Camping and Outdoor Knives

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A camping knife spends most of its life on food, cord, kindling and whittling, and the rest of it on your belt, so size and weight matter as much as the blade. These six are the Bigcat knives we would take outdoors: 10 inch knives from 6.2 oz for hiking, the Tracker with its Micarta handle, and the 12 inch Leopard Hunter for camp. Each is a Damascus fixed blade with its own leather sheath.

Which one is right for me?

Hiking, where weight matters Deer Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife with Le...6.2 oz, 5 inch drop point. See this one Wet weather Tracker Damascus Hunting Knife with Leathe...Black Micarta scales and a black leather sheath with a pouch. See this one The camp kitchen Leopard Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife with...12 inches, 7 inch clip point blade. See this one One knife for hunting and camping Predator Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife, Wa...Our patented 10 inch Predator Hunter, 6.2 oz. See this one

Shop camping and outdoor knives

Predator Hunter Damascus Knife, Walnut handle with its leather sheath
-19%
Predator Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife, Walnut Handle
$64.99 USD
$79.99 USD
Deer Hunter Damascus Knife with its leather sheath
-13%
Deer Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife with Leather Sheath
$69.99 USD
$79.99 USD
Bear Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife with its leather sheath
-31%
Bear Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife with Leather Sheath
$54.99 USD
$79.99 USD
Beast Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife with its leather sheath
-13%
Beast Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife with Leather Sheath
$69.99 USD
$79.99 USD
Tracker Damascus Hunting Knife with its leather sheath
-19%
Tracker Damascus Hunting Knife with Leather Sheath
$64.99 USD
$79.99 USD
Leopard Hunter Damascus Knife with its leather sheath
Leopard Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife with Leather Sheath
$79.99 USD

What makes a good camping knife?

A fixed blade, because there is no hinge to clog with dirt or food. A blade of 4 to 7 inches, long enough to slice a loaf or trim a tent line and short enough to whittle with. A sheath that rides on the belt without flapping. And a steel you can clean and oil at the end of the day.

For hiking: carry weight first

On the trail every ounce counts. The Deer Hunter, the Beast Hunter and the Predator Hunter each weigh 6.2 oz with a 5 inch blade, the lightest knives in the range after the Karambit. The Bear Hunter is 7.1 oz with a clip point.

For camp: a bit more knife

The Tracker is 10 inches overall, full tang, with black Micarta scales that do not mind the wet and a black leather sheath with a front pouch. The Leopard Hunter is 12 inches with a 7 inch clip point blade, for more reach at the camp kitchen.

What a camping knife is for, and what it is not

Food prep, cutting cord and tape, carving tent pegs, making feather sticks for the fire and everyday jobs around camp. It is not a hatchet. Splitting wood by hammering on the spine, known as batoning, is outside our warranty; carry a small axe or saw for that.

Looking after it outdoors

Wipe the blade clean and dry at the end of each day and put a thin coat of oil on it. If the sheath gets wet, let it dry before the knife goes back in.

Frequently asked

What is the best size for a camping knife?

A blade of 4 to 7 inches covers most camp jobs. Our 10 inch knives have a 5 inch blade, and the Leopard Hunter has a 7 inch blade on a 12 inch knife.

Which is the lightest knife for hiking?

The Deer Hunter, the Beast Hunter and the Predator Hunter, each 6.2 oz with a 5 inch blade.

Can I split wood with it?

No. Batoning, hammering the spine to split wood, is outside our warranty. Use a small axe or saw for firewood.

Is Damascus a good steel for camping?

Yes, with one habit: dry it and oil it at the end of the day, because the 1080 in the Damascus is a carbon steel and will spot if it stays wet.

Does every camping knife come with a sheath?

Yes, a leather sheath made for the blade and worn on the belt.

What warranty do they have?

12 months against defects in workmanship and materials.

Keep exploring

Tracker D2 steel knife with a black Micarta handle on the forest floor beside a ferro rod and tinder
Bushcraft and Survival Knives
Deer Hunter Damascus hunting knife and its leather sheath on a frosted log in an autumn forest
Hunting Knives
Tracker Damascus knife with a sawback spine and black Micarta handle on mossy granite in a misty forest
Tracker Knives
Raptor Damascus Hunting Knife with its leather sheath
Large Knives
Beast Hunter Damascus drop point skinning knife on a wooden board in a hunting cabin
Skinning Knives
Predator Hunter Damascus Knife, Walnut handle with its leather sheath
All

Written by the Bigcat Knives team. Sizes and weights from our own knife specification sheet. Last reviewed 25 September 2026.