The Best EDC Knives | MeatEater Gear

Depending on your profession, a good every day carry (EDC) Knife might be a discrete folder that hides in the bottom of your pocket. Others might require a medium-sized fixed blade that comfortably rides on the hip and has the backbone to handle more heavy-duty tasks. Regardless, your EDC knife should excel at a wide range of tasks that might include everything from slicing cardboard to skinning a squirrel and anything in between.

At MeatEater, it’s hard to separate our EDC knives from hunting. But believe it or not, there are times when we use knives for more than just breaking down wild game. You can find excellent options out there that didn’t make this list, but these are the best EDC knives that we don’t leave home without.

Your EDC should perform well at a variety of tasks. If it does that and you forget you’re carrying it, you’ve found a good one. Here are a few things to consider before buying your next one.

The best EDC Knives should have durable steel that’s easy to maintain. Whether you’re gutting a fish or cutting rope, you should have a dependable blade that’s up to the task, not one that’s a liability.

Every day tasks might vary from week to week. Because most folks want to get the most for their money, you might want to consider whether your primary EDC can also double as a reliable hunting knife. If you can slice zip ties at work and backstrap at camp, you’ve hit the sweet spot.

Some knives have harder steel that can be difficult to sharpen, especially for beginners. Consider getting an EDC that holds an edge but also provides easy maintenance, since you’ll be relying on it every day.

Luckily, current knife manufacturers offer plenty of excellent options when it comes to blade material. Material like CPM-S90V has excellent edge retention, but isn’t as tough as something like CPM-3V. On the other hand, Magnacut offers both great edge retention and toughness, but it isn’t cheap.