The Best Pocket Knives of 2025 | GearJunkie Tested

In the world of outdoor gear, pocket knives have become a staple. They’re everywhere, from the display cases at the REI Co-op to the checkout lanes at your local hardware store. With so many to choose from, it can be a daunting task to find out which one is right for you.

In the past couple of years, we’ve seen things start to take shape more than ever. Where there’s an abundance of knife steels out there, most brands are putting steels like MagnaCut, S35VN, and 14C28N into their pocket knives. Crossbar locks and liner locks, as well as handle materials like Micarta and wood, have also been the focus.

There’s even a new and rapidly growing segment — Pocket Fixed Blades — that we’ll get into below. So, by no means are we saying it’s any easier to find the right knife for you — but we’re here to help by narrowing these things down.

Here we are — your headlight in the fog — with a collection of knives that we think are the best of the best available on the market today. The Knafs Lander 2 currently tops our list, and the CIVIVI Yonder is our favorite choice if you’re on a budget. Each one of these knives has been tested thoroughly to determine why they deserve your consideration.

Editor’s Note: As of February 26, 2025, our guide is fresh and updated for the spring and summer. We’ve added the CIVIVI Yonder as our best budget choice, and included our favorite fixed blade, the Schwarz Knives Overland Sport.

Read Review: The Knafs Lander 2

The Knafs Lander 2 ($129) is the hardworking answer to Benchmade’s Bugout ($180). Where the Bugout has been touted for being lightweight, the tradeoff is that it’s only good for light to medium-duty work. By adding only an ounce more of weight into the Lander 2, the folks at Knafs have created a pocket knife that can be used and abused at your discretion for years to come.

Available now in a variety of handle scale options and blade finishes, the Lander 2 makes use of S35VN steel. S35VN is one of the most popular premium steels out there because it’s easy to maintain and staves off corrosion and abrasion like a champ. It also hosts the strongest lock mechanism on the market today, the Clutch Lock, a branded version of the crossbar lock that first climbed to fame through Benchmade as their Axis lock.

One of four different Lander models, the Lander 2 gets the Best Overall Pocket Knife award because the balance between materials, size, function, and weight is hard to match. Since writing the original article in January of this year, I have swapped out my Blue G10 carry for the Green Micarta ($140) version. However, if you plan on adding a Lander 2 to your pocket, I would recommend you look at the brand’s expanded lineup of custom handle scales — or consider making them yourself.

The CIVIVI Yonder ($67) is a mid-size folder with Micarta handles and a 14C28N stainless steel spey point blade. It has a crossbar lock and caged ceramic ball bearings around the pivot for fluid opening and closing and locks up reliably when in use.

With an overall length of 6.62 inches, the Yonder is compact but well-suited for people of all hand sizes. For those folks with really big paws, you’ll enjoy the ability to move your thumb up the spine of the blade onto the jimping and use the grip in a three-finger configuration, wrapping your pinky up around the butt of the knife.

14C28N is considered a value steel, and it’s become prolific in the knife world over the past year as more and more brands look for ways to cut costs but still use a quality, reliable knife. It’s a stainless steel, so corrosion won’t be an issue, and its abrasion-resistant qualities are also impressive. In terms of edge retention, you should expect the Yonder to hold an edge for a decent amount of time, and resharpening will be a breeze.

The Yonder won “Blade Show Best Buy Of The Year 2024” days after it debuted in the summer of 2024. I think it’s the kind of knife made for anyone looking for a dependable pocket knife for years to come.

Note: In the original review of the Yonder, Nick listed one of the cons as the crossbar lock’s shorter pull. He wants to take that back — in the last few months, he’s have gotten used to it and recognizes that the shorter pull allows for quicker deployment.

Almost everyone we know got into knives because they were given a “Swiss Army Knife (SAK)” when they were a kid, if not at some other impactful time in their lives. That said, this list wouldn’t be complete without having something from Victorinox on it. Last year, we had Victorinox’s Hiker ($36) in this slot. But, after a year of testing and toiling, we feel that the best tool for this category is the Huntsman ($50).

For roughly the same amount of pocket real estate as the Hiker, you get the added benefit of scissors and a multipurpose hook. Yes, you do lose a dedicated Phillips screwdriver, but we’ve found that the small screwdriver on top of the can opener gets the job done.

With a total of 15 onboard tools, the Huntsman is well-rounded, without any bloat. Even though we would love to, one day, see the tools lock on a SAK, it’s something you learn to work around and keep yourself aware of. That said, even when using some of the more demanding tools like the saw and awl, there was never an instance where they closed in on our hands.

Aside from the tools and blades being made from stainless Swedish steel, the shining star of the Huntsman is the multipurpose hook. At 3mm, it allows you to do such things as remove a hot pot from a fire, and pull tent stakes out of the ground.

The scissors also came in handy for cutting fishing lines and excess cordage leftover from making knots and loops. For those of you who love a nice glass of Pinot Grigio at camp, you’re going to love the corkscrew.

For those of you looking for something fancy out of your SAK, Victorinox offers the Huntsman Wood ($64), which has Walnut wood scales.

I get a hankering for a certain style of knife, and it leads me down a rabbit hole to some amazing finds. I guess that’s what makes me so good at testing and reviewing these things! I was at a kid’s birthday party at a bounce house, watching my kids bounce around the room, when I found the Fox Knives Chilin ($190). I was looking for a fat-bellied folding knife with Micarta handle scales. You don’t get much fatter than a Shilin-style blade.

Shilin-type blade shapes are good for cutting and slicing, which makes them great for food prep. But this specific blade style is also good for pruning and shaving, which makes them great for kindling prep. The overall ergonomics and durable/grippy Micarta handles help fill in the rest of the blanks in terms of what you can do with the Chilin on an adventure in the outdoors.

The Chilin has been my personal EDC since March of this year. I recently swapped it out for the next knife on this list — the DPx Gear HEST/F 4.0 ($275). But spending the spring and summer with the Chilin was fantastic. The M398 blade steel may not be as tough as its bigger brother, M390, but its corrosion and abrasion resistance were great for foraging fiddleheads and mushrooms.

The Shilin shape was great for processing tinder for small fires off the trail, and as it rained for two months somewhere in the middle, I appreciated the increased grip of the Micarta handle scales.

I was a big fan of the show MacGyver growing up. The main character, and the show’s namesake, was always getting himself into bad situations and making contraptions to get him out of them. The one tool he carried with him was a Swiss Army Knife. Now, the DPx Gear HEST/F 4.0 ($275) doesn’t offer the same variety of tools as a SAK as the Victorinox Huntsman, but it is built to get you out of a hostile environment.

What I wanted when I found the HEST/F 4.0 was a knife that could be used and abused without having to worry about it getting wet, dirty, twisted, turned, torqued, and yelled at in an aggressive tone. Everything else I could handle with my Leatherman FREE P2.

With a 3/16-inch-thick MagnaCut drop point blade, titanium frame, and Micarta handle scale, I knew the HEST/F 4.0 was more than qualified. The flipper-style opening and caged ball bearings around the pivot were just an added benefit.

Aside from being a beefy knife that can pierce, cut, slice, shave, chop, and pry, the HEST/F 4.0 comes with a few other features that heighten its tactical ability. Built into the butt of the knife is both a glass breaker and a ¼ bit driver. Additionally, the spine jimping is sized for stripping electrical wire.

There’s also a notch on the spine in front of the thumb stud that’s designed to be a cap lifter and a means to lift a pot off of a fire. To be the Best Tactical Pocket Knife on this list, you need to be ready for war. In making the HEST/F 4.0 (as well as its three predecessors), DPx Gear understood the assignment.

Part of the latest trend in knives, the Schwarz Knives Overland Sport ($265) is our top pick for pocket fixed blades for everyday carry. Pocket fixed blade knives are smaller, full-tang knives designed to either replace your folding pocket knife or compliment it.

Available in a variety of handle configurations (G10 or Micarta) and featuring a modified sheepsfoot style MagnaCut blade, the Overland Sport is a full-tang, hardworking performance piece. It’s also the sharpest knife I have ever had the opportunity to get my mitts on.

Unlike the majority of knives we recommend to you folks, the Overland Sport is something you can customize to your liking. This gives this precision utility tool a personal touch, but it also means that you could wait up to a month to get one. In our opinion — it’s worth it.

We tested this knife over the course of 2 months. During that time, it was mostly used outdoors, leaving it wet and cold on most days. Not only did that have zero impact on the MagnaCut steel, but we’re happy to say that the knife is still as sharp as a razor. This can be attributed to its swooping blade shape as well as its advanced ergonomics, which have you using it more like a surgeon’s scalpel than a chopping knife.

However, feel free to chop away with it. As precise as the Overland Sport can be, it also makes a great utility knife for whatever your life and adventures throw at you.

If you’re looking to add a knife to your daily carry or replace your folding knife with a fixed blade, start with the Overland Sport.

Read Review: The CRKT Microflipper

Not everyone who carries a knife is running around the woods in Carhartts all of the time. Some of us work office jobs where we need to dress “office casual” which usually means khaki pants or a dress. But that doesn’t mean we’re getting shut out of the knife world because we’ve got to get a little buttoned-up. It just means we need to find something a little fancier.

Widely known as a “Gentleman’s Knife,” we decided to use the term “Dress Knife” because we know that it’s not just dudes using knives. So, why not be proper about it? Anyway, for 2025, we’ve picked the CRKT CEO Microflipper ($60) because it’s both practical for the office and durable for anything.

Composed of aluminum handle scales and Sandvik 12C27 blade steel, the CEO Microflipper is a smaller-scale knife with a Sheepsfoot blade. It also has an IKBS ball-bearing pivot that pairs insanely well with the flipper mechanism for fast and determined deployment.

Where the 5½” overall length may seem small for the outdoor world, we assure you — size does not matter when it comes to the CEO Microflipper. The Sandvik 12C27 blade is highly corrosion-resistant and tough. It’s also easy to sharpen. The 0.09-inch-thick Sheepsfoot profile is great for slicing, chopping, and even precision work. Meaning, that you could be using the knife like a razor at work and for food prep out in the woods.

The following knives didn’t make the very top of our list, but they’re still worthy of inclusion and your consideration.

OKNIFE isn’t as big of a name in the knife world as I think it should be. We make that bold claim based on in-depth experience with only two of its knives: the ultralight, innovative XEN-OAL, and the knife considered here — the Rubato 2 ($85).

The Rubato 2 is a rugged EDC knife comprised of Micarta scales, a stainless steel frame, and a black stonewashed 154CM sheepsfoot blade. Aiding in the operation and lock up of this knife is a short pull crossbar lock and a ball-bearing pivot.

This same short pull crossbar lock is the one found on the CIVIVI Yonder, which I noted for finding the benefit in its function after poo-pooing it in my initial review. When you activate the lock, the blade jumps out of the handle cavity, minimizing the effort you need to put into opening the knife up.

The retail price of $85 is a steal for what you’re getting. First of all, 154CM was all the rage ten years ago. It was on every premium EDC knife worth talking about. Over time, it has taken a backseat to new steels like MagnaCut, but it doesn’t make it any less effective.

154CM is still considered a premium stainless steel and is lauded for its corrosion resistance, abrasion resistance, and excellent edge retention. When you combine that with the advanced ergonomics, Micarta scales, and overbuild of the Rubato 2, you have a $150 knife for half the price.

Like the Schwarz Knife Overland Sport, the Rubato 2 has spent a lot of time being wet and cold. Living in back pockets, it’s been exposed to the elements more than any other pocket knife we’ve tested. Aside from some great patina on the handle scales, the Rubato 2 looks and acts like it’s fresh out of the box a month after daily use and abuse.

Read Review: The CIVIVI Sendy

Like the Lander 2, the CIVIVI Sendy ($64) is the brainchild of Ben Petersen, who has easily become one of the most likable and most enthusiastic knife people in the game today. The Sendy is a step back in time – an opportunity to slow down.

It’s styled like the pocket knives of yesteryear that you would take out of your pocket while cutting an apple picked freshly from a tree while you walked through an orchard. Somewhere in the background, Big Band or Ragtime music plays. Can you feel it? I can. The Sendy is a vibe.

Available in both drop point and spey point Nitro-V blades, I am a big fan of the Spey point variant. Spey blades are great for slicing, cutting, skinning, and more precision work where you want to avoid poking through something. I am also a big fan of the low-profile flipper on the Sendy, which gets a smooth assist from the caged bearings that surround the knife’s pivot.

Although the Sendy is priced right to be considered the Best Budget Pocket Knife on this list, Nitro-V is quickly proving that it’s one of the most well-rounded knife steels around today. CIVIVI has taken quite a liking to the New Jersey-made stainless steel that is only available through the New Jersey Steel Baron and it can be found on a variety of their current models. Other admirable aspects of Nitro-V are its toughness, edge retention, and the minimal effort it takes to resharpen it when the time comes.

If you pick up a Sendy, be on the lookout for both a stainless steel toothpick and tweezers tucked into the butt of the knife. It’s these little extra bits and pieces that make this knife one of the best of 2025.

Read Review: The Benchmade Freek

From the S90V drop-point blade to the carbon fiber scales, there’s no question that the Benchmade Freek ($350) is a premium knife. Just like with all of the other Benchmade folders we’ve had the joy of playing with, the Axis lock brings an added layer of comfort in knowing that it won’t fail.

S90V is super-premium stainless steel that defies all odds in terms of corrosion and abrasion resistance, but it also holds an excellent edge. In fact, the only downside to S90V is that it’s a real pain to sharpen. Thankfully, you probably won’t have to sharpen it for years. But, if you do, Benchmade offers its Lifesharp Guarantee for the life of the knife.

Outside of the materials and build, the Freek excels in size and shape. At almost 8½ inches, it’s right in the sweet spot for length. With almost 3½ inches of that being the blade, you’ll find that the Benchmade Freek is incredibly balanced.

The contoured handle, with its chamfered edges, fits every hand size and type, and the “RST” style blade ramp on the spine of the blade lets you bear down and get the big tasks done with ease. The Freek once lived at the very top of this list but was usurped by the Knafs Lander 2, an exceptional knife for less than half the price of the Freek.

Read Review: The CIVIVI Conspirator

A good budget pocket knife will cost you less than $100 and get the job done. But a great budget pocket knife will cost around the same, feature premium materials, and get the job done well. That’s the story with the CIVIVI Conspirator ($94), whose Nitro-V blade steel, Micarta handle scales, and button lock belong on a knife twice the price.

But that’s been the story all along with CIVIVI and its sister company, WE Knife Co. Both have been making a lot of other production knife manufacturers second-guess their retail pricing.

Did we mention the ball bearings that aid in the opening and overall operation of the Conspirator? Combined with the crossbar-style button lock and the flipper deployment, you would be hard-pressed to find another knife out there that functions as smoothly and reliably. Ball bearings used to only come on the most premium of production knives. Now, they’re available on almost every CIVIVI folding knife in production.

Regarding the Nitro-V blade steel, it’s a real head-scratcher that more brands aren’t using it on their knives. Nitro-V is the brainchild of New Jersey Steel Baron, a company that provides steel to knife manufacturers of all sizes, all over the world. They set out to make a blade steel that was nearly impervious to corrosion that was tough and held a terrific edge. Nitro-V was the answer.

The Conspirator is the kind of knife that you don’t mind using and abusing because it didn’t break your bank. But what’s more, is that it can take it. This knife was made to be dragged around and used in all environments for your lifetime.

Read Review: The WE Knife Big Banter

Part of a trio, the WE Knife Big Banter ($132) is the big brother of the Banter and Baby Banter. All three of these knives have found their place in the annals of knife history in a very short period of time. This is due in part to all three of them being made from exceptional materials, excelling in performance, and being priced just right for the everyday user.

The Big Banter is a full-sized knife consisting of a drop point 20CV blade and Micarta handle scales. It also features a steel frame for extra dexterity as well as ball bearings in the pivot for an incredibly awesome deployment experience.

Additionally, and this is something we’ve seen on a lot of WE Knife knives, the attention to detail on the Big Banter kicks the functionality up a notch. Take for example the jimping in the choil. Having this extra touch point in this specific area provides you with a better grip. It also helps out when you’re working on tougher tasks.

Another detail is the fact that one handle scale has a slightly larger relief to better access the liner lock. It would be one thing if this were a large relief, but we’re talking about less than an eighth of an inch that improves the user experience and ease of use.

Overall, the Big Banter is a larger folding knife that works in all hand sizes due to its large, indexable choil. It has a great size-to-weight ratio, and its stonewashed 20CV steel is considered “super steel” as it excels in both corrosion and abrasion resistance. What this all boils down to is a knife that you can use, abuse, and rely on — and then give it to your children and tell them to do the same.

Read Review: The Benchmade CLA

To be considered tactical, you need to have some features that aren’t necessarily found in other EDC pocket knives. In the case of the Benchmade CLA ($400), that feature is lightning-fast automatic deployment at the push of a button. That’s right — the CLA is an automatic knife which makes this a restricted item in some states. But that doesn’t mean we can’t give it credit where credit is due. After all, in testing, all the CLA did was impress us.

Considered a bridge between EDC knives and tactical knives, the CLA is composed of sculpted and contoured OD Green handle scales and DLC-coated “Battlewashed” MagnaCut drop point blade. This color combination alone is stellar, but the materials used here make the CLA nearly indestructible. That’s not an exaggeration.

When the first version of the CLA launched almost 9 years ago, it was the first automatic knife from Benchmade that featured composite handle scales. The “Composite Lite Auto” became a very successful attempt to create an automatic knife for the people. It was less bulky than all of the other autos Benchmade had put out previously, and it was lighter in weight. This made the CLA a perfect fit for people looking for a reliable EDC knife.

This model of CLA is an upgrade from the previous model, which featured 154CM steel. The upgrade to MagnaCut became something of a theme for production knifemakers in 2025. For good reason, too — MagnaCut steel is probably the best EDC steel out there. This is due to its balance resistance qualities, edge retention, and ease of resharpening.

Read Review: The Kershaw Iridium

Though we deemed it a little too heavy for our Best Knives for Backpacking and Hiking list, at 3.3 ounces, the Kershaw Iridium ($100) is far from being too heavy to be one of our favorite EDC pocket knives for 2025. When you consider its size and construction, we think the Iridium could be used to put on a little more weight. Alright, we’re kidding. If anything, the size-to-weight ratio is just about perfect.

D2 tool steel and aluminum handle scales help keep the price of the Iridium down, but that doesn’t mean this overly sharp fidget spinner isn’t full-featured. The Iridium has Kershaw’s take on the hottest lock mechanism; the crossbar lock. It also uses Kershaw’s KVT Ball Bearing system in the knife’s pivot for butter-smooth opening and closing.

Aside from that, and aside from being one of our favorite flipper knives as well, the Iridium has some advanced design features that aid in its performance and carry. In terms of performance, the large, choil-style, cutout below the DuraLock lock mechanism significantly increases your grip on the knife. With grip always being a concern with Aluminum scales, especially when your hands are wet, this is reassuring.

In terms of carry, the Iridium has a deep carry pocket clip — so only you need to know you’re carrying it. But it also has an anodized orange lanyard toggle if you want to add some accessory cord for easy retrieval from your pocket, pack, and beyond.

The Kershaw Iridium could be considered the blueprint for the design of future production knives. At $100, you’re getting way more than you may know until you get it in your paw.

Read Review: The Benchmade Auto Immunity

The Benchmade Auto Immunity ($325) was designed to meet or beat antiquated knife laws stating that knife blades on automatics need to be under 2.5 inches to legally be carried. It’s also made from one of the best knife steels around. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in capability.

The steel we’re talking about here is one of the few ultra-premium, super steels; M4. On its own, M4 has very good corrosion and abrasion resistance. With the added Cerakoting found here on the Auto Immunity, it might be the best knife steel on the planet. It also holds a serious edge for a prolonged period of time.

This is good, because, like S90V, it’s a beast to sharpen. Don’t worry, when the time comes, you can take advantage of Benchmade’s Lifesharp Guarantee where they’ll resharpen it for you, for free.

In terms of overall size, some people might find the Auto Immunity a little small for more demanding tasks like kindling prep. However, due to its Wharncliffe-style blade, it’ll excel in precision tasks like carving, coring, and food prep. In fact, after a couple of months of carry and use, our tester, Sean McCoy, didn’t even notice that it was an undersized knife. He referred to it simply as a “workhorse.”

The only thing keeping the Benchmade Auto Immunity from being closer to the top of this list is the fact that it’s going to run you $325 bones. But we couldn’t leave it off the list for proud pricing.

Read Review: The WESN Allman

The WESN Allman ($155) is a unique and practical offering with a sleek, minimalist aesthetic. This fat-bellied knife is a favorite for all sorts of tasks around the house or in camp. From scoring leather to sharpening pencils to spreading jam on crackers, the Allman deserves a place in your pocket.

First things first, the Allman uses S35VN blade steel with a titanium body and is ready for years of use and abuse. S35VN Steel is both corrosion-resistant and easy to sharpen. It folds open with a satisfying ease and locks closed with a solid frame lock mechanism.

The wide blade and sufficiently wide handle make this knife feel exceptionally balanced in the hand. Aside from occasionally lubricating the pivot point, this knife will keep on keeping on, maintenance-free.

The short, stubby blade design lends itself not only to slicing and shaving but also to scooping and digging, making the Allman a versatile tool. The blade shape is a modified drop point, with a false edge that levels up the Allman’s plunging and piercing capabilities. Our tester keeps one in his pocket for all kinds of small tasks around his home.

Our only real gripe with this knife is the clip, as it’s far enough away from the butt of the handle that there’s more knife showing above the pocket line than we’d prefer. If you prefer the security of a clip or like to carry your knife in your back pocket, this might bug you, but it is easy enough to just store it down in your pocket at a compact 3.8 inches.

The Allman is a solid choice for the guy or gal who wants to be quick on the draw with a versatile pocket knife in the workshop, garden, or out in the woods.

Out of all of the things we test around Gear Junkie, pocket knives seem to get easier and easier every year — because everyone wants one. Suffice it to say, the knives we’ve recommended on this list weren’t just tested at a desk or in some random workshop in the Midwest, they were used, abused, loved, and carried for extended periods.

For this update, we enlisted our resident knife tester, Nick LeFort to take the reins to determine what knives out there were worthy of this list. He spent the fall and winter testing out a variety of knives in his day-to-day life, out on adventures, and in all conditions. LeFort believes that the best way to see what a knife can do is to rely on it in real life. He’s not wrong.

Where you can find YouTube and the internet peppered with people cutting rope and cardboard in their garage, you’re more apt to find Nick out in the woods, down by a river, or wherever his day takes them. Heck, you may see him wandering around Whole Foods with one of these knives (in their pocket, of course). To him, testing isn’t a 9-to-5 job; these knives are part of his life.

Having a keen sense of how a particular knife steel performs, or how a certain handle material’s grip could be impacted by inclement weather, as well as a vast knowledge of what’s going on in the market, he was able to act and react accordingly. On these few aspects as well as many others. The end result is the purest form of product testing: in the moment.

The bottom line is that our approach to testing is to make sure a product and its parts perform as expected. With marketing being what it is, with the intent to sell one particular knife above all of the others, it’s easy to buy into the hype. In this case, we look at that hype and see if it’s all just talk or the real deal.

The amount of knife blade steel and handle materials out there is pretty impressive. But, where the handle materials seem to have stabilized, there’s new steel coming out every year. As you can see from the above selection of eight knives, there are seven different knife steels. Our recommendation is to consider each steel on a case-by-case basis. But they should still meet or exceed the following requirements:

The last thing you want is your knife turning orange on you out in the field. Especially if you’re planning on using it to prepare food. All of the steel mentioned in this guide either has exceptional corrosion resistance or has been coated to eliminate the occurrence of rust.

Some people consider this property to be more form than function. But in all reality, if your blade can easily get scraped up that can lead to chipping, which then could lead to blade failure.

No matter what knife you carry, the worst knife you could carry is a dull one. That being said, you want to look for knife steels that either excel in edge retention or can be easily resharpened.

You can learn more about specific knife steels here.

When it comes down to handle material it’s all about grip. Ergonomics play a part in this as well, as you could have great handle material in a weird shape that will cause fatigue. In the end, you won’t want to use the knife and you’ll have wasted your money. These are some of the more preferred materials on the market today:

G10 and Micarta are both extremely strong materials. Both excel in grip whether your hands are wet or dry, which is why those two materials are so popular with EDC, Survival, Tactical, and Bushcraft-style knives.

Nylon and plastic also make for great handle materials because they’re durable and lightweight, but they’re also generally textured. It’s this texturing and styling that increases the grip on a knife with these materials.

Note: Nylon and plastic handle scales can be called a litany of names. Some of the more popular names are: FRN/Zytel (Fiber Reinforced Nylon), GRN (Glass Reinforced Nylon), GFN (Glass Filled Nylon), and Grivory (Injection Molded).

A lot of folks think carbon fiber is just pretty to look at, but in all reality, this woven material is lightweight and strong. Depending on its composition, it could be considered the perfect balance between strength, weight, and durability. You can bet your bippy you’ll pay more for a knife with carbon fiber, but it’s worth it.

Both aluminum and titanium are incredibly strong and lightweight materials, making them great for knife handle scales. But where aluminum has become relegated to budget knives, the use of titanium is usually saved for premium and ultra-premium knives. The only drawback to both of these materials is that they can be slippery when wet.

Ease of use is a big deal when considering what knife is right for you. It can come in many forms from ergonomics, to lock design, to the hardware used to keep the knife together and in good functioning order. All in all, the last thing you want to do is struggle with or be uncomfortable using your knife.

Aside from how a knife functions, your ability to access it plays a role in its reliability. After all, if you can’t reach it when you need it, then why carry it at all? The right knife for you will be easy to carry in your pocket or on your belt.

A good knife will feel right in your hand. From the shape of the handle scales to the overall thickness, and even texturing, ergonomics can be the difference between you being confident with your knife or leaving it in your drawer at home. When you consider a knife, put it in your hand and give it a good squeeze. Then, push down hard on a hard surface. If everything feels right, that’s your next knife.

Without fail, you will find yourself in a position where you need to rely on the lock on your knife more than you expected.

Some of the more common lock types are liner/frame locks that use a bar that indexes into the back of the blade. There are also button-style locks that use a steel barrel to keep the blade engaged. However, the most popular lock type is the crossbar lock which also uses a steel bar to hold the knife in place.

In my time and experience, I have never seen a crossbar-style lock mechanism fail without some outside force, creating a major disruption in how the knife functions. Like a truck running it over.

The right pocket clip will keep your knife in place in your pocket and will be easy to insert and remove. Generally, pocket clips are made from steel or titanium, are designed to retain their shape, and are around half the length of the knife when they are closed.

However, there are wire pocket clips that can deform over time. There are also shorter pocket clips that, depending on the size of the knife, can cause it to float around in your pocket, or even come out of your pocket.

I would pick a wire pocket clip over a shorter clip any day.

Ten years ago, you needed to pay $300 to get a knife with ball bearings in it, but now you can find them for under $100.

Ball bearings assist in the opening and closing of a knife. In fact, there are some knives out there that are so fluid in operation, due to ball bearings, that they’re just as fast, if not faster than an automatic knife. They’re also legal in more places than an auto.

Knife pricing isn’t as cut and dry as I think most of us would like it to be. Yes, just like with any other consumer good, factors like materials, design, and function all play into the final price of a knife. However, as we’ve recently seen with a reliable and desirable $10 knife from Walmart, there are a lot of things going on behind the scenes that determine what we pay at the store for a knife.

How much material a knife manufacturer buys has a major impact on the price you pay for a knife. Material prices, in general, will fluctuate based on how much of each item is being bought overall. We’ve most recently seen this with MagnaCut, which became a popular steel seemingly overnight. As more brands adopted it in their knives, the overall price of the steel itself went down.

Another major factor is the country where the knife is made. Within the last decade, the quality of knives being made by overseas brands like WE Knife, CIVIVI, and most recently, OKNIFE has improved beyond anything we could have imagined. However, the brand’s prices are still comparatively lower than similar knives being made in North America.

This brings up the brand name factor. Knives from brands like Benchmade generally retail for more than similar knives from other brands. It’s not outside the realm of reason that you’re paying into the brand as much as you are the product. In the case of Benchmade, you’re also buying free sharpening for life as well as a pretty significant lifetime warranty.

With that being said, we’re going to break knives down into the following three categories based on pricing in general. But, to be fair, in the production knife world, there are no clear and defining lines between Budget knives, Mid-tier knives, or Premium knives. The following is a generalization of what you can expect from each category.

You can expect to pay less than $100 for budget knives, which are usually made from more affordable materials. Does this make the knife any less useful? No. A budget knife should do everything you would expect it to. However, it may require more maintenance to keep it up and running.

Knives like the CRKT CEO Microflipper ($60) and CIVIVI Yonder ($67) that use Sandvik 12C27 and Nitro-V are considered budget knives. Although both steels are stainless and will, therefore, stand up against moisture and stave off rust and corrosion, both steels require more sharpening to maintain their reliable edge.

Another great budget example is the OKNIFE Rubato 2 ($85). It has premium 154CM, Micarta handle scales, a stainless steel liner, and a crossbar lock. Ten years ago, this knife would have cost $150-175, but as other steels have taken precedence over 154CM, the price of that steel has plummeted. This is a major bonus for anyone looking for a heck of a knife on a budget.

A majority of people carry mid-tier knives around. Ranging from $100 to $200, they may feature a range of steels like 154CM, M390, S35VN or even MagnaCut. All four of those steels can also be found on premium knives, due to their corrosion and abrasion-resistant properties, toughness, and edge retention.Mid-tier knives tend to have a more robust build than Budget knives.

There also may be a heavier focus on ergonomics and knife weight. The Knafs Lander 2 ($129) is a great example of a mid-tier knife. It has S35VN steel, Micarta, G10, or carbon fiber handle scales, and a crossbar lock. These are all desirable materials and features at an easy-to-digest price

Premium knives are the cream of the crop. They also make up the smallest category of knives for people in the outdoor world, like us. They may be priced higher due to the manufacturer or where the knife is made. They could also be just made from new and innovative materials — or a combination of all three of these reasons.

Another variable is availability. Some knives are made in smaller batches. Other knives are custom. In these instances, you can expect to pay more as well. The Schwarz Knives Overland Sport ($265) from Schwarz Knives is a small-batch, customizable, made-to-order knife. Due to its exclusivity, its price is reasonably high.

Where a lot of people instantly think of Benchmade as their prime example of premium, there’s also DPx Gear, which is a smaller, boutique-style brand. They offer production knives like their HEST/F 4.0 ($275), which is built by hand from premium materials. So, again, like Schwarz Knives, there’s a hint of exclusivity here, although in the case of DPx, it’s on a larger scale.

From opening packages to slicing up food, pocket knives offer a wealth of utility. Rather than using your fingernails, a car key, or half of a pair of scissors, pocket knives are a natural piece for people with a lot of tasks on their hands. This is especially true for outdoor enthusiasts, who deal with materials like rope, wood, and canvas all the time.

One reason you won’t see on this list is self-defense. Despite what some industry marketing material would lead you to believe, carrying a pocket knife doesn’t turn you into a commando or modern-day gladiator.

Unless you’re a trained weapons expert, you’re just as likely to injure yourself as any would-be attacker. If you feel the need to carry something for protection, you’re far better off with a can of pepper spray. Pocket knives are best treated as tools — not weapons.

Although there’s no right answer that fits everyone and their needs, a folding knife with an overall length of 8-8.5” with a blade length of 3-3.5” is ideal. At these lengths, you can expect the knife to be balanced, able to complete most daily tasks and be carried comfortably.

That said, we always recommend you test fit the knife to make sure it fits your hand and you feel safe and confident using it. Beyond that, keep in mind that each state, and even cities, have specific laws and regulations regarding knives. Make sure to read up on your local laws before making a purchase.

Plain edge blades are generally one continuous edge and they can be great for cutting, chopping, shaving, and slicing.

Generally, a serrated blade is a combination of a plain edge and serrations, usually towards the back of the blade near the pivot. The benefit of serrations on a blade is that it can be used for sawing through limbs and rope.

Overall, when choosing between a blade with a plain edge and one with serrations you need to take into consideration if you really need it. Serrations take up space on a blade edge and are more complicated to sharpen.

Your knife is only going to benefit you if it’s in good working order. With a fixed-blade knife, maintenance is generally focused on keeping the blade edge sharp and free of knicks or chips as this can lead to failure. With a folding knife, it can get a little more complicated as there are moving parts that need to be maintained to make sure the knife is safe to use for years to come.

Here are some basic tips that you should get into a routine of doing to make sure your knife is reliable and ready for your next adventure.

A dull knife isn’t any good to you. In fact, a dull knife can be dangerous. Thankfully, most knives on the market have steels that you can easily sharpen with the right sharpener and a little practice. That said, if you ever have any questions about the blade steel on your knife and how to sharpen it, we recommend contacting the manufacturer.

Pro Tip: Some knife manufacturers, like Benchmade, offer free knife sharpening for life.

Water, dirt, and debris can all lead to your knife failing on you. Make sure to wipe your blade down and that the handle cavity is dry and free of debris.

It’s perfectly fine to wash down your blade with dish soap and water, making sure to wipe it down and let it air dry. We also recommend coating your blade with any type of food-grade lubricant.

Additionally, you want to make sure that the lock mechanism and pivot are free of debris and in working order as well. These can be cleaned with a Q-tip soaked in rubbing alcohol, or canned air. You should always re-lubricate these areas after cleaning your knife.

If the knife manufacturer recommends a specific lubricant, it’s always best to use that.

There was a time when we would have told you no, but as more and more automatic knives arrive in the market, they can be.

Though they tend to be more expensive and can be a hassle to maintain, the stigma surrounding automatic knives is legality. Generally speaking, automatic knives are relegated to military and law enforcement personnel. Depending on where you live and where you plan on carrying an automatic knife, as a civilian you could be breaking the law.

That said, we recommend you check your local laws and regulations before carrying an automatic knife.

A hunting knife has a single purpose: processing meat after a kill. We did the research to help you find the best hunting knife for your needs and budget.

Known by many names, a tactical knife generally refers to a hardworking, do-all blade. Here, we review the best folding and fixed-blade knives for every budget and use.