Outdoor adventures can be a lot of fun, but only if you are carrying the right gear with you. The type of blade or knife you are using will make a significant difference.
Choosing the right blade can be a tricky thing, since there are numerous brands and models available out there today. In this read, we have compared two top blades – Spyderco VS Benchmade.
So what knife should you go for your next outdoor adventure? Let’s find out.
A Quick Comparison Chart
| Spyderco | Benchmade |
| Founded in 1976, based in Colorado | Founded in 1981, based in Oregon |
| Budget-friendly | Higher Price Range |
| Innovators of pocket clip and round-hole blade designs | Lead the way in automatic knife technology |
| Compression Lock | Axis Lock |
| Lifetime Warranty | Lifetime Warranty |
| Manufactured in the USA, Japan, Taiwan, Italy and China | Mostly made in the USA |
| Recommended for basic knife-related tasks and purposes | Perfect for knife usage under challenging conditions |
Benchmade VS Spyderco – Detailed Comparison
Let us now have a closer look at these two brands and the elements that differentiate them.
Blade Design
Spyderco:
Being the industry’s pioneer of pocket-clip and ambidextrous knife opening designs, Spyderco is widely regarded for their innovations in outdoor knives.
Moreover, they introduced the ‘Spyderhole’ – the round hole that you can use with your thumb to open the knife easily. Spyderco’s variety in designs is one of the many reasons why knife lovers, hunters and campers go for this brand.
Benchmade:
Although Benchmade does have a nice product line, too, they do have a similar knife design with little or no difference between them.
But on the brighter side of things, Benchmade is known for its automatic knives that are nicknamed as ‘switchblades’. These are fast-acting, push-button knives that can be operated by only one hand and specifically designed for emergency or law enforcement personnel.
Locking Mechanisms
Spyderco:
Spyderco is known for its patented Compression Lock system – a mechanism that is based on a spring attached to the handle and on the blade and stop pin.
This mechanism gives a lot of lock strength and makes it quite easy to use as well.
Benchmade:
Benchmade uses the patented Auto Axis – a system that is based on a bar which when pulled downwards, releases the blade open with immense precision, speed and safety.
Build Quality
Spyderco:
Being a budget-friendly brand, you cannot really complain about the blade quality of Spyderco knives. Even though they do have innovative designs, the durability factor does get slightly compromised.
Benchmade:
On the other side, Benchmade build quality gives them a visible edge over Spyderco and a lot of other brands as well.
With a more ‘demanding’ customer base that ranges from military or special forces personnel to professional hunters and campers – Benchmade knives are made using the best raw materials.
Premium-quality stainless steel is combined with aerospace-grade handle materials to achieve top-notch blade performance.
Price Factor
Spyderco:
If you are working with a tight budget, Spyderco is the knife that you should be going with. Since this brand outsources a lot of their operations overseas, they are able to provide affordable knives to their customers.
Benchmade:
Benchmade is a more ‘premium’ brand when it comes to outdoor knives. With their better build quality, the price factor quite understandably goes up.
Factors to Consider Before Buying a Knife
Here is what you need to consider prior to buying your next blade:
Blade Quality
Not all knives come with the best blades. There are various steel grades that are used by manufacturers and it is advised to conduct some research on what sort of steel the knife has and how good it can be as per your requirements.
Handle Construction
Does your knife handle comes with nested steel liners or just layers or coatings of plastic?
Steel or carbon fiber should always be preferred over standard plastic for handle construction as it gives better performance and durability.
Ergonomics
You wouldn’t want to go on your next outdoor trip with a knife that is either too heavy or a hassle to operate.
The ease of use plays an important part here. Go for the ones that have textured handle grips with thumb ramps that add to better traction and knife grip. Both Spyderco and Benchmade are known for their easy-to-use variants.
Lock Mechanism
Both compression and axis lock mechanism work equally good in outdoor environments, however, if you see a blade that uses a different locking mechanism, a good idea would be to read about it before making your purchase.
Top Spyderco Blades
Here are some of the best Spyderco knives:
Spyderco Advocate Premium Flipper Knife
A smooth blade with no serrations, this is a good option if you are looking for something that can be swiftly operated. It comes with a titanium handle and a full-flat grind.
Spyderco Para Military 2 Signature Folding Knife
For military personnel and military-style knife lovers out there, this is a high performance, dependable and durable knife that won’t give up on you even under the toughest of conditions.
Top Benchmade Blades
Let’s have a look at a couple of in-demand Benchmade variants:
Infidel Fixed Knife
A simple yet tactical, lightweight fixed knife, the Infidel by Benchmade will give you just the right handle grip and blade strength that you might need for your outdoor tasks.
Griptilian 551 Knife
If you are a knife lover, then you probably know about this well-known Benchmade model already. With high-quality CPM-S30V stainless steel blade, this knife offers great versatility, rust resistance, comfort and performance.
FAQs
What is a Drop Point Blade?
This is a blade design where the blade spine is based on a precise convex-shaped arc to the point. Hunters prefer this type blade shape.
What is a Slip Joint Blade?
This is a non-locking folding knife that comes with a blade which is opened by spring tension. These type of knives do not come with pocket clips.
What is a Deep Pocket Clip?
This is a type of knife clip that is mounted quite close to the handle so that when the knife is clipped in the pocket, very little part of the blade remains exposed.
What is a Scale?
Scale is the part of material that is used as knife handle.
What is a Knife’s Handle Made of?
Various materials are used for knife handles and coatings such as aluminum, carbon fiber, FBR (Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon), Kraton, leather, abalone, etc.
Our Final Verdict on Spyderco VS Benchmade
At the end of the day, it all depends on the intended use of the knife. When choosing between a Spyderco VS Benchmade blade, you must know your needs pretty well before spending your bucks.
Spyderco offers all-purpose, affordable blades in their product line that can be easy-to-carry and easy-to-use for everyday knife-related tasks.
However, if you are going into the wild for your next camping or hunting expedition, we recommend to go with Benchmade to get a more sturdy, durable and high-performance blade.