Survival Lab Knife Test--The Final Cut

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Under 100$ survival knives to concider :

(at least 5" long and good non-stainless steel)

(preferably servicable and easily field sharpen)

(must be full tang, sorry no Mora on my list, but these are great knives if you dont require full tang. I do.)

Buck 119 (my choice. timeless)
Condor Bushlore (Small buisness going big)
Condor Bushcraft Basic 5"(best $-performance ratio)
Cold Steel SRK (homerun from CS)
Becker BK2 (if you dont know these, get out)
Becker BK7
Ka-Bar Fighting (of course. timeless as well)
Schrade SCHF9 (steel ? but price is great)
SOG Force (a thick beast. Tank to go)
Ontario Rat 7 (1095 steel. Great choice. Awesome)
Bokker VoxRold (China.Red flag but great reviews)
Scrap Yard SYKCO 511 (check out this knife guys)

All these knives cost between 30$ to 100$.

The Bear Grylls Ultimate Knife is a entry level knife aimed at kids who like gadgets and cool stuff sub par compared to all blades above. Its the best selling knife world wide, thanks to their very effective marketing team, the Gerber global presence in every sport stores in occident and the numerous paid "reviews" in the major magazines and websites.

You just been "Grylled". Congratulation.

Try using what the Pro's that go into harms way every day use. Look for an NSN on the label, that means that someone else has tested it with their life on the line. Don't overlook Ontario.

Oh my ...

Very bad advice$ your desk chairman listened at, BP mag. I hope you guys read the comments here and copied/pasted some to your bosse$ because they will destroy your magazine in no time.

Bear Grylls ? Ok, put it on the list somewhere and cash the check. But try to look like you know some of your stuff with a solid top 3. And specify a price range.

Under 50$ - Buck 119 (period)
Under 100$ - BK2/KOA Bushcamp/Vox Rold/SOG Force
Under 200$ - Several choices. My pick: RC-6
Over 200$ - ++choices.Mine: BRKT Magnum Fox River

Bear Grylls Survival toy ?? Unless Gerber pay me, it wont be on my list ...

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Horrible choices and even worse example pictures...one of the worst articles ever written

I hated the Bear Grylls blade, worst blade purchase I've ever made.

Wow backpacker mag with all your resources and clout you got to be kidding when you do a knife review and dont even mention ESEE knives let alone pick one up to test it.......That's crazy.......I am a complete outdoorsman and would not think about hikeing my Highlands in N.J. without my ESEE 3,4 or my IZULA......Come on backpacker gerber bear griyls knife are u kidding me

I'd agree with Realist. Any knife review makes the knife geeks froth at the mouth. I've made it a week in the wild with just a knife I made by flint-napping a river rock so I feel qualified to say you guys are missing the point. It appears that they chose a small group for testing of widely available knives and none of them are BAD knives. Even the BG knife is based on Gerber's LMFII, which is a very good knife. If you know nothing about knives you won't be disappointed with any of these. That's the target audience of this article. If you've been into knives for a long time of course you will be aware of better options, but don't dismiss viable tools out of some kind of anti-retail/anti-product spokesman sentiment.

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Well, I guess I know I should never trust Backpacker Magazine when it comes to reviewing gear. These guys are clearly bought and paid for. Shame on you for recommending shoddy knives like the BG "survival" knife. How is anyone supposed to take you seriously when you recommend bad gear? Sure hope no one has to truly rely on that toy of a knife because of this review. Then again it would be their fault for not doing their homework...

morakniv

did they even look beyond the people that would pay them for this review. what about the Rtac 2 or buck hudlem, or the Cold Steel trail master.

My local custom knife maker, JRJ, will make me a beautiful custom full-tang knife from ATS34 with a brutally rugged leather sheath for $160-$180. That knife will stand up to anything. He's making me a copy of a Randall Model 25-6 of ATS34 with shoulder harness for $275. Indestructible knife. Did BP review it? Ummmmm, no.

mult tool knifes are good for a morning walk. but if you are in the field day in and day out you want the real thing. p.38 for cans. real philups and standard driver. and real knifes. you cannot clear a camp site with a pocket knife. you people are good talkers. but there was this man a long time ago that wore a dress suit into the woods. carry food in is pockets and nothing else. the name john muir. he knew what he was doing. do you.

mult tool knifes are good for a morning walk. but if you are in the field day in and day out you want the real thing. p.38 for cans. real philups and standard driver. and real knifes. you cannot clear a camp site with a pocket knife. you people are good talkers. but there was this man a long time ago that wore a dress suit into the woods. carry food in is pockets and nothing else. the name john muir. he knew what he was doing. do you.

my best knife is a long blade made from a thick saw mill blade. its a full handle wood. the blade is 9 1/2 inches .. 15 inches over all. it dont seem to rust and it been in the field with me for 50 years. bought it new in 1961 for 5 dollars and got the sheat for two. on the blade mark colonial forjado. i thanked the maya indian that made it. never thought i would have it so long. yes i carry 3 knifes

my best knife is a long blade made from a thick saw mill blade. its a full handle wood. the blade is 9 1/2 inches .. 15 inches over all. it dont seem to rust and it been in the field with me for 50 years. bought it new in 1961 for 5 dollars and got the sheat for two. on the blade mark colonial forjado. i thanked the maya indian that made it. never thought i would have it so long.

Whatcha need:
Full tang. Nice grip. Decent edge.

Before that:
Preparation, a plan, and common sense (if you don't have it, go live in a bubble).

All the advice in the world, can't replace the, "Done it" kinda wisdom some have to offer

I have been thinking about getting a black bird from ontareo for a good survival knife.What is everyone's take on it?

Bear Grylls’ 8.5 oz knife was the burliest "survival" knife you know of? Shame on you, Backpacker Mag. My two most favorite "burly" survival knives weigh 14 oz and a hefty 1 lb 4 oz, respectively. I'll wager either one could easily out-chop the Ultimate knife on that 4 inch thick log you mention any day of the week.

Shame on you, Backpacker Mag, for trying to tell (sell) us backpackers on the idea that the knives reviewed are the "toughest, most versatile" survival tools available. Were we beginners, we might buy it. But we are far from being amateurs when it comes to hiking, backpacking - and knives. Backpacker Magazine appeals to backpackers that long ago left the realm of “beginner”.

Frankly, this review article is an insult to your readers, a slap in the face that hurts you more than it hurts us. Treat us with some respect, please, for all the knowledge we have gained with our own blood, sweat, and tears over years of outdoor experience.

P.S. – Your credibility slip is showing.

@Realist, get a clue guy. If it says it's a survival knife in the title, then it should be reviewed PROPERLY, and the Mora is about the ONLY knife in the list of USELESS knives in a survival situation, anyone should have. BP Magazine, obviously threw B.G's knife in there, because he does interviews with them, NOT because it's a good option for a survival knife. Anyone with a brain could do minimal research online an come up with far better knives for the money, that CAN/WILL save your life in an emergency situation. Your argument of wanting a knife from a major retail chain store for a survival knife over a good quality knife at a store down the road, is weak. You should maybe step off your high horse pal, because all of us TEACHING people to stay away from junk, when quality is a MUST, for the situation, don't need to get slammed by someone who pushes buying cheap junk instead of a good knife. Remember one thing man, everyone who is commenting are backpackers as well, and choose to be safe.

I would like to see knives that are not made in China or the current marketing trend being represented. Would be nice if Backpacker tested items of their own choice instead of what they're paid to review.

I would like to see knives that are not made in China or the current marketing trend being represented. Would be nice if Backpacker tested items of their own choice instead of what they're paid to review.

The only one of those that I would actually recommend to anyone is the Mora, and only if they were looking for a cheap knife. Otherwise, I'd probably be recommending a Fallkniven or Bark River. A BR Northstar in CPM3V will outlast that Grylls knife, doesn't have stupid serrations on it, weighs half as much, and is made in the US. Of course... it will cost a bit more.

They say a knifeless man is a lifeless man .. I use the principle of redundancy .. what happens if you forget your knife or it or it falls out when you are on a uphill or downhill steep terrain climb .. Always have two knives .. becoming hypo-thermic sets in fast the fingers are stubs useless even to light a match .. Frozen hands cant break branches ... always have extra fire starters and knives ...how many people have died because of trying to shed a ounce from their backpacks .. or gee that firestarter or the (good ) knife was in Steves backpack but now Steve took the wrong trail and is missing . Any of the Knives metioned can save your life or prolong it .. Leave Bear alone ... We all wish we had his physical skills and mindset !

I fully agree with the Post from Curtis and just about all the rest of the Posts..This is what I have found over the last 54 years of old door life..#1. All Cheap Plastic Handles break over time so buy a knife where you can replace the handles yourself when the times comes. #2. The "work blade" needs to be made from a piece of carbon steel a minumum of one eighth of an inch thick or 3mm. at the end of the tang and then worked forward to a point. #3. Unless you want your wrist to strain or go bad while chopping you need at least a 7 inch long main blade. #4. A full Tang is required. #5. Minimum 440a carbon steel #6 Generally if Backpacker rates it highly, question it. #7 Just because you adopted or some Marketing maggot gave you the moniker "Buck" doesn't mean you know anything..

My current 3 best knives and never rated by Backpacker cause their good and do not need the advertising or marketing their reputations are good enough for the real outdoor people:

#1. All around all Purpose taking hiking the most and use almost daily at home..a 15 year old Victorinox "Work Champ" $68. on eBay. This is the Work Champ and not the over tooled "Champ". It has a Locking Blade and non slip handles and I have fixed everything from backpack to Stove to Water Purifier to Fishing Reels with it to fileting fish, Rabbits and Squirrels to Sawing down small trees and removing bothersome branches while stealth camping.

#2. My General purpose basic Hunting Knife. Used to dress out fish and Animals and comes in handy for a variety of outdoor work. My 40 year old Buck Folder just as good as the day I bought it and still only $38.00. The steel in this knife is unbeatable.

#3 my all around Survival knife. A "Dozer" designed K-Bar knife. $80.00 on eBay..This knife replaced my Marine Corp Issued K-Bar when I retired that to a display case, I replaced it with a Ontario "Army Quarter Master" knife and now the Dozier.

With these three knives brought along on wilderness trips I am "fat" and need nothing else.

When Backpacking only, I carry the Victorinox, When Cross Country Hiking I add the "Dozer" and when Hiking into a hunting and fishing site I add the "Buck".....I can't think of any other three knives that would fill my needs and requirements as these three...I do have a "Randall" Skinner I bought in 1972, but it has become to valuable to risk losing out in the field, so it is in the Display case with the K-Bar and my Boy Scout collection from the 60's.

Bear Gryll's show is entertaining, but he's a bit dangerous as an example of surviving any type of real situation. A rule of survival is don't do anything stupid, and the way he climbs cliffs, waterfalls etc just for dramatic effect is entertaining but not recommended. By contrast, Les Stroud, Cody Lundin and Dave Canterbury provide better info and techniques. Cody Lundin can do things with a tiny 3" Mora knife that prove that a huge, burly BG knife isn't necessary. Personally, I have a nice fixed blade by Buck that is solid and gets her done. BTW, if you are a serious hiker, but haven't boned up on backwoods survival, you're doing yourself a disservice. And the best instructors for that are Lundin and Stroud. Hands down.

Easy there, knife-ophiles...
Before you all turn your noses up at all "mass-produced" knives, let's take a moment to bring it back down to reality. While I am a backpacker, I'm not a hardcore survivalist. I don't read Backpacker magazine to find the ultimate, high-end, hand-made, limited edition, money-is-no-object survival knife. The magazine gives me just what I want; where to find a good knife, right now. What brick-and-mortar store can I go to right now, to find a decent knife? What's a decent knife at Bass Pro, or Cabela's, or REI, or EMS? I'm leaving for a hiking trip tomorrow, and need a knife to open my Mountain House freeze-dried dinner or carve a stick for roasting marshmallows. I'm not making the Swiss Family Robinson tree house and gutting elk, for Pete's sake. Get off your high horses!

I NEVER venture into the outdoors without at least 2 knives, must be my Scot heritage. The choice of knife is always personal preference and what you can do with what you have. Indians and primitive man survived for thousands of years with knives made of obsidian and flint. It's what you know and what you can do, not what you paid for it or are told what you can or can't do with it. Proof is in the doing and whatever you carry, and you should carry some kind of blade, not in what you are told by anyone other than who taught you your skills. My Grandfather taught me...and he was a dyed in the wool Scot and loved the outdoors.

While it would be nice to have a Randall Made knife (currently taking orders for 2017 -- a 54 month lead time!!), the knives listed here are all readily available at your local REI or Cabela's. There are some glaring and obvious omissions that others have commented on. I carry SOGs, but that's me.

But these reviews are for total newbies who aren't going to care about the steel or really use any of these knives to their potential. I'm sure the BG knife is 'Good' and would suffice for many of our needs, but not all. Most of the people replying on this thread know their stuff and, let's be honest here, we all get more opinionated as we get wiser. The BG knife is about $65 +/-... how much is a SOG or Randall these days??

Food for thought.

Worst "review" I have ever read. Not a worthwhile piece of steel in the bunch. Marketing, it's what's for dinner.

Who got paid off to make any Gerber knife the best of anything. What has happened to Backpacker magazine. This is just silly.

I use a Victorinox and a Gerber LMF II ASEK Knife.

If the backpacker has any brains, his survival situation is an overnight stay until the rangers find him. The survival knife is whichever tool you're carrying -- generally my leather an Wave. Could be my Kbar or a Victorinox. Still, military ( who need survival skills & tools for extended periods) carry certain types of knives. Pick your likely predicament and carry the right knife. Most of all, don't need one ( to amputate your arm or otherwise).

Let me get this straight. You review knives, *survival*?? knives, and you don't even mention what kind of steel the blades are made of, and don't even comment on the length of the tang or how the (hollow?) handles are connected to the blade or what their breaking points are. Complete waste of time reading this. BTW, if anyone wants the best survival knives you can get they are the Falknivens. Benchmade Rant is a similar design for a lot less money. Neither are very heavy.

Nice to know the backcountry is populated by so many badass survivalists. I wonder how may of them have actually ever been in a survival situation that depended on their knife. The most important tool you have is between your ears. A knife is useful, nothing more.

I recognize peoples comments. Two things, I would trust my life with Bear Grylls the man but not necessarily the knife. Usre his show is lame but he obviously has the chops to do what it takes to survive. Backpacker magazine is meant for beginners. A jumping off point for people who don't have that much experience. However I find it pretty obvious that the gear reviewed 9 times out of 10 is stuff they advertize in their magazine.
First and foremost they have to pay the bills.

All hype. Not a knife in the bunch I'd swap my Mora 2 for. Lots of fluff.

I spend most of my time in the back country, and I only carry one folder which is an emerson cqc super seven, my fixed blde are a becker bk2 and a sog, lso I sometimes carry a leatherman wave multi tool depending on where I am. I agree that there are many better knives than the ones which were reviewed which include crkt, esee, k-bar, strider, as well as many others. Plain and simple, if it is used by the military it is probably well suited for a survival situation.

If your survival depends upon a knife don't waste your money on any mass manufactured knife. I've been using the same Randall Made Knives (models 14 & 18) for almost 30 years without any issue. All the knives mentioned in this article are nice starter knives for kids but I wouldn't trust them in any survival situation.

I received the BG knife as a gift. Thus far I have no reason to dislike anything about it. Its decoration is a bit loud though.

Where is the disclaimer? Surely BG and Gerber paid for this? KA-BAR Becker BK2 ... Real survival. Try Ontario rat ka bar etc... Haven't even mentioned the Japanese options...

You have to realize that theres a difference between backpackers and survivalists. The people who write these reviews are almost always going to be backpackers and they will care a lot more about wich boots they have and how breathable theyre jackets are but usually dont care too much about theyre knives. They are on one end of the spectrum while survivalists are on the other end. Survivalists usually arent concerned with theyre jackets and usually dont carry stoves around in a large backpack but they do care about the quality of the knives. Neither one is right or wrong but backpacker magazine is on far left end of the scale, i just dont see them ever reviewing top end survival knives. But they are good with boots and tents and sleepingbags and such.

Thats just how i see it

I own the SOG Pup for survival knife and noone is talking me out of it. I have owned it for 6 years snapped the tip of doing something stupid and they replaced it no questions asked. I also carry the Kabar hobo for light chores and eating utencil. It too failed once and they replaced it no questions asked.

I wonder if the qualifier for inclusion in testing was whether the companies advertise with the magazine? Hmmm....

Bear Grylls is a charlatan. The knife is a piece of crap that breaks in rough use. You guys at Backpacker should know better than listing his knife just because he calls it a "survival" knife.

How comical this article is! A needed a good laugh today anyway ..... Thanks.

I actually have owned the BG Gerber knife for a good time. I have put it through some beatings. I removed the whistle and added a couple feet of Paracord instead. The knife was dull out of the box, but sharpened to a razors edge in 20 minutes. After the first sharpening, it has held an edge since. I know most people cannot stand the guy but this is a really nice knife. I own plenty of other knifes, even have a Ka-Bar from when I was in the military. I always keep my Ka-bar in my backup back but this knife has been my primary knife. I guess everyone has an opinion, but I think everyone is being completely negative and do not even have the knife to even make the opinion. Thanks!

I personnaly use the Helle Harmoni Plus and love the Helle brand knives. I was given the Bear Grylls knife as a gift and use it around the house. I would not take it in the backcountry as a knife to depend on. I personally would not depend on a knife you can buy off the shelf in the sporting goods section of Wal-Mart. I take Backpacker.com for what it is....cheap entertainment while sitting on the toilet because that's what some of these reviews and reviewers are sometimes.

I am now definatly rethinking my subscription. Horrible review. These must have been the only knives reviewed. Epic fail.

I have to agree with the gathering mob: This is the day I stop taking BP's reviews at all seriously. From the breathless prose, to the oddball/unscientific/impractical "testing," to the clearly-ad-sales-inspired test set - this test is a joke. I have to assume that the same is true for reviews of products I happen to know less about.

But by all means, please keep giving us weights, down to the tenth of an ounce.

I second the nomination for the USAF Survival Knife. The hex head on the butt functions as a hammerhead, it's not too heavy, it holds an edge, and it comes with its own sharpening stone. As an added bonus, (though I don't think it was intended) the bottom of the sheath has two holes for running a lanyard, but I used the holes to rivet a strap so I could attach it around my ankle. Since I seem to always be on one knee when I'm cooking, the knife is at the ready alongside my calf, in a very comfortable location, should I need to cut food or stir coals. It's not the prettiest knife around, but I don't have my manhood wrapped up in my tools in the first place. It's just a good dependable knife that can take any punishment and deliver the goods. The BG Knife is fluff. It is what Texans call "all hat and no cattle."

Man, y'all are some angry mellonfarmers. You boys get your panties all twisted over the gaiter reviews, too?

really!!have you ever used a k-bar that would put all of these knifes to shame it may be heavy but its worth the trouble

Bear Gryllls is a fake, and I wouldn't buy anything with his name on it

Haha, glad to see the Ultimate Bear Gryll$ $urvival knife made the cut in this backpacker review. What a load of trash this magazine has become. I hope the editors and advertisers see this when I say I can't bear any more of this "journalism" and I unsubscribe from the mailing list and would never consider renewing my physical subscription.

It would have been nice if you all would have had some real knives to test. The fact that you included the BG model Gerber is an embarrassment.

I'll stick with the USAF survival knife. It's a knife, and that's about it. It has two holes in the hilt so you can strap it to a stick and make a spear, has a large hex head at the back of the grip, welded on to the tang. Leather carry case, with stone. Fantastic knife, just a knife. Really, good enough for the US Air Force for decades, ought to be good enough for you too. This is a serious knife.

Im sorry but i wouldnt get a cold steel knife again, or a sog or a kabar. I would go with ontario or esee. But never ever get a gerber knife. They are some of the most poorly made knives. Especially the bear grylls series. Some other brands- knives of alaska, spyderco for pocket, martin knives, esee.

Once again a bunch of useless crap from backpacker to separate you from your money with a bunch of junk to carry in the back country .

I call b. s. on bear knife, need to look at ka bar/ Becker knives .

Better folding knife would be Paramilitary 2 from Sypderco. Fixed blade try Esee knives. Hard to beat these two.

I agree...this review is fluff.

Take a look at the Ontario Blackbird SK-5 if you want the real thing.

Review?, what review? Oh, the yammering meant for the city folks? This fluffy expose was not helpful. Where is a table of comparisons, a discussion of the merits and virtues of the three most common knife points - tanto, drop, and spear? Most of us with some backcountry experience know that a serrated edge knife is required to cut rope especially in an emergency. Even a partially serrated edge is much more versatile. Splitting firewood with a knife? Bucked and split firewood is in camp where your hatchet or axe is. Backpacking?, use your stove. If you absolutely need a fire and know how build one AND PUT IT DEAD OUT so it doesn't start a forest fire - just make a little stick fire. They look pretty, burn hot, and burn completely down to ash.
Knife review could have been much more informative and more appropriate for Backpackers.

You need to carry 2 knives, one for big things and one for small chores. I carry the Cold Steel SRK and the Gerber LST folding knife. I can sharpen both of these knives to scalpel quality with my ceramic stick process and they stay sharp. The SRK weighs a bit, but the Gerber weighs almost nothing. It's a good trade-off. Go for quality, when you need a knife, nothing else will suffice.

Should try the Fallkniven F1. More expensive, but a first class all around survival knife. Great steel, thick blade, useful length,versatile blade shape, full tang, good grip, lightweight.

I have a subscription and have had it for a long time, and am disappointed that I could not leave a comment on the knives here. It was a bit unfair It would be unfortunate if you treated subscribers this way, just because someones opinions are not the same. If others were to think one of these knives is going to cut it in the field for long periods of time, but someone had one that fell apart, your editor should let that information be laid out. If there was a problem where it was against board policies, you could let them know :) I have owned one of the knives on this list and it broke on me doing a job, ANY good survival knife should have been able to do. It may be far fetched to say this, but somebody's life could be at stake and if it fell apart as easy as mine did. There is far better quality heavy duty survival knife, that cost's not much more. I would steer clear of any trendy purchase and do more research for a good survival knife. Your life could depend on this. PLEASE let this comment stay up, and not edit it out this time around? It is a very relevant comment for this article.

These are the sorts of reviews that make me disregard backpacker magazine product reviews. The bear grylls knife is made for two purposes -- to be cheap and appeal to people who don't know about knives. The steel is crap and probably isn't even heat treated. I saw a test where the plastic handle broke. It has a thick blade ... so it is a good crow bar (except it has a little stick tang I believe?). Whoo hoo.

The best reasonably priced production survival knives that I know of are probably the ESEE line or beckers, such as a becker campanion or becker 7. K-bars are also not bad, but I think the ESEEs are substantially better. All three of these are very well heat treated 1095 carbon steel with thick blades and full tangs. The ESEEs have the best heat treat. They also have near indestructible handles.

For a cheaper option, the Mora knives are great. Not in the same class as ESEE in terms of toughness but their thinner scandi-grind blades are great with wood.

These are not great knives. Somebody dropped the ball on this one. How about the Becker Bk2? Or the Gerber LMF II? So many better, affordable knives.

Where is the disclaimer? Surely BG and Gerber paid for this? KA-BAR Becker BK2 ... Real survival. Try Ontario rat ka bar etc... Haven't even mentioned the Japanese options...

I'll stick with my Ontario 'Spec Ops' thanks.

The first time I took this knife on a trip it snapped in half as soon as I tried to use it.

Light My Fire Swedish FireKnife is a imitation of the Frost Mora. I'd rather have the Frost Mora. I went looking for a knife for camping/hiking and looked at REI. Clerk there listened to what I wanted in a knife and suggested the Mora. Bought one and have never regretted it. Went back to REI and that clerk is one of my favorite people because of his honesty.

these are all terrible compared to real survival knives.....ka-bar, ontario knives, cold steel, SOG....these are all real brands...