Best EDC Knife Review 2024- Top Everyday Carry Knives List

What is the meaning of EDC? EDC means everyday carry. So, you are searching for the best EDC knife for everyday carry. What are the main factors to consider when selecting a high-quality EDC knife?

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Why is it called an EDC knife?

Before we delve into the reason, we need to understand the meaning of the word EDC. It’s an acronym for Everyday Carry. This means that the item is one that you carry with you all the time. It’s normally something that is needed for one’s daily routine or things that one can use during an emergency.
There’s no worldwide standard for what is considered EDC and what’s not. Every person tends to have their own preference and what they consider to be important and unimportant. These knives are called EDC Knives because many people choose to have them wherever they go. The aim is to be prepared for any unforeseen circumstance.

Our Top Kershaw Leek EDC Knife Video Review

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Why should you get an EDC knife?

There are many reasons why one might decide to use an EDC knife. For starters, for collection purposes. Believe it or not, there are people out there that love knives and collect them. For this reason alone, one can choose to use an EDC knife. In addition, some use these knives as a means of self-defense, which can help, but definitely not the best choice.

Another reason to get an EDC knife is that it may come in handy during emergency situations. You can use it to cut a seatbelt after a car wreck, or it could be used to cut clothing to bandage wood. On top of that, it can be used in camping scenarios for things like wood cutting (small) for fires and such.

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How to choose a quality EDC knife?

There are a few things to consider when choosing the best EDC knife, and they are as follows:

• Fixed knife Vs. Folding knife

Here’s the first choice that you’ll need to make. A folding knife tends to be smaller and can easily fit in a pocket. On the other hand, a fixed knife requires a sheath to cover the blade and can be worn with a belt or around the neck with a cord. In terms of which one’s better, it boils down to preference. Our advice would be if you’re in an urban area, being discreet is key, so a folding EDC knife will work best. On top of that, it’ll be easier to carry as it’s lighter. A fixed knife would work well in a rural setting, as there’s a reason to have one. You could use it to skin game and cut the rope.

• The size of the Knife

These knives tend to range in size. They can be from 2” to 4”.  Depending on where you live, you may or may not have an option. Some countries, states, and municipalities tend to have guidelines on the size and blade length of the knife. If this is the case, then your choice has been decided. Normally, you’d want to check your task, as this determines the size of the knife you carry. For instance, office workers will need at most 3-inch knives.

• Knife Blade and Handle Materials

Ideally, you want a blade that’ll resist everyday use’s wear and tear. The right blade would be one that can resist corrosion, which most steel blade knives can do. In addition, you’d also want a good handle. A nice handle would be one that’s resistant to moisture and has some good texturing, and is durable.

• Main Features of the EDC Knives

Ideally, you want a knife that can cater to the majority of your need.  We’d advise going for a partially serrated blade, as it can add some functionality when needed. A sharp-tipped blade could also work fine as it has a sharp point that can be called upon whenever needed. A knife with a pocket clip is also a good idea as it offers a safe and ready place to store the knife when not in use.

History of the Modern Pocket Knives and Traditional Knives

Before we begin talking about the best EDC knife, it’s important for you to know that there are two types of pocket knives. There are traditional pocket knives and modern pocket knives. These two types of knives have a clear difference. Let’s begin with traditional knives. Traditional knives are knives made to meet specific needs for certain professions. These knives would use one of six designs: straight backs, clip points, drop points, spear points, sheep’s foot, Spey and Wharncliffe. An example of Traditional knives would be the Stockman pattern that was used by farmers and ranchers to trim hooves and perform other tasks. Going further back in time, there is the Penknife. It was used by clerks and bankers to sharpen quill pens.

On the other hand, Modern knives are different. They were believed to have started in the 1990s and grew in popularity because of the love for aggressive-looking knives at the time. These knives are an upgrade to traditional knives as they are built to withstand constant use. They are also multi-functional, as they can be used in many areas of labor. There are other ultra-modern category knives that are called tactical.

Top 5 Best EDC Knife Reviews

We hope that you’re now more aware and can make a conscious decision on what EDC Knife to get for yourself. As a final step, we’ll show you what we consider to be the best knife in the market:

1. Spyderco Delica 4 Review – Best lightweight EDC (Our top pick)

This Spyderco Delica kicks off our list of the best EDC knives in the market. It has FRN (Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon), which makes the sturdy handle tough and functional. The Spyderco Delica 4 has bi-directional texturing that is molded into the handle’s surface.
This ensures slip-free tactile traction when using the product.  This knife has been made to be functional and lightweight as it has dual skeletonized stainless steel liners. They make the knife stronger without having to add to the weight of the knife. These steel liners also add to the sturdiness and rigidity of the knife as they act as an anchor for its internal and external parts. The product has also been made with your safety in mind as it has slip-resistant jimping on the blade’s spine.
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FEATURES of Spyderco Delica 4

• Made Using High-Quality Materials

The knife’s blade and handle are made out of high-quality materials such as Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon in the case of the handle. This has allowed the knife to be sturdy, functional, and lightweight.

• It has a 4-way clip

The knife can be attached to the clip in almost any direction, depending on the user’s preference. It can be clipped with the tip up, down, left, or right. You’ll decide.

• It has skeletonized steel internal liners

This knife is praised for its lightweight, and it’s because of this feature. The liners also function as an anchor to the internal and external components. This ensures that the knife remains sturdy and rigid while still maintaining its lightweight.

• It also has FRN Bi-directional Textured Handle

The Fiber Reinforced Nylon material used on the handle might not be as beautiful as the others, but with this, you get a tough and rigid handle. The handle is also nonslip making it a safe option as well.

PROS

• The steel is of high quality.
• The handle’s ergonomic design makes it non-slip, and the jimping on the thumb ramp makes it safer to use.
• The knife itself is beautiful.
• The blade is very sharp.

CONS

• Flicking the knife open takes a bit of effort.

VERDICT
We normally don’t arrange our products in terms of only quality, but for this one, we had to make an exception. This is easily the best knife on our list. It’s one of the bestselling EDC Knife in the market and it’s not hard to see why.

The knife uses VG 10 steel which is incredible with its sharpness and anti-corrosive property. The handle and the knife itself as a whole are well-built for long-term use. A good option if you’re looking to have a good EDC Knife that can meet most of your needs.

2. Best EDC folding knife review – Kershaw speed-safe knife

We always have some form of complaints when a product is made with a certain group of people in mind. In this case, it’s more of the right-hand and left-hand debate. This is solved by this Kershaw speed safe as it’s made to be ambidextrous.
The Kershaw comprises a quick assisted opening system that allows you to use it, no matter your dominant hand. You can deploy it using your left hand or your right hand. The knife also has a sharp edge that makes it useful for use in many different activities such as hunting and fishing.
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FEATURES of Kershaw knife

• It has a safe ambidextrous assisted opening system.

This opening system has been one of the company’s best innovations. The assisted opening system can be used by both left-hand and right-hand users. A simple push on the thumb stud or pull off the flipper releases the blade.

• It has a sharp blade

The Kershaw is made out of Sandvik 14C28N steel that is made in Sweden. The steel is one of the best and provides quite an impressive performance when it comes to the edge of the steel. It can also maintain a high level of hardness and avoid resistance to corrosion.

• It has a stainless steel handle with a bead-blasted finish

The materials used to make the handle ensure that the handle is sturdy and strong. This is good as it’ll be able to handle rigorous activities. The only issue is that it becomes slippery when in use.

PROS

• The blade is sharp right out of the box.
• The knife looks good overall.
• It has a clip to keep it secure in the pocket.
• The assisted opening works well.

CONS

• The mechanism might need some lubrication to keep the action quicker.
• The handle isn’t nonslip.

VERDICT
The Kershaw Leek is an amazing knife made by one of the most renowned manufacturers of EDC knives. The ambidextrous feature of the knife ensures that it’s easy to use and more inclusive. The Kershaw does have a fine blade on it, and the clip ensures the knife is kept secure in your pocket.

It’s important to note that the knife isn’t nonslip, so don’t use it with wet or oily hands. Be cautious in general.

3. Ontario Rat 1 Review – Best Folding Pocket Knife

At this point, we have what we consider a budget folding knife. The knife takes more of a tradition than its counterparts, so some call it boring. The style is obviously the user’s decision. The Ontario was made with an open post construction to help make it easier when it’s time to clean the knife.
This best EDC knife has ergonomic nylon handles and spine jimping, giving the user greater control of the knife. The product is large and with a blade made for rough work. The knife was made with functionality in mind.
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• The blade is made of AUS-8 steel

The knife has been made with functionality in mind. The Aus-8 steel blade ensures that the user gets a sharp and stout blade. The blade can be used for some rough work without the worry of the tip breaking.

• The Knife has a 4-way position clip and lanyard hole

Ontario also provides carry options for the user. You could use the 4-way pocket clip to store it in your pocket the way you like or you could use the lanyard hole. The choice is yours.

• It has dual thumb studs

The thumb studs combined with the ergonomic handles are meant to provide the user with more control of the knife. In addition, they also allow for easy one-hand opening and are also a safety feature to some extent.

PROS

• The blade is heavy and stout.
• It has an adequately sharp edge.
• It’s smooth and easy to flip open.
• It has a 4-way pocket clip.

CONS

• It’s a bit large and heavy when compared to other EDCs in the market.
• The blade doesn’t always keep its edge for very long.

VERDICT
The Ontario is the best option for those looking for a budget EDC knife to buy. It has a stout blade that has a sharp edge right out of the box.

The only problem some might find with the knife is that it’s functional but not stylish. In addition, the knife might need some sharpening now and then as the blade might lose its sharp edge.

4. Crkt Hootenanny Review – K300KXP Columbia River Knife Reviews

Here’s the K300KXP Columbia River that’s supposedly made for both worlds. The lightweight steel construction of the product and the low-profile pocket clip makes it easy to move around as an EDC tool. In addition, the drop point blade and the grooves on the spine make it an awesome choice during activities such as hunting and finishing. The oversized pivot system and IKBS ball-bearing pivot system make it easy to open the knife when needed.
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FEATURES of Crkt Knife

• It has an IKBS ball-bearing pivot system and an oversized pivot

These two components work seamlessly together to make it easier for you to open the knife whenever needed.

• It’s lightweight and has a low-profile pocket clip

The low-profile pocket clip and its weight enable you to carry the knife everywhere you go without feeling the impact/weight of the knife in your pocket.

• It uses a drop-point blade

The blade on the hootenanny is sharp and great for activities such as hunting and fishing. It can be used for tasks like cutting, skinning, and carving without problems.

PROS

• The Crkt Hootenanny has an awesome design.
• It’s easy to deploy.
• The blade is sharp from the factory.

CONS

• The blade gets dull fast as it’s made of a softer edge.
• The deployment might not be dependable for the first few tries.

VERDICT
No knife is perfect, and this is no different with the Hootenanny. The blade is easy to sharpen, so it getting dull isn’t much of a problem, and the issue with the deployment. Some lubrication will help with that.

Overall, it’s an awesome knife to have and use. This EDC knife looks great and is easy to deploy when needed.

5. Outdoor Edge Razor – Lite EDC Knife Reviews

This EDC knife is kind of different from the ones on this list. For starters, it has replaceable blades. It has to be noted that they are sold separately. These blades can be changed safely and easily with the simple push of a button. The product has a blade holder that’s coated with black oxide.
Its main function is to hold/support the razor for strength and sharpness purposes. The handles are made out of double-molded Grivory with rubberized TPR inserts. This allows the handle to have a non-grip slip even when your hands are wet.
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FEATURES of Outdoor edge knife

• It has a double-sided thumb stud

This feature is made to help the user have more control of the EDC knife and to allow for the easy one-hand opening of the knife.

• The handles are made out of double-molded Grivory with rubberized TPR handles

The materials used for the handle allow for the knife to be easy to hold and use. This is because the handle offers a non-slip grip even with wet hands.

• It comes with six blades

The blade you use will need some replacing after some time, so the knife has six blades that you could use as a replacement. Each blade is sold separately.

PROS

• The Razor-lite is sharp.
• The knife is sturdy.
• It’s lightweight.

CONS

• It’s not easy to sharpen the blades as they seem to chip easier.

VERDICT
This EDC knife does offer something different from the other knives on this list. The fact that you can replace the blades is a plus. The replacement blades are for sale, but the knife is awesome. The product is sturdy, and the blades are sharp. You could use the knife with wet hands as the handle is non-grip. I’d say, overall, it’s a good knife.

CONCLUSION

This guide is meant to help you get the best EDC knife on the market. Following this guide will help you make the right choice. You know, carrying a knife every day will help you a lot in your daily work.  We have also made a list of what we think are the best. You could use it as a basis as you grow more accustomed to understanding EDC knives.