If you’ve never heard of EDC knives before, they’re not exactly a specific category of knives, but a designation for knives that you use on a regular basis, hence the name “everyday carry”. This means that your EDC knife should fit your lifestyle and day-to-day tasks.
Additionally, your EDC knife should be one that fits your budget, has a comfortable grip, and a blade that can accomplish the things you expect to do on the regular.
A straight-edge blade works well for people who expect to use their EDC knife for cutting and peeling fruit during lunch breaks, for example, while a knife with a jagged edge will work better for those who need a knife for cutting firewood.
TOP CHOICES
Best Overall
CIVIVI Pocket Folding Knife
- Carbon fiber handle.
- Damascus steel blade.
- Belt clip included.
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Best Value
QSP Knife Osprey Folding Knife
- Textured copper handle.
- Stonewash blade.
- Reversible tip-up clip.
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Best Budget
CIVIVI Praxis Flipper Pocket Knife C803F
- Lightweight handle.
- Thin blade point.
- Belt clip included.
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1CIVIVI Pocket Folding Knife
Best Overall
The CIVIVI Pocket Folding Knife is a beautiful Damascus steel straight-edged knife sharpened on one side. The knife folds smoothly in and out of the handle thanks to the ceramic ball bearings that pin it in place.
Speaking of the handle, this knife comes with a small clip that lets you attach it to your belt or belt loop so you can carry it without it having to take up space in your pocket.
If you take a closer look at its edge, you’ll notice a serrated portion that you can use for sawing into objects.
Unfortunately, this has a drawback because the combo knife blade means that you have less serrated knife and less straight-edge knife to go around which makes working slightly inefficient. That said, this is an EDC knife so the combo purpose is more of an advantage than a drawback.
PROS
- Carbon fiber handle.
- Damascus steel blade.
- Belt clip included.
CONS
- Combo blade can be inefficient in some situations.
2QSP Knife Osprey Folding Knife
Best Value
The QSP Knife Osprey Folding Knife is an affordable EDC knife with a textured copper handle and a thin, 3.25-inch blade.
Right off the bat, you’ll notice how light this knife is and how fluid it feels in your hand. It has a liner lock mechanism that isn’t quite as smooth as the ceramic bearings or as strong as frame lock, but does the job just fine.
It has a smooth, straight-edged blade that’s built for pairing and slashing into objects. Of course, the blackwash makes it a little harder to maintain, but the knife does have satin blade options.
PROS
- Textured copper handle.
- Stonewash blade.
- Reversible tip-up clip.
CONS
- Blackwash blade is harder to maintain than a satin one.
3CIVIVI Praxis Flipper Pocket Knife C803F
Best Budget
The CIVIVI Praxis Flipper Pocket Knife C803F is one of the best folding knives you can find under a $50 price tag. It’s small, lightweight, compact, and practically disappears in your pocket.
The knife uses a ball-bearing pivot mechanism that keeps the knife sliding in and out of the handle smoothly.
As for the handle itself, it has ergonomic finger grips that make it comfortable for long periods of use.
PROS
- Lightweight handle.
- Thin blade point.
- Belt clip included.
CONS
- Blackwash blade is harder to maintain. than a satin one
4Kershaw Leek Pocket Knife
The Kershaw Leek Pocket Knife is a pocket knife with a slender Sandvick 14C28N blade that has one of the thinnest points you can find on an EDC knife at its price point.
Its 3-inch blade disappears into a stainless steel handle, giving it a sleek, minimalist look. This has made the Kershaw Leek Pocket Knife popular among people who like their knives to be functional yet look great.
The handle isn’t always the most comfortable, though, especially if you tend to have sweaty palms. But overall, it’s a good quality knife that looks amazing.
PROS
- Beautifully designed.
- Incredibly lightweight.
- Short, thin blade that's perfect for slicing.
CONS
- Handle can be a bit slippery sometimes.
- Some customers report that the tip dulls quickly.
5Kershaw Bracket Cleaver Pocket Knife
The Kershaw Bracket Cleaver Pocket Knife looks a little odd for an EDC knife because of its cleaver blade. While it still folds neatly into the handle, the knife’s blade shape does make it a bit wider than most pocket knives.
Having said that, the cleaver makes this blade a better tool for chopping and cutting than other knives and gives you more space for pushing the blade down on objects.
This is a great knife for people who like to cook outdoors.
It has a length of 3.4 inches and a textured, thin handle that gives you just the right amount of grip for maneuvering the blade.
PROS
- Unique, cleaver-style blade.
- Grippy handle.
- Secured with a frame lock mechanism.
CONS
- Knife might be a bit too large for some users.
6CJRB Folding Knife Feldspar Pocket Folding Knife
The CJRB Folding Knife Feldspar Pocket Folding Knife has a stonewashed blade that comes in at around 3.53 inches in length. The blade tapers into a fine point and is perfect for cutting and slicing wood and food items.
CJRB knives use a special steel called AR-RPM9 that keeps its edge for longer periods. It’s an incredibly beginner-friendly knife that doesn’t require a ton of maintenance and is easy to sharpen.
The knife has a very comfortable grip and leaves no metal parts exposed and biting into your hand.
PROS
- Fully-covered handle.
- Easy to maintain.
- Doesn't dull quickly.
CONS
- Not a full tang knife.
- Uses a slightly less durable liner lock versus a frame lock.
