The Four Best River Knives

Ropes and straps on the river can be quite dangerous so it’s a good idea to carry a river knife on or inside your PFD so that you can cut yourself free if tangled. In addition to cutting ropes, knives can be used to cut yourself free from a raft, spray skirt, or some other piece of equipment that traps you in whitewater current.

The big debate is whether or not to carry a fixed blade knife mounted on your PFD or a folding knife mounted in your PFD pocket. Although the fixed blade knife can be quicker to access, these knives generally cut through rope slower than folding knives which feature longer serrated edges for cutting power. Additionally, a knife mounted on the outside of your PFD can accidentally release from its sheath which can be a hazard and/or you can loose it. More importantly these externally mounted knives can make it harder to get back in your raft or swim over a log in the river.

Some people choose to carry both but I’m a bit hesitant to have too much dense metal in or on my PFD if I’m wearing a low float PFD. Long swims (flush drowning) is the leading cause of fatalities on whitewater rivers so I really value flotation in my PFD.

I personally lean towards a folding knife but my decision is usually based on the PFD I’m wearing. If it has a good pocket I’ll usually carry a folder. If it has a well designed attachment point for an external knife I’ll trend towards an externally mounted knife. If the PFD has plenty of flotation I’ll sometimes carry both.

After buying and testing river knives, based on a number of factors, these are the four I use and recommend.

Gerber E-Z Out Rescue Knife

This is the best "bang for your buck" all around river knife. It’s long serrated edge is great for cutting rope and it’s a nice size for easy storing in a PFD pocket. At around 50 bucks it’s a great knife at a great price. 

Learn more about the Gerber E-Z Out Rescue Knife

Spyderco Atlantic Salt

If you like quality this is a great upgrade from the Gerber mentioned above. Spyderco makes high quality knives and this one is no exception. It has a slightly longer blade than the Gerber and bigger hole for easier one hand opening.

Learn more about the Spyderco Atlantic Salt

CKRT Bear Claw

If you lean towards an externally mounted knife this is a great option. It has a small profile making it less likely to snag on a raft when getting back in. There’s also a finger hole making it less likely to fall out of your hand. The curved serrated edge does a great job of cutting rope - especially compared to other externally mounted river knives.

Learn more about the CKRT Bear Claw

Walker Knife Co The Crux

This is the gold standard of externally mounted river knives but also quite expensive. This knife is designed and manufactured in small batches by a river guide in Maine. It features high quality steel with a serrated edge that cuts rope and webbing brilliantly. The Kydex sheath holds the knife well so you’re unlikely to lose it while also being able to quickly access it. If you have the money and value quality this is the one you want.

Learn more about the Walker Knife Co The Crux

There are a lot of river knives on the market. I've found that these four cut rope well and are well thought out for how we use knives on the river.