Top 10 Outdoor Knives for Under $70

Despite what all those camping gear blogs would have you think, you don’t need a lot of fancy gear to go outdoors and enjoy the world of backpacking and camping. However, there is some gear that you don’t want to skimp on. This includes a decent outdoors knife.Those who are just getting started with camping can get by with a cheap pocket knife. But those who are more serious about camping will want a better outdoors knife.

Here are some of the I use my knife for while outdoors:

Making a featherstick for lighting a fire in wet conditions
Shaving branches to create dry kindling
Batoning wood
Sharpening a stick so I can dig a poo hole
Cleaning the dirt out from under my fingernails
Cutting my dinner

The best outdoor knives (also called bushcraft knives or survival knives) are made from high-carbon steel, are lightweight yet very strong, have a full tang, and usually have blades around 4 to 7 inches in length.

But they can also cost upwards of $300. As much as I love camping, I’m not ready to give that much money for an outdoors knife! So, here are some knives which are also great for the outdoors but aren’t going to break the bank.

1. KA-BAR Dozier Folding Knife

I figured that I’d start with the cheapest of the cheap outdoor knives. KA-BAR has a pretty good reputation for making quality bushcraft knives. For this price, you aren’t going to find anything tougher.

Features:

Folding
3” blade length; 7.25” open
AUS 8A Stainless Steel
Zytel handle
2.4 ounces
Buy Here

2. Condor Bushlore Knife

At 9 5/16 inches, this knife is a bit of a beast. It is also a quiet heavy for long-distance backpacking. However, for campers who want to be able to do tasks like splitting wood, the Condor Bushlore knife is a good, cheap choice.

Features:

Fixed
Full tang
4 5/16” blade length; 9 5/16” overall length
1075 high carbon steel
Hardwood handle
12 ounces
Buy Here

3. Ontario RAT-3 Knife

A lot of people mistakenly believe that bigger = better with knives. In most cases, you probably don’t want a Rambo-style blade! They are unwieldy and too heavy for backpacking. This outdoors knife by Ontario is probably the best option for most people. It is fixed-blade, which inherently makes it stronger. Because it is shorter and lighter than most of its fixed-blade cousins, you get a nice mix of strength and practicality.

Features:

Fixed
Full tang
3.75” blade length; 7 7/8” overall length
1095 Carbon Steel
Micarta handle
5.2 ounces
Buy Here

4. Morakniv Bushcraft Tactical

When it comes to budget knives, Morakniv has an almost cult-like following. They deserve their following though because, for the price, they do deliver in quality. But, as with all cheap things, you’ll get what you pay for. So avoid the ultra cheap Markniv knives (some cost just $10) and pay a bit more. The Bushcraft Tactical is low-priced and will last you through many outdoor adventures.

Features:

Fixed
Partial tang
4.3” blade; 9.1 overall length
59-60HR high-carbon steel
Rubber handle
6.3 ounces
Buy Here

5. Sog Seal Pup

The serrated blade on this cheap outdoors knife comes in handy when you want to cut through rope, plants, or even your food. Just be warned that serrated blades are harder to sharpen, so it might not be the right choice for those who are forgetful about sharpening.

Features:

Fixed
Full tang
4.75” blade; 9” overall length
AUS-8 stainless steel
Nylon handle
5.4 ounces
Buy Here

6. Cold Steel Lite Clip Point

Most of the knives on this list are drop-point blades. The drop-point blade is considered the best all-around blade style because of its strength and precision. By contrast, the Cold Steel Lite is a clip point blade. It isn’t as strong as a drop point, but it is better suited for more detailed tasks like skinning or deep puncturing.

Features: