Thank you guys so much for answering my question a few weeks back about which pocket knife you were currently EDC-ing. Made for a crazy cool read, especially since there were so many knives listed I didn’t even know existed. Some awesome discontinued knives in the list!
With over 50 comments, and few knife repeats, I’m pretty impressed with how varied our community’s tastes are. From the start, I wanted to make a “top EDC knives our readers are currently carrying” list from your responses, but considering a lot of you are carrying knives no one else commented stating they were carrying, I wanted to think of a way to feature these one-offs/not the most popular knives, but still interesting knives regardless. So at the end of this post, I’ve added a section listing the most popular brands (since there’s of course a lot of overlap there) along with a slew of knives at least one or two readers are carrying from that brand, so you can get an accurate feel for the diversity in just how many different knives you guys carry overall.
Note that not every knife you guys mentioned will be listed here, but I’ve done my best to include as many as I could.
Who made it to the very top of our most-carried brand list? For multi-tools, Victorinox and Leatherman (how could it not be?) and for knives, Kershaw. Which, again, was not surprising in the least considering the insane bang-for-buck you get with Kershaw offerings these days. We have a lot of Spydie Fanatics as well, though that’s more likely because of the sheer volume of Spyderco reviews we’ve done in the past: guessing that’s how a lot of you found out about MTJS? Leave me a comment if that’s true of you and you happened upon us through one of our Spyderco reviews!
And now for the top lists!
Boker Plus Exskelibur I EDC Folding Knife – Amazon / Blade HQ
Top Multi-Tools You’re Currently EDC-ing
1. Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Classic
Absolutely no one is going to be surprised that the Victorinox Classic is the #1 most carried multi-tool amongst our readers. As much as I hate the styling of Victorinox knives, even I have to admit they’re ridiculous levels of practical, convenient, lightweight, and a just all-round amazing backup to have on you at all times. They’re also sheeple friendly since they’re so common and well known, that it’s going to be hard for any other tool to overtake them in terms of popularity, ever, in my opinion.
Availability: Amazon • Blade HQ • eBay
2. Leatherman Wave
Coming in second, or first if you’re looking at solely full-sized multi-tools is the Leatherman Wave. I’m pretty sure this is the most popular Leatherman out there, so not too surprised about this. Ideal for nearly any task you can throw at it, you’d be hard pressed to find an adequate replacement for this tool made by any other company.
Availability: Amazon • Blade HQ • eBay
3. Leatherman Surge
This was interesting to me, since I would’ve expected the Skeletool or the Wingman to be next on the list of most popular multi-tools you guys were EDC-ing. The Surge is the heaviest of all Leathermans to my knowledge, it’s a definite beast. Coupled with the fact that the Wave was the most popular Leatherman, I suppose you guys go for tanky multi-tools that can take a beating over the lightweight, slightly less practical options. If you’re a Wave or Surge user, let me know in the comments why you prefer the larger Leathermans. Do you feel something important is lost in the smaller ones? Or just feel like if you were going to compromise, you’d go for a Swiss Army Knife instead? Curious to read your thoughts!
Availability: Amazon • Blade HQ • eBay
Leatherman Signal Wilderness Survival Multi-Tool – Amazon / Blade HQ
Top Knives You’re Currently EDC-ing
1. Spyderco Tenacious
Topping the list of knives you guys are currently EDC-ing is the Spyderco Tenacious. Considering Thomas concluded his review of the Tenacious by saying, “It’s almost unbelievable how great a product this knife is for it’s cost” – yet again, this will come as no surprise to any of you. Bang-for-buck, the Tenacious is probably the best knife on the market in its price range. Actually, considering Thomas has multiple Tenacious knives, I’d be more surprised to hear that none of you have bought more than one. Excellent folders these are.
Availability: Amazon • Blade HQ • eBay
Read our review of the Spyderco Tenacious
2. Kershaw Chill
If you’ve ever handled the Kershaw Chill, you’re going to institutionally get its appeal. Even if you’re not a fan of the anemic, lithe blades that hikers will want to carry in their packs, you’ll understand how this is a pretty unique offering and that if that’s your kind of thing, the Chill is 100% going to strike your fancy. Couple that with its absolutely ridiculous-cheap price tag and the fact that it’s incredibly discreet and deploys super quickly, I think it’s hard to think of a reason the Chill wouldn’t be one of the top EDCs you guys are carrying.
Availability: Amazon • Blade HQ • eBay
Read our review of the Kershaw Chill
3. SOG Key Knife
Now, this EDC threw me – especially since I didn’t even know it existed! No, I’m not as on top of SOG’s offerings as I am with other brands, but I do usually keep an eye out for really quirky knife offerings, and let me tell you, somehow I missed this completely! I’ll likely nag at Thomas to buy one of these so he can do a review of it, cause it looks awesome. If you have one, let me know what you think of it in the comments.
Availability: Amazon • Blade HQ • eBay
4. Opinel #7
Surprise, surprise. Actually, the only surprise for me about this one is that the #7 made it higher on this list by far than the #8! I know they’re pretty similar in size, but haven’t tried the #7 before and it makes me wonder if I’m missing something, even if the difference is what I would otherwise consider insignificant. Tried both? Why the 7 over the 8?
Availability: Amazon • Blade HQ • eBay
5. Kershaw Emerson CQC-7K
Yet another knife we nearly own, only ours comes with a different blade. We’ve had the 6K a long while, which I’m sure absolutely everyone who regulars this blog knows considering Thomas’ obsession with it. Any of you CQC-7K carriers thinking of getting the Kershaw CQC-10K to try? No surprise, but Thomas is pretty smitten; even likes it better than his old 6K.
Availability: Amazon • Blade HQ • eBay
6. Benchmade Griptilian
A shocker? Yet again, no. You guys know where the quality lies and which knife offerings by which brands are the best bang-for-buck and it’s obvious considering what’s in your pockets and packs. Wondering if any of you carrying the Grip also own other Benchmades, and if yes, which you like and which you wouldn’t go so far as to recommend. We definitely need more Benchmades on this site, as right now all we’ve got are the Griptilian, the Adamas, and our newly acquired Osborne. Yes, only three, and yes, that’s pretty pathetic for a knife heavy blog!
Availability: Amazon • Blade HQ • eBay
Read our review of the Benchmade Griptilian
7. Spyderco Paramilitary 2
Thomas’ #1 recommendation for best all-round EDC on the market, and it’s not likely to be usurped by anything anytime soon. You who carry PM2s: do you share the sentiment that it’s probably the single best EDC on the market? Is it your favourite knife to EDC and if so has anything else come close for you? Let me know!
Availability: Amazon • Blade HQ • eBay
Read our review of the Spyderco Paramilitary 2
Spyderco Tenacious EDC Folding Knife – Amazon / Blade HQ
Most Popular Brands You’re EDC-ing
The top 3 brands being carried amongst you guys are: Kershaw, Spyderco, & Victorinox.
Kershaw Knives Being Carried
At least 16 Kershaw knives are being carried by our readers besides the Chill & CQC-7K mentioned. Including the: Kershaw Clash 1605, Kershaw 1985ST, Kershaw Volt 3655, Kershaw A100, Kershaw CQC-8K, Kershaw Deer Hunter, Kershaw Leek, Kershaw Pub, Kershaw Shuffle, Kershaw Shuffle II, & the Kershaw Thermite.
Spyderco Knives Being Carried
At least 17 Spyderco knives are being carried besides the Tenacious & Paramilitary 2 already mentioned. These include the – Spyderco Air, Spyderco Cat, Spyderco Delica 4, Spyderco Dragonfly 2, Spyderco Manix 2, Spyderco Matriarch 2 Wave, Spyderco Military, Spyderco Pacific Salt, Spyderco Persistence, Spyderco Roadie, Spyderco Spydiechef, Spyderco Yojimbo 2, Spyderco Paramilitary 3, Spyderco Cruwear.
Victorinox Swiss Army Knives Being Carried
At least 11 Victorinox Swiss Army knives are being carried besides the Classic mentioned, this includes: Vicotrinox SwissTool Spirit, Victorinox Evogrip 14, Victorinox Evowood 10, Victorinox Executive, Victorinox Fieldmaster, Victorinox Huntsman, Victorinox Pinoneer, Victorinox Manager, Victorinox Tinker.
Kershaw Pub Sinkevich Multi-Function EDC Keychain Knife – Amazon / Blade HQ
Your Thoughts on What Other MTJS Readers EDC?
Did the tally above make sense to you? Was absolutely any top knife surprising in the least? Find any one-off knives being carried (mentioned in the knives by brands section) pique your interest? Or unlike me, did you already know about all those knives?
Miss the post from a few weeks ago? Let me know what you’re carrying in the comments down below. Any other thoughts or responses to questions I asked in this post, all of it, leave it down in the comments below!
Ps. I have the s30v stainless version of the Tree frog (available by request from Battle horse).
I currently carry the Battle horse tree frog. Bulky for edc but about as solid as they come for a folder.
Ontario RAT-1
Just love it
PS:
Don’t know if there is a topic ’bout sillcock key’s (which i find very usefull in an urban environment / when SHTF)
I bought myself one from the german brand KNIPEX, the so-called ‘Twinkey’ 00 11 01.
Way more usefull – imo – then just the few from your average sillcock key.
Anayways, nice topic.
grtz – john
Great tip john, never thought about edc’ing sillcock keys- I have jotted down some notes and will likely do an article on the subject.
I presently carry a Hoffman Richter HR-30 Tactical Folder. It’s a heavy titanium coated stainless steel knife that’s virtually indestructible. It’s not bad at holding an edge and is easy to keep sharp.
Found this site when I was looking for review on spyderco PM2.Thomas did a good job reviewing and made me feel that i have to have this knife !
I lived in Jogja,Indonesia and its very hard to find Spyderco knives here.
So after endless browsing,I end up buying a near-mint 2nd hand PM 2 with customized stabilized wood scales and Ti clip on our local online shop (Tokopedia) for approx $122 (incl shipping) !
Knife came on Oct 17th and I have been carrying it in my pocket ever since it arrived.
So glad I found your site…so many usefull information.
Thank you so much Elise and Thomas !
Thanks Mario, I try hard on my reviews and I am glad it helps people. 122 is a damn good price, especially since its been so customized! I completely relate with your frustration regarding availability- here in the UK, its accessible but basically almost unaffordable. :(
I carry the Leatherman Surge and love it. The leather pouch broke pretty fast (button came off), but the nylon/Velcro is doing well. I use just about every tool in it, got the extra inserts, but don’t use them like I thought I would. The extension is handy, but usually I use other tools, so it is also not really necessary. The scissors get used the most, followed by the knives. Both knives are great, and once you can recognize the specially marked serrations on the backside of the serrated knife, you can tell which knife you are about to open. I find it especially useful, because I’m in Germany where one-handed flippers are illegal, but nobody will protest a work knive, if you open it with one hand. The fact that it is large is helpful. Hidden in plane view. A lot of people assume it is a cell phone.
Interesting how where we live influences what we carry so much, huh? It makes perfect sense that your Leatherman would be seen as less threatening/un-threatening. Do you carry anything else besides the Leatherman Surge alongside it? Or do you find it does the trick perfectly by itself. Just curious!
Very cool article!!! Bummed that I didn’t submit my edc choice… my choice would be the utilitac 2 by the Ontario Knife Co. This knife is awesome and is major underrated!!! Hope you and Thomas could check it out if you can. Looking forward to more of your reviews. Be well…
Looks like an absolute tank! I haven’t seen anyone else recommend it before, I think you’re the first ever to mention it on this blog! A shame when good knives don’t have as much traction as they should have!
Totally agree with your comment!!! In my humble opinion the Utilitac 2 is comparable to the Rat 1 if not better. Be well…
I sometimes carry Benchmade 531, Spyderco H1 salt and my favorite the Spyderco Native of which I have 3
Very cool! I feel you on grabbing multiples of your favourite knife. Always nice to have backups.
First found this site when I was looking for a Spyderco tenacious review and the opinel no7 just feels better to carry for me
Very cool! You remembered the specific knife, even :).
Should get my hands on a #7 to try out!
Not surprised. Very good choices.
The phrase “one size fits all” has no application.
There is still another way to gain an understanding of what people may carry. It will take some doing.
There is a city in Nevada that forbids gambling. Instead, it has a truck going up and down California stopping at police stations and picking up confiscated knives and multi-tools, corkscrew bottle openers. It then sells them on line with the auctions ending on Sundays. A lot of low end tools and junk Red Chinese knockoffs. Sometimes a decent item.
As you know TSA confiscates tools at the airport. Some of the eBay websites specialize in buying in bulk and then re-selling. Surprisingly, many quality tools, despite years of warning the public that they will be inspected at the airport.
Those sound like excellent ways to snap up gear; must be really interesting looking through a TSA reseller’s eBay listings! I bet there’s quite a variety there!