Kershaw Cryo II vs. Thermite

B

bahne

Joined
Jul 20, 2008
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I've never owned a knife before (or anything significant, at least) or had experience EDC'ing one.
This week, I became addicted to this board and bought a (rainbow) Leek and a Cryo. They haven't even come yet, but before getting them....iv'e decided I want something bigger too :D

So, iv'e read every review/video to be found on both knives, but can't make up my mind on which to get. I like them both, but no, I can't afford to buy anymore and get both.
I know all the technical differences between them, but I think that never having really carried a knife before, I don't have the experience to know which one I want.

So, i'm asking you guys- if you chose between the Cryo II and Thermite, which would it be for you...and why?

I don't know what it is about these new Kershaws, the budget pricing and Hinderer influence has really gotten me... :thumbup:
 
Wow 2008 registration and no knife? Surprised :eek:
I'd go Thermite for sake of not having two Cryos, albeit different sizes.
 
I always come here to browse, but never had the money to buy anything...hell I still don't, but I think I caught the knife flu this time...it is painful to my wallet :p
 
At the moment I only have a Cryo 1, but my advice would be to get the Thermite. You already have a Cryo, plus the Thermite has cooler little details, like a G10 scale to improve grip and reduce weight, a stonewashed finish and most importantly that SPANTO grind! Thermite is just a better all around package, IMO.
 
Wow. Welcome.

Skip the hype and buy a Victorinox Alox model, a Ontario RAT 1 and a fixed blade Mora. You will have all your bases covered for a long time :thumbup:
 
While the Cryo II is a nice, I have both, and the Thermite is a much better EDC for me.
 
GripnCOLDSTEEL said:
Wow. Welcome.

Skip the hype and buy a Victorinox Alox model, a Ontario RAT 1 and a fixed blade Mora. You will have all your bases covered for a long time :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Your forgetting the Opinel, it's only a few dollars but it gives you so much performance. Just get a #6 or higher so you have a lock, the #8 seems to be quite popular on the forums, I carry the #6 as an EDC.

Size does not equal performance in knives, get a swiss army knife it's practically a requirement. Personally I say get the Cadet, Recruit, Compact, Bantam, Waiter or any 1/2 layer knives they have so it's easy to EDC (full size, not the keychain) and learn what a smaller thinner blade can do. SAKs aren't the only one with a nice thin blade, opinels and many traditionals have a blade like that. Actually come to think of it the leek has such a blade, but your still required to get an SAK, it's THE STANDARD by which all other knives are judged by in my opinion.

And get your knives in and carry them and USE them before you decide you need something bigger.

Oh and I own the Cryo it's a great knife, I don't think the Thermite would be a good knife for me. But I would love the Cryo II because I feel the extra handle length would make it significantly more comfortable, but I don't want the added weight as the Cryo is quite heavy already. If you want something usable that's longer a Skyline will do good, I have heard nothing but good things about it.
 
I like the look of the Thermite a bit more. I don't have experience with the Cryo II, but the Cryo is a great smaller-sized EDC knife.
 
Neither is going away soon. Wait until you get your Leek and your Cryo, carry those for a bit, and see how the size and carry work out for you, before deciding if you need the bigger knives.

With that said, I prefer the Thermite between the two - the G10 scale is more comfortable to me, than the all metal Cryo scale (and while you can re-scale them both, that pushes the budget way up).

I also second the recommendation of the Skyline. It's a very easy knife to carry, and a great flipper for the money.
 
Thermite. Don't have a Cryo or Cryo 2. The thermite has the Cryo beat in the budget quality department in my opinion. I'd rather have a G-10/Stainless handle than the Cryo's aluminum one. Also the blade on the thermite is a bit longer than the Cryo, which I prefer.
 
Thermite. It is great--you won't regret it. However, you should really get a Mora or two instead--that way, you'll have a fixed blade, too.
 
Thanks for the recommendations, looks like it's pretty unanimous for the Thermite so that's what i'll be going with.



P.S. I'm about to place my order... but does anyone have any better pics of the black? I can't find any video's with the black and can only find a few pics online of it. I'm wondering if it's a kind of stone washed finish as well, or if its just a smooth black.

Thanks again!
 
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Not impressed with the cryo2 myself. Fine knife, but cutout for the lock bar is so thin it looks like paper almost. Works fine and I'm sure it will do its job, I just don't like it.

Add to that its bigger than the cryo but still just too small of a knife for my liking. fit and finish is good for what it is, but it just looks cheap.....same goes for the scrambler. Lastly the lag time from the announcement to when it actually got released I guess made me anticipate far more than as possible for the pricing.....but when I got it in hand underwhelmed would be the best description.

So in this case thermite would be my pick if it were for me, but alas......only you will know what works for you.
 
The Cryo 2 is much more substantial in the hand and the thermite is very thin and to be honest I don't care for it much. I have the original Cryo and I think it's pretty awesome even though it is a bit hefty for it's size.
 
I agree with BenLong. I have both Cryos and they seem to be
the only two knives I carry. They are built like a ZT.
 
I've been considering a thermite and I think you guys just convinced me thx!
 
I have good news and bad news. Good news.....Your getting the Thermite! Bad news.... Your going to end up getting the others too. Actually just bad news for the wallet, but that's part if it. I should probably mention you will end up getting many more and continue getting more until you find your definition of the perfect EDC knife for you. More bad news....you will start to weigh the price versus value and your definition of "budget folder" will gradually increase. More and more designs will grow on you, making you lust for inanimate objects. Before you know it, your selling things to pay for a new grail. It's all downhill from here.

Anyway, I should go now and get back to flipping one of my latest purchases around since my fingertips aren't sore yet. Good luck with the thermite and the cryo. You will enjoy both of them.
 
Of those are the only 2 you'll consider I'd go with the thermite but I'd highly recommend the skyline, better steel, USA made, one of the most recommended knives around here. And kershaw guy has belms right now for less than the thermite or cryo2.
 
Thermite. I just got one today, and it's the best of all the budget Kershaws I own, and better than most other budget knives I have as well.

~Chris
 
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