The folding knife market is currently insane. There are so many different styles of folders and various levels of quality that accompany them that it can be difficult to figure out what to buy. Interestingly enough, the sudden spike in additional knives on the market has greatly expanded the budget niche of folding knives. In previous years, to get a good folding knife you had to really spend some coin but these days, decent folding knives can be had on the cheap! If you are in the market for a nice folding knife and you aren’t looking to really break the bank, you’re in luck. We are going to run through our list of our top 5 budget friendly folding knives. These are knives in the price range of $10-$50 so remember that when you go through the list.
Ontario RAT II – $30-$35
Probably one of the best all around EDC folding knives on the market, and it comes at a very very reasonable price! For $30-$35 you are getting a drop point designed knife that is AUS 8 steel. This is great steel that is easy to maintain, won’t chip easy and it resists rust and corrosion fairly well. The ergonomics are on point and there is a huge variety of colors you can get this in.
Opinel No. 8 – $15-$25
Probably the most “classic” folder on this list, and one that has been around for a long time. It stands out with the wood handle that has great ergonomics. The blade has been refined to perfection after almost 100 years of Opinel designing. It might appear thin but it does a nice job of variety of tasks. You’ll find the blade in either carbon steel, XC90, or stainless steel, 12C27, and I personally don’t think you could go wrong with either option.
Spyderco Grasshopper – $30-$35
The only knife that compares to the size of the Grasshopper would be the Squid. This is a small folder, but it packs a bunch! Spyderco’s Grasshopper utilizes a technology called SLIPITS which allows you to open the knife with one hand in a non-locking folder design. The steel is 8Cr13mov stainless steel which will allow for easy maintenance and great cutting power for the price.
CRKT Squid – $20-$25
One of the most compact knives on this list, it is an EDC favourite. You get 8Cr13MoV steel in a great design. CRKT uses a heat treatment process that is normally applied to some high-end knives, but they apply this to all their knives including the Squid. This means the steel blade is treated and less likely to rust or suffer from corrosion. The Squid fits the hand nicely and it’s size means it can fit in just about any pocket!
Kershaw Cyro G-10 – $20-$25
Kershaw has built a great relationship on making affordable decent knives and the Cryo G-10 is no different. The Cryo G-10 comes well equipped with 8Cr13MoV steel and a non-ribbed blade. There is nothing fancy about this knife, it has a regular blade, comes in a great shape for EDC, and has a nice handle. It’s simply simple, and that might just make it the budget folder you are looking for!
There you have it! If you feel like we missed a folding knife, then please let us know in the comments below!
