The Silky Saws Roundup: Your Ultimate Trail Clearing Toolkit

For anyone who spends time maintaining trails—for riding MTB’s, hiking, horseback riding or even hunting —the age-old problem is the chainsaw. They’re heavy, noisy, require fuel, and can be overkill for most jobs. This spring, I set out to find a better way, and my journey led me to the impressive lineup of folding saws from Silky. After a week of clearing spring deadfall on local trails and even tackling projects at home, I can say with confidence: these Silky tools are a game-changer.

About Silky Saws

Silky Saws aren’t your average hardware store pruning saws. Made in Japan, the quality is immediately apparent from the moment you pick one up. The blades lock into place with a satisfying, solid click, and the rubberized handles fare secure and comfortable in hand. But the real magic is in the teeth. Using a combination of proprietary technologies, these blades feature impulse-hardened teeth that stay sharp far longer than conventional saws, and a unique “Mirai-Me” tooth geometry that creates an incredibly smooth, fast cut on the pull stroke. They slice through wood with an aggression that has to be felt to be believed. Just make sure they don’t touch your skin as these teeth bite!

I tested four different models, from a compact pocket saw to a two-handed monster that rivals a small chainsaw. Here’s the breakdown of how each one performed while testing in Jackson, WY

The Pocket Companion: Silky Pocketboy (130mm Curved)

The smallest of the bunch, the Pocketboy is the saw you have no excuse to leave behind. With a 5-inch curved blade, it’s tiny enough to disappear into a pack, a glove box, or even a large pocket. It comes with a durable, hard plastic case with a belt clip, ensuring those razor-sharp teeth don’t chew through your gear.

Don’t let its size fool you. The curved blade helps the saw bite into branches, and it makes quick work of limbs up to 2-3 inches in diameter. It’s the perfect tool for quick snips, clearing a shooting lane while up a hunting camp, or trimming back overzealous bushes along a tight section of singletrack. It’s a surprisingly capable little ripper. And only ($59.99)

The Do-It-All MVP: Silky Gomboy (240mm Curved)

If I could only have one Silky saw, it would be the Gomboy. This model hit the absolute sweet spot for me in terms of power, size, and portability. Its 9.5-inch curved blade has enough length to build momentum and tackle substantial branches (4-5 inches is no problem), yet it’s still light and compact enough to be a permanent resident in my trail-building pack.

Like the Pocket Boy, it comes with a clear hard case for safe transport. The Gomboy is the jack-of-all-trades. It’s big enough for 90% of the clearing I do on the trail, but it’s also the first saw I grab for pruning trees around the house. The balance is perfect, the cutting speed is phenomenal, and its versatility is unmatched. For most users, this is the perfect place to start.  Available for Just Under ($100)

The Workhorse: Silky Bigboy Outback (360mm Curved)

When you know you’re heading out for a dedicated trail work day, the Bigboy is your tool. As the name implies, this is a significant step up in size and cutting capacity. The 14.2-inch blade, with its slightly more aggressive tooth pattern (5.5 teeth per inch), is designed to chew through larger limbs and small logs. I comfortably cut through 6-7 inch downed trees with an efficiency that surprised me.

The “Outback” edition of the Bigboy features a durable black plating on the blade for extra rust and resin resistance. While it’s a bit too large for a casual daypack, it’s an essential part of any serious trail maintenance kit. It comes with a simple cloth sleeve for storage. If the Gomboy is a scalpel, the Big Boy is a bone saw—purpose-built for heavier tasks without the weight and hassle of a motor. For under $120 this tool is hard to beat!

The Chainsaw Replacement: Silky Katanaboy 550

This saw is in a class of its own. Unfolding the Katanaboy is an event; with a nearly 22-inch blade, it commands respect. This is a two-handed tool designed for the biggest jobs you can do without firing up a chainsaw. With its massive, XL teeth, the Katanaboy uses its long blade length to pull huge amounts of wood with every stroke.

I tested it on widow maker limbs hanging down and even on an 11-inch log that had fallen across a trail, and the performance was staggering. It’s a workout, but it’s a remarkably effective one. This isn’t an everyday-carry saw. This is the tool you bring when you need to clear a major obstruction deep in the backcountry. It comes with a heavy-duty nylon shoulder bag, making it manageable to haul to a remote worksite. The Katanaboy is the undisputed king of manual saws. Still cheaper than a chainsaw and way less smell for around ($350.00)

Overall Impression

After using this lineup, it’s clear Silky has crafted a tool for every possible need. From the convenient Pocketboy to the formidable Katanaboy, the build quality and cutting performance are simply outstanding. For me, the Gomboy remains the most versatile and valuable of the bunch, but every saw has its place.

These tools have earned a permanent spot in my truck, my trail kit, and my garage. They are a fantastic investment for anyone who loves the outdoors and wants to leave the trails better than they found them—one smooth, satisfying pull stroke at a time.

Related Knives and Saws We Have Tested

1. Benchmade Tagged Out Mini Knife
2. TEKTO Alpha EDC Knife
3. Gerber Downwind Hunting Knife