Whether you’re a budding outdoorsman or just someone who spends time in nature, it’s likely you’ll own an outdoor adventure knife sooner rather than later – even for just for everyday carry. There’s a lot of utility in having a folding survival knife at hand, especially when spending time in the great outdoors. The best survival knives (or even a simple folding knife) are your best chance at outdoor survival and outdoor adventures. In any survival situation, you can use it for hunting, as one of the tools to build your campsite, and even use it for self defense. You can use survival knives to chop wood for fire, clear your trail, or even use it so you can have a fire starter. Survival knives are portable, sturdy, and can be easily carried in your backpack.
That’s why owning one shouldn’t be such a big deal, right? But with so many survival knife options, how do you know which is the ultimate knife to choose? Below, we’ll highlight the key features you should be looking for when purchasing a survival knife or survival knife. This should help you narrow down your search so you can find the right survival knife for your needs.
Types of Outdoor Adventure Knives
There are a couple of different types of outdoor adventure knives.
Survival Knife or Folding survival knife
Survival knives are great for cutting or any other use in the wilderness. A survival blade is sharp, strong, and comfortable to handle in the wilderness.
Serrated blades
A blade with serrated edge is a type of blade used on scissors and some knives. They are best for slicing through foods such as pie crusts and bread.
Bush Knife
Bush knives are designed to handle a wide range of outdoor activities. They are best used as a fire starter or for making shelter.
Outdoor kitchen knife
This knife is specifically used to slice food only. They may work to dig holes or perform other tasks outdoors, but it only works best for preparing food.
Fixed blade knife
This type of knife have blades that extend to the handle. They can be used for many purposes like hunting, combat, and more.
Features to Look For in an Outdoor Adventure Knife
Just like any other piece of outdoor gear, the right folding knife or survival knife will depend on your needs. That said, there are a few features you should be looking for regardless of the type of knife you end up choosing.
Weight
You don’t want your knife to be so heavy that it’s a burden to carry with you. But you also don’t want it to be so light that it’s ineffective. The sweet spot is usually somewhere around two pounds.
Handle Materials
A good survival knife should be comfortable to hold. That means it shouldn’t have a handle made of a brittle material that can crack or break. But it also can’t have a grip that’s so soft that you’re worried about it slipping. You want a handle that’s just right.
Sheath
You shouldn’t have to buy a separate sheath just to store your knife. Ideally, the knife you choose will come with a sheath already attached. If it doesn’t, that’s the first thing you need to change.
What makes a great outdoor adventure knife for survival situations?
For the most part, a great knife for outdoor adventures will be more than capable of most outdoor tasks. However, it’s not quite as straightforward as that. In fact, there are a few things you should be looking for when assessing a knife’s performance. Let’s take a closer look at each of these to see what we can learn.
Serration
The main job of a serration on a knife is to cut a rope. But it can also be used for prying, chopping, and more. It’s essential to choose a knife with good serration.
Steel Quality
Stainless steel is what you’ll find on your average pocket knife. This is cheap and easy to produce. But it’s not ideal for outdoor use. That’s where high carbon steel comes in. It’s much stronger than stainless steel and easier to maintain.
Handle Shape of the Outdoor Adventure Knife
Good outdoor adventure knives are comfortable to hold. That’s one of the main reasons people choose them in the first place. The right handle shape can help this.
Should You Buy the Best Survival Knives?
If you’re someone who spends a lot of time in nature, having a quality knife ready for those occasions is a good idea. Even if you are not going on an adventure or hunting, survival knives are a good tool or gear for everyday carry.
