The neck knife has risen in popularity lately for various reasons. They can be practical and convenient to carry. Some people like neck knives as a self-defense tool or backup weapon.
What is the best neck knife? There many great neck knives on the market and they all excel in one way or another. The best one for you will depend on your needs and what is important to you.
Wearing a neck knife isn’t my favorite way to carry a knife most of the time. I fully admit that neck knives have their place and work well for many people. With that said, there are some things you should consider if you’re thinking about getting a neck knife.
Reasons to Carry a Neck Knife
Neck knives are convenient to access
Since neck knives hang from a lanyard around your neck, you don’t need to dig around your pockets or reach for your belt to draw the blade.
Neck knives are centrally located on the body. The central position of the knife makes drawing with either hand very easy compared to knives kept on one side of your body.
Try drawing a knife located on your strong side with your weak hand. It can be challenging.
Easy to Access While Wearing a Rucksack
The primary time I use a neck knife is while backpacking. Many other knife-carry methods are complicated to access while wearing a pack.
It can also be incredibly uncomfortable to wear a large pack with a hip belt and have a knife on your belt or in your pocket. During long hikes, I keep my pockets mostly empty to prevent chafing.
The neck knife allows me to carry a knife comfortably, and it’s still on my person when I take my pack off—one downside of having your knife mounted to your pack.
Light Weight
The lightest neck knives are comfortable to carry around your neck. If you get a heavier neck knife you may realize you dislike carrying it after a few hours.
Small Size
The majority of neck knives are relatively small and light. The shorter blade length is perfect for many everyday cutting tasks. Carrying these small knives isn’t fatiguing compared to some large fixed blades.
In most jurisdictions, smaller knives are legally less restricted than knives with longer blades. (check your local laws before buying or wearing a neck knife!)
Fixed Blades are Strong
Most neck knives are fixed blades which has inherent advantages. A fixed blade knife is stronger. There is no locking mechanism to fail like on traditional folding pocket knives. There is also no need to open the knife. The blade is usable the moment the knife clears the sheath.
It Makes Carrying a Second Knife Easy
Depending on your situation, you may want more than one knife. Using a neck knife helps clear out some space in a pocket or on a belt. I hate having my pockets stuffed full of things, so I welcome how the neck knife can free up that pocket space.
No Pockets Needed (or pants)
Swimming shorts aren’t great for carrying a knife. Many times they are small or non-existent pockets. The same goes for most women’s pants.
Many women’s pants don’t have pockets, or they have fake pockets. If they have pockets, they tend to be small and shallow, which can’t fit a pocket knife.
Cons of Neck Knives
Neck Knives can be Uncomfortable
Discomfort is one reason I don’t use neck knives as much as other carry methods. Some people don’t like carrying things around their neck. Myself included. I dislike having something around my neck, even a small knife.
You Need to use two Hands to Re-sheath
Re-sheathing can be particularly burdensome, depending on what you’re doing. My other hand holds something in almost every situation where I use a knife. This makes re-sheathing annoying, especially with tasks like skinning, where I’m covered in guts.
Neck Knives may be Illegal
Many jurisdictions have restrictions regarding the carrying of fixed-blade knives. Check your local laws!
Access can be Difficult
Neck knives can move around your neck while doing things. If you’re moving or lying down, the blade can be at a different location, making drawing the knife challenging.
When carrying a knife in your belt or a pocket, it is always in the same place, which makes drawing it under stress much more manageable.
Neck Knives can be Dangerous
Carrying a lanyard around your neck can be a choking hazard. Make sure whatever lanyard you use has a breakaway feature or uses a breakaway chain. I like to take the outer sheath of paracord and put that over a ball chain. It’s comfortable and safe.
The risk is also posed by having a knife so close to your vitals. If you fall on your knife and your sheath fails, a sharp knife is now near your vital organs.
Neck Knives can get Lost
I have never had this happen, but a neck knife can get lost if it is inadvertently pulled or detached from its sheath. Belt knives or in the pocket are generally held in place by friction and gravity holding the knife in the sheath or pocket.
Our Top Picks For Best Neck Knives
There are many good neck knives out there. Below are some of the best that I’ve owned and used.
#1 CRKT Minimalist neck knife
One of my favorite neck knives around. They are reasonably priced, lightweight, and come in numerous blade shapes to suit anyone’s needs. The Minimalist has deep finger grooves on the handle which helps keep the knife secure while cutting.
The kydex sheath is also excellent. For general use, stick to something like a spear point blade, bowie, or Wharncliffe. The blade steel is adequate on the standard models. Still, they offer fancier versions with 154CM blade steel if you want better edge retention.
#2 KA-BAR Becker Necker
The Ka Bar knives Necker is an excellent choice if you’re looking for an everyday carry neck knife. Slightly larger and more expensive than the CRKT. The blade shape works well for most cutting tasks, and the plastic sheath is good. The Necker is made of 1095 carbon steel which is not stainless steel, and will need to be oiled to prevent rust. The 1095 steel is a prevalent knife steel because of its strength and durability. It is also easy to sharpen and holds a good edge. Overall, the Necker makes an excellent EDC neck knife.
#3 ESEE Knives Izula
The ESEE Izula is considered the gold standard of neck knives. The blade is 2.875 inches long and made of 1095 carbon steel.
It comes with an excellent kydex sheath and belt clip if you don’t want to use it as a neck knife. They generally come with a reasonably sharp edge, so you won’t have to sharpen it too much out of the box like some knives. The Izula is one of my favorite tactical neck knives.
#4 Spyderco Ark Salt
Spyderco is well known for making some excellent knives, and the Ark is no exception. This knife is exceptionally well suited for neck knife duty because of its special H1 stainless steel. Unlike most “stainless” steels, the steel on this knife cannot rust. In addition to the exceptional steel, the Ark also has a good sheath with a convenient blade shape. Consider this knife if you’re in a humid or wet environment or sweating a lot.
Cold Steel Mini Pal
The Cold Steel Mini Pal is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a backup knife. It only weighs half an ounce making it easily carried. This knife has serious cutting power despite it’s one inch blade.
The Mini Pal uses a push dagger design suited for self defense. The other neck knives on this list will work better for utility cutting if that is your primary need.
FAQ
What is a neck knife good for?
Depending on the design neck knives can be good for all types of cutting chores. Some neck knives are designed as self defense weapons and are not as good for general cutting.
How long should a neck knife be?
It depends on your needs. Longer blades can work better for some cutting tasks while shorter blades excel in small detail cutting. Shorter blades can also be lighter which is important to some people.
What is an EDC neck knife?
EDC neck knives are designed to be easy to carry and perform well in a wide variety of cutting tasks. They usually have a drop point blade or other generalist blade shape.
