Folding Knives
The best folding knives, reviewed and curated by the Trailspace community. The latest review was added on May 26, 2022. Stores' prices and availability are updated daily.
















































Recent Folding Knife Reviews

Opinel No. 6 Folding Knife
Lightweight with a well designed blade shape for camp kitchen preparing food. My first Opinel knife I acquired I think was a number 7 from from REI in 1975. It had a pear wood handle and was a great tool. I lost it some 10 years later... Last year my wife signed me up with Bespoke and in one of the boxes showed up a number 8. A good knife too for the same uses. Full review

Opinel No. 6 Folding Knife
I was introduced to Opinel knives in 1991, and I have been using them ever since—on three continents. Great addition to the pack—alongside my Swiss Army knife of course. Great addition to a well-equipped backpack. Full review

Opinel No. 6 Folding Knife
Light, small, tough, and available. The blade you may find you need, at a price you definitely can afford. A simple design—one sharp, thin (1mm), pointy blade, which folds into a thinly finished beech handle. A chromed, spring steel lock ring, at the riveted pivot point, is a wonderful low-tech way to keep the knife open-or closed—until you change your mind. Available in many lengths; the seven centimetre blade works, for me. It weighs a negligible 27 grammes . If your daily life involves building… Full review

Opinel No. 9 Folding Knife
Size matters. A hand-sized handle with a longer blade to retain its edge with usage. Been using a #8 stainless steel and a #7 carbon for well on 40 years. I purchased the #9 carbon because I wanted the bigger handle and the better edge holding of the carbon. The extra length in the handle and blade makes this a field knife, and I do not need to carry another knife backpacking. Full review

Buck 112 Ranger
The smaller version of the classic, 110 Hunter. Shorter blade, same quality and reputation. Brass bolsters, Ebony scales, 420HC stainless steel. If you like a relatively meaty, clip pointed lock knife and plan on leaving it to a relative, in your will, this one should be under consideration. This size suits me better, than the larger, Hunter model. The handle fits my size-nine hand snugly and a three-inch blade works very well, for the stuff I do with a knife. I can strip bark from my next walking… Full review

Lansky Small Lockback Pocket Knife
A low cost EDC folding pocket knife of outstanding quality for the price. This wee gem replaced a knife confiscated by airport security last year and though very cheap proved to be a very good buy. Having had it for a year it has done all the things one would use a pocket knife for both on and off trail: cutting cordage, tape, opening packets and meal bags, sharpening tent pegs, making tinder, general camp chores etc. and so far it has not had to be sharpened. The blade is 2.25 inches, overall 5.5… Full review

Benchmade Bugout
Benchmade has launched a custom program allowing you to design your own knife, made exactly to your liking. As constructed I've designed a Damascus steel blade with a carbon fiber handle Bugout that comes in at a minuscule 2 ounces (57 grams). A full sized, everyday carry that basically disappears unnoticed, in the pocket, until you need it. Behold the beauty. CUSTOM PROGRAM It's only right to begin the review with the newest development in the Benchmade line. There are a million reviews of the… Full review

Benchmade Mini Bugout
Sweet little purpose-built knife with a remarkably sharp blade. Great for day-to-day activities as well as the quick use when you don't want to pull your bigger blade from your pack. I'll admit, I am a bit of a mid-level knife collector. I've always believed that you should have a knife that is strong enough to meet your needs, but not so expensive that you ruin your trip when you nick the blade. I'm hard pressed to let a cool blade sit on the shelves for very long. Well, this time, it was my wife. Full review

Benchmade Barrage Family
The best pocketknife I've ever owned...drops mic, walks away. My Old and New Barrage knives I received my Benchmade Barrage knife as a Christmas gift from my wife 8 or 9 years ago and loved it. I carried it in my pocket every day and used it at least once on most of those days... seriously. When traveling I'd have to pack it in my checked bags and I always felt naked without it. So why the past tense you ask? Because it managed to find its way across a bank of batteries and was destroyed by the… Full review