Perfect Ergonomics (At a Price): Kershaw Knives Pack Mule Review

For a guy who has been collecting knives for nearly 40 years, I’m actually kind of picky about the ones I like to use. I own a lot of really cool knives, but not many are all that practical. If I’m not actively reviewing a knife and I have the freedom to choose any blade to hit the trail with me, truth is I have only a handful I’d consider. 

So I was particularly surprised when a recent release came across my review queue and quickly proved itself worthy of regular use. Launched this fall, the Kershaw Pack Mule fixed blade not only impressed in testing, but it also guaranteed further field time at my side.

In short: The Pack Mule is one of the newest models from Kershaw Knives. It’s loaded with great features and is ready to tackle any chores you might face at camp, on the trail, or even in your backyard. It’s priced a bit high, but it’s won a permanent home in my field gear.

Kershaw Knives Pack Mule Review

There are certain things I key in on for fixed blades. Made in the USA gets my attention, as does a 90-degree spine. A 4-inch blade is near-perfect for most common knife tasks, and I really want enough real estate on the handle for a full four-fingered grip.

Pack Mule: “Hold my beer.”

As I checked out the specs and features online, it was like someone had grabbed my knife wish list and used it as a template. I own a ton of Kershaw models, but I believe this is my first fixed blade from the brand. I’m a big fan of its automatic knives, and I was hoping I’d find the same quality and attention to detail with the Pack Mule. 

After carrying it for a few weeks and putting it through some formal home tests, I’ve found the Pack Mule to be one of the most ergonomic knives I’ve ever used.

But is it worth the $230+ price tag? 

Materials and Design

Kershaw went with N690 steel for the Pack Mule, and I’m not sure why. Don’t get me wrong, N690 is a fine knife steel. It has good corrosion resistance and holds an edge. But given that MagnaCut is the current darling in the knife world, I was surprised Kershaw didn’t go that route.

The blade is a clip-point design, but the clip isn’t as radical as you’d find on, say, a stereotypical Bowie knife or even the venerable Buck 110 Folding Hunter.

There’s about 0.5 inches of jimping on the spine. The rest of the spine has a great 90-degree angle, ideal for use with a ferrocerium rod. I always try to have a separate scraper for my ferro rods, usually a carbide sharpening tool, as it generates massive sparks. But it’s always good to have a backup, and since you’ll already have the knife with you, a 90-degree spine will do the job well.

The G10 handle scales are textured for grip, with checkering and several grooves. The handle has a great finger choil and a bit of contouring. Jimping appears in the choil and at the top and bottom of the handle’s base. All in all, this handle is exceptionally comfortable and lends a great deal of confidence. 

Sheath and Carry

The Pack Mule’s plastic sheath has a removable bracket and a nylon strap with a belt loop and retention snap for the handle. This strap is permanently attached to the bracket — but undo two screws, and you can slide the bracket off. The sheath has a handy thumb break to help with deployment.

Unboxing: First Impressions

The first thing that struck me about the Pack Mule, right out of the box, was its ergos. This knife feels like it was custom-fit for my hand. The balance is on point, and the entire knife is very comfortable. Every hand is different, of course, but I have fairly large hands, and there is just enough handle for a full grip.

Checking the sharpness, it easily shaved the edge of a piece of paper. I always appreciate a knife that arrives sharp enough that it doesn’t need to be touched up before I put it to use.

My scale has the Pack Mule at 4.6 ounces, which is just a touch lighter than the Kershaw’s official 4.7-ounce weight. The stated overall length is 8.4 inches; that measurement, along with the 3.9-inch blade length, matched my own findings. 

Pack Mule Performance

After unboxing the Pack Mule, I put it through a few standard tests. The goal was to see how it handled a controlled environment. Given that breaking down boxes is one of the most common knife tasks, it made sense to start with some corrugated cardboard.

First, I cut several long strips from a box. From there, I sliced those into smaller bits. There were a couple of passes on the small pieces that didn’t quite cut through the first time, but overall, I wasn’t disappointed.

Turning to my box of testing media, I grabbed a thick webbed belt and began slicing it up. The Pack Mule performed like a laser beam, easily cutting through the material.

An old leather belt became the next victim. While fairly narrow, the material was thick. It took a little sawing to get the Pack Mule’s edge all the way through. However, when I stood the belt on its side, the knife sailed right through with push cuts. 

With tests like these, it’s less about whether the knife will get through the material, than how it feels doing so. In that regard, the Pack Mule scores 10/10.

My wife and I brought the Pack Mule along on one of our weekly hikes. I used it for some whittling and to slice up some fruit for snacks. The blade was thin enough for impromptu lunch prep without tearing everything apart.

Back home, I broke out my Uberleben Flat Pack Stove. The Pack Mule worked very well, scraping sparks from a ferrocerium rod to ignite a tinder tab and some fatwood shavings. Within a few minutes, I had a pretty decent little fire going. All in all, I’m impressed with the Pack Mule. It handled everything without hesitation or discomfort in hand.

Elephant in the Room

The Kershaw Pack Mule has a retail price of $290. As of this writing, it’s currently on sale on the Blade HQ site for $150. I’ve seen it as low as $185 at DLT Trading and KnivesShipFree. 

Even at $185, that’s kind of a steep price for what you’re getting with this knife, if I’m being honest. If it were MagnaCut steel, I could maybe see it. But as equipped, I’d rather see the Pack Mule offered at about $130-150. It’s a good knife, but it isn’t a three-bill knife. 

Who’s It For?

I like the Pack Mule quite a bit and would recommend it to anyone who is in the market for a general-use, all-around field knife. It’s ideal for hiking, camping, and similar outdoor duties. It’s a great size and handles like a dream. The sheath, while fairly basic, has great retention.

The Pack Mule is available through numerous knife distributors beyond just the Kershaw website. The lowest price I’ve been able to find is at either DLT Trading or KnivesShipFree, both of which have it listed at $185 as of this writing, although Kershaw is currently running a sale for $150 at Blade HQ.