Good Camping/Backpacking Folding-Knife

D

dolfan723

Joined
Jun 6, 2010
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5
Hey, I'm looking for a good folding-knife for camping and backpacking that would be within a price range below 150.

My brother has a 7-inch fix-blade for heavy duty jobs, so I don't need something for that. So just please give me some names of folders that are solid and not too expensive.

Blade between 2.5 - 4"

Weight: keep it reasonable

If you have any other questions about desired specs, just ask.

Thanks.
 
for outdoors use, a larger size folder (around 4" blade) would probably be better...the benchmade 710, 940, 943 are all good offerings but are right around your price range.
 
In truth a mini leatherman type tool is all you'd need.
I have over 1000 days in the backcountry and have never really needed anything bigger than a small swiss army knife.
That being said, I'd much rather be in the sticks with my (gotta stick to the price limit...) Spyderco Gayle Bradley (it's pretty stout), though I'm starting to really love the Spydie Stretch II.
Kershaw makes some pretty decent blades, too.

Me - my relatively worthless 2 cents
 
benchmade 15020
hgjhggfjpg.jpg
 
I'd go with a Victorinox Outrider; lotsa functions in a tight package :thumbup:

- The saw is quite efficient and double as a great firesteel stricker
- Scissors are pretty useful for first aid or repairing gear; they work well.
- Locking main blade - although not the greatest locking mechanism.
- Can opener/beer opener - when car camping
- tweezers for tick areas

I have the Rucksack; almost the same but without the scissors. Pretty damn useful! :thumbup:
 
One that I have used on some backpacking trips is the Spyderco Para
D2Para002.jpg


Lately I have been using lighter folders when coupled with a fixed blade, like the UKPK and Buck Waimea in this picture:
KingsCanyon2009504.jpg
 
dolfan723 said:
Hey, I'm looking for a good folding-knife for camping and backpacking that would be within a price range below 150.

My brother has a 7-inch fix-blade for heavy duty jobs, so I don't need something for that. So just please give me some names of folders that are solid and not too expensive.

Blade between 2.5 - 4"

Weight: keep it reasonable

If you have any other questions about desired specs, just ask.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

- Spyderco Endura - cheap and full flat grind these days
- Spyderco Military - not cheap but one of the best bigger folders ever. Perhaps the paramilitary if you prefer smaller.
- Spyderco Manix 2 is a super dependable utility blade.
- If you are often close to the sea then a Spyderco Pacific salt instead of the above recommendations
- I also think that whatever you choose, it is useful to add a kind of Swiss Army knife, like for example the alox Victorinox Pioneer.
- a cheap, light, strong and useful general outdoor knife is the lovely Eka Swede 88 in any of its incarnations
- do check the very new Pohl Force Bravo One Outdoor. Compact, a strong backlock, and 2-hand opening which is a plus if you plan to travel abroad to countries where one-hand opening knives are not allowed (there is a thumbstud variant as well)
 
Dolfan, buy a RAT-1 for $25 and hang on to the rest of your money until something comes along that you absolutely have to have.
 
I'll second the suggestion to consider a Swiss Army Knife - if you've got a big fixed blade for the tough tasks, something with a saw and scissors can be really useful. The scissors are great for first aid type tasks, and the saw can be awesome for making tinder and various other woodcrafting.


If you are convinced you don't want a swiss army knife, I am a huge fan of Spyderco folders, so it's just a matter of finding one that fits your uses and that you like the ergonomics. I have personally carried both the Carbon Fiber Sage and the Delica for backpacking.
 
I always carry a SAK. Other good outdoor backpacker folders are a Spyderco Delica, Endura, and Manix.
 
I carry a Swiss Army Ranger, and it handles all of my field work. Great knife, and lives in my pocket wherever I am.
 
I'd have to say something mid-sized, in the reinforced plastic handle variety.

The Delica, Endura, Mini Griptilian and Griptilian all come to mind. They're lightweight, come in bright colors so they're harder to lose, and they're not so expensive that losing one would be a big deal.
 
Depends on what you plan to use it for. I carry a couple folders of my backpacking and camping endevors. If your needs may ever be for a fast knife to access and bring to action the spiderco and benchmades are hard to beat. If you need a knife to do more delicate work or if the need comes up for a skinning or fileting fish look at a slipjoint like the case xx trapper. There is always the option to get one of each and you will never be sorry for owning both. I carry both but if I had survive with only one folder maybe only one knife it would be my Case CV trapper hands down. You could get a endrua or Griptilian and a good quality slipjoint for under 150 and have both covered.and maybe have enough left over for a lightweight sharpener to cary long just in case.
 
my $0.02:

a Leatherman or similar pliers based multitool or a simple SAK of your choice.
 
william8284 said:
Depends on what you plan to use it for. I carry a couple folders of my backpacking and camping endevors. If your needs may ever be for a fast knife to access and bring to action the spiderco and benchmades are hard to beat. If you need a knife to do more delicate work or if the need comes up for a skinning or fileting fish look at a slipjoint like the case xx trapper. There is always the option to get one of each and you will never be sorry for owning both. I carry both but if I had survive with only one folder maybe only one knife it would be my Case CV trapper hands down. You could get a endrua or Griptilian and a good quality slipjoint for under 150 and have both covered.and maybe have enough left over for a lightweight sharpener to cary long just in case.
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I agree with william8284 it really depends on what your going to do. Since your brother has the "heavy" duty knife you should carry the opposite of that so it cover all area of your needs. I perfer you buy a Victorinox Swiss Army knife Swiss Champ (Good for camping and EDC) or look into a much bulkier counterpart of that which is a Leatherman AL. These multi-tools can do 15-20 jobs which is great for all sorts of things :thumbup:

Eddie
 
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