Wirecutter roundup “The Best Outdoor Knife”

[Dean51]

“The primary task of an outdoors knife is to deal with wood and vegetation”
This is where the article lost me, that's nothing but a lot of Buffalo poop. It's just another article written for their advertisers.

I looked at the Creek Stewart link, he is apparently advocating going into the woods with nothing but a survival knife. That might be fun in your back yard or close to your vehicle.

If I'm going into the woods far enough and long enough, I'll sure as heck want to be more prepared than having one lousy knife. I'll go out as a woodsman, prepared to survive. After all I'm not out there trying out for Naked and Afraid or making a another silly youtube video.
I may not be a "bushcrafter"

Ka-Bar Mark 1, Kraton handle or a Rat 3 or 5.
Small 3.5” to 4.25” folded length knife suitable for processing small game.
Folding saw.
Light wood handled hatchet.
Light 22 rifle.
Bic and a Ferro Rod.
Compass.

 

[David T. MacNeill]

I think there is an ESEE LS in my future, despite the dumb name and the dumber skull logo.

 

[DocJD]

"Best" is relative, and depends on your uses.
The "best" knives I've used in the boonies is a Mora No. 1, a SAK Huntsman, a (large) Stockman, and a Buck 110.
I don't baton my knives, or chop with them.
I also carry a sportsman's axe when I go out in the boonies.
Since I'm still "alive" after 63 years (and counting) I guess these knives (and my skills) must be sufficient for me.

I completely agree in principle . I've done most of my woods and trail clearing with large pruning shears ,large hand saws and camp axes( with heavy stuff dealt with by chainsaws ). Heavy long machetes , khukri and very big chopping knives can do the work but with much less efficiency . Doing this work with short knives must be agonizing !

 

[22-rimfire]

I liked Creek Stewart's survival knife article (the link). He is a very practical fella. His knife choice is a 5" fixed blade with spear point. That is right where I'm at although I tend to go with a ~5.5" saber shaped blade if I like the knife. Dexterity is crucial and if you can't handle the length, go smaller. Add a folder and I'm set along with the other usual stuff like first aid basics, fire starter(s), rain gear and so forth.... we all know the drill. The folder provides the most dexterity for very small tasks and serves as a backup to the fixed blade. With the folder along, I tend to want something larger than a 4" fixed blade. Love the Fallkniven F1. but I want something a little bigger for "survival". No ESEE knife for me either.

If someone said I had to head for the woods for an unknown amount of time, I'd have a chopping machete along with the two knives mentioned.

 

[midnight flyer]

It just seems to get slower and slower around here. I don't know why anyone would drag an article over here from a site that reviews baking pans, the best breast pumps, menstrual cups, etc., and give it more than a glance of credence. Then of course others come along, read part of the article and then thump their chest loudly about it being too simplistic, or too pedantic, or not sophisticated enough for true "knife nuts" (that there are so few of most know each other from here), or deride the testing criteria used.

Then the article gets shredded for its veracity, or lack thereof. I read the article, along with on written about electric razors (I didn't stop to think... I hope the WC review reached the expectations of the electric razor nuts!) and found both articles to be a very simple overview dispensing the results of some modest testing. I didn't see them pretending to be something they weren't. It cited different sources beyond their tests (surely, those sources wouldn't pass the litmus test here) and seemed like the followed a nicely prescribed format.

As far as the knives being available for sale on Amazon, what isn't these days? As far as monetizing a site, isn't this one monetized with ads for non supporters, and pay memberships for those that chose to join and skip the internet monetizing (ads) by paying the site directly? Aren't there dealers and providers that pay a premium to advertise their wares here? Should Wirecutter be viewed as a public utility, free to everyone?

Some folks sure expect a lot from a site that reviews condoms and washing machines (and occasionally, knives) along with hundreds of other items.

Now what would be great, if someone or a group from here would get together and post a righteous, double badass review and submit it to WC to show them how it's done. Then, LOL... your ass would be on the chopping block here, just like those guys at WC.

Robert