Knives are undoubtedly among the most useful survival tools, especially when camping. They can be used for a wide range of tasks, which include creating feather sticks, using as batons, and cutting rope or opening packages around the campsite. However, according to an ancient proverb, carrying along a dull knife to your camping escapades is more dangerous than having a sharp one. This saying is true in many ways. For instance, a dull knife will require more force, which predisposes to slipping and injury. Dull knives are also less useful for survival situations.
As such, you should consider taking a knife sharpener with you always. When buying a knife sharpener, put as much thought into it as when buying a knife. Go for a small, portable, and long-lasting knife sharpener. To ease your search, below are the best knife sharpeners for camping to consider.
Best Knife Sharpeners For Camping
Lansky PS-MED01 BladeMedic
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Knife Sharpener Details
The Lansky PS-MED01 BladeMedic is a popular and compact knife sharpener with versatile usage. The sharpener suits hunters, hikers, anglers, and any survival enthusiasts looking to better their survival gear. With its compact size, you won’t have any issues or feel uncomfortable carrying around.
The knife comes with a diamond tapered sharpening rod that restores the gut hook knife and any serrated blades. You will also like the ceramic finishing that generally looks good. Sharpening needs three to four strokes to make your knife crazy sharp. For this, place it at the right sharpening angle, approximately 22.5 to 45°.
Pros
- Good for sharpening serrated knives
- Affordable and compact
- Long-lasting
- Top-rated sharpener
Cons
- The rod can break
Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener
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Knife Sharpener Details
The Work Sharp Guided Field Sharpener is an excellent knife sharpener of choice for shop, home, and general outdoor use. The sharpener is the first of its kind to feature a 5-stage sharpening system. It also comes with a robust design yet a compact size that assures of razor-sharpness of your knife. It is undoubtedly a versatile sharpener that can work on folding hunting knife, pocket knife, camping knives, and deer skinning knives.
Darex group, a renowned company that has been manufacturing sharpening materials for more than four decades, manufactures this knife. The sharpener features ceramic rods, diamond plates, and sharpening guides that provide easy sharpening solution for knives and other outdoor tools.
Pros
- Budget-friendly sharpener
- Made in the USA
- Lightweight
- Grooved surface that sharpens fish hooks
Cons
- Lacks a comfortable handle
Sharpal 101N 6-in-1 Pocket Knife Sharpener
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Knife Sharpener Details
Sharpal is an old company that provides sports, garden, workshop, and kitchen equipment for several years. The Sharpal 101N 6-in-1 Pocket Knife Sharpener is an excellent knife sharpener, which is a great invention for modern camping escapades. The sharpener comes with several features not available in other sharpeners.
For instance, it comes with an emergency whistle that helps in asking for help in case of an emergency. The knife also comes with six functions, which is a great choice for hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts.
Pros
- Has additional features
- Multi-tool sharpening system
- Orange color makes it easy to spot
- Rubber coated handle for a comfortable grip
- Has a fire starter
Cons
- Sometimes the fire starter fails
Zulay Kitchen Premium Quality Knife Sharpener
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Knife Sharpener Details
The Zulay Kitchen Premium Quality Knife Sharpener is a professional knife sharpener for all your camping knives and scissors. The sharpener comes with tungsten blades that re-shape your camping knife and restores even the most damaged and dullest knife into shape.
It also comes with a pair of rounded ceramic blades that give your sharpened surface a smooth edge and creates fine-honed sharpness. It is a perfect tool for keeping your kitchen, chef’s hunting, pocket, electric and serrated knives razor-sharp.
Pros
- Has the power of tungsten
- Sharpens all types of knives
- High performance
- Long-lasting sharpener
Cons
- Quite pricey
- Doesn’t look as flashy as competitors
Lansky QuadSharp Knife Sharpener
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Knife Sharpener Details
The Lansky QuadSharp Knife Sharpener is all you need to maintain your camping knives razor-sharp. It is probably the smallest and most versatile sharpener on this list. It comes with the same four sharpening angles that sharpen in 3 or 4 strokes. It also comes with ceramic benchstone that assures of fine polishing after sharpening.
Using this sharpener is overly easy. Like with other excellent knife sharpeners, you should sharpen your knife holding it with your dominant hand. You can also sharpen serrations by pulling the ceramic element against the sharpener’s grooved side.
Pros
- Compact and portable sharpener
- Four sharpening angles
- Sharpens with few strokes
- Sharpens both serrated and straight blades
Cons
- Quite heavy
- Lacks sharpening directions
Mossy Oak Survival Knife with Sharpener
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Knife Sharpener Details
The Mossy Oak Survival Knife with Sharpener is an excellent knife sharpener built for great control and precision. It is a multi-purpose hunting survival knife that works excellently for any task. It suits military use, tactical, industrial, survival, and other outdoor situations.
Besides its excellent construction that delivers great strength, it features a TPR rubber-coated handle that provides high-friction grip. You will also enjoy the included fire starter that completes your outdoor experience.
Pros
- Heavy-duty construction
- Included fire starter
- Versatile sharpener
- Non-slip handle
Cons
- Quite expensive compared to other models
- Less features vs competitors
FAQs
How do I sharpen a knife with a knife sharpener?
Using a knife sharpener can be both easy and daunting. Fortunately, most knife sharpeners come with usage directions that help you use them with ease. Note that the sharpeners are made differently, and some have varying using directions. As such, read through the directions provided in your sharpener of choice.
How often should I use a knife sharpener?
The frequency of using your sharpener hugely depends on the nature of your knife. Stainless steel knives often require sharpening after 3-5 uses. Carbon knives, on the other hand, require sharpening after every use.
What are the dangers of not using a sharp knife?
As mentioned before, a dull knife is comparably dangerous than a sharp one. For one, dull knives are hard to control, require more energy to use, and are less useful for camping.
The Bottom Line
Without a doubt, knife sharpeners are an essential addition to your camping gear. So to say, knives and sharpeners are essential as they complement each other. As you search for the best knife sharpener, keep in mind that it should be multifunctional, compact, of good quality, and suits your budget. The options outlined above can be a good place to start your selection.