The Benchmade Altitude knife is relatively new but odds are you’ve already seen one around. It’s pretty hard to miss with that bright orange coating and the marketing push from one of the most reputable companies in the business (and of course, the Born and Raised Outdoors crew uses them in every video).
I’ve used the Benchmade Altitude over the course of two seasons, dressed multiple animals, and carried it hundreds of miles. Here are my thoughts:
Overview & Specs
The Altitude is designed specifically for ultralight backcountry hunting and the specs reflect that. At only 1.67 ounces (47.3 grams) and 0.09” (~2.3mm) wide it certainly surprises you with how light it is when you pick it up. It’s not tiny in length though: the blade is just over 3” and the overall knife is around 7.4”, so it’s on par with a lot of other medium sized fixed blades on the market. Benchmade’s weight claims do hold up: mine comes in at 46.1 grams (and the sheath is 21.1 grams).
What sets the benchmade apart from other ultralight fixed blades (and there are many) is that it comes with carbon fiber micro scales that help you get a solid pinch grip on the blade. Paired with one of the best steels on the market (S90V) and a bright orange cerakote finish (or black DLC coating), it’s clearly in the “no expenses spared” camp. That translates to the price: while the MSRP of the Altitude is $240, you’ll generally find it online for about $200, or less if you find coupons for major retailers.
The knife also comes with a nice kydex clamshell style sheath. Like all benchmade knives, it comes with Benchmade’s legendary Lifesharp service (you send it in, they resharpen it for free for life). Benchmade also makes a small contribution to BHA (Backcountry Hunters and Anglers) for each orange version sold, which is great to see. Overall the benchmade altitude is built for a very specific niche: ultralight hunting with ultrapremium materials. But is it worth it?
The breakdown
Below are some of the pros and cons that I found over the course of two seasons with the benchmade altitude:
Pro: Phenomenal edge retention
To understand just how well the Altitude retains its edge, you need to understand why S90V steel is so exceptional. First off, it has an extremely high level of vanadium (9%) which forms incredibly hard vanadium carbides for fantastic edge retention (also why it costs so much…). But the real magic is in how it’s made: S90V is a third generation “supersteel” that’s made with a power metallurgy process.
What does that mean in plain english? To simplify, the different molecules in knife steel alloys tend to clump together as they slowly cool off after they’re mixed. That’s important because the carbides are the part of the metal that forms the microscopic “teeth” of the blade. S90V is made by mixing the steel when it’s liquid and then spraying it at high pressure into cold air which makes an ultra fine metal powder. The carbides and other alloys cool down so quickly they stay in perfect ratios since they don’t have time to clump together. That powder is then bonded together under tremendous pressure to make a pristine steel blank. Phew. The end result: an extremely consistent steel that is far stronger and more wear resistant than other alternatives.
To put it plainly, the benchmade altitude has unbelievable edge retention. You can easily butcher an entire elk (and probably multiple animals) without being forced to sharpen it. I’m a stickler for keeping a razor edge on my knife and I only had to hone it once per elk, which surprised me.
Pro: Actually comfortable to use
I have to admit, when I first picked up the Altitude I wondered just how comfortable it was going to be to use. I actually planned on wrapping the handle but never got around to it in the rush of a new marriage and new job (we’ve all been there). I even brought a second knife on my first hunt as insurance just in case things didn’t go as planned.
The moment of truth hit when I was fortunate enough to make a shot on a nice 4×5 on the first night out (they just taste so good). To say I was surprised at how comfortable the knife was would be an understatement: my wife and I used only the altitude to butcher the entire elk and neither of us had a complaint. Since then, I still haven’t wrapped the handle and just use it as is. That’s quite a testament to such a skinny, lightweight knife and something I haven’t found in a knife like this before.
Pro: Ultralight, low maintenance, and nice and visible
The Benchmade Altitude is so light I tend to just throw it in the lid of my pack and forget about it. A knife is dead weight until you need to use it, so I love saving multiple ounces vs other options when I’m backpacking.
Although most hunting knives are stainless, that doesn’t mean they are rust proof (the industry term literally means “stains less than carbon steels”). The cerakote finish on the Altitude has been flawless so far and will likely outlast my lifetime. That means you can throw it in your pack even if it’s bloody or wet and just forget about it. As a side note, the black version comes with a DLC (Diamond Like Coating) which is even more durable… not that you’d need it.
I love the bright orange finish for it’s visibility. There are so many times you set a knife down on the ground and struggle to find it. The Altitude is always easy to locate and doesn’t need maintenance like a bright colored handle wrap or lanyard.
Con: It’s got limits
I love to test stuff until it breaks. That helps me find the limits, get to know my equipment better, and provide better reviews. I intentionally pushed and pryed on the altitude when I removed the ivories from my elk and managed to ever so slightly chip the knife tip and a tiny portion of the blade.
I really don’t think that’s a “problem” with the knife. It’s designed intentionally for a very specific use and I intentionally went outside that. That said, know that you can’t abuse it to the same degree you would with a thicker blade or one made out of carbon steel.
It’s also worth mentioning that that unreal edge retention on s90v also makes it very difficult to resharpen. No, I’m not talking about touching up the edge, which is still easy, I mean regrinding or re-beveling the edge. You’ll need a diamond stone and some time to make it happen. That applies to any s90v knife and isn’t unique to benchmade. The solve: send it back to benchmade for a free resharpening! You can’t do that with any other S90V knives I know of.
Con: That invisible camo sheath
One of my pet peeves with this knife is the camo sheath. Turns out camo is the hardest thing to find in the woods or in your pack lid (surprise!). I like the First Lite/BHA partnership, but I’ve set the sheath down a few times and almost lost it. There’s a reason I bought the orange version of the knife, so I wish the sheath matched (or at least had an orange logo) so it was easier to find.
Tips and tricks
If you do want a thicker handle it’s pretty easy to wrap the knife with some cheap paracord. You can customize the color, pattern, and thickness to fit your individual tastes. Here’s a great video on youtube that walks you through the process step by step.
For sharpening, I’m comfortable saying you don’t need to take anything with you if you’re just going to butcher one animal. Personally, I use a tiny ceramic rod from the Leatherman Cam tool which weighs next to nothing and works great. You can also buy any of the millions of ultralight knife sharpeners and take off the tiny diamond stick if you want the same setup. I do recommend touching up the edge after each animal (even if it isn’t needed) is it’s far easier to keep a knife sharp than resharpen it. Or just send it to Benchmade.
Alternatives
There actually aren’t many fixed blade/ultralight hunting knives out there like the Altitude. Argali’s carbon knife is probably the closest alternative and something I’d love to test: it’s S35V (S90V’s little brother) but it has thin scales and they do offer a sharpening service. Kestrel makes some great options but they don’t come with pinch scales and are also s35v (except for their tiny capers). Iron Will is now making an ultralight knife with their A2 steel that’s “only” $125. A2 is a great steel but it will require maintenance since it rusts relatively easily (and you’ll have to wrap it because there are no scales). Other companies make skeleton style knives but none (that I know of) that have steel that’s comparable to the options above.
Like I mentioned, this is a niche knife. Hunters that don’t care as much about weight will be better off buying a more durable and cheaper alternative. You’ll trade off the cerakote protection and edge retention of s90v but is that worth $75-100 to you? Only you can decide. A slightly heavier s30v knife like the Benchmade Steep Country (another personal favorite) is a great option for all around use.
Summary
The Benchmade Altitude is backcountry minimalism at its finest. It weighs almost nothing, the edge retention is genuinely amazing, it’s actually comfortable to use, and is essentially maintenance free with a cerakote finish + free resharpening. That said, it’s an ultralight knife and you can’t abuse it (and that camo sheath is rather annoying). At $200 it’s certainly not an easy choice but if you’re a diehard backcountry hunter it’s worth a long look.
Would I buy it? I already did. The Benchmade Altitude is currently my knife of choice and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
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