Best ultralight & cheap knife for hiking/backpacking: Victorinox vs Opinel vs Schrade

Plenty of very light and cheap options for a good knife for hiking: Victorinox Classic SD vs Victorinox Waiter vs victorinox Floral knife vs Opinel No6 vs Opinel Garden Knife vs Schrade SP2 3” Lockback
#edc #victorinox #swissarmyknife #multitool #key #knife #tools #swiss #keychain #opinel #schrade #waiter #hiking #backpacking #camping #walking #travel

[@fastandcurious]

2 years ago I discovered Florinox Kiana, made in Thiers - the French knife capital. French reviewers called it the 21st century Opinel - and I agree. Lightweight, great grip, great lock, fantastic blade for less than 20€ It doesn't look threatening, just a better modern look Opinel with a slightly more robust blade and therefore a little heavier than a similarly sized Opinel. I got the half serrated version in white. I love it. I rarely carry it, it is not an EDC knife, more of a camper and hiker knife. Otherwise a non-locking UK legal version could be a slipjoint Otter Mercator knife or a Douk Douk. Very slim, great looking blades, slipjoint...

[@accoutrements4469]

Thank you for the information- I will check these out! Thank you for the comments - great to hear what other folks like and use!

[@XieJiaXian]

As long as you're okay with the length and the fact that it locks, the Victorinox Foldable Paring Knife is a really good option. It's light for the size, and is easy to clean (even advertised as dishwasher safe).

[@accoutrements4469]

Oh yes I did look at getting one of those a while back but settled on the Floral Knife as it’s non-locking and was about half the price at the time. Those folding picnic knives do look good for the task though 👍

[@user-yi3ox8wy4k]

For a compact, light, single item, I would take a Mini Champ or a Manager (for the same reasons you identify, but it would have to be the Midnight version, these days). The Alox version of the Mini Champ is amazing once you get into the capabilities of all the tools. However, like you say, the sweetspot is an Alox Classic on the keys and a compact two-layer like the Evolution 10, Sportsman. Opening a bottle of wine on the go is essential Civilisation. The Waiter is great but that combo tool is a bit...fiddly.

[@accoutrements4469]

Hiya! I do agree the combo tool is very light duty use only - I’ve bent a couple trying to open paint cans, vs the thicker bottle opener on other SAKs which has no problems doing the same thing. Combo tool is definitely a compromise BUT it’s ok as a general tool for light duty stuff imho. Have to say as well, I absolutely LOVE the Sportsman: one of my very favourite SAKs! I have an Evo 10 as well, and that’s also pretty cool. Hmmmm, never been sure about the minichamp though: I did have one but got rid of it as I thought it had too many redundant tools… e.g. that ‘cuticle pusher’ or ‘cocaine spoon’ as I call it: I would always rather snort my coke from the thighs of supermodels instead 🤣😂🤣 Kidding, but have always preferred the toolset on the Manager/Rambler. Thank you for the useful comments again!

[@Robert_Thomas832]

Victorinox camper is useful for cutting and finishing a walking stick. I carry a GAK sometimes. Thanks for the video.

[@accoutrements4469]

I LOVE the Camper! I just did this vid to explore cheap & lightweight options, but do still carry the Camper or Huntsman on many outings ✌️✌️

[@Robert_Thomas832]

I'm a big Opinel user too, got the no 8 and 9 carbone plus the 8 garden knife. Fantastic bang for buck. Keep up the good work.

[@accoutrements4469]

@@Robert_Thomas832 thank you, Robert! Opinels are great! I particularly love that Garden Knife - prefer the blade shape over the standard clip point types blades 👍

[@Robert_Thomas832]

👍

[@stevesinclair4159]

The Waiter is the best option of those you reviewed

[@accoutrements4469]

Hiya Steve, the Waiter is a wonderful and under appreciated knife! I think a Waiter paired with an Alox Classic on my keys is a fantastic combination. Hope you’re well, Sir.

[@FiveRustyNails]

Consider: I'm about 80kg dressed, with boots etc. Even if I carry my Swiss Champ I'm only adding 0.2% to my mass, a Field Master at 100g adds only 0.1% so lets keep things in perspective. The scissors, which I know you're not keen on will make a perfectly superb tick remover from any plastic card, even your credit card, without destroying it. Good luck with using the tweezers for that. Great idea to modify the lifter for the ferrocerium rod. I'm also a great fan of the Opinel, the stainess blades are great for food prep and most other things too, a great choice.

[@accoutrements4469]

Yeah, a SAK (any SAK) is hardly like carrying round a brick is it… I just did this vid to explore cheap & lightweight options… but I’d really hate to be the guy who has an accident and then wishes he’d brought along a more useful tool for the sake of saving a few extra grams in my pocket… 🤞 Love the opinels, but also really like that dirt-cheap little £6 Schrade Imperial for a bit of food prep as there’s no nail knick for food germs to fester in 👍

[@ashab1]

I usually just take the waiter, if I’m doing more food prep or taking steak I take the soldier.

[@accoutrements4469]

The Waiter is a massively under appreciated model imho - so useful in such a small package! The Soldier is a brilliant tool too if you need something beefier 👍

[@MrPlownds26]

You forgot the Bantam which is my cycling knife. My S.D is relagated to my wash bag.

[@accoutrements4469]

Ah yes I forgot about the Bantam!! 😖 I have the Alox Bantam and think it’s a lovely knife! I *think* I forgot it in this list because it has no keyring loop & as a result I hardly ever carry it as I’m scared about it slipping out of my pocket and losing it as it’s so thin, so I just forget to include it here. Great little knife though 👍

[@tm2bow653]

Vive la Suisse et la France. My favorite Opinel knife is the Garden n.8. I don't like the complicated blade of the ''normal'' (non-garden) n. 8 or of the other Opinel knives.

[@accoutrements4469]

I have to agree - I definitely prefer the blade shape on the garden knife - much more useful for me than the clip point blade on other Opinels. Those have too much upsweep at the end of the blade: not as useful in my opinion. 👍

[@tomperone9338]

The Huntsman is my favorite all around SAK.

[@accoutrements4469]

It IS a cracker and has you covered for so many bases - all still in a relatively compact package. I just did this vid to explore alternative cheap & lightweight options ✌️✌️

[@erikramaekers63]

Victorinox Farmer (Alox)

[@accoutrements4469]

Yes great tool for sure but nowhere near as cheap or superlight as any of those in the vid 👍

[@yonicozac]

Nice overview of options. where did you get those scale that you use on the Waiter? they look amazing

[@accoutrements4469]

Thanks very much! Those plus scales were from Shapeways, a 3D printing website, supplied by a seller called Asquared. I was very dubious about buying from Shapeways but the whole process and shipping was very quick and the scales are really fantastic - it’s the best 3D printing I’ve come across, very high quality. And they’re much grippier than the usual red plastic scales that come as standard on Vic knives 👍

[@chucknaill]

Get a knife that does what is necessary.