I Ranked Gerber’s 7 Best Knives. You Don’t Need to Spend $200 to Get a Great Blade.

ProsLightweight, compact designUpdated 420HC stainless steel bladeAffordable, proven design with a long historyConsLacks some modern EDC featuresSmall handle and blade limit versatilityThis little knife isn’t special in today’s crowded EDC blade market, but it has a special place in knife history. This Light, Smooth, Tough (LST) folding pocket knife debuted in 1981, before many of today’s EDC enthusiasts were even born. It didn’t have a pocket clip at the time since that was the opposite of standard—pocket knives went in your pocket like loose change. It did presage many of the trends still going today: small, light blades with tough steels and synthetic handles.For years I carried a Chinese knockoff of the LST that cost literally $2 and there have been dozens of other imitators. You could argue the LST’s family tree includes most of the modern EDC folders available today. And I still like the knife. There are lots of LST variations now and many colors, but the LST Ultra is worth a look for its updated 420HC steel, affordable price, and improved handle ergonomics.Key SpecsWeight1.2 oz.Blade length2.6 in.Closed length3.6 in.Blade steel420HC stainless steelLocking mechanismLockbackProsFast, convenient automatic deploymentWide blade with a useful combination edgeRugged construction and integrated glass breakerConsHeavy and bulky for everyday carryAction requires firm holdI usually don’t love big, bulky tactical blades like the 06 Fast, but there’s a reason this one has a place in my rotation. Lots of larger folders aren’t easy to open one-handed, which makes them less useful in the field. The 06 Fast is an oversized automatic, and it’s fast, per the name, which means you’ll want a solid grip when hitting the button that sends the wide, half-serrated, 3.8-inch blade rotating out. It’s heavy and it’s about double the width of average folders at the handle, but that’s part of what makes it awesome.This is the blade I reach for when I want something rugged in my pocket that I won’t be afraid to abuse, but don’t want to commit to carrying a big fixed-blade knife. I’m not afraid to pry with the thick 7Cr17 blade but there’s a window-breaker on the heel of the handle that can handle prying and general smashing on things.Key SpecsWeight5.7 oz.Blade length3.8 in.Closed Length4.8 in.Blade steel7Cr17 stainless steelLocking mechanismButton-operated automaticAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsCenter-axis driver offers more natural screwdriver ergonomicsSliding pliers are quick to deploy one-handedFull-size toolsConsHeavy compared with simpler multitoolsYes, I realize this is not a Gerber knife, but Gerber considers themselves a knife and tool brand and I consider the Center Drive—a multitool—to fall somewhere between the too. The unique mechanism that allows easy access to the pliers is a lot less fiddly than other “transformer”-style multitools that are slick but less practical. Part of the fun of multitools is their engineering and the slide-out pliers offer that nerdy satisfaction for how they make the pliers front-and-center while reducing the form factor.The bit driver is another highlight. An offset arm centers the bit on the tool which makes it much more practical to actually use. Many other multitools have drivers, but they’re awkward to rotate because they’re on one side of the tool, creating a clunky motion far from a centered screwdriver.Full Gerber Gear Center Drive Multitool ReviewKey SpecsWeight9.5 oz.Blade length3.25 in.Closed length4.7 in.Blade steel420HC stainless steelLocking mechanismLocking implementsProsFull-tang construction for outdoor abuseGrippy handle and balanced feelVersatile sheath system supports multiple carry optionsConsToo large for discreet everyday carrySheath and knife add considerable carry weightThe Gerber StrongArm is an archetypal, hard-use fixed blade and, in some ways, antithetical to the modern, ultralight EDC trends. It doesn’t slip unnoticed into a pocket and it has an overbuilt sheath for carrying it on a pack or ostentatiously on your belt. The 4.8-inch 420HC blade gives it an overall length of nearly 10 inches, which is big but not comically or impractically so. This is a knife you can keep in a vehicle or take camping for real tasks like splitting up kindling and it’s burly enough to abuse.The roughly $100 price tag makes it accessible compared to many fixed blades and I never felt bad leaving it bouncing around the backseat of my truck for years until it inexplicably disappeared. The knife’s aesthetics blend outdoor and tactical, making it a fit for nearly anyone looking for a sturdy fixed blade to actually use in the field.Key SpecsWeight7.2 oz. (knife only)Blade length4.8 in.Closed lengthN/ABlade steel420HC stainless steelLocking mechanismFixed blade; full tangAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsAccessible price for a modern EDC folderReverse-tanto blade offers a long, useful cutting edgeSlim handle and reversible pocket clipConsRelatively long blade for users who prefer compact EDC knivesThe Pledge isn’t that unique in the modern EDC landscape aside from one factor knife nerds often forget about: price. For $30, this is a really slick, dare I say “cool” folder that almost anyone can afford to carry. The 7CR17 steel is a budget steel by today’s standards, but has an oxide coating and withstands normal abuse just fine. It’s also relatively easy to sharpen at home unlike many of today’s supersteels.I also love the reverse tanto/Wharncliffe blade style which gives you a long, mostly straight edge that’s great for cutting and opening packages while retaining a useful point. At 3.7 inches, it’s not petite but the overall profile is pretty slim and not too thick, sitting comfortably in standard pockets.Key SpecsWeight2.9 oz.Blade length3.7 in.Closed length4.58 in.Blade steel7Cr17MoV stainless steelLocking mechanismLiner lockProsPremium MagnaCut steel bladeSmooth, fast flipper actionLightweight aluminum handle and compact carry profileConsLiner lock makes one-handed closing harderIn contrast to the Pledge, the Fastball is a fun flipper with a higher price tag thanks to being made in America and featuring a high-end Magnacut blade. If you haven’t heard, Magnacut is the apex of modern powder metallurgy, giving knife users a steel that holds an edge without the usual trade-off of being brittle. And unlike some other supersteels, it’s not as difficult to sharpen yourself with home sharpeners.A Magnacut folder isn’t rare these days, but the Fastball has an appropriately quick flipper action that snaps the blade securely into the grip of the liner lock. Ball bearings in the pivot make for a consistently smooth and tight motion. I’m partial to flippers, generally, so much that I’ve written our guide to my favorite flippers in a range of styles if you want to see how the Fastball stacks up.Key SpecsWeight2.8 oz.Blade length3.0 in.Closed length4.1 in.Blade steelCPM MagnaCut stainless steelLocking mechanismLiner lockAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowProsApproachable, compact designLightweight at just over 2.3 ouncesAmbidextrous pivot lock and clipConsShort blade has limited reach for larger cutting tasks440A steel is a basic option compared with premium EDC blade steelsI love the Nectar because it’s cute. Yeah, I said it. The Nectar is a newer model and clearly part of Gerber’s effort to make pocket knives more accessible to the Lululemon set. That said, there’s plenty to like here even if you’ve carried a pocket knife for decades like I have.Firstly, the $35 price is a big piece of that accessibility. Collectors might not blink at spending $300 on a folding knife, but average Joes and Janes looking for something to carry hiking just want something functional. Gerber gets bonus points for a slick design that make the 2.5-inch blade look fun rather than intimidating. It’s also only 2.3 ounces, so it’s never a weight question when throwing it in hip pack or clipping to the waistband of your leggings.Key SpecsWeight2.33 oz.Blade length2.5 in.Closed length3.29 in.Blade steel440A stainless steelLocking mechanismPivot lockJustin Park is a working journalist with more than 20 years experience covering politics, environmental issues, hunting and outdoors, sports, and fitness for newspapers, magazines, and digital-first outlets. Since earning his M.S. in New Media from Syracuse University's Newhouse School in 2008, he's also applied his storytelling skills to video, producing, shooting, and editing for PBS, USA Today, Reebok, and more. He received the 2016 Associated Press Sports Editors' Investigative Award as part of a team covering the Rio Olympics for USA Today Sports.Rachel is the Deputy Editor of Reviews for Hearst's Enthusiast and Wellness Group where she supports Popular Mechanics, Runner's World, and Best Products. Her background is in service journalism and earlier in her career she worked as a daily newspaper reporter and book editor. She spent more than a decade as a staff editor and writer at TripAdvisor and Penguin Random House and her byline has appeared in Time Out New York, the New York Daily News, and New York Magazine. Outside of work, Rachel can be found planning her next trip, visiting museums and galleries, and walking her wirehaired dachshund in Central Park.