The Best Pocketknives, According to Experts

If there’s one thing that Strategist contributor Steven John, an experienced camper, hiker, and mountaineer, has learned it’s that “you have to have a really good knife.” He thinks you should have several, in fact, and that the Coast DX318, which he calls “one damn sharp knife,” should be one of them. And that goes for both the straight and serrated parts of the blade, which, he reports, have stayed sharp even after heavy use. This nicely priced folder has dual locking mechanisms, so there’s “next to zero risk of its folding shut by accident.”

“The No. 1 issue when using a folder,” says former U.S. Army Special Forces captain and survival expertMykel Hawke, “is cuts to oneself,” which is why he considers a blade that locks essential. He’s a fan of Buck Knives and prefers one that you can fold back with one hand. This one ticks all those boxes and comes with a lifetime warranty.

Prepperand homesteader Morgan Rogue ofRogue Preparednessuses her pocketknife for “such an array of things.” She advises you to get any “folding knife that speaks to you” but personally carries this Gerber Flatiron pocketknife. Its unique, clever-shaped locking blade is great for both heavy-duty chopping and slicing and close-up, detailed work, like whittling. The thumbhole in the blade makes it quick and easy to open and close with one hand, and the textured handle makes it comfortable to use.

Another of John’s must-have knives, the Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate knife is no longer available, but the newer version, the Gerber Gear 31-003941 Ultimate knife, has all the same features and costs less than half as much. A fixed-blade knife, the Gerber Gear Ultimate has a 4 ¾-inch partially serrated blade, which technically makes it a long knife, but it does double as a fire starter and has a whistle and an integrated sharpener. Plus its rubber handle is easy on your hands.

Prepper Potpourri, or PP, as she’s known, always carries the Leek pocketknife by Kershaw. “I like a thin design that fits easily in my pocket without much of a bulge,” she says. This folder has a three-inch blade made of extra-hard stainless steel as well as a frame lock and assisted opening.

Another fixed-blade favorite of John’s, this knife is what’s called “full tang,” which means the metal blade goes all the way through the handle, thus making the knife stronger and more balanced. He likes how sharp it gets — and how sharp it stays through all kinds of tasks, like shaving wood or slicing rope — and its squared-off spine works well with a fire starter. “While this knife looks lovely and all,” he says, “it’s a rugged workhorse of a tool that you can treat as roughly as you want.”

Hawke also likes knives from White River, which he calls a “solid brand.” Its ATK (“Always There Knife”) is small, but since it’s a fixed blade, there’s no need for a lock, hence no danger of it folding in on itself. It’s designed to be carried around your neck or attached to your belt, and it’s so light you might forget it’s there. Also, its special sheath allows for drawing and resheathing in either direction.

Our contributor Michael Easter loves this knife that a Special Forces operator told him about so much he wrotean odeto it. He carries the Benchmade Mini Griptilian every day and uses it “in tasks both mundane and epic” — everything from slicing apples to “butchering 400-pound caribou on the Arctic tundra,” all while being light enough (three ounces) for everyday carry. He also loves the comfortable, super-grippy handle, which comes in bright colors that are easy to see if you drop it in the field. If it ever dulls, he says, just ship it to Benchmade and it’ll clean, oil, tune, and resharpen it for free.