The Best Kayaking Knife: Suggestions & Considerations

Katie Finn By, Katie Finn
Updated
Best kayaking knife
Best kayaking knife

Our Top Picks

1. Best Overall: KastKing Bait Knife and Fillet Knife, 7 inch Fillet Knife

Cutting baits, filleting fish of all sizes and steaking large game fish is easier than ever with the new KastKing fishing fillet knives and the 5” Bait Knife. The blades are made of premium, razor sharp G4116 German Stainless-Steel that will maintain its edge longer in both fresh and saltwater applications. Read Review

2. Best For The Price: Scuba Diving Knife with Leg Straps 2 Pairs, Black Tactical Knife

Scuba Diving Knife with Leg Straps 2 Pairs, Black Tactical Knife is an ultimate scuba diving tool designed for underwater exploration and protection. Designed by professional divers, the dive knife is made from 440c stainless steel with great sharpness, durability and hardness. The razor cutting edge and serrated cutting edge provide you with great protection when diving. Read Review

3. Best Lightweight: Gear Aid Akua Blunt Tip Resuce Knife with Serrated Blade and Sheath

The Akua Rescue Knife by Gear Aid is a rescue blade that has a blunt tip. The blade won’t pierce inflatables, making it perfect for use as a screwdriver or to pry open shellfish. Easily access the fixed blade knife with the quick release sheath, which is made from durable nylon. Simply press the thumb tab and pull out the blade. Read Review

4. Best Design: NRS Pilot Knife (Orange)

The NRS USA Pilot Knife is a sharp, lightweight, and durable knife that will be used for decades. The blade's glass-reinforced polypropylene w/ TPR over-molded handle provides a secure grip in emergency situations. The knife includes an integrated steel retention clip for added security and convenience. Read Review

If you venture into the wild blue yonder with your kayak, then you know how important it can be to have a reliable knife for protection. Your kayak is more than just a means of transportation - it’s home. You don’t want anyone messing around in your space and the last thing you want is for someone to enter and disturb your peace.

To keep intruders at bay, it makes sense that having a quality kayaking knife is something that every paddler should have. After all, who wants to mess around with strangers when there’s so much beauty out there waiting to be explored? A great kayaking knife also comes in handy when camping or fishing on remote lakes. You never know what kind of nasty critters or hidden dangers lurk beneath the surface and you need the confidence of having a reliable blade nearby at all times.

There are several different types of knives you can use while camping or fishing but not all are ideal for these activities. We will explore some of the best options available so that you can make an informed purchase as well as understand what to look out for before buying one yourself. Here we go.

Following extensive study and analysis, we've come up with the KastKing Bait Knife and Fillet Knife, 7 inch Fillet Knife, which we hope will meet your demands. However, it is not the only thing on our list. We also show a full buyer's guide and a number of different options are available to help you find the most suitable.

Our Top Picks

  • The Right Knife For The Job - The 5” Bait Knife is stiff and strong, it has a serrated top edge that makes cutting frozen bait quick and easy. The razor-sharp leading edge allows the fisherman to easily prepare both chunk and cut plug style baits. The 6”, 7” & 9” Fillet Knives are not only sharp and but also have the perfect flexibility so the knife will follow natural contours for perfect fillets. The 9” Steaking Knife is a powerhouse for steaking big game fish like salmon, tuna and more.
  • Non-Slip Super Polymer Grip - We use the most comfortable and slip-resistant, super polymer grips for your safety and comfort. These handles feel great in your hand and ensure that you always have a solid grip on your fillet knife. These handles also clean up easily and stay looking good longer.
  • Includes Protective Knife Sheath – Each knife includes a light-weight and durable sheath to protect the blade and keep you safe in between jobs. The unique design of the sheath will lock the handle in for safety but removes easily when needed. The open slots in the sheath are design to allow water to drain easily so that your knives stay dry and sharp.
  • Razor Sharp Stainless Blades – All new KastKing fishing fillet knives and the 5” Bait Knife utilize premium, razor sharp G4116 German Stainless-Steel blades with a beautiful black finish. KastKing fillet knives will maintain their edge longer in both fresh and saltwater applications and make the job of cutting baits, filleting fish of all sizes and steaking large game fish easier than ever before.
  • Affordable Innovation – KastKing fishing knives are available in the most requested lengths and shapes so that you’ll always have the right tool for the job. Available from a beautiful 5” bait knife all the way to a tough 9” steaking knife for the biggest game fish. All KastKing fishing tools are covered by our total peace of mind warranty against the workmanship and materials for the original owner. We have total confidence in the quality of all KastKing fishing tools and so will you.
  • [★Multiple Function Knife-Tactical Knife, Best Defensive Tool for you!] The tactical knife could be served for multiple purpose. Apart from cutting, the tactical knife could be used for digging and detecting. It can be a good choice as a tactical knife when snorkeling, hiking, rescuing, camping, etc.
  • [★Premium Stainless Steel diving knife, perfect Tool for Scuba Diving.] The diving knife is made from 440c stainless steel with great sharpness, durability and hardness. The dive knife has a razor cutting edge and a serrated cutting edge. The sharp diving knife can offer you great protection when diving and the stainless steel never get rust and could be used for a long time.
  • [★User-friendly Design-One Button Quick Release Sheath and Comfortable Handle.] The heavy duty plastic sheath uses a single action locking system to make sure holding the knife securely, and at the same time you can take it out easily when needed.
  • [★FAST AFTER-SALE SERVICE.] Any questions feel free to contact us, your satisfaction is our ultimate pursuit!
  • [★Portable Design Diving Knife Set]-The diving knife includes a black diving knife, a heavy duty plastic sheath for the knife, two leg/arm straps and a nylon material sheath for the knife. The whole knife measures 8.65 inches. You can carry the diving knife set anywhere you want.
  • The stainless-steel and blunt tip blade won’t pierce inflatables; use it as a screwdriver or to pry open shellfish
  • Lightweight, full-tang knife weighs only 5. 6 oz. and includes bottle opener and glass breaker at the opposite end
  • Its sheath mounts virtually anywhere with the removable belt clip, lash tab mount, and MOLLE compatible 1 webbing mount
  • Titanium-coated 3” blade is armed with a line/cord cutter and straight and serrated edge to cut rope, fishing line, and food
  • Easily access the fixed blade knife with the quick release sheath, simply press the thumb tab and pull
4 NRS Pilot Knife (Orange)
Our Score:
9.4
NRS
  • Steel retention clip
  • Glass-reinforced nylon sheath, Smooth & serrated sections of blade
  • 4.9 oz, 420 HC stainless steel blade w/ mirror finish
  • Glass-reinforced polypropylene w/ TPR over-molded handle
  • Rope cutting hook, Blunt tip/flathead screwdriver
  • Blunt safety tip
  • Bottle opener
  • Squeeze on both sides to open
  • Doubles as a screwdriver
  • Smooth and serrated edges
  • Blade thickness: 0.078 inches, blade length: 3.7 inches, total length: 9.25 inches, net weight: 2.7 ounces
  • Cork overlayed polymer handle offers floatation and grip, while high-visibility orange color makes it easy to locate the knife if lost in the water
  • Serrated blade is designed for cutting rope, fibers, nylon, and other materials; rounded blade tip and finger guard prevents injury
  • 3.7-inch fixed-blade floating knife, with serrated stainless steel blade and blunt tip, for boating, fishing and marine applications
  • Includes hard plastic quick-connect Combo-Sheath for attaching a second knife and sheat; made in Sweden
  • Built in the USA
  • Limited Lifetime warranty
  • Sheath with quick release lock
  • Glass filled nylon handle
  • Blunt tip, serrated blade made with high polished, corrosion resistant 420HC steel
  • The hybrid blade includes a serrated section for quickly cutting rope and webbing, plus a razor-sharp smooth section for finer cutting.
  • The contoured handle with rubberized grip gives you maximum control of the blade.
  • The sheath clip attaches firmly to your PFD lash tab.
  • A low-profile, friction-release sheath holds the knife securely while allowing for fast one-hand deployment.
  • A blunt edge on the back of the blade works great for spreading cream cheese at lunchtime, and the integrated bottle opener helps you spread good cheer at the end of the day.
  • Patented Locking mechanism securely locks knife in sheath, but releases easily with a squeeze of the handle.
  • Nylon with fiberglass fill handle and sheath for superior impact and abrasion resistance.
  • 5.1cm (2 in.) blade, 9.5cm (3 1/2 in.) overall length, 18.4cm (7 1/2 in.) including the handle extension webbing.
  • 340 stainless steel.
  • Comes with variable mounting options including; Molded belt clip and buoyancy compensator pocket mounting hardware.
10 NRS Green Knife Green/Black One Size
Our Score:
8.5
Northwest River Supply
  • Won't weigh you down or crowd your pockets
  • Holds a clean edge
  • handy bottle opener includes a lanyard hole
  • Tough all-purpose boating and camping knife
  • Opens with one hand

What to Look For in a best kayaking knife?

Consumers are frequently hesitant to purchase best kayaking knife. Several factors should be considered while making a significant purchase. Our understanding and expertise with the best kayaking knife will assist you in making the right decisions.

Today's best kayaking knife has been substantially upgraded with greater functionality and offers more safety for users than older-generation devices.

Before deciding on a best kayaking knife for your life based on your desire or the product's qualities, there are a few things to consider. We hope the information provided here will assist you in locating the best option. Let's see what we can do.

Visibility

Diver knives can often come in brightly-colored designs. The knife was not designed to be worn with your swimming trunks, contrary to popular belief. Bright colors can be easily seen if your knife is dropped while you dive. The same rules apply if you are in need of a knife during an emergency.

Blade Edge & Tip

Diver knives can be purchased with either straight or serrated cutting edges. For cutting through dense materials and sawing, serrated knives work well. Straight edges can be used for more precise cutting.
You can find dive knives with both blunt and sharp tips. The blunt tips of dive knives are very useful for prying or digging. Because you don't want to accidentally poke anything, blunt tips can be useful when working in tight spaces. The cutting edge of sharp tips curves towards the end and has a very long length. They are useful in any circumstance where the horizontal cutting edge is not possible. Tanto blades are also worth mentioning.

Blade Size

Your dive knife will most likely be used underwater so it needs to be easy to open and use. It will be much easier to use a small knife underwater than a larger one.
A dive knife's blade should measure between 3 and 5 inches. A blade that is more than five inches in length can make it difficult or dangerous to use underwater. Blades of 3 to 5 inches are not likely to work underwater.
To be effective and most easy to use, a diving knife blade should not exceed 3 inches in length but must not exceed 5 inches.

Blade Material

The knife blade will rust easily from saltwater and sand. The knife blade must be capable of withstanding saltwater submersion without becoming rusty. Titanium and stainless steel are the best materials to resist corrosion and rust.
Titanium is more resistant to corrosion and rust than stainless steel. You will need to clean stainless steel after every dive, as saltwater and sand could quickly corrode the blade and make it dull.
Titanium has a higher resistance to corrosion and rust than other metals. Although titanium may be more expensive upfront, the rewards will outweigh it.

Foldable Or Fixed

You have two options for the dive knife: foldable and fixed. There are many benefits.
The use of fixed knives is very simple and quick. You can simply remove the fixed diving knife from its sheath and you are ready to go. This is a quick and easy process.
While folding knives can be difficult to open, it is possible to store them more conveniently. Because they are much less likely to be damaged or lost, folding knives can also make diving knives safer.
Both fixed and foldable dive knives can be used effectively and are both sufficient. However, each has its own benefits.

Attachment Features

You will have to attach the dive knife to your body in some manner. You can attach the knife to your body with straps, a belt, a lanyard or pocket clip.
Straps are the best way to attach your dive knife. The sheath will have two straps, one at the handle and the one on the blade. For quick access, this will ensure that the sheath is securely attached to your leg.
You can attach the knife to your body via a lanyard, tether or rope. The lanyard can be held by string or rope to ensure it does not sink to the bottom.
A locking mechanism is another feature that may be found on knives. This will ensure the knife stays in its sheath. It is essential as this will protect the knife against accidental fall out of its sheath when diving.

FAQs

What Type Of Dive Knife Should I Use?

Divers can choose from a variety of knives, each with a different purpose. A combination of a regular and serrated knife is best for cutting tough ropes like those used in fishing nets. This knife can also be used to cut thin fishing lines with its line-cutting notch. Consider what type of diving you do before you purchase a second blade. A stiletto knife is useful for spear fishers as it will quickly kill the catch and keep them from being spooked by predators. You can purchase more durable blades that can be used for different tasks, such as sawing and prying.

Can I Use Dive Knives Against Sharks?

It is crucial that you don't provoke underwater predators like sharks or barracudas when you dive. They won't attack you unless you feel threatened. If they do, they will most likely snap at your face and flee. The water pressure in depth can make your movements slow and clumsy, making it very unlikely that you could use your knife to defend yourself against the lightning-fast attacks of underwater predators. Even if you were able to fight back, it would make matters worse since more predators would be looking for blood. You need to be able to safely dive with sharks. If the situation becomes dangerous, it's time to get out of the water.

Should I Choose A Black Blade For My Dive Knife?

Divers can also be attracted to or scared off by shiny knives. This will usually not cause any problems as your knife will stay in its sheath. If you plan on using your knife frequently, you may want to opt for a dark blade. This will prevent you from being bitten by any underwater predators. A black knife is more difficult to find than shiny metal ones in case a diver drops it.

How Many Knives Should I Carry?

Two knives are a must for experienced divers. In case one or both of them get lost, it is a good idea to have a second knife. One knife should be within reach of you right hand, such as your inflatorhose. The other one should be within reach of your left (such like your BCD waistband or weight belt). You will be able reach the knife you need even if your arm gets caught up. Do not carry too many knives. This can make you feel awkward and could lead to weight gain.

How Do You Care For Dive Knives?

They are strong and will last for many years if they are well maintained. Soak the sheath, strap and knife in cool water after every dive. It will remove any grit, salt or chemicals that could cause damage to the material. Before you store it, dry everything completely. Use a bit of silicone oil to coat the knife. If you've been using the knife a lot, it may be necessary to sharpen it before storage. Sharpening knives is an excellent idea after each dive to ensure they remain sharp for your next diving trip. Keep knives out of reach of children.

Are Knife Straps That Go Around Your Leg Safe To Use?

The knife should be low-profile and flush with the leg. Most experienced divers prefer to place their knife inside the leg, particularly those diving in wrecks and other areas susceptible to entanglement. This will keep the knife in between your legs and prevent it from becoming entangled. You can attach smaller diving knives to your BCD/inflator hose, so you are able to reach them more quickly if they get caught up. Divers often carry more than one knife or cut tool, with one attached to the BCD and one for the inner leg.

There are numerous points to pick from in general, but doing so well may help you be more convenient and save time! When selecting a best kayaking knife, pay close attention to the elements listed above, and don't forget to verify the safety.

Have you picked a product like that after reading our article on how to choose and top the best kayaking knife? Hopefully, the information provided will assist you in selecting the best option for you.


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About Katie Finn

Katie Finn

Katie Finn is a freelance writer who loves to explore the world and go camping. She's also an editor for CampfireHQ, where she enjoys writing about wildlife and camping tips. She also has a passion for reading and learning new things, which she often incorporates into her writing.

Read Katie's full bio