Buy It For Life
Pocket Knives

Updated Jul 20, 2026

Buy it for life: the most durable pocket knives,
according to r/BuyItForLife on Reddit —
recommended by people who have owned them for years. How we pick.
Do you know of an item that should be on this list? Let us know!

Opinel No. 8

Affordable classic French folding knife with simple locking design, sharp blade, and long-term durability.

Very affordable
Easy to sharpen
Simple reliable design

I have an Opinel #8 that I love. Sharp, good-looking, lock works great, and it's a classic.
– asromatifoso

They're really inexpensive, some of the finishes look nice, and super simple (meaning easy maintenance).
– flipper_babies

Same here. You simply can’t beat this price over usefulness ratio.
– all-rider

Kershaw Leek 1660

Slim assisted-opening everyday carry knife praised for longevity, pocketability, and strong manufacturer support.

Low profile in pocket
Long-lasting
Good warranty support

My EDC is the Kershaw Leek 1660 Razor sharp but my my favorite part is how low profile it is
– Andrewskyy1

I've had my Kershaw Leek for over a decade with no issues. Such a good knife!
– ZeroOpti

I have the same, and it gets the most use simply because it is small enough to be unobtrusive in my pocket so I carry it most.
– Mylniar

Victorinox Alox Cadet

Slim Swiss Army knife with practical everyday tools, durable Alox scales, and unobtrusive carry.

Slim profile
Useful everyday tools
Non-threatening appearance

The Alox Cadet is one of my favorite all-time pocket knives.
– Shooter-__-McGavin

The Cadet Alox has been my daily for more than a decade. Maintains a great edge, only useful tools, and a slim profile that easily fits even in dress pants.
– jshaevitz

My recommendation would be something like a Victorinox Bantam. It's a small blade but very handy for all sorts of everyday uses
– eruditionfish

Available at Victorinox

Spyderco Delica

Well-regarded lightweight folding knife known for durability, one-handed opening, and decades of dependable use.

Decades-long durability
Easy one-hand opening
Reliable everyday use

I have had a Delica for over 20 years and it’s still perfect.
– colonel_batguano

I carried a delica for years and still use it all the time as a beater knife
– unknown

I’ve had a good experience with Spyderco
– davemchine

Leatherman Skeletool

Compact multitool-style pocket knife alternative with pliers, screwdriver, and blade for everyday utility.

Compact multitool functionality
Not bulky
Useful for daily tasks

My Leatherman Skeletool had been my EDC for a while and has come in handy quite often.
– ACcbe1986

I’ve had several models of Leatherman over the years but have settled on the skeletool for the last few and love it. It has everything I need, nothing I don’t, and it’s not super bulky.
– prich1717

I love my Leatherman Skeletool. You get a knife, pliers, screwdriver and bottle opener which is everything I need doing school IT.
– pacdude0411