GSI Rakau Knife Set: What It Is and Whether Campers Should Buy It
The GSI Outdoors Rakau knife set is a camp kitchen knife collection designed for backcountry cooking, car camping, and outdoor food prep where you want real kitchen performance without the weight and fragility of premium home kitchen knives. If you're equipping a camp kitchen or looking for a packable set that cuts better than the cheap folding knives that usually live in camp bags, here's what the Rakau delivers.
GSI Outdoors (GSI stands for Great Southern Industries) has made outdoor cooking gear since 1985, with a focus on functional gear for backpacking and camping. The Rakau line is their take on a dedicated camp kitchen knife set: blades that can actually prep food at a campsite, handles that tolerate rough use, and a storage solution that protects blades and fingers in a pack or camp box.
What's in the GSI Rakau Knife Set
The Rakau set typically includes:
- 8-inch chef's knife
- 5-inch utility/paring knife
- Knife roll or case for storage
Some configurations include a honing steel or additional small knife. The roll-up storage solution is thoughtfully designed: blades are individually sleeved or secured so they don't contact each other during transport, which both protects the edges and prevents the injury risk of reaching into a bag with loose knives.
The design philosophy is practical outdoor use: the knives are thicker-spined and more tolerant of rough cutting surfaces (rocks, uneven camp tables) than thin Japanese knives.
Steel and Performance for Camp Use
GSI describes their Rakau blades as high-carbon stainless steel. For camp cooking, this is the right material choice: stainless handles moisture exposure better than carbon steel, which matters when you're cooking near water or in rain.
The edge angle is typically in the 15-20 degree range, appropriate for general outdoor prep. You won't get the refined 14-degree factory edge of a Wusthof or the ultra-sharp Japanese profile of a MAC knife. What you get is a working edge that holds up to vegetable prep, protein cutting, and the inevitable accidental contact with harder surfaces that happens outdoors.
Performance compared to home kitchen knives: adequate for camp cooking, noticeably less refined than quality home kitchen alternatives. This is the appropriate trade-off for the use case.
Who the Rakau Set Is For
Car campers who cook seriously: If your camp setup includes a propane stove, cast iron, and real ingredients rather than freeze-dried packets, a dedicated camp knife set makes sense. The Rakau protects your good home kitchen knives from the rough handling of camp cooking.
Outdoor educators and guides: Group camp cooking for multi-day trips often requires efficient, durable prep knives. The roll-up storage format works well for guides transporting equipment for multiple participants.
People who don't want to take their good knives camping: The most common reason to own a camp knife set. Leaving your $150 Wusthof at home and using a set designed for outdoor conditions is sensible if you camp frequently.
Backpackers: The Rakau is not the lightest option available. Ultra-light backcountry cooking usually means a single small folding or fixed blade, not a full set. For base-camp style backpacking or extended tripping with a pack animal, it's more reasonable.
For serious home cooking and camp cooking comparisons, Best Kitchen Knives covers the home kitchen tier where the Rakau's performance gaps become more apparent.
The Storage Solution
The roll-up case or sleeve is the part of the Rakau set that gets the most positive attention. Camp kitchen storage is a real problem: full-size blades in a gear bag or kitchen box are a hazard. The Rakau case solves this cleanly, keeping blades protected and organized.
The case is compact enough for a camp box or large backpack side pocket, durable enough for repeated outdoor use, and easy to access at the campsite.
GSI Rakau vs. Alternatives for Camp Cooking
Standard home kitchen knife + protective sleeve: A Victorinox Fibrox or similar in a blade guard sleeve is lighter than the Rakau set and performs better. If you're willing to take a single good knife camping with a blade guard, it outperforms the Rakau on cutting performance while matching its pack-ability.
Folding knives or multi-tools: Lighter, more compact. Worse for food prep because folding knife geometry isn't optimized for cooking tasks. Fine for casual outdoor eating; inadequate for real cooking prep.
GSI Rakau: The middle ground. Better food prep than folding knives, more convenient and outdoor-appropriate than taking home kitchen knives, slightly less cutting performance than a quality home knife with a sleeve.
FAQ
Can you put GSI Rakau knives in a dishwasher? No, and especially not at a campsite where you're hand washing everything anyway. Rinse with water, dry, and store in the case. The stainless steel handles minor exposure well, but prolonged moisture in the pivot areas or handle joints can cause issues over time.
Are the GSI Rakau knives sharp enough for serious food prep? Adequate for camp cooking tasks: vegetables, boneless proteins, fruit, and general prep. Not sharp enough to impress a serious home cook. For most camp food prep, the performance is sufficient.
How does the Rakau compare to other GSI knife products? GSI makes several camp knife options at different price and quality tiers. The Rakau is their more serious camp kitchen line; they also make simpler, cheaper options. Check the current GSI product lineup for the full range.
Where can I buy the GSI Rakau knife set? REI, outdoor retailers, and Amazon carry GSI products. The Rakau set is also available directly from GSI Outdoors.
Conclusion
The GSI Rakau knife set is a thoughtful camp kitchen solution for cooks who want real food prep capability outdoors. The storage case solves a genuine problem, the blades handle camp cooking tasks, and the design is clearly targeted at outdoor use rather than trying to be a home kitchen replacement. Top Kitchen Knives covers the home kitchen end of the spectrum if you're comparing the Rakau against options for primary kitchen use. For camp cooking, it earns its place in a well-equipped camp kitchen box.