Benchmade 535 Bugout Review

The Bugout is a full-function, full-sized knife that is then made as light as possible. In this way, it stands out. It has basically all the performance and usability attributes of a full-size, day-to-day tool, but it weighs less (much less) than other close competitors. For outdoor adventures, the Bugout is the best we know of. You can find slightly lighter knives, but they will greatly compromise usability or durability (or both) as compared to the Bugout.

If you need a knife for adventure travel, backpacking, mountain pursuits, and any other human-powered endeavors, this is your best choice. If you want something low-profile and light for day-to-day use, this will also suffice. Something a little sturdier and bulkier will be better, but not by much. Be just a tiny bit cautious about using the Bugout in the most rigorous of knife tasks; its handle isn't as strong as some other options available.

Performance Comparison

The Benchmade Bugout is optimized for outdoor and adventure use. If you're looking for an outstanding full-sized, lightweight knife to add to your backpacking kit, this is it.

Photo: Jediah Porter

Blade and Edge Integrity

Benchmade is known for great blades, especially as compared to any other widely available options. The deep, gently tapered blade of the Bugout is familiar. We've long tested and enjoyed Benchmade knives. The geometry and faceting of the Bugout are reminiscent of others we've used. Overall the blade is similar in length and depth to others we like, but the Bugout blade, to save both weight and bulk, is thinner than other top-scoring Benchmade blades. We noticed little to no disadvantage of this compromise.

The S30V steel employed in the award-winning Bugout is great. We had no problems with it. We've used the same steel in other knives long-term and found it to hold an edge there too. We especially like that Benchmade will return a factory edge to your knife with their "LifeSharp" program. You're going to sharpen your knife at home from time to time, but periodic factory service will certainly enhance your knife's usability. Benchmade makes this easy and affordable.

We have loved every Benchmade blade we use. This Bugout blade is thinner than others, but otherwise shares the geometry we like.

Photo: Jediah Porter

Ergonomics

Use of your knife is informed by mechanical attributes like deployment and lock characteristics as well as by geometry and size. There is an ideal size for a pocket knife, in terms of usability (of course, portability factors in as well. Smaller is always better, for portability). We want the handle of a knife we'll use for heavy and extended purposes to fill a gently closed fist. We want that handle to be rounded, but not entirely round. We want it to be textured, but not sharp. We also, of course, want deployment and locking/unlocking to work smoothly and intuitively.

The ambidextrous, thumb-stud deployment of the Bugout blade is great. It is our preferred type of blade deployment, all things considered. In day-to-day use and pocket carry, we prefer that thumb stud deployment to be assisted by spring action in the blade. The Bugout does not have opening assist. For human-powered adventuring, where your knife will get carried in a variety of bags and configurations, assisted opening can become a liability. You don't want your knife to open itself in any situation. That is unlikely in your pocket. It is more likely if the knife is jostling around in a bag or other container. This non-assisted, standard opening mechanism was a key consideration in granting this knife our top award we grant our top award for adventuring.

Benchmade's proprietary "Axis lock" mechanism is the best in the business. We find it to be more user-friendly than liner- or frame-lock designs.

Photo: Jediah Porter

The proprietary "Axis lock" of most Benchmade knives (including the Bugout) is definitely our favorite lock method. It is ambidextrous, doable with thin gloves on, and a reasonable proposition with just one hand. Liner lock and frame lock options (as found on basically all other modern pocket knives) are not as slick and convenient as Benchmade's Axis lock.

Finally, let us comment on the geometrical ergonomics of the Bugout. The length and depth of the handle are just about optimal. The width is a little thinner than ideal. The Bugout compromises ergonomics for weight and packability. We're ok with that, in this context. For the heaviest and longest of tasks you too will wish for slightly more rounded bulk in your hand.

A few of the all-plastic handle scales. The joining and hinge hardware lines these plastic scales and is confined to just the area around the main blade hinge.

Photo: Jediah Porter

Portability

For a full-size, full-function pocket knife the Bugout is very light. The thinned-down handle profile also enhances packability. We have a hard time imagining a lighter knife that packs in all the durability, usability, and function of the Bugout.

You can get knives that are smaller and/or lighter, but they won't work nearly as well as the Bugout. We like the short, simple pocket clip that can be configured for either left or right side carry. The pocket clip geometry allows the knife to sit deep in your pocket, almost completely obscured. Others stick up more when pocket-clipped.

The "deep pocket" pocket clip style, as employed on the Benchmade Bugout, is less visible on your pants than other designs.

Photo: Jediah Porter

Construction Quality

Across the board, first impressions of the construction quality of the Benchmade were mixed. The hinges and mechanisms are clearly well-done. However, the low weight does not immediately inspire confidence. You expect more mass in a knife of this size. For that reason, when you first pick it up, you might not fully trust it.

Those first impressions are unfounded. Yes, the handle scales are almost entirely plastic and you can see/feel them flex in use. There is no metal frame inside the knife as with other options. The hinge, lock, and deployment mechanisms are greatly "stripped down" to save grams and fractions of grams. You won't be hammering on this knife in chisel fashion. Few pocket knives, actually, would hold up to this sort of use. This one definitely won't. Nonetheless, it is sturdy enough. It is sturdy enough for day-to-day use and extended wilderness applications.

This isn't the knife you would necessarily choose for home handi-work. For occasional use in that setting, though, it is better than average. Just be mindful of the amount of force you exert on the all plastic handles.

Photo: Jediah Porter

Close-up view of the reinforcing and joining metal that surrounds the hinge area. You can just barely see the metal protrusion, inside the blue scales, that ends just over an inch behind the hinge. The rest of the handle is un-reinforced plastic.

Photo: Jediah Porter

Other Features

There are no other features on this knife.

You couldn't shoe-horn any more functionality into this knife without adding a great deal of weight. You want your knife like this to have no other features.

Value

This is not an inexpensive knife. It is a specialized tool. It will last a long time, but it won't hold up for multi-generation "heirloom" status. Think of it like you think of other ultralight adventure equipment; durability and value are not the goals of selecting something in the ultralight category. That being said, if you only use this in the wilderness it will last decades. If you use it in "normal" day-to-day life, it will also last decades, just not as many. If you use it in the trades or for professional-level wilderness travel, you'll get your money's worth from it before it fully degrades, but another choice will be an even better value.

The Benchmade Bugout is optimized for outdoor use, especially in the human-powered sorts of pursuits that are getting more and more popular. Here, a spring Alaska glacier expedition basecamp, basking in the red-tent kitchen on a sunlit rest day.

Photo: Jediah Porter

Conclusion