Everyday Carry

Readers' Choice: Top 3 EDC Knives in 2018

Authored by:
Bernard Capulong
Readers' Choice: Top 3 EDC Knives in 2018

Related Gear:
  The 25 Best Pocket Knives In 2024 - Ranked and Reviewed
  The 10 Best High-End Knives In 2024 - Pocket Knives and More
  Types of Pocket Knives: Blades, Brands, and More! Complete Guide

With the new year right around the corner, there's plenty of new gear in store for us to look forward to. But until then, now's a great time to look back on the gear that served us best through 2018. We polled our community in our exclusive Facebook group and asked what their favorite EDC gear was in the past year. In this quick round-up, we're starting with EDC knives. We've narrowed it down to the top three answers among the community — read on to see what your favorites were, and stay tuned for more gear to come in our Readers' Choice series.


3. CRKT Homefront EDC

First up on the list is the CRKT Homefront EDC, a new addition to their low maintenance line of Field-Strip capable folding knives. This Ken Onion design is specifically geared towards the EDC user, now with a 1.4116 blade steel for added resistance to daily use. Its glass-reinforced nylon handles shave a bit of weight down, coming in at 4.3 ounces, while a deep carry pocket clip keeps it discreet but accessible. And like its outdoors-oriented counterpart, the Homefront EDC can easily disassemble on the fly without needing additional tools. If you use your knife often, you know how important it is to keep it well-maintained. With improvements to its carry options and materials, it's easy to see why this 3.5" blade became a crowd favorite.

View on Amazon


2. StatGear Ausus

At number 2 is a similarly heavy duty knife in the StatGear Ausus. Its popularity extends beyond our own community too, with a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign. Part of the appeal is its no-frills practicality and sleek yet rugged design. Its unique handles feature micarta canvas for a natural feel with impressive durability and grip, while D2 steel on its 3.5" blade make it well-equipped to handle tough tasks. At 5.5 oz, this liner lock knife provides a substantial feel in hand and inspires confidence during hard use.

View on Amazon


1. Benchmade 535 Bugout Green

Far and away the most popular knife with the community this year is Benchmade's outdoors-inspired, ultralight 535 Bugout. This more recent release outfits the knife with OD green handles and a black blade to blend in a bit more with urban EDC setups. The 535's barely there 1.85 oz weight isn't the only thing going for it, either: it features a versatile 3.25" drop point blade made of premium S30V steel for all-around utility. The textured Grivory scales are light, slim in the pocket, and grippy in hand even when wet. Other hallmark Benchmade features round out the knife, including its ambidextrous AXIS lock and made-in-the-USA construction.

View on Amazon

What was your favorite knife in 2018? Leave a comment and let your fellow EDCers know about knives you think should be on their radar! Stay tuned for more Readers' Choice picks as we wrap up this year.

Bernard Capulong

Founder and Editor-in-Chief


About the Author
Bernard Capulong is an everyday carry (EDC) gear expert, entrepreneur, all-around nerd, and the founder and editor-in-chief of EverydayCarry.com—the largest online community for EDC gear enthusiasts. Since founding Everyday Carry in 2009, he’s built over a decade of experience in the industry, reviewing and highlighting brands and products, including pocket knives, flashlights, wallets, watches, bags, pens, and much more.

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.

Discussion (13 total)

John Wallace ·
I agree with the bugout. That knife made me say "wow" when I bought it. They put alot of work into its design, it is not bulky yet offers full grip, and for how light it is you get a full sized blade. You can go for options like the spyderco dragon fly 2 or the crkt shuffle for less cumbersome knives, but those two dont compare to the bugout.

Sometimes you dont need a huge survival knife when going around the city. So if your in cities often but would like a low profile knife that offers the cutting functions of a full knife, I'd say the bugout makes the category alone.
Andrei ·
I agree mostly, John.
The only issue about Bugout for me is the handle which feels weak for the full-size folder. The nylon scales, when pressed in the middle of the handle, touch each other. Which is far away from safe grip for me.
But overall impression is good.
On mine I have to squeeze really hard to get them to touch each other...much harder than I would ever grip a knife. There is nothing I would be afraid to do with this knife that I wouldn't do with any other knife this size.
Goldthunder ·
The Bugout is such a light knife. Good size blade, American made and affordable with one of benchmade’s deepest clips I have. Practical knife and I think the word practical is the key.
Goldthunder ·
Crkt cool design, useless, quite possibly but gonna be a seller because what industry is this? Knife, tools, lights... next new thing always sells. Always will.
Edward Lindsay ·
The CRKT Homefront series is such a "look at the useless thing this does" kinda knife. How many times has anybody needed to take their knife apart on the spot. A good non bearing knife will work no matter what.
These probably wouldn’t be my three top choices. I’d pick:
3. ZT 0566 - most “Hinderer” like of the collaborations, fits my hand well and stays sharp for a long time.
2. ZT 0350 - less beastly than the 0300 but still a solid chunk of knife. Hefty and confidence-inspiring.
1. Ontario Utilitac II - round butt, bowie blade. Good steel, flys open smoothly and locks like safe. Best sub $50 out there IMNSHO.
Eugene Lempert ·
instead of 0350 i prefer 0360.skd..similar but slimmer
Michael Mutant ·
0562 for me. ZT for the win!
Travis R ·
Wow, that Bugout is only 1.85 oz. And I thought my Leek was light (3 oz)... I may need a new EDC knife. I really like a light knife if I carry it all day.
My number 1 would be the 2018 Nick Shabazz #1 choice in the budget group....
Spyderco Chapparel FRN.
My other 2 choices are the FF designed WE manufactor Massdrop Gent, and Ontario R2D2... All knifes under $100.

My rule of EDC blades is not more than 4 hours gross wages. Those with higher income following same guide would have different option choice.
Andrei ·
My personal strange TOP-3
1. Ruike-801. The knife I have and consider to be a hit. Besides, I will recommend it for its reasonable budget and very good quality and functionality.
2. Zero Tolerance 0470 Dmitry Sinkevich Flipper Knife. The knife I am planning to buy for its superior look and handy materials. Right now I have the smaller brother of it - Kershaw Atmos.
3. Cold Steel Luzon large. The knife I will never buy, nevertheless it impressed me greatly.
Bernard Capulong ·
Your #2 is my #1! I think that was #4 in the polls. Very good honorable mention