10 Best EDC Knives (Review) In 2021

We’ve selected the Kershaw Clash Pocket Knife as our best choice of the best EDC knives for several reasons. For one, it’s one of the lightest knives you’ll come across, making it easy to handle and ensuring excellent control to prevent any accidents. Despite this, it still has enough weight behind it to cut and slice through whatever you need. It’s partially serrated, which gives you versatile options depending on what you need to use it for, and the texture glass-filled nylon handle is secure and comfortable to hold. It won’t react badly to sweat or damp palms, which further ensures safety.

The 3.1” blade is long enough for a variety of applications, and with SpeedSafe assisted opening, fast deployment, and a secure locking system, you’ve got a knife that will provide years of excellent performance. For convenience, there is also a pocket clip to keep it safe and secure on your person, because losing it in the middle of a hike could spell disaster. Our guide to the best machetes features more amazing blades you might like, so check them out.

The CRKT Pilar EDC Folding Pocket Knife is a fantastic mid-range option that’s ideal for all levels of EDC experience. The thumb slot blade deployment isn’t just convenient, but it’ll make you feel cooler than you’ve ever felt before. We know this isn’t the point of knives, but it’s always a nice feeling, regardless.

The satin blade finish ensures longevity, and this longevity goes further with the bead blast handle finish to deliver a product durable from top to bottom. It also comes with a limited lifetime warranty, so if you encounter any defects, you should be able to sort those out easily enough. It’s perfectly balanced, and the 2.4” blade is suitable for a range of everyday tasks including opening boxes or parcels or cutting rope. It may struggle with more demanding tasks, though. Altogether, it’s sleek, it’s easy to grip, and with a slim profile and compact folded design, you’ll be able to be discreet wherever you go.

For rugged performance, the Smith & Wesson M&P Ultra-Glide Folding Knife is one of the best knives you’ll come across and at under $30, it’s also one of the most affordable you’ll find for such quality, too. It boasts a 3.5” blade constructed using black oxide coated high carbon stainless steel that ensures a sharp and durable edge for years to come.

The smooth gliding system delivers satisfying operation, so if you’re still on the fence about whether everyday carry knives are for you, this could be the thing to finally convince you. The handle is over-molded with rubber for a secure grip, which increased your confidence and provides peace of mind when using it. There are dual thumb studs to appeal to both lefties and righties, and there’s also a lanyard hole for easy portability but there’s also a pocket clip if you prefer. The finger guard will offer protection, too, so you shouldn’t have any accidents when learning how to use it. For more handy everyday carry gear, check out our selection of the best multitools.

The CRKT Ripsnort EDC Folding Knife boasts something a little different to the other knives we’ve selected so far today, and this something is the interesting cleave-style blade rather than the more traditional, pointed or serrated design you see elsewhere. Other than this, though, it still operates very much the same way, including a clever flipper opening for convenience and speed while still offering locking liner safety to keep your fingers (and anyone else’s) safe from harm. The satin finish ensures longevity, and the 3.9” blade is construction using durable stainless steel to impress even the most scrutinizing survival and knife experts.

There is also a limited lifetime warranty included, which allows you to deal with any unforeseen issues immediately, and as for carrying, the discreet deep pocket clip means you go wherever you please and always be ready to be the hero, or just open a tin of beans when you make it back to camp (we’ll not tell anyone you forgot the tin opener).

If you’re new to the world of EDC and are looking for an easy entry-level option, the Grand Way Spring Assisted Knife is the best EDC knife you’ll find in terms of value. Despite the price, it’s still not too cheap that you’ll feel you’re getting scammed, and with 440C stainless steel, you can still feel confident completing most EDC tasks.

It works with a folding spring assist and also has a reliable liner lock for added safety which is dirt and dust resistant to keep it fully operational for years to come and prevent any mistakes and accidents. It also comes with a huge 10-year warranty, so you can feel your purchase is in safe hands. The blade measures 3.42”, which is an average blade length that shouldn’t give you too much trouble and the attached pocket clip makes it easy to secure to your pants or inside your jacket for easy access should you need it in a hurry. Our guide to the best wood axes features more quality cutting tools, so check them out.

Moving from extreme to another when discussing the price of everyday carry knives, the CRKT Crossbones EDC Folding Knife is our premium choice for experts or anyone who loves having the best of the best, regardless of whether they need it or not.

The low-profile flipper opening helps it stay discreet and hidden on your person or in your backpack and the stain finish along the 3.9” blade, constructed using 1.4116 stainless steel, delivers an extra dimension of quality and durability for more intensive demands. The plain edge may not offer the versatility of serrated blades, but it’s still sharp enough to deliver high performance. We also love the handle that looks like something out of the 60s that we can’t yet put our finger on, and it’s easy to hold, easy to grip., and with the aluminum construction, it’s also something you can rely on.

Available in three treatment styles to suit the more experienced blade-handlers, the Harnds Vanguard Compact EDC Folding Knife is a versatile and easy to hold option perfect for those on the cusp of upgrading their knife but perhaps don’t want to commit too much just yet.

The 3.66” blade length comprises D2 steel for some of the most reliable edge-holding and sturdiness around, while the plain edge gives it a simple but effective design that you can guarantee is reliable no matter what you need to use it for. It boasts a liner lock for your safety and there is also a reversible two-position pocket clip that allows you to use it in both hands. The ballistic nylon sheath is also an excellent inclusion, and it offers another dimension of protection for the blade and handle when it’s not in use. To always keep your blade sharp, be sure to invest in some of the best knife sharpeners from our list.

We’ve seen a variety of knife styles so far but the SOG Folding Pocket Knife is perhaps closer to the tactical combat image that conjures up when you speak of EDC, but this isn’t a bad thing. If anything, it just makes us love it even more.

With stylish one-handed opening functions and easy-access lockback, it’s a massively intuitive and user-friendly option, even if you’re not that experienced with using a knife. The hardcased black stainless steel blade measures 3.6”, while the overall length measures 8.3” and closed length (or just handle length) being 4.63” if you can’t be bothered to do the math on that one. The clip point blade feels solid, and it adds to the overall look of the knife that balances simplicity with performance marvelously. 

The Kershaw Blackwash Drop-Point Knife is an EDC knife that keeps on giving, and even if you have it for years, you’ll still find days where you are surprised with just how excellently it performs in a variety of everyday, survival, or outdoor tasks. It’s a one-handed flipper with a 420HC steel blade, and this blade is treated with carbon and chromium to provide extra strength and fight corrosion.

The BlackWash finish also hides scratches, which are bound to happen no matter how much you try to avoid them, and the secure locking system keeps the blade in place and prevent slippage when using it. It’s also fast to deploy, so you shouldn’t struggle in an emergency ever again. The handle is as durable as the blade is, while the pocket clip provides a convenient carry option, but we wouldn’t recommend keeping it in your back pocket. We’re sure we don’t need to explain why. 

The final choice in our selection of the best EDC knives is the Grand Way Folding Knife which like our other Grand Way pick is affordable, which could prove appealing for those looking at their first-ever EDC knife or if you’re a parent hoping to gift your kid one for their birthday.

The steel is tough and durable while the spring-assisted design makes it easy to deploy when needed, but there’s also a liner lock that guarantees safety and security. You’ll also get dual thumb studs for both left- and right-handed users, and there’s also a pocket clip, but you should expect that by now, anyway. The handle is ergonomic, which provides comfort and is especially useful if you need to use it to whittle branches while camping or chop through miles of rope to save the damsel in distress tied to the train tracks.