The Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter Review
From the moment you hold the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter in your hand, you’ll know you’ve found the perfect everyday carry knife. See what we have to say in our Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter review.
Looking for the perfect everyday carry knife that can handle all your outdoor adventures? The Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter may be just what you need. This compact and versatile knife has been designed with hunters in mind, but its features make it an excellent option for anyone who loves spending time in the great outdoors.
In this comprehensive review, we will take an in-depth look at the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter’s performance, durability, ergonomics, blade quality, and overall value for money.
We’ll also compare it to other EDC knives on the market to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
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Product Overview
The Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter is an excellent everyday carry knife for outdoor enthusiasts who value quality and versatility. Its compact size makes it easy to carry in a pocket or backpack, while its durable materials and sturdy fixed blade design make it an ideal tool for a variety of cutting tasks.
One of the standout features of the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter is its design, which features a contoured G10 handle and a blade made of CPM-S90V steel.
The contoured handle provides a comfortable grip, while the blade’s steel construction ensures that it stays sharp and maintains its edge over time.
The blade length of the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter is 2.79 inches, with a thickness of 0.12 inches. This compact size makes it easy to handle and control during everyday use, while its drop-point blade style with a plain edge ensures that it can handle a variety of cutting tasks with ease.
The handle thickness of the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter is 0.55 inches, providing ample real estate throughout the handle and cutting edge. This makes the knife just as effective on big game as it is on smaller species, making it an excellent choice for hunters around the globe.
The sheath type of the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter is Boltaron, which creates a slim and reliable housing for convenient storage in your pack.
The handle material used in this knife is G10, and the handle color is Richlite/Orange. Improvements to the overall geometry, ergonomics, and material will make the last cut feel just as effortless as the first with Benchmade’s new SelectEdge 14° angle.
Compared to other EDC knives in the market, the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter stands out for its high-quality materials, precision, and durability.
While it may be a bit more expensive than some other options on the market, its quality and versatility make it worth the investment for those who require a dependable cutting tool for outdoor activities.
For these reasons, the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter made our list of the best EDC Fixed Blade Knives.
Comparison
If you’re looking for a more compact EDC knife, you may want to consider the ESEE Izula 2, CRKT Minimalist Bowie knife, and Morakniv Companion. These knives offer different features and price points, so it’s worth considering how they compare to the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter.
ESEE Izula 2
The ESEE Izula 2 is a great option for those who want a compact, lightweight knife with a fixed blade. With a blade length of 2.63 inches, it’s slightly shorter than the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter.
However, it makes up for it with its slim profile and comfortable handle, which is made of micarta. The blade is made of 1095 carbon steel, which is known for its durability and sharpness. However, it requires regular maintenance to prevent rust and corrosion.
See our full ESEE Izula 2 review
CRKT Minimalist Bowie
The CRKT Minimalist Bowie knife is another compact option that is well-suited for everyday carry. Its blade length is only 2.125 inches, making it one of the shortest knives on this list. However, it makes up for it with its comfortable grip and unique Bowie-style blade.
The blade is made of 5Cr15MoV steel, which is known for its sharpness and resistance to wear and tear. However, it may require more frequent sharpening than other types of steel.
Morakniv Companion
The Morakniv Companion is a popular option for those who want a reliable and affordable knife. With a blade length of 4.1 inches, it’s longer than the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter.
However, it’s still compact and lightweight, making it a good option for outdoor activities. The blade is made of high-quality stainless steel, which is known for its sharpness and corrosion resistance. The handle is made of rubber, which provides a comfortable grip even when wet.
When compared to these knives, the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter stands out for its premium materials and high-quality construction.
While it may be more expensive than the other options, it offers superior performance and durability. The CPM-S90V steel used in the blade is known for its edge retention and corrosion resistance, and the G10 handle provides a comfortable grip even during extended use.
Choosing the right knife depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you prioritize portability and affordability, the CRKT Minimalist Bowie knife or Morakniv Companion may be the better choice.
If you want a compact knife that offers premium materials and superior performance, the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter may be worth the investment.
The ESEE Izula 2 is a good option for those who want a balance between compactness and durability, but it may require more maintenance than the other options.
Performance and Durability
The Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter has been my go-to knife for outdoor activities and everyday carry for several months now. During this time, I have used it for a variety of tasks, including food preparation, cutting through rope and twine, and making kindling for a fire.
I put it through its paces while camping just to see what it can do, and it proved to be an excellent tool for prepping our camp food, splitting up small branches and kindling for a fire, and even cleaning a fish.
While the Hidden Canyon Hunter excels in most tasks, it has some limitations, especially when it comes to batoning wood. While it can work through small pieces, it has a limit to the size of wood that can be split, about 1-1/2″ in diameter.
So, if you’re looking to split bigger logs, this knife is definitely out of its league. However, it is still an excellent tool for making smaller kindling out of larger kindling, and it does an excellent job of making feather sticks.
One of the standout features of the Hidden Canyon Hunter is its sharpness and precision. The CPM-S90V steel blade holds its edge well, and I have not had to sharpen it very often. Even after multiple uses, the blade’s sharpness remains consistent, allowing me to make precise cuts effortlessly.
Its drop-point blade shape makes it effective for skinning game and field dressing, while the CPM-S90V steel ensures durability and strength.
The Boltaron sheath provides convenient storage in a pack, and the lanyard hole allows for additional carrying options.
The Hidden Canyon Hunter’s compact size makes it an excellent tool for everyday carry. It’s easy to pack in a backpack or slip into a pocket, and it doesn’t take up much space.
The G10 handle is contoured for a comfortable grip, and the knife’s weight distribution makes it easy to handle for extended periods of time.
Durability is an essential aspect of any knife, and the Hidden Canyon Hunter does not disappoint.
The CPM-S90V steel blade is corrosion-resistant, and the G10 handle can withstand exposure to moisture and heat. The knife’s overall construction feels solid and sturdy, and I have not noticed any signs of wear and tear after several months of use.
However, it’s worth noting that the Hidden Canyon Hunter’s price point may not be affordable for everyone. At well over the $200 range, it’s more expensive than many other knives on the market, but it’s a premium tool that provides excellent value for money.
Additionally, the shorter handle may not be suitable for larger hands, but that’s expected from a compact knife used for everyday carry.
Ergonomics and Comfort
The Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter’s design provides a comfortable and secure grip, making it easy to handle for extended periods of time.
The contoured G10 handle feels natural in the hand and provides excellent traction even when wet. The handle’s texture and shape ensure a firm grip, reducing the risk of slippage during use.
The knife’s compact size and lightweight design make it easy to carry in a pocket or backpack without weighing you down. The balance of the knife is also excellent, ensuring that it feels natural and comfortable to use for various cutting tasks.
One minor drawback is that the handle length may be too short for those with larger hands. However, this is expected from a smaller knife that makes a good EDC.
Overall, the handle design and texture make for a comfortable and secure grip, even during extended use.
The Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter’s weight distribution is also noteworthy. The knife feels well-balanced in the hand, with the weight evenly distributed throughout the handle and blade.
This balance contributes to the knife’s ease of use and makes it suitable for various cutting tasks, from preparing food to cutting rope and kindling.
The knife’s design also allows for different grip positions, ensuring comfort during extended use. Whether you prefer a hammer grip, pinch grip, or something in between, the knife’s design accommodates various hand sizes and grip styles.
In terms of portability, the knife’s compact size and lightweight design make it easy to carry with you wherever you go. Whether you’re going camping or just running errands around town, the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter is an excellent everyday carry option.
One minor issue is that the knife does not come with a clip, making it more difficult to carry on your person.
However, the Boltaron sheath included with the knife provides a slim and reliable housing for convenient storage in your pack.
Overall, the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter’s design provides a comfortable and secure grip, balanced weight distribution, and portability for everyday carry.
While the shorter handle may not be suitable for those with larger hands, the knife’s design allows for different grip positions to accommodate various hand sizes and grip styles.
The lack of a clip may be a minor drawback for some, but the included Boltaron sheath provides a reliable housing for storage.
Blade Quality
The Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter features a drop-point blade shape with a plain edge made from CPM-S90V steel, which is known for its exceptional edge retention and corrosion resistance.
During my use of the knife, I found that the blade remained sharp even after multiple uses, making it easy to make precise cuts. The blade’s design and weight distribution also make it easy to handle, providing excellent control for intricate cuts.
When compared to other everyday carry knives, the Hidden Canyon Hunter’s blade performed exceptionally well. Its corrosion resistance and sharpness retention exceeded that of the ESEE Izula 2 which uses 1095 steel, and the CRKT Minimalist which uses the 5Cr15MoV steel.
However, the Morakniv Companion uses the Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel, which is also known for its corrosion resistance and edge retention, making it a comparable (but slightly less quality) option to the Hidden Canyon Hunter.
One downside to the Hidden Canyon Hunter’s blade is its length. While the 2.79-inch blade is ample for everyday tasks, it may not be sufficient for larger outdoor activities, such as processing large game. In comparison, the ESEE Izula 2 and Morakniv Companion have slightly longer blades, making them more suitable for outdoor activities.
However, the Hidden Canyon Hunter’s blade is still versatile and useful for a variety of tasks, both indoor and outdoor.
Another positive aspect of the Hidden Canyon Hunter’s blade is its ease of sharpening. The CPM-S90V steel is known for its hardness, which can make it difficult to sharpen for some users.
But, Benchmade’s SelectEdge 14° angle improves the overall geometry, ergonomics, and material, making the last cut feel just as effortless as the first. I found the blade relatively easy to sharpen, but it does require some skill and patience to achieve a razor-sharp edge.
The Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter’s blade quality is exceptional, with excellent edge retention and corrosion resistance. Its drop-point blade shape and plain edge make it versatile for a variety of tasks, both indoor and outdoor.
The only downside is its length, which may not be sufficient for certain outdoor activities. However, its ease of sharpening makes it a reliable and versatile knife for everyday carry and outdoor activities.
Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter Review – Pros and Cons
The Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter is an exceptional knife that performs well in a variety of cutting tasks and outdoor activities. However, as with any product, there are both advantages and disadvantages to consider.
Pros
One of the main advantages of the Hidden Canyon Hunter is its compact size, which makes it easy to carry in a pocket or backpack. Despite its small size, the knife has ample cutting edge and a sturdy fixed blade made of high-quality CPM-S90V steel, which is known for its excellent edge retention and toughness.
The drop-point blade style and plain edge make it suitable for a wide range of cutting tasks, including food preparation, rope and twine cutting, and wood processing.
The G10 handle provides a comfortable grip, and the knife’s weight distribution makes it easy to handle for extended periods without causing fatigue. The Richlite/Orange G10 handle has a sleek and modern design that complements the knife’s overall aesthetics.
Additionally, the Boltaron sheath creates a slim and reliable housing for convenient storage in a pack.
Cons
One of the main drawbacks of the Hidden Canyon Hunter is its price point, which may be considered high for some users. However, the knife’s quality and durability make it worth the investment for those who require a reliable cutting tool for outdoor activities.
Another potential drawback is the knife’s shorter handle length, which may not be suitable for individuals with larger hands. However, this is expected from a compact knife designed for everyday carry.
Another minor issue is that the knife has limits to the size of wood it can split, approximately 1-1/2″ in diameter. It’s fine for making kindling, but larger tasks may require a larger knife. Additionally, while the blade’s sharpness retention is impressive, it may be challenging to sharpen for some users due to the steel’s hardness.
Overall, the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter is an excellent choice for everyday carry and outdoor activities. Its compact size, durable materials, sharpness retention, and versatility make it a reliable and useful tool for a wide range of cutting tasks.
While it may be a bit pricey, the knife’s quality and durability justify the investment for those who require a dependable cutting tool. However, its shorter handle may not be suitable for individuals with larger hands, and the blade’s hardness may pose a challenge for some users when sharpening.
Final Verdict
After thoroughly testing the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter, I can confidently say that it is a reliable and versatile knife for everyday carry and outdoor activities.
Its compact size, ample cutting edge, and lightweight design make it a great choice for those who need a dependable EDC cutting tool that won’t weigh them down.
The CPM-S90V steel and G10 handle also add to the knife’s durability and longevity.
However, it’s important to note that the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter does have some drawbacks. The price point is relatively high compared to other EDC knives on the market, and the shorter handle may not be suitable for those with larger hands.
Additionally, the blade length may not be sufficient for certain tasks.
Despite these drawbacks, I still highly recommend the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter for those who are willing to invest in a high-quality knife that will serve them well for years to come.
Its precision, versatility, and ease of use make it an excellent choice for hunting, camping, and other outdoor activities. If you’re in the market for a reliable and versatile EDC knife, the Benchmade Hidden Canyon Hunter is definitely worth considering.
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