Updated October 30, 2022
When you go kayaking you place yourself in the position of going one-on-one with nature and the elements. In such a situation the key is to be prepared to deal with it all safely and effectively. A big part of meeting the challenge is the right knife. Tasks encountered can range from cutting fishing line or rope, untangling knots, or slicing up fishing bait, to just opening a coke bottle for essential thirst-quenching.
There are heaps of knives on the market today and finding the one with the characteristics most useful for your kayaking escapades may be a challenge. We’ll try to help in your research by introducing a number of high-quality knives with a variety of features that hopefully will match your needs. Starting with a comparison table, knives are reviewed with key features, photos, some very demonstrative videos, and a simple buying guide of what to look for.
If you have any questions or concerns, please use the comments section at the bottom. I’d love to know your thoughts.
For more reviews of knives, boats, kayaks, canoes, and accessories, please check out these popular posts:
Fishing Knives Sailing Knives Scuba Diving Knives Titanium Dive Knives Rain Gear for Fishing Boat Trailer Tongue Jacks Boat Trailer Winches Bimini Tops Inflatable Boat Launching Wheels Inflatable Dinghies Inflatable Pontoon Boats for Fishing Boat Ladders Kayak Rod Holders Anchor Ropes Boat Anchors Kayak Storage Racks Kayak Compasses Kayak Anchors Kayak Bilge Pumps Inflatable Canoes Electric Pumps for Inflatables Motorized Kayaks Pedal Kayaks Ocean Fishing Kayaks Fishing Kayak Paddles Waterproof Bags Canoe Paddles Canoes Kayak Shoes Kayak Helmets Kayak Wetsuits Kayak Roof Racks Kayak Carts Kayak Drysuit Review Kayak Paddles Kayak Life Vests Women Kayak Life Vests Marine VHF Radios Small Outboard Motors Kayak Trolling Motors Kayak Fish Finders Marine GPS Marine Binoculars Women’s Kayaks Touring Kayaks Tandem Kayaks Whitewater Kayaks for Beginners Lake Kayaks Ocean Kayaks Fishing Kayaks Beginner Kayaks Recreational Kayaks Inflatable Kayaks Inflatable Boats
Best Kayak Knives Review
- Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Kayak Knife
- Morakniv Fixed Blade Floating Kayak Knife
- Spyderco Atlantic Salt Serrated Kayak Knife
- Victorinox Skipper Pro Kayak Knife
- CRKT Minimalist Tanto Neck Kayak Knife
- NRS Co-Pilot Kayak Knife
- Gerber River Shorty Kayak Knife
- Spyderco Aqua Salt Fixed Blade Kayak Knife
Kayak Knife Comparison Table
| Picture | Knife | Material | Blade Length | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Kayak Knife | High Carbon Stainless Steel | 4.75 inches | 4.8 | $$ |
  | Morakniv Fixed Blade Floating Kayak Knife | Stainless Steel | 3.7 inches | 4.5 | $ |
  | Spyderco Atlantic Salt Serrated Kayak Knife | H-1 Japanese Stainless Steel | 3.687 inches | 4.8 | $$$ |
  | Victorinox Skipper Pro Kayak Knife | Stainless Steel | approximately 4 inches | 4.7 | $$$ |
  | CRKT Minimalist Tanto Neck Kayak Knife | High Carbon Stainless Steel | 2.125 inches | 4.5 | $ |
  | NRS Co-Pilot Kayak Knife | 420 HC Stainless Steel | 2.25 inches | 4.6 | $$ |
  | Gerber River Shorty Kayak Knife | 420 HC Stainless Steel | 3 inches | 4.5 | $ |
  | Spyderco Aqua Salt Fixed Blade Kayak Knife | H-1 Japanese Stainless Steel | 4.78 inches | 4.8 | $$$$ |
| Picture | Knife | Material | Blade Length | Rating | Price |
Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Kayak Knife
Key Features: drop point half-serrated blade, pommel, ergonomic textured grip, all-around outdoor and survival use, fire starter, sharpener, reasonable price
- Materials: high-carbon stainless steel blade and pommel, rubber grip, nylon sheath
- Weight: 11.2 ounces (knife), 14.72 ounces (knife and sheath)
- Blade Length: 4.75 inches
- Overall Length: 10 inches
- Half-serrated drop point blade
- Stainless steel pommel at the base of the handle for hammering
- Nylon, mildew-resistant military-grade sheath
- Lanyard with ingrained emergency whistle
- Firestarter (ferrocerium) rod that locks into the sheath, striker notch on the blade
- Diamond blade sharpener on the sheath
- Ergonomic textured rubber grip
- Reasonably priced
Rating: 4.8
Price: $$
Morakniv Fixed Blade Floating Kayak Knife
Key Features: floating with a cork overlay handle, full serrated edge, blunt tip, brightly colored sheath, low-priced
- Materials: stainless steel blade, polymer handle with a cork overlay, hard plastic polymer sheath
- Weight: 3.07 ounces
- Blade Length: 3.7 inches
- Overall Length: 9.25 inches
- Serrated edge (great for cords or line) with a blunt tip (avoiding accidental punctures and injuries)
- Hard plastic polymer combo sheath (easy attachment of a second knife and sheath)
- Ergonomic polymer handle with cork overlay for flotation
- Available with a high-visibility orange or green sheath and handle accents
- Low-priced
Rating: 4.5
Price: $
Spyderco Atlantic Salt Serrated Kayak Knife
Key Features: excellent rust resistance in saltwater, effective, sharp serrated edge, durable FRN handle, solid back-locking, one-handed opening
- Materials: H-1 Japanese stainless steel blade, FRN (fiberglass reinforced nylon) handle
- Weight: 2.75 ounces
- Blade Length: 3.687 inches
- Overall Length: 8.27 inches
- Spyderedge serrated edge (great for rope or wire)
- Hollow ground
- Black titanium pocket clip supports right or left-side, tip-up carry
- 4-inch FRN handle with a sure grip textured pattern
- Large .55-inch in diameter round hole for easy one-handed opening even with wet or gloved hands
- Back-lock mechanism for secure blade lock-up
- Available with a black or yellow handle
Rating: 4.8
Price: $$$
Victorinox Skipper Pro Kayak Knife
Key Features: one-hand serrated blade, 12 boating-oriented tools including a marlinspike, durable Swiss Construction
- Materials: stainless steel, blue polymer handle
- Weight: 7.4 ounces
- Closed Length: 4.4 inches
- 12 tools: one-hand lockable serrated blade, bottle opener, 5mm lockable screwdriver, wire stripper, can opener, 3mm screwdriver, reamer punch, marlinspike, tweezers, toothpick, keyring, orange cord lanyard
- Sturdy blue polymer handle
Rating: 4.7
Price: $$$
CRKT Minimalist Tanto Neck Kayak Knife
Key Features: sharp, compact Alan Folts design, high carbon stainless steel neck tanto, ergonomic handle, mounting options, low-priced
- Materials: high carbon stainless steel tanto blade with a bead-blast finish, ergonomic, polished resin-infused fiber handle, glass-reinforced nylon sheath
- Weight: 1.6 ounces
- Blade Length: 2.125 inches
- Open Length: 5.13 inches
- Ergonomic design by Alan Folts
- Hollow-ground plain edge tanto blade
- Also available in other blades including bowie, bowie gears, cleaver, drop point, keramin, and wharncliffe
- Durable sheath with mounting options includes a paracord for hanging around your neck
- Ergonomic handle includes a fob for an extended grip
- Low-priced
Rating: 4.5
Price: $
Key Features: smooth and serrated edge, blunt safety tip, great for rescue and boating, mountable on a PFD, durably constructed, comfortable grip, reasonable price
- Materials: corrosion-resistant 420 HC stainless steel, glass-reinforced polypropylene with TPR over mold handle, fiberglass-reinforced nylon sheath
- Weight: 4.6 ounces
- Blade Length: 2.25 inches
- Total Length: 5.75 inches
- Blunt safety tip with a smooth and serrated edge
- Sheath has a squeeze-release lock mechanism and can be easily mounted on a PFD
- Handle includes a bottle opener and a square hole which can be used as a valve wrench
- Contoured handle with a comfortable rubberized grip
- Available in black, blue, camo, green, and purple
- reasonably priced
Rating: 4.6
Price: $$
Gerber River Shorty Kayak Knife
- Key Features: sharp, half-serrated edge, blunt safety tip, great for boating or diving, attaches to a PFD or belt, durable construction, low-priced
- Materials: high-polished corrosion-resistant 420 HC stainless steel blade, glass-reinforced nylon handle, molded hard plastic sheath
- Weight: 4 ounces
- Blade Length: 3 inches
- Total Length: 5.75 inches
- Blunt safety tip to avoid punctures
- Half-serrated blade edge
- Open nylon handle with finger grooves for a good grip
- Molded plastic sheath with a quick-release lock, attaches to a PFD or belt
- Made in the U.S.A.
- Low-priced
Key Features: sharp, half-serrated edge, blunt safety tip, great for boating or diving, attaches to a PFD or belt, durable construction, low-pricedRating: 4.5
Price: $
Spyderco Aqua Salt Fixed Blade Kayak Knife
Key Features: exceptional cutting power, sharp serrated edge, excellent rust-resistance in saltwater, durable ergonomic FRN handle,
- Materials: H-1 Japanese stainless steel blade, FRN (fiberglass reinforced nylon) handle, injection-molded polymer sheath
- Weight: 4.6 ounces
- Blade Length: 4.78 inches
- Overall Length: 9.33 inches
- Spyderedge serrated edge (great for rope or wire)
- Hollow ground drop point blade with non-reflective titanium carbonitride coating
- Polymer sheath with G-clip attachment for waistband or belt carrying
- Bi-directional texturing on the easy-grip ergonomic FRN handle
Rating: 4.8
Price: $$$$
Kayak Knife Buying Guide
Blade Material
Steel is most commonly used, normally in one of two forms, high-carbon steel or stainless steel.
- High carbon steel is quite strong standing up to the stress of use, sharpens well, and has superior edge-holding ability. The major drawback is that in a marine environment especially, it is not very corrosion-resistant.
- Stainless steel, on the other hand, is much more corrosion-resistant due to chromium, molybdenum, and other such elements that are incorporated in the alloy. It is, however, harder to sharpen and doesn’t hold an edge as well.
Shape and Size
As watercraft go, kayaks are relatively small with not a lot of space for large-scale movement. So generally speaking, large blades will not find much use onboard a kayak. A smaller knife located in a handy position is much more suitable. With that in mind folding and fixed-blade knives are the choices to consider.
A fixed blade tends to be stronger, especially if it uses a full tang design (with the steel of the blade continuing through the handle). A shorter fixed-blade knife is more convenient to carry on your person in its sheath on your belt or PFD than a long-bladed one.
A folding knife is more compact. Look for one with a locking blade to avoid its collapse on your fingers. One-handed or assisted opening models are more convenient. They may be designed to fit a sheath or can be mounted on a lanyard or clip. The drawbacks are that cleaning and maintenance are a little more difficult and they may be less sturdy than fixed-blade knives. Many folding knives have multiple tools included like a bottle opener, screwdriver, wrench, scissors, or others. The Victorinox Skipper knife reviewed above is a classic example of a multi-tool knife.
Fixed-blade knives may also include other tools like a pommel handle, hook sharpener, fire starter, or a blunt-tipped blade that can function as a tool for prying or a screwdriver.
Grip
To effectively use a knife safely, a firm grasp of the handle is essential. Manufacturers usually go out of their way to design the handle with a material and texture that makes a non-slip grip of it possible in the often wet conditions. Nylon, plastic, and rubber are commonly used to facilitate this.
Additional Advice
Knife Care Tips Knife Care & Maintenance
For more reviews of knives, boats, kayaks, canoes, and accessories, please check out these popular posts:
Fishing Knives Sailing Knives Scuba Diving Knives Titanium Dive Knives Rain Gear for Fishing Boat Trailer Tongue Jacks Boat Trailer Winches Bimini Tops Inflatable Boat Launching Wheels Inflatable Dinghies Inflatable Pontoon Boats for Fishing Boat Ladders Kayak Rod Holders Anchor Ropes Boat Anchors Kayak Storage Racks Kayak Compasses Kayak Anchors Kayak Bilge Pumps Inflatable Canoes Electric Pumps for Inflatables Motorized Kayaks Pedal Kayaks Ocean Fishing Kayaks Fishing Kayak Paddles Waterproof Bags Canoe Paddles Canoes Kayak Shoes Kayak Helmets Kayak Wetsuits Kayak Roof Racks Kayak Carts Kayak Drysuit Review Kayak Paddles Kayak Life Vests Women Kayak Life Vests Marine VHF Radios Small Outboard Motors Kayak Trolling Motors Kayak Fish Finders Marine GPS Marine Binoculars Women’s Kayaks Touring Kayaks Tandem Kayaks Whitewater Kayaks for Beginners Lake Kayaks Ocean Kayaks Fishing Kayaks Beginner Kayaks Recreational Kayaks Inflatable Kayaks Inflatable Boats
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