The best knife, in my opinion, is the one that you have with you when it's needed AND the knife that you are comfortable with using for the task at hand.

I myself, for backpacking and camping trips, I carry a SAK, a KaBar (7" blade) and a short machete. That handles whatever I come up against down here in Lousy-anna. I may leave the machete behind but I will never leave the SAK or the KaBar behind.