Knives and Tools

Featured review by BrianD

Fantastic knife with excellent ergonomics and a simple, stout, and sharp blade.

With all the buzz around the word “Bushcraft“ in the past 5-10 years, it has almost become like “tactical“ (aka “tacticool”) with regard to items being marketed towards the Urban Lumberjack crowd that spends more bank on products for their beards per month than most families spend on groceries. I’m not sure which direction things like that are heading. Quite frankly, I don’t care. I needed a knife that would be used in the woods, not one that would sit on a shelf to be admired.

Read more: Benchmade Bushcrafter Family reviews (3)

Featured review by D Williams

In the 1980s, Opinel folding knives were a camping store fad in North America, and I fell for them hook line and sinker. Since then, I've always had at least one. While Opinel's U.S. distribution has been spotty through the years, Coghlan's, the Canadian supplier of small camping gear has offered them, blister packed on their familiar green cardboard. Opinels, whether sold by Opinel or Coghlan's, are inexpensive workhorses and because they don't cost a mint, if your knife gets lost or beat up, it's not the end of the world.

Read more: Opinel No.08 Carbon Steel Folding Knife reviews (6)

Featured review by Maurice Villatoro

This is my EDC tool. I take this with me everywhere. It is very handy and not heavy at all, in fact, this is the best Leatherman you could possibly own. The package says 19 tools, but I found 21 uses for this handy tool and recently I had 'No Fear' engraved on it. That's how much I love this tool. It's my favorite Leatherman and I own a few. You can't go wrong with this one.

This is a tough tool indeed. This is not a medium-duty tool like the Wave, Rebar, or Charge. It is not a budget tool like a Wingman or Sidekick. This is a heavy duty MT like the Surge, but the Super Tool 300 is lighter and has 21 uses, even though the package says 19 tools. I never leave home without my Super Tool. I have owned this tool for a few months and I was able to fix my mountain bike, my mother's car, a friend's light switch, a bathroom rack. I just fix and replace many things with my Super Tool, it's very handy and easily eliminates the need for a lot of other tools.

Read more: Leatherman Super Tool 300 reviews (6)

Featured review by Mike Mineart

This is a very light, durable, and functional camp shovel with the added benefit of being very useful for a number of other applications around camp that might not be so obvious.

I want to first knowledge that I received my Deuce of Spades as a gift for being a past Reviewer of the Month here on Trailspace and I also want to confess (and I hate to admit...) that I was really excited to be receiving this "potty" shovel as a gift. I have always been interested in gear and equipment and when I first saw the Deuce of Spades I thought it looked like a really cool shovel, but more importantly also thought that it could be very useful for a number of other applications which would make it a great addition to my pack.

Read more: TheTentLab Deuce of Spades #2 reviews (7)

Featured review by Joe

Custom Mini-Griptilian (S30V): Well constructed, factory sharp knife. Handle gives good grip, and the opening hole (Pardue) is more comfortable than any other design.

Purchased this through Benchmade's "custom" ordering process. The order was easy to specify precisely what blade, steel, and grips I wanted. Overall, the knife is light but well put together. It's sharp and the S30V steel will keep its edge longer over other steels. My only complaint is that the handle is not "open" to allow dust and lint to fall through. I think this would have been an easy design change. 

Read more: Benchmade Mini Griptilian Family reviews (6)

Featured review by JWatson

The most versatile of the Silky lineup, the Bigboy can do just about any job a backpacker could ask of a saw.

After using Silky's Katanaboy on a trail maintenance gig, I knew I needed one of my own. I mean, the hatchet is useful and all, and a solid piece of trail maintenance kit; but those things are heavy, not really backpacking material. So I treated myself to an early birthday present—right before the pandemic hit. D'oh! Fast forward six months, and I finally got to put my saw to use. And it's good. It's very good. The Katanaboy I was let to use by the trail boss last year was amazing—with that half-meter blade and handle, it made short work of several twelve-inch diameter logs, as detailed in my previous review.

Read more: Silky BigBoy reviews (4)

Featured review by Ben Sparks

The Leatherman Sidekick is an awesome multi tool with sharp knives/saws. It is great for camping since you can saw wood for fires, screw things in, and lots more.

The Leatherman Sidekick is a great heavy duty multi tool. It is constantly easy to use. All you have to do is open it and pull out the tool you need. One great thing about this particular tool it that the saw is very sharp. It is very well made having thick tools. It really hasn't changed that much only the knives and saws getting a little duller, but they are still sharp. I've used this on many campouts in all seasons. I've had this for 3-4 years and it has still stayed nice. This would be a great knife if you like to camp a lot since it lasts a long time, stays sharp, and works great.

Read more: Leatherman Sidekick reviews (5)

Featured review by Daniel Oates

Can’t beat the price for what you get! Very sharp right from the start, it’s a great multi-purpose carbon steel knife, very functional drop point blade. From prepping camp food to cutting rope, I’d recommend for anyone’s pack.

I've had this knife for a little over three months and it has become my go-to knife both on and off the trail. From opening and breaking down cardboard boxes, to cutting lengths of rope, and even cutting some pepperoni while car camping it has performed awesome! Costing just a little over $13 from Amazon the following is what is included and its attributes: Carbon steel knife (see "Maintenance") - Made in Sweden Rubberized handle Plastic sheath 8.5 inches from handle end to blade tip Knife is 4 ounces (I do not have a digital scale, unconfirmed) You can see the comparison of its total 8.5" length and the blade height when next to a steak knife.

Read more: Morakniv Companion reviews (10)

Featured review by Dustin White

Great tool for the money and weight.

Bought this to replace a foldable saw that was really not much more than a toy. The Sven saw, OTOH is a viable tool for anyone who needs light weight and a self stowing package (saw collapses into the red handle you see in the picture). At 21" you won't be lumberjacking, but cutting up limbs and trees up to about 8 inches in diameter is very realistic. The blade is SHARP, goes through pine like butter, and harder wood very effectively. We use this saw during our yearly BWCA excursions to avoid carrying a hatchet (the most dangerous tool in the woods next to a dull knife).

Read more: Sven Sven-Saw 21UL-2 Folding Saw reviews (4)

Featured review by Lester M

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 wilderness shelters, batoning firewood, or rope access, at industrial sites, you'll need a different product.

Read more: Opinel No. 6 Folding Knife reviews (4)