The Best Lightweight Pocket Knife: A 2024 Buyer's Guide
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Every item you add to your everyday carry is essential, and each has a role. Each part of your everyday carry also has a size and weight; eventually, those aspects can add up. And at the end of the day, including a pocket knife in your everyday carry tends to add a lot of weight to your pockets. A hefty, full-size knife can give you the confidence to take on big tasks, but if it’s so heavy that you don’t even lug it for daily use, it’s not doing you much good. Conversely, a bad lightweight knife can feel too flimsy and thin and incapable of helping you tackle your daily tasks.
A lightweight knife must be carefully designed in many ways because there’s usually less material and space to work with. That’s why it’s crucial to pick the right one. In this guide, we’ll focus on the benefits of considering lightweight knives for everyday carry. We’ll review the aspects that make for an excellent lightweight pocket knife and why choosing the right one for your everyday carry kit is crucial.
The Best Lightweight Pocket Knives of 2024
The Best Overall Lightweight Pocket Knife: Benchmade Mini Bugout Carbon Fiber [Buy]
The Best Lightweight Pocket Knife on a Budget: Ontario Knife Company Wraith [Buy]
The Most Premium Lightweight Pocket Knife: Kershaw Launch 4 Ultem [Buy]
The Best Keychain Lightweight Pocket Knife: Victorinox Classic SD Alox LE 2024 [Buy]
The Best Lightweight Pocket Knife for the Outdoors: CIVIVI Mini Elementum Fixed Blade [Buy]
- Iconic EDC knife
- Super premium materials in this model
- Many variations both in regular and Mini
- Fully ambidextrous thanks to AXIS lock
- Unique transparent nylon scales
- Fully ambidextrous thanks to dual thumb studs and lockback
- Very affordable
- Contemporary material favorites in MagnaCut and Ultem
- California-friendly 1.9" blade
- Legendary multi-tool
- Many, many variations both regular and limited
- Great keychain backup EDC
- Super popular Elementum profile
- Full tang
- Included Kydex sheath
- Expensive
- Supplies may be limited for the foreseeable future, so grab one if you like it
- Automatic deployment not legal in many locales (check local laws)
- Thinner Alox profile means no light, toothpick, or tweezer inserts
- Limited edition colorway, but regular silver is always available
- Fixed blade not always ideal for EDC
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The Best Overall Lightweight Pocket Knife: Benchmade Mini Bugout Carbon Fiber
Since its introduction a few years back, the Benchmade Mini Bugout has been near or at the top of the community’s favorite picks for the best overall lightweight pocket knife for everyday carry. Benchmade’s formula for the Mini Bugout is simple, but it’s hard to execute as perfectly as they have. With a 6.5” overall length and a 2.82” drop-point knife blade, you have a compact knife capable of carrying out all your everyday tasks. Benchmade goes a step further by using premium blade steel with CPM S90V stainless, making this a knife that you can get sharp and keep sharp for quite a long time.
Benchmade pioneered the ambidextrous AXIS lock concept, and it makes for an ergonomic knife that you can open and close with either of your two hands. And because it weighs just 1.48 oz in this carbon fiber variant, it doesn’t weigh down your pockets much. Not only does the carbon fiber add a nice touch of class, but it also brings this version of the knife down in weight to its lightest yet by 0.02 oz. Carbon fiber handles also provide better rigidity in hand compared to the standard Grivory handles, which many users tend to complain about. That may not seem significant to a newcomer to lightweight knives, but any savings without compromise is an important plus, and that’s why this knife is at the top of our list as the best overall lightweight pocket knife for everyday carry.
The Best Lightweight Pocket Knife on a Budget: Ontario Knife Company Wraith
You might think that with all the craftsmanship required to make a knife lightweight yet good enough for everyday carry, you will have to pay more to get what you want. But knives like the Ontario Knife Company’s “Wraith” attack that thought with full force. The Wraith accomplishes a 1.50 oz weight by minimizing the amount of metal in the handle as much as possible. It relies on a reliable lockback mechanism sandwiched between semi-transparent glass-filled nylon scales to keep the compact 2.6” 4116 stainless steel blade secure and locked into place during use. It’s an idea taken from old-style lockback folding knives, but unlike those knives, it doesn’t use heavy wood, bone, or brass for the rest of the design.
It’s also made in Taiwan, keeping costs down while still being durable enough for most everyday carry users. In my experience with the knife, it lacks a smooth and snappy deployment due to the nature of its lockback mechanism. In spite of that, it still slices exceptionally well for its price. With all of the changes and uncertainty at Ontario Knife Company, it’s better to grab a Wraith for yourself sooner rather than later if you are interested in having one for your everyday carry.
The Most Premium Lightweight Pocket Knife: Kershaw Launch 4 Ultem
The Kershaw Launch 4 is one of the most compact and lightweight automatic knives you can carry today at 1.62 oz. It’s also a knife made in the USA, featuring two community-favorite materials originating here: Ultem polymer handle scales and CPM MagnaCut stainless steel in the blade itself. Ultem features superior durability and heat resistance, but for the most part, it’s the alluring yellow translucent glow that gets many everyday carry enthusiasts into it when used as a handle scale. It contrasts nicely with the black MagnaCut spearpoint blade at a California-friendly 1.9” length.
Remember that despite the shorter length of the Kershaw Launch 4, carrying automatic knives and sometimes assisted opening knives can generally be more restricted depending on where you are. It’s essential to do your research about your local rules and regulations before making your own decision about whether carrying an automatic knife is suitable for your daily use.
The Best Keychain Lightweight Pocket Knife: Victorinox Classic SD Alox LE 2024
At 0.6 oz, the Victorinox Classic SD Alex LE 2024 is a nifty way to add a backup knife to your keychain, ensuring you always have a cutting tool on hand when needed. This year’s special edition of the knife features a new anodized aluminum Terra Brown colorway that makes it a bit more low profile than the standard shiny silver or red tones of the standard Alox designs. Note here that “Alox” refers to the anodic oxidation process Victorinox uses to construct their aluminum scales and not “aluminum oxide” which has been mistakenly used elsewhere.
And because the Classic SD is a Swiss Army Knife, you can take advantage of the spring-loaded scissors for tasks better suited than the thin knife. Plus, a SAK tends to be more discreet, and its placement on your keychain makes it easier to carry around where you might get strange looks if you bring a full-size blade regardless of the weight.
The Best Lightweight Pocket Knife for the Outdoors: CIVIVI Mini Elementum Fixed Blade
You might think that a fixed-blade knife is heavier than a folding knife for lightweight everyday carry, but sometimes that’s not the case. While a fixed-blade knife tends to have a full-tang construction, eliminating the need for a folding mechanism can improve overall when ounces and grams matter. The CIVIVI Mini Elementum is an excellent example of this in practice: the original folding version of the knife is already highly lightweight at 1.29 oz, but its fixed blade version brings things down to a featherweight 0.79 oz that you’ll barely notice until you need it for your daily tasks.
You do lose the pocketable convenience of the folding mechanism of the original Mini Elementium, but CIVIVI has included a secure Kydex sheath and lanyard for the knife that allows you to wear the knife discreetly and safely around your neck. Better still, the 2.24” drop-point blade is always ready for use, improved in the fixed blade edition with ergonomic Micarta inlays and Nitro-V stainless steel hardened a bit more than the original Elementum’s 14C28N stainless blade.
Our Other Recommendations
Spyderco Lil’ Native Lightweight: The Lil’ Native Lightweight is a sized-down version of Spyderco’s original Native back lock knife. By swapping the handle scales to fiberglass-reinforced nylon and cutting things down to a 2.42” blade, the Lil’ Native Lightweight tips the scales at 1.5 oz. The wire pocket clip allows for completely reversible left or right-handed carry, and you can choose between tip-up and tip-down orientations for your carry convenience. The trademark Spyderco eyehole cutout in the CTS-BD1N stainless steel blade is very easy to identify without looking, and if you are wearing gloves, you can still easily open the knife compared to a traditional knife with thumb studs only.
Kansept Mini Korvid: The Kansept Mini Korvid is a compact folding cleaver-style knife with a flipper mechanism that weighs in at just 1.38 oz. It features black TiCn-coated 154CM steel with a flat ground edge that takes full advantage of its wider cleaver shape. With its beefy yet compact 1.45" blade secured within G-10 handles, you can take on small food prep, chopping, and slicing tasks. The lack of a spear point makes it difficult to pierce with the tool, but if you've been on the lookout for a unique pocket cleaver with plenty of variety, the Mini Korvid makes the cut.
Deejo 37g: Many knives classify themselves as lightweight, but Deejo tells you that their folding knife weighs just 37 grams (1.3 oz) in the very name of their product. The hallmark of the Deejo knife is its unique skeletonized frame. That design keeps things light while providing a firm frame lock for the 3.75” Z40C13 stainless steel blade. In its blacked-out colorway mated with the moon phase laser engraved art, this edition of the knife is a useful full-size cutting tool and a bit of flair that will add a touch of elegance to your overall everyday carry gear loadout. You can also look through Deejo’s other offerings because you can customize the knife to the desired materials and look.
Bestech Tulip: The unique utility-oriented blade shape of the Bestech Tulip is reminiscent of a traditional Japanese Kiridashi cutting tool. Custom knife designer Ostap Hel made this knife in collaboration with Bestech, adding several improvements over the traditional original. Unlike the rust-prone carbon steel of those traditional fixed blade tools, the Tulip features a premium stainless Böhler M390 folding design. At just 4” long overall and sporting a compact 1.34” cutting edge, this is a tiny knife, but the milled edges on the titanium handle give you more comfort during the cut. At 1.5 oz, it’s one of the lightest knives you can carry featuring M390 steel.
SOG UItra XR: SOG's XR lock eliminates blade play, and their Ultra XR knife combines it with carbon fiber scales in the handle and a premium S35VN stainless steel blade that’s been treated with a CRYOgold finish that contrasts nicely aesthetically. The beauty of the XR lock in the handle also means that a one-handed opening is easily achieved by actuating the lock and flicking the knife open, making for a smooth opening that’s faster than most non-assisted opening flipper style designs in actual practice. Eliminating the need for a large frame lock or liner in the handle gives you the performance of a full-size knife while only being 1.2 oz in weight in your pockets.
How to Take Care of Your Pocket Knife
Like all knives, lightweight knives require regular maintenance to keep things in tip-top shape. It starts with keeping the edge of your knife sharp. A dull knife will slip instead of slice and, in the worst case, slip right onto your fingers. It's also a good idea to dry your knife after it gets wet because even stainless steel knives will rust, given enough time and exposure to the wet elements. Adding oil to the blade will give it a nice shine and help prevent rust. It also can help the pivot on a folding knife work more smoothly for a more satisfying opening and closing experience during daily use.
What Makes a Good Pocket Knife?
Lightweight knives have many of the same considerations that make for an excellent overall everyday carry knife, with additional emphasis on the weight of the knife itself. An excellent lightweight pocket knife has a quality blade of good steel that can get sharp even after extended daily use. The design of the handle is essential, but more so for its looks. A well-designed handle helps a lightweight knife overcome the limitations of a smaller size if present. It also helps make the knife more lightweight overall if intelligent decisions are made to reduce heft without compromising safety and comfort. The locking mechanism influences usability and weight because it’s essential to ensure a knife blade is locked into place no matter how light it is for your safety.
Blade Quality
A lightweight knife should not come with a ‘lightweight’ blade. Like all good everyday carry pocket knives, a lightweight knife should have a well-suited blade for daily use. It pays to choose blades made with premium materials for lightweight loadouts. That’s because premium steels can do better in smaller, more compact designs that tend to dominate in the lightweight space. It also means you’ll worry less about damage to your knife over time via rusting, chipping, and other breakage. A lightweight knife made of a good quality blade will also get sharp and stay sharp for longer.
Handle Design
A knife can have the best steel and blade shape, but you won't have a good time if it has an uncomfortable handle that’s slippery when wet. A handle made of heavy materials will also ruin a knife if you want to stay under 2 oz and keep things lightweight. And because handles tend to run smaller and thinner on ultralightweight designs than on full-size blades, a well-designed ergonomic knife with good handles is easier to use than one that goes for looks only.
Size and Weight
With a lightweight pocket knife, examining size based on your needs might be better. Look for an overall length and blade length that suits your needs, and then narrow it down to the knives that meet your weight requirements to keep things from getting too weighty in your pockets. With modern materials and construction, carrying a tiny knife is unnecessary if you want a lightweight option. Knives that run larger but are light will be more expensive than other options simply because of the premium materials and intelligent design details that have to go into constructing a capable everyday carry knife along those requirements.
Locking Mechanism
For the most part, when it comes to lightweight pocket knives, choosing a locking mechanism has more to do with your ergonomic requirements than overall weight considerations. With modern everyday carry knives, you don’t have to forego a locking mechanism entirely to save ounces in your pocket. So you can pick the design that keeps a knife secured in place after you open it, especially with the industry’s shift towards ambidextrous crossbar locks that require less metal than a traditional liner or frame lock design from full-size pocket knives. One interesting consideration is whether you want a folding mechanism because some of the most skeletonized lightweight fixed-blade knives have weight advantages compared to folding knives. But opting for that will require you to carry the knife differently because it has to be kept in a holster to avoid poking yourself on your knife before you need to use it.
FAQs
What pocket knife do Navy SEALs use?
Navy SEALs tend to use military-issued knives that aren’t always available to the general public. However, some brands are often associated with Navy SEALs, including SOG, KA-BAR, and Toor knives.
What pocket knife does the military use?
Military knives are issued to troops, but some have been contracted for their unique use. One of the most famous examples is the venerable Swiss Army Knife, made by Victorinox and Wenger for the Swiss military and other armies and law enforcement users for over a century.
What is the best blade length for a pocket knife?
We recommend blades on pocket knives be between two and three inches long for most everyday carry tasks. Specialized blades can run longer if needed to maximize the slicing potential of a blade. And if the length is limited by requirement or statute, you can certainly go lower than that.
What is a flipper pocket knife?
A flipper pocket knife integrates a tab on the knife's spine that juts out slightly from the back of the knife near the pivot. Combined with either spring assist or ball bearings in the pivot, it can make for a quick draw and deployment without the hassle of carrying around an automatic knife.
What are the advantages of a lightweight pocket knife?
The best thing about carrying a lightweight pocket knife is that it reduces the burden of having it in your pockets. The more stuff you carry, the more you get weighed down by gear. And if your knife weighs too much, you might not bring it.
Are expensive pocket knives always better than cheaper ones?
While expensive pocket knives tend to be made of more premium materials that can be more durable, capable (and more beautiful) than standard designs, there comes a point where you reach the limit of what money can get you. That’s where a pocket knife goes beyond practicality and becomes more of a work of art. But if you’re just looking for a capable pocket knife, you can opt for a cheaper design and save yourself some money in the process.
How does the size of a pocket knife affect its functionality?
A knife that’s too small for the task will be stiff because the handles won’t allow for a full grip, and the knife might have an edge too small. But a large knife might be too big for our daily use cases, making it too big and heavy for your pockets.
How we picked
Decades of experience and deep connections in the everyday carry industry give us a unique viewpoint on the market to inform our product recommendations. We have the depth of information for thousands of products that have come before and an extensive eye on the market to see what's new and trending for each piece of gear. The result is a buying guide that we feel is informative and useful for EDCers of every trade, industry, and budget.
What is Everyday Carry?
Everyday Carry is both the concept of what people carry in their pockets and the process of picking out gear that thoughtfully considers what one wants or needs in their daily life. It encompasses everything from style to preparedness to utility, meaning an entire industry full of valuable tools and essentials to choose from.
Why you should trust us
Our team has decades of combined experience in all aspects of everyday men's essentials, from wallets to pens to bags and everything in between, and we know where to find great gear ideas that you may not come across at your local stores or when shopping online. Our expertise in the industry and familiarity with design, materials, and usability help you make more informed choices when it comes to picking up your next piece of gear.
Jonathan's photographic works have appeared on numerous online websites, print, video, and television outlets for over a decade. Jonathan's previous clients include Blizzard Entertainment, Red Bull, ESL, Razer, and several other endemic and non-endemic esports sponsors and brands. His work also features heavily in online competitive gaming communities, especially those of the StarCraft and Fighting Game genres. You've likely seen his work if you've spent time in a stream or in-game chat over the years.
Bernard is known for bringing everyday carry out of obscurity and into the mainstream, having been published or featured in various publications such as GQ, TIME Magazine, The New York Times, VICE, HYPEBEAST, Outside, and many others. He has also played a part in curating, designing, and developing digital and physical products, resulting in successful crowdfunding projects or limited edition collaboration products with established softgoods brands. He stays on the pulse of the EDC industry by attending trade shows, participating in online interest communities, and actively engaging with fellow gear enthusiasts on social media.
In addition to being the editor-in-chief and main social media personality for EverydayCarry.com, Bernard is an avid gearhead and collector in general. His personal collections span technical bags, fountain pens, digital cameras, retro gaming hardware, personal hi-fi audio gear, and mechanical wristwatches, to name a few. Bernard Capulong is a prominent figure and trusted authority in the everyday carry industry with a career dedicated to helping people discover this hobby and stay prepared with quality gear.
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