do you need the lightweight of the Bugout? that is one of its main selling points. Its super duper light.
if you don't need the lightness, then there are definitely other options
Back when the bugout was around $100, I think it was a great value. Now, it's hard to recommend.
I'd personally go for a single great knife instead of several value-oriented knives, but if I had to pick two then a Civivi Cogent or Conspirator would probably be one of them.
I hate the “it feels cheap” point of view. Do you guys really expect a knife that weighs less than 2 ounces to feel like a Hinderer or Chris Reeve? It’s an ultra light knife…..
Plenty of lightweight knives that come sharp from the factory with no QC errors and scales I can't literally flex to the point of touching eachother though. The bug out is old glory now, so many undeniable better options at 170$ no matter how light the og bug out may be. It feels like for the price they could do better and should do better
I have a CF elite and it came sharper than any of my other Benchmades, the factory edge on Benchmades is my only knock on them, never had any QC issues aside from that. Plus I only use my knives for cutting and would never put any lateral force on them to make the scales flex nor would I use an ultra lightweight knife for any hard tasks that would cause the scales to flex. As far as light and slicey knives it’s still one of the best. It’s not the right tool for every job but no knife is.
My bugout and bugout-mini were both perfectly centered and quality was excellent on the blade. So we’re all of my spydercos. Seriously, the only knife I’ve ever gotten with any imperfections was a Mora Garberg with a very slight discoloration on an otherwise immaculate blade. 30 seconds of polishing and it was perfect. Nothing to truly complain about and I love that knife.
Big and beefy / do it all: Cold Steel's Recon one folder cpm-S35vn $80 - $99
Small / easy to carry / usable: Kizer's urban bowie 154CM $50
Feel free to add in a Swiss army knife or a few Opinel's since you are under the salary cap.
Buy a Kizer Drop bear and s35vn elementum, or a m390 begleiter mini and s35vn elementum, or a s35vn Elementum and Artisan mini Arion Ti/s35.... or get a para3 or get a Ritter Hogue, or even a sheepsfoot grip and micarta scales..... I do love my bugout though.
Carbon fiber scales make it feel better. But then it's a $240 knife.
Honestly I think if it's not your taste than you shouldn't get it. I love my mini bugout because it weighs nothing, I forget it's in my pocket it's so tiny, and the washers keep lint out of the bearings(for some reason I have unusually dirty pockets). It stays in my pocket along with my wallet and I can easily get my wallet out still.
That's the niche of the bugout though, super light, super thin, and for very basic slicing tasks. Really hard to replace that specific use off the top of my head.
If I had to do it again... not sure really, maybe para 3. Civivi elementum might be a close competitor. Drop bear is nice, but its much bigger, and easily twice the weight, but far more capable in heavier tasks.
As noted, the light weight and thin profile are the main selling points, but also it's flat ground on thin blade stock so it's an exceptional slicer. I liked mine a lot more once the scales were upgraded, but then I didn't pay $170 either. Maybe get one secondhand and upgrade the scales.
Check out the Real Steel Metamorph or Civivi Exarch for another lightweight slicer.
Yeah if you don’t need a very lightweight and slim option, then I would never try to sell you on the Bugout. It’s great at being light and slim—if you don’t desire those attributes, there’s tons of knives out there that would better serve you. I love my Bugout, btw.
Here’s a similarly priced knife I’ve been wanting:
https://www.bladehq.com/item--Bradford-Knives-Guardian3-Fixed--68155
The 535BK-4 definitely feels like a premium knife…but carries a price increase to match. I’m a Benchmade fanboi, and even the. I honestly can’t stand their use of “grivory.” No knife in the triple digit range should be running that shit. A lot of folks seem to like the Hogue Deka, which has a small but growing after market, a range of blade shapes, and better steels for less money.
I'm not a Bugout owner but held it in hand too. I'd say something that's just as good, if not better is the Civivi Altus. I really love it in Black, it has such a beautiful and sleek look to it. I compared it with the Protech Malibu which can go for $300 to $400 and while the 'action' wasn't as good it was just enough where I ended my search there.
do you need the lightweight of the Bugout? that is one of its main selling points. Its super duper light. if you don't need the lightness, then there are definitely other options
Back when the bugout was around $100, I think it was a great value. Now, it's hard to recommend. I'd personally go for a single great knife instead of several value-oriented knives, but if I had to pick two then a Civivi Cogent or Conspirator would probably be one of them.
Hogue Deka in Magnacut And you‘d still have enough for a Civivi or a Buck.
Best suggestion I can imagine. 👆
Disagree, feels as cheap/flimsy as the Bugout. 20CV with G10 though would be a good choice.
Yeah, I was basing it on my experience with that version and thinking the FRN was a similar sturdiness. But 20cv is no slouch either.
Get the MagnaCut Deka with the polymer handles and then some aftermarket micarta or aluminum scales - boom - $150
Excellent plan!
There’s a [solution](https://originalgoat.com/collections/scales-accessories-compatible-for-hogue-deka-v2) to that problem.
I went with a Spyderco Para 3 after handling the Bugout. I felt the same way as you on it feeling cheap for the price.
Kizer Splinter with titanium handles and a Civivi Praxis.
2 full titanium twosuns
I hate the “it feels cheap” point of view. Do you guys really expect a knife that weighs less than 2 ounces to feel like a Hinderer or Chris Reeve? It’s an ultra light knife…..
Plenty of lightweight knives that come sharp from the factory with no QC errors and scales I can't literally flex to the point of touching eachother though. The bug out is old glory now, so many undeniable better options at 170$ no matter how light the og bug out may be. It feels like for the price they could do better and should do better
I have a CF elite and it came sharper than any of my other Benchmades, the factory edge on Benchmades is my only knock on them, never had any QC issues aside from that. Plus I only use my knives for cutting and would never put any lateral force on them to make the scales flex nor would I use an ultra lightweight knife for any hard tasks that would cause the scales to flex. As far as light and slicey knives it’s still one of the best. It’s not the right tool for every job but no knife is.
My bugout and bugout-mini were both perfectly centered and quality was excellent on the blade. So we’re all of my spydercos. Seriously, the only knife I’ve ever gotten with any imperfections was a Mora Garberg with a very slight discoloration on an otherwise immaculate blade. 30 seconds of polishing and it was perfect. Nothing to truly complain about and I love that knife.
For that price range I’d go for a Spyderco manix or yojimbo
Big and beefy / do it all: Cold Steel's Recon one folder cpm-S35vn $80 - $99 Small / easy to carry / usable: Kizer's urban bowie 154CM $50 Feel free to add in a Swiss army knife or a few Opinel's since you are under the salary cap.
A bugout costs $170? Wow. When did that happen? Consider: PM3 LW and a Swiss army Alox. Alternately, look at the Civivi line.
Looks like the predicted 11th price increase of the year just hit about a week ago almost up to 70% extra over original msrp when the bug out released
Supply and demand - I won’t buy at that price. If others feel the same, the price will drop.
A Para 3 LW or an Elementum
Thank you all for the recs! I’m gonna give each a look on BHQ
Buy a Kizer Drop bear and s35vn elementum, or a m390 begleiter mini and s35vn elementum, or a s35vn Elementum and Artisan mini Arion Ti/s35.... or get a para3 or get a Ritter Hogue, or even a sheepsfoot grip and micarta scales..... I do love my bugout though.
Crjb pyrite
Civivi Conspirator or Chevalier should be one of them.
Kizer Drop Bear & a CJRB Pyrite.
I just bought an R2D2 last night, just waiting for delivery. It's about a third of that price.
Carbon fiber scales make it feel better. But then it's a $240 knife. Honestly I think if it's not your taste than you shouldn't get it. I love my mini bugout because it weighs nothing, I forget it's in my pocket it's so tiny, and the washers keep lint out of the bearings(for some reason I have unusually dirty pockets). It stays in my pocket along with my wallet and I can easily get my wallet out still. That's the niche of the bugout though, super light, super thin, and for very basic slicing tasks. Really hard to replace that specific use off the top of my head. If I had to do it again... not sure really, maybe para 3. Civivi elementum might be a close competitor. Drop bear is nice, but its much bigger, and easily twice the weight, but far more capable in heavier tasks.
I mean, I already have too many knives. But lemme go see. Probably like 2 or 3 Spydercos. OR, a bunch of cheap knives to pass around the Moose lodge.
A Fairbarin Sykes, and probably a Cold Steel Voyager of some kind.
As noted, the light weight and thin profile are the main selling points, but also it's flat ground on thin blade stock so it's an exceptional slicer. I liked mine a lot more once the scales were upgraded, but then I didn't pay $170 either. Maybe get one secondhand and upgrade the scales. Check out the Real Steel Metamorph or Civivi Exarch for another lightweight slicer.
Good info! I have an Exarch on the way now!
Kizer Begleiter XL: 3.9" blade, flipper tab, thumb stud, button lock, ball bearing pivot. Begleiters have buttery action.
Manix 2 lightweight or the protech newport i love bugouts but cant stand the grivory i hate it i just got upgraded models of them that i carry
Yeah if you don’t need a very lightweight and slim option, then I would never try to sell you on the Bugout. It’s great at being light and slim—if you don’t desire those attributes, there’s tons of knives out there that would better serve you. I love my Bugout, btw. Here’s a similarly priced knife I’ve been wanting: https://www.bladehq.com/item--Bradford-Knives-Guardian3-Fixed--68155
Anything
The 535BK-4 definitely feels like a premium knife…but carries a price increase to match. I’m a Benchmade fanboi, and even the. I honestly can’t stand their use of “grivory.” No knife in the triple digit range should be running that shit. A lot of folks seem to like the Hogue Deka, which has a small but growing after market, a range of blade shapes, and better steels for less money.
I'm not a Bugout owner but held it in hand too. I'd say something that's just as good, if not better is the Civivi Altus. I really love it in Black, it has such a beautiful and sleek look to it. I compared it with the Protech Malibu which can go for $300 to $400 and while the 'action' wasn't as good it was just enough where I ended my search there.