The 9 Best Pocket Knives of 2024 - Pocket and Folding Knife Reviews

Oct 31, 2024

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A knife is one of the most convenient and useful tools you can carry. These are the ones worth buying.

Pocket knives are essential equipment for the outdoors, but even for modern urban and suburban folks, it’s hard to make it through a day without needing a blade at some point. Its uses are wide-ranging and varied. Whether you’re building a lean-to, opening an Amazon box, slicing fruit, prying apart clamshell packaging, making kindling for a fire, (we can go on....), a pocket knife is a do-it-all tool that makes life hassle-free. In fact, I can share that it’s challenging to get along without one once you’ve carried a pocket knife regularly.

The good and bad news about pocket knives: there’s more choice than ever. The top brands that manufacture EDC (Everyday Carry) pocket knives offer an array of designs, shapes, lengths, materials, and colors. Not surprisingly, you can get lost in comparing steel characteristics, handle materials, lock mechanisms, and weights, but in the end, there aren’t many bad knives out there as long as you stick to an established brand. Prices range from under $20 to thousands for custom and limited-edition pocket knives, but there’s no guarantee you’ll love them. That's why I have focused on commonly available knife models rather than more obscure or collector versions.

To find what's right for you, focus on the size and style of knife that fits your hands and lifestyle. Do you need a sturdy, durable blade that you don’t have to baby or do you prefer a surgically sharp, nimble, and light blade for detailed tasks? Read on for some of the many options available and to zero in on the folder that’s right for you.

When considering knives for everyday carry (EDC), look for a folding option that fits on your belt or in your pocket when closed. It should be light enough to carry comfortably but with a blade and handle sized to your liking. Most blades in this category measure from 2- to 3.5-inches long and have a drop-point shape.

Many handles range from 3.5- to 5-inches. Get a folding knife that locks out. It won’t close on your fingers during use, which makes it safer, and the stiffness of a locking blade lets you manipulate it at a variety of angles, like while whittling wood or opening a particularly tricky package. Plus, you can use the back of the blade for things like fire sparking rods without it closing or bending on you.

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The three most common material categories for pocket knives are carbon, stainless steel, and tool steel. Carbon steel is easy to sharpen, holds an edge well, and is durable, but the blade takes more care because the metal is prone to corrosion. Types of carbon steel include 420HC, XC90, and 1095.

Stainless steel isn’t as hardy as carbon, but with the addition of chromium, the blade is less susceptible to corrosion. Stainless blades are often cheaper than their carbon counterparts, too. Choose stainless, like AUS-8, VG-10, or 8Cr13MoV, and its cousins in the 9Cr and 7Cr series if you will mostly be using your knife on the water, to process game, or to prepare dinner while camping.

There’s also tool steel, which can contain titanium, molybdenum, vanadium, or other elements. The result is generally a strong blade with good edge retention and decent corrosion resistance (though not as good as stainless). Popular tool steels include D2, CPM S30V, and CPM S35VN.

Most importantly, find a knife that fits your hand and feels good in your pocket. Even if you ultimately buy online, it can be worth a trip to an outdoor store where you can handle a wide range of knives and get a sense for the size and style that works best for you.

Liner: One side of the handle’s inner liner is bent, causing it to act like a spring. When you open the blade, that springing liner slides over behind the tang of the blade to keep it from closing. Pro: Simple and inexpensive. Con: Fingers are in the way when closing.

Frame: Similar to a liner lock, this system has one side of the knife’s frame slide behind the blade when you deploy it. Pro: Secure. Con: Doesn’t work with both hands.

Lockback: A locking bar runs up the spine of the knife’s handle and springs up into a notch in the tang. To close, press on the bar close to the butt of the handle to pivot it out of the tang. Pro: Ambidextrous. Con: Can wear out, causing the blade to wiggle when deployed.

Crossbar: A steel bar passes through the knife handle and slots into a notch in the tang. It’s significantly stronger than a liner lock, and you don’t have to adjust your grip to operate it. Benchmade’s proprietary Axis was first to market, but it’s now joined by SOG’s XR mechanism and others. Pro: Ambidextrous. Con: More small parts that can break.

Collar: A circular collar around the base of the blade twists to lock it closed or open. Line up the gap in the collar with the blade for unimpeded deployment. Pro: Simple. Con: Collar can wear out over time and not operate as smoothly.

I frequently test and write about knives, so I make an effort to review all the new offerings from major knife brands that I realistically can. While I have my favorites, I constantly have different pocket knives in my rotation, putting them to work opening boxes, sharpening pencils, prying things open, scraping off paint, cleaning fish, cutting meat and vegetables, and doing lots of other things that pocket knives probably aren’t really designed to do.

For this roundup, I also relied on the previous work of Popular Mechanics editors and writers who, using strict evaluation criteria, tested single-blade, plain-edge knives, and a few smaller multi-tools built with portability in mind. The combination of all these efforts has resulted in the recommendations below.

The Twitch II has earned many fans over the years. It’s sized just right, easy to open, and has delivered consistently strong results throughout testing. The stainless-steel blade, housed in a simple and sleek-looking aluminum handle, is substantial enough for a variety of tasks, yet the knife retains a modest, slim profile. It is comfortable to carry in your pocket and attaches securely to a belt.

There are a few ways to deploy the blade, including a thumb stud on each side (lefties, rejoice). Many prefer the kick— Sometimes called a flipper, this triangular tab sits at the end of a knife’s tang and protrudes from the handle when the blade is closed. Pressing it down with your index finger swings the blade out nearly all the way (with help from a coil spring), and it locks into place with a small tug upward. Once open, the kick doubles as a finger guard.

Under relatively little pressure, the knife made even, smooth cuts. The blade slid into an apple on contact, though it needed greater force to completely slice through. It also finished among top performers for the cord and zip tie testing, cleanly cleaving the fasteners with a modest amount of force.

A small sliding lock on the handle adds extra assurance that the blade won't deploy accidentally. After more than a year of frequent use, this knife is still in fine form, though some paint has chipped off the handle. If you’re looking for a trusty EDC that delivers quality at a reasonable cost, the Twitch doesn’t disappoint.

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The Opinel has remained virtually unchanged for decades, thanks to its low cost, effectiveness, and light weight. You can buy it with a stainless-steel blade, but the incredible affordability of the carbon model is a no-brainer. The No. 8 delivers one of the best cuts when slicing apples, its sharp tip makes quick work of zip ties, and it punctures packaging swiftly.

Although there is no belt clip, the collar lock affords peace of mind when the knife is in your pocket. There’s absolutely no chance of the 3.3-inch blade will deploy accidentally. Plus, it keeps the blade open when additional rigidity is needed. However, it does take some effort to rotate the collar and lift the blade with the nail nick, which makes deploying this knife slower than all the others.

The beech wood handle, one of the most comfortable in this roundup, is a uniform cylinder, save for a taper just before the pommel. The wood construction keeps the weight in check.

That a sub–2-ounce knife can sport a blade this long and capable is impressive, making the No. 8 a worthwhile pick. Looking to make it one of a kind? Opinel offers custom engraving (for an additional fee of $6 or $8 depending on the location of your text).

It’s easy to find cheap pocket knives. You can walk into Walmart and get a serviceable blade for under $5 if that’s your only criterion.

Finding a pocket knife under $100 that you actually enjoy using and will last more than a few months without rusting or breaking is another matter. I’ve tested a lot of Civivi’s lower-priced folders over the years . They've all been decent, but the Regulatron, while one of the cheaper options in the line, is a substantial blade, and one of my favorites for EDC. It’s a wider blade with a deeper belly and more substantial handle.

Some of the Civivi folders I’ve used were been thin and light, but the Regulatron is at its thickest at the hinge, which makes for a sturdy build. Go ahead and pry with it—you won't be afraid. The wider, flat-grind blade is also great for slicing and maintaining a steady cut.

I also love the aesthetic of the blacked-out version that I tested, which pairs a textured black micarta handle with a black powdered-coated Nitro V blade. If there’s a downside to the blade, it’s that you won’t get a completely unconditional warranty at this price point, though Civivi does offer a lifetime warranty for workmanship failures.

For a blade that deploys as fast as possible, go with a spring-assisted knife. You likely won't find one better than Kershaw’s Link. The blade popped open as soon as I pulled down on the kick with my index finger and stopped at full extension with a satisfying click. In fact, it is so pleasing to open I had to stop myself from popping it in and out just for fun to avoid wearing out the mechanism.

What’s more, the one-handed operation is just as easy with your non-dominant side, so the Link is a decent ambidextrous choice. As for the performance of the blade itself, the carbon steel doesn't disappoint, providing an even cut for whatever is needed. The Link isn't as well suited to finer detail work, though, like coring apples, but that shouldn't be expected from a blade with this type of design.

While I love Benchmade knives, most of their folders are slim, ultralight options that feel more sports car-like than diesel truck-like. The PSK is thicker, longer, and almost three times as heavy as the brand's popular Bugout (which is recommended in our roundup as well for different reasons).

The PSK uses Benchmade’s excellent AXIS locking mechanism, which is made even more robust with thick G10 scales and the addition of a sliding lock to prevent accidental opening. This build gives it a stiffness and structural integrity that rivals that of a fixed-blade knife of similar dimensions—this way you can employ it in prying, digging, and splitting tasks at camp that you’d hesitate to try with most Benchmade folders.

Benchmade says PSK stands for Personal Survival Kit, and they built in an unsharpened section right before the handle designed for generating sparks with a ferro rod when that’s your only fire-starting option.

The CPM Magnacut blade is a stainless steel drop-point that is reinforced with a Cobalt Cerakote finish. Despite being a more substantial model, the PSK still looks and feels like a Benchmade knife, so it’s a great option for Benchmade fans that want a bigger blade they can beat on and trust in survival situations.

The downside is that, for some, this will be too bulky and heavy for everyday use and may be a specialty blade for outdoor adventures only.

In 2020, Benchmade released this pint-size version of its popular Bugout folder. The Mini is lighter (by about three-tenths of an ounce), shorter (the overall lengths differ by just over 1-inch), and features a blade that’s nearly a half-inch smaller.

Still, the pint-size knife packs explosive cutting power. The CPM S30V blade quickly and cleanly cut through food, cardboard, and rope of all sizes when tested, and the textured Grivory handle felt comfortable and secure even when laid into.

If you're a fan of crossbar locking mechanisms, the Mini proves its Axis is the one to beat. The spring that disengages the lock has a healthy yet smooth resistance, letting you neatly tuck the blade away. There’s nothing subtle about the neon orange case, but that can be a bonus when this is in your hiking pack. The bright color is easy to spot, even in low light.

If that's not your style, try the 533BK-1 model, which has a white handle and black blade. Given the knife’s 1.5-ounce build, you may, as our testers did, frequently forget it's in your pocket or holstered on your belt, ultimately making it a convenient option to carry everywhere. This is one featherlight EDC that doesn’t slouch on performance and is worth the expense.

Case Knives started way back in 1889 in upstate New York, where I grew up. In part because my grandfather carried one in his pocket on his dairy farm, I have a soft spot for classic Case knives. But a knife that you drop in your pocket just isn’t as practical as one with a clip, and a knife without a locking mechanism can be dangerous if, like me, you’re accustomed to modern, lock-out knives.

That’s why I was excited to see Case add lines of more modern EDC pocket knives to its lineup like the Marilla, which has won over modern knife users since its launch in 2021.

This is a mid-sized knife, but feels longer than its 3.4-inch blade, thanks to a gradually tapered, almost filet-like drop-point blade that’s great for gutting fish or dressing wild game in the field. The company’s knives use modern materials like anodized aluminum and G10 fiberglass inlay in the handle, but they’re still made in Bradford, Pa. (approx. 80 miles south of Buffalo, N.Y.), and the S35VN steel comes from upstate New York where Case got its start.

At 3.6 ounces, this knife feels substantial, and the reliable frame lock paired with the thick blade and handle mean you won’t hesitate to shuck an oyster with it in hand. The flipper mechanism is smooth and fast for one-handed opening and closing—there’s even a satisfying audible and tactile click into both the open and closed positions.

The Delica has been a staple in the Spyderco lineup for more than 30 years, and the fourth generation includes styles with different blade steels, edges, and shapes, as well as various handles. The standard model features a sharp VG-10 blade that excelled in tests at slicing—due to its fully flat-ground design—and it ripped through materials—particularly our rope— without hesitation.

Deploying the blade is simple thanks to Spyderco’s hallmark circular thumb hole, measuring a generous 13 millimeters. The fiberglass reinforced nylon handle has textured molding for better traction, a finger guard, and subtle finger grooves.

Add in the jimping notches on the blade’s spine, and you won't ever have to worry about slipping with your grip. Lastly, the handle’s stiff belt clip is reversible—a perk for lefties—and can be reinstalled for tip-down carry, if that’s your thing.

Altogether, the Delica 4 is a capable EDC and an especially great option for people who regularly get their hands dirty and need a knife that will stay put.

Tactical often implies a military aesthetic, along with lots of ostentatious features and add-ons that announce themselves a mile away, much like wearing a combat helmet to a bluegrass concert.

The James Brand’s Elko is small but mighty— a tactical-light option for those who want quiet capability coupled with concealment. This knife is small yet not impractically so—sporting a 1.74-inch blade. The entire package is less than a half-inch thick. (If you want a knife with more tactical chops with “tactical” right in the name, check out 5.11 Tactical’s ESC Rescue knife which has a glass-breaker, belt cutter, and regular drop-point blade in one rugged and affordable package.)

It is suggested by the manufacturer to attach the Elko to your key ring via the scraper/prybar/bottle opener/glass breaker end, but it’s more easily deployed tucked into a fifth pocket (there’s no clip).

This isn’t a big, tough-guy knife—it’s small in the hand—so it’s readily concealed when you don’t want anyone with eyes to be able to tell you’re carrying a blade. With The James Brand’s more modern, minimalist aesthetic, it’s also a savvy option for city dwellers who want to carry a good-looking knife without the obvious pocket clip showing on their work slacks.

How long of a blade should I carry?

Blade length is a personal preference, but there are a few factors to guide you. First is legality. Most states have some kind of restrictions on what knives you can carry on your person.

Even in wild west Colorado where I live, it is illegal to carry a blade longer than 3.5 inches “concealed” which would include “in your pocket.” In New York state where I grew up, switchblades are illegal and you must be a U.S. citizen to even own a knife, but there are no concealed carry restrictions. Check your state laws here.

Outside of local laws, consider how a knife fits in your hand. A knife that feels tiny and awkward to someone with large hands might be perfect for someone else. If you’re not already a regular pocket knife carrier, stop into an outdoors store where you can handle a wide range of knives and see what feels good. Most people will feel comfortable with blades in the 2.5- to 3-inch range, though folks with larger hands may want something bigger.

How should I keep my pocket knife sharp?

I’ll start with a caution—that you may not want a surgically sharp pocket knife. Because I use my pocket knife so frequently and casually, I don’t like to be as cautious as you have to be with an ultra-sharp blade.

I experimented with carrying a replaceable blade knife for a few months and I ended up giving myself several minor but annoying slices. That said, any knife will eventually require sharpening. Most pocket knives have a fairly obtuse 20-degree or higher blade angle, which makes them less challenging to sharpen yourself.

Knife sharpening is a skill that’s not easy to master (learn how here), but there are tools available to help. While whetstone sharpening is soothing in a Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance sort of way, you probably already have a pull-through sharpener somewhere (check kitchen drawers).

These sharpeners aren’t the perfect sharpening solution, but they’re relatively idiot-proof and good enough to perk up your blade. I personally have started using the Work Sharp Ken Onion Edition Knife and Tool Sharpener which lets you adjust for blade angle and uses a series of electrically driven belts for a fairly quick sharpen, though it does require a bit of practice to use well.

If all of this sounds like something you’ll never bother with, there are lots of mail-in sharpening services such as The Sharp Brothers, who will professionally sharpen your blades for a fee. Many manufacturers offer similar services. Benchmade, for example, has a LifeSharp program that gives you free sharpening for any Benchmade knife. Some manufacturers such as Kershaw also offer blade replacement (often for a fee) if you’ve broken or otherwise damaged your blade beyond repair.

How much should a good pocket knife cost?

This is both a surprisingly common and difficult-to-answer question. Obviously personal budget comes into play, but so do your preferences. Despite considering myself a pocket knife enthusiast, I carried a cheap pocket knife from Walmart for years that cost me literally $1. The company raised the price to $2 at some point. Those knives would rust at the hinge, but they did the trick and were great for putting in my checked luggage. I wouldn’t worry about losing it at my destination and wouldn’t cry if TSA took it.

While I can’t recommend buying $2 knives in good conscience for most circumstances, quality options such as the Opinel No. 8 recommended above can be had for under $20. If you’re new to knives, start out with something cheaper, definitely under $50, until you develop strong opinions about the pocket knife you prefer.

*Editor’s Note: Adrienne Donica and James Lynch contributed to this article.

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