I Tested Pocket Knives That I’d Actually Carry Every Day—Here’s the One That Won

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EDC knives—or pocket knives—are among the most important tools you can own. Like multitools and outdoor gear, they travel with you instead of living in a drawer or workshop. They’re useful in the wilderness for gutting game and starting fires, and at home for opening packages and breaking down cardboard.

To help you find the right pocket knife for your lifestyle, I’ve been testing the latest blade drops over the past few year. A knife you’ll carry every day should be robust, good-looking, and—most important—fit your needs. I’ve picked four blades that stood out across multiple categories, from best gentleman’s knife to best auto.

My best overall pick is the Benchmade Bugout in one of its newest configurations with anodized and Cerakoted scales. It looks better and performs better than ever before. 

And if you're looking for more high-quality tools, check out more from the 2025 Men's Journal Best Tools Awards, including the best work lights, tool storage, lawn and garden tools, and bike tools. 

Related: I Tested the Best Knife Sharpeners of 2026—These Are the Ones Worth Your Counter Space

Best EDC Pocket Knives at a Glance

• Best EDC Pocket Knife Overall:Benchmade Bugout
• Best Budget EDC PocketKnife: UCO Whidbey Pushfold
• Best Gentleman's EDC PocketKnife:WE Knife Nightblade
• Best Auto EDC PocketKnife:Worksharp RMX

Best EDC Pocket Knives

Best EDC Pocket Knife Overall: Benchmade Bugout

The Benchmade Bugout knife is a perennial favorite among EDC fanatics and outdoorsmen alike. It's the perfect size, has a great blade shape, is lightweight and tough, and has excellent flickability. Its only flaw was that it wasn't very sturdy since there was no full-length metal frame under the handle, meaning it stopped about a quarter past the pivot point. And in its original configuration with more flexible composite scales, that made it inefficient for tackling more hardcore jobs. Plus, the composite scales lacked a certain panache, keeping the knife in a decidedly utilitarian position. 

One of the newest Bugout iterations, though, has solved both of those shortcomings. This model, with anodized aluminum scales, not only looks upscale and handsome, but the addition of metal handles increases the overall strength and durability. There are two new options: 535SL-13 with a blue handle and CPM-S90V stainless steel blade, and 535BK-07 with a copper handle and M390 blade (for an extra $20). 

I tested the Crater Blue version (along with three other Bugout models over the years), and it solidified my love for this EDC knife. It comes with the aforementioned stainless drop-point blade with crushed silver Cerakote finish and turquoise anodized hardware, and it feels light in hand but also more substantial than previous versions. It easily takes on anything I throw at it and even survived some light prying with no ill effects. You can get more expensive Bugouts with fancier features, but this one hit the sweet spot for me, making it my favorite EDC knife of the year.

Best Budget EDC Pocket Knife: UCO Whidbey Pushfold

Why I Chose It

UCO Whidbey Pushfold EDC Knife is perfect for a kid who's been clamoring for a knife for years, or for the backpacker or outdoorsman who just needs a simple but robust blade to stash in their cook kit, hiking pants, or glove box. Plus, it's nice and well-built enough to carry every day, no matter your plans for use, especially if you're on a budget. 

The highlight of the EDC blade is its simple push-button lock that's big and substantial, making it easy to operate, even for EDC newbies. Just flick it open with the rear kicker or flipper on the back of the blade, and then push the button to unlock and easily close with one hand. The blade is D2 stainless steel, a workhorse of the EDC world, and the handle is made from nylon in a textured, non-slip pattern. 

I tested the large version, which is 7.6 inches overall with a three-inch blade, but those with smaller hands—or fewer years on the clock—should pick up the Mini at 6.6 inches overall. All in all, this is a great, high-quality EDC knife that excels at campsite tasks and won't break the bank. It's perfect as a backup for veteran outdoorsmen or an entry into the knife world for newbies, young and old.

Best Gentleman's EDC Pocket Knife: WE Knife Nightblade

As more and more knifemakers explore the EDC category, the traditionally tactical look of most blades that dominated people's pockets has slowly evolved. The pocket clip is what elevated the normal pocket or penknife to EDC status for many, but just slapping one on any old knife won't cut it these days (no pun intended). That's why WE Knife Nightblade Crossbar Lock Knife—this particular one comes with flamed titanium scales—is my best pick for a gentleman's blade.

I was most impressed by the heft of the knife (3.32 ounces), as well as the colorful rainbow-like scale pattern on the "flamed" titanium handles. But what stood out most was the absence of a flipper nub on the back of the blade or a thumb stud on the side. It only has a fingernail groove reminiscent of old-school slip joints. But don't worry—EDC fans who like to quickly deploy their blades will find there's no need to slowly dig their thumbnails into the groove to pry the blade out—the titanium pivot assembly with ceramic ball bearing makes the blade extremely easy to flip out by holding down the crossbar lock (on both sides of the top of the handle) and flicking your wrist slightly. I found it to be so smooth and solid—and very satisfying—to flick open and closed. After a few attempts to learn the timing with the crossbar lock, it was as easy as a flipper to deploy and put away.

The supremely solid and sexy knife is also a great size: almost seven inches open with a blade length of almost three inches, and almost four inches closed. (It doesn't come with a paracord lanyard; I quickly tied up a few snake knots the second I started carrying it around for testing because I liked it so much.) It's built with a combination of titanium and stainless steel, and the rubbed satin blade is crafted from CPM 20CV with a flat grind. The pocket clip can go on either the left or right in a tip-up configuration.

It's just too nice of a knife to beat on, but for everyday chores, it's been up to the task and more, looking good the whole time and adding a little smile to my face each time I flick it open and closed.

Best Auto EDC Pocket Knife: Worksharp RMX

Worksharp, which makes the best knife and tool sharpeners around, recently released RMX, their first foray into blade making. And they didn't step quietly into that space, dropping a durable and modular blade made with premium materials that you can set up as a manual or auto knife at home by yourself. And it's also under $150, which is probably why it's sold out as of press time. 

For that incredible price, you get a single-piece, Cerakoted magnesium handle, M390 stainless blade, brass pivot cartridges, and a reversible pocket clip. It comes set up as a manual folder, which I found to work all right, but the triangular divot for thumb placement while opening was hard to find purchase on, making manual deployment a bit of a chore. It almost begs you to switch it to auto, which I did within an hour of using it. 

In the box you get the knife, plus the brass auto pivot, a pivot wrench and magnetic tool, and extra parts: pivot o-ring, pivot screw, clip screw, lock button spring, additional torsion spring, and pivot bearing. Switching it over, I needed a few tries to get it aligned correctly, but the directions are overall pretty clear and well thought out.

In hand, the RMX feels great: the magnesium handle is solid and light, though a little texturing could go a long way since it can get slippery when wet. You get two options for opening speed, but I found the No. 2 position, or the fastest, to be a great speed, so I'd go for that off the bat. 

The only niggle I have with the knife is that when closing in the auto configuration, a slight "ping" rings out every time you do it quickly. Not a big deal, and hopefully it dissipates with time, but it's still a little annoying. Otherwise, this is an amazing EDC knife, especially for a first-time knifemaker, and an incredible deal (plus it's built in the USA). Note: Automatic knives have restrictions in some states, so check your local laws before purchasing.