Top 5 Best Folding Knives For Camping

If you are looking for a great folding knife for camping, your quest has ended. We found the Top 5 Best Folding Knives For Camping to make all your camping tasks significantly easier. 

From cutting wood to preparing those delicious evening meals, you will be amazed at the many uses a great folding knife can accomplish. 

In this ProSurvivalStrategies.com Guide, we will review:

• Why is it useful to bring a folding knife to your camping trip?
• Is a fixed blade always the better choice for camping?
• And much more! 

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Take a quick look at our Top 5 Best Folding Knives For Camping in the comparison chart below.  Keep scrolling for a more comprehensive review. 

All of the above are solid camping knives and any one would be an excellent choice. However, we had to choose the best one. Our top choice is the legendary American-made Buck 110 Folding Hunter. 

The Buck 110 Folding Hunter is an American-made masterpiece and a solid companion for any occasion. This is one solid piece that will never let you down. This legendary and full-proof design has spawned generations of imitations, imposters and wannabes. More than half a century of production, the Buck 110 still has the legendary quality of a top-notch knife truly made for the woods!

This classic makes a great folding knife for camping, hunting, skinning game, gutting fish and a wide array of other outdoor applications. It's a knife that looks tough and menacing but in a very tasteful way. Need a camping knife? The 110 Folding Hunter is your answer. 

Available in a beautiful Genuine Ebony Hardwood, this camping knife weighs 7.2 ounces, measures 4.88 inches closed (8.75 inches when opened) and features a 420HC Stainless Steel blade with a clip point profile. 

The 420HC Stainless Steel is excellent low-end steel that offers you great toughness and can take a lot of abuse without chipping or breaking. It also sharpens quite easily and achieves an ultra-fine cutting edge without much effort. And yes, this steel also delivers high rust and corrosion resistance. This has to do with the exceptional heat treatment applied to the blade by the legendary Paul Bos, a Rockwell hardness of 60.

The 3 ¾ inch blade clip point design has achieved immense popularity among both outdoorsmen and laymen due to its versatility. It is well-suited for piercing, puncturing, slicing and common tasks around the campsite that require both extreme sharpness and precise control. 

The overall design is flawless and credit must be given to the engineer who developed the locking bar on the Buck 110. Immediately, it may look like a simple lock back, but it was designed to hold the blade in a solid position as well as release with minimal pressure applied to it. 

Buck knives partnered with Taylor Guitars to design the handle and came up with a beautiful, classy looking Ebony wood-grain handle. They did an impeccable job with that. The handle is not only a work-of-art, it feels extremely comfortable in your hand. It has sustainably-sourced genuine ebony handle inlays and polished brass bolsters. 

For convenient carry, the Buck 110 Folding Hunter comes with a genuine high-quality protective leather sheath with snap fastener which is exceptional and works flawlessly. The integrated belt loop allows for safe and secure carry on your belt for immediate access.

The Buck 110 Folding Hunter is a stone cold classic. While there is no denying that this icon has aged, by no means is it archaic. This masterpiece is designed to be taken out into the woods and used without having to worry about it!

Top 5 Best Folding Knives For Camping!

In a hurry? Check out our Top 5 Best Folding Knives For Camping just below. 

1. Buck 110 Folding Hunter 
2. Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter
3. Spyderco Delica 4 Lightweight
4. Cold Steel Finn Wolf
5. Opinel No. 12 Explore

Why Is It Useful To Bring A Folding Knife To Your Camping Trip?

So why is it useful to bring a folding knife to your camping trip? It’s always a great idea to include a folding knife in your kit when you go camping. A folding knife is an essential tool that should always be taken along. 

There are countless ways that you can use a folding knife when camping. So let’s take a look at the various ways you can use your folding knife. 

• Clearing a camping site: Upon arriving at your favorite destination where you want to camp, a folding knife can be handy in clearing the vegetation around the site. It’s not uncommon to cut back scrub, bush and other types of low lying vegetation while creating space for your tent and camping gear. 
• Use as an eating utensil: A good folding knife may be used as part of your cooking utensils. It can be used to cut food such as meat or vegetables during food preparations. It can cut bread for sandwiches, spread butter, cheese and peanut butter on crackers for a snack at lunchtime. 

Knife Tip:
Your folding knife should always be stored safely when not being used. Make sure it’s secured and placed into your pocket or leather case so it's reachable at all times without having to search through your camping gear. 

• Chopping firewood: Your ability to survive in the wilderness increases significantly if you can use your folding knife to cut and gather firewood and build a substantial fire to keep you warm and cook your meals. A fire can also be used to keep wild animals at bay and be used to create a smoke signal for help during an emergency. 
• First aid: From cutting bandages, medical tape to removing splinters and thorns, you never know when a pocket knife can come in handy.
• Cooking over an open flame: A folding knife will help with a variety of things like coals for starting fires or sticks to make cooking implements like skewers and roasting forks. It will make the process of preparing your food much easier. 

QUICK TIP:
If your preference is a full tang fixed blade to accommodate all your camping tasks, check out our article on full tang fixed blade survival knives.

• Peeling fruit: Hold the fruit in your non-dominant hand and then make a slice with the knife using your dominant hand. After you make the slice, pinch it between your thumb and knife blade. Bring the blade to your mouth and enjoy the fruit slice by slice.
• Opening canned objects: From cutting open cans to prying open bottles of beer, pocket knives make great substitutes for everyday tools like can and bottle openers.

QUICK TIP:
To keep the lock at its highest performance, occasionally oil the joints and springs of a pocket knife with a drop of oil or two. This will assure easier opening and closing, prevent rust and lessen wear of your folding camping knife. Three great oils to consider are HOPPE’s No. 9 Lubricating Oil, KPL Knife Pivot Oil and Break Free CLP. Take care of your pocket knife and it will take care of you. 

• Gutting and preparing game: Once you’ve incapacitated a deer, pheasant or other type of game, a folding knife is essential to gut, clean and prepare your animal properly. The same is true when gutting and fileting fish and preparing them for a feast. 
• Building shelter: There are numerous methods of building shelter and most of them require foraging various materials like branches and bark, along with grasses and other types of vegetation. A folding knife can help you cut branches and slice vines. 
• Making other tools: A folding knife can also be used to create survival tools. It can be used to sharpen sticks and make a spear for hunting or fishing. It can further be used to build primitive traps and snares for capturing game. There are countless tools a folding knife can be helpful in making.
• Self-defense: If you find yourself in remote areas, there may be times when you get lost or stranded. If this happens, you are likely to encounter an aggressive animal or even a person. In such situations you are always better off and better protected by having a folding knife to defend yourself. 

As you can see, your folding knife has many other uses besides cutting your food. The suggestions listed above are just a fraction of the potential uses a folding knife has. With a little creativity and your ability to think outside the box, you will be amazed just how many camping tasks can be made easier. 

Is A Fixed Blade Always The Better Choice For Camping?

While we would always recommend a quality fixed blade for camping, there are plenty of scenarios where you’d want a durable folding knife at your side as well. Not everyone is comfortable carrying a fixed blade, or you may not be able to carry a fixed blade due to your state’s knife laws. 

Since it isn’t foldable, a fixed blade is not the most common choice among campers. This type of knife needs to be carried in a sheath or other case which makes it bulky and heavy. On the other hand, it is an extremely strong knife because of its full tang construction. So, ultimately you will have to choose whether to carry a heavier and bulkier full blade knife with you when you are going on your camping trip. It could be an outright choice between strength and dependability vs. weight and bulkiness. You decide!

Knife Tip:
A dull blade is extremely dangerous and difficult to use. Consider purchasing a portable knife sharpener or sharpening stone to keep your camping knife razor-sharp. 

On the other hand, a folding knife is much more compact and easy to carry around in your pocket. Yes, it's compact, but remember, it consists of moving parts, making it weaker than a full tang fixed blade. Folding knives are quite affordable and can be used for a variety of camping tasks as indicated above.

In-Depth Reviews Of Our Top 5 Best Folding Knives For Camping.

When we hear the term “camping knife” we most often think of a large fixed blade survival knife and not a folding knife. Yet, the Buck 110 Folding Hunter may make you change that way of thinking. Mostly worn on the belt in a genuine leather sheath, even those who have intermediate knowledge about folding knives can recognize it immediately. This folding knife is worn by campers, craftsmen, hunters and farmers and anyone who has the need for a compact sharp blade with an incredibly strong back lock. 

Designed in 1963 as a folding hunting knife, there had been a few folding knives of this type on the market. However, none had really been successful. When a single model of any knife becomes synonymous with an entire company's product line for decades and inspires countless other designs, the Buck 110 qualifies as an iconic masterpiece. 

The overall design is flawless and credit must be given to the engineer who developed the locking bar on the Buck 110. Immediately, it may look like a simple lock back, but it was designed to hold the blade in a solid position as well as release with minimal pressure applied to it. 

The blade is a 3 ¾ clip point, similar to Buck’s classic Bowie knife, but definitely on a smaller scale. This is an interesting choice as it makes for a very narrow tapering that’s critical for delicate and precise cutting and provides a slender tip for poking holes. The blade is robust enough to tackle all camping chores from whittling stakes, food prep to skinning game. 

As for steel, the Buck 110 Folding Hunter uses 420HC stainless steel. While most knife enthusiasts may turn their nose up at this, 420HC has withstood the sands of time. It has proven to be extremely durable, easy to sharpen and corrosion-resistant. This has to do with the exceptional heat treatment applied to the blade by the legendary Paul Bos, a Rockwell hardness of 60. Still, if you want something more upscale, this iconic masterpiece is also available in S30V stainless steel. 

This classic design also features two other elements that make it so iconic - specifically, the distinctive front and rear brass bolsters and ebony wood handles. When you see one, you know exactly what it is.

Generally, it takes two hands to open and close the knife, making it very safe and appropriate to a young person as a first-time camping knife. It uses a nail nick cut in the side of the blade, but some people install thumb studs to modernize it. If you are looking for a more modernized version, consider the Buck 110 Slim Pro. 

The popularity of the Buck 110 Folding Hunter ensues. It’s hard not to spot the distinctive genuine black leather sheath of the Buck 110 on the belts of men almost everywhere and from all walks of life. Despite the rest of the company’s outstanding offerings, one thing is certain, when you see a Buck 110 Folding Hunter - in or outside of its sheath - it’s always referred to as a “Buck Knife”. To this day, the 110 Folding Hunter has been Buck’s number-one seller and there are tens of millions of them out there. 

Due to its relatively small size, the Buck 110 Folding Hunter fits the first commandment of camping - “Have a knife.” Whether it's in the trusty leather belt sheath, a pocket, a pouch or in your pack, it’s small enough to have it with you when you need it. 

The Buck 110 Folding Hunter proved to the world that its safe and robust design is well-suited for any outdoor task. This is an American-made iconic folding knife that everyone can use as a camping or daily work knife. 

Pros:

• A great balance of both price and performance.
• Clip point blade profile provides good control for detailed work and cutting in tight places.
• 420HC stainless steel provides you a very user-friendly combination of superior corrosion resistance with excellent strength for wear resistance and durability.
• Durable lock back mechanism keeps the blade locked in place.
• Genuine leather sheath so it can be carried on your belt.
• Made in the USA. 

Cons: 

• No pocket clip - however, the knife is firmly and easily stowed away in a genuine leather case.
• No thumb studs to engage the blade. 

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, Cold Steel knows how to make overbuilt heavy-duty folding knives for camping. They are best known for making folding knives that definitely appear over the top, while not skimping out on construction. This ultimately results in some of the most well-known and most durable production knives you can get your hands on. The Ultimate Hunter is one such folding knife we are extremely fond of. 

While the Ultimate Hunter isn’t as dramatic as the tactical SR1 or Cold Steel Recon 1, it’s a smartly designed folder that is perfect for any outdoorsman, camper or hiker. It even makes a robust bushcraft folder or EDC option with the durability of a tank.

It’s business time - time to talk about the Hunter’s blade. The Ultimate Hunter has a 3.5 inch blade that is 3.5 millimeters thick and crafted from S35VN stainless steel that adds to the high octane performance of this overbuilt folding knife. This is a high-end stainless steel made by Crucible, consisting of high Carbon, Chromium, Molybdenum and Vanadium and has been carefully designed and customized to provide you a great balance between toughness, corrosion resistance and hardness. It also provides improved and better toughness over CPM-S30V stainless steel. Due to the high level of hardness in CPM-S35VN stainless steel, it is amazingly durable and makes it suitable and ideal for everyday wear and tear in tough and harsh environments.

Another excellent feature of CPM-S35VN stainless steel is it holds a great edge and is easy to maintain in the field. So if you accidentally put a nick in it or inadvertently strike a rock by mistake while you are cutting, it’s not extremely difficult to put a wicked edge back on the blade. So if you are serious about your knife and want outstanding performance, CPM-S35VN stainless steel delivers. 

The drop point blade profile is extremely camper-friendly meaning that the tip is not overly aggressive yet precise enough to accomplish piercing tasks. Thus, you are less likely to puncture the internal organs of an animal that can ruin the meat. The blade is extremely sharp and gives you plenty of belly for slicing, game processing and food prep. 

Another key feature that enhances the robust features of the Ultimate Hunter is the use of the extremely strong Tri-Ad locking mechanism. Although at first it appears like a normal backlock / lockback, it’s just as easy to use. However, there is more going on underneath the hood that makes it even stronger. As referenced above, this locking mechanism has been proven time and time again to be one of the most, if not the most toughest on the market. 

The “Stop Pin” is the very heart of this incredibly robust design. It re-distributes the load of vertical positive and negative pressures exerted on the lock. This device receives the positive pressure on the cutting edge and transfers it into the handle frame and liners where it can be effectively absorbed without damaging the overall integrity of the knife. Negative pressures on the lock produced, for example, by prying, digging, piercing or even extremely abusive spine whacks are redistributed because the stop pin receives the forward pressure from the rocker and transfers it into the liners protecting the rocker and its pivot from failing. 

Aside from keeping the lock free of contaminants such as pocket lint, dirt and dust, the Tri-Ad lock requires very little maintenance. It’s designed to be self-adjusting, in the sense that, over time, parts begin to wear. However, this design adapts so the locking bar always wedges deeper in the lock channel between the stop pin and shoulder of the precision cut tang notch. This extremely durable feature allows for a safe and secure lock up. 

Time and time again the Tri-Ad Lock has endured the most grueling torture tests and considered one of the most secure and safest folding knife locking systems on the market. It gives you the utmost confidence that you can put the Ultimate Hunter through heavy-duty use with the utmost confidence. 

For handles, the Ultimate Hunter is equipped with bead blasted G-10 scales giving you tons of traction and they’re machined and contoured nicely, making it one of the most ergonomically pleasant folding knives out there.

Let’s not forget that G-10 approaches absolute perfection and is ridiculously strong. Unlike your more traditional knife handle materials (i.e. wood), G-10 will not not crack, chip or scratch easily. It also stabilizes the knife by providing outstanding lateral support, preventing flexing when putting the Ultimate Hunter through hard use. 

G-10 also gives you a very secure grip when wet or greasy. It’s resistant to chemicals and doesn’t absorb water or moisture which means it will not rust, shrink or expand. It also doesn’t conduct heat or cold. So if you accidentally drop your Ultimate Hunter in the snow or lay it close to a heat source, you can still handle it immediately without numbing or burning your hand. 

The Ultimate Hunter is available in two color options, the highly visible orange as shown above or a classic black. Its handle is drilled and tapped for ambidextrous tip-up carry, and comes with two shiny stainless steel pocket clips. This isn’t an ultra-deep carry set up, but it allows for relatively deep carry while still giving you easy access. The clip is extremely sturdy and retention is secure. 

Overall, the Ultimate Hunter has all of the quintessential elements that makes it a great Cold Steel folding knife and it’s a great option for anyone who enjoys spending time in the great outdoors. 

Pros:

• The Ultimate Hunter is the nicest and most refined Cold Steel folder.
• CPM-S35VN stainless steel provides you a great balance between toughness, corrosion resistance and hardness.
• CPM-S35VN stainless steel holds a great edge and is easy to maintain in the field.
• Extremely strong Tri-Ad locking mechanism.
• Durable G-10 handle is not aggressively textured and provides a secure grip in the harshest environments.
• Ambidextrous pocket clip that’s extremely sturdy and provides a secure retention. 

Cons: 

• It can be tough to disengage the Tri-Ad locking mechanism sometimes. Although some users can disengage the lock with one hand, this is really a two-hand knife.
• Some users dislike the overall weight - however at the end of the day it’s designed to be a more refined heavy-duty folding knife. 

The Spyderco Delica 4 Lightweight is definitely a noteworthy pocket knife with an extremely ironic name. Lightweight? Absolutely. Delicate? Absolutely not. You will be blown away by how light this pocket knife is and amazed by its durability and toughness. The Delica 4 Lightweight is another outstanding camping folding knife due to its overall craftsmanship. 

For the majority of users, the Delica 4 Lightweight just might be the best all-around Spyderco everyday carry or camping folding knife. It boasts an overall length of 7.125 inches, a 2.875 inch blade with a 2.56 inch plain cutting edge and a thickness of 2.5 millimeters. It weighs a mere 2.5 ounces making it a great camping companion. 

If you decide to purchase a Delica 4 Lightweight, pass it over to the woman or women in your life just to see what they think of this handy little knife. I can almost guarantee they will love the weight and feel of the knife. Let me forewarn you though, you will find yourself guiding a tour in search of the color of their choice. 

What makes the Delica 4 Lightweight so admirable is its blade that’s forged from high-end Japanese VG-10 stainless steel. This is the most popular and highly-regarded Japanese stainless steel in the business. The name means V Gold 10, meaning Gold quality or Gold standard. It was originally marketed to Japanese Chefs, but instantly became a favorite in the knife community abroad. Spyderco especially has made VG-10 a famous steel. VG-10 gives you exceptional strength, durability, corrosion resistance and is relatively easy to sharpen. Due to its amazing features, VG-10 will definitely cost more than other knives but you get what you pay for.

The Delica Lightweight 4 is equipped with an extremely robust back lock (also referred to as a lockback or mid lock) located right on top of the spine. This is a locking mechanism featured on many classic American folding knives such as the iconic and legendary Buck 110 Folding Hunter. I know, it’s Spyderco's time to shine and rightfully so. 

This locking mechanism is extremely easy to operate. It’s basically a spine on a spring. When the blade is engaged, the spine locks into a notch on the back of the blade. To disengage the blade, push down on the exposed part of the spine (in this case in the middle of the handle) to pop up the section of the spine in contact with the blade. This disengages the lock allowing you to swing the blade back into the closed position. 

The benefits of this locking mechanism is its reliability, strength and safety. The lock is out of the way of your grip when using the Delica 4 Lightweight, meaning you’re unlikely to inadvertently disengage the lock and have it close on you. It further keeps your hands free and clear of the blade’s path when closing the VG-10 steel blade, minimizing the risk of cutting yourself. The blade stays put thanks to the solid and firm lock up. 

The Delica Lightweight 4’s handle is made from tough FRN (Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon) and features Spyderco’s Bi-Directional Textured pattern giving you a solid grip when performing all your cutting tasks with its high-quality razor-sharp blade.

Since we are on the topic of the Delica Lightweight 4’s handle, you get to choose the color of your choice. It is available in 7 colors and patterns and various blade profiles such as partially-serrated, fully-serrated, and wharncliffe. 

A four-position pocket clip gives you the option of tip-up or tip-down carry, with the blade opening with your left or right thumb. This customizability is a welcomed feature. A lanyard hole also gives you the option of easily attaching fobs or lanyards. 

The Spyderco Delica Lightweight 4 oozes craftsmanship and quality. Lightweight? Yes. Delicate? No way!

Pros:

• Lightweight yet extremely durable and tough.
• Highly-regarded VG-10 stainless steel known for its exceptional strength, durability, corrosion resistance and ease to sharpen.
• Durable, strong and ambidextrous back lock.
• FRN handle with bi-directional pattern.
• Multiple options of blade profile and handle colors to choose from.
• Excellent craftsmanship and overall quality.

Cons: 

• FRN handle may have a plastic feel to it. However, it is extremely durable, tough and keeps the knife lightweight.
• Not intended for hard use. If you want a hard use folding knife for camping, your better options are the Spyderco Para Military 2 or Para 3. 

The Cold Steel Finn Wolf could possibly be the best outdoor knife for under $40.00. It is the folding knife alternative to the well-known fixed blade Finnish Puukko knives. These fixed blades are used a great deal in Finland and the rest of Scandinavia. The best characteristic of these knives is the bare Scandi grind which is easy to sharpen and excels when cutting wood. So if you are looking for a great outdoor Scandi grind folding knife the Finn Wolf is your answer. 

This Puukko based design has an overall length of 7.875 inches, a 3.5 inch blade that’s 3 millimeters thick and weighs in at just 3.4 ounces. Aside from the Scandi grind, the Code 4 features one of the most utilitarian blade profiles, the straight back (AKA Standard or Normal). This blade profile is extremely useful for piercing, skinning and bushcraft and is frequently found on fixed blade survival knives. Due to its curved belly and relatively thin tip, it excels at outdoor tasks. 

As with any knife, the single most important component of a good knife is the steel used to manufacture it. A tough, versatile, damage-resistant steel can make or break the knife’s overall performance. The Finn Wolf’s Japanese AUS-8 stainless steel blade meets all the standards of a tough, versatile and damage-resistant folding knife.

With a high chromium content, Japanese-made AUS-8 stainless steel is an extremely hard, rust-resistant metal capable of acquiring a wicked razor-sharp edge to satisfy any knife enthusiast. The exceptional balance of qualities offered by this stainless steel aside from many other high-grade steels in its class gives it countless reasons why you should look for it in a folding knife such as the Finn Wolf. 

AUS-8 is a highly refined stainless steel that is composed of .75% Carbon, 14% Chromium, 0.5% Manganese, 0.3% Molybdenum, 1% Silicon, 0.5% Nickel, 0.25% Vanadium, and 0.04% Phosphorus. This overall composition features additional elements that are found in premium steels such as Nickel, Vanadium and Molybdenum. This is a carefully well-balanced composition that ensures the critically important qualities of wear, abrasion and corrosion resistance that are vital in any good knife steel. 

The high amount of Carbon (.75%) enables the steel to deliver better edge retention, making the Finn Wolf more dependable for you. The high level of Chromium (14%) increases toughness and hardness, enhanced tensile strength and better wear and corrosion resistance. The Manganese (0.3%) facilitates steel grindability and hardenability. This makes the Finn Wolf easy to sharpen. Adding Molybdenum (0.3%) further promotes resistance to wear and corrosion. Nickel (0.5%) enhances the steel’s weldability making AUS-8 a darling among knife makers. Silicone (0.5%) enhances the blade’s tensile strength for maximum stress resistance and makes it more rugged and durable. Vanadium (0.25%) significantly increases the blade’s tensile strength and increases hardenability and corrosion resistance. 

As you can see, Japanese AUS-8 stainless steel has a well-rounded composition that enables it to exhibit high levels of hardness, toughness, wear and corrosion resistance and great edge retention. The Finn Wolf’s blade gives you an unquestionable confidence in the steel’s ability to take on the most rugged camping tasks you can throw at it.

You would think that such an affordable rugged folding knife would come with a standard liner locking mechanism. Cold Steel equipped the Finn Wolf with the Tri-Ad locking mechanism. That’s right, a powerful Tri-Ad Lock! We mentioned it before and we’ll mention it again. This incredibly strong and almost indestructible locking mechanism withstands incredible opposing forces and self-adjusts over time which makes it ideal for any overbuilt outdoor folding knife. Time and time again, the Tri-Ad lock has been pushed through the most grueling torture tests and considered one of the most secure and safest folding knife locking mechanisms on the market. 

This makes the Finn Wolf ideal for outdoorsmen and women, campers, hunters, and other knife users who are looking for a tough, dependable folding knife at an affordable price range. 

The Finn Wolf’s handle is constructed from Griv-Ex. Unlike the G-10 handle materials on the Recon 1, American Lawman and SR1, Griv-Ex is the latest in fiberglass reinforced plastic. Basically it is an extremely dense fiberglass polymer. The handle is UV and heat-treated making the Finn Wolf’s handle incredibly durable. It also offers a textured surface that gives you a decisive and secure grip whatever the weather. Best yet, Griv-Ex will never rust, warp, crack or split even in the most challenging environments.

The Finn Wolf’s comes in 4 different color schemes: Green (as shown above), Orange, Blue and Red. 

The Finn Wolf has a reversible pocket clip that offers tip-up carry only. It tends to ride a little higher in your pocket. However, the extra protrusion allows you to draw, deploy, close and return the Finn Wolf to your pocket with ease. 

Pros:

• Inspired by the classic Finnish Puukko hunting knife, the Finn Wolf utilizes the highly-functional blade shape of the Puukko into a heavy-duty everyday carry folding knife. 
• Great outdoor Scandi grind folding knife.
• Japanese-made AUS-8 stainless steel is an extremely hard, rust-resistant metal capable of acquiring a wicked razor-sharp edge to satisfy any knife enthusiast.
• Tri-Ad Lock has been proven over time to be unsurpassed in strength, shock resistance, and durability.
• Durable Griv-Ex handle will never rust, warp, crack or split even in the most challenging environments.
• Incredible overall quality packed into a comfortable, strong, practical package for a price that’s too good to pass up. 

Cons: 

• The Tri-Ad locking mechanism may be a little tight when you first receive the Code 4, but after a week of carry and use, it will loosen up.
• Some users find the pocket clip very short and extremely snug.

Our final pick is the Opinel No. 12 Explore. The No. 12 is a folding knife intended for “outdoor enthusiasts” for use during activities such as camping, fishing, hiking, hunting and exploration. This folding camping knife is also suitable for bushcraft, which makes sense as its dimensions roughly accord with the general recommendations of fixed blade bushcraft knives such as the famous Morakniv Garberg. 

Available in green or orange, this camping knife weighs 5.6 ounces, measures 6 inches closed (10 inches when opened) and features a 4 inch modified Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel blade with a gently sloping clip point tip.

The stainless steel is a practical, low-maintenance choice for a knife intended for outdoor use. Sandvik 12C27 is a reputable steel known for its excellent razor-sharp edge performance, high hardness, exceptional toughness and good corrosion resistance. This steel is a highly-recommended grade for hunting knives, pocket knives, camping knives, high-end chef’s knives and tactical knives. A fingernail groove or “nail nick cut” facilitates opening the blade. 

This camping knife features the Opinel’s familiar Virobloc, a double safety ring that - when rotated with the knife either opened or closed – either locks the blade open or secures the blade in the closed position. 

What separates the No. 12 Explore from other Opinel knives are the remaining features: a fiberglass-reinforced polyamide handle (replacing the beechwood handle seen on many Opinels). Not only does it provide you an exceptional grip, it withstands shock, extreme temperatures, and moisture. 

The handle is oversized with plenty of room between the Virobloc and the lanyard loop. This allows you to grip the handle comfortably and securely. Since it fills the hand, you can apply significant pressure when performing cutting tasks. The large grip also encourages controlled cuts during operations such as notching while the sizable handle offers you a significant amount of leverage for a folding knife. 

No matter where you are, no one intends to get lost or stranded. The fear of being lost is unsettling, and the slightest threat of it can be paralyzing. The handle on the No. 12 Explore also incorporates a 110 decibel whistle. Its pealess design does not have moving parts that would get jammed by dirt, grime or water when entering the sound chamber. The whistle is audible and loud, quite capable of securing attention. Its very design is as efficient as some of the best survival whistles on the market. 

Aside from the survival whistle, the Opinel No. 12 Explore comes well-equipped with a fire starter ( a ferrocerium rod) that locks into the end of the knife. This is a great feature to start a campfire without the need for paper and matches. The fire starter throws a nice shower of sparks that easily ignites tinders such as fatwood scrapings, petroleum-jelly-soaked cotton balls and fine wood curls. However, keep in mind that this also means the knife chews up the ferrocerium rod fairly quickly. Aside from cooking and staying warm, the ability to light a fire also gives you the ability to signal for rescue. This is a great addition to your outdoor gear, allowing you to have a handy source of fire whenever you need it.

The handle also features a hook blade (gut hook) that slides out the end of the handle. Aside from opening animals, this device is well-suited for cutting through 550 paracord and in extreme cases, seat belts should you ever find yourself in a life-threatening situation. The hook has no sharp edges other than the protected blade.

A lanyard loop as seen above, is sufficiently large enough to accommodate a paracord lanyard or a mini-carabiner to clip the knife onto the outside of a backpack.

Pros:

• Sandvik 12C27 is a reputable steel known for its excellent razor-sharp edge performance, high hardness, exceptional toughness and good corrosion resistance.
• Handle is made of fiberglass-reinforced polyamide to withstand shocks, humidity and extreme temperatures.
• This robust and highly-functional camping knife includes a fire starter, gutting hook and pealess survival whistle.
• A ferrocerium rod locks into the end of the knife. This is a great feature to start a campfire without the need for paper and matches.
• Gut hook blade ideal for opening animals, cutting paracord and in extreme case a seat belt.
• Large lanyard loop easily accommodates a mini-carabiner or paracord lanyard. 

Cons: 

• Size may be a little awkward especially for those with small hands.
• Knife spine chews up the ferrocerium rod quickly. 

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Final Note.

The convenience of carrying a folding knife for camping over a fixed blade is undeniable. Today, campers have a huge selection of quality folding knives to choose from. While there are plenty of excellent choices for the best folding knives, the top 5 stood out to me as being at the top of the pile.

All of the above-mentioned folding knives are excellent choices and will complete various tasks while camping in the great outdoors. Of course, any hardcore adventurer will most often choose a fixed blade over a folding knife. However, a fixed blade may not always be the most ideal choice. 

No matter where your adventures take you, always stay vigilant, be safe and we wish you and your families nothing but the best.

If we left out one of your favorites, we would like to hear from you. 

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