How to Choose the Best Folding Knife For Your Next Outdoor Adventure

How to Choose the Best Folding Knife For Your Next Outdoor Adventure

A good knife can be a lifesaver when you’re hiking or camping. You’ll need something easy to use but can handle heavier chopping and cutting tasks.

Blade Material

The blade material is one of the most important aspects to consider. There are a lot of different alloys to choose from. Some, like tool steel, contain titanium, molybdenum, and vanadium, which give them better strength than stainless steel but not as good corrosion resistance.

Some knives have plain edges that are easy to use but do not hold a sharp edge for long, while others have serrated edges that require professional sharpening but have great piercing capabilities. Typically, a knife with a combination of both will be the best.

You may check several websites about knives Canada for more valuable information on the right blade material.

Blade Length

You’ll want a knife that folds to a manageable size when not used for survival purposes. A standard EDC folding knife can fit the bill, though you’ll need to find one with a blade and handle that are comfortably sized for your hands.

You’ll want to choose a survival knife with a full tang, which ensures greater durability. Folding knives with weaker joints can break under stress or close on your fingers, potentially causing injury.

You’ll also want a locking mechanism that steadies the blade during brute tasks like batoning and chopping. A crossbar lock, for instance, has a bar that runs up the spine of the knife handle and slots into a notch in the tang.

Handle Material

A good knife feels comfortable in the hand. The handle material can make all the difference depending on its design.

A sturdy, durable handle is vital if the knife will be used for any tasks that require brute force, such as batoning or chopping. It can also be critical in a survival situation when you need to grab the knife from the sheath quickly, and you don’t want it snapping on your fingers.

Stainless steel is tough, durable, and provides resistance against corrosion. However, it’s heavy and can be uncomfortable if you hold the knife for prolonged periods.

Locking Mechanism

A folding knife has more moving parts than a fixed blade, increasing the potential for breakage or failure. When put under excessive stress, a folding knife may break at the joint between the blade and handle, or its locking mechanism could fail, causing it to close on your fingers during use.

A patented compressive lock wedges a rocker arm integral to one of the handle scales between a ramp on the blade tang and a stop pin (or anvil pin). It’s the most secure locking mechanism for a folding knife.

Whether hiking in the backcountry or at home, a good knife can be your most important survival gear. Consider your intended uses, size, weight, and budget to choose the best knife for your next outdoor adventure