EDC stands for “Everyday Carry” and typically includes anything you can fit on your body, in your pockets or in your boots that help you get through the day and stay prepared. Many people carry their edc pocket knife in a leather belt organizer for safekeeping. EDC normally includes items such as survival necklaces, keychain tools, credit card sized multi tools, front carry wallets and more. The pocket knife still remains to be one of the most important aspects of your everyday carry due to their versatility as a tool and weapon. You want to choose an EDC knife that’s small, tough and can handle both small and large jobs efficiently. You will likely use your pocket knife more than any other tool you happen to carry – all the more reason to choose a quality blade that will hold up to any task.
The most important part of building you everyday carry is making sure you fill in any gaps. It takes time and money to get the perfect set up, but you don’t necessarily have to spend a fortune. You can easily find a high-quality EDC knife on a budget that will last you for years and years.
Related: Best EDC Neck Knives Currently on the Market
Here are the best EDC pocket knives you can find for under $35.
Kershaw Spline Assisted Open Folding Knife
Designed from tough stainless steel, the Kershaw Spline holds a razor-sharp edge and makes the perfect EDC knife! Les George designed this blade with a hollow grind and a blackwash finish – this modified Wharncliffe blade makes a fine addition to your EDC! A great, all-purpose knife that can be useful when hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, job site, office and for self-defense should the need arise. If you’re looking for a one-handed flipper, this is the knife for you. It comes equipped with SpeedSafe so you can easily open it quickly and with one hand. It can be used right-handed and left-handed. You can’t beat fast deployment when you need it. It also has a secure locking system to make the blade safer and more secure when used. Weighing only 4.3 ounces with nearly a 3” blade makes this knife a top contender for your everyday carry knife.
Folding knives are extremely popular as an EDC knife because they easily fit in your pockets or belt organizer. This is a great choice for an EDC knife for self defense because you can open it quickly when you need it.
CRKT Drifter EDC Folding Pocket Knife
The Drifter series knives from CRKT are high-quality and priced perfect for those wanting to expand their EDC collection with long-lasting knives. These folding knives are affordable enough that it won’t break the bank. In fact, you can buy multiples and stash them in all of your bags and vehicle. Drop point blade with a gray titanium nitride finish – this EDC knife is no slacker! Razor-sharp with a thumb stud opening for quick access, the Drifter is the type of blade you can get a lot of use out of and it will still be sharp when you need it. Tough G10 handles for heavy-duty work and they have great traction so your hand won’t slip when using it in inclement weather. The blade can easily be customized with a logo or name to add a personal touch. You can open and close it quickly and it’s easy to sharpen.
Spyderco Grasshopper Folding Knife
On the small side, but well-crafted and razor sharp. Perfect for everyday carry. You can bring this one to the office without anyone batting an eye. On the smaller side, even for a pocket knife, but sometimes that’s exactly what you want for easy concealment. You can do most tasks with the 2.3” blade. Closed length measures at 2.77” which makes this a perfect knife to conceal for EDC. The blade itself has no serrations or teeth- the smooth blade stays open when you’re using it by resistant pressure at the pivot area of the knife. These are great for an everyday knife or even a secondary knife to keep clipped to your pocket. Spyderco makes larger knives, but the Grasshopper fits into a specific category of small EDC knives under $25.
Gerber Kettlebell Compact Folding Knife
Gerber hit the nail on the head with the Kettlebell Small Utility Knife. Compact with a smaller profile – easy to conceal and won’t turn heads when you use it in public. You don’t want people to know too much about your knife anyway. Designed from a rugged blade and durable frame lock – this compact knife can handle a lot! The textured grip is where it’s at – your hands will love the feel of this knife as you use it for everyday cutting chores. Did we mention it has dual thumbstuds? Easy deployment of your blade means you can get to it faster and easier. This is one of the best compact EDC knives for under $25 that you will find.
This is probably the best size for an EDC knife for office use.
Ontario Rat Pocket Knife
You will be blown away by the quality of this EDC pocket knife! Razor-sharp with a 3.5” plain edge blade right out of the box. Designed for superior versatility and durability, the Ontario Rat knife series are perfect for anyone needing an easily concealed blade for everyday use. The Ontario Rat comes equipped with a sturdy pocket clip for easy access on the jobsite or in the office. Superior quality, top-notch design and strong origins makes this a steal of an EDC pocket knife for under $25! Bushcrafters will enjoy this knife as well since it’s razor sharp and the grind makes it amazingly well conditioned for making notches, feather sticks, traps and pretty much anything else you want it to accomplish.
You can find this EDC knife on Amazon!
Kershaw Cryo II Speedsafe Assisted Opening EDC Pocket Knife
This 2.75” stainless steel blade is designed to be tough, razor-sharp and fast! It has great edge retention, which is great when you may not have access to a quality EDC knife sharpener for an extended period of time. Perfect for EDC and other tasks such as self-defense, slicing packages, cutting rope and twine, stripping wire, camp duties, making a fire and more. The Kershaw Cryo uses a torsion bar to propel the blade from the handle. You get a smooth transition with one-handed blade deployment. A light push and the blade opens and locks into gear and is ready to cut.
Cold Steel Pro Lite Sport Knife
Cold Steel has produced some of the best EDC knives that are extremely affordable and live up to the name. Strong, durable and compact – this is a great knife to have on you at all times. Weighing only 3 ounces with a blade length of 3.5 inches, this is the type of knife you can easily clip to your pocket and you won’t notice it until you need it. The stainless-steel blade comes in tanto or clip point and can hold a razor-sharp edge. Re-sharpen this bad boy easily in the field with a Wazoo Viking Stone Necklace or bring a small sharpener with you. The pocket clip is ambidextrous for both right and left-handed use and it has a locking mechanism for extra strength. This EDC knife has been put through a series of gruesome quality control tests and passed every single one with flying colors.
Gerber Paraframe I Knife with Serrated Edge
When choosing the best EDC knives, I prefer to get one with a half-serrated edge. It makes cutting rope, twine and plastic easier and you still get the benefits of having a smooth edge. There are multiple Gerber Paraframe knives on the market, but we prefer this one due to its versatility, size and simplicity. Plus, it’s cheap! You can buy two or three of these to have on hand and it won’t break the bank. They make great gifts. This version has a blade length of 3.01”, which is perfect for small and large tasks. The overall length is 7.01” for easy conceal and it won’t take up too much space in your pocket. That makes this the perfect EDC knife for those looking to expand their gear.
CRKT M16-01S EDC Folding Pocket Knife
Stainless steel handles, frame lock, Carson flipper opener – this is a handy knife to carry! Coming in at under $20, it’s a steal. Designed by Kit Carson in Vine Grove, Kentucky; this CRKT EDC knife is a great scrapper for rough use in the field. If you’re looking for slim blade that’s easy to conceal and can handle rough work, CRKT has a knife for you. With a blade length of 3.46” and a closed length of 4.65”, it’s a middle sized pocket knife that can handle double duty.
CRKT Pilar EDC Folding Pocket Knife
Compact, perfect for everyday carry, thumb slot open, frame lock stainless steel handle and reversible pocket clip – if this doesn’t interest you, we don’t know what will. CRKT hit a home run with this EDC knife and many users have expressed that they own more than one of these just in case they lose them. More than just a crowd pleaser, this compact blade can do work! Designed by Jesper Voxnaes in Loegstrug, Denmark; this knife is built for slicing with the modified Wharncliffe shape. Perfectly balanced with a fine tip for precision tasks. Equipped with a thumb hole and designed for one-handed open. Handy for when you need your other hand in a self-defense situation.
Opinel No. 8 Pocket Knife
At first glance, this knife looks different, especially when you compare it to “tactical” knives in the same genre. Don’t be fooled – the Opinel No. 8 knife is a high-quality EDC knife. The 3.28” blade is the perfect size for an everyday carry blade. Plus, this knife is stylish and classy! Makes the perfect gift for someone who appreciates finer things. Let’s talk about this knife’s performance: it slices and dices through boxes, small pieces of wood, cardboard, twine, rope, MREs and pretty much anything else a blade this size can handle. You won’t be disappointed with this knife and it costs just over $15, perfect for those wanting to load up on multiples to stash away or give to friends. We highly recommend this EDC blade. If the Opinel No. 8 knife isn’t the perfect size for you, they make more sizes ranging from 2.87” blades to 4.82” blades.
Kershaw Chill Folding Knife
If you’re looking for a quality EDC knife that’s not too big and not too small, the Kershaw Chill is one to look at. The blade is 3.1 inches and razor sharp, designed from stainless steel and resistant to corrosion. Coated with a non-reflective finish, this is a stylish and slim blade that’s perfect for everyday cutting tasks. Break down boxes, slice packages, cut cord, strip wire and perfect for both camp duties and office life. This is the type of knife you can easily use for 6 months without having to sharpen. Not only does it do an amazing job at retaining an edge, it’s also designed with grip in mind. The handles provide secure grip and comfort. Best part is it’s under $25.
SOG Fielder Folding Knife
If you’re looking for the SOG pocket knife that’s under $25, this is the one. It comes equipped with a 3.3” blade and measures 7.8” in total length. Not a bad size for an EDC knife. You don’t want them to be too large as it could draw unwanted attention. You will, however, attract attention when you pull this knife out in front of your friends and they will ask where you got it. Durable, attractive, sharp – what else could you want in a knife? Oh yeah, how about one-hand opening. You can pop this blade open quickly and with one hand. Also, you have a choice between a handsome wood handle or a tactical looking G10 handle. Perfect for hiking, camping, EDC, outdoor enthusiasts, office work, RVing and anything else you can use a knife on.
Kershaw Spoke
This compact EDC knife catches your eye and draws you in with that interesting handle. Beyond looks, this knife is a high-performance blade that sports a non-reflective black oxide finish that gives it a sexy appearance. The blade is 2”, which is on the small side, but it has a large belly which makes it great for slicing and cutting. The SpeedSafe Assisted Opening makes this knife even more fitting for your EDC collection. This is one of the cheapest EDC knives that we can still highly recommend due to its utility and performance. Priced right at under $20.
Kershaw Shuffle II EDC Pocket Knife
If you’re looking for the best EDC knife for under $20 and still has high ratings – the Kershaw Shuffle II is a top contender. Dual, ambidextrous thumbstuds on both sides of the blade make for easy opening. The stainless steel Tanto-style blade is not only reliable, but extremely sharp and retains an edge. Designed to cut, puncture, stab, slice, dice, chop, scrape and slash – you can do it all with this EDC knife! Perfect little utility knife for those that don’t want to spend a fortune on a pocket knife. Let’s face it, sometimes it’s good to go cheaper on your EDC knife because they go through the ringer and get trashed through hard work. You’re going to love the handle on the Kershaw Shuffle II!
The Kershaw Shuffle II makes a great EDC hunting knife because it’s compact, tough and isn’t shiny.
CRKT Squid EDC Utility Knife
If you travel in certain social circles, you’ve likely heard of the CRKT Squid. There’s good reason – it’s one of the most durable and useful little knives you can buy! CRKT knew what they were doing when they designed this EDC blade. The blade isn’t super large, but you will have a hard time finding a situation where it isn’t enough for the task. It can hold an edge better than knives that cost twice as much and it easily fits in the palm of your hand. The CRKT Squid is slightly heavier than other knives around the same size due to it’s all metal design as compared to cheap plastic handles of other knives. Extremely affordable at under $20, buy two of these and put one in your vehicle.
The CRKT Squid is a great all-around EDC knife that can handle everything and won’t weigh your pants down.
Spyderco Byrd Finch 2 Folding Knife
Small, yet deadly. Spyderco Byrd Knives are designed for budget conscious people who still want a high-quality EDC blade that will hold up through daily punishment. Featuring a “Comet Hole” design that allows you to deploy the knife swiftly with one-hand. That’s important to most people as you may not always have time for a two-handed opening. G-10 handles are non-slip and have an amazing grip. No serrations or teeth on this blade and a full-flat grind that makes it perfect for cutting. The blade is 1.91” and the overall length of this knife is 4.39”. Tiny, but well made and comes in handy for daily knife tasks.
What is an EDC Knife?
EDC stands for “Everyday Carry” and is an item or tool that you carry with you daily. EDC gear is usually a compact item that serves multiple functions and is easy to carry and conceal. An EDC knife is basically a blade that you will carry with you everywhere you go throughout your day and can handle multiple tasks that you may need it for.
A good EDC knife is one that gets the job done without taking up much space in your pocket, belt or bag. An EDC pocket knife is great for those who want a dependable knife that’s not too large and heavy. You can pack an EDC knife in your pocket, gear bag or keep it in your vehicle for when you need it.
What is the Best EDC Pocket Knife?
There are many types, brands and designs that can fit your needs when choosing the best EDC pocket knife. All you have to do is take stock of the types of tools you use on a daily basis and find an EDC pocket knife that fits your specifications.
All EDC knives on this list are high-quality, durable and blades that are large enough for most jobs.
Jerome is an avid outdoorsman who moonlights as an attorney when he’s not creating the world’s greatest online content.