Opinel Picnic+

A handy multi-use tool that stores away easily and compactly. The knife is sharp, and the spoon and fork utensils are highly functional. It’s nice to have a quality napkin on hand too.

Testing Conditions: 

I’ve used the Opinel Picnic+ cutlery set for a few months now. I began using it in the field for eating lunch when hunting but I transitioned to using it in the office for daily lunches at work as well. I’ve used the fork and spoon (daily) much more than the knife (once or twice a week). I like the ergonomics of it and it’s useful no matter what I pack for lunch. 

Construction & Durability: 

The Opinel Picnic + Cutlery Set is comprised of the following items:

• No. 8 folding knife. This is one of the manufacturer's most popular models of knife. The folding blade is about 3 inches (7.6cm) and made of stainless steel, although there are other options in this model as a standalone knife. The handle is entirely wooden, in this case beech. There are many other options to choose from though including walnut, oak, olive, or painted colors.  

• Spoon and fork inserts, made of stainless steel as well.

• Microfiber napkin with integrated webbing to serve as a carrying case for the knife, spoon, and fork. The napkin is large enough to be useful and really does make sense for carrying the knife and inserts around. 

Besides the microfiber napkin, the knife and inserts don’t include any plastic components. With proper care (like oiling the wooden knife handle and keeping the stainless-steel items dry), these should last a long time. I suspect the microfiber napkin will be the first component to wear out, but that can be replaced with a homemade version if you have a sewing machine and a little bit of creativity. 

And for those who already own the Opinel No. 8 folding knife, the manufacturer does sell these sets without the knife (the Picnic+ insert set, for roughly half the cost), meaning you can buy the napkin and fork/spoon inserts for your knife, as long as it has the Virobloc safety ring, which was introduced to these knifes around the year 2000.  

Weight and Size: 

• Weight - total set = 3.4 oz (96g) 

• Weight - knife only = 1.5 oz (42.5g)

• Length - handle + blade or utensil = 7.5 inches (19cm)

• Length - blade only = 3 inches (7.6cm)

• Length - total carrying case with all items inside = 5”x2”x1” (12.7cm x 5cm x 2.5 cm) 

Ease of Use: 

• Step 1: Ensure the knife blade is folded into handle.
• Step 2: Ensure the safety lock is in the open position (you'll know because the spoon or fork attachment won't fit).
• Step 3: Insert spoon or fork attachment into slot at top of handle.
• Step 4: Twist safety ring to ensure the fork/spoon is securely fastened. This also ensures the knife cannot accidentally open. 
• Step 5: Eat something delicious! 

The cutlery set does take a little getting used to, but in general, is easy to use once you learn how the safety ring works. The biggest issue I had (notice past tense) was how stiff the safety ring was at first to twist in order to seat the utensils properly. After regular usage for a couple months, it has definitely loosened to the proper tension. I didn't apply any oil or anything, just kept working it and it now glides much more smoothly. As for staying in place once a utensil is attached…no issues whatsoever. No wiggling, no jiggling, no loosening at all. The fork and spoon both stay solidly in place once they are attached to the handle. 

Based on the design of this tool, it's not possible to use the knife and an attachment at the same time. So, holding something in place with the fork while cutting it with the knife is out of the question. I haven't found this to be a major setback, but a slight inconvenience nonetheless. 

When it comes to putting it all back together and wrapping it neatly in the microfiber napkin, it’s a breeze. Stretch webbing holds everything in place and the napkin is totally machine washable. 

Background

From 30-year-old Swiss army knives to modern-day ultralight titanium cutlery, I've used a wide array of tools in the backcountry to get food to my mouth.