If you spend any amount of outside, you already know the value of a high quality knife. A good knife is invaluable for a variety of tasks – trimming rope, preparing food, cutting wood, etc. – and for anyone undertaking any type of backpacking or hiking excursions, a knife is an essential tool in your arsenal of required gear. When venturing into the outdoors, one of my favorite knives is the SOG X-Ray Vision. It’s a practical, tough as nails folding knife that can withstand a tremendous amount of punishment, and best of all, it keeps functioning flawlessly despite the abuse.
Making the SOG X-Ray Vision so great is a variety of factors, one of which is its remarkable blade. Constructed in Japan from VG-10 steel, the blade is 3.75″ x 0.125″, and features a combination half straight-edge, half serrated Tanto design with a bead blasted finish. If you’re unfamiliar with VG-10 steel, it’s an supremely robust steel that’s incredibly sharp; it takes and holds an edge incredibly well; and it’s remarkably corrosion resistant, making it the perfect blade material for an outdoor knife. As for the design itself, it’s an ideal length for most cutting tasks; the straight-edge portion of the blade is perfect for a variety of general cutting and filleting needs; the serrated portion of the blade is ideal when you need to cut rope quickly; and as is inherent to Tanto blade design, the tip is exceptionally strong and geared towards piercing.
Mated to the blade, the SOG X-Ray Vision boasts a glass-reinforced black Zytel handle and SOG’s Arc-Lock locking system. The handle features a relatively slim profile and is comfortable to hold, and brings the total length of the knife to 8.37″. As for the Arc-Lock system, it’s a completely ambidextrous design that is lightning quick. Blade deployment is almost instantaneous with the appropriate flick of your finger – so fast, in fact, it can appear as thought the X-Ray Vision has blade assist built into it. Retracting the blade is equally as quick, and again easily accomplished with either hand. In terms of strength, SOG states the Arc-Lock can withstand 1000 lbs. of force. I’ve yet to take the X-Ray Vision to a lab to verify their figures, but in real world use, I’ve yet to have a single misfire of the Arc-Lock system. It’s a brilliant design – super quick and super strong – and I’ve used it in some pretty demanding conditions.
All in all, if you’re looking for a rugged, exceptionally functional outdoor knife, you can’t go wrong with the SOG X-Ray Vision. It’s tough as hell; it’s easy to carry; and it cuts anything you can throw at it. For $170, it’s a must on any serious outdoor lover’s must-have gear list. To learn more about the SOG X-Ray Vision, you can learn more at SOG.com or buy now at a discount from Amazon.com
