The Five Best Knives for Everyday Wear
A reliable knife is indispensable. Whether you just use it to open boxes and bags, trim or strip cable, cut rope for camping or any outdoor activities, or just to have one in case you need it, you have there are many options. This week we’ll look at five great options based on your nominations.
Of course, trying to find the five best knives for everyday use is like asking people what their five favorite colors are, and each has a specific pantone number that they like – when we asked you about your favorite knives, you answered hundreds of options. from the lockable and foldable blades we were looking for, to some familiar names from the top five multitool recently unveiled .
Also, and we don’t have to remind you, but since it has surfaced: carrying a knife in public is not legal in all jurisdictions. Some states and countries have restrictions on certain blade sizes, only utility knives are allowed, but the blades are not fixed, and so on. Make sure you know what is legal in your area before tying the utility knife to your belt in and out, but what you use in your home to open boxes, do manual chores, or set up a campsite will likely depend on you. … For those of you unsure why you need a utility knife at all, this excellent post from Indefininite Wild offers a compelling argument worth reading. They also have some great tips on how to choose the one that’s right for you .
With that said, keep in mind that these five were based on your nominations and have been approved by other commenters, and there is no way we can include all of the great knives you suggested. Here are the ones that received the most support, in no particular order:
Kershaw Cryo
If you are looking for a simple, simple yet safe pocket knife for everyday carry, the Kershaw Cryo might be just what you need. it has a 2.75 “blade and a Speedsafe opening mechanism makes it easy to open with one hand. There is also a strike bar stabilizer so when opening the blade moves where it should go instead of half opening, and a thumb for controlled opening (which some of you said you love and others say you hate). a pocket clip on the side for easy portability, and the pocket clip can be positioned tip up or down, making it easy for left and right handers to carry the Cryo wherever it is most convenient for them. The handle and body are made of steel with a tarnish-resistant titanium carbonitride coating on the outside for texture and wear protection. It’s a small blade perfect for regular use, and as some of the reviews on Kershaw’s site point out, it’s easy to sharpen after you’ve used it for a long time, and sharp knives are safer than dull ones. If you want one, $ 25 on Amazon is all you need.
Those of you who have nominated the Kershaw Cryo praised its looks, but also noted that it is easy to open and close, especially with one hand, and that when it is open it locks in place for safe use, so you don’t have to. you need to worry about it closing on your fingers or trying to close while you are doing something. Others pointed out that assisted open is illegal in some places, while others pointed out that assisted open is exactly the thing that makes Cryo such a great knife – and safe to use. Many of you commented on its weight that it is heavier than it looks (which was good), and many of you said that you have one or are about to buy one. Check out the entire nominations thread here .
Gerber Ripstop
The Gerber Ripstop may not be the most durable or heavy-duty knife, but it impresses with its affordable price tag. Ripstop comes in several flavors, including the original Ripstop with a sharp edge and serrated edge or Ripstop II with a serrated edge . In each case, the blade body is made of durable stainless steel, and the original Ripstop has a 2.3 “blade, while the Ripstop II extends it to 3”. All models are clip-on folding knives with a light steel jumper handle, with less room for a folding mechanism that can get clogged with lint, dirt or anything else. This is not an auto-open knife and all models are equipped with double-sided fingers that allow it to be easily opened with either hand. The frame lock keeps the blade open when you use it and can also be closed with one hand. This is a simple and affordable knife that aims to be a great blade, as opposed to a heavy-duty model that allows you to do just about anything. If you want one, the Ripstop I is only $ 10 on Amazon , and the scalloped version is at the same price . However, the Ripstop II costs a little more, a whopping $ 13 on Amazon .
Those of you who have been nominated for Ripstop and Ripstop II have all said the same thing: the knife is great for the money. It won’t beat other models made with better quality steel, better materials, or a thicker blade, but for ten dollars you really can’t go wrong, especially if you lose it, break it, or just want a knife to open boxes and bags at home or in the office. … It’s small enough to be harmless, and cheap enough to be easily replaced if someone walks away with yours after borrowing it. Many of you have said that you have one or two, even if it’s not your EDC, because of the tremendous benefit of having a more affordable knife that you use for everyday things that will blunt your preferred blade. Many of you have turned to Gerber for your choice of steel – this is a comment we heard when we talked about the versatile Gerber Shard not long ago. In any case, read more in the thread of his nominations here .
Kershaw Leek
Sami Kershaw argues that leeks (specifically Kershaw Ken’s leeks) may be the ideal EDC. Its 3-inch blade is enough for day-to-day tasks like opening bags, carving patterns in fabric, cutting rope or twine, trimming plants, or anything else you need to do, but it’s not long enough to be bulky or dangerous. … … The blade represents the drop point, making it ideal for cutting and slicing, such as carving a pattern on thick paper or drawing a shallow cut on a piece of wood. It can be opened by both left-handers and right-handers, and has pre-drilled holes so you can reposition the tip to fit either hand (or move the pocket clip to either side). Like other Kershaw knives, it has a Speedsafe opening function. a mechanism that ensures the blade is fully open when you are about to open it; and a frame lock that holds the blade in position and does not close during use – both are useful safety features. Leek is available with partial teeth or full blades, whichever you prefer, and is made of stainless steel with an abrasive blast finish on the outside (in both silver and black). It will set you back $ 39 apiece. Amazon for the jagged model and $ 36 for the jagged model if you need one.
There were quite a few of you who promoted this knife in the Challenger Challenge thread. Almost all of you who commented said that you own a knife, and many of you praise its characteristics when hiking or fishing, as well as how versatile a knife can be, whether you use it at home or on street. You praised (and some of you complained) about the fineness of the leek, noting that its blade is quite thin and narrow, especially at the tip, and while some of you said it made it even better, others complained about the possibility of clicking. Others point out that leeks are the perfect balance of size, shape, ease of opening and price, which was a great compliment. For even more first-person comments and feedback (seriously, we mean a lot), check out the full nomination thread or this one to find out more.
Spyderco Endura 4 Emerson
The Spyderco Endura 4 comes in two flavors: standard and wave, which can be opened with one hand by grabbing onto the notch in the top of your trouser pocket or any other sturdy object you can lean against. … This makes it easier to open the blade if you have the other hand (à la bags, fishing or whatever), but it doesn’t feel like the traditional model is difficult to open with one hand. Which one you prefer is up to you (although the nomination was specifically for the one with the opening function!) However, in both cases, the Emerson 4 has a long, almost 4-inch blade, suitable for use almost anywhere. The blade itself is made from durable stainless steel, and the handle is made from fiberglass-reinforced nylon (FRN), which is easy to grip and hold even when wet, but does not give the fabric feel like nylon. usually associated with. The steel that the blade is made of is reinforced at the tip so it won’t break, and while it is not a knife to open with an aid, it is easy to open and close with one hand thanks to the hole in the lip on the blade. Once it opens, the blade locks securely in place until you need to close it. If you want, the standard model costs $ 65 on Amazon and the “wave” version is $ 67 on Amazon .
Those of you who put it forward said you got your Emersons in the military or other military, and many reviews on Emerson’s website and Amazon support this idea. You have praised the strength of steel almost everywhere, how long Emerson blades generally hold the blade, and the knife’s versatility and durability. This is a bit long in some jurisdictions, but many of you have pointed out applications where longer blades are more useful, such as hunting, camping or fishing, not to mention cutting rope, tying knots, repairing vehicles, cutting lengths of hose or cable. , etc. This is definitely a heavy duty knife, but some of you have pointed out that this is the last knife you will ever need (and one of you said that you pass your kid on, which is huge). You can read more. in its nomination thread here .
Opinel No. 7 Carbon
Opinel No. 7 definitely looks like a knife. While many of the others here look like utility knives or so-called “tactical” knives, the # 7 wooden handle and carbon steel blade look completely different. Despite its impressive appearance, it is not a huge knife – the blade is just over 3 inches long, and when open, the entire knife is just over 7 inches long, so it fits well in the hand and is small enough for normal tasks. This is a non-assisted blade, but you need to use it a little to learn how to use one hand. There is a metal ring around the base of the blade that you twist to lock the blade in place and twist back to unlock and close the knife. And many of you have mentioned (and rightly corrected us) that the knife also closes. It might look imposing, but many people said it was a cool knife thanks to its polished beech handle and short blade. However, both the wood handle and the carbon fiber blade require maintenance, which some other knives cannot – carbon steel needs lubrication (although not much sharpening), and wood can wear out with use and swell with moisture. Among other things, this is still a pretty knife and can be bought on Amazon for $ 10 .
Those of you who nominated him were definitely in the “cool” camp, and I can get behind him. Have you noticed that going to a picnic and using it to cut an apple sends a different message than grabbing a huge tactical knife to do the same, and even if the “message” is not important to you, this is a quality knife with quality materials at a bargain basement price … Some of you have pointed out that the fact that it is difficult to use with one hand and the thick wood handle make it a poor choice as an EDC, which is certainly a fair criticism. However, there have been quite a few comments in his defense on all of these points, and some of you who have mentioned that you have one, or preferred the slightly longer Opinel No 8 Carbon instead (which, by the way, has its own thread nominations ). Anyway, check out the # 7 nomination thread here .
Now that you’ve seen the top 5, let’s define the community favorite Lifehacker:
Honorable mentions
There are a lot of honorable mentions this week, but we’ll suggest a few alternatives based on the nominations thread. First is the CRKT M16 series , from which we have received several nominations for different types, model numbers and blade styles. If we were to move by category or company, all of the CRKT nominations would place it in the top five, but there were so many nominations for so many different M16 models that we had to mention them here in honorable mentions. One repeating thread: they are all lightweight, strong, durable and affordable. Almost all of you have praised the company for making great knives that are easy to open and use, yet safe, retain their edge over normal use, and still look great. A couple of outstanding models: CRKT 14K Summit Series , CRKT M16-14ZER , CRKT M16-10KSF and CRKT M16-10KZ .
We also have to give credit to the Morakniv Craftline HighQ Robust Trade Knife , although it is definitely more of a bush knife than an EDC, mainly because it is a fixed blade with a 4.1 ” blade at the tip. The included scabbard is good and many of you have said it is a great knife for camping, fishing, and any outdoor activity where a knife might come in handy, but it’s definitely not what you get “I use it to open boxes! »Negation with.
Whichever knife you choose, be sure to take good care of it and it will last you a lifetime.
We’re not kidding when we said we had tons of nominations here, so we expect to hear more about your alternatives in the comments. Remember, the Top 5 is based on your most popular nominations from the Call for Applicants thread earlier this week . Don’t just complain about the top 5, let us know which option you like best and justify it in the discussions below.