I am trying to pick out a knife for when I go kayaking. I want something stainless for obvious reasons. I want a handle that can tolerate a lot of water. I also want it to be fairly tough steel. The steel doesnt have to hold an edge forever so toughness is a little more important than edge holding. I dont want to spend a ton of money on it because it could easily be lost in the water. Let me know what you guys think.
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Knife for kayaking?
- Thread starter loganclj
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SomeNewGuy
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I think that a spyderco pacific salt is good for a folder (or any of the salts depending on size and style)
Kershaw sea hunter is a affordable dive knife, the amphibian is a little more but its double edged also. And the benchmade dive knife is around 80 i believe.
I think the fixed blades would be better personally but i have never gone kayaking, but something that hooks onto you is probably more secure then a clip.
Kershaw sea hunter is a affordable dive knife, the amphibian is a little more but its double edged also. And the benchmade dive knife is around 80 i believe.
I think the fixed blades would be better personally but i have never gone kayaking, but something that hooks onto you is probably more secure then a clip.
My first thought would be a stainless Mora. Good quality for the price, dirt cheap in case it gets lost.
I guess it depends on what you think you'll be doing with it. You can take small soft trees if you baton it but if you have a kayak you probably have room for a saw too.
I guess it depends on what you think you'll be doing with it. You can take small soft trees if you baton it but if you have a kayak you probably have room for a saw too.
What kind of yak are you talking about anyway? white water? sea touring? sit on top?
Personally I'd use whatever "good" knife I already have and like. However, if I wanted something to mount to my PFD I'd look into something like the "McNett Saturna Blunt Tip Outdoor and Dive Knife" or the "Gerber river shorty" or any other River/dive knife.
Google image search "kayak knives" or "whitewater kayak knives" and you can see a lot.
Personally I'd use whatever "good" knife I already have and like. However, if I wanted something to mount to my PFD I'd look into something like the "McNett Saturna Blunt Tip Outdoor and Dive Knife" or the "Gerber river shorty" or any other River/dive knife.
Google image search "kayak knives" or "whitewater kayak knives" and you can see a lot.
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Here is my saltwater setup for a long trip.
I tend to have 2 types of knives:
1) the one in my pocket or life vest which are as rust resistant as possible , like a Spyderco Salt or a Gerber River Shorty atttached to the life vest.
2) the ones in a dry bag for camp or on shore activities, like a machete, Kabar, ESEE, Mora, etc. Anything really. I bring some mineral oil in a small Nalgene container or a small can of WD40 and keep them oiled.
I tend to have 2 types of knives:
1) the one in my pocket or life vest which are as rust resistant as possible , like a Spyderco Salt or a Gerber River Shorty atttached to the life vest.
2) the ones in a dry bag for camp or on shore activities, like a machete, Kabar, ESEE, Mora, etc. Anything really. I bring some mineral oil in a small Nalgene container or a small can of WD40 and keep them oiled.
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My two two cents is a short stainless fixed blade with a slightly curved serrated blade, high visibility grips, maybe a finger hole to enhance retention with wet hands, a kydex sheath, and a lanyard hole and tether.
It depends on what type of water you are riding.
For white-water a low priced smaller fixed blade attached to your PFD would be optimum. I use a Boker Plus Krein Poket Bowie with a tec-lok attached to the shoulder strap of my vest. Its stainless, readily available, not too expensive and has a kydex sheath that can be attached to just about anything with the addition of the tec-lok.
For less turbulent waters you will not have much likelihood of needing a knife in an emergency situation. In this case any stainless steel folder of fixed blade would work. Natural handle material will need more protection from the water but most (bone, wood, stag) work just fine as long as they aren't submerged for a long duration. Case in point, many fillet knives had cork handles to give them some buoyancy if dropped. They also had the problem of taking on a very fishy odor after some use.
Just get something you are willing to loose because all steel sinks in water.
Veil
For white-water a low priced smaller fixed blade attached to your PFD would be optimum. I use a Boker Plus Krein Poket Bowie with a tec-lok attached to the shoulder strap of my vest. Its stainless, readily available, not too expensive and has a kydex sheath that can be attached to just about anything with the addition of the tec-lok.
For less turbulent waters you will not have much likelihood of needing a knife in an emergency situation. In this case any stainless steel folder of fixed blade would work. Natural handle material will need more protection from the water but most (bone, wood, stag) work just fine as long as they aren't submerged for a long duration. Case in point, many fillet knives had cork handles to give them some buoyancy if dropped. They also had the problem of taking on a very fishy odor after some use.
Just get something you are willing to loose because all steel sinks in water.
Veil
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Pocket Bowie is an excellent knife, wouldn't necessarily be my first choice for emergency white water use though.
Get a tether! Lost/dropped knife is no use
Spyderco Pacific Salt is definitely the best choice. I don't really understand why people are recommending knives that will eventually rust without a dry-bag when you can have a knife that WILL NEVER RUST. Scuba Divers use H-1 steel in salt water because it just doesn't rust.
The Pacific Salt, or any of the Spyderco knives in H-1 steel are a far superior choice in this situation. H-1 steel is very tough and gets tougher and harder with use. The more you use and sharpen it the longer it will retain an edge. When I first bought mine it was great but didn't hold a razor edge as long as VG-10, 154CM, S30V. But after using my Pacific Salt as my EDC for several months, it holds a razor edge literally 10 times longer than it did when I first got it.
When I go Canoeing I have the Kershaw Amphibian 1006. Mine is 20+ years old and has the leather sheath that my dad put a retention strap on. I canoe often in the summer and whenever I am in the boat or canoe I use it. No rust after all this time. Edges holds up well. The serrations cut through rope and webbing with ease and the rubber handle is still grippy under water. Im pretty sure the new ones come with a kydex sheath with belts. The blade steel is 420J2 stainless-steel but I have no idea if it is the same steel used years ago.
Anyway for about $50 if you look its a great knife for water use.
Anyway for about $50 if you look its a great knife for water use.
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Benchmade Griptilian H20 or a Spyderco with H1 Steel
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What hands on experience do you have with any of the knives you mentioned since you've not gone kayaking and how will this help with the OP's question?