Home / Outdoors / Knives & Multi-Tools

Benchmade’s Stunning New Knives Are Ultralight EDC Champs in Hunter’s Clothing

These beefy blades may be launching just in time for the new season, but you need not be a jaeger to add them to your kit.

Folding knife with a matte green blade featuring the Benchmade logo and model number 15536. The handle is textured and beige with black screws and a visible locking mechanism. There is an orange thumb stud on the blade for opening.Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol
Add Gear Patrol as a Preferred Source on Google

By Steve Mazzucchi

Published

·

You know a knife is iconic when even its spinoffs are beloved, with every new edition generating a little buzz of its own.

Such is the case with Benchmade’s Bugout. Not only does the brand currently offer more than a dozen varieties of this legendary outdoor EDC knife, but also it has begat multiple purpose-built variants. 

Two folding knives with textured handles are shown on a light gray surface. The top knife has a gray blade with a butterfly logo and a light beige handle featuring a thumb stud and black screws. The bottom knife has a tan blade marked "ELMAX" and a dark gray handle with a black clip and screws. Both knives have a similar shape and locking mechanism.
In contrast to previous TaggedOuts, the two new editions are intended to fly under the radar.
Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

One is the tactically oriented Bailout, which earlier this year got pretty winningly optimized for EDC. 

The other is the hunting-oriented TaggedOut. With two new treatments launching later this month, it leans even further into its field utility. 

Yet if you seek a robust yet light EDC option with a unique aesthetic, I’d argue you should look no further. Here’s why.

Back in … beige

Let’s get right to it. The two new TaggedOut editions —  the 15536GN-01 in Tan Grivory and Elmax and the 15536TN-01 in Deep Olive Grivory — stand out from their predecessors by, ironically, blending in.

After all, two of three previous TaggedOuts have very hi-viz colors. We’re talking signal orange handles and blades here, people.

Two closed folding knives with textured handles and black pocket clips are shown on a light gray surface. One knife has a dark green handle with a brown blade, and the other has a light gray handle with a green blade and an orange thumb stud. Both knives have visible screws and a thumb hole for opening.
The tan, olive and forest green hues blend into the backcountry yet make a statement when adopted for EDC.
Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

Meanwhile, the new kids recognize that sometimes out in the field, going low-viz — mimicking your natural surroundings — is critical. 

Toward that end, they eschew orange and embrace earth tones such as tan, olive and forest green that will fit right in with your RealTree camo.

Two folding knives with textured handles are shown side by side on a light surface. The top knife has a green blade with a butterfly logo and the word "BENCHMADE" printed on it, along with an orange thumb stud and a light gray handle. The bottom knife features a tan blade labeled "ELMAX," a black thumb stud, and a dark green handle. Both knives have visible screws and locking mechanisms near the handles.
Cerakote treatments on the beefy 3.5-inch clip-point blades lend not only pigment but longevity.
Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

Killing two birds with one stone, the blades get their hues from a Cerakote finish, which boosts resistance to abrasion, wear, corrosion and chemicals.

The unintentional knockon effect is an unprecedented, Steve McQueen level of understated cool when adopted as an EDC knife.

Ready for anything

Of course, functionally, like the TaggedOuts that came before, these knives are exceptionally qualified to tackle backwoods challenges, hunting or otherwise.

The blades are substantial, 3.5-inch clip-points made of a TaggedOut first, Elmax, a super steel that’s been popping up more and more lately.

Close-up of a folding knife with a matte brown blade marked "ELMAX" and a textured dark green handle featuring a black button and screws. The blade has a thumb stud for opening.
Picking up steam as of late, Elmax packs a super steel punch without breaking the bank.
Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

Comparable to M390, it’s incredibly balanced, delivering a compelling blend of wear and corrosion resistance, toughness and edge retention. 

Like so many dependable Benchmade knives, they deploy smoothly via ambidextrous thumb studs, clicking into place via the brand’s patented crossbar-style Axis Lock.

That means they return home to the grippy Grivory handle scales with just as much one-handed ease, and sit securely in your pocket via a reversible mini clip.

Two folding knives with textured handles and clip attachments are shown side by side on a light surface. The top knife has a dark green handle and a tan blade marked "ELMAX," while the bottom knife has a light gray handle and an olive green blade also marked "ELMAX." Both knives feature thumb studs for opening and black screws securing the handles.
Axis locks deploy smoothly and hold steady, while reversible mini clips ensure secure pocket carry.
Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

Speaking of those scales, however, I’d be remiss not to mention the role they play in one final trait that makes these TaggedOuts absolute bangers for both field and EDC use. At just 2.1 ounces, they are light AF. 

The Benchmade 15536GN-01 and 15536TN-01 TaggedOuts will be available beginning September 23 for $210 each. 

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

Read More