Kydex Vs Leather

Matteo Escobar

Matteo Escobar

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Feb 26, 2002
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I went camping this weekend and brought a SAR-3. Great knife, super useful and comfortable, and stout enough to not worry about anything.

It rained both Friday and Saturday, but it wasn't an issue at all. INFI may not be a stainless steel, but it's pretty close.

What really stuck out for me was the sheath. I brought a kydex sheath, and about half way through the first day I regretted it. I was using the knife for various tasks, setting up camp and cooking etc.... The kydex sheath has a very narrow opening for re-sheathing, and the tiniest piece of dirt or debris would hinder re-sheathing and scratch the blade.

I figured out that I prefer a leather sheath for use. Not just for looks, but for real world use.

What is your experience?
 
I agree with you but for me it really depends on the knife. If it is a hard user, I don't care about scratches like that especially on a big chopper. But for a small satin slicer I really like leather to keep her pretty as long as possible.
 
Kydex makes a better user. I've never had a problem with re sheathing web with dirt a debris on the blade. That's odd.

But leather is much more beautiful and kinder to the blade. It just depends on what you like. I like leather for some, mainly choppers but I think the benefits of kydex make it the most useful to me.

But there's nothing like the smell of finely crafted leather :)
 
KalEl said:
Kydex makes a better user. I've never had a problem with re sheathing web with dirt a debris on the blade. That's odd.

But leather is much more beautiful and kinder to the blade. It just depends on what you like. I like leather for some, mainly choppers but I think the benefits of kydex make it the most useful to me.

But there's nothing like the smell of finely crafted leather :)
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I have dealt with that problem before on an ontario blade I used to have. The kydex fit very tightly to the blade and it only took one grain of sand to really do a number on the blade coating.
 
Kydex, in my experience, tends to work better where it might be wet and there's a high chance of the blade getting dirt/sand on it. A quick wipe on the pants before re-sheathing will usually take care of any dirt/sand large enough to pose a problem for re-sheathing and scratches.

The plus for kydex over leather is that a quick rinse can get rid of the smaller particles etc that might get into the sheath. I find myself having to 'take care' of leather sheaths a bit too much..

But I do agree that leather sheaths look awesome!! And they function just fine where the weather is good and all I'm doing with the blade is some whittling/carving..
 
I prefer leather but the fact that I have to wash the blood off before resheathing my hunting blades. I make my own kydex on the cheap. I don't understand why some kydex sheaths cost so much?
 
When I was growning up I had leather for my knives. I use to always think that I wish something would come along that could be used in lue of leather due to wet and or debris trapped and embedded into the leather. Along comes kydex, yes finally a substance that can be flushed out, dried in a short period of time and something I don't have to put leather treatment on periodically. I have a bunch of leather now that I keep my satins in and then there is the kydex and or Spec-Ops stuff for the Crinkle coats. Like both types but with each I use according to the weather or I should say the best that it can be forcasted. Up here the winter air is very dry so leather in the winter is great plus the fact that leather doesn't get hard and brittle in sub-zero apps. Spring/Summer/Fall you will encounter a multitude of different weather conditions, hail kydex.
 
Kydex is my preference since it is easily washed and takes the cold, damp weather of the Great Northwet. Debri is an issue with any sheath if the knife isn't cleaned before resheathing, but I've never minded scratches on my blades.
 
At least you can dunk the kydex+knife in water to give it a swish. I do love leather though but my last 2 sheaths were kydex
 
I'm a Kydex man mostly. Leather is great for EDC, but when out in the woods, I prefer Kydex for its durability, versatility, and because retention straps annoy me.

I've never had an issue with Kydex rubbing the blade even in dirty conditions, except in one case. The makers I buy from add plenty of space to avoid rubbing. A well made kydex sheath should hold the blade at the grips and not the blade.

I do have some leather though, and plan to get some more. It's nice to have options.
 
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What about our good friend nylon? :)

Kydex is definitely more usable, but I still like leather. It blends in better with nature. And there's something charming and satisfying about going the more difficult route, the one that requires more maintenance and care.
 
Kydex has it's place but only on hard use beater blades that I don't really care about

For me it's leather all the way
 
Taking an inventory, I seem to have leather for most of my smaller EDC fixed blades (Culti, GWs, ADs, SAR-3s), but kydex for their larger brothers (SAR-6s, SAR-8, and FBMLE) - I don't quite know why - maybe the weight and the cost?
 
I prefer leather for it's silence and looks. Also, one leather sheath can fit similar sized knives. Kydex is custom fit. There was a study done on Kydex/Leather/Zytel in very cold environments. And Zytel won out followed by Leather. I guess that's why Falkniven supplies either Zytel or Leather sheaths with their hard use in the snow knives.

Durability wise, I have a leather jacket that is still going strong and looking better with age. So I'm sure my sheath's will keep just fine.
 
You're right about the beauty, comfort, and duability of leather sheaths and leather jackets - the one in my avatar is my flight jacket with over 5,000 flying hours (and two old patches) on it. That's also my Lep Warden in the avatar.
 
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