The Best Pocket Knife
For Camping And Hiking

Choosing the best pocket knife can be a challenge, with so many different knives available. A good knife may be your most essential piece of equipment.

Around camp, a camping knife handles many chores, from slicing cheese to cutting rope to whittling marshmallow sticks.

On the trail, a hiking knife may be used only rarely--but in a survival situation, it will be your best friend.

So how do you decide which is the best pocket knife for camping or hiking?

First of all, you want a sharp, sturdy blade. It should have a locking mechanism to keep it from closing on your fingers when in use. A serrated or half-serrated blade gives you more versatility in cutting different kinds of materials.

That may be all you need if you just want a light, simple hiking knife to go with the rest of your 10 essentials.

Beyond the blade, consider some other features that may be of use outdoors: a saw blade for cutting wood, pliers, scissors, a can opener, or a bottle opener for that all-important post-hike beer.

Give some thought to the kinds of activities you'll be involved in, and what kinds of tools you may need. This will help you decide on the best pocket knife.

Here are some excellent knives to consider:

The Spyderco Ladybug 3 weighs next to nothing (about half an ounce!) yet it has a quality 1.75-inch stainless steel serrated blade.

It's perfect for an ultralight survival kit.

The CRKT Pazoda 2 is a simple, light (1.6 oz), and inexpensive knife with a sharp 2-inch blade that locks securely.

Unlike many knives this small, it has a solid feel.

I like the Victorinox One-Hand Trekker because it has the most practical, useful outdoor tools--and nothing else. (Although who really needs a reamer?)

It has a one-hand locking serrated blade, wood saw, can opener, bottle opener, 2 flat and one phillips screwdriver.

Gear geeks will appreciate the tools on the Leatherman Juice S2 ; needle-nose pliers, wire cutter/stripper, 4 screwdrivers, scissors, can opener, and a 3-inch straight blade.

Bummer: the blade doesn't lock. For a multitool, it's fairly light at 4.5 oz.

The Leatherman New Wave can handle just about anything you throw at it, both at home and in the great outdoors. It's slightly heavy to be a hiking knife (8.5 oz), but it's excellent for a camping knife.

It has two 3-inch locking blades (one straight and one serrated), a wood saw, file, scissors, pliers, can/bottle opener, 2 bit drivers, a screwdriver, and more.

These are what I consider the best pocket knives for camping and hiking. I recommend thinking about the most likely situations you'll encounter in your travels, and choosing the knife with only the features you really need.

Remember to take good care of your knife. Clean it regularly and sharpen it as soon as you notice it becoming dull. Also, don't lose it--keep it in a zippered pocket or securely clipped to your pack or person.

A good pocket knife, properly cared for, should last for many years.