The 17 Best Utility Knives and Box Cutters for EDC in 2023
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Knives can be very versatile as an EDC tool, but they are not always the best for every job. Opening boxes lined with tape and breaking down cardboard and clamshell packaging can mess up your knife edge, layering it with gunk and adhesive while dulling even the most meticulously sharpened blade. For that kind of dirty work, a retractable utility knife would be a better fit, taking the brunt of the work with replaceable blades that require minimal maintenance and keeping your EDC knife sharp for more crucial tasks.
This guide looks at convenient and pocket-friendly utility knife options and box cutters that can help save your primary EDC knife from unnecessary wear and tear. From knives as tiny as zipper pulls to highly functional multi-tools that integrate a retractable utility blade, we round up the choices that could deserve a spot in your shirt or pants pocket, organizer, or daily pack.
Best Utility Knives — 2023 Edition
Best Overall Utility Knife for EDC: Exceed Designs TiRant [Buy]
Best Budget Utility Knife: Mossy Oak 2-pack [Buy] / [Full Review]
Best Premium Utility Knife: Rexford RUT V4 [Buy]
Best Utility Knife for Arts and Crafts: Olfa SVR-1 [Buy]
Best Utility Knife for Heavy-Duty Work: Milwaukee Fastback II [Buy] / [Full Review]
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Mossy Oak Folding Pocket Utility Knife
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PurchaseHow to Choose the Best Utility Knife for Your EDC
While most of us are used to opening up packages with a trusty pocket knife, that‘s not a good idea in the long run. That is if you want to keep maximizing your blade's lifespan. Sure, one or two now and then is ok, but regular pocket knives weren’t designed to deal with all the gunk and glue found in packaging tape. That doesn’t mean they can’t; you’ll just have to clean and re-sharpen them more often.
That’s the primary purpose of the replaceable utility blade. They are thin, highly sharp blades meant to deal with tough, repetitive tasks that might damage regular pocket knives with constant use. Instead of re-sharpening and cleaning a blade after a day or two of opening packages, a utility blade was meant to be disposed of and replaced.
Pocket knives, on the other hand, can handle tougher, heavy-duty tasks that might be too demanding for utility blades, like camping applications, food preparation, and cutting or piercing through denser material.
In conclusion, if it’s a to be performing quit in the long rune often, and the materials might mess up your blade, use a utility knife. And if it requires more versatility and strength, a pocket knife is usually the way to go.
Types of Utility Knives
- Safety Knives: Safety knives focus on reducing accidents as much as possible. They typically come with blunted tips to prevent piercing and cutting hooks to guide your hand. Some more sophisticated blades even come with special grinds to reduce their cutting power against human skin.
- Retractable Knives: Most knives on this list (and on the market) count as retractable knives. Retractable blades gained popularity due to their ease of transport and generally safer operation. Retractable blades also provide more versatility regarding blade length, letting the user decide depending on their task.
- Fixed Blade Knives: While fixed blade utility knives offer less flexibility than retractable blades, they offer more reliability as a trade-off. Since they have fewer moving parts, knife malfunction or failure becomes less likely. And since you don’t have to “deploy” the blade, it’s always ready for use. They also tend to be more durable than their counterparts.
Types of Utility Blades
- Hook Blades: These blades excel at cutting extremely thick or heavy-duty materials. These are normally used for linoleum, carpet, or trimming the edge off roof shingles.
- Serrated Edge Blades: While more uncommon, serrated utility knives excel at cutting through tougher, fibrous materials. These may include twine, netting, burlap, rope, and thick leather.
- Pointed Tip Blades: Some blades will have a more pronounced tip than standard blades. This makes them ideal for detailed work, piercing tasks, and reaching into places where thicker blades normally couldn’t.
- Rounded Tip Blades: Some blades come with their tips rounded or dulled out. This is usually done to enhance safety measures. Whitypically means that you won’t be able to pierce through the material, you’ll significantly reduce piercing-related accidents.
- Snap-Off Blades: These are commonly found in stationery or hobby knives. They’re typically long blades divided into smaller, even sections. They’re designed this way so that you can snap off the section when the tip breaks instead of replacing the entire blade. These knives usually come with a mechanism to perform these tasks safely.
Features You Should Consider
- Folding: A utility knife that can fold usually means that you can more easily add it to your EDC. When not in use, you can store it inside a pocket or bag without occupying too much space, compared to bulkier, more traditional knives. But when it’s time to work, you’ll be able to open it up for a full-hand grip, which is usually more comfortable and precise.
- One-handed operation: One-handed operation is not required but is usually preferred for utility knives. This means deploying and retracting the blade efficiently with just one hand. A lot of the usual tasks for utility knives require your second hand to be in use as an anchor.
- Grip type: A comfortable, ergonomic grip is of paramount importance when it comes to utility knives. Since you’ll be performing repetitive cuts, an ergonomic form factor can reduce strain or injury. And as far as detailed work goes, an uncomfortable grip can affect not only your body but also the quality of your work.
- Durability: If your environment constantly tests your equipment, getting a particularly durable knife is highly recommended. Heftier knives will usually stand up to abuse more efficiently, even if made with plastic. However, even smaller knives can withstand wear and tear with titanium or high-quality aluminum builds.
- Portability: For EDC, portability is usually king. That’s why with the rise of utility knives, more and more designs have come out with lanyard holes and pocket clips. Compact, minimalist designs have also increased in popularity since they help save precious pocket space.
- Blade storage: Some knives have built-in storage for spare blades, usually inside the handle. This is handy if you often find yourself on the field, where stopping your work to retrieve spare blades would be less than ideal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the use of a utility knife?
Utility knives were designed to perform strenuous, repetitive tasks that might quickly dull a blade. They are made to be disposable and replaceable. Some of these tasks include: Cutting through boxes, tape, and dense materials.
What do you call a utility knife?
A utility knife is called by other names, such as a box cutter, razor blade, or craft knife. They are mainly used in crafts and repair projects where precision is needed. They’re also used in rough cutting tasks because the blades are usually replaceable instead of a dedicated EDC pocket knife.
Is a utility knife a weapon?
Utility knives generally perform poorly as weapons. While extremely sharp, their thin structure makes them prone to break when improperly used.
What is a serrated utility knife used for?
While more uncommon, serrated utility knives excel at cutting through tougher, fibrous materials. These may include twine, netting, burlap, rope, and thick leather.
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 lives. 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 with the industry and familiarity in design, materials, and usability help you make more informed choices when it comes to picking up your next piece of gear.
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