Upgrade Your EDC Loadout with a Boot Knife

The vast majority of EDC knives out there are folders. There are some who carry a fixed blade daily for general duty, but by and large most of the EDC crew are packing folders. A boot knife makes a solid alternative, and for quite a number of good reasons. If you’ve had a cheap lock fail on you for the last time, don’t just get any fixed alternative. Make it a boot knife. Here’s what to know.

First off, a boot knife is not a single, specific pattern of knife. Rather, it is a catch-all term for a small fixed blade that is intended to be carried in a boot. Most boot knives have short blades, only a few inches long, and they are typically double edged, though single-edged versions exist. Some boots knives also sport a crossguard which improves handling and helps prevent a user’s hands from slipping up on the blade during use. That’s what your typical boot knife looks like - so why should you carry one instead of a folder, or some other pattern of fixed blade?

There are numerous advantages to a boot knife profile compared to other blade patterns. Here are just a few key benefits:

1.They’re small yet practical

While there are some boot knives out there that are on the larger side, by and large boot knives are actually pretty compact. With that said, since they’re fixed, they’re inherently more robust than folders. On top of that, the small, spear or needle point profile and two edges offer maximum versatility; keeping one edge sharper for finer tasks and one with a more oblique grind offers a lot of flexibility in the field. Some also come with one straight edge and one serrated edge for different tasks.

2. They’re discreet

A boot knife, not just by virtue of the fact that it is small but also that it is carried in the boot, is discreet. This means it’s unlikely to draw any undesired attention and can be carried without soliciting any critical eyes.

3. There’s no lock to fail

This is probably the single biggest advantage of boot knives over conventional folders. Any folding knife, regardless of the lock type employed, exhibits design complexity that is in and of itself an opportunity for failure. This is why some die-hards call folders “pre-broken” knives. The simpler, one-piece construction of a boot knife is inherently more robust and can handle more abuse than a folder, period.

4. They Carry Out of the Way

Another great advantage of a boot knife, though one that is admittedly not openly touted, is the fact that, since they carry in an unconventional location, they free up the rest of your carrying points for additional inventory. For instance, if you practice OWB defensive carry with a firearm, that real estate is not free for a knife. Plus, there’s other stuff you might want to carry on a belt anyway, besides a knife. Carrying one in your boot offers you more flexibility. Some also consider the boot carry configuration to be convenient because it has the potential to offer excellent accessibility.

5. Beyond Functional; Versatility

Boot knives are practical for a wide range of applications that most folders just can’t handle. Like folding EDC knives, they can be used for general utility and cutting tasks, as well as camp chores. Naturally, they can also be used for defensive applications.

6. Better Concealment Potential

You’ll be expected to carry a knife in your pocket, if not on your belt. Some might also carry a knife around their neck (neck carry). However, boot carry is unexpected, which will increase your ability to carry concealed.

7. Two Is One

Lastly, just because you carry a boot knife doesn’t mean you need to give up the rest of your EDC gear. You could still carry a folder for lighter, everyday tasks and reserve the boot knife for more demanding applications. Besides, you should carry two of anything important, anyway. If it’s worth carrying one, it’s worth carrying two, and blades are no exception.

Regardless of the size and type of boot knife you settle on, it’s imperative that you wear it safely. It should be appropriately sized for the style of boot you wear, but the main consideration here is that, whether you wear it inside or outside your boot, or in the laces, that you keep it in a sheath that’s appropriately sized for and compatible with it.

Thinking about adding a boot knife or dagger to your EDC loadout? Take a look through our collection of boot knives and other fixed blades here. We carry a wide range of options that will appeal to a variety of different needs and preferences.