Outbound Reviewed: Opinel No. 8 Pocket Knife

On a recent backpacking trip I was fortunate enough to have brought my new Opinel No. 8 Pocket Knife. This one is part of a collaboration with artist Sam Larson, so it was a little more fancy on the handle, but nonetheless sturdy, compact, and sharp AF. Which is really all you want and need. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this knife ($30) goes to the Outdoor Alliance, which helps all of us by conserving and protecting public lands. 

The first thing I noticed is that the knife is made in France and the back of the box is all in French...but there are English subtitles. High School French taught me that this is a quality blade, started by a family in the French Alps in 1890, and perfected over years of outdoor testing. Done. That's enough for me. If you've been around for 100+ years, you must be doing something right.

The weight is great to slide into your pack or pocket and forget about it until you need it. Opinel knives always have a safety mechanism in place. Open the blade and just turn the metal ring of the knife handle. Other than that, it doesn't have any bells and whistles like a screwdriver or bottle opener, so if you're into those things, this isn't for you. If you want a workhorse that sits idly by and waits to get down to business, this is for you. No doubt about it.

The handle is adorned with a carefully designed outdoor motif which adds to its outdoor luster. This doesn't change anything about the knife or quality but only adds to the desirability. A great addition in my humble opinion. Again, this knife does exactly what you'd want it to do and not much else. Whittle, cut, shred, and feel secure.