When it comes to camping, everybody has their own levels of comfort that can range from the bare-bones necessities to all types of glamping. But if there’s one thing that everybody can agree on, it’s the fact that camping makes you hungry – and yes, campfire hot dogs do taste better in the middle of the forest under a centuries-old Douglas fir while rainbow trout splash in the nearby lake.
But as great as it is to wake up to a skillet of eggs and bacon while the morning dew evaporates off the tents, hauling all of that food prep gear – not to mention deciding which pieces to bring in the first – is never an easy task. For Portland, Oregon-based industrial designer Carl Jonsson, this was the perfect opportunity to exercise three of his passions: product design, food and adventure.
The result is the Field Knife Set – an evolved set of knives that distill the essence of traditional cooking knives into tools that are equally functional in the outdoors without compromising performance or quality.
“Years of experience in the product development field and a great passion for adventures has lead me to a unique approach to problem solving for product design and development,” says Jonsson. “I believe that the quality of the experience we have with our tools matters.”
In order to achieve both a lightweight and sturdy design, the traditional grip of each of the knife designs have been reduced to a bare minimum of what is necessary. In total, the Field Knife Set consists of three of the most commonly used kitchen knives: a small paring knife, a serrated knife, and a compact chef’s knife.
While each of the knives are designed for outdoor cooking and travel, their production quality rivals that of most professional kitchen cutlery and are likely better-performing than the dull knives that many people use on a daily basis in their home kitchens.
“Many of us who love to cook outside, and refuse to compromise on quality, make a habit of bringing our knives from home simply because there aren’t any high quality, camping specific alternatives,” says Jonsson. “With the Field Knife Set my intention is to create a new, hybrid product category designed specifically around outdoor cooking and adventure travel, but yet is equally appropriate for every day use at home. It’s camping gear that you can use 365 days a year.”
Currently, Jonsson has an active Kickstarter campaign for the knife set where he has already raised over half of his goal of $48,000 in just a matter of days with more than three weeks left to go in his campaign. Those interested can pick up an individual knife starting at $75 or the full set for $249.
