Kayaking Knife

S

Studlysmurf

Joined
Dec 8, 2007
Messages
76
:DI love whitewater kayaking. I go atleast 40 times a year. (Wish it was more though.) When kayaking the need for a knife rairly arises, atleast for me. But when you need one, you REALLY need one. For rescue purposes, or what have you. My hope is that there are so fellow river rats out there on this forum and you could tell me what you use. Normally I lanyard in one of my stainless EDC knives and leave them in there for a season. But this is not ideal. My main thought is one of the folding spydercos in H1. Completely rust proof which is a big plus. I am also leaning towards a fully serated blade and one of the ones with a rescue tip. I am thinking of fully serated because it would most likely be used to cut rope, sprayskirts, clothing, raft material etc. VERY touch material. What do you guys carry, and any input would be very appreciated.

Thanks,
Studlysmurf
 
Spyderco Rescue Salt. Or anything else in the Salt series.
 
I love the salt series, I've got a pacific and a salt I, but I think the thing for the job would be a tasman salt (curved blade). I'm picking one up before sailing season on the great lakes starts up again, and it will be my go to knife for sailing.
 
I don't white water, strictly sea kayaking in the salty Atlantic:D Keeping that in mind, I use a Spyderco Salt 1 fully serrated knife, clipped to my PFD with lanyard. Full Spyderedge just makes sense for possible in/on the water emergencies where rope might be involved IMO. My Salt has seen months of continuous service without any fresh water rinsing, no rust anywhere:) I think a Spyderco in H1 will serve you well.

 
You really should consider a fixed blade, kydex sheath and attach it to your PFD.

If you really need your knife in an emergency, you don't want to be fiddling with opening it up (spyderhole or not). One handed opening a wet knife with cold wet hands in confusing (i.e. underwater) circumstances is bound to lead to a dropped knife.

There are a number of good options for fixed bladed dive knives. The Gerber river knife is a good cheap one. Benchmade has a dive knife (made of X15) that is corrosion resistant; Spyderco caspian salt and the aqua salt are both in H1. All come with a nice kydex sheath.

I do a lot of boat work myself. I used to use a gerber river knife. I lost it though. I now carry a cheap buck diamond back guide (stainless steel) on my PFD strap. Eventually will go for the Spyderco aqua salt or benchmade dive knife. I'm leaning more towards the benchmade because it is a bit more compact (3.5" blade versus 4").
 
When I move to Minnesota, my next purchase will be a aqua salt in the high visi yellow. But, yeah, any of those h1 knives should serve you well.
 
A Brian Fellhoelter ECS. If not, something from the Spyderco Salt series. Or, a Tom Mayo Covert.
 
Speaking from own experience in kayaks I believe you would be better served with a fixed blade. Think about the situations you may find yourself in. If you are tin-canned, up side down, and the water is really cold, a folder may not be the best tool to reach for, let alone be able to open. Look for a double edge and at least partially serrated. Strap it on your life jacket handle down.

Greg
 
A Brian Fellhoelter ECS IS a fixed blade. In fact is was made specific for white water rafting.
 
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+1 on the Spyderco Salt series, or, consider a Rat Cutlery Izula....

a very affordable fixed blade from a great American company - looks like many options to clip it onto your PFD.

best of luck :)
 
Thanks for all the help guys. Actually that caspain salt looks just about perfect. How secure is the sheath? And what kind of attachments device does it have?
 
gcgcgc said:
+1 on the Spyderco Salt series, or, consider a Rat Cutlery Izula....

a very affordable fixed blade from a great American company - looks like many options to clip it onto your PFD.

best of luck :)
Click to expand...

would'nt the izula be actually a fairly annoying choice for kayaking as it would be around water all the time and its carbon steel? this is just speculation though as i don't own one and the only high carbon blade i own is a ka bar and its never rusted.

id say that if its staying clipped to your pfd i dont see any reason to not get something in h1 as you would most likely only use it in emergencies and the like (so edge retention wont be as much of an issue like in a bushcraft knife)
 
but I would very much like rust resistance. Does anyone actually own a caspain salt? If so how do you feel about it
 
Studlysmurf said:
but I would very much like rust resistance. Does anyone actually own a caspain salt? If so how do you feel about it
Click to expand...

i think you misread my post i was saying that if you wanted rust resistance the izula would not be a good choice... and i suggested something in h1
 
CRKT has a dive knife as well that friends have liked. Choose either tanto or blunt point and the sheath has good retention.
 
I have a Benchmade H20 attached to my kayak vest. It is bright yellow and came with an attachement system that LOCKS it onto my vest. You can take it off but not easily. I then used a lightweight ziptie through the lanyard hole and through a zipper pull. The ziptie is light enough to easily be broken but I won't loose the knife while kayaking. I can take a photo if you'd like...it's late right now.

Matt

security2020_2036_2434081
 
kgd said:
You really should consider a fixed blade, kydex sheath and attach it to your PFD.

If you really need your knife in an emergency, you don't want to be fiddling with opening it up (spyderhole or not). One handed opening a wet knife with cold wet hands in confusing (i.e. underwater) circumstances is bound to lead to a dropped knife.

There are a number of good options for fixed bladed dive knives. The Gerber river knife is a good cheap one. Benchmade has a dive knife (made of X15) that is corrosion resistant; Spyderco caspian salt and the aqua salt are both in H1. All come with a nice kydex sheath.

I do a lot of boat work myself. I used to use a gerber river knife. I lost it though. I now carry a cheap buck diamond back guide (stainless steel) on my PFD strap. Eventually will go for the Spyderco aqua salt or benchmade dive knife. I'm leaning more towards the benchmade because it is a bit more compact (3.5" blade versus 4").
Click to expand...


I agree!

Matt
 
I've had this knife on my vest for just over 1 year. That's several kayak trips, several casual canoeing trips, and 2 yearly trips that consist of jumping off things into the water and swimming and just goofing off. Those yearly trips also involve 60+mph jetski rides on choppy Lake Tahoe, Ca! No problems yet.

First pic you'll see the ziptie system. My hand fits in there fine and ziptie breaks away easily.

Second photo was just to show the "wrap around" mechanism that sort of hooks and secures the sheath to vest. Enjoy!

Matt

IMG_1429.JPG

IMG_1431.JPG
 
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