The Iridium is one of Kershaw’s most popular releases and for good reason. It’s priced modestly with a secure bar lock-out, easy open and closure one-handed, and just looks cool. It’s also the sweet spot for most people in terms of size, weight, and style. Not ultralight (just over 3 ounces), the 6061-T6’s aluminum handle and slim profile keep it barely noticeable in your pocket.

When testing, I found the 4.5-inch length was great for my medium-sized hands and shouldn’t be too big or small for any hands—or jobs. Kershaw offers low- and mid-priced production knives made in China but they follow up with high quality control in their Oregon facilities and consistently deliver designs that just work.

At the core of the Iridium series is a secure, Benchmade-style crossbar lock and while there are models that veer into Benchmade prices, many models including the original can be had for less than $100.

The Iridium is easy to use—opening with a smooth action, activated by the thumb stud opener. Though it’s not spring-assisted, the blade flicks open fast without resistance. Closing is similarly smooth—just pull down on the crossbar lock and close with a finger or hold upright and let the blade fall shut. I usually prefer the satisfying speed of a flipper, but the smooth action of the Iridium’s thumb stud opening rivals the Benchmade Bugout’s, and it quickly grew on me.

The D2 steel used in the original, which offers decent edge retention and durability, is common in lower-cost knives but can rust if you abuse it. A compromise option: Go with the black oxide-coated D2 blade which keeps all but the cutting edge sealed off from rust. The look on all these versions of the Iridium matches the modern design features, and the only drawback of how smooth and slick the knife looks, is that it’s not the best for operating in wet or muddy conditions where grip could become an issue.

Full Kershaw Iridium Pocket Knife Review

Benchmade is an American knife brand based in Oregon with a loyal following for its premium production pocket knives. Known for lightweight designs, modern materials, and innovation, the brand has produced many favorites—but my top pick is the Benchmade 535 Bugout.

To me, the Bugout captures what Benchmade does best: an ultralight folder that’s still strong, well-built, and made with high-quality steel (and the same holds true with the Benchmade 533 Mini Bugout). Some might argue the Benchmade Osborne 940 is the brand’s most iconic knife, but I reach for the Bugout every time—especially for hunting, camping, backpacking, or backcountry skiing, where weight matters.

The design is modern without feeling overly tactical. It’s streamlined with a simple profile and a practical drop-point blade. The textured Grivory scales—glass-reinforced plastic—keep weight incredibly low while maintaining rigidity.

At under two ounces and just 0.42 inches thick, the Bugout is barely noticeable in a pocket, making it ideal for long outdoor trips. For those who don’t like the Grivory feel, there are versions with aluminum or carbon-fiber scales and a range of steel options.

Operation is another highlight. Benchmade’s Axis Lock uses a spring-loaded crossbar that allows easy one-handed opening and closing from either hand while keeping fingers out of the blade path. The mechanism is simple, strong, and easy to maintain—I even built one myself at the Benchmade factory and found it intuitive without instructions.

In terms of cutting performance, my Bugouts arrived razor-sharp out of the box. I prefer the standard S30V steel because it balances edge retention with easier sharpening in the field, though higher-end options like S90V are available if you want longer-lasting sharpness. S30V is also tough and corrosion-resistant, which suits hard outdoor use.

Benchmade’s lifetime warranty and sharpening service add real long-term value. The Bugout isn’t cheap, but with its reliability, ultralight design, and customization options, it’s easy to recommend—especially for outdoor enthusiasts or anyone wanting a high-quality everyday carry knife.

Full Benchmade Bugout 535 Review

Key Specs

Coast is one of several Oregon-based knife manufacturers (the company also sells a wide range of flashlights and headlamps) to offer a range of budget-friendly folding pocket knives. My favorite from their lineup is the fairly small but robust Contra which has an all-metal build and a lifetime warranty despite the low cost. The wharncliffe blade, made from a softer 7CR17 steel, dulls faster than high-end steels but has the benefit of being easy to sharpen at home.

The wharncliffe blade gives you the utility of a box cutter blade but much more versatility as you retain a decent point for puncturing tasks, and I’ve come to prefer it for everyday carry over more traditional drop point shapes. Coast adds durability to its budget steel with a black oxide coating that I found doesn’t scratch easily. The knife is a full stainless-steel build with a good-looking stonewash finish on the handle which integrates the frame lock system.

The flipper opening is fast and satisfying for knife fidgeters but it’s usually safer to employ a two-handed closure. Given the overseas production and ultra-low sticker price, this pocket knife’s durability could be a potential concern, but I’ve used mine roughly near-daily for more than a year and haven’t broken or chipped the blade. It still looks like new.

Full Coast Contra Review

Key Specs

I’ve been looking for a good automatic pocket knife for years, and the CRKT Twist Tighe Automatic is the only one that I’ve found that doesn't feel like a novelty knife. It’s compact, lightweight, fun to use, and practical enough for everyday carry while still delivering the fun factor that draws many people to automatic knives in the first place.

Automatics, often called switchblades, are popular with knife enthusiasts because they’re inherently fidget-friendly. The Twist Tighe is an out-the-front (OTF) automatic, meaning the blade deploys straight out of the front of the handle. Besides being undeniably cool, I find the operation safer than many folding knives because it’s harder to accidentally place your fingers in the blade’s path when opening and closing.

The highlight is its smooth double-action mechanism. Sliding the spine button forward fires the blade; pulling it back retracts it. Many automatics I’ve tried are either stiff or inconsistent, but the Twist Tighe feels smooth and reliable even after repeated use. That ease of operation also makes it surprisingly approachable for people who aren’t experienced with knives.

The design comes from Canadian knife designer Brian Tighe, and the handle’s raised spiral grooves are a distinctive touch fans of his work will recognize. In the all-black configuration, the knife looks sleek and slightly dramatic without becoming impractical. My version features a tanto blade with a black titanium nitride finish, while other configurations of the Twist Tighe have double-edged blades and more colorful scale options.

Size and weight are also a big difference from other automatics. At just 1.6 ounces with a 2.65-inch blade and about a 4-inch closed length, it’s remarkably small for an OTF knife and easy to carry daily. However, people with large hands may find it a bit compact.

Overall, the Twist Tighe combines premium materials like CPM MagnaCut steel with one of the smoothest actions I’ve experienced. If you’re looking for a compact, high-quality OTF automatic for everyday carry, it’s an excellent choice.

Full CRKT Twist Tighe Review

Case is one of the original American knife brands still standing and, unlike many of their competitors that have shipped production to China, most of Case’s knives are still designed and produced in Bradford, Pennsylvania.

Whether or not that matters to you, Case makes great knives and while they sell a lot of nostalgic designs unchanged for a century, the Kinzua is one of their modern EDC offerings that departs from the Case aesthetic with synthetic scales, sharp lines, and a tanto blade.

The satin-finished S35VN steel blade is a good compromise of hardness and edge durability while still being fairly easy to sharpen at home. It also has a lightly weathered look that should hide abuse well. One note is that, while extremely sturdy, the all-metal frame-lock design is pretty stiff to close out of the box.

Releasing the frame lock requires some force and closing requires a few moves. With a little practice I was able to comfortably operate it one-handed, but folks with smaller or weaker hands may not feel the same.

Full Case Kinzua Review

Key Specs

More than two years ago, the SOG Twitch II was our Best Overall pocket knife so we called in the latest generation, the SOG Twitch III, to test.

Spring-assisted knives are super-satisfying to deploy and the SOG Twitch III is blink-of-an-eye quick which is just plain fun, but also gives you confidence that the blade is fully deployed and locked in.

My favorite way to open this pocket knife is with the flipper tab on the back of the spine (there are also dual thumb studs) making it easy to open one-handed no matter what you’re doing with the help of the SOG Assisted Technology. The blade locks out with a classic lockback mechanism which releases via a redesigned slide on the spine to keep your fingers out of the way when closing. It is much easier than previous Twitch editions but still can be a little fiddly one-handed.

The price, at just under $70, makes it attainable for almost anyone who is searching for a good-looking EDC folder as well. SOG keeps the cost down with a solid mid-tier 154CM steel that provides a suitable balance of durability coupled with ease of sharpening at home. The black titanium nitride coating looks great paired with black aluminum scales, but there are also various options if you want a different style.

The Twitch III is a small, slick, and classy knife especially for the price, but the minimalism leads to one gripe: the smooth aluminum scales can be difficult to properly grip with gloves or wet hands. It’s also petite which is great for staying low-profile, but will feel tiny in larger hands.

It takes a lot to stand out in the pocket knife world these days. There are more knife companies and knife designers than ever which makes it a beneficial time to shop for knives, yet it can feel like every new knife is just a slight riff on an existing folder.

Vosteed’s Parallel feels distinct the second you pick it up. That’s mostly due to how impossibly thin it is at 0.28 inches — about 9 credit cards. At 2.36 ounces, it’s also extremely light and sits barely noticeable in your pocket.

A knife this thin could be considered a flimsy novelty using lots of light plastics, but it has a surprisingly substantial feel with a 154CM blade and titanium handle that combine for real world usage. It’s ready to go rather than being a pocket knife you marvel at for its engineering.

I find the Reverse Tanto blade especially handy as well, combining a fine point with a relatively flat blade that’s suited for slicing and cutting. The crossbar lock is secure and familiar to knife enthusiasts while working equally well for lefties. The satin blade with black handle combo that I own is eye-catching, but Vosteed offers a dozen combinations of blade and handle finishes from blacked-out to colorful gradients.

Leatherman is synonymous with multitools but made waves earlier this year with the release of a new lineup of fixed-blade and folding knives at premium price points. These aren’t the first knives the company has ever produced, but the launch of a lineup and creation of a separate production facility signals a serious push into the new-for-them category.

I love the smart designs and precision production behind Leatherman’s multitools and while I wasn’t wowed by all of their knives, the Glider is one of my favorite everyday carry options now.

The Magnacut sheepsfoot blade is hard, holds an edge forever, and has a slightly rounded belly that isn’t far from working like an extra-long utility knife blade. While I reach for other blade shapes for outdoor knife purposes, I love sheepsfoot and wharncliffe blades for everyday use as they’re perfect for opening boxes and slicing tasks but still give you enough of a point for puncturing as well.

Other knives like the alternatives below offer similar functionality, but the aesthetics and build are why I love the Glider. I prefer the heft and strength of an all-steel knife and that’s what you get here. Leatherman machines the handles from blocks of steel with smart internal cut-outs to save some weight.

The Glider also debuts a patent-pending Delta lock which has a slick button release that’s functionally similar to a crossbar lock but easier to operate.

What sets the Glider apart is the brand name, the aesthetic, and the minimalist design which uses only 12 distinct parts and is built like a tool almost entirely from American steel and manufactured in Oregon.

For an amazing little budget knife with an all-metal build and wharncliffe blade for way, way less, look at the Coast Contra reviewed in more detail above.

Key Specs