Carrying a concealed knife from a lanyard around the neck didn’t sound appealing the first time I heard about it. That was until I gave it a try for myself. Then, it all made perfect sense. There is no better way to discreetly carry a small, fixed blade. The more I carried a knife in this manner, the more I liked it. Concealed carry is all about accessibility; neck carry may offer the easiest and quickest access in a pinch.
Although this style of knife carry is often associated with self-defense, I quickly found it helpful beyond that. There may be no better way to tote around a small EDC blade. It’s especially useful for situations where I was sitting, mainly because I didn’t have to shift my body around to remove the knife from a pocket or horizontal carry position.
With many practical possibilities in mind, including survival, I set out to find the best neck knives available today. Fortunately, we found many contenders that should fit everyone’s specific needs.
Key Considerations
The primary consideration for each knife was finding a smaller fixed blade. This opens up possibilities for these knives for EDC, backpacking, bushcraft, survival, self-defense, and more. Fortunately, I already had several knives that fit the bill. Most of the blades I chose are good knives for other purposes. However, there were some key things my choices needed to be a candidate for the best neck knife.
- Sheath: Neck knife sheaths must be low-profile to avoid printing through a shirt. They also must be lightweight while providing adequate retention. A knife that can slip free under its own weight is not suitable for neck carry, regardless of how good the blade is.
- Blade Type: The nice thing about neck knives is that almost any blade type will work. For everyday cutting, a single-edged drop point or clip point is more versatile than a specialist dagger.
- Weight: The knives that I chose had to be extremely lightweight. Otherwise, the cord holding them can dig into the user’s neck and make it uncomfortable.
- Steel Type: Fortunately, neck knives don’t necessarily need the highest grade of steel. I still looked for a bit of variety. I wanted blades that were easy to sharpen and could maintain an edge.
- Price: The great thing about neck knives is that they are affordable. The simpler everyday-carry picks cost less than the specialist Benchmade; pay for a comfortable, secure carry setup before paying for premium features.
Top Picks
- Best Overall: ESEE Izula
- Best Budget: Cold Steel Mini Tac
- Most Comfortable Carry: CRKT Minimalist Bowie
- Best Specialist Option: Benchmade Mini SOCP
Best Overall: ESEE Izula
The versatility of the ESEE Izula is off the charts. The knife’s size is perfect for standard EDC tasks like box ripping and cord cutting. Additionally, this is a solid hunting and fishing knife. The blade is long enough for gutting and skinning deer. The 2.8-inch blade wasn’t hair-popping sharp. However, it effortlessly sliced everything I threw at it during testing. This is a good option for users who want a slightly larger knife. It was one of the only knives I tested for which I could get a full-handed grip. A small amount of jimping helped control the point significantly. This is a good option for a custom paracord handle.
Although I like the sheath, it does have some tight retention that hasn’t loosened up yet. This also wasn’t the most comfortable knife I tested. It lies very flat to the chest, and I was always aware that I was carrying this knife. I can’t say that for all the blades I tested. Despite those carry compromises, this knife has a bevy of uses.
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Best Budget: Cold Steel Mini Tac
The linked Amazon listing specifies 8Cr13MoV steel and a 2.6-ounce weight for the Mini Tac Bowie (49HCF), while Cold Steel lists 8Cr14MoV and 2.9 ounces. Both identify the handle as Griv-Ex. Confirm the supplied steel with the retailer if that difference matters to you.
The Mini Tac is an excellent option for anyone who doesn’t want to compromise on blade size. Cold Steel put a 3.6-inch blade on this one while keeping the package under 7 inches. I love the fine point of this one. It’s incredibly sharp and easy to control. I made extremely precise cuts while working on a project for my van conversion. The textured handle on my test knife felt great. This knife never slipped once in my hands. Add a generous finger groove and jimping, and the control was excellent.
The knife does have a couple of downsides. For one, I plan to replace the bead chain lanyard. It digs into my neck. It is also made of a lower grade 8Cr13MoV steel. The edge retention is decent, but I would have paid more for better steel. Still, it’s hard to believe that I paid only $20 for this knife. The overall construction and sheath are excellent, making for a solid EDC neck knife.
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Most Comfortable Carry: CRKT Minimalist Bowie
The low profile of the Minimalist Bowie allowed the knife to go practically unnoticed around my neck while wearing it. This was the smallest and lightest knife that I tested for this piece. It has a low profile and sheath. The retention from the sheath was perfect from the moment I unboxed this one. I also loved how little it printed under a standard T-shirt. It’s an excellent warm-weather clothing knife. The downsized Bowie-style blade proves to be incredibly versatile for EDC tasks. I used this one heavily while working on an AC project for my van. I did wear down the edge on the 5Cr15MoV blade, but it took longer than I expected.
I own three knives in the CRKT Minimalist line, and the big downside is always the three-finger grip. The finger grooves are nice, but my pinkie always hangs off the back. It’s manageable, but some users with larger hands might not like it. This one is my favorite of that line because the Micarta scales do give back a little of what’s lost. The handle is a trade-off but worth it for the low profile. This is an excellent knife for anyone who wants something that they won’t feel while carrying.
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Best Specialist Option: Benchmade Mini SOCP
For this knife, Benchmade essentially downsized its popular SOCP knife into a more compact package. This is a bit outside-the-box for a neck knife, but I found that it works nicely with a breakaway lanyard. This wasn’t the sharpest knife of the bunch I tested. Its narrow dagger-style blade is less versatile for everyday slicing than the other picks. In my cardboard testing, it worked well for its specialized design. Given the skeletonized handle, I wasn’t sure whether I would like this one at first. However, Benchmade did an excellent job with the jimping here. It is in all the right places, lending some surprising ergonomics to a very thin handle.
One downside is that all my carry testing was conducted at home. Do not assume a double-edged knife is lawful to carry wherever you live or travel. The sheath has great retention but isn’t flat. It prints easily. This knife is best for carrying under layers in the fall and winter. Still, this knife's construction, like all Benchmade offerings, is superb. For ordinary box-opening and cord-cutting jobs, I would choose the Izula or Minimalist instead.
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Why the KA-BAR Forged Wrench Knife Missed the Picks
The Wrench Knife performed well as a simple utility knife in my testing. I used it to finish field dressing a Wisconsin whitetail, and its one-piece construction was easy to clean afterward. But the supplied sheath on my sample had spotty retention and carried at an angle. That is a meaningful drawback for a neck knife, not just a comfort issue. For that reason, the tested knife-and-sheath setup is not among our neck-carry recommendations. This finding concerns the sample I tested; it is not a claim that every Wrench Knife sheath is defective.
Neck Knife Comparison
Swipe or scroll sideways to view the full comparison on smaller screens.
| Knife | Blade | Overall | Weight | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESEE Izula | 2.875 in† | 6.25 in | 2.0 oz | Versatile grip and blade; tight sheath and less comfortable on the chest. |
| Cold Steel Mini Tac Bowie | 3.625 in | 6.875 in | 2.6 / 2.9 oz* | Longer blade and secure grip; supplied chain uncomfortable. |
| CRKT Minimalist Bowie | 2.125 in | 5.125 in | 1.6 oz | Low-profile carry and good sheath fit; three-finger grip. |
| Benchmade Mini SOCP | 2.22 in | 6.25 in | 3.0 oz | Slim specialist design; less useful for everyday cutting and sheath prints. |
Weights are for the knife, without carry accessories. †The Izula has a 2.625-inch cutting edge. *Amazon lists the Mini Tac at 2.6 oz with 8Cr13MoV steel; Cold Steel lists 2.9 oz with 8Cr14MoV. See its review for the specification discrepancy.
How To Choose The Best Neck Knife
Neck knives aren’t anything fancy or complicated. They are simple, fixed blades under 4 inches in length. Choosing one mostly boils down to the knife’s intended purpose. Will it be an EDC knife or something for self-defense? Training is highly recommended to be safe and to become effective with the knife if it’s the latter. Otherwise, these are the key things to look for in a neck knife.
Sheath
The sheath of any neck knife needs to be flat. I prefer low-profile Kydex sheaths because they don’t print through clothing as easily. Bulkier leather sheaths can print more through clothing. Based on user preference, an ideal sheath should allow the knife to be carried with the handle up or down. I prefer handle-down carry, but only with a sheath that securely retains the knife in that position. Check the specific knife and sheath before wearing them; stop using a loose, damaged or unreliable sheath for neck carry.
Blade Type
Drop point and clip point blades are highly effective for neck knives. There is a ton of versatility for ripping cardboard, cutting cordage, and even light bushcraft. A double-edged dagger is a specialist choice rather than an all-purpose EDC cutter. Check the laws that apply to your location and carry method, especially before carrying a concealed or double-edged knife.
Handles
Neck knives are compact, which means that most users need to make a compromise on the handle or the blade size. Many of these knives allow only a three-finger grip. Users with larger hands might want to consider a shorter blade with more handle material. I like neck knives with additional texture or finger groves for greater control. Skeletonized handles significantly cut the weight, making the knife easier to carry.
Weight
Technically, the ideal neck knife weight is due to personal preference. I found the sweet spot for comfort in the 1.5-to-2-ounce range. Some people go with heavier knives. However, this can cause some neck strain if they’re too heavy.
Lanyard
The right lanyard is essential, not just to keep the knife secure, but also for safety reasons. Use a purpose-made breakaway neck lanyard, not a closed loop of unbreakable cord. ESEE specifically warns that the Izula kit’s supplied paracord is not suitable as a neck lanyard; its instructions call for a breakaway device or low-tensile-strength cord instead. Make sure the lanyard can break free! Many manufacturers now sell breakaway lanyards that will break if caught in something. I wouldn’t say that I like bead chain lanyards that come with some knives. These tend to dig into my skin and can feel cold; do not assume any supplied chain has a verified breakaway function.
Steel Quality
With neck knives, there is no right or wrong choice of steel. Most are used for simple EDC applications, making using lower-quality steels like 8Cr13MoV acceptable. Steel is only part of the decision: edge geometry, heat treatment, ease of sharpening and corrosion resistance matter too. The Izula’s 1095 carbon steel needs more care around sweat and water than a stainless blade. Choose a steel you can maintain, rather than paying for a premium alloy at the expense of a good sheath.
Why Trust Us
I conducted hands-on testing of all the knives included in this article. This included ripping cardboard and cutting paracord, fishing lines, corrugated plastic sheets, and more. However, I didn’t stop there. Neck knives are all about concealment, so I carried each to judge the comfort levels while carrying. I checked each knife’s profile and judged how much they printed through a standard T-shirt. Some of the knives I owned before this article received additional testing. In addition to my hands-on testing, I’ve covered knives professionally for the last decade. In that time, I’ve tested hundreds of knives, learning what works and what doesn’t for various blade types.
Final Thoughts
Neck knives are one of the more unique carry methods out there. I love the convenience of carrying a knife in that location. It’s super easy to pull a knife out, especially when I’m fishing from my kayak. The ESEE Izula was an easy choice for my favorite because of its versatility and factory edge. The CRKT Minimalist Bowie is my runner-up for being an incredibly comfortable knife to carry all day.
FAQs
Q: What is the point of a neck knife?
A: Neck knives make it easier to carry a fixed blade concealed without sacrificing accessibility. These knives are also excellent EDC tools. The neck location makes them easier to access than a pocket or belt.
Q: Are neck knives practical?
A: These knives are surprisingly practical for a multitude of EDC tasks. I use mine to rip cardboard, cut fishing lines, and do house projects. These knives are easier to reach while sitting, especially while in a vehicle or kayak.
Q: What are neck knives called?
A: It isn’t a common nickname, but some knife enthusiasts have called neck knives “neckers.” A few knife companies have even called their neck knives by that name.
