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We purchased and tested 15 of the best pocket knives on the market, from top brands like Benchmade, Kershaw, Spyderco, Civivi, Gerber, Victorinox, and more
Our review of the best pocket knives features options from Benchmade, Kershaw, Spyderco, Civivi, Gerber, CRKT, Opinel, Smith & Wesson, and Victorinox.
Credit: Kyle Hameister
By Kyle Hameister ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Updated August 20, 2026
A pocket knife is one of the most useful tools you can carry. The best pocket knife has a high-quality blade that can be used (and abused) without breaking, disappears in your pocket, and is both safe to use and easy to maintain.
The best knife we tested is the Kershaw Bel Air. It is meticulously crafted, with a compact design that's easy to carry, yet it's built tough enough to tackle almost any task. With a widely appealing style, this smart knife is as comfortable to carry on a backpacking trip as it is around the office.
If the price tag on a knife like the Bel Air is a bit shocking, the Spyderco Tenacious is a heavy-duty knife under $100, and a knife like the Gerber Zilch is affordable enough that you won't lose sleep if you lose it.
Since 2013, we've purchased and tested more than 60 of the best pocket knives on the market. Our knife experts combine real-world use – carrying them on backpacking trips, working job sites, and everyday tasks like opening packages – with objective tests to scrutinize every detail.
For this review, we purchased and tested 15 of the most popular knives side by side, and our awards highlight the pocket knives that best balance performance and price.
Editor's Note: We updated our pocket knife review on August 20, 2026, after redesigning our testing process and retesting our entire lineup. We also added new individual reviews of knives from Benchmade, Kershaw, Spyderco, Civivi, Gerber, CRKT, Opinel, Smith & Wesson, and Victorinox.
The Kershaw Bel Air is a modern, yet timeless pocket knife. The Bel Air blends a tactical style into a pocket knife that's refined enough to carry around the office – especially thanks to the deep-carry pocket clip that entirely hides it in your pocket. Its blade is forged from the steel alloy widely considered the best available for commercial knives, and its shape makes it both precise and strong enough for forceful cuts. Even though the Bel Air isn't an assisted-open (i.e., spring-loaded) knife like the Kershaw Leek, its action is so smooth and quick that we'd forgive you for mistaking it for one. Paired with one of the best blade locks in the business, deploying and storing this knife is as easy as can be. Quite simply, this is a pocket knife that's appropriate for anyone as an 'everyday carry' (EDC) knife.
The size of the Bel Air is a bit of a compromise: it's slim enough to sit comfortably next to your leg, with a full-size handle that's easy to grip. That said, it's not quite long enough for larger hands, and even though its all-metal handle is sturdy, it's slippery if it gets wet. For tradespeople who need a tool that stands up to brute force, a larger knife like the Spyderco Tenacious or the even more affordable Civivi Praxis Flipper are better choices. Fishers and anglers should also consider knives with better grip, like the Benchmade Mini Griptilian or the full-sized Benchmade Bugout CF-Elite. Our only other gripe with the Bel Air is the cost, but we firmly believe its value will be realized over its long lifespan.
Large and not as comfortable as other knives to carry
Opening and closing have some friction
SPECIFICATIONS
Blade Length (Measured)
3.4 in
Length Closed (Measured)
4.4 in
Length Open (Measured)
7.7 in
Closed Blade Lock?
No
Assisted Opening?
No
Spyderco's premier 'budget' knife, the Spyderco Tenacious feels anything but budget to us. Our lead tester sums it up well: “Finding a knife like this for under $100 feels like a steal.” It scored so well on our material cut tests – slicing through paper, cardboard, rope, and wood – that we had to double-check we bought the right knife. The specific stainless steel used for the blade isn't top-tier by modern standards, but the well-honed edge is flawlessly sharp out of the box, and incredibly easy to maintain. The blade on the Tenacious is also much fatter than other knives, which lends itself to stability whether you're slicing or prying. The equally fat handle is large enough for all hands, and with a grippy texture that's not too rough, it's the perfect pocketknife for tradespeople who need a workhorse knife that will stand up to use and abuse.
Though the Spyderco Tenacious feels like a premium knife, a few points make it clear that budget decisions were made to keep cost down. While the liner lock inside the handle is simple and reliable, it's not as easy to unlock, fold, and put away as a knife like the Kershaw Bel Air that has a crossbar lock. And while the blade proved its mettle in our tests, the steel alloy simply won't hold an edge as long as the premium steel used on the Spyderco Para Military 2. While the Tenacious is truly the best overall value for a full-sized knife, it's worth comparing it directly against the Civivi Praxis Flipper, which costs about half as much as the Tenacious.
The Civivi Praxis Flipper is a practical, affordable pocket knife. Even if it's not quite as comfortable to carry as some other, smaller knives, we love the deep-carry pocket clip. “This feature rocks for a full-sized knife,” exclaims our lead tester, especially considering that it's not a common feature among comparable pocket knives. In many ways, the Praxis Flipper parallels the Spyderco Tenacious: A fat blade with a sturdy, flat grind that's as great for cutting as it is for prying, and a large handle with impressive grip, all of which make the Praxis Flipper another great choice for anyone working a job site.
Another main difference between the two knives is that the Praxis Flipper is particularly difficult to sharpen. The blade holds an edge well, which means you won't have to sharpen it as often, but when you do, it takes three times longer to sharpen the Praxis Flipper than it does the Spyderco Tenacious. As large and practical as it may be for a tradesperson, the Praxis Flipper is heavy and not especially practical for your average person to carry around for everyday tasks. Conveniently, Civivi also makes the Mini Praxis, which is notably more comfortable as an everyday carry (EDC) knife.
One of the main differences between the Civivi Praxis Flipper and the Spyderco Tenacious is the flipper action, which easily swings the blade into place with just the pull of a finger. Credit: Kyle Hameister
The Gerber Zilch is practical enough to consider as an everyday carry (EDC) knife, but so inexpensive that you don't need to worry about beating it up. “Sometimes a reliable beater of a car is just easier to own than fretting over a brand new lease,” our lead tester explains, using an apt metaphor for this knife – other, more premium knives are so nice that you hesitate to actually use them as a tool. The Zilch, on the other hand, is practical, reliable, and so slim it all but disappears in your pocket. It's a guilt-free, everyday carry option that's perfect for anyone prone to losing their sunglasses.
The stainless steel is of lower quality – it's the same alloy commonly used in mid-range kitchen knives – so the Zilch is susceptible to some spotting and corrosion if you don't dry it off. Unfortunately for lefties, the pocket clip can't be moved to the other side of the knife, which makes the grip uncomfortable. Even though you can wrap four fingers around the grip, this knife is on the smaller side – lefties and folks with larger hands should look at the Civivi Praxis Flipper instead. The texture on the slender handle and lack of a thumb rest ultimately don't provide enough grip to feel secure using the Zilch for anything beyond basic tasks. While we don't recommend using it on a job site, the Zilch is an excellent option for a lightweight, inexpensive everyday pocket knife.
The Benchmade Osborne is a knife for the knife enthusiast if there ever was one. It sports much of what makes Benchmade famous: unmatched build quality, a lifetime sharpening service, and the unmatched security of the crossbar lock. The blade is undoubtedly the Osborne's most striking feature – its unique shape and top-quality steel make this blade instantly recognizable and enduringly useful. It's as lightweight as many plastic handle options, but delivers the solid feel of an all-metal knife. The handle's sophisticated satin sheen slides smoothly into a pocket while still providing a solid grip. Widely lauded for its beauty, you can purchase the Osborne in a variety of colorways, finishes, and material upgrades for a personal touch.
Like the similarly designed, albeit less expensive, Kershaw Bel Air, the Osborne isn't an assisted-opening knife. If we had one critique of this legendary knife, it's that the thumb stud sits just a bit too close to the handle to easily open the blade with one hand every time. While many may argue that the slim, lightweight Osborne is the most classic everyday carry (EDC) knife on the market, we'll argue that the price point limits it to knife collectors – we contend that the Kershaw Leek is a better alternative. It's much more affordable, the assisted-opening action is more reliable, it's slightly slimmer, and its styling is a bit more office-friendly.
The Osborne is technically a manual-open knife, but thanks to its smooth action, you can flick it open one-handed with little trouble. Credit: Kyle Hameister
The Benchmade Bugout CF-Elite is the best knife we know of for outdoor adventures. Designed specifically for carrying into the backcountry, its slim, ultralight profile also makes it a great everyday carry (EDC) knife. Despite its ultralight build, the Bugout CF-Elite still sports a full-size handle and high-quality blade that opens, locks, and closes predictably and smoothly. Featuring a blade steel that resists rust and is easy to sharpen, it's particularly easy to maintain. We've used this popular knife for years – it's an ideal choice to toss in a bag or in your pocket as you head out the door.
Without the skeleton 'liner' featured on most other knives, a noticeable flex of the handle limited how much force you could put behind the Bugout. The new CF-Elite handle material – a carbon-reinforced polymer – has massively improved the flex issue, but the grip is still somewhat limited by how thin the knife is. If you need a heavier-duty knife, we recommend either the Kershaw Leek, or if you're willing to sacrifice some carrying comfort, the even more robust Spyderco Tenacious. However, when every ounce counts, you can't beat the Bugout CF-Elite – it's as lightweight, if not lighter, than many of the mini knives we tested.
We love the crossbar lock on Benchmade knives. It automatically locks into place when you open the blade, and it's easy and safe to disengage, even one-handed. Credit: Kyle Hameister
With the ever-increasing popularity of 'everyday carry' (EDC) knives, mini versions of popular knives are stepping out of the shadows of their larger siblings, and the Benchmade Mini Griptilian is the perfect example. It's a near-perfect compromise on the full-sized Benchmade Griptilian – by shrinking the handle to just barely fit four fingers, carrying comfort is greatly improved while maintaining most of the functionality of the full-sized knife. The Mini Griptilian is the rock-solid king of the mini-knife world, and one of the best portable options available for blue-collar work.
The premium steel of the Mini Griptilian is excellent by most accounts, but so hard that it ends up being more difficult than most to sharpen. The handle is mostly closed up along the top of the knife, which makes it annoying to clean out. It's also made from plastic – we know that plastic is as stable and reliable as other handle materials, but it still feels and looks cheap, which is disappointing considering the price point of this knife. Even though the plastic grip minimizes weight while improving grip (especially when wet), if you prefer an all-metal knife, the Kershaw Leek is the most reasonable alternative – it's only slightly longer than the Mini Griptilian, but its slimmer profile makes it much more comfortable to carry.
The handle and grip texture on the Mini Griptilian are excellent, rivaling or beating any knife out there in terms of a secure grip. Credit: Kyle Hameister
The Kershaw Leek is a sleek pocket knife that costs roughly half the price of other high-end options. As an assisted-opening knife – with a spring-loaded action – it's super easy to open one-handed. But thanks to a refined, all-metal construction that's particularly benign, it's as lightning-fast as a switchblade without the sinister overtones. In fact, its friendly styling is about as far from the tactical as you can get, which makes the Leek the most appropriate pocket knife we can think of for an office setting.
While most of our testers appreciated the thin profile for its carrying comfort, others disliked the thin handle, feeling that it compromised overall utility. The Leek is excellent for everyday tasks like opening packages, but the handle and blade are just too thin for anything heavy-duty – we even watched the tip deform slightly when we tried to pry with the blade. If you need a slightly burlier pocket knife, the Kershaw Bel Air is a similarly sized alternative with a much tougher blade. The Gerber Zilch is a much more affordable option with a zippy vibe that's similar to the Leek, though it isn't nearly as pretty.
Small enough for a 5th pocket and incredibly easy to open, the Kershaw Leek may just be the perfect everyday carry (EDC) pocket knife. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Product Comparison Table
Blade shape and style varies wildly, but there's a perfect pocket knife out there for everyone. Credit: Kyle Hameister
How We Tested
We purchased each of these knives at retail price from the same retailers you would, and we never take payment from manufacturers, which helps keep our review free from bias. We used a combination of controlled tests and general use to compare these knives. Daily use ranged from routine tasks like opening packages to more specialized applications like automotive repairs. We used them to whittle, cut materials like rope and webbing, and even bore holes with the blade's tip. We ranked their overall performance based on five metrics:
From common everyday tasks to exceptional heavy-duty use, we put these pocket knives through the wringer. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Why Trust GearLab
Our lead tester, Kyle Hameister's, works in industrial design. From building prototypes to installation on the job site, he's learned that a pocket knife is a necessary tool for any tradesperson. As our resident knife expert, Kyle also leads the testing in our review of multi-tools.
He builds upon the experience of Jediah Porter and Jeff Dobronyi, who both work as certified IFMGA/American Mountain Guides. Professional mountain guiding changes with the seasons, but this variable line of work requires having the right tools for the job, which always includes a solid pocket knife.
Our testers know a lot about knives, and after handling them for months, their recommendations are based on real-world use.
Analysis and Test Results
The pocket knife market is broad. Knives range from the price of a fast-food meal to several hundred dollars, and even to five-figure collectibles. We focus on the middle market – which is almost equally vast – including folding knives that have blades between one and four inches in length and are commonly available at retailers.
Price and quality can certainly correlate, but sometimes what you're paying for is name recognition or nostalgia. A collector is going to buy a knife based largely on aesthetics or trendy materials, and the 'value' of that knife is very different from someone looking for a cutting implement. Our test results focus on the latter – when it comes down to it, value is best viewed as a representation of price versus performance.
Worse Value
Better Value
What's the Best Value?
It's hard to find a better value than the Spyderco Tenacious. Spyderco did a fantastic job of cleverly designing it around inexpensive materials, focusing on practicality and simplicity. With a durable construction and a sturdy blade, it's the perfect pocket knife for any tradesperson. As an even more affordable option, the CIVIVI Praxis Flipper doesn't offer the same high-quality blade, but it's not far off for half the price.
An unassuming gem, the Tenacious punches well above its weight class. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Blade Quality
Any steel can be made sharp, so we're more interested in related key metrics – a blade's hardness, toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance are all functions of the raw material and heat treatment. We're interested in the specific steel alloy of the blade and the geometry of the shape and grinds, but when it comes down to it, we're mainly interested in how well a knife can cut common materials – paper, cardboard, rope, wood – right out of the box.
To start, it's important to accept the reality that every knife will need to be periodically sharpened if it doesn't sit in a trophy case. Different alloys will hold a sharp edge longer – though at the expense of sharpening ease – but all will eventually need some TLC. Professional knife-sharpening services exist, of course, and many commercially available sharpening kits are available for home use.
Even budget knives, like the Civivi Mini Praxis, will often call out their steel, usually near the pivot, printed on the blade itself. Credit: Kyle Hameister
A blade must be hard enough to resist abrasion from the material it's cutting, but soft enough to deflect some of the force. Too hard, and the brittle steel can chip. Too soft, and the steel will quickly lose its edge. Good stainless steel also resists corrosion from everything from salt water to citrus juice.
We sprayed each knife with salt water and let it sit for 24 hours, before cleaning up the edge and noting whether or not it affected the blade quality.
Several of our top-rated knives have a new 'super-steel' MagnaCut, which has taken the knife world by storm since its release in 2021. The Benchmade Osborne and Kershaw Bel Air both feature a MagnaCut blade, and let us tell you — it lives up to the hype. No steel offers a better compromise between hardness and corrosion resistance, and it has excellent edge retention to boot.
The Benchmade Osborne is so well built that it can be used and abused, if needed. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Scores for both the Osborne and Bel Air are influenced in no small part by their 'reverse tanto' shape. Both blades are fairly long, and their cutting edges are mainly straight, maintaining an even grind all the way to the tip. This specialty shape is the secret to their excelling both in high-pressure and finesse tasks – the best of both worlds.
Although you'll find a super-sharp factory edge on the Osborne, Benchmade's “LifeSharp” program ensures you'll never run the risk of a dull blade. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Aside from the low-scoring Victorinox Classic SD Swiss Army and Gerber Paraframe Mini – which are simply too small to really compete with the cutting abilities of other pocket knives – the Opinel No.08 is a comparably full-sized knife that doesn't quite stack up. Simply put, the basic stainless steel blade simply can't compete with more modern materials. It was developed in the 1960s, and since then, stainless steel formulas have greatly improved edge retention and corrosion resistance.
While the classic Opinel No.08 may still be suitable for whittling, other modern knives far outstrip its performance. Credit: Jediah Porter
Ease of Use
If a knife isn't easy to use, then it might never leave a drawer and find its way into your pocket. We consider how easy it is to open and close a knife, the security of the blade lock, how safe we feel locking and unlocking the knife, and how the overall construction influences our bias to pull out a pocket knife as a practical tool.
A knife's 'action' – how it opens, and how easily it opens – can make or break its usability. Most knives have a 'manual' action, that is, you have to deliberately open it by pulling or flicking open the blade. While cheaper knives may require two hands, well-designed manual knives are easy to flick open using a 'thumb stud' or a cutout in the blade, known as a 'nail nick'.
Spyderco is famous for the large ring cutout in the blade, known as a 'signet ring'. Unlike a nail nick, which is a subtle dash in the blade, the signet ring is easy to flick open one-handed (and ambidextrously). Credit: Kyle Hameister
'Finger flippers' are the other design that is rapidly gaining popularity. Faster-deploying knives tend to use flippers, as they're easier to find while pulling a knife out of a pocket. It saves just a fraction of a second, but that ease of use goes a long way for one-handed operation.
Comparing opening styles: a finger flipper on the Civivi Praxis Flipper (bottom), the signet blade ring of the Spyderco Tenacious (middle), and a thumb stud flick with the Kershaw Bel Air (top). Credit: Kyle Hameister
So-called 'assisted opening' knives are the easiest to use. The Kershaw Leek is our lone representative here. These models will have some sort of spring-like mechanism hidden in the handle that assists the opening action with a very subtle flick. While it's rare to have one of these pop open in your pocket, it's comforting to know most assisted knives include an additional closed-blade lock, including the Leek.
Comparing knives side by side allows us to inspect the nuanced differences, in this case, the ease of opening. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Local Laws & Regulations
Local knife regulations sometimes restrict assisted-opening knives. We advise everyone to check out their state laws on knife possession and carry restrictions before making a final purchase.
What we look for in a quality knife is a smooth action, with a secure lock, that's just as easy to open as it is to close. The Kershaw Bel Air defines ease of use in every sense: the action is impeccable, thanks to nearly frictionless bearings, and the crossbar-style lock is both secure and easy to operate one-handed.
Much like the Kershaw Bel Air, opening the Benchmade Griptilian (shown here) is easy with a flick of the thumb stud. Unlocking and closing it is just as easy, thanks to the crossbar lock in the handle. Credit: Kyle Hameister
A knife's overall quality affects its usability. The easiest (read: cheapest) way to boost quality is by making the handle from steel or aluminum. The Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops and Gerber Paraframe Mini use this approach, but by compensating for subpar bearings by cranking up the friction in their pivots, these knives are much harder to open and close.
Opening the Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops is slower than many knives. There's too much tension in the pivot to snap open with the finger flipper on the spine. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Occasionally you see extra features added to knives, such as replaceable blades or glass breakers. We've largely moved away from including these models in our lineup, as they often end up feeling gimmicky. Most popular pocket knives are popular because they focus on one thing: cutting.
Carrying Comfort
We'd argue the very purpose of a pocket knife is to take an otherwise inconveniently sized fixed blade knife and make it portable. Different brands and models take varying approaches, and we judge them based on size, weight, the style of the pocket clip, and the overall pocket footprint. We also recognize that there's an almost fundamental rift between a portable knife and one that's practical.
While a small knife will virtually disappear in your pocket, it won't fully fill out your grip, and therefore you won't feel as secure using it to cut tough materials. Conversely, a large knife will feel much more secure in your hand, but may feel like a tank sitting in your pocket.
Pocket Knife Size Comparison (Closed and Open)
Product
Measured Length Open
Measured Length Closed
Measured Blade Length
Victorinox Swiss Army
3.81
2.25
1.29
Gerber Paraframe Mini
5.30
3.1
2.2
Leatherman Skeletool KB
5.90
3.4
2.3
SOG Twitch II
6.20
3.6
2.6
Havalon Piranta Original
6.62
3.79
2.31
CRKT Drifter
6.49
3.65
2.75
Albatross EDC Tactical
6.50
3.9
2.5
Spyderco Delica 4
7.00
4.1
2.5
Benchmade North Fork
6.9
3.91
2.85
Benchmade Mini Barrage
6.93
4
2.75
Petzl Spatha
7.00
4.2
2.7
Kershaw Leek
7.00
4
2.9
CIVIVI Elementum II
7.05
4.15
2.77
Gerber Fast Draw
7.23
4.25
2.88
Zero Tolerance Sinkevich
7.40
4.1
3.2
Benchmade Bugout
7.45
4.25
3.04
Opinel No. 8
7.60
4.3
3.3
Kershaw Link
7.69
4.38
3.31
Spyderco Tenacious G-10
7.90
4.5
3.4
Kershaw Blur Glassbreaker
8.00
4.6
3.4
Spyderco Para Military 2
8.25
4.8
3.05
This compromise permeates the design at every level, and while some designs strike a nice balance, many trend toward one extreme or the other. Longer knives – with a closed length of roughly 4 inches and up – will fit all four fingers of an average-sized adult hand.
Three of our favorite 'everyday carry' (EDC) knives: the Benchmade Osborne (top) is a full-sized knife with a slim but longer handle; the Kershaw Leek (middle) and CRKT Drifter (bottom) are similarly slim but shorter. Credit: Kyle Hameister
A Note On Weight
We think weight is generally over hyped – you'll notice the size of a knife in your pocket far more than its weight. Makers clamor to find the next best composite handle to make a lighter knife, but we see this more as a marketing push than anything.
Small options like the Gerber Paraframe Mini take up minimal space in your pocket, and the Classic SD Swiss Army knife can even attach to your keychain.
The humble pocket clip is a ubiquitous feature on almost every pocket knife these days, but it's often overlooked. Ideally, the clip is oriented so you can pull it from your pocket and thumb it open without regripping – what's known as a 'tip-up' carry. While clip orientation is sometimes adjustable, what matters more is the depth and strength of a clip. 'Deep-carry' pocket clips hide a knife entirely in your pocket, and while we want a clip strong enough that your knife doesn't fall out, a brutally strong clip can cut up a pocket edge over time and make the knife difficult to pull out.
The difference between a deep-carry pocket clip on the Kershaw Bel Air (left) and a standard clip on the Gerber Zilch (right). Credit: Kyle Hameister
Touching on aesthetics for a second, knife styling runs the gamut from angular and handsome to tactical, sleek, and modern to more gentle and natural. Your preference here matters as much as anything, especially when it comes to carrying a knife in public. The Kershaw Leek not only practically disappears in your pocket, but its refined style is well suited to the office environment.
Small enough to even carry in a 5th pocket, the Kershaw Leek is practical and unassuming. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Even though the Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops features a deep-carry clip, it's so bulky that it's far from comfortable as an everyday carry knife. Additionally, the all-metal construction and angulated edges meant that every time we reached into our pocket for our keys, we busted our knuckles, which also detracts from carrying comfort.
Even though we appreciate the deep-carry handle on the Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops, the knife handle is too sharp and bulky to comfortably carry.
Grip
The knife's handle is where knife makers have the most flexibility in their design, with an abundance of available materials, color options, and grip patterns. We evaluate overall handle feel, material choice, and whether the grip holds up when wet.
An ergonomic knife should have a rounded handle that fills a loosely clenched fist and is long enough to fit all fingers of an average adult hand. Ideally, it also features cutouts ('scallops') on the underside to comfortably match your fingers, and a prominent thumb rest on top to add security when you have to press into a cut. Unsurprisingly, ideal ergonomic knives tend to be larger, though some 'mini' knives surprised us with their grip.
The Bemchmade Mini Griptilian is easy to put force into, thanks to the stability provided by its excellent grip. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Spyderco knives are the clear winners here. These knives are distinctive for their large handles, and where other knives have 'thumb rests', the Tenacious and Para Military 2 have aggressive thumb 'rises' for added stability. The taller blades may look a bit goofy, but this design lets you press into tough cuts like no other knife we tested.
The Spyderco Tenacious is one of the most comfortable knives we've ever used. Credit: Kyle Hameister
On the other end of the spectrum, smaller handles just won't feel as secure. Particularly small knives like the Gerber Paraframe Mini and Victorinox Swiss Army are simply too small to confidently grip well. Even though it's technically a full-sized knife, we also didn't feel particularly secure holding the rounded wooden grip on the Opinel No.8.
The Opinel No. 8 has a nice rounded grip which feels good to use, but we worry about the lack of forefinger guard. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Sharpening & Cleaning
All knives will need sharpening at some point – it's a matter of when, not if. But with care, cleaning and sharpening will keep your knife in tip-top shape for a lifetime.
Generally, softer steels on inexpensive knives like the Opinel No.08 sharpen up easily. Interestingly, the blade on the Benchmade Bugout CF-Elite is particularly easy to sharpen, despite holding an edge well. After dulling and resharpening the Bugout, it sliced just as well as it did right out of the box.
Cheap pull-through kitchen knife sharpeners won't do the trick on the quality steels in most of our lineup – for our testing, we relied on the Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker.
While the steel alloy strongly influences how easy the sharpening process is, blade shape is equally impactful. Not only is the MagnaCut steel on the Kershaw Bel Air harder, and thus more difficult to sharpen, but the straighter edge proved more difficult to pull across the stone than a more rounded blade. However, none was more difficult to sharpen than the serrated edges on the Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops.
Sharpening a serrated edge at home is an exercise in futility. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Ease of cleaning largely depends on how open the handle is. Most knives are open along the spine of the handle, so you can easily run them under a faucet to wash out any mud or grime that may have found its way in there.
The handle on the Civivi Praxis Flipper is wide open underneath and is easier to clean out than most knives. Credit: Kyle Hameister
How to Pick the Best Pocket Knife for You
Faced with the dizzying array of options available on the pocket knife market today, where does one even start in making a choice? While most knives try to strike a reasonable balance to suit the everyday needs of most people, the reality is that every knife is designed for a specific task. While the two straightforward questions below will get you started, check out our buying advice article for a more in-depth discussion.
How Will You Use a Pocket Knife?
A keychain-sized knife will essentially disappear in a pocket, but it's really only useful for opening packages or trimming the occasional thread from your hem.
An 'everyday carry' (EDC) knife is a full-sized knife that's still lightweight and slim enough to comfortably carry in your pocket day after day. These are the most common type of pocket knife, simply because they can handle most cutting tasks – everything from opening packages to home improvements.
Larger, heavier knives are designed to handle heavy-duty tasks. Many have unique blade shapes designed not just to cut, but for other actions like prying or boring. While these knives provide maximum utility, they're often more practical for tradespeople than office workers.
Specialized knives, like assisted-opening knives, deploy extra fast, and knives with edge serrations help with 'sawing' tasks like cutting through rope.[/faq]
While most people use a pocket knife to open packages, it's still a knife that can just as easily be used for everything from food prep to home improvements. Credit: Kyle Hameister
What's Your Budget?
What truly separates cheap and expensive knives is build quality, which corresponds directly to durability. Costs can also jump quickly as exotic handle materials are used. Stabilized wood, carbon fiber, and limited-release colorways are often for show and likely only appeal to collectors.
You generally get what you pay for, though you can find value at every tier of the price spectrum. We've noticed that cost correlates most strongly with the specific steel alloy used for the blade, but even a lower-end knife will usually still have one that's stainless steel.
The Kershaw Bel Air is beautiful, but pricey. Credit: Kyle Hameister
If you're comparing a few knives, make sure to check out the individual review for a more in-depth look at the nuanced differences between knives – sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference.
Other Notable Pocket Knives
The pocket knife market is massive, and it's no easy task to whittle down our final selection. While we do our best to curate a lineup that's diverse across brands and price points, there are plenty of other great knives out there. Below is a list of knives that we've also tested that didn't quite make the cut. (Yes, all of these puns are intended!)
Assisted Open Knives
SOG Twitch II – Effectively a cheaper Kershaw Leek, this is a snappy, compact knife with an all-metal construction.
Benchmade Mini Barrage 585 – A former award winner, this is a short, stout, high-scoring knife we love (but which is very expensive).
Kershaw Link – An impeccably built tank of a knife with a Magnacut blade.
Kershaw Blur Glassbreaker – This mid-tier knife is somewhat rare, sporting a recurve blade and a partially serrated edge.
Albatross EDC Tactical – An impossibly affordable assisted knife, with a glass-breaker tip and seatbelt cutter.
Ontario Rat II – Reliable, simple, and sturdy. It's also one of the few cheaper knives with a 4-position pocket clip.
High Performers
Spyderco Delica 4 – The Delica is similar to the Tenacious, but for about the same price, the blade quality is lacking in comparison, as is the grip.
Benchmade Griptilian – The big brother of our award-winning mini knife, the Griptilian is very popular in its own right. We recommend using gloves, though, as the grip on the full-sized version is so aggressive it can literally hurt to grip.
Specialty Use Knives
Petzl Spatha – Designed for climbers, this knife features a prominent carabiner anchor and a partially serrated blade to make quick work of cord.
Havalon Piranta Original – Interchangeable scalpel blades on a skinny body; this is a knife you'll have no qualms taking into the wilderness to save weight. No sharpening needed here!
Outdoor Edge RazorLite EDC – Another swappable-blade option, this one features a larger handle with rubberized inserts.
Benchmade 535 Bugout – The 'standard' version of the lighter, stronger Bugout CF-Elite in our lineup. This nearly as lightweight knife has been a staple for decades.
Benchmade 15032 North Fork – A beautiful heritage-style knife featuring a stabilized wooden handle that's aimed towards hunters.
The Benchmade North Fork is a 'compact' knife, but the rounded and scalloped handles make it very comfortable to use. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Benchmade products are well known for rock solid construction. We'd trust the Mini Barrage seen here to stand up to just about anything you throw at it. Credit: Kyle Hameister
The Benchmade Griptilian sold out portability for a full, rounded handle. The diamond texture on the scales and aggressive ridges in the thumb rise certainly give a great grip, but goes well past the point of comfort. Credit: Kyle Hameister
The Kershaw Link is one of our favorite heavy-duty knives. Credit: Kyle Hameister
The Elementum II feels good enough in the hand. The scales aren't scalloped for the fingers, but their texture is both subtle enough to be comfortable, and grippy enough to feel safe. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Conclusion
There's a nearly infinite amount of pocket knives on the market. While we've carved out a selection of knives that represent the best value – balancing performance and cost – we'll continue to test the most popular pocket knives on the market to keep our review up to date. By sharing our real-world experience with you, we hope you can more easily find the best pocket knife for your needs and budget.
The hobbyist pocket knife industry is thriving - there's no better time to be in the market for a new tool. Credit: Kyle Hameister
