What makes a good camping folder?

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oguruma

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Jan 3, 2010
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I am curious, what do YOU think makes a good camping folder for general outdoor use (maybe cutting rope for shelter rigging, firecraft, food prep, etc.)

What characteristics do you look for? What grind, blade length, locking mechanism, etc.

Also, what blades do you recommend overall?
 
Actually, I think that a fixed blade is better for the tasks you mention. First choice being a general bushcrafter type blade. I usually carry both, and only use the folder to prep food IF the fixed is dirty. I think the only task a folder is better at is fitting in your pocket.
 
I really like my Endura FFG G10 for light camping (and I'm NOT gungho Spyderco guy either - sorry Sal). It works well around the campsite for what you describe, does well at food prep, has great handle texture for just about all conditions, and has plenty of blade length. For heavier or more primitive, back-country camping, I would add a small fixed blade, like a ESEE 4 or Fallkniven S1.
 
Billbo66 said:
Actually, I think that a fixed blade is better for the tasks you mention. First choice being a general bushcrafter type blade. I usually carry both, and only use the folder to prep food IF the fixed is dirty. I think the only task a folder is better at is fitting in your pocket.
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A fixed blade is going to be better at every task, however all the camping I will be doing here in Germany will be at designated camping areas (I know, it sucks), so I would rather go with a folder since I don't need as heavy a duty a blade.
 
Vic farmer and a hatchet. You would be surprised what you can do with that saw, and if I need a knife bigger than 3", I probably should be using the right tool (an axe).
 
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Why not go with a small fixed blade? Izula, Hest, Game Warden, Swamp Warden, etc...? as light as most folders, and just as easy to carry...
 
My camping folder is a sabre grind Endura that I have reprofiled to a scandi grind. This knife is pretty capable for any light duties like carving wood, food prep, cutting paracord, etc. It is insanely sharp with a pretty small angle (due to no secondary grind) and easy to sharpen.

In most situations I would have more than one fixed blade with me as well and I wouldn't use the folder for chopping - but there are many tasks that the folder will easily handle.
 
I used nothing but a Buck 110 for ten years for all of my hunting, camping and fishing. And I did a lot of it in those years as I did guide work. The only other knife that I carried around was a Rapala Nine inch fillet knife. The only draw back to the 110 is that it is pretty heavy for a folder. I would not hesitate for a second to use the Endura for those duties.

I have a Knives of Alaska D2 folder that would work just fine as well. I like folders and although I have plenty of them, I really don't NEED a fixed blade for camping.
 
I'm with udtjim. The Buck 110 is a great folder for camping. I wish I had a dime for every Trout/bass that I cleaned with my 110. The damn thing is boring as snot but it gets the job done without any problems.
 
I carried a Buck 110 as my maximum sized camper, when I thought I needed something more than the Vic SAK or slippie I once carried. Now that I 'know better', there are far better choices one can spend copious amounts of moola on - the simple fact remains: I was able to make tent pegs, walking sticks, cooking goodies, flutes, etc, easily enough with the SAK or slippie - the Buck 110 was actually excess. Still, if you have $27 + s/t - and a WallyWorld near by, a Buck 110 is hard to beat - and made in the USA!

Stainz

PS Now that I have these super duper camping knives, my idea of camping -roughing it - is a motel - with just basic cable!
 
For camp ground camping I have used an Okapi, various SAKs, two different Boker stockmans, a Spyderco Native (I think). The lowly Okapi was the best at food prep because of the longer blade. For cutting nylon cord and making tinder they all did what I asked of them. I had a mid sized fixed blade and a khukuri in the car for heavier firewood duty.

The last time I went serious away-from-civilization camping I didn't even use the small fixed blade I had with me. All my cutting was done with a Boker stockman. But that was out in the Anza-Borrego. If you've never been, think Mars, but with less vegetation.

Frank
 
I have quite a large number of knives, mainly Traditional styles,folding and fixed. But surprisingly, I could recommend the Benchmade Mini Grip as an candidate. It's ergonomic, the grip is good,154cm can be field sharpened and the lock is very reliable.Cleans up easily too. Good clipped or just loose in the pocket,easy to use in cold weather. I'm sure others will add more options or disagree with mine, but it's an extremely versatile knife that punches above its weight and is unobtrusive. The full size Grip may be better but I don't own one.
 
I would say get a fixed blade as they are better for those tasks.

If you have to have a folder than something like a Buck 110, CS Voyager, Lawman and Recon 1 on the cheaper side and ZT 0301, Strider SmF and CR Sebenza on the higher end.
 
oguruma said:
Never been a fan. I don't find the blades to hold an edge very well, a lot of them don't lock, and I carry an MT when I camp, so the rest of the tools become useless.....
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Well, then your MT (with knife blade), and a hatchet or camp axe. I often find a larger knife just gets in its own way. Sure, you can split wood with a larger knife, but maybe you should be wondering why you are using a knife to split wood.
 
I have a zillion miles on my Kershaw Blue Mountain and I've carried a small axe when I knew I was going to chop or split wood.
Love the Blue Mountain, but it seems to need sharpening a lot.
I just got a ZT 0301 and whoa! What a workhorse that's going to be. I'd love to use it as my EDC, but a knife like that is asking for a lot of freaked out people and negative police attention here in San Diego.
Man... do I ever miss Colorado.
Anyway, the ZT 0301 is a freakin' tank and the more I hold it the more I like the way it feels.
Damn good blade, in my relatively clueless opinion.
 
I car camp and carry a CS Land Sea Rescue as secondary go to knife, primary is my new RMD from SW (waiting for that one). It’s cheap and if lost or broken, it won’t be missed. I prefer the serrated cutting edge as an all purpose utility knife that’s lightweight and folds into your pocket.
 
oguruma said:
I am curious, what do YOU think makes a good camping folder for general outdoor use (maybe cutting rope for shelter rigging, firecraft, food prep, etc.)

What characteristics do you look for? What grind, blade length, locking mechanism, etc.

Also, what blades do you recommend overall?
Click to expand...

The Sebenza while expensive is a terrific knife for what you describe. As a matter of fact it is terrific for almost anything that you would want out of a knife. It is a great slicer, and is very strong. Lots of people joke when someone suggests a Sebenza for almost anything but it is really that good.

.
 
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