Kydex Knife Sheaths – Here’s Why They’re Amazing

A good hunting knife sheath has to be strong enough and tough enough to hold a sharp blade while it’s not being used.

Aside from the obvious strength needed, it also needs to have a snug fit so that the knife doesn’t get dislodged by accident. Essentially, this means the materials need to be lightweight. Personally I prefer Kydex Knife Sheaths, but I’ll just refresh your memory about what’s available.

Different Knife Sheath Materials

Long gone are the days where sheaths were mainly made from leather. I mean it’s still a tough material and it’s very durable, so it’s always a great option. But technology has opened up thousands of new doors for the sheath industry.

Some of the most commonly used sheath materials include:

• PVC – this rigid synthetic polythene polymer material is really not durable and tears when you just look at it funny.
• Kydex– these are Thermal-plastic Acrylic Polyvinyl materials, so they are thermoforming. This is what you’ll see replacing more and more leather sheaths on the modern market. These materials are water resistant and keep their shape.

What is the Best Knife Sheath Material?

Look, leather is the oldest and probably the most rugged material for sheaths. It looks great and it’s easy to work with. The thing with leather is that it eventually becomes overused and breaks down.

Kydex on the other hand is tougher and even more durable than leather. It isn’t affected by the elements, but on the downside it doesn’t look as good. I prefer something that actually works as opposed to something that looks like it can do the job.

Then there are also materials like nylon and plastic, which is a cheap option but are just plain terrible. They’ll get damaged at the drop of a hat and don’t look good either.

To effectively answer the question, I need to show you the good and the bad of all the different sheath materials.

Knife Sheath Materials: Pros and Cons

Leather

The Pros:

• It’s durable
• It’s easy to work with
• It looks great

The Cons:

• It’ll wear down over time
• It’s expensive

Kydex

The Pros:

• It’s extremely durable
• It’s not affected by the elements
• It protects the blade

The Cons:

• It doesn’t look as classy as leather
• It’s loud when you take out your knife
• Taking out and putting your knife back in a Kydex sheath repeatedly will dull out the blade

Nylon

The Pros:

• It’s cheap

The Cons:

• They wear out pretty quick
• They get stretched out

Now that you know the good and the not-so-great aspects about the different knife sheath materials, I’m betting you’re willing to side with me about the fact that Kydex Knife Sheaths are the best option.

With that being said, let me show you 2 options for purchasing a new Kydex sheath for your hunting knife.

The Two Top Kydex Sheath Options

1. Kydex Holster D.I.Y Kit with Quick Clips

I got myself one of these kits and I have to say that I was impressed with how it came out. The kit comes with all the materials you need to make Kydex knife sheath. A standard knife sheath would have cost me nothing less than $35 plus extra for shipping costs, and this kit cost me a mere $30 and I have enough leftover materials to make at least two more sheaths!

The Pros:

• It comes with all the materials you need to make your own custom Kydex Knife Sheath
• It’s easy to do
• It comes with enough materials to make at least 3 sheaths
• It’s very affordable

The Cons:

• You’ll need a press and an oven to get the Kydex sheath shaped

Kydex (Boltaron) Holster DIY Kit w/ Quick Clips

2. Kydex Sheath for Short Ka-Bars

So when it was time to get a new sheath for my Ka-Bar Bowie, I decided to purchase this neat Kydex sheath made with Ka-Bar’s in mind. It’ll fit all 5 -6 inch Ka-Bar blades and sports multiple lashing ports for multi position carry. It also has a nylon retention strap with a snap closure and holds you Ka-Bar safely and securely.

The Pros:

• It’s very durable
• It keeps you knife safe and snug
• The knife locks into the sheath
• It’s reversible

The Cons:

• The sheath isn’t flat; it has a step where the handle meets the blade
• It’s not 100% Kydex; it has a nylon upper belt loop

KA-BAR Kydex Sheath for Short Fighting-Utility Knives

Final Thoughts on Kydex Knife Sheaths

I’ve covered a lot of ground with you guys this time, ranging from the World’s Best Survival Knife to the Gerber Bear Grylls Knife. I’ve ranted about the Ka-Bar Combat Kukri Knife and told you all about the Tops Knives Wild Pig Hunter.

For now though, it’s time for me to get back out there and check out the newest offerings that the market has in store for us guys.

I’ll be back soon though to share my trials and tribulations with you, so until then friends…stay wild and never stop breathing in the fresh mountain air!

John

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John Smith

I am a family man love outdoor activities such as hunting and hiking.
Since I have limited time for my hobbies, I look for quality tools to let me REALLY enjoy what I do.

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