Knives and Tools

Recent Knife/Tool Reviews

Gransfors Bruk Outdoor Axe

Lightweight, a fantastic chopper and splitter...much better and lighter than a large Bowie-style knife for bushcrafting and camping chores. A joy to use. This is a beautifully designed and balanced lightweight hand axe for the hiker, back country camper, and bushcrafter. You can certainly build an expedient shelter, you can fell, limb, buck, split, and carve trees that are 5-inches in diameter or less fairly readily. You can use it to skin, clean, and butcher small game. Carrying this and a small… Full review

Estwing Camper's Axe

A decent light axe for minor felling, chopping, and splitting...but doesn't compare to a good HB or GB. I bought one of these a few years ago, and have used it mostly around the house. I've found it's best for light limbing and felling, but the design of the blade is such that it really is a chopper, not a splitter. I'm surprised at how much better a smaller, lighter Granfors Bruk axe is at both felling and splitting.  Buy it if you want a fairly inexpensive and durable decent axe for occasional… Full review

Leatherman Squirt PS4

The Leatherman Squirt PS4 is my go-to backpacking knife and multi-tool. It has everything you need and nothing you don't. The Leatherman PS4 Squirt is a key-chain sized multitool that comes in at 55g. It took me a few tries to find a multitool that has the perfect balance of utility and size for backpacking. The big sell was having both scissors and pliers. I have used all the tools on this Leatherman out on the trail, whereas I have only used half the tools on my Victorinox Tinkerer Deluxe after… Full review

Opinel No. 9 Folding Knife

The Opinel No. 9 is a highly utilitarian, customizable knife that is perfect for the camper, hiker, hunter, backwoods cook, and farmer alike. Opinel has been making the same pocket knives with very few changes since 1890. It is a testament to the design that it has not only been around that long, but is one of the most popular knives in the world. The No. 8 is the most popular, but I am a fan of the No. 9 because that extra centimeter in the blade and the handle make it ideal for a man's hands. Full review

Silky BigBoy

I've found nothing more effective for clearing trail. Every hiker should carry one. I stumbled onto one of these at REI a couple of years ago. I had been trying to use a Sven Saw off and on with marginal results, and could saw nothing larger than about 8" in diameter. When I discovered the "Big Boy", and learned it utilized the Japanese cutting orientation of the teeth, I went for it. It seemed expensive at the time but now after two years, it's clearly a bargain. I've likely cut well over 100 trees… Full review

Silky Katanaboy 500

In the family of folding saws, Silky plays the role of the teched-up young prodigal son—and the Katanaboy is his hulking, gym-rat persona. After seeing a few recent reviews of other Silky blades, I thought I should toss in my experience with something a little more sizable. I was working on a trail crew in the PNW and the crew leader brought along his personal blade, along with all the tools supplied by the volunteer organization. I was tasked with building some new steps in a particularly eroded… Full review

Agawa Canyon Boreal 21

Compact cutter. I picked one up having tried one on a bushcraft course. Cuts through soft and hardwood very efficiently. Safe and easy to carry around camp. Full review

Agawa Canyon Boreal 21

This is a really cleverly designed saw. It is compact, efficient, cuts well, and sets up easily. This is a really cleverly designed saw. It folds up to far more compact (if a little long) than other bucksaws/bowsaws, and the way it folds protects the teeth and other gear in my pack. The best part, however, is the way it tensions: as the saw unfolds, the one part of the handle hinges onto itself, creating a lever which keeps the blade tensions really high (and can be adjusted). I have found this… Full review

Silky Pocketboy

I feel compelled to do trail work whenever I am out for a hike. If I don't do it, when will be the next time a trail crew gets to it? I needed a handsaw to replace another I had lost. Grabbed this SILKY at a local gear store. So happy with how it performs. It's small yet big. I do a lot of different types of trail work for mountain bikes, ski glades, hiking trails. It's a must-have in my pack.  Full review