There are countless numbers of different models of knives available on the market. Unless you know exactly what to look for and what you need, choosing the right knife can be nearly impossible. But if you’re armed with the tips in this article, you’ll be able to easily choose a knife that perfectly fits your needs.
The first thing you should determine is what you’ll be using the knife for – will it be for camping survival, hunting, defense or some other activity? Once you’ve decided what activities you plan to use the knife for, you can determine what features you need the knife to have.
Each outdoor activity requires a specific set of features. Here are some common outdoor activities, along with suggested features that you might need.
Hunting: A hunting knife will need to have a blade shape suitable for skinning animals. The size of the knife will be largely determined by the game you are hunting.
Boating: A knife for boating will need to be stainless steel, to resist corrosion. The knife should be sharp, and you’ll probably want a partially serrated blade for cutting rope.
Fishing: You will probably want two separate knives for fishing – a fillet knife and a general purpose knife. The general purpose knife should be a small to medium knife with a stainless steel blade.
Survival: A survival knife should ideally be a large, very tough knife. It should be highly resistant to rust, and tough enough to handle a lot of abuse. If you’re stranded in the wilderness, you’re not likely to be able to take care of your knife very well, plus you may need to do things with it that you normally wouldn’t.
Camping: There is probably not one perfect camping knife. You’ll have to make a choice based on the type of camping you do, as well as what other tools you have, such as a machete, saw, or axe.
You always want to be sure that the knife you pick is suitable for the activity you plan to use it for.