Updated at: 15-05-2023 - By: Craig Huey

Modern society is increasingly adopting the practice of carrying a survival kit. Common items found in an EDC kit are keychain tools, front pocket wallets, key organizers, and more. Many would agree that a folding knife is essential for any everyday carry. The folding knife, also known as the pocket knife, is a versatile tool that can be quite sturdy. A cheap EDC knife can quickly and easily perform tasks like cutting rope, trimming branches, and slicing fruit.

It takes a bit of money to put together a high-quality EDC kit. You can’t just make stuff up or not do any research. The pocket knife is an absolute must, but it shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg. Check out this list we compiled of knives that fit the bill for best EDC knife under $30 if you’re on a tight budget but still want something reliable and high-quality.

Best EDC Knife Under $30 – Top Reviews

1. CRKT 6450S Drifter Knife

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Size/Weight

Your knife needs to be lightweight and compact because you’ll be using it frequently and transporting it around with you. When space is at a premium, a folding knife or pocketknife is your best bet. There are undoubtedly more impressive performers and more convenient knives than the pocket knife, but in this case, we’re talking about simplicity and convenience. Best budget folding knife is a category full of options worth exploring. Knives should be no longer than 4.5 inches and no heavier than 3 inches.

Materials

It’s important that both the knife’s blade and its handle are durable enough to last a long time. No weekly sharpening should be necessary for their use. We can’t afford high-end steels like S90V, Elmax, or M390 right now. Even if you look down the steel food chain at 440C, AUS-8, or 14C28N, you’re still getting high-quality material. If you’re on a tighter budget, the best options in this category are EDC knives with G-10 or Zytel handles due to their superior grip and low price. It’s important that the knife feels good in your hand and that you don’t have to put it down to rest your hand.

Features

A knife with 10 features is extremely useful. A tool that can handle most jobs will be at your disposal. A drawback, however, is that carrying around so many blades can be tiring. Let’s be honest, almost all of the jobs you’ll have to do can be finished with just a blade. A partially serrated knife, on the other hand, can be quite useful. The ability to sharpen the tip is also a desirable quality, as many tasks call for cutting-edge precision. The convenient pocket clips are an added bonus. They’ll give you a hand to lug it around so it’s never far away. Having a pocket clip that holds the knife so that the blade is pointed upwards facilitates a quick and easy draw.

Quality

The knives we’ve recommended aren’t the best in the world, but they’re good enough to use again and again. Sure, there’s nothing inherently wrong with knives made in other countries, but we give our preference to those crafted in the good ol’ USA whenever possible. The American-made knives have consistently outperformed their foreign counterparts, and their quality is slightly higher. When discussing the top cheap folding knife, security is also an important factor to consider. One with a reliable locking mechanism that won’t accidentally open or close on you is ideal.

Price range

As promised, this article is all about locating the finest inexpensive folding knife, and we have done just that. The above choices are all high-quality and long-lasting options. There are, of course, knives that are superior to all others and require hardly any upkeep at the higher end of the price spectrum. Those in the $25–$30 price range are an excellent choice for first-time buyers looking to add a pocket knife to their collection. For those with a larger budget, best knife under $50 may be more appropriate reading. Once you’ve gotten a better idea of what works, you can start looking into the more expensive options.