Two enduringly popular styles of knives are neck knives and boot knives, intended to be carried as the name suggests. Neck knives are typically carried point up in a sheath that offers a friction fit, worn around the neck via some cordage, typically a breakaway cord that will snap when pulled too hard. Boot knives are intended to be carried either under a boot’s laces, or inside the shaft of the boot. Depending on the size and style of the boot, they can vary considerably in size and style. Naturally, considering how they are carried, how they must be drawn and how they must be resheathed, each of them offers some distinct and unique advantages, some of which will be covered here.

One of the most significant advantages associated with carrying a boot knife has got to be the advantage of discretion, though this will naturally depend on how you carry it. Carried in your boot’s laces, a boot knife will not be as discreet as if you carry it inside the shaft of the boot. That said, there is also a good deal of flexibility to be enjoyed here, as a boot knife can also be carried outside a boot’s shaft. This also gives you quite a bit of flexibility with respect to size as well. While the majority of boot knives are fairly small, you have a little room here. Though it’s a draw when it comes to drawing (no pun intended, actually), a boot knife also certainly has the edge (again, no pun) when it comes to resheathing. It’s a lot harder to resheath a neck knife than it is to resheath a boot knife, since you have your boot to work against.

Another thing to consider here is that a neck knife must necessarily need a sheath that affords only a friction fit, as secondary retention straps or buckles would hinder drawing. That is not necessarily the case with a boot knife. It might also be said that because boot carry is somewhat uncommon, you’re unlikely to be checked for a knife on or around your ankle, which might be considered another advantage of this discipline of carry. All of this being covered, let’s take a closer look at some of the ways in which a boot knife might not be ideal.

As an indelible attribute of how a boot knife is carried, one of its biggest shortcomings is access. In order to reach a boot knife, you must either stoop down, or else raise up your leg so that you can reach the knife. In most situations this is a mild inconvenience. Another potential drawback might also be resheathing. While it is likely the case that it is easier and more practical to resheath a boot knife than a neck knife, at the end of the day it is relatively inconvenient to have to resheath a knife in your boot, as opposed to (for example) on your hip.

Depending on the cord you use to carry your neck knife, one of the biggest advantages has to be discretion, just as is the case with a boot knife. However, discretion might even be more in favor of the neck knife in this arena. A neck knife can be carried under your clothing, next to your skin, or just under your outermost layer, which keeps it concealed yet conveniently accessible. Also, the action of reaching across your chest to draw is much more instinctive than reaching to your ankle for a boot knife. This gives a neck knife the advantage in terms of accessibility, too. Drawing a neck knife is also inherently easier; all you must do is pull against the sheath to remove the knife. It’s easy, intuitive, and can easily be done with one hand. The same cannot universally be said of boot carry.

Even though there are some glaring advantages associated with neck knives and neck carry, there are equally a few distinct disadvantages that should be covered. The worst of these is resheathing. Since a neck knife’s sheath necessarily hangs freely from your neck, you will need two hands to resheath it, almost without exception. Depending on how you carry, access might also be a problem if you need to move aside multiple layers of clothing to get to the knife. This is something that can be adjusted, however. It is also potentially a disadvantage if you ever wear a neck knife with a cord that isn’t a breakaway cord, or at least isn’t equipped with a breakaway knot. This is also something that can be addressed, however.

At the end of the day, this isn’t a matter of whether or not a neck knife is better than a boot knife or the other way around. Ultimately it comes down to what works for you, and both of them can be serviceable given the right circumstances. For what it’s worth, we carry both boot knives and neck knives. Check them out on our website and get in touch with us if you have any questions before you buy.