Any outdoorsman will vouch for the fact that a quality knife is one of the most versatile tools for your hiking activities. A high-quality hiking knife can come in handy to help you set up camp, defend yourself, and cut firewood amongst many other activities.
You will need a knife that comes with high-quality metals and can guarantee you great functionality. In this guide, we will be covering what makes a knife good for hiking. So, we will be reviewing some of the best hiking knives that you can use in 2022.
So, let’s get on with it.
The 15 best-hiking knives and buying guides in 2022
The best knives for hiking are subjective which means that it all depends on what you are comfortable using or the functionality of the activity you require. We will however be reviewing fifteen of the best knives that will be pivotal for your hiking activities.
So, let’s get started.
1. Gerber LMF II Knife
This comes in as one of the most versatile knives ever as it has been designed to do every task perfectly. This knife comes with a high carbon steel construction to help it resist corrosion. The blade shape is a drop point design with piercing in mind.
This knife features some amazing features which include a glass punch, hammer, spear lashing point, integrated sharpener, serrated blade, and a robust and versatile sheath making the knife have a lot of uses.
There is a purposeful break between the tang and the butt cap. This comes in handy to provide insulated protection against stray wires and absorb any shock from hammering. This knife has been built to adapt to any scenario thrown at it.
Highlighted Features:
- Unique buttcap to pierce the glass.
- Smart, versatile, and comfortable design.
- Sheath included with a built-in sharpener.
- Strong and serrated blade.
2. Gerber StrongArm Fixed Blade Knife
This Gerber StrongArm blade is a classic fixed blade built for brute strength with a revolutionary sheath system that is the first of its kind. The multi-mount sheath is easy to use and can be mounted vertically on a molle or horizontally on a belt.
The sheath of this blade is set up with a molle strap that allows the knife to be carried vertically. The sheath’s belt loop is completely detachable which allows for a horizontal and low-profile along the waistline as you go about your hiking activities.
There is also a vertical belt carry feature that allows the knife to be carried traditionally on the hip. This means that the knife is always on hand and up for the job you want it to perform.
Highlighted Features:
- Molle mount.
- Horizontal belt carry.
- Vertical belt carry.
3. Esee Knives 6P or P4
The drop point blade design of these knives comes in constructed of high carbon steel which makes these knives quite durable and versatile. This means that these knives will stand up to whatever task you want them to do.
The blade comes with a texture powder coating to help prevent corrosion. However, you must maintain the blade properly if you want these knives to stand the test of time and abuse with you.
The handles of these knives are constructed of linen micarta. This helps the knives have an ergonomic shape so that they do not slide off your hands while you are using them. These knives can serve as a hatchet or multi-tool for hikers who prefer a blend of both.
Highlighted Features:
- It is made of high-carbon steel.
- Durable and versatile.
- Textured powder coating to reduce corrosion.
- Handles are made of linen micarta.
4. Benchmade Bugout 535 Folding Knife
This Benchmade folding knife is constructed from CPM-S30V which is one of the high-quality steels that you can use for a folding knife. This knife comes in lightweight to offer superior quality and versatility.
This knife was designed with an EDC carry style and it is a light hiking knife as well. The manual locking mechanism is smooth, excellent, and usable with one hand. This locking mechanism is trustworthy with great thumb placement.
This knife comes in different color schemes which mean that you have different outlooks you can choose from. This Benchmade knife also has some models that feature portioned serrated blades.
Highlighted Features:
- Lightweight and versatile.
- Smooth and usable locking mechanism.
- Designed with an EDC carry style.
- Different color schemes.
5. Benchmade Grizzly Ridge Knife
This knife is an excellent purpose-built knife made for hiking enthusiasts. It features a beautiful appearance and it is made from a combination of the tough CPM-S30V steel and versa flex fiberglass handles.
This Grizzly Ridge knife comes in with great strength and durability. It also comes with an amazing axis locking mechanism and a perfect placement of the thumb switch. The blade action is smooth and easy to open and not assisted like some other knives.
Highlighted Features:
- Beautiful appearance.
- Made of tough steel and versa flex fiberglass handles.
- Axis locking mechanism.
- Smooth and easy to open blade action.
6. Esee Izula 2 Knife
This Izula 2 knife is a workhorse packed into a small lightweight frame. The blade of this knife is made of high carbon steel which means they are less likely to chip or break. It also makes this knife feature a great retention edge.
This knife also comes in incredibly tough and durable. The blade is made from a textured powdered coat to ensure that maintenance is kept at a minimum. You can decide to purchase canvas micarta scales to add to the attractive design of the knife.
Highlighted Features:
- It is made of high-carbon steel.
- Less likely to break or chip.
- Comes with a great retention edge.
- Tough and durable.
7. Spyderco Delica 4 Knife
The blade of this Delica knife is made from VG-10 stainless steel and it comes in different blade shapes. The full flat ground edge offers a sharp edge that will resist corrosion and it comes in both metallic steel and matte black finish.
This knife features an integrated hole in the spine which makes it easy to open with either hand. It also features a bi-directional texturing on the reinforced fiberglass handle to ensure that you maintain a firm grip on the knife.
Highlighted Features:
- Blade made of VG-10 stainless steel.
- Full flat ground edge to resist corrosion.
- Integrated hole in the spine for easy opening.
- Firm grip.
8. Gerber Paraframe 2 Knife
The blade of this Paraframe II knife is made of a high carbon steel drop point which means that it does not come with assisted opening. The knife is designed around a minimal frame-lock design which means that the knife is somewhat lightweight.
The lightweight nature of this knife does not compromise the grip and durability of its handle. The handle still comes with a great grip to ensure that it does not fall off while you are using it.
Highlighted Features:
- It is made of high-carbon steel.
- The minimal frame-lock design makes it lightweight.
- It does not need assisted opening.
- Grippy and durable handle.
9. Benchmade Bushcrafter 162 Knife
This Benchmade Bushcrafter knife is made of the coveted CPM-S30V super steel which means that it comes with high-quality features. This knife comes with a raw and minimalist design to create a unit with tank-like durability.
This knife has been built with enough durability to help it withstand any abuse as you go about your hiking activities on the trail. It is made quite tough and durable making it one of the most reliable knives out there.
Highlighted Features:
- It is made of CPM-S30V steel.
- Raw and minimalist design.
- Tough and durable.
10. Morakniv Companion Carbon Knife
This Swedish-made Sandvik high carbon-based blade is quite durable for you to cut just about anything you want to. This knife also comes in stainless steel models if you plan on hiking around saltwater regions.
This knife comes in with a partially serrated blade as well. The sheath of the knife comes with a super-quick deployability which means that you can easily remove this knife for use particularly if you like clipping your knife to your belt or backpack.
Highlighted Features:
- High carbon-based blade.
- Stainless steel models for hiking in saltwater regions.
- Partially serrated blades.
- Super quick and easy to deploy sheaths.
11. Benchmade Barrage 581 Knife
This knife is made of the M390 steel which means that it features superior blade quality, particularly in edge retention and sharpening. This knife comes with different color options and additional options for serrated blades.
The grip in this Barrage knife comes in quite amazing. It features a G10 grip that has been designed for the harshest of environments which means it can handle whatever abuse the trail brings across its path.
Highlighted Features:
- Made of M390 steel for high-quality features.
- Different color options.
- G10 grip that has been designed for harsh environments.
- Options for serrated blades.
12. Benchmade Griptilian 556 Knife
The construction of this Griptilian knife has been made to focus on good functionality while still maintaining a sleek appearance and durability. The drop-point blade is made of 154CM stainless steel which makes it versatile and rust-resistant.
This knife features an ultra-smooth opening mechanism which means it does not need an assisted opening. The blade of this knife is particularly useful for prolonged hiking trips where the knife will be abused and exposed to water.
Highlighted Features:
- Made of 154CM stainless steel.
- Versatile and rust-resistant.
- Ultra-smooth opening mechanism.
- Sleek appearance and durability.
13. Ontario Mark 3 Knife
The blade of this knife is constructed from 440A stainless steel which makes it a very versatile utility knife. It is a piece of iconic equipment that members of the Navy Seal have been issued for many years.
This knife comes with top-class durability and functionality while only costing you just about 10 ounces of weight. This knife comes in as overkill as it can make you just about prepared for anything during your hiking adventures.
Highlighted Features:
- Made from 440A stainless steel.
- Top-class durability and functionality.
- Affordable and lightweight.
14. Ka-Bar Becker BK2
This is one of the most recognized blades as it comes with great strength and versatility. The 7-inch blade of this knife is made of 1095 high carbon steel which has created a time-tested design that can endure just about any situation.
This BK2 knife comes with a flat drop point design. The saber grind on this blade allows for a high level of sharpening and structural stability as a result of how thick its spine is. The handle of this knife is made of composite materials.
Highlighted Features:
- Flat drop point design.
- High carbon steel.
- Saber grind blade for a high level of sharpening.
15. Jeo-Tec 7 Knife
The steel composition of this knife makes it a high-quality hiking knife. This material is fine-grained and heavily heat treated. It also features cobalt which helps to increase the tensile strength of the knife.
The blades come in well-balanced and you will all but notice its Spanish-inspired design. It also features Cocobola wooden handles that are high-quality, which means that it will be able to hold out with the blade for a while.
Highlighted Features:
- Steel composition.
- Cobalt to increase tensile strength.
- Cocobola wooden handles.
Conclusion
The shape, style, steel, and construction of a knife are some of the factors to consider before settling on which knife will be ideal for your hiking adventures. We have been able to cover some of the best knives available in the market in this guide.
So, look through our reviews and make your ideal pick.
