The Izula is a compact, razor-sharp survival knife that can also be worn as a neck knife. ESEE named the Izula after the notorious bullet ant from the Amazon jungle. Locals call this ant Isula. Like the vicious bullet ant, the ESEE Izula is small but large in terms of impact. It's the perfect little survival knife. The ESEE Izula will feel at home anywhere. With its compact size, you can easily take it with you wherever you might go. From a back-up knife in your bug-out-bag to a light-weight EDC knife: the Izula can do it all.

ESEE Izula

ESEE Izula

ESEE Knives produces survival knives you can trust. At ESEE they love to say that their knives were born in the Amazon jungle. The experts at Randall's Adventure & Training have been teaching survival techniques there since the 1990s. There, they design the perfect outdoor knives for demanding users. As a result, these knives can withstand the harsh conditions of life in the jungle.

ESEE Knives

ESEE Knives

The [ESEE Izula](kato://category/eseeizulaserie) and [ESEE Izula 2](kato://product/EE-IZULA-II-B) are legendary knives in the world of bushcraft, survival and EDC. They are relatively small, but exceptionally strong and versatile. Designed as a **compact survival knife** for precision work, lightweight adventures and situations where you must rely on your knife. 

Which one will suit you best though? The Izula is ultralight and minimalist, while the Izula 2 offers a slightly longer handle and extra grip for greater comfort. In this spotlight, you'll discover the differences and why both knives are popular among outdoor enthusiasts.

Spotlight: ESEE Izula and ESEE Izula 2, compact and powerful for every adventure

Spotlight: ESEE Izula and ESEE Izula 2, compact and powerful for every adventure

Bushcraft enthusiast Padraig Croke has been using the [ESEE Izula](kato://content/migrated_pageid_884) for many years. He’s the perfect person to tell us about his long term experiences with the ESEE Izula in this Expert Review.


I have had the Izula II for a number of years now, and it has become a really solid part of my kit. At 4mm thick and with a comfortable 4 inch handle, it’s a lot more knife than it first appears. The Izula II was my first “non traditional” bushcraft knife. Having only dealt with scandi grinds up to that point, the Izula was my first introduction to a flat grind blade and ultimately led to a love affair with [ESEE knives](kato://content/migrated_pageid_356).


## Why carry a companion blade?


Often times, when packing for a trip or a day hike the choice of tools comes down to the pairing of certain combinations. For example, if I was to take my [Morakniv Garberg Carbon](kato://product/MO13147) blade with me, a perfect companion to this could be a simple [Mora 106 carving blade](kato://product/MO106-1630), or my [Eldris](kato://content/migrated_pageid_449?ms_fk_zm-series=%5B%27Eldris%27%5D&Category=0ee353ea-8981-44f3-9d0a-fbf0881dbc09), which is stainless. The question I ask myself is, what am I doubling up on here? Is there a reason I would choose to carry this blade over that one, and what do I plan to do when I’m out? Is it a craft based camp, or am I just going for a hike and some lunch? What type of woodland am I going to and what type of tools are going to be needed to process wood. If I was in a coniferous woodland for example, then maybe I would not need a heavy processing tool like an axe with me, as a saw and a large belt knife would maybe prove more effective. My small tinder and kindling sources in a woodland like that are most likely going to be processed by hand, gathering bundles of resinous branches off the forest floor or between the crooks of the trees. Or if my material is marginal… some light batoning and feathersticking. Carrying a larger knife in this instance would make sense, as the lack of an axe might limit your options, should you need to process something larger or split logs down. On the other hand, a broadleaf forest will consist of harder, denser woods that will burn much longer but will require larger tools to process it, such as a bow saw and a hatchet or small axe. In that case, the carrying of a hatchet would mitigate the need to carry a larger knife.


When it comes to carrying a companion blade or “neck knife”, I have found the ESEE Izula II finding its way into my kit on almost every trip since I’ve bought it, about two years ago, becoming one of my most beloved tools to carry. Paired with a larger knife, such as my [Fällkniven S1X](kato://product/FKS1X) or [ESEE PR4](kato://product/EE-ESEE-PR4), the Izula can really deal with the more nimble of tasks required of a blade in the field. Food processing is a little tricky, due to the thickness of the blade, but ferro rod striking, notching and carving, and cutting cordage are tasks I regularly assign to the Izula II. Of course we all love our primary belt knives, but in reality I have found when I carry a neck knife like the Izula II, it’s often more than enough to tackle basic camp chores.

ESEE Izula Expert review: durable, attractive and highly functional

ESEE Izula Expert review: durable, attractive and highly functional

The [Gerber Principle](kato://product/GE30-001659) is a few years old now, but I haven’t seen many people use them. They seem to me like a great companion blade option. So we thought, why not put it face to face with what would arguably be its most direct competitor… The tried and tested [ESEE Izula II](kato://product/EE-IZULA-II-B), in my opinion, one of the best companion blades on the market today. Both of these knives are USA made, come in at a very similar price range, and are basically the same size. If you’re choosing a companion blade to supplement your larger camp knife, which are you going for? Let’s take a closer look at these two tools and how they stack up against each other. Bear in mind that these comparisons are subjective, and completely open to debate. Let me know if you have a differing opinion! 

## Companion blades
Companion blades? For the sake of this article, let’s say that a companion blade is a knife that is supposed to work alongside a larger camp knife. Usually worn around the neck at camp, or perhaps on the side of your pack when on the move, the demands put on these tools in theory shouldn’t be so extreme as to expect it to baton, twist or torque in the same way that we might expect our main knife to perform. That is not to say that these knives can’t do those things. In fact I have put both through some pretty gruelling tasks, with great results. You can read my detailed article on my time with the [ESEE Izula here](kato://content/migrated_topic_587). So what are the parameters of comparison on these types of tools? I think it’s unfair to be putting them through “1 tool option” type tasks such as batonning, chopping, stress testing, because they’re simply not designed for it. What they are supposed to be, in my opinion, is compact and discreet, lightweight yet strong, comfortable enough to want to use it a lot, and convenient enough so you reach for it instead of your main knife for basic camp chores such as quick food prep, cutting cordage, opening food packaging or making some minor camp tools.

Gerber Principle vs ESEE Izula II | Versus by Padraig Croke

Gerber Principle vs ESEE Izula II | Versus by Padraig Croke

I have been a fan of [ESEE](kato://content/migrated_pageid_356) knives for a long time now, having owned a significant range of their models over the years. This range includes the [ESEE 6 and ESEE 3](/en/ct/esee-3-s35vn-review-esee-6-3d-padraig-croke.htm), in the very same specs and materials we are looking at today. Not to mention the PR4, JG5 and the Izula II. [Just take a look at my Izula](/en/ct/esee-izula-long-term-review.htm) and you will see how much use I get out of mine. They are knives of pure utility and functionality. However, the team over at ESEE don’t like to rest on their laurels, and they’re constantly improving the materials and styles of their knives. So, let’s take a look at the [ESEE 4 in 3D milled Natural Canvas micarta](kato://product/EE-4POD-011), and explore the advantages of upgrading if you already own the original.

ESEE 4 in 3D Handle - Expert Review by Padraig Croke

ESEE 4 in 3D Handle - Expert Review by Padraig Croke

In 2020 [ESEE surprised the world](kato://content/migrated_topic_589) with new 3D handles for the best selling line of knives. Even more surprising was their choice for a new steel: S35VN. Bushcraft enthusiast Padraig Croke put the new [ESEE 3 in S35VN](kato://product/EE-3PM35V-001) and the [ESEE 6 with 3D handle scales](kato://product/EE-6PB-011) to the test.


## Breaking the Mould


***A closer look at ESEE’s new offering***


Truly tried and tested, and known for their utilitarian tools, their no nonsense warranty service, and their use of simple but effective materials, [ESEE](kato://content/migrated_pageid_356) are the quintessential made in the USA knife company. They have firmly established their place on the belts of law enforcement officers, military personnel and survival enthusiasts. I think a lot of this reputation comes down to the quality control they are known for. When you use the same steels and the same materials for your blades, I bet you become pretty familiar with the nuances of those materials. But this doesn’t mean that they have rested on their laurels, and they are constantly looking at new markets to tap into. New ways to get their knives into the hands of people that need a reliable tool. Their Camp-Lore series for example, which launched a few years ago, saw them looking to classic knife shapes to bring us tools more suited to bushcraft and woodcraft uses. The two staples in this range were the JG5, inspired by the legendary woodsman Nessmuk and designed by James Gibson, and the PR4, designed by Patrick Rollins and takes inspiration from Horace Kephart. You can read more on these with my articles on the [ESEE JG5](kato://content/migrated_topic_626) here and the [ESEE PR4](kato://content/migrated_topic_477) here.


ESEE have their ear close to the ground, interacting with users of their blades and listening to what people want, and with this new range, they have branched out into entirely new materials and production methods. The two blades I had the pleasure of looking at were the new ESEE 3 in CPM S35VN steel and the ESEE 6, both with 3D milled scales. Whether you are already the proud owner of either of the originals, or you are on the market for a new blade, I believe there is something for everyone in here with these new choices. So let’s take a closer look at what the differences are, as well as some advantages and disadvantages on the table.

Review: ESEE 3 in S35VN & ESEE 6 with the 3D handles

Review: ESEE 3 in S35VN &amp; ESEE 6 with the 3D handles

The [ESEE PR4](kato://product/EE-ESEE-PR4) is an interesting bushcraft knife, designed by Patrick Rollins and inspired by the great Kephart knife. We asked bushcraft enthusiast Padraig Croke of the Trial by Fire podcast to review this bushcraft knife for us. Read what he has to say on this blade and its history:


## A Modern ESEE Classic


[ESEE Knives](kato://content/migrated_pageid_356) are renowned for producing tools that are seriously reliable. The look of their knives are as distinctive as they are sturdy, with their signature look of micarta scales and powder coated blades.


Their tools are truly tried and tested; from the smallest neck knife in their IZULA range, to their Junglas knife, capable of hacking through jungle terrain. They are carried and loved by soldiers and woodsmen alike.


## Camp-Lore Series


A couple of years ago the company introduced a new range of knives, known as the [Camp-Lore series](kato://content/migrated_pageid_888).


It could be argued, that the look and feel of most of ESEE’s range were more akin to one-tooloption, survival type blades, rather than classic woodman’s knives.

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