The number of tools that a prepper is outfitted with never seems to decrease. In fact, as time goes on, it only seems to get larger and larger. There are many different gadgets and gizmos that can prove to be quite useful depending on the situation you’re in, but if you want something that will come in handy in a variety of different settings, you’ll want to carry around an EDC (everyday carry) knife. Today, we’re looking at our picks for the best EDC knife under $100.
Before we go any further, just why did we pick that $100 price point? It’s very easy to spend a load of money on a high-end EDC knife, and while there’s not really anything wrong with that, spending more than $100 on such a knife is honestly overkill for most people.
Around $100 or less is where you’ll find the sweetest spot of a price-to-features ratio, and the five knives below are the best of the best in this price range.
1. Kershaw 1990X Brawler
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First on the list is the Kershaw 1990X Brawler. Kershaw is one of the top names when it comes to folding/EDC knives, and the 1990X Brawler is the first of two knives from the company that made it on our list. The Brawler is the most expensive of the two, and it’s one of our favorites EDC options we’ve ever tried.
One of the things we noticed right away is the Brawler’s SpeedSafe assisted opening mechanism. This allows the blade to swiftly move out from its housing in a very fast manner, and it does so quite safely as well. The attached pocket clip is also a nice touch, and it can be moved in four different positions (tip up, down, left, or right).
Kershaw crafted the Brawler out of steel, and the black oxide coating looks downright incredible. The blade length measures in at around 3-inches, and when closed, the whole package is around 4.1-inches. The weight of 3.9-ounces keeps everything nicely compact, and the Flipper on the back that’s used for moving the blade out of the handle makes an already great package even better.
2. Columbia River Knife and Tool Squid Folding Pocket Knife
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Next up is the Columbia River Knife and Tool Squid Folding Pocket Knife. This option costs a few bucks less than what you’ll pay for the Kershaw Brawler, but for most people, it will work just as well. You can get the knife in either Black Stonewash or Stonewash (a gray color for all intents and purposes), and although the design may not be quite as flashy as the Brawler, it’s simple and gets the job done.
Columbia River Knife and Tool designed the Squid to be as compact as possible, and it weighs even less than the Brawler at just 3.4-ounces. The all-metal design feels sturdy and solid, and the wide blade with its drop point design gives it a lot of much-appreciated balance and strength near the tip of it.
A frame lock system ensures maximum safety when opening and closing the Squid knife, and friction grooves throughout the drop-point on the handle allow for an extremely sturdy grip no matter what kind of work you’re doing with the thing. On top of all this, Columbia River Knife and Tool also includes a free lifetime warranty to add some peace of mind to your purchase.
3. Kershaw 8750TTANBWShuffle II Folding Knife
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The second Kershaw knife on our list is the 8750TTANBWShuffle II Folding Knife, and it’s considered by a lot of preppers to be the absolute best EDC knife under 100 dollars. The design of the 8750 is extremely eye-catching, and the glass-filled nylon handle is one of the nicest and best-feeling we’ve ever felt.
Kershaw includes a reversible pocket clip that can be rotated either left or right, and the hold near the bottom of the handle offers a bottle opener, lanyard hold, and even a screwdriver.
The blade that’s present here is made out of steel, and it measures in at 2.25-inches on its own. The package as a whole is 4-inches when closed, and with the blade open, it comes in at 6.25-inches.
We found the blade to work surprisingly great in our testing for a knife this cheap, and for just a touch more than 20 bucks, it’s really hard to go wrong with this one.
4. Spyderco Tenacious Plain Edge Folding Knife
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Another product that’s worth checking out is the Spyderco Tenacious Plain Edge Folding Knife. While this is an EDC Knife that’s great for under $100, it’s also seen by many preppers as one of the best EDC knife picks around — no matter what price you’re talking about.
Spyderco makes the Tenacious out of only the best materials around, and it’s been tested relentlessly for the utmost quality and durability. The blade measures at 3.39-inches, and it works exceptionally well. It’s sharp, sturdy, and has yet to ever let us down even once.
The handle is also one of the best around as it’s extremely comfortable to hold onto and feels quite a bit more substantial than competing EDC knives. This might seem like a small feature to folks that are new to EDC knives, but when you’re using the thing on a daily basis, having something that’s comfortable to hold makes a big difference.
5. Boker 02SC743 Magnum Lil Friend Micro
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Rounding out this list is the Boker 02SC743 Magnum Lil Friend Micro. This is one of the cheapest knives on our list, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less powerful or functional than the other ones that we’ve looked at.
The 440 stainless steel blade that’s used here feels extremely strong, and never once does it feel like the blade isn’t capable of any task you’d call upon an EDC knife for. The G-10 handle scales adds for a greatly-appreciated grip and texture, and like the Spyderco knife above, the Boker feels absolutely fantastic in the hand.
Boker’s knife is a bit smaller with a blade length of just 1 3/8-inches, but even with the shorter length, it’s still a great choice for most use cases. Plus, when you add this together with a free sheath and lifetime warranty, it’s hard to argue with the Boker on pretty much anything that it has to offer.
Final Thoughts
Our picks for the best EDC knife under $100 are better than they’ve ever been before, and while there are plenty of other options out there than what’s on this list, the five that we talked about here are undoubtedly the best of the best for what you’re going to find in this price range. They’re durable, sharp, feature-rich, and — most importantly — won’t let you down when you need them the most.
