The Best EDC Knives in 2018 – REVIEWS AND COMPARISON
First things first – what does “EDC” mean? This acronym stands for “Every Day Carry,” and is usually used for items that are handy to have on yourself at all times, as they can assist you with everyday needs or even in some dire situations. Without a doubt, a pocket knife is surely one of the best EDC items, since it has so many advantages. It can be extremely useful – you can open clamshells and boxes with it, prepare food, cut ropes and fix things around the household, and it’s no wonder why there are so many professions (such as hunters, butchers, fishers, military service members and others) carrying folding knives in their pockets at all times.
With thousands of these useful blades on today’s market, it can be really hard for a novice to find an EDC knife that suits his needs the best. Have no worries – that’s why we’re here!
The Best EDC Knives in 2018 – REVIEWS AND COMPARISON
First things first – what does “EDC” mean? This acronym stands for “Every Day Carry,” and is usually used for items that are handy to have on yourself at all times, as they can assist you with everyday needs or even in some dire situations. Without a doubt, a pocket knife is surely one of the best EDC items, since it has so many advantages. It can be extremely useful – you can open clamshells and boxes with it, prepare food, cut ropes and fix things around the household, and it’s no wonder why there are so many professions (such as hunters, butchers, fishers, military service members and others) carrying folding knives in their pockets at all times.
With thousands of these useful blades on today’s market, it can be really hard for a novice to find an EDC knife that suits his needs the best. Have no worries – that’s why we’re here!
3 Top Quality Knives of Our Choice
Spyderco Paramilitary2 Black G-10
Kershaw Ken Onion Blur Folding Knife
Benchmade – Mini Griptilian 556
Spyderco Paramilitary2 Black G-10 – Perfect EDC Blade
- Quality 98%
- Design 90%
- Blade 94%
- Price 90%
FEATURE:
It looks like the Spyderco never fails in the construction department – the Paramilitary 2 is a lightweight folding knife, but still looks and feels very stable and robust. The handle scales are cored out, in order for the frame to properly fit within them, while the thong tube and the Torx screws are holding the whole thing together. Just like many other knives made by Spyderco, this one also has a big thumbhole, which makes operation and opening really easy. The notching, present on the throat and the neck of the blade, is there to improve the grip during the tougher jobs.
We should also mention that the Paramilitary 2 has a compression lock on the knife’s spine, so it’s pretty hard to close the blade with just one hand. This also brings an unexpected benefit – it’s almost impossible to activate the knife by accident. When it comes to steel quality, the Paramilitary 2 features a powdered stainless steel build, relying more on vanadium than on the chromium, which gives the whole item a longer-lasting look and feel. In our opinion, the durability of this pocket knife is almost unmatched – we’re pretty sure that this thing could last you for years, which just might be the thing that you were looking for. And since the Paramilitary 2 is so versatile and features a quality build, it also comes with a high price, and it is surely among the most expensive knives we’ve reviewed so far.
With a smooth opening mechanism (thanks to the large thumb hole), an ergonomic handle and the extreme sharpness, the Paramilitary 2 is surely worth the money. Not only is this blade dependable and durable, but it’s also very pleasing to look at, due to its fantastic design. It’s a product of our choice!
DOWNSIDE:
Our biggest complaint about the Paramilitary 2 is undoubtedly its high price. This EDC blade is in the category of expensive knives, so if you want top quality and design, you will have to give a bit more money than you would for some other knives.
Kershaw Ken Onion Blur – Quality Everyone Can Afford
- Quality 92%
- Design 88%
- Blade 87%
- Price 72%
FEATURE:
The Kershaw Ken Onion Blur has a performance and build that’s quite similar to those of your standard, general purpose blade, as it has all those common everyday-carry attributes. When it comes to material, the blade of this model is made from adonized aluminum, which means that the aluminum’s surface was changed on the microscopic level – it was strengthened and made more durable. The adonization process also gives a very specific, faded color to the blade, and makes it scratch resistant, which is something we really liked. This EDC knife also features the highly-praised Speed Safe system, with Kershaw being the first company that introduced this feature to the market. It’s a unique, patented system that can assist the user to easily open the blade with a single push on the thumb stud or the pull back on the flipper. At the heart of the Speed Safe system is the torsion bar, which, when the knife is closed, prevents the blade from being opened by accident.
One other thing that we really liked is the insert liner lock (makes the model lightweight but still secure and sturdy), and we also have to give praise to the pre-drilled holes, which are situated on the handle and are there to enhance the overall comfort. The Kershaw Ken Onion Blur is also quite affordable, and we can safely say that the users are getting something incredible for such a reasonable amount of money – some other companies would set a much higher price on this knife.
When it comes to overall pros, we can say that the Kershaw Ken Onion Blur has a lot of qualities – it’s a perfect blade for multitasking, offering top notch piercing and slicing capabilities, and having things such as the ergonomic handle and the adonized blade that’s resistant to wear and corrosion. The reasonable price is another big plus!
DOWNSIDE:
On the other hand, we didn’t like how the thumb studs could gouge the user’s thumb once he opens the blade, and the fact that the pocket clip could have been a bit deeper – it prevents the knife from staying completely hidden in the pocket.
Benchmade – Mini Griptilian 556, Drop-Point – Great EDC Choice
- Quality 91%
- Design 91%
- Blade 94%
- Price 93%
FEATURE:
The first thing to notice about this knife is surely its beautiful blade – the material used here is the quality 154CM stainless steel, made in the USA and being very rough and sharp. The blade has a shape that features the so-called modified drop point, with a gentle curve that elegantly lowers the knife’s tip and gives it some strength when you’re using it as, for example, a screwdriver. This doesn’t mean that the model isn’t suitable for slicing – it certainly is, as this shape was designed for the general everyday use. The model looks quite durable to use, but remember to be very careful when it comes to sharpening, since there is a large bevel towards the blade’s top that can excessively rub the sharpening device. This can do great damage to the blade, and we would advise you to only use the hand-held sharpeners.
One of the best things about the Mini Griptilian is its AXIS lock, which is smooth as butter and also as solid as a rock. The lock gets its function from the steel bar that’s inside the model and makes the whole thing safer and easier for one-handed operation. Once you get the feel of it, we’re sure that it will be hard for you to get back to liner locks or even lock backs ever again. Even though there’s a word “mini” in the model’s name, the 556 isn’t really small – in our opinion, it has a perfect size for a versatile, convenient EDC knife.
The Mini Griptilian 556 is a lightweight knife that can easily fit into any pocket and brings you a blade that can slice, cut, slash and peel the tough and hard materials. It also has a durable handle and a very efficient locking mechanism, which, along with its perfect size, makes this model worth considering for purchase.
DOWNSIDE:
There are two main things that we didn’t like about the 556 – we think that the handle should have been a bit more textured (which would reduce accidents and sliding) and that the price of this EDC knife could have been a bit easier on the wallet.
Top Rated Folding EDC Knives
Spyderco Tenacious Folding Knife
Columbia River Knife and Tool Squid
TAC FORCE Spring Assisted Opening
Ontario 8848 RAT Folding Knife
Kershaw 1600 Chive SpeedSafe
Spyderco Tenacious Folding Knife – Great Pocket Knife for Camping
- Quality 87%
- Design 85%
- Blade 91%
- Price 97%
FEATURE:
When it comes to the overall design, we can say that the Spyderco Tenacious looks like a big frame-lock knife, with a beefy ground blade. The handle comes with a finger groove, which makes the knife easy to open with just one hand, which is also the case with most of the Spyderco knives. It is made from G10 scales and has ergonomics that are next to perfect for the people with medium sized hands, with a sure grip that’s helped by the notching which is present on the liner.
The texturing is, in our opinion, just about right – it is not too aggressive, even though some people might find the scales to be thinner than expected. Since it has a steel frame, the Spyderco Tenacious has a very solid structure, but that also gives it some weight. When it comes to the locking mechanism, we have only words of praise, while the overall finish makes the model looks like something a lot more expensive.
All in all, we can see why this knife is already so popular – it has an affordable price but brings quality and performance of the much more expensive models. In other words – the Spyderco did it once again.
DOWNSIDE:
The blade of the Spyderco Tenacious is made from steel that’s not as good as some found on the other models, but that’s simply what one gets for a low price. With regular sharpening, oiling, and cleaning, we’re sure that you won’t have any issues with it.
Columbia River Knife and Tool Squid – Compact EDC Folder
- Quality 90%
- Design 82%
- Blade 93%
- Price 81%
FEATURE:
Just like many compact handguns, the CRKT Squid also has a design that’s deceptively simple. The two primary parts of it are the stainless steel handle and the 8Cr13MoV blade, both of which look quite elegant and a lot more expensive than what’s the actual price of this knife. The blade gracefully swells from the tip to the handle, and is also pretty wide – it’s close to a whole inch.
There are also some handy friction grooves here, providing the user with a great thumb placement and enhancing the overall grip experience. For us, this was especially surprising – the Squid is, after all, a knife with stubby measurements and a full-metal construction. The model weighs 3,4 ounces, which was something that we’ve expected. Although some people won’t like it, we think that this weight inspires confidence, with this feeling being further solidified by the robust frame lock. We have to mention that there are some rough edges around that very same lock, so be careful when you’re securing the blade.
All in all, we can say that the buyers of the CRKT Squid are getting a lot of good things for a low price – even though this EDC folding knife has a full metal construction, it still feels great to use it. Its careful design was a big surprise for us.
DOWNSIDE:
Some people probably won’t like the weight of this model, as the whole thing was made out of metal. Also, we’ve heard that some users had a hard time with the opening mechanism, but we encountered no such problems.
TAC FORCE Spring Assisted Opening – Great Value for Money
- Quality 80%
- Design 95%
- Blade 89%
- Price 75%
FEATURE:
When it comes to looks, we have to say that we’ve very pleased with the design of this EDC knife – even though it’s so cheap, it looks like something that’s a bit more expensive. It features a very nice combination of black and orange, which looks quite attractive in our opinion.
When it comes to exact dimensions, the knife is 7 3/4 inches long when it’s opened, and 4 1/2 inches when it’s closed – it will easily fit into most pockets. The blade is made out of 440 Stainless Steel and is sharp enough for the everyday use around the house or in the woods while camping. The handle, on the other hand, is made out of orange and black aluminum and has a big rubber logo in the middle, and there is also the convenient Speed Safe thumb stud opening, which is always a big plus in our book.
Even though it’s not flawless, we think that the TAC FORCE folding EDC knife brings great value for the price that you’ll pay for it. It’s a simple, cheap blade that can help you with the standard cutting, peeling, and slicing operations. If you’re looking for an affordable but functional option, this would definitely be it!
DOWNSIDE:
Our main complaint about the TAC FORCE Spring Assisted Opening model is the fact that its blade doesn’t always fold all the way to the end, which could cause some damage to other items that you’re carrying in your pocket – to your smartphone, for example.
Ontario 8848 RAT Folding Knife – Best Budget Knife
- Quality 93%
- Design 89%
- Blade 78%
- Price 82%
FEATURE:
When it comes to dimensions, the 8848 RAT knife has an overall length of some 8.6″, and it weighs around 5 ounces. The design, in our opinion, is a solid one – it is minimalistic and straightforward, but the whole thing still looks very appealing. The blade of 8848 features the drop point shape, and is a great tool for slicing – we were very pleased with the results during the testing period. The biggest problem with the blade is the cheap coating that the Ontario uses to cover it, and we noticed that it started wearing off on the very first day of the testing.
Nevertheless, the steel underneath the coating is the AUS8, made in Japan, which is quite sturdy and very easy to sharpen. The RAT’s handle, on the other hand, is made from Zytel (a sort of plastic material) and feels quite nice in the hand. The overall ergonomics are satisfying – the people with bigger hands will certainly like the size of the handle (5″).
Inexpensive but still very functional, the Ontario 8848 RAT is an excellent choice for the campers who are looking for a cheap option. This certainly isn’t the best EDC knife that your money can buy but it’s still something worth considering for purchase.
DOWNSIDE:
Other than the cheap coating on the blade, there aren’t many things to dislike about this model. The people with smaller hands might find it too big and hard to operate with.
Kershaw 1600 Chive SpeedSafe – Impressive Quality and Design
- Quality 90%
- Design 96%
- Blade 94%
- Price 88%
FEATURE:
When it comes to materials, the Chive’s blade was made out of 420HC stainless steel, while the 410 stainless steel was used as a primary material for the handle. As we already said in the intro, this is a quite small knife, but it still feels good to use it, and its size doesn’t affect how easy it is to operate with it and to keep it clean. After all, the EDC items are supposed to be small!
The blade features the so-called drop point shape, and its 420HC steel that we mentioned has high amounts of chrome and carbon, which was done in order to increase the model’s resistance against corrosion. The handle has a single position pocket clip and isn’t suitable for the left-handed people. We were pleased to see the Speed Safe system, which enhances the opening mechanism and makes the whole operation of opening and closing a breeze to do. There is also an additional tip lock, which is there to prevent the blade’s opening while the model is inside your pocket.
As you can see, this tiny blade has a lot of good things going for it – it’s ergonomic, sharp, and easy to handle. For such a small EDC knife, it certainly has an impressive quality and design, and it deserves our recommendation.
DOWNSIDE:
Other than the cheap coating on the blade, there aren’t many things to dislike about this model. The people with smaller hands might find it too big and hard to operate with.
Folding EDC Knives – Quick Comparison
Those were our reviews of the currently most popular folding EDC knives on the market – see how they compare and find the one that suits your needs the best. There’s a pocket knife for everyone’s taste and budget, and we’re sure you’ll find one to your liking.
| Image | Name | Impression | Rating | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SPYDERCO PARAMILITARY2 BLACK G-10 | Perfect EDC Blade | 4.9/5 | Fetch Best Price |
|
KERSHAW KEN ONION BLUR FOLDING KNIFE | Quality Everyone Can Afford | 4.2/5 | Fetch Best Price |
|
BENCHMADE – MINI GRIPTILIAN 556 | Great EDC Choice | 4.6/5 | Fetch Best Price |
|
SPYDERCO TENACIOUS FOLDING KNIFE | Great Pocket Knife | 4.4/5 | Fetch Best Price |
|
COLUMBIA RIVER KNIFE AND TOOL SQUID | Compact EDC Folder | 3.9/5 | Fetch Best Price |
|
TAC FORCE SPRING ASSISTED OPENING | Great Value for Money | 3.8/5 | Fetch Best Price |
|
ONTARIO 8848 RAT FOLDING KNIFE | Best Budget Knife | 4.0/5 | Fetch Best Price |
|
KERSHAW 1600 CHIVE SPEEDSAFE | Impressive Quality and Design | 4.1/5 | Fetch Best Price |
What to Look for When Choosing the Best EDC Knife
The Purpose
In our opinion, this would be the most important consideration. You should ask yourself what would you like to use your pocket knife for, and what do you want it to do. Even though most of the modern EDC knives can do almost anything, you should know that some certain models are better suited for some particular jobs. If you, for example, work in a warehouse, you will probably use your folding knife to cut open the boxes. If you’re living on a farm, you’ll probably need the blade for opening bales of hay, cutting ropes, and similar jobs.
The Weight and Size
As you will probably be carrying your EDC blade with you at all times, it will need to be small and light. Yes, there are certainly bigger knives that can help you with the tougher jobs, but the EDC ones are all about practicality – you will be using them for some simpler things. The thing that you should consider here is how you intend to carry it – if you’re going to carry it in your pocket, it should be very lightweight and small. If you’ll carry it in the gear bag, it can be a little bigger and weigh more.
The Blade Type
The edge, or, in other words, the sharp side of your blade, could be either plain or serrated. Both variants have their advantages – the serrated blades are the ones that make cutting and slicing an easy task to do, while the plain ones will allow you to make really accurate cuts. There are, of course, blades that come with edges that are only partly serrated, which will give you more options once the need arises. If you don’t know what sort of cutting you’re mostly going to do, go for the plain edge.
The Material
In most of the cases, the blade parts are made from stainless steel. This is the most popular option, as the stainless steel has a lot of advantages – it has the durability, the strength, and the rust resistance, and you can’t go wrong by buying a folding knife with a blade made from this material. On the other hand, the best materials for the handle are the Zytel and the G-10, both of which are superb and feel great in hand.
The Features
Since the EDC knives aren’t actually multi-tools, it would be wise to keep things here as simple as it is possible. In our opinion, there are only three essential features that you should look for, and these would be the pocket clip, the sharp tipped blade, and the glass breaking butt. None of these traits are a real necessity, but they can certainly come in handy (or even life-saving) in certain situations. Also, we would advise you to avoid the rubber grips, as they can quickly degrade, and the gimmicky additions such as compasses and similar things. They often don’t work well and make your EDC knife less sturdy.
Conclusion
Spyderco Paramilitary2 Black G-10
- Overall Impression 98%
As we already said, a pocket (folding) knife is one of the most important EDC items, coming handy in all sorts of situations. With so many different models on today’s market, we have selected and reviewed the most popular ones – check out our honest and unbiased reviews, and we’re sure that you’ll find a blade that will serve for many years. All of these pocket knives that we’ve tested are good in their own ways and come with their own sets of advantages and disadvantages. The product of our choice would definitely be the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 – even though it’s more expensive than the other models, it brings unmatched quality, design, and the performance, and is surely one of the best models that we’ve ever reviewed.
One other model that deserves our big recommendation would be the Kershaw 1600 Chive. This tiny pocket knife is something that surprised us in almost every way – it’s very easy to handle due to its ergonomics and has a sharp blade that’s suitable for the most kinds of everyday jobs. Definitely consider it for purchase if you’re looking for a small but versatile blade.
We hope that we’ve helped you – now it’s time to choose an EDC knife that you like the most!