There are many convenient benefits of investing in an EDC knife EDC knife. From prying windows open and cutting stray threads from shirts to opening packages more easily, there is plenty an EDC knife can help with. The good news is that you can accrue all of these benefits and more at an affordable cost. In fact, why don’t you take a look at some of the best EDC knives under $100 in this guide?
What Is an EDC Knife?
For new knife-users, a typical phrase you might encounter in a knife or tactical gear types is EDC or everyday carry. You might wonder, what is an EDC knife? How is it different from other folding and automatic knives?
EDC typically applies to gear that is carried consistently for everyday situations. For example, every day carry items can include your watch, keys, wallet, glasses or other stuff that you need and would likely put in a valet tray.
Types of EDC Knives
A lot of EDC knives are created specifically for survival purposes while others are for general utilization. But no matter the particular design you prefer, they are all handy tools. It is a necessary addition to any user’s belt, pocket, get home bag or a ready bug out bag. How you decide to carry it, you must select the type of EDC knife that is a right fit for your needs and will work best for your tasks.
Folding EDC Knives
One of the most popular kinds of EDC knife is a folder. This kind of knife easily folds into half to reduce the overall length and size of the blade when closed.
Fixed Blade EDC Knives
Not like a folding knife, the blade is stable or permanently fixed to its handle. No joints and hinges; no unfolding to open. Considered as a mini survival knife.
Boot Knife Carry
A small fixed blade knife worn in a sheath that wraps around your ankle or calf. Generally, came from the term boot knife but users do not necessarily need to be wearing boots. Long pants work just fine to keep the knife hidden as well, even if you are wearing ordinary shoes.
Belt Knife Carry
This knife is also typically a shorter fixed blade knife that rests in a sheath, but it hangs along on your belt. One major disadvantage of this type of EDC knife is that it is somehow hard to cover. For some people, the belt knife is the handiest and most comfortable way to bring a small fixed blade knife around. There is also a modern type of belt knife available in the market. The small fixed blade knife is already hidden in the belt buckle. These have a fast release clip so users can just grab the buckle then pull the knife out.
Neck Knife Carry
Commonly a smaller fixed blade knife that fits in a thin sheath with a cord that goes around the neck like a necklace. The greater ones have a thinner form when in its case. It is also conveniently lightweight which makes it very comfortable to carry every day. You just need to hold the handle and pull it down to release the blade from the sheath.
Why Do You Need an EDC Knife?
An EDC knife is something you would include with other everyday carry things. It is conveniently lightweight, durable, compact, and ultimately multi-functional, making them easy to carry or hide in a pocket, belt, or in your bag. This survival knife saves space and can be drawn out easily and quickly for any use and function.
An EDC knife provides convenience and is very useful without taking up too much space. The different designs can also display your style without affecting its function. Having an excellent EDC knife will make almost all everyday tasks more manageable and will give you an extreme advantage in nearly any survival situation. Because of its blade length and compact size, it is easy to carry in a pocket without making you feel like it takes up too much space.
Overall, an EDC is an excellent choice for anyone who believes needing a reliable blade knife with a perfectly sharp edge on a daily basis but does not feel the need for a large, robust knife for most tasks. Whether you pack it in your bag or even use it as a backup in an emergency kit or toolbox, you will be glad to have a useful tool with you. To see a great selection of high-quality EDCs, look through our list below.
Top 7 Best EDC Knives Reviews
Kershaw Ken 1660 Onion Leek
- This item is not for sale in some specific zip codes
The Kershaw Ken 1660 Onion Leek is a stainless steel blade that has a bead-blasted finish and is one of the best EDC knives. The blade is 3″ long, while the handle is 4″ long. Both the blade and handle are made from different materials i.e. Sandvik 14C2N steel and 410 stainless steel respectively. Another factor that makes this knife popular is that it has great edge retention. The predrilled holes on the handle make it easy for you side on which the knife carries or at least the tip position.
Pros
- Compact and slim design.
- High-performance blade with great edge retention.
- SpeedSafe helps open the blade.
Cons
- Handle may slip if you use this knife for digging.
Spyderco Tenacious Folding Knife
- Game Changer: Being tenacious means you are persistent and cohesive. It's being tough and tireless in achieving your best performance; all worthy descriptive words for a hard-use knife
- Superior Blade Steel: The 3.39" 8Cr13Mov stainless blade is leaf-shaped and ground flat from spine to cutting edge for non-stop cutting performance.
- A Secure Grip: It has a black G-10 laminate handle, Ergonomically milled with prolonged fatigue-free cutting in mind.
- Easy-To-Use: The blade's shape coupled with an oversized Spyderco Round Hole and textured spine jimping allows you to open the blade and position your thumb on the spine in slip-proof confidence ready for work.
- Pocket-Friendly: The Tenacious includes a Walker Linerlock and a 4-way pocket clip lets the folder be set in a variety of carry and draw positions: Tip-up/tip-down left-hand/right-hand.
The Spyderco Tenacious Folding Knife boasts a plain edge with good retention, easy deployment, and a beautiful design. The blade itself is made with light steel and as such, easy to carry around. It has the shape of a leaf, making ultra-shaping a walk in the park. The deployment technology and pocket clip provide much-needed convenience. Lastly, the handle is incredibly comfortable to hold.
Pros
- 4-way pocket clip for easy portability.
- Makes sharp blade cuts smooth.
- Lightweight and easy to deploy.
Cons
- Light steel makes the knife easy to bend.
Gerber Paraframe Mini Knife
- QUALITY CRAFTED: Features a plain edge blade, clip point blade, nail nick, pocket clip, and a frame lock handle design
- SURVIVAL GEAR AND EQUIPMENT: Made from stainless steel that will stand the test of time, a lightweight pocket knife that can conveniently travel with you
- SLIM DESIGN: Easily accessible and fits compactly in a pocket, secured with an easy access pocket clip
- CAMPING ACCESSORIES: Great for any hunter, tradesman, and the everyday carry consumer; Perfect addition to camping essentials, toolbox, work wear, and fishing and hiking gear
- CONVENIENT SIZE: 2.2" blade length, 5.25" overall length; 1.6 oz weight; Backed by the Gerber Guarantee, a limited lifetime warranty
The Gerber Paraframe Mini Knife comes with a clip point blade that’s made from high carbon stainless steel. It is the smallest knife in Gerber’s Paraframe series with a 2.2″ blade and overall length of 5.0 inches. Gerber uses an open design for the handle to provide a firm grip while keeping the weight minimal. You will hardly notice the knife in your pocket since it only weighs 1.5 ounces.
Pros
- Negligible weight.
- Compact size blade and handle with a nice grip.
- Offers good value for your money.
Cons
- Clip is of lower quality than the rest of the knife.
Kershaw 15550G10 Cyro G10
- KERSHAW CRYO G10 POCKET KNIFE: You asked, we listened. Styled after the original Cryo for its award-winning design, now with a G10 front scale. Now, you can enjoy the Cryo with extra grip and a more lightweight feel overall
- DROP POINT PLAIN EDGE BLADE: Made from 8Cr13MoV blade steel that offers edge-holding capability, strength, and hardness. BlackWash blade finish adds extra blade protection
- G10 ALL-STEEL HANDLE: The black all-steel G10 handle with a stonewashed finish back provides comfort and a secure grip. Includes a 4-position deep-carry pocketclip (right/left; tip-up/down)
- DESIGNED WITH SAFETY IN MIND: Equipped with Kershaw’s assisted opening and built-in flipper for easy one-handed blade release. Frame lock secures blade safely in place and lockbar stabilization prevents lock over-travel
- SIZE SPECIFICATIONS: Blade Length: 2.75in. Closed Length: 3.75in. Overall Length: 6.5in. Weighing in at 3.7oz. Backed by Kershaw's Limited Lifetime Warranty
The Kershaw 15550G10 Cyro G10 is one of the best EDC knives for its durable yet lightweight construction. You can carry it with minimal effort. The fact that it’s made from a cheap stainless steel doesn’t mean that it sacrifices on quality or performance. In any case, the blade is easy to sharpen and retains its edge for a long time. The knife can also be deployed with a finger and the pocket clip allows for easy carrying.
Pros
- Pointed blade makes cutting easier.
- Easy and fast deployment.
- Pocket clip allows for easy carrying.
Cons
- May bend due to light steel.
Benchmade Griptilian 551 Knife
- HIGH-QUALITY: The 154CM stainless steel blade is tough, rust-resistant, and holds an edge well. The glass-filled nylon handle is tough yet attractive, making it ideal for hard jobs and everyday carry.
- WELL-DESIGNED: Benchmade's AXIS lock is exceptionally strong and fully ambidextrous. The Griptilian 551 is a manual knife that can be opened and closed single-handedly.
- COMFORTABLE: The 551's lightweight design and handle grips make it comfortable to hold and use. The reversible pocket clip offers ultimate accessibility.
- VERSATILE: The Griptilian 551's drop-point utility blade style and all-around functionality make it ideal for everyday use, outdoor activities, and even tactical applications.
Benchmade is a respected manufacturer known for high-quality pocket knives. The Griptillian 551 knife boasts a patented Axis lock and a 3.4″ blade forged of 154CM stainless steel. At 3.5 ounces, it is surprisingly lightweight and easy to carry around. Also included is a Noryl GTX handle that provides a firm grip. You can also get the Mini Griptilian (model 556), which weighs 2.5 ounces. It is $10 cheaper and 0.5″ shorter than the Griptilian 551.
Pros
- Comfortable ergonomics.
- Proven and well-respected blade.
- Basic folding knife with durable construction.
Cons
- Lacks assisted opening.
Zero Tolerance 0350
- High performance and premium quality S350V stainless steel makes the recurve blade extremely durable, corrosion resistant and wear resistant
- Non-reflective black Tungsten DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) blade coating and black G-10 handle scales cleanly pair together for a sleek, smooth
- Quad-mount pocket clip convenient for left or right handed, tip-up, or tip-down carry
- Ideal EDC, easy folding pocket knife for everyday tasks—survival tool, precision cutting, self-defense, tactical use or the perfect gift
- General all-purpose knife great for EDC or use while working, camping, fishing, hunting, utility or any outdoor activity
The Zero Tolerance 0350 is one of the best EDC knives, a high-performance knife that comes with a S30V stainless steel blade. It is insanely sharp and has good edge retention. The G10 handle offers a firm grip with rough texturing. The locking mechanism is quite tight and the liner lock itself contains more steel that most knives have in their entire frame. Compared to other EDC knives on this list, the Tolerance 0350 is a little bulky. This is a little price to pay for the solid everyday performance it offers.
Pros
- Stainless steel blade is coated with black tungsten DLC.
- Has SpeedSafe assisted opening feature.
- Textured G10 handle with good grip.
- Includes Quad mounting system.
Cons
- Bulky.
Ontario Knife RAT-1 Knife
- 5" closed linerlock
- 3 1/2" AUS-8 stainless black finish blade with dual thumb studs
- Coyote brown nylon handles
- Four-way reversible black finish stainless pocket clip
- Lanyard hole
The Ontario Knife RAT-1 is a small folding knife that’s designed to deliver high performance. It comes with a durable blade capable of great edge retention. The deployment technology is quite effective while the locking mechanism makes it easy to grab and pull on objects. Ontario offers this knife in a variety of handle colors as well as blade shapes. The main concern is that deploying the knife takes a while.
Pros
- Effective deployment technology.
- Locking technology makes it easy to grab objects.
- Safe to carry around.
- Durable blade with good edge retention.
Cons
- Deployment takes a while.
Final Review of Best EDC Knives Under $100
There are many EDC knives ranging from fixed blades to folding knives. And while high-end models will offer you premium features, you don’t have to spend a lot to enjoy the benefits of a high-performance blade. When shopping for the best EDC knives, make sure you choose one that offers increased functionality and delivers exceptional performance. Our top recommendation is the Kershaw Ken 1660 Onion Leek, a stainless steel knife with durable construction and great edge retention.