Victorinox Huntsman review: the Swiss Army knife for camp and trail
Most of the cutting on a camping trip is small: opening a food packet, trimming a piece of tape for a blister, cutting cord, sawing a tent peg from a branch, lifting out a splinter. The Victorinox Huntsman is the Swiss Army knife that adds a wood saw and scissors to the standard set of blades and openers, and it weighs 3.4 ounces (97 g).
New to multitools? Our multitools field guide explains what each tool is for and how to choose a size.
Quick take
A pocket knife with the tools a camper uses often: two blades, scissors, a wood saw, can and bottle openers, an awl, tweezers and a corkscrew, in a handle 3.6 inches (9.1 cm) long. It is well made, light, and easy for a beginner to use. The blades do not lock and there are no pliers, so it is a tool for small jobs and repairs, not for heavy carving or splitting wood. Carry it beside a fixed-blade knife, or on its own for day hikes and established campsites.
What it does
The Huntsman is a mid-sized Swiss Army knife from Victorinox, made in Switzerland, with stainless steel tools between smooth plastic scales. It has 15 functions:
- Large and small blades for food, cord and whittling.
- Scissors, spring-loaded, for tape, moleskin, bandages, fishing line and fingernails.
- Wood saw for tent pegs, pot hangers and small dead branches.
- Can opener with a small screwdriver tip, and a bottle opener with a large screwdriver tip and wire stripper.
- Reamer, a pointed awl with a sewing eye, for making holes in leather, webbing and wood.
- Corkscrew, which also loosens tight knots, and a multipurpose hook for carrying tied parcels or lifting a pot bail.
- Tweezers and a toothpick that slide into the handle, and a key ring.
Closed, it is 3.6 inches (9.1 cm) long and about an inch (2.5 cm) wide. The blades are held open by spring tension and do not lock. Victorinox guarantees it for life against defects in materials and workmanship.
What verified buyers say
Across verified-purchase reviews, the same points come up:
- The right set of tools. The most repeated comment: two blades, scissors, a saw and the openers cover what owners need, without the bulk of the larger models.
- Carried every day. Owners keep it in a pocket, a pack or the car, and several have carried one for decades.
- Solid and smooth. The tools open and close cleanly and the knife feels well made in the hand.
- The small tools get used. Tweezers for splinters, the saw for a branch in the way on a hunt, and scissors for many small jobs.
- No locking blade. Long-time owners name it as the one feature they would add.
- Tools on the back are stiff. The awl, hook and corkscrew can be hard to open with short fingernails.
- Sharpness varies. Most arrive sharp; a few buyers received blades that needed sharpening first.
Worth knowing
The blades do not lock. A slip-joint blade can fold onto your fingers if the tip is pushed or the spine is pressed, so cut with the edge moving away from the pivot, do not stab or pry with it, and close it before handing it to anyone. It has no pliers, so it does not replace a plier multitool for stove and gear repairs. The saw is short: it is for small wood, and a fire’s worth of logs needs a folding saw. The smooth handle is slippery when wet. Rinse and dry the knife after cutting food, because grit and sugar collect between the tools, and put a drop of oil on the pivots once or twice a season. Check the rules before flying with it or carrying it abroad.
Who it is for
The Huntsman is for campers, day hikers, paddlers and scouts who want one small tool for the minor jobs of a trip, and for experienced travellers who carry it for repairs and food beside a larger knife. A first-time camper can use it without instruction beyond how to close a blade safely.
If you want pliers and locking tools, the Leatherman Wave+ is the full-size multitool, and the Gerber Dime is the keychain-sized one. For carving and fire preparation, a fixed blade such as the Morakniv Companion is stronger and safer, and the Opinel No.8 is a light folding knife with a locking collar. For cutting firewood, see the Bahco Laplander. Our guide to wilderness knives explains the differences.
Specs at a glance
- TypeSwiss Army knife, 15 functions
- Length closed3.6″ (9.1 cm)
- Bladeslarge and small, stainless, non-locking
- Toolsscissors, wood saw, can and bottle openers, awl, corkscrew, hook, tweezers, toothpick
- Pliersnone
- Guaranteelifetime, against defects
- Listed weight3.4 oz (97 g)
- Best forcamp chores, repairs and food on most trips
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The Verdict
The Victorinox Huntsman covers the small cutting and repair jobs of a camping trip in a tool that weighs 3.4 ounces (97 g): blades, scissors, a saw, openers, an awl and tweezers, well made and guaranteed for life. The blades do not lock and it has no pliers, so it is a companion to a fixed-blade knife or a plier multitool on harder trips. For day hikes and campsites it is a sound choice as the one knife you carry, for beginners and experienced campers alike. For pliers, choose the Leatherman Wave+; for carving and firewood, the Morakniv Companion.
