This story is part of our end-of-year series This Year in Gear rounding up the most notable releases of 2020. For more stories like this, click here.
If, when you think pocket knife, you imagine an implement with a silvery steel blade and a black handle, a look back at the best knives that came out in 2020 will have you redrawing that mental picture. There are knives like that, sure, but there are also knives with gold blades and knives with kaleidoscopic handles. There are super steels and mammoth teeth. It's this stock of blades, the ones that brought color, size, shape and material to bear in previously unimaginable ways, that demonstrate that pocket knives are better made — and better looking — than ever.
Helle Kletten
Courtesy
The Norwegian knifemaker Helle is best known for its fixed blade bushcrafting knives, which made the release of the EDC-oriented Kletten a bit of a surprise. With a 2.1-inch blade, it's the company's smallest folding knife, but it maintains a few of its siblings' traits, including a triple-laminated steel blade and a curly birch handle.
The blade's movement typically prevents the integration of paracord into a folding knife's handle, which is why most paracord knives are fixed. TJ Schwarz designed his way around that problem with a unique handle that accommodates a zig-zag weave, making the Parascale the first of its kind.
If you want a knife-first multi-tool without excess functions, the Armbar is it. It comes with a 2.5-inch frame lock blade, scissors, a bottle opener and a few more implements in a form that fits nicely in a pocket. There's a version that swaps the screwdriver for a wine opener for those more interested in drink than DIY.
One of the cooler collaborations of 2020 was between The James Brand and Elyse Graham, an artist who used colored resin to create a set of poppy scales for the front-flipping Duval. Sadly, it's long since sold out.
Quiet Carry Waypoint
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The Waypoint is straightforward in appearance but perfect in execution. It's a sleek and versatile everyday folder with a blade made of Vanax SuperClean, a type that exhibits the high corrosion resistance, toughness and edge retention characteristic of a "super steel."
It seems surprising that this little utility knife got its start on Kickstarter until you learn that the designers behind it are a group of aerospace engineers who design aircraft prototypes. No wonder it's so elegantly simple, combining high-grade titanium and aluminum-bronze alloy with the replaceable blades you can buy at a hardware store.
Benchmade looked at the knives used by Scandinavia's indigenous Sámi people for inspiration to create the Leuku, a survival-oriented fixed blade. Keen eyes might notice its similarities with the Puuko — both use the same high-grade materials, but the Leuku's blade is a much longer 5.19 inches.
If you're looking for an American pocket knife exemplar, Buck's 112 Ranger wouldn't be a wrong choice. The company created it over 50 years ago to meet Navy regulations of the time, but this is the first version featuring a drop-point blade.
How can you not love a tiny folding pocket knife that takes the form of a small dog? This pooch isn't all bark, though — Spyderco made it with premium blade steel and a titanium handle.
Quiet Carry's iQ was an impressive EDC folder even before Drop got involved and added knurled titanium scales. Unfortunately, the collab blade is sold out; here's hoping the two join forces again next year.
The iconic French No.8 pocket knife dressed up for its 130th birthday in a black blade and illustrated handle featuring symbols that hearken back to its roots in France's mountains.
The Swiss Army Knife needs no introduction, and Victorinox's Onyx Collection speaks for itself. The standout in the set is the Spartan, which features two blades, a bottle opener, corkscrew, toothpick and more.
Benchmade imagined the Bugout as a backpacker's knife. Hence the reliable yet lightweight materials that make it durable despite weighing less than two ounces. Now you have the option to personalize it from blade to bolts — supposedly, there are over 400,000 combinations.
Scaled-down cleavers continued to appear in 2020, and Civivi's Mini Mastodon is the best of the new bunch. It's almost an oxymoron with a blade under three inches, but it's also ideal for regular use with features like a lanyard hole and reversible pocket clip.
The James Brand's biggest release of the year is its biggest knife yet, the Hells Canyon. The company teamed up with chef Chris Cosentino to dial in the details of a fixed blade meant for meal prep. Those include a 5.4-inch blade made of Crucible S35VN steel and a G10 handle that leaves room between hand and cutting board.
Gerber rolled out its Reserve Collection, which features high-end American-made knives, in late 2020. The Sedulo is the second and latest entry; it's a folder built on an increasingly popular pivot lock system made with S30V steel.
One of the year's coolest knife releases is also one of the most limited and expensive. VSSL, a company that makes a unique line of cylinder-based camping gear, commissioned Kay Foye to modify 30 Buck 110 folders with her artisanal handle scales. She used precious materials like mammoth tooth, jasper and blue oak to do it. That's why each one goes for $600, 10 percent of which goes to an organization that helps find employment for youth with special needs.
The V10 used to be Dyson's top-tier stick vacuum, but it was eventually replaced by the slightly more powerful (and much more expensive) V11. This makes the V10 a great value, as it's usually $150 less than the V11. Thanks to this sale, it's even a better value than the V11 right now.
These cloth masks are more than meets the eye. United By Blue has made them with deadstock fabrics and included a filter slot that fits the brand's Activated Carbon Filters. Plus, for each pack purchased, one will be donated to a Philadelphia resident who is experiencing homelessness.
The CPO jacket is a classic silhouette that never goes out of style. Todd Snyder upgraded this one with premium a cotton-linen Herringbone that will break in and only get better over time.
Colorblocking is in and we love the color combo on this half-zip fleece. Plus you get pockets to keep your hands warm, which isn't a common feature on a fleece like this.
These are loaded with some of Nike's best features, including React outsoles for ultimate efficiency on the road and Flyknit uppers for a lightweight, sock-like feel.
Is anything left to be said about the Eames chair? This is one of the most iconic pieces of furniture to come out of the 20th century and is a must-have for any furniture aficionados (if you can afford it).
If you've been watching The Crown or have been following style moodboards lately, you've surely seen Barbour. The classic hunting brand makes some of the finest harsh-weather garments, bred to excel in the rain soaked British islands. A quilted jacket is an essential layering piece, whether topping off a sweater or under a waxed field jacket.
This matches the lowest price we've seen on Apple's premium AirPods. Competition is now fierce in this headphone category, but the quick pairing and native integration with Apple devices still makes the AirPods Pro tough to beat.
An upgrade to the Nano 9, a Gear Patrol favorite, the Nano X doubles down on everything that was good about the previous iteration and makes it even better. This is our pick for the best CrossFit and HIIT workout shoe you can buy.
Using half bison fiber and half wool, the Bison Ultralight weighs less than a pound and offers extremely well insulation. It also sports a recycled ripstop shell with a PFC-free DWR coating and compactly folds into its own pocket. At half off, this is a steal. READ OUR DOWN JACKETS GUIDE
Four-way stretch, seamless construction, and extreme breathability make this our pick for the best premium workout shirt. It is simple, and simply good.
This collab between Outdoor Voices and Hoka One One pairs an award-winning running shoe with OV's sharp eye for design to make a shoe that looks as good as it feels.
Not only is this one of the most versatile packs around, it eschews some of the "ugly" features on a standard outdoor pack for a look that is actually super stylish. We welcome an outdoor pack that values both style and function.
Perfect for winter, these boots are made with fully waterproof leather and vulcanized rubber, keeping you dry whether you're sloshing through snow on the way to work, doing work in the yard, or going out for a hunt.
Everlane does basics extremely well — it's kind of Everlane's thing. The brand's 18-wale corduroy fabric shirt is a great option for the winter months and at half off you truly cannot beat it. READ OUR GUIDE TO CORDUROY SHIRTS
Hydro Flask really needs no introduction at this point, so when you can get a 32-ounce wide mouth with its Temp-Shield insulation at 25 percent off, you do it.
The complete package, this sound bar connects via Bluetooth, has its own subwoofer and passive radiators, is wall-mountable, and can connect via HDMI, optical or AUX connections.
This chronograph re-issue of Timex's original military-style watch has an aluminum 40mm case that provides strength without the weight. If you're looking for a daily knock around with chronograph features, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better deal.
If you are working out a lot, you're going to need more than one mask. Under Armour has created one of the best sports-specific masks and right now if you buy two you get a great deal.
Todd Snyder's collaborations with Timex always hit. Paired with a vintage military-inspired band, this bullseye design is straight from the Timex archives.
Whether you want to move some of your most frequently used herbs indoors or don't have space outside for a garden, the AeroGarden Harvest is a perfect solution, with clearance for up to a foot of growth and room for 6 plants that grow five times faster than soil.
Adidas used sustainable Parley Primeblue material to make its Primeknit upper even better, then combined it with Boost midsoles to make the ultimate earth-conscious workout shoe.
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