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Kizer’s Mini-yet-Mighty EDC Knife Is Built to Fit in Your Jeans’ Tiniest Pocket

This cutting tool is designed to stash in a pants pocket so covert that people might not even remember they have it.

Close-up of a black and pink speckled object with green textured buttons and ridged black components on a dark textured surface.Kizer
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By Sean Tirman

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If you own a pair of classic blue jeans, there’s a really solid chance they have a five-pocket layout. That means there are two pockets in the back, two in the front and a tiny pocket inside the front right pocket.

Originally intended for watches (before wrist watches became the standard), that pocket is largely vestigial — for most folks, it serves no real purpose.

Well, a beloved EDC brand is seeking to change that with the Kizer Microbe M390, a tiny knife specifically engineered to fit inside that oft-overlooked fifth pocket.

Hand holding a small folding knife with a black blade and a purple patterned handle under blue light.
The Microbe measures just 5.33 inches total, including its 2.19-inch blade.
Kizer

Tiny but mighty

As you might imagine, the Microbe has to be pretty damn small to fit inside that minuscule pocket. And it is, measuring just 5.22 inches overall.

In fact, the handle measures just 3.14 inches, while the blade accounts for the remaining 2.19 inches. It’s also very lightweight, weighing only 2.31 ounces.

Hand holding a black folding knife with a green and pink patterned handle above a laptop keyboard.
The three new versions all have unique carbon fiber handles.
Kizer

While I wouldn’t quite call that negligible, it’s definitely compact and makes this knife exceptionally easy to carry, even when your pockets are otherwise already full. Yet it’s also large enough that you’re not seriously sacrificing performance, unlike with keychain knives.

Furthermore, despite its diminutive size, the handle is curved and notched for a comfortable, ergonomic grip. And the shape of its blade and the curvature of its edge make for a good balance of strength and capability.

Close-up of a hand holding a Kizer folding knife with a brushed steel blade and blue thumb stud over a black keyboard.
Regardless of which of the three knives you pick, all are equipped with an M390 super steel blade.
Kizer

Pick of the litter

Ergonomics and compactness aside, there’s a lot more to love about this tiny-yet-mighty EDC knife. Let’s start with the blade:

On all three new versions of the Microbe, the blade is built from Böhler M390, a high-performance super steel that’s among the most capable all-around materials in knifemaking right now.

That blade extends from the handle via a pair of thumb studs or a thumb hole (depending on the configuration), making manual deployment easy. And it’s kept secure with a sturdy, secure button lock (which is becoming a Kizer mainstay at this point).

Folding knife with white blade and mint green handle on a black surface next to black sunglasses.
Alongside the new Microbe configurations, there is also a wealth of other options starting at just $55.
Kizer

And the handle, on all three of the knives, is carbon fiber. The CamoCarbon Watermelon Sugar option is the most eye-catching, but all three offer the same durability, strength and performance.

For reference, the Microbe also comes in a bevy of other options that are much more affordable than these performance-oriented editions. Granted, they require material sacrifices, but the savings can be tremendous.

Three Kizer folding knives with patterned handles and black blades on a gray surface near a keyboard.
Here, you can see all three new configurations.
Kizer

Availability and pricing

The Kizer Microbe M390 is now available on the brand’s site, starting at $140. However, if affordability is your thing, the brand has numerous other options starting at just $56.

About the Author: Sean Tirman is an associate editor at Gear Patrol who specializes in EDC, cannabis and outdoor gear.

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