Multitools have a special place in an adventurer’s life, who must always be prepared for an emergency when venturing outdoors. The best preparation against the unforeseen is having a multitool in the everyday carry gear. Offering a number of simple and effective ways to tackle a range of problems when outside the house, or in the everyday routine at home, for that matter, a multitool in its portable format is a constructive option.
If you’re an enthusiast, or for the knowledge of the not-so-familiar, Victorinox and Leatherman are arguably the two most prominent names in the multitool industry. With the use of new materials and formats, many competitors and young designers are reinventing the wheel. A case in point is the Leica Multi, which is an EDC designed for the famed optics giant with impressions of its cameras reflected in the form factor.
Over the years with its unrelenting simplicity and compactness, the Leica cameras have paved the way for all types of modern photography. Now the Leica M forms the basis for the design of a multitool that draws more than its looks from the SL2 camera. The Leica Multi has a similar machined aluminum body and is manually assembled for precision and quality.
The smallest of design features of the Marco Barbosa’s multitool reflect the Leica brand image and closely represent its analog camera details, which would allow the familiar customers to use the multitool easily due to the acquired knowledge from using Leica cameras. To keep it in line, and more productive for Leica users, the Multi is made to stick (through a housing) to the bottom of a Leica camera where the tripod does. To ensure the everyday carry gear is even more versatile to use its housing includes a spatial reading photometer that harks back to the analog days.
Talking of versatility, the Leica Multi is designed in two parts. The screwdriver, Philips screwdriver, saw, knife, scissors, corkscrew, and cap opener are located on one side, while the precision instruments like the flashlight and goldsmith’s keys are placed on the other. Opening these individual tools is easy: select the tool and rotate the handle.
When the particular tool is fully open, it locks into place so it is hassle-free to use, and pressing the shoot button unlocks the tool to retrieve it back to its residing space. All the tools have a magnetic tip and the flashlight on the Multi goes on and off with the press of the Leica logo onboard. The Leica Multi, bare bone is directed toward Leica customers, but its design and effectiveness, I presume, will leave many outdoorsy yearning!
The Phantom 2.0 is an upgraded folding utility knife made from Gr5 titanium and carbon fiber sheets. It features replaceable blades and multiple ways to open it. This everyday carry (EDC) has an improved grip, double-side tritium slots for durability, convenience, versatility, and, most importantly, a safer lock mechanism. It also comes with a deep pocket clip, a lanyard hole, and smooth one-hand operation. And, it’s TSA-approved and allows for easy blade replacement. Let’s explore all these features in detail to help you determine if this EDC fits your needs for everyday tasks, traveling, or outdoor activities.
The new Phantom 2.0 is finally here, building on what people loved about the first version. It keeps popular features like the flip opening and blades you can change out. But there’s more to it this time around.
Unlike ordinary pocket knives, The Phantom 2.0 is a folding utility knife made from Gr5 titanium, boasting real carbon fiber sheets.
Backers and owners of the Phantom 1.0 love this product so much that they’re sharing their “backer number” along with comments about their anticipation for the release of version 2.0.
It’s a brilliant move for EDC Monster to listen to what users say and keep the well-loved features while adding additional cool updates. Now, there’s a thumb stud and a back flipper for opening it, making it easier to use with one hand. They’ve also added something neat: slots for tritium, a type of glow-in-the-dark material. This means no more fumbling around in the dark trying to find your cutting tool.
These updates are all about making Phantom 2.0 more useful and user-friendly. It’s clear that the feedback from users really shaped this new version, making it a tool that’s even better suited for everyday tasks.
Next, let’s detail the differences between versions 1.0 and 2.0. The Phantom 2.0 introduces several key enhancements to its design, making it an even more reliable and user-friendly everyday carry tool.
Firstly, the grip has been significantly improved. In addition to the existing groove on the side of the frame, additional lines and grooves have been added to both sides. This design ensures a more stable and comfortable hold between the thumb and index finger, enhancing the overall grip during use.
Safety and ease of operation have also been addressed with a safer lock mechanism. The liner lock has been extended by 0.59 inches to facilitate better locking functionality. This longer Liner Lock feature enhances the knife’s reliability and security, allowing users to focus on the task at hand with increased confidence.
The centerpiece of this Everyday Carry (EDC) is the cutting feature. It reliably performs tasks such as slicing through paper, carpet, cartons, leather, PVC, and even fruits over time.
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Accessing the blade only requires one-hand operation thanks to the roller bearing mechanism. Common utility knives often jam with frequent use, hindering smooth and rapid operation. The Phantom 2.0, equipped with a roller bearing mechanism, is a folding knife capable of opening in 0.5 seconds. It opens and closes swiftly and smoothly, maintaining its performance over time.
The Phantom 2.0 introduces a range of opening mechanisms to cater to different preferences and situations, making the knife more versatile and user-friendly. The back flipper opening is a standout feature that allows for quick and easy unfolding of the knife with a simple flick of the index finger. This method ensures a smooth and reliable action, providing users with immediate access to the blade when needed.
In addition to the back flipper, the Phantom 2.0 features a front flipper opening, a new addition not found in its predecessor, the G1. This design includes an extra flip tab located at the top of the blade, enabling users to effortlessly unfold the knife with a single motion. This alternative method offers an additional way to quickly deploy the blade, enhancing the knife’s functionality.
Furthermore, the Phantom 2.0 is equipped with a thumb stud, allowing for swift and easy blade access using just the thumb. This feature adds to the knife’s versatility, making it suitable for a wide range of cutting tasks. The inclusion of the thumb stud, alongside the front and back flipper openings, ensures that users have multiple reliable options for opening the knife, catering to personal preferences and situational needs.
As we’ve already briefly mentioned above, another significant upgrade is the addition of double-side Tritium Slots. Unlike the previous model, which only has one, the Phantom 2.0 comes with a tritium slot on each side, measuring 1.5 x 6mm each, to ensure that you can effortlessly locate your knife in any low-light environment. This improvement makes the knife an indispensable tool in various low-light or emergency situations, ensuring visibility regardless of its position.
There’s also an add-on option for glass luminous vials and tritium vials (both come in several color options) to meet your different needs and preferences.
The blade replacement mechanism has been upgraded for even greater convenience. The small metal plate has been redesigned to facilitate easier blade installation and disassembly, making blade maintenance more effortless than ever. EDC Monster is very proud that while maintaining the excellent features of the Phantom 1.0, the Phantom 2.0 is also TSA-compliant. Remove the blade, discard it, and keep the handle. This makes it an ideal travel companion for all your creative needs.
Tying everything together, the Phantom 2.0 enhances everyday carry convenience and security with its thoughtfully designed deep pocket clip, positioned strategically in the middle of the knife to ensure secure and discreet placement. Additionally, it features a keychain hole designed to accommodate a lanyard bead, adding a layer of personalization and versatility. This specific design not only elevates the functionality but also the aesthetic appeal of the knife, making it a more tailored and essential component of your everyday carry.
Together, these enhancements make the Phantom 2.0 a superior choice for an everyday carry knife, combining improved functionality, safety, and ease of use in one sophisticated tool.
With that uniquely gorgeous crack-like pattern on its surface, the knife looks positively electric, with bolts of lightning running down from hilt to blade!
I’ve been in the writing business for 9 years, and what I truly love about it is that you still manage to learn new things every day. I pretty much considered myself well-versed in Damascus Steel, but browsing through my YouTube introduced me to this new, gorgeous variant of the marbled metal. Dubbed Nebula Damascus, this steel doesn’t have the signature waves and bands you’d see in conventional Damascus Steel. Instead, it sports a cracked, cell-like pattern on its surface, looking somewhat like a nebula (hence the name). This form of steel is simply created by forging ball bearings together, causing them to compress and condense into a block. The bearings deform and fill the gaps in between them, creating this unique-looking surface that your eyes can’t get enough of.
The knife in question is a beautiful all-metal piece, forged by YouTuber HANS. The procedure gets documented in the video above, and although it looks deceptively simple, there’s a lot (of effort and expertise) that goes behind making any form of Damascus Steel, as most experts will tell you. In fact, it took HANS 7 failed tries before he arrived at this gorgeous piece of art.
The Nebula Damascus Skeleton Knife is an all-metal EDC with a fixed-blade design. The highlight of the knife is the material itself, but it gets complimented by a skeletal design which also involves a few strategic cutouts in the blade to help reduce weight while also giving your finger a place to rest/fidget while using the knife. The knife’s dagger-point blade has sharp edges on either side, which culminate in a pointy tip that you can use in a variety of ways. This also gives the Nebula Damascus Skeleton Knife an ambidextrous design, which most people will appreciate.
HANS creates a billet of steel by pouring ball-bearings into a metal pipe and sealing both ends. The pipe then gets hammered, heated, and hammered again into a workable billet of metal, which HANS then cuts his knife shape into. It’s a laborious process that requires a lot of forging/hammering (you need to ensure there are ZERO air gaps between the bearings), but the end result is quite unlike anything you’ll have ever seen.
Once the knife’s shape is formed, it gets a meticulous amount of sanding/polishing to ensure the surface is as perfect as possible. The sanding/polishing is then followed by the final step, immersing the knife in an acid bath to reveal the edges between all the ball-bearings. Notably, most forgers fill the air gaps between the ball bearings with powdered metal, but HANS chose to skip this step. The result is a wonderful faux cracked surface that gives the knife an otherworldly charm. You can follow the rest of HANS’ endeavors on his Instagram page.
As a self-proclaimed EDC aficionado, there’s a certain joy to writing about knives, but there’s an even bigger joy to actually see them be built. If you fancy the latter, look no further than Koss, a YouTuber who’s dedicated his life to building some of the most eclectic knives and recording the entire process for people to see and appreciate. At the end, the knife gets listed on their Etsy store, almost as a reward for the viewers, giving them the opportunity to own one of the artist’s unique works. Each knife is made just once, as Koss creates and uploads the video, creating a sense of preciousness around the knife itself.
This particular beauty is perhaps one of Koss’ most minimal designs ever. It starts off as a simple hollow rectangular copper pipe and a carbon steel billet, which Koss expertly transforms into a beautiful dagger + sheath that focuses on visual purity.
Most knives try to channel an aggressive aesthetic, given the fact that they’re weapons designed to harm and intimidate. The Copper Dagger isn’t that, it’s more of a gentleman’s letter-opener that also serves as an enemy-opener too… which explains why it looks as minimal as it does. The knife eschews any unnecessary detail, relying simply on showcasing its materials. There’s no pocket-clip, no jimping, not even as much as a textured grip. Just a beautiful dagger-point blade with a fuller groove running along the center to provide stiffness and character.
A closer look at the carbon-steel blade and the fuller groove running from tip to grip.
Building the knife is a process that borders on sheer artistry too. Koss starts with a rather rusty-looking billet of steel, which he cuts, machines, sands, and hardens into the blade of the dagger. The dagger’s dimensions are machined to absolute precision, designed to fit snugly into the copper pipe he sourced too. Once ready, Koss soft-hammered the pipe over the dagger, ensuring a tight, glue-less and screwless fit. The full-tang blade then got a bit of sanding done on the back, revealing both the metals with a neat bevel detail.
Sadly, the Copper Dagger didn’t last too long on Koss’ Etsy store. Priced at $420, the dagger saw an immediate buyer who snagged this minimalist beauty. However, if you’ve got the tools and the energy, the YouTube video above should serve as a how-to guide if you want to build your own EDC knife too!
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that we at Yanko Design are ardent fans of high-quality EDCs that do more than the purpose they’re designed to serve. Of course, the first look at the new Bottle Opener 3.0 from Discommon Goods suggests it doesn’t do anything other than the little purpose of opening a beer bottle in a snap; but who cares when it can satiate the frenzy of a motorhead and slay the others with its supercar-esque design.
It is a given; a device that can open metal caps from glass bottle in one quick pop is a worthy opener. But Discommon Goods is more serious with its bottle openers, which are meant to be functional art pieces you can put on the table in the middle of a party and kickstart conversations. The Bottle Opener 3.0 is a fitting embodiment!
This bottle opener that looks as good as it works is a delightful companion for all of us who take cars and beer seriously. Then, as the company states, the opener is “designed in an ultra-sexy shape” that nods the hips and curves of the finest supercars on the block.
Think then this as not only a functional EDC but a piece of sculptural art. While there is everything that the design can offer with the evident thumb impression for comfort when flipping the cap open, the Bottle Opener 3.0 is not for kids to play with.
Discommon Goods opener has a nice chrome finish which makes it hard and durable. The company notes that the Bottle Opener 3.0 is “heavy.” So, if you accidentally drop it on the floor, the opener “is ready” to make a “dent” in the “floor.” This is something to be embraced in the $79 bottle opener for a select few only. For me, the weight is insignificant. The look is paramount, and this guy checks all the boxes in that department. I though cringe an option to hang it on the keychain!
I’d like to think that we’re in a golden age for Titanium (I get the irony of using the term golden to describe it but let’s not focus on that)… whether it’s dominating the EDC world or even slowly carving its way into popular culture with the latest iPhone 15 Pro. Touted as the world’s strongest metal, titanium has some significant benefits that make it such a perfect pick for tools and other EDC. It’s medical-grade, corrosion-resistant, relatively non-reactive, fairly lightweight, and is nearly impossible to damage or even make a dent on. That makes it perfect for EDC, but it also means your EDC can be smaller but still have multiple functions and features, like the TiSpanner, a scaled-down version of your hefty toolkit spanner, but with a few extra tricks up its sleeve. Aside from being the size of a car key, the TiSpanner has a built-in spanner, caliper, bottle-opener, nail-pry, and tungsten-carbide glass-breaker for emergencies. It’s the perfect blend between size and functionality, and fits right on your keychain, allowing you to carry it wherever you go.
The TiSpanner is a uniquely versatile tool with a built-in precision spanner that can open/close nuts and bolts, while also functioning as a caliper tool for measuring. A rotating knob lets you make micro-adjustments to the TiSpanner’s jaws, while its meticulously machined threading ensures the kind of accuracy a pair of calipers would demand. Etched markings on the side of the TiSpanner let you calculate linear measurements, while the adjustable metal jaws themselves expand to fit hex nuts or bolts as large as M10 on the nominal scale.
Look around a bit further and you spot a few extra details that bring more value to the TiSpanner. For starters, a notch in its outer jaw, coupled with the TiSpanner’s general shape, makes it a perfect nail-pry, while a groove in the inner jaw allows the TiSpanner to function as a bottle opener. The linear design of the spanner lends itself well to both those uses, as it turns into a class 3 lever for opening bottles, and a class 2 lever for pulling/prying nails. Finally, the TiSpanner ends with quite a tactical flair, boasting a glass-breaker tip on its reverse end. Designed to be held in between your fingers with the glass-breaker pointing outwards, the TiSpanner can easily shatter even laminated panes of glass like the ones found in cars, allowing for a quick and effortless exit in an emergency.
Each TiSpanner comes meticulously machined from individual pieces of titanium, giving it incredible strength and a fairly long lifespan (I assume a couple of generations at the least). The spanner is small enough to be carried everywhere, measuring merely 2.2 inches when closed. Given its tiny size, it comes with a few slots to put in vials of tritium that help you spot your EDC in the dark, or better yet, just string your TiSpanner around a keychain and you’ll always have your multitool right at your fingertips! The TiSpanner starts at $68 USD and begins shipping in January 2024.
Opportunity rarely knocks twice, but this is one of those times. If you missed CIVIVI’s Thanksgiving Month discounts, you may be in luck! Their top-of-the-line EDC is still on a 15-25% discount, which means your new favorite folding knife is still quite literally within grasp. CIVIVI’s knives are loved by tens of thousands of patrons who form the broad EDC community. Designed to be a handy carry-on that you can keep in your pocket, bag, or even attached to the strap of your backpack, CIVIVI’s folding knives are perfect for everything from opening holiday gifts to using as a survival tool in the great outdoors if you plan on heading camping or alternatively to more temperate climates for the wintertime. The discounts make these knives absolute no-brainers, and like all of CIVIVI’s gear, they’re all built to be incredibly resilient, so your first CIVIVI folding blade might just end up being the last one you ever need… Unless you’re a collector like us!
01. CIVIVI Mini Praxis
CIVIVI’s Mini Praxis knife is a compact powerhouse that draws inspiration from its larger counterpart, the Praxis. With a 2.98-inch D2 steel drop-point blade, it balances strength and sharpness. The wide G10 handle offers excellent grip, supported by a skeletonized stainless steel liner for added stability without excess weight. Remarkably, the Mini Praxis comes at an affordable price point, making it accessible to a broad audience. Engineered as a reliable workhorse, this pocket-sized gem offers blade options in both D2 steel and stunning Damascus steel, known for its marbling patterns. The handle choices include G10, translucent Ultem, and the luxurious Guibourtia Wood for the Damascus variant. The blade measures just under 3 inches, while the overall design prioritizes compactness for everyday carry (EDC). Weighing a mere 2.77 ounces (78.5 grams) and equipped with a practical pocket clip, it ensures easy and discreet portability.
The Mini Praxis seamlessly blends compact design with uncompromising performance, making it an essential companion for modern adventurers.
What we like
Portable and lightweight
That 25% discount makes it even more attractive!
What we dislike
The 2.98-inch blade may be too short for certain applications
02. CIVIVI Baby Banter
The CIVIVI Baby Banter excels as an everyday carry (EDC) knife, combining compact design and practicality for effortless portability. Its petite 59mm (2.34 inch) blade is surprisingly versatile, thanks to the drop-point shape, suitable for various tasks indoors, outdoors, or in tactical situations. Crafted from durable Nitro-V steel with a hardness rating of up to 60HRC, the blade ensures long-lasting sharpness. The full-sized handle, made from G10, offers a comfortable and secure grip while remaining lightweight and rugged.
Incorporating the perfect balance of compactness and functionality, the CIVIVI Baby Banter is a reliable companion for daily adventures. Whether you’re tackling everyday challenges or outdoor escapades, this EDC knife is up to the task, delivering dependable performance in a compact form.
What we like
Small and powerful, like dynamite
Nitro-V Steel is much tougher than D2 Steel
What we dislike
It’s smaller than the Mini Praxis, but double the price because of that Nitro-V Blade
03. CIVIVI Qubit
Designed for those who appreciate efficiency in a small package, this unassuming knife boasts a clever feature – an integrated bottle opener discreetly hidden within the closed blade. Unfold the Qubit, and you’ll discover a classic drop-point blade, now crafted from Swedish 14C28N Steel. This choice of steel ensures exceptional resistance to corrosion, chipping, and everyday wear and tear. The Qubit also offers the convenience of a button-lock mechanism for quick and secure closure. Its aluminum handle adds both heft and maneuverability, enhancing not only functionality but also the knife’s all-metal aesthetic appeal. The knife is running a site-wide 25% discount, and CIVIVI’s just dropped a pink-handled variant which has an introductory 15% discount.
The Qubit effortlessly combines practicality and style, making it a versatile companion for various tasks. Whether you require a reliable cutting tool or a bottle opener, this knife has you covered. Its compact size and innovative design make it an essential addition to your everyday carry toolkit.
What we like
Aluminum handle gives the Qubit a premium touch
The integrated bottle opener makes the Qubit a jack of all trades
What we dislike
At 80 grams (2.82 ounces) some small-knife cravers may find the Qubit a tad too heavy
04. CIVIVI StellarQuill Pen & Button Lock Elementum II Knife Combo Pack
Although well known for their knife craftsmanship, CIVIVI also has a reputation for stepping out of its comfort zone ever so often. By which I mean that if its audience demands it, they’ll redesign one of their best knives with a new feature, like the Elementum II which now has a button lock. Heck, they’ll even design pens if there’s enough buzz from the fan base. The StellarQuill Pen and Button Lock Elementum II Knife Combo Pack are a perfect culmination of this, giving you an updated crowd-favorite pocket folder, along with a compact all-metal ballpoint pen. The Elementum II retains its modern classic status with a beloved drop-point blade, now made from Nitro-V Steel. The most notable detail is the absence of the liner-lock from the previous model, replaced by a tactile button-lock mechanism that most enthusiasts will love.
Dedicated patrons get a special-edition version of the Elementum II with an ivory-colored G10 handle and bright red liner on the inside. The knife is accompanied by CIVIVI’s StellarQuill pen, a precisely machined piece of stationery made from aerospace-grade aluminum that’s perfectly sized to slide right into your pocket. It even comes with a lanyard hole to string into your keychain or a lanyard.
What we like
The button-lock and caged ceramic ball-bearing allow you to easily deploy that gorgeous Nitro-V blade
The StellarQuill pen gets all the points for its small-yet-hefty all-metal build
What we dislike
The pen could use a pocket clip to prevent it from rolling around
05. CIVIVI Button Lock Praxis
Built on the framework of one of their most popular knives, this variation of the full-size Praxis now comes with a button lock, allowing for a more engaging and reliable deploying and retracting experience. Unlike the Mini Praxis (which has its own fan base), the Button Lock Praxis is a little larger and a little more capable, thanks to its full-size grip and 3.75″ Nitro-V blade. The blade still retains its drop-point design, which most people will say is the most popular design in the knife world, but the handle now comes made from Aluminum, giving the knife a balanced grip and a wee bit of weight (6.55oz / 185.6g) that makes it much more stable during use. If you felt like the Mini Praxis was the right design but just a tad too small for your liking, the Button Lock Praxis may just be the perfect alternative.
The Button Lock Praxis is just one of those knives that has been perfected over time and has reached a place where it arguably couldn’t be improved any further. Aside from adding extra tools/features, there’s not much you can do to make this knife better than it already is, aside from a discount I guess?! *wink wink nudge nudge*
What we like
Great value for money with that Nitro-V blade and Aluminum handle
Reliable button lock makes opening and closing easy
What we dislike
The clean design is great, but a thumb stud would have really given the Button Lock Praxis a fun opening interaction
06. CIVIVI Chevalier Ⅱ
The Chevalier II isn’t too different from its predecessor, the Chevalier, except for the fact that it now comes with a gorgeous machined aluminum handle that elevates the knife’s design. When you close your eyes and imagine a classic pocket knife, chances are your brain thinks of something like the Chevalier II – a simple, sophisticated little EDC that’s no-fuss and no-nonsense. The 3.47″ 14C28N steel blade is arguably the perfect size (not too small or big) and comes in a sheepsfoot profile that is great for cutting and slicing, and minimizes the risk of accidentally piercing yourself with the blade’s tip.
There’s something beautiful about how clean and slick the Chevalier II’s design is. This doesn’t, however, compromise on its functionality, whether it’s the balanced all-metal design, the pocket-clip that can be reversed, or the years of expertise its maker CIVIVI has in the knife business.
What we like
Gorgeous clean design with a premium metal handle
What we dislike
The lack of jimping on the top of the blade, which was present on the older Chevalier
07. CIVIVI Propugnator
The Propugnator stands out in this entire list because unlike every other knife, it comes with a fixed D2 blade that doesn’t fold into the handle. This significant design directions means the Propugnator is significantly more robust and is designed for heavy-duty tasks. If you want an EDC that doubles as a letter-opener, owning the Propugnator would be like using a flamethrower to light a candle – it’s kind of overkill. Instead, the Propugnator is built for a more hardcore lifestyle, whether it’s hunting, fishing, bushcraft, survival, or tactical use. The knife comes with a full-tang design, which means the blade’s metal extends all the way to the back, forming the skeleton of its handle. The edge of the blade measures well over 4 inches and comes with a rather edgy-looking reverse-tanto design that resembles the raw appeal of chiseled obsidian. You’ve got a choice between G10, Micarta, or Ultem handles, which give your knife a distinct design and tactile grip. The fixed-blade structure means each knife also comes with its own sheath crafted from Black Kydex, with a loop that lets it attach to your pants or belt loop.
The Propugnator, which means defender or vindicator, is far from your average EDC knife. It clearly means business and nothing else. The full-tang fixed D2 blade is sturdy and reliable, and that sculpted reverse tanto edge works remarkably well for all sorts of cutting, piercing, slicing, stabbing, and scraping tasks. Look away if you’re faint-hearted…
What we like
The raw, brutish design and grippy ergonomic handle is perfect for tactical use
What we dislike
The fixed-blade design makes the Propugnator significantly bigger than its folding friends, which won’t appeal to people looking for compact knives.
08. CIVIVI Typhoeus
The Typhoeus takes the term ‘folding knife’ to an entirely new level. While most knives simply have a blade that folds into a handle, the Typhoeus has a folding handle too that transforms from your regular handheld knife to a push-dagger-style knife that’s better suited for all-out tactical warfare. While the likelihood of needing a push-dagger as EDC is fairly low for us common citizens, the Typhoeus conveniently gives us the option with its convertible design. The knife sports a 2.27″ clip-point blade crafted from 14C28N steel, sitting within a two-part G10 handle that morphs from a linear form factor to a T-shaped one that you can hold in the grip of your hand with the blade pointing out between your fingers. “Perfect for general work or self-defence,” says one reviewer on CIVIVI’s site, and we can’t help but feel that might just be the best way to describe the Typhoeus… a perfectly good everyday folder, but with a wild alter-ego!
The knife’s Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde persona is perfect for anything life throws at you, whether it’s an Amazon parcel or a mugger. Each knife also comes with its own black leather sheath that lets you stash your bad-boy away when not in use.
What we like
Innovative shapeshifting design
Fun to fidget with!
What we dislike
The folding handle means there’s no locking function, which might be a deal-breaker for some
There’s no pocket clip on the knife, but CIVIVI makes up for it with a leather sheath
09. CIVIVI Button Lock Brazen
Like the Typhoeus, the Brazen too has a tactical personality. It boasts an edgy, aggressive design with an American Tanto-style blade that offers dual edges and a pointed tip, perfect for piercing, slicing, chopping, and more. Crafted from 14C28N steel, the 3.46-inch (88mm) blade is housed within a slim yet grippy G10 handle, and in this variant, it ditches the liner lock for a button lock. Rightfully christened Brazen, it isn’t afraid of challenges, making it the top choice for those who confront adversity head-on. With a weight of 3.91 ounces (101.8 grams), it’s a practical everyday carry that’s ready to prove itself, and be carried everywhere you go, thanks to the deep pocket clip attached to the handle.
The Brazen, now with a button-lock, is effortless yet tactical – which sound like conflicting attributes, but they aren’t. The Button Lock Brazen is a lovely companion that gives you two edges for the price of one (thanks to the American Tanto blade), allowing you to cut, pierce, score, and do everything you would with your knife, using whichever edge you find more convenient. It also has a cool-kid aesthetic that should rub off on you too, making everyone ask you where you got your EDC from.
What we like
Two separate edges, where one can be used for scraping or opening packages, while the other can be used for slicing
What we dislike
The double-edged American Tanto blade can be a little tricky to sharpen
10. CIVIVI Vision FG
The Vision FG is our new favorite CIVIVI knife because it ticks all the boxes with an eye-catching ambidextrous design, a unique handle that comes with holes that let you peek through and see the blade when closed (and also make the knife lightweight), and a Superlock on top that lets you effortlessly deploy and dock the knife’s highly capable blade in seconds. Before we admire the superlock and the handle, it’s worth noting that the Vision FG comes with a different kind of drop-point, boasting a straight-back that gives the blade a ‘belly’ of sorts that lets you rock the knife back and forth while using it. The blade, crafted from Nitro-V, measures a respectable 3.54 inches (89.9mm), and will slice even through paracords with practically zero resistance. The handle, on the other hand, comes in translucent Ultem, highly durable Micarta, and the standard G10 variants. A noteworthy detail is the presence of holes that make the handle rather interesting to look at, giving it visual as well as physical lightness (the Vision FG weighs 4.35 ounces or 123.4 grams). Built into the top of the handle is a superlock that relaxes the blade, allowing you to deploy or retract it in milliseconds. The superlock is unique to just the Vision FG, and play with it once and you’ll never want to go back to a button or liner lock ever again!
The Vision FG is a rare combination of good-looking, powerful, and uniquely pleasurable to hold and use. The ambidextrous handle and superlock are sure to keep your hands and fingers occupied at all times, and that straight-back Nitro-V blade is formidable, to say the least.
What we like
The unique design is unlike any of the other knives on this list
That superlock is both functional and fidgety, and is arguably the feature you’ll love the most
What we dislike
Superlock exclusivity! We wish more CIVIVI knives had this kind of satisfying action.
Described by the folks at Tekto as “Compact and Formidable”, the A2 Badger is an impressive little picket blade that’s sure to be a favorite in your EDC collection.
What’s an OTF Knife you ask? Short for Out The Front, OTF Knives are switchblades with a vertical deploying action. Unlike traditional folding knives with folding/rotating blades, the blade of an OTF knife slides forward and backward out of the handle rather than swinging open on a pivot. This mechanism is typically operated by a switch or button located on the handle. OTF knives are known for their quick and easy deployment, making them popular among military, law enforcement, and outdoor enthusiasts… and if you still don’t own one, this might as well be the universe giving you that sign.
Featuring an oversized lanyard hole, this knife design accommodates a wider range of attachment options, including larger cords and paracords. This enhances convenience and accessibility, especially in low-light conditions or when wearing gloves, making it an ideal tool for any situation.
Pioneered by the folks at Tekto, OTF Knives have a tactile thrill to them that folding knives don’t. There’s always that bit of surprise and a slight amount of recoil associated with activating an OTF knife that you’re bound to fall in love with. The A2 Badger, like all of Tekto’s OTF knives, is deployed by a contoured switch located on the top of the handle, right underneath your thumb. Slide the switch and the blade gets deployed out the front (hence the name). The entire process can be done with a single hand in under a second, and even with gloves on, making the OTF knife perfect for scenarios with split-second consequences.
The A2 Badger button boasts an exceptional grip, ensuring maximum grip and control in any situation.
Its precisely contoured button allows for fast and effortless ejection and retraction of the blade.
Measuring a mere 5.26 inches when open, the A2 Badger is Tekto’s smallest OTF knife sporting a 1.8-inch tanto-style blade made from titanium-coated D2 steel. Although the 1.8-inch blade is smaller than your average pocket flipper, the A2 Badger still is quite a nimble beast, making it a favorite among both enthusiasts as well as tactical personnel and first responders. The tanto-style blade comes with a pointed tip and two sharp edges that make it perfect for all sorts of knife strokes. The titanium-coated D2 steel blade holds its edge incredibly well, taking on benign indoor activities, outdoor excursions, and even tactical scenarios with ease. For getting out of emergencies, the A2 Badger also packs a glass-breaker on the rear of its handle, helping you make quick exits.
With its compact and lightweight design, the A2 Badger is both easy to store and transport, making it a popular choice among outdoor enthusiasts and those with limited space.
Weighing a mere 2.18 ounces and measuring just 3.3 inches when closed, the A2 Badger holds the title of being Tekto’s smallest and lightest knife. It’s built to be ambidextrous, and comes with a 6061 Aluminum handle that houses the OTF mechanism that’s backed by a button lock system so the blade doesn’t slide in while you’re cutting. A pocket clip can be attached to either side of the handle (depending on whether you’re right or left-handed), and a wide lanyard hole allows you to string your A2 Badger to your backpack, around your neck, or even your keychain for carrying wherever you go. The A2 Badger comes in 3 grip color variants – Black, Desert, and OD Green (Olive Drab Green) with a black-coated blade and a 15% discount on its $139.99 price tag.
There are Christmas ornaments and then there is The James Brand Throwflake. This ninja star (or Shuriken star to be precise) is designed to be ready this Christmas for Home Alone action in case those buggers slide down the chimney with bad intentions.
You are going to get a lot of questions asked about this one hanging from your tree though. That said, it’s always better to safe rather than sorry. Yes, you can use this collectible by TJB as your make-shift defense weapon to catch goons off guard. Don’t let your kids anywhere near this one and hang it up high on the Christmas tree, because you know, kids can be unpredictable!
The Oregon-based everyday tool maker wants to give modern explorers a reason to sit back for a while and enjoy the Holiday spirit with loved ones. They even give a warning for keen buyers not to use this as a weapon post the Christmas celebrations since it has “6 very sharp” points. That signals the ninja star could be as good as a knife, good enough to cut through objects like wood or even tin cans. This could also double as a defense tool out in the wild where anything handy in the pocket is critical.
The snowflake-shaped EDC cum ornament comes with a lanyard to hand onto the tree and it does impress with its sheen. Off the holiday tree and this becomes your secret weapon or tool in uncharted territory. For a price tag of $40, The Throwflake is hard to miss and TJB sure knows how to keep up with the holiday fun. So, are you going to get this one for your Christmas tree?
Your keychain can hold keys, and it can probably open bottles… but can it fix your bicycle? Can it transform into a screwdriver? Can it turn into a box-cutter or self-defense tool? Designed for the outdoor enthusiast who always loves having the right tool on them for the right task, the KeySnap is a rather cleverly designed 5-in-1 carabiner. Crafted out of Grade-5 Titanium (the strongest metal known to mankind), the KeySnap is a pretty brutishly built carabiner keychain that doubles as a multitool. The carabiner’s unique one-piece design allows it to easily attach onto belt loops, backpack straps, and other hooking points, while the KeySnap’s base features a tiny removable blade with a semi-sharp edge that’s perfect for cutting paper, drops, and opening boxes. Look around the KeySnap and you’ll also notice its hex-wrench that also works as a bit holder for a screwdriver, a spoke wrench that’s perfect for fixing bicycles, and a bottle opener that lets you crack open a brewski outdoors.
Carabiners are pretty much a standard fixture in the EDC world and you’ll probably find your fair share of ones with multitools built into them, but the KeySnap is different in two key ways – A. The fact that it’s made entirely from grade-5 titanium, which makes it much more durable than any steel alloy carabiner on the market. and finally B. the integration of a removable blade into the base of the carabiner, allowing you to quickly detach it when you need to, and clip it back in place once you’re done.
The first thing you notice with the KeySnap’s design is the carabiner detail. Unlike most carabiners that come with a spring-loaded arm, the KeySnap just uses a clever series of cuts that allows the titanium to bend as if it were spring-loaded. Given how incredibly resilient titanium is, the arm can flex a great deal without breaking or withstanding any sort of damage. Titanium’s shape-memory nature gives the arm its springiness, allowing it to return securely to its original position.
The KeySnap’s defining feature (and something that sets it apart from the competition) is that detachable miniature blade. Designed to sit securely inside the carabiner until you press the buttons on each side, the blade can easily be removed for cutting and emergency use. It has a rather tiny spear-point edge, so if you want something more tactical you best go for a full-fledged knife. However, for everything else, it’s a perfect blade to have on hand. The spear-point tip is ideal for cutting through envelopes and boxes, while the edge itself is semi-sharp, so you’re really in no danger of slicing skin and hurting yourself.
When you’re not slicing away at boxes and plastic packets, the KeySnap has a few other tools that can prove to be incredibly handy. A hex wrench lets you work screws and bolts, but also allows you to dock a standard hex-bit and turn your carabiner into a makeshift screwdriver. Right beside the hex wrench is a spoke wrench, perfect for fixing spokes in a bicycle, and to the extreme end sits a bottle opener, a common yet much-appreciated fixture of any good multitool… after all, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, doesn’t it?!
All the features fit into the carabiner’s rather compact frame, making it a perfect EDC for your outdoor travels. The KeySnap clocks in at 3.11 inches long, 1.38 inches wide, and weighs a mere 1.3 ounces (37 grams). It’s designed to practically last a lifetime (thanks to the Grade 5 Titanium build), and even with the blade, the KeySnap fully complies with TSA hand tool carry-on regulations. Perfect for carrying any and everywhere, the KeySnap transforms the humble carabiner keychain into an EDC that packs a few interesting features that you’ll be happy to have on you at all times. The KeySnap starts at a discounted $49, and ships worldwide for free starting January 2024.
