fixed blade, and I've done my research and there are just too many types of metal and terminology that is new to me, so I was wondering if someone could recommend a good fixed knife?

I would prefer the edge be plain or partially serrated,
But not fully.

Thanks for your help!


EDIT: I live in CT, and I know if it's a folding knife, the blade can only be 4 inches..but if that doesn't apply to fixed knives then whatever you think would be a good length. I do not want it to be like a machete though.
 
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What blade length are you looking for? A mora or and esee izula would be in that price range.
 
Man wants to cut vines. I'd say a Swiss Army Knife (SAK) but you need a machete.

Fir fixed blade go with a becker
 
How bout you just get the kabar kukri machete for $40?

That's what I carry. You can use it for clearing and its a big chopper like nobody's business, the most powerful one I've handled yet + plus it can be pressed into the work of a large fixed blade if need be.

I don't worry about the stick tang because of steel choice and hardness + it fits neatly on a belt.

Grab a pocket knife ,SAK, and your good to go. In my experience this is what I've whittled it down to. Keep a Mora on the pack and a lapplander saw just cause
 
I suggest a Mora companion and an 18 inch machete to fit your needs. Ontario makes a nice one and so does Tramontina.
 
A mora if you want a knife but it sounds like a 12-14 inch machete is what you need. I like imacasa. IMO you're not going to get better blades then those unless you spend over 100. I don't see anything in the 15-50 mark that can compare to either of these tools at 6-15 bucks each. If you order from Baryonyx he'll even put a good edge on the machete for a couple of bucks extra. Worth it if you're broke and don't have many hand tools to do the work yourself.
 
Cold Steel's Kukri Machete, it may need sharpening but it will suit your purposes and cost 20 bucks. Good steel, good heat treat and a full tang that's hidden by the injection molded handle.
 
A knife "for cutting branches off, chopping wood, and cutting through vines and rope". Since you want to chop with it, it will need some weight and heft. But don't want to spend more than 50 USD... I would say get a Mora Clipper/Companion (around 15 USD) and a Cold Steel Magnum Kukri Machete 97MKM (around 25 USD) or a Cold Steel Frontier Hawk Axe 90FH (around 25 USD) for chopping. Or buy a 40/50 USD camp axe (e.g. Estwing) and do all your cutting and chopping with that.
 
It's up to you, whichever you think would work best for what I'm using it for. Although I don't want a large machete type knife. Lol.
 
I would go with a 12" machete personally with your budget. Add a Mora Companion for the finer cutting tasks or use a SAK. My short machete is a Condor Pack Golok which I love, but it runs around $50, but includes a fine leather sheath. You would pay that for just the sheath if you had it made for you.

The Condor Hudson Bay might work for you. I believe it runs around $40. For me it is a tad large for finer tasks, and not particularly exceptional as a chopper. But it is still a fun useful knife.
 
My personal vote is still for the Kabar khuk machete. Especially if you don't want to carry a large machete. At 11" it fits on the belt better (like a large knife) and is more powerful than an Ontario 18" machete.

It's user friendly kraton (rubbery) grip also doesnt vibrate my arthritis ridden wrist to death and make me want to cry.

As for the similar option I go kabar over cold steel.

And you can still get a nice Mora 511 for $8 shipped and still be at budget.
 
Becker knives are high performance knives for the cost. They are not the same as a Busse or a $300 knife. Many end up buying new scales/handles and often sheaths which add to the ultimate cost of a Becker. ESEE knives cost more than the equavalent Becker, but you get better handles and many think the sheaths are better. Some feel the ESEE micarta handles are too thin.
 
JDX said:
EDIT: I live in CT, and I know if it's a folding knife, the blade can only be 4 inches..but if that doesn't apply to fixed knives then whatever you think would be a good length. I do not want it to be like a machete though.
Click to expand...

Fine then, don't get what you need.

Kabar 1277 Large heavy bowie, .25" thick, 9" bladed large fixed blade that you will not break.

So , yay. It runs about $50
 
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