Condor Garuda or Tops Pasayten?

D

dsars

Joined
May 17, 2016
Messages
5
Hi all,

Sorry to post another all-around camp knife thread, but I feel like there's a specific comparison I've been looking for but can't find: the Condor Garuda (5 inch, not the tanto one) and the Tops Pasayten Lite Traveler.

I realize they are in completely different price brackets, but I've read they are generally good at the same basic camp tasks like food prep, feather sticks, and light wood working. I am much more interested in the first two, as I've got an ax for chopping and any other large-scale tasks like that.

Has anyone handled both of them in the kitchen and in the woods? Are the handle offsets enough to keep your fingers off the cutting surface when doing food prep?

Also, there seems to be some disparity between the Garuda being 5mm or 3mm thick. I'd be more inclined to give it a try if it was for sure 3mm, but Condor's website says it's 5mm, while some reviews say it's 3mm, and other retailers list it at 1/8" / 3mm, but people actually report receiving a 5mm knife (e.g. amazon). Can anyone confirm? Thank you so much for your help!
 
I can only speak to the Tops as I used to own one. It is a great lightweight blade that cuts extremely well due to its thin stock while still being plenty tough. The handle is very grippy and ergonomic as well.
 
I suppose I shouldn't have specified that you have had experience with both knives, I was just hoping for that.
 
The Garuda used to be 3mm thick but was beefed up a little while back.
 
I've owned both knives, and the Lite Traveler is the only one I own to this day...it's also the one & only production knife I still own & will never sell, so ya, I kinda like it!

The Tops is the better knife IMO. It's a superior slicer...in fact, it's my favorite food prep knife of all time, even above all of my customs/hand-made fixed. Love the wide blade. And it processes wood extremely efficiently & effectively....more so than it seems like it would, just by looking at the thing. And it's STAINLESS!! And while I prefer leather sheaths for all of my knives, the sheath that comes with the LT is way better/useful/useable than that of the Garuda.

Having said all of that, the Garuda was my favorite Condor knife I've ever owned, & I've owned tons of them, & I do regret selling mine....so much so, I'm going to purchase another one (definitely the 3mm) in the future. I have medium sized hands & prefer thinner handles/scales...& the Garuda has a nice thin, simple handle & nice smooth grippy micarta scales. I actually prefer the handle of the Garuda over the LT - both for its width & its shape, as the LT has more of a radius to it...a bit too much IMO; but the LT's blade is just so far superior, it makes it an easy choice if $$ is not an issue. You've narrowed it down to two knives that really do compare well with one another, so good on ya there brother - and again, my vote goes to the LT as the superior camp knife for sure, but if one has a budget, the Garuda is a great alternative that will not disappoint.

Some main differences are the steels - they are fundamentally different - & the slicing ability (again, the Garuda is a good slicer at 3mm, it's just that the LT is an amazing slicer)...the LT holds its edge much longer & it's stainless - the Garuda will show signs of corrosion on the untreated edges & the blade itself after the coating wears off - not a big deal for a lot of guys, but I always prefer a stainless steel personally - and the LT's 154cm, while not CPM-154, is plenty tough, no worries in that regard at all. I actually think the Garuda is the better looking knife, as I prefer simple drop points to clip points, & I can't stand jimping! The LT is also the only knife I own with any type of jimping....I just can't get rid of it because it's such an outstanding performer...& its jimping is relatively mild.

Both great knives - I say get both!!
 
Thank you so much for the very helpful replies on both the functionality and the beefed up Garuda thickness! I knew I could count on all of the knowledge here!

Looks like I might be shelling out for a Lite Traveler unless a 3mm Garuda pops up pretty quickly for sale! Thank you all again!
 
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