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

The ESEE Izula and ESEE Izula 2 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.

The essence of the ESEE Izula

The name Izula comes from the Peruvian Isula ant, better known as the bullet ant. This aggressive, strong creature is known for its strength and perseverance, exactly what the Izula knives also offer. They are designed as portable survival knives for situations in which a large knife is simply not practical.

The ESEE Izula has a full-tang construction of 1095 carbon steel, a steel that is easy to sharpen and that is known for its toughness. In fact, you could probably sharpen it with a stone you'd find in a river! The Izula is finished with a powder coating, which protects the steel from rust, although proper maintenance remains key. Each knife comes with a plastic sheath for safe and discreet carrying.

ESEE Izula versions

Meanwhile, the ESEE Izula comes in a number of variants. Whereas the original was released with a black powder coating, the knife is now available in a number of different colours, such as desert tan, olive, venom green and many more. There is also a purple version which comes with a white sheath, an eye-catching variant for those looking for something unique. For wet environments, ESEE Knives has developed a version with premium S35VN steel. This stainless steel is fairly tough and easy to sharpen.

The ESEE Izula 2

The ESEE Izula quickly became the most popular knife in ESEE Knives' range. Still, there was a clear desire among enthusiasts: they wanted handle scales to make their favourite knife even more comfortable during prolonged use. ESEE Knives responded to this and released special handle scales for the Izula. There was also a demand for a slightly longer handle for people with larger hands. This led to the development of the ESEE Izula 2. This knife has the same robust blade as the original Izula, but it has a longer handle and is equipped with micarta scales for extra grip and comfort.

The ESEE Izula has an overall length of 15.9 cm and a skeletonised handle. This makes the knife ultra-light - only 56g - and ideal as a neck knife or compact backup knife. The blade is 6.7 cm long, which is more than enough for most tasks. The ESEE Izula 2 has the same blade length of 6.7 cm, but is slightly longer overall: 17.8 cm. This is due to the extended handle, which, thanks to the micarta scales, offers more comfort, especially during prolonged use. Because of this extra material, the Izula 2 weighs slightly more: 96g.

The ESEE Imlay

The ESEE Imlay is a rescue knife based on the ESEE Izula. The knife is safe for emergency situations thanks to the blunt tip and the retention strap securing the knife inside the sheath. To make it even more suitable for rescue tasks such as cutting fibrous material like a car belt, the cut is partially serrated. The knife is made of 440C steel, a stainless steel that is easy to sharpen. As a result, the knife is pretty low maintenance.

ESEE Izula survival kit

What completes a survival knife? A matching survival kit, of course! That's why ESEE Knives developed an ESEE Izula survival kit that you can add to your ESEE Izula. You can also buy an ESEE Izula including the kit. The kit includes a steel belt clip with attachment screws, enough paracord to wrap the handle or wear the sheath as a neck knife, a firesteel, an emergency whistle to attach to the lanyard, a hook clip and two split rings for attaching the sheath. You can also use these split rings to set a trap.

ESEE Izula MOLLE-back

To make carrying your ESEE Izula even easier, there is also a convenient MOLLE-back attachment. You screw the sheath onto it after which you can easily attach it to any MOLLE webbing.

Who are these knives best suited for?

Are you looking for a compact and reliable survival knife, or want to add a classic to your EDC kit? The ESEE Izula or the Izula 2 is a good choice. If you're looking for a lightweight and compact knife, the ESEE Izula is perfect for you. You can even add scales for more comfort. If you have larger hands and want to use the knife for a longer time, choose the ESEE Izula 2 with its larger handle and micarta handle scales. Whether you are a minimalist or prefer a robust handle, with the ESEE Izula and Izula 2 you will always have a powerful knife at your fingertips.