Knife Buying Guides and Expert Advice
Declutter Your EDC With 10 Ultra-Clean Knives
Looks matter, and knives are no exception. Customs expect attention to detail when they spend big on a premium knife, and today's best minimalist options go above-and-beyond to deliver clean and confident designs with no compromises to functionality whatsoever. The knives below consider aesthetics just as much as they do utility, and a few take it even further. Read on for the top picks!
Best KA-BAR Knife Alternatives: Fixed Blades Compared
The KA-BAR fighting/utility knife has undeniably earned its place as one of the most recognizable fixed blades in the world. But does popularity equal supremacy? Here at the KnifeCenter, we're always looking for the best tools for the job, so let's see how the KA-BAR stacks up against the competition today. Does any blade have what it takes to unseat the champion?
Why Small Pocket Knives Beat Big Ones for Everyday Carry
Big folders have their place, but a lot of daily cutting jobs don't need that much blade. In real use, small pocket knives often make more sense because they carry easier, cut with more control, and draw less attention when you pull them out. For a surprising number of people, the best knife isn't the biggest one, it's the one that disappears in the pocket and still feels ready to work.
One Knife for Everything: What Is the Ultimate Pocket Knife?
Even a small knife collection affords plenty of options to choose from when it comes to everyday carry. But what if you didn't have any options at all? If you could only have one knife to do everything what would you pick? Finding one option that works everywhere from the breakroom to the backwoods is a big ask. The good news is that we've found five uncompromising options that feel ready for anything and are built to last a lifetime.
New Microtech 2026: RAM-LOK Favorites, Classic OTFs, and a New Fixed Blade Hunter
Microtech’s first new releases of 2026 are long-awaited updates to knives customers already love. The big news is better carry, more manual-action designs, and thoughtful changes that make these knives more usable day to day. This year brings fresh RAM-LOK folders built for real pocket time, the return of classic single-action OTFs, and a new fixed blade prototype shaped by hunting-season feedback.
Pro-Tech Malibu vs Alternatives: Can Anything Beat the Button Lock Icon?
The Pro-Tech Malibu earned its icon status instantly: the moment it hit the market, every other flipper seemed worse by comparison. The Malibu's manual button lock flipper action was so good, in fact, that it singlehandedly kicked off a resurgence of fidget-friendly button lock folders that continues to this day. Now it's time for Pro-Tech to face the music: can anything beat the Malibu?
Can Anything Beat the Cold Steel Recon 1?
Some knives feel like they were made to be admired. Not so for the Cold Steel Recon 1. This legendary folder was made to get used, hard. It’s tactical yet practical; vicious, but honest. Whether you’re in law enforcement or military, or you simply want a big, overbuilt folder that’s still easy to carry and slices well, the Recon 1 has a long track record for a reason.
MagnaCut Bugout Coming Soon: Benchmade Knives 2026 Preview
Some knives are so successful they change the industry itself. When the Benchmade Bugout originally hit the market in 2017, it defined a new category of ultralight EDC: light enough to forget in your pocket, capable enough to keep reaching for. This year, Benchmade fires back with a second-generation design that gets stronger, gets thinner, gets better steel, and somehow stays just as light as ever.
Spyderco Reveal 2026: Charisma, PM2 Lightweight, and the Death of Super Steels
At SHOT Show 2026, we caught up with Eric Glesser at the Spyderco booth to go hands-on with all the brand new knives announced in Reveal #20. The theme this year is simple: smart engineering that results in new affordable American-made knives, optimized versions of Spyderco essentials, and the last chance for the most super of supersteels.
The New Slim Heritage Elite is the Buck Knife You've Always Wanted
A lot of us love a classic Buck knife, but we don’t enjoy carrying one. The reason is simple: the traditional 110 and 112 were built for a different time when belt pouches, extra thickness, and extra weight were the norm. For 2026, we’re finally getting the classic Buck knife for the modern age. If you’ve ever said, “I love a Buck 110, I just can’t carry it,” this year's batch of new releases is aimed right at that problem.
The Very Best Pocket Knives of 2025
Thousands of new knives crossed our desks in 2025, and we spent the year handling, carrying, and talking through what actually stood out. By the end, we ended up with a group of standouts that hit different notes – overbuilt hard-users, refined minimalist carries, serious budget surprises, and a few designs that felt like real statements from their brands. In no particular order, these are the folders we kept coming back to, for personal excitement and for what they signal about where the industry is going.
Best Fixed Blades of 2025
Thousands of new knives passed through our hands this year, but only the top ten were good enough to make this list! How did we pick the best knives of 2025? Well, we noticed something interesting about this year’s crop of new knives: while there were lots of great releases, there were no runaway winners. So instead of hunting for a single champ to crown, we brought together the fixed blades that genuinely stood out for design, carry, value, or just pure usefulness.