I constantly wear joggers and lightweight pants that many would classify as “athleisure.” These are softshell-style pants, offering little by way of rigidity for carrying a knife. But as an EDC aficionado, I won’t go anywhere without a knife.
Wallet, keys, phone, knife — a good setup, but heavy on the pockets. This has left me on the hunt for a knife I can wear comfortably with lightweight pants. I want something light and svelte enough to wear without feeling it bouncing around with every movement.
Enter the Vosteed Parallel, a knife that, at sub-2.5 ounces and a quarter-inch thickness, doesn’t shout for attention. Incredibly thin and feather-light, it basically disappears in the pocket.
The Parallel has held down my primary daily carry spot for several weeks now. I’ve had it at my side during whitetail archery season, at home, the office, on weekend adventures, out ice fishing, and more. It’s been put to the test on daily tasks like opening packages, prepping meals, and pruning indoor plants. It’s seen work shaving kindling, cutting paracord, trimming branches for shooting lanes, and more.
In short: Vosteed designed the Parallel to be pocket-friendly and performance-forward. The knife is made with quality steel and a titanium handle, making it a dependable slicer. And it comes at a virtually unbeatable price.
Find your perfect EDC companion in GearJunkie’s roundup of the Best Pocket Knives.
-
Blade shape
8.8
-
Handle
7.9
-
Steel
8.2
-
Lock
8.9
- Steel: S35VN
- Lock: Crossbar lock
- Handle: Titanium
- Blade length: 2.9”
- OAL: 7.04”
- Thickness: 0.279”
- Weight: 2.36 oz.
- Pocket clip: Reversible pocket clip
Pros
- Ultra-thin, easy EDC
- Smooth, dependable locking mechanism
- Great price point
- Lifetime warranty with the original owner
Cons
- Not the most comfortable grip
- No choil
- Might be too thin for heavier cutting tasks
Vosteed Parallel Review
First Impressions
This is the thinnest and lightest knife I own, and it’s not close. Before receiving the Parallel to test, I did my research on what to expect, so I knew it was going to be a thin, light weenie. Maybe it is because I have become desensitized to marketing-speak and hyperbole, but I was not expecting this knife to be this thin.
When I opened the packaging, I thought it was a mistake for a brief moment. The knife is truly ultra-thin, and it’s so lightweight that it doesn’t feel like any other folder when I have it in my pocket.
I received the Arctic Crackle colorway that “draws inspiration from frozen frontiers and glacial landscapes.” In plain speak, it has a low-contrast, metallic look that’s more utilitarian than showpiece.
A closer inspection reveals the intricate golden-copper design and details etched into the handle that catch and reflect light differently from every angle. The thumb stud and backspacer with matching gold-copper coloring are distinguished and add to the overall look.
The opening action is very smooth, and the blade closes with a satisfying “snap.” I’m quite familiar with Vosteed’s crossbar lock, and I always find it to be smooth and easy to operate.
The reverse tanto blade is razor sharp out of the box and seems to fit perfectly with the overall look and feel of this knife design. The handle is a little uncomfortable (more on that later), but for a knife built to be ultra-thin, it isn’t unexpected.
Vosteed Parallel Specs
The Parallel is a minimalist’s dream, offering an extremely pocketable design without skimping on material quality. It weighs 2.36 ounces and all but disappears in the pocket at 0.279 inches thick — about as thick as a standard pencil.
The Parallel has a titanium handle, offered in a multitude of colors and styles, ranging from flashy to subdued. This helps keep the overall weight low while providing strength that should last a lifetime.
The handle is complemented by a reverse tanto blade — great for slicing and piercing — made from S35VN steel for consistent sharpness and durability. You can expect long-term durability from this steel, which is made to handle most EDC tasks with ease. And, as a bonus, the shape makes them pretty easy to sharpen.
The open-close system on the Parallel is a cross-bar lock that feels smooth and operates flawlessly right out of the box. I was able to cut, slice, and pry without a second thought, and find myself snapping the knife open and closed for fun while killing time.
The thumb stud is easy to locate and gives you a perfect platform to “flick” open the blade. Finally, it has a stainless steel reversible pocket clip that is easy to move to either side for your preferred carry. Notably, there is no choil on this knife, limiting your leverage and hand positions for heavier cutting tasks. However, there is jimping on the spine of the blade that I used while shaving wood, and the cut in the handle made for a very stable hold while in use.
Vosteed Parallel: Testing
When I test a knife, I make it my primary daily carry and use it for every cutting task I face during that time. My testing with the Parallel wasn’t an exception. I used it for prying and slicing, prepping meals, cutting open packages, shaving small wood pieces for kindling, cutting rope, unsticking zippers, and pruning plants.
My real testing took place during hunting season. The current bow hunting access puts me in a little shack out in the sticks with no cell reception, no running water, and heat by a wood-burning stove.
The Upper Midwest gets cold during the fall, and hunting season lasts long past the first freeze and into real winter temperatures. This means that building a fire first thing when returning from the stand is a near requirement.
To test this knife, I wanted to see how it would handle cutting, shaving, and prying pieces of firewood for kindling. There is a ton of firewood at the shack, but none of it is cut down for starting a fire, and there are no firestarters anywhere — not even lighters. We use the good old-fashioned newspaper and mini matchbooks.
I used the Parallel to shave off pieces of bark and little bits of wood that would catch quickly when lit. Before long, I had a fire blazing that I kept burning all evening and into the night as I fell asleep.
The Parallel was no worse for wear and handled the test with relative ease. Realistically speaking, it isn’t a heavy-duty bushcraft tool (the nearby hatchet would make more sense). But if I were ever in a pinch, I know the knife packs enough of a punch to handle a job like this.
Okay, But …
Every design decision has an outcome for better or worse, and the Vosteed Parallel is no different. It’s ultralight, incredibly thin, and beautifully designed. But with those benefits, there are also drawbacks.
The Parallel is so thin that it may struggle with heavier cutting tasks. Prying a robust item open, stabbing and cutting into something thick like a hefty can of soup, using it as a lever to jar something loose, or cutting through larger brush, you may find yourself wishing for something with more backbone.
Along the same lines, there is no choil for any sort of forward grip, which again limits some use cases for the knife.
The other drawback I’ve found is that the grip isn’t overly comfortable, especially when held tightly. With a knife this thin, you miss out on some of the “meat” of the grip, and the palm of your hand feels empty, which caused hotspots for me. Again, you expect this to an extent with these smaller knives, but it’s worth consideration depending on how you plan to use the knife.
Who’s It For?
The Parallel is a comfortable everyday carry knife made for those who want an ultra-thin and lightweight package. It’s a compact partner that performs daily tasks with ease, and it virtually disappears in your pocket.
At a price of $129, you get a very capable blade steel and a titanium handle — two major perks. With a snappy open and closing action, it will fill the void for those who like to fidget with their knives, and there are several different colors and designs to choose from while shopping. If you’re looking for a handsome, elegant EDC that won’t break the bank, the Parallel is worth a serious look.
