The Best Pocket Knives of 2026

Read Review: Hiker’s Dream Knife: Benchmade Bugout Review

Benchmade crafts some of the best knives on the market, and the Bugout (starting at $180) is the top seller in the entire lineup. Any pocket knife list wouldn’t be complete without it. If you’re looking for a knife to be your trusted companion for the next decade, it should be high on your list, even if it is a bit cliché for those obsessed with knives from custom makers.

From an everyday carry standpoint, it’s one of the nicest carrying pocket knives available. It’s ridiculously light at 1.85 oz, and the handle is a mere 0.42″ inches wide. The knife slides into your pocket perfectly, and it’s easy to forget it’s there.

Despite the light weight, the knife isn’t too small for practical everyday use. The standard version is equipped with a 3.24-inch, drop-point, S30V stainless steel blade. Our tester used it to slice cord, cut food in camp, and do some carving, all without complaint. It’s a useful blade that maintains utility in a lightweight package.

And, with the popularity of the knife, Benchmade now allows you to customize the Bugout in virtually any way you want. Seriously, the options are limitless. Check it out here. You can upgrade steels, handles, put custom designs on the blade, you name it. If you want a high-performing, unique-to-you pocket knife to carry by your side every day, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better option.

While testing, the lightweight, thin Grivory handle (which comes standard) did flex slightly under extreme pressure. But in reality, that was in situations a “pocket knife” isn’t really designed for. The thin, ultralight design is well worth the tradeoff, and the Bugout may be the quintessential, trusty pocket knife.

Nineteen bucks for a pocket knife? In today’s world? Surely, this has to be something from TEMU. But no, the Opinel No.08 Inox ($19) is actually from France, where it’s been manufactured for 135 years. People were relying on this knife as an everyday carry before humans had even taken flight.

The design has remained pretty much the same, hence the borderline criminal price. While not as fancy as some of the new knives at our disposal, it’s time-tested, and it clearly gets the job done. If it didn’t, it would have been discontinued in its more-than-a-century existence.

The blade is 3.28″ long and is made from Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel. Is the Swedish steel going to blow your socks off? No, modern steels are much better for holding an edge, but again, its $19. Give it a quick, easy touch-up, and you’ll be back in action. As far as corrosion resistance goes, GearJunkie contributor Matt Jancer said he’s never had a single spot of rust pop up on his trusty Opinel No.08, despite not babying it.

One of the few updates this knife has received since its inception is the inclusion of a locking mechanism. In the tradition of a more old-timey aesthetic, it’s a simple feature without fancy springs or small parts. Just rotate the locking ring at the top (called Virobloc), and the blade is literally blocked from closing on your hands. While it is prone to getting gummed up with dirt, its easy enough to clean out and is an upgrade that was much needed.

The out-of-the-box sharpness surprised Jancer, and the factory edge is better than some more expensive knives. Whether you’re on a shoestring budget or are looking for a timeless classic to add to your collection for a minimal investment, the Opinel delivers time-tested performance.

The Knafs Lander 2 ($129) is the hardworking answer to Benchmade’s Bugout ($180). Where the Bugout has been touted for being lightweight, the tradeoff is that it’s only good for light to medium-duty work. By adding only an ounce more of weight, the folks at Knafs created a pocket knife that can be used and abused at your discretion for years to come.

Available now in a variety of handle scale options and blade finishes, the Lander 2 makes use of S35VN steel. S35VN is one of the most popular premium steels because it’s easy to maintain and staves off corrosion and abrasion like a champ. It also hosts the strongest lock mechanism on the market today, the Clutch Lock, a branded version of the crossbar lock that first climbed to fame through Benchmade as its Axis lock.

From LeFort: “One of four different Lander models, the Lander 2 gets my top pick award because the balance between materials, size, function, and weight is hard to match. Since writing the original article in January of this year, I have swapped out my Blue G10 carry for the Green Micarta ($140) version. However, if you plan on adding a Lander 2 to your pocket, I would recommend you look at the brand’s expanded lineup of custom handle scales — or consider making them yourself.”

While the listed price ($249) of the Kershaw Bel Air doesn’t scream value, the kicker is that this knife is often available for considerably less. At the time of this writing, it’s available for around $150 in most places, and certain colors are available for $115 on Amazon. And it’s a MagnaCut blade.

Yep, that’s right, you can see what the MagnaCut craze is all about without feeling like you’re blowing a ridiculous amount of cash on a pocket knife. It’s a premium steel at a middle-of-the-road knife price. That alone makes it a super cool pocket knife.

But the benefits of the Bel Air don’t stop at just the steel. The Reverse Tanto blade is thin, at a mere .09″, something that is usually reserved for much more expensive, or hard to get knives. While thick blades used to dominate the market, thinner, much “slicier” blades are now possible due to improvements in steel technology. The Bel Air gives you that at a reasonable, mass-produced knife price.

Our tester took only this knife on a vacation, and used it to cut up snacks for kids, open cardboard beer boxes, carve driftwood, and process lobster for dinner. The only wear the knife showed was a slight diminishment of the blackwash on the blade. While some may view that as a negative, it actually gives it a cool, “trusty, used tool” vibe.

The handle is aluminum with grippy scales and a Cerakote finish. Even after being taken to the beach, the knife was in great shape, although our tester did admit to babying it a bit around sand. That was due to the Duralock locking mechanism. It is quite literally a replica of the Benchmade mechanism (the patent expired), and it can certainly be trusted. But it does have a lot of moving parts that can get gummed up with extreme use.

Honestly, this U.S.-made pocket knife is a steal for just about anyone. But its an especially good grab for those who are considering dabbling in the premium pocketknife world, just to see what the hype is all about. There’s hardly anything not to love.

Many of the knives on this list stand out as subtle, thin, easy-to-carry pocket knives. While the Benchmade Osborne ($300 Magnacut, $240 S30V) isn’t a heavy or bulky carry, it is built to withstand heavier-duty tasks than other knives on this list. That gives it a good position for those who demand more than opening packages or cutting up the occasional snack from an everyday carry.

The unique blade design, which is the antithesis of modern thin blades, allows it to withstand tougher tasks. The spine is 2.92 mm thick, and the grind shape creates an aggressive wedge rather than an ultra-thin profile. It’s very angular and beefy, making it great for some things and not so great at others, like thinly slicing vegetables.

But it excels at tougher tasks, like hacking branches from trees, and it wouldn’t be ridiculous to use it for heavier-duty fire-making activities. And after cutting 50 1-foot slices through a cardboard box, Editorial Director Sean McCoy found the knife still sharp enough to slice through paper, although not as cleanly as it did out of the box.

Like many of the knives listed, you can find an Osborne in different steel types to fit your exact needs and budget. All of them look really good though, and the knife demands attention from onlookers with a modern but rustic look.

Almost everyone we know got into knives because they were given a “Swiss Army Knife (SAK)” when they were a kid, if not at some other impactful time in their lives. That said, this list wouldn’t be complete without having something from Victorinox on it. Last year, we had Victorinox’s Hiker ($36) in this slot. But, after a year of testing and toiling, we feel that the best tool for this category is the Huntsman ($50).

For roughly the same amount of pocket real estate as the Hiker, you get the added benefit of scissors and a multipurpose hook. Yes, you do lose a dedicated Phillips screwdriver, but we’ve found that the small screwdriver on top of the can opener gets the job done.

With 15 onboard tools, the Huntsman is well-rounded without any bloat. Even though we would love to see the tools lock on a SAK, it’s something you learn to work around and keep yourself aware of. That said, even when using some of the more demanding tools like the saw and awl, there was never an instance where they closed in on our hands.

Aside from the tools and blades being made from stainless Swedish steel, the shining star of the Huntsman is the multipurpose hook. At 3mm, it allows you to do such things as remove a hot pot from a fire and pull tent stakes out of the ground.

The scissors also came in handy for cutting fishing lines and excess cordage leftover from making knots and loops. For those of you who love a nice glass of Pinot Grigio at camp, you’re going to love the corkscrew.

For those of you looking for something fancy out of your SAK, Victorinox offers the Huntsman Wood ($64), which has Walnut wood scales.

The CIVIVI Yonder ($67) is a mid-size folder with Micarta handles and a 14C28N stainless steel spey point blade. It has a crossbar lock and caged ceramic ball bearings around the pivot for fluid opening and closing, and locks up reliably when in use.

With an overall length of 6.62 inches, the Yonder is compact but well-suited for people of all hand sizes. For those folks with really big paws, you’ll enjoy the ability to move your thumb up the spine of the blade onto the jimping and use the grip in a three-finger configuration, wrapping your pinky up around the butt of the knife.

14C28N is considered a value steel, and it’s become prolific in the knife world over the past year as more and more brands look for ways to cut costs but still use a quality, reliable knife. It’s stainless steel, so corrosion won’t be an issue, and its abrasion-resistant qualities are also impressive. In terms of edge retention, you should expect the Yonder to hold an edge for a decent amount of time, and resharpening will be a breeze.

The Yonder won “Blade Show Best Buy of the Year 2024” days after it debuted in the summer of 2024. I think it’s the kind of knife made for anyone looking for a dependable pocket knife for years to come.

Note: In the original review of the Yonder, LeFort listed one of the cons as the crossbar lock’s shorter pull. He wants to take that back — in the last few months, he’s gotten used to it and recognizes that the shorter pull allows for quicker deployment.

Leatherman has been synonymous with practical, affordable pocket knives and multitools. With the introduction of the Glider ($300) and a few other knives, Gerber jumped into the highly competitive premium knife space. The execution was excellent, and this is one tough, yet versatile knife.

As one of the heaviest knives on this list, the Glider isn’t a great option for those who prefer minimalism over practicality. One of the first things you’ll notice when you pick up this industrial-feeling knife is the heft of the Cerakoted aluminum handle and MagnaCut, 3″ Sheepsfoot blade. Where the knife lacks in weight savings, it makes up for it in a durable, rock steady, fixed-blade knife feel.

After 2 months of testing without being sharpened, Sean McCoy found it held a very sharp edge after regular, hard use. The wide blade, while unique for an EDC, is great at performing a variety of tasks, from spreading peanut butter, cutting vegetables, and whittling, to opening packages. The patented compression wedge lock is solid, and there is no blade play in this folder. It’s stout and built for hard work.

It’s not perfect, and the thumb stud opening is good, not great. It has a tendency to hang up when halfway open. In hand, it’s also not the most ergonomic knife, and the metal, angular handle can dig into your hand a little while making hard, aggressive cuts.

People may also find it annoying that over time, the Cerakote finish will start to wear. However in our opinion, that gives the Glider a unique character and a cool, industrial look.

Read Review: Best Do-It-All Pocket Knife

The Spyderco Paramilitary 2 (starting at $199) was the premium pocket knife of the mid-2000s. It is still in production today, which makes it a timeless classic in the modern era. It feels like just yesterday that it was the knife you had to have. Yeah. You’re getting old.

But timeless classics are classics for a reason. Every once in a while, a brand stumbles on something that works and runs with it. That’s the case with this knife. In 2015, Editorial Director Sean McCoy labeled it as the “Best Do-It-All Pocket Knife,” and 10 years later, there’s still a case to be made for that statement.

The large thumbhole on the blade, while creating an unusual blade-handle ratio, is synonymous with Spyderco knives and creates an irresistible, “have to fiddle with” feel. It makes one-handed operation a breeze, and the compression lock is rock solid.

While the Benchmade Bugout can start to flex under pressure, the 3.44″ blade on the PM2 is built to handle tougher tasks, like cutting glued linoleum and thick tree branches. Yet it’s still thin enough to work as a passable kitchen knife in a bind.

With this knife being around so long, it’s hard to nail down an exact price. There are a ridiculous number of options available from S45VN steel with a G10 handle for around 200 bucks, up to a Maxamet version that often fetches over $400. Whichever you choose, though, you can trust the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 to be a lifelong companion.

The Benchmade Auto Immunity ($325) was designed to meet or beat knife laws stating that knife blades on automatics must be under 2.5 inches to legally be carried. It’s also made from one of the best knife steels around. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in capability.

The steel we’re talking about here is one of the few ultra-premium, super steels: M4. On its own, M4 has very good corrosion and abrasion resistance. With the added Cerakoting found here on the Auto Immunity, it might be the best knife steel on the planet. It also holds a serious edge for a prolonged period of time.

This is good because, like S90V, it’s a beast to sharpen. Don’t worry, when the time comes, you can take advantage of Benchmade’s Lifesharp Guarantee, where they’ll resharpen it for you, for free.

In terms of overall size, some people might find the Auto Immunity a little small for more demanding tasks like kindling prep. However, due to its Wharncliffe-style blade, it’ll excel in precision tasks like carving, coring, and food prep.

In fact, after a couple of months of carry and use, our tester, Sean McCoy, didn’t even notice that it was an undersized knife. He stated, “It both carries and performs better than the venerable Bugout at a very similar weight. It has a much better and stiffer handle than the Bugout, and locks up stronger.”

The only thing keeping the Benchmade Auto Immunity from being closer to the top of this list is the fact that it’s going to run you $325 bones. But we couldn’t leave it off the list for proud pricing.

GearJunkie contributor Nick LeFort was a big fan of the show MacGyver growing up. The main character, and the show’s namesake, was always getting himself into bad situations and making contraptions to get out of them. The one tool he carried with him was a Swiss Army Knife. Now, the DPx Gear HEST/F 4.0 ($275) doesn’t offer the same variety of tools as a SAK as the Victorinox Huntsman, but it is built to get you out of a hostile environment. 

The HEST/F 4.0 is a knife that could be used and abused without having to worry about it getting wet, dirty, twisted, turned, torqued, or yelled at in an aggressive tone. With a 3/16-inch-thick MagnaCut drop point blade, titanium frame, and Micarta handle scale, all of which contribute to that. The flipper-style opening and caged ball bearings around the pivot are just an added benefit.

Aside from being a beefy knife that can pierce, cut, slice, shave, chop, and pry, the HEST/F 4.0 comes with a few other features that heighten its tactical ability. Built into the butt of the knife is both a glass breaker and a ¼ bit driver. Additionally, the spine jimping is sized for stripping electrical wire.

There’s also a notch on the spine in front of the thumb stud that’s designed to be a cap lifter and a means to lift a pot off a fire. To be the Best Tactical Pocket Knife on this list, you need to be ready for war. In making the HEST/F 4.0 (as well as its three predecessors), DPx Gear understood the assignment.

The Case Trapper looks like the knife your grandpa, or maybe great-grandma, carried in the 1980s. And it still does everything today that it did back then.

It’s a beautiful, USA-made pocket knife that opens with a nail nick and is only held open with a detent. It’s a simple knife from a simpler time, drawing nostalgic references. It sits deep in the pocket with no clip, so it is a truly light EDC that won’t show on the outside of the pocket.

The trapper has been in continuous production for more than 100 years. And if that isn’t enough, it’s available in a huge variety of handle scales, from bone to chestnut wood to antlers. If you’re looking for a time-tested, yet timeless, design, the Case Trapper is a legend of a pocket knife that is instantly recognizable and perfect for light EDC tasks.

If you feel naked without a pocket knife but are unsure what to carry when wearing dress pants, look no further. The CRKT Crossbones is an excellent EDC knife that disappears into a pocket but still offers good performance with a spicy, thin blade.

The Crossbones is a very attractive, smooth-operating flipper. It’s very light at only 2.4 ounces, and has a deep carry that, coupled with the slim handle design, is barely noticeable even when carried in light fabrics of dressy clothing.

But the Crossbones still brings serious functionality. The 3.54-inch AUS-8 blade is great for everyday tasks like opening letters or boxes. But with an attractive satin finish and thin profile, it won’t freak people out when you flip it open to cut an apple at your office lunch.

It’s the ideal dress knife, with good looks and competent cutting power. Editor Sean McCoy grabs it when business-first attire is on call.

To be considered tactical, a pocket knife needs to have some features that aren’t necessarily found in other EDC pocket knives. In the case of the Benchmade CLA ($400), that feature is lightning-fast automatic deployment at the push of a button. That’s right — the CLA is an automatic knife, which makes this a restricted item in some states. But that doesn’t mean we can’t give it credit where credit is due. After all, in testing, all the CLA did was impress.

Considered a bridge between EDC knives and tactical knives, the CLA is composed of sculpted and contoured OD Green handle scales and a DLC-coated “Battlewashed” MagnaCut drop point blade. This color combination alone is stellar, but the materials used here make the CLA nearly indestructible. That’s not an exaggeration.

When the first version of the CLA launched almost 9 years ago, it was the first automatic knife from Benchmade with composite handle scales. The “Composite Lite Auto” became a very successful attempt to create an automatic knife for the people. It was less bulky and lighter than all of the other autos Benchmade had put out previously. This made the CLA a perfect fit for people looking for a reliable EDC knife.

This model of CLA is an upgrade from the previous model, which featured 154CM steel. The upgrade to MagnaCut became something of a theme for production knifemakers in 2025. For good reason, too — MagnaCut steel is probably the best EDC steel out there. This is due to its balance resistance qualities, edge retention, and ease of resharpening.