Strider Alternative?

My personal knives that I use occasionally instead of my strider sng for heavy jobs are my zt 551 and my zt 350. But I agree with an above poster that a griptilian with s30v steel is also a surpisingly good substitute for heavy work.
 
Check out the Spyderco Tuff. It's a little more than your price point, but it shares similar design styling with Strider and is a hard use folding knife in 3V.
 
Another choice would be the Zero Tolerance 0550. It's a beast of a manual folder with a 3.5" blade (0.156" thick) of S35VN. Titanium frame lock with G10 on reverse side. At around 5.8 ounces it's a heavier than Strider SNG at 4.6 ounces. Delivered pricing at just under your budget!
 
There really is NOTHING like a Strider folder. ...the way they feel, the way they function, the way they look... is all very unique.

I honestly don't really consider them "over built" given the modern spectrum. My recommendations for, let's say, an SnG alternative would cover my most appreciated aspects of the knife which are:
Tactile function/sure handed/ease of manipulation.
Hole opening
Light weight
Blade - finger choil
Good steel/HT
Quality manufacture
Overall confidence inspiring feel
IN-HOUSE (in this case, USA) made
--Then it gets expensive if you want:
Bomber warranty
Made in small batches

Given my personal criteria there should be little surprise that my highest recommendation for a "Strider Alternative" on the cheap is a Spyderco Paramilitary 2. The main reason I don't have one anymore is that I found the thumb ramp is more of a hinderance than it is functional. But I have XL hands. Otherwise Para 2s really are the bees knees. You'll hear folks comment on how thin the tip is and that it may be fragile, ect... I have lots of knives that are as or more thin and I've yet to beak one. Then again I don't really see any folding knife as "hard use" anymore. ...especially compared to a stout fixed blade.
 
If you really want a Strider though their MFS @ $200 is an absolutely excellent knife. Great design, overbuilt but with a nice grind that is thin behind the edge. You get the real deal at a good price and it'll run circles around any folder.
 
The Adamas is a B>A> hard use knife. Really hard to get a great edge on it. And its large so it fits in larger hands. I had mine for a year and they tried to kill it by beating on it. I couldn't kill it! Sold it to a friend and regret it!. It is incredibe for the price!
 
If you're looking for a heavy duty folder I wouldn't get anything with a framelock (or linerlock, or anything similar). Lots of people use them and like them and everyone seems to have a different opinion, that's mine.
My first suggestion would be a Cold Steel Voyager (or any other model) with the Tri-Ad lock, the Hogue folders look good, and the regular Axis lock and Spyderco Compression lock are fairly well proven.

If you're looking for "a Strider" at a lower price there isn't much that can be done.
 
Joshua J. said:
If you're looking for a heavy duty folder I wouldn't get anything with a framelock (or linerlock, or anything similar). Lots of people use them and like them and everyone seems to have a different opinion, that's mine.
My first suggestion would be a Cold Steel Voyager (or any other model) with the Tri-Ad lock, the Hogue folders look good, and the regular Axis lock and Spyderco Compression lock are fairly well proven.

If you're looking for "a Strider" at a lower price there isn't much that can be done.
Click to expand...

Telling the OP not to get frame locks is tantamount to telling him not to get a Strider folder!
 
What is it about Striders that you like? There are quite a few knives out there that are just as tough, have a good warranty, and come in under the price of a Strider. If the design is what draws you to it though, then there is no substitute, other than maybe a Strider collaboration (Buck, Microtech).
 
Had a Strider SnG, didn't like it, and sent it back. IMO it's not worth the money you pay. The Benchmade Adamas is one heck of a knife for the price and that's what I went back to after my disappointment in the Strider.
 
A lot of knives north of $300 elicit some pretty intimate opinions. They sell like hotcakes for a reason even if that reason isn't for everyone. Like 'em or not, Strider knives are very unique and when you get a good one in your hands, there is no "alternative". There are plenty of other good knives, but nothing like them. Same can be said for CRK which elicit volumes of threads as well.
 
A zt 550 comes close. Not quite as cool but every bit as functional. Used ones can be had for ~150 on the exchange
 
ooitzoo said:
I view the DpX Hest as the Homer Car of the knife world.

For those that don't get the reference:
View attachment 404903
Click to expand...

thank you... I always thought the exact same thing... fixed blades too. just a whole bunch of useless add-ons that do more to detract from the utility of the piece than they actually add. im not saying its not going to be a tough folder, and serve you well in most conditions, but its just got a lot of things that are unneccesary. One of which being that bottle opener on the back of the blade... of course you're not going to break it during "normal" cutting... its as thick as most bomb proof fixed blades, but the point is if you removed that bottle opener you could thin the metal significantly and be a better cutter all around and just as strong, if not stronger. you can't tell me when you look at that blade you think "man, I'm glad there is a huge cut out in the spine of it.. that must make it better"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top