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If you are the type of person who likes to be prepared no matter what, you should really invest in a quality boot knife. Boot knives can be snuck into places where regular knives can’t go, and they are a discreet way to ensure you always have a powerful weapon on you. Read on to learn more about this great tools and what they can do for your safety and security.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Boot Knife
- OUR TOP PICK: Cold Steel Kobun Boot Knife
- RUNNER-UP: Buck Knives Tactical Knife with Versatile Sheath
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Master Series Tactical Blade
Comparison of the Best Boot Knives
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What is a Boot Knife and What is it Used For?
A boot knife is exactly what it sounds like – it is a knife that is small enough to strap to your ankle and effectively conceal inside a boot (most often a hiking boot or a cowboy boot).
It is designed to be a last resort kind of weapon in a self defense situation, or a knife that you will always have on you even if you lose the rest of your survival gear by needing to leave your survival pack behind. It is small, sharp, and lightweight.
Aspects to Consider Before Buying
Boot knives can be pretty varied, so make sure you keep in mind some particularly important qualities when you are perusing the wide range of different kinds:
Sheath Security
These knives are designed to be stored in some pretty tight, cramped places – places that would obviously be problematic if the knife were to come loose from its sheath, because the first thing it would cut into would be your ankle! Make sure you invest in a knife with a secure sheath that will keep it in place no matter what.
Size
A knife is not really an effective boot knife if you can’t actually fit it inside your boot, or if you can fit it, but it feels really uncomfortable.
Everyone has a different threshold for comfort with boot knives, so make sure you try out several and choose a size that works best for you.
Durability
If your knife can’t really hold an edge, it is not going to do much for you in a self defense or survival situation, right? Because these knives are intended to go for a long time without use, make sure you find yourself a knife that will last for a while between sharpenings.
Review of the Best Boot Knives
Since you are now more familiar with the qualities of an excellent boot knife, let’s move on to look at some of the best boot knives we could find on the market today:
Best Overall:
Cold Steel Kobun Boot Knife
Pros
Cons
The Cold Steel Kobun Boot Knife is, hands down, the absolute best boot knife we were able to find on the market today. It outshines its competition in so many ways.
Its rubber handle provides a secure, excellent grip, so you will not have to worry about your grip slipping when you are pulling your knife out of your boot (AKA the worst possible time to drop your knife). It will feel comfortable even for those users with larger hands.
It is durable enough to hold up even under large amounts of abuse. It will arrive razor sharp right out of the box, and it basically the best knife you could ever want in terms of self defense and every day carry. You will not be disappointed with the Cold Steel Kobun Boot Knife!
Bottom Line
The Cold Steel Kobun Boot Knife is the market leader when it comes to boot knives, with its incredibly sharp edge and comfortable rubber grip. Just know that when it comes to the clip that will come with the knife, you may not want to use it because it is not of the highest quality material.
Runner-up:
Buck Knives Tactical Knife with Versatile Sheath
Pros
Cons
The Buck Knives Tactical Knife with Versatile Sheath was an extremely close second for us when compiling this list. It came in just behind our best choice, the Cold Steel Kobun Boot Knife. But do not think that just because the Buck is our runner-up that it is somehow not worth mentioning. This knife is pretty freaking cool!
If you are looking for the most versatile sheath on the market, you have to go with the one on this knife. Its sheath has a leather backing for maximum comfort up against your ankle, but that backing can also be removed if you need to fit this knife somewhere small.
It also comes with a Velcro strap with an extension so you can stash it literally anywhere you would like. Plus, its handle is textured so your fingers will not slip and slide, which is crucial in a self defense situation.
Bottom Line
The Buck Knives Tactical Knife with Versatile Sheath is our runner-up choice for the best boot knife you will be able to find. It fits easily inside your boot; however, it will not fit over your boot.
Best for the Money:
Master Series Tactical Blade
Pros
Cons
If you want a great little knife to carry around inside your boot and make sure you always feel protected and secure, but you do not want to spend a ton of money on a knife that you are more likely to lose than one that is attached to your belt? Go with the Master Series Tactical Blade.
This knife is tiny but it packs a punch! It is good for use by either left handed or right handed people, and it is small and lightweight enough to be used with just one hand. That makes it pretty much the best throwing knife you will be able to find.
Its slightly serrated edge will also be excellent if you ever find yourself in a survival situation where you need to cut some rope. All in all, when you factor in cost, you are not going to find a boot knife with a better value than the Master Series Tactical Blade.
Bottom Line
The Master Series Tactical Blade is a fantastic little knife that will not break your bank when buying it. It does not come with a hilt, so you will need to wrap paracord or some other kind of tough material around the end.
Best by Gerber:
Gerber Ghoststrike Fixed Blade
Pros
Cons
The Gerber Ghoststrike Fixed Blade is the best boot knife we were able to find by the reliable Gerber brand. It is versatile – users report using it for ultra light minimalist hiking, in tactical law enforcement, with the military and, of course, as a survivalist knife.
The blade will lock into the sheath with two tension locks, and the sheath has belt loops that can be adjusted so the knife can sit either vertically or horizontally on the belt.
It also comes with an ankle wrap so it can be used as a boot knife, and users say the mounting on the ankle is so comfortable that they can even wear it while hiking! The sheath also has two drain holes at the bottom to drain away any water, so do not worry about this knife getting wet and becoming rusty.
Its handle grip is perfectly contoured to the hand, it is compatible with MOLLE web mounting, and it arrives razor sharp – what else could you possibly need?
Bottom Line
The Gerber Ghoststrike Fixed Blade is a great boot knife with a wide range of awesome features. Its handle is not as durable as others on this list, though.
Best by Cold Steel:
Cold Steel Kobun Tanto Fixed
Pros
Cons
The Cold Steel Kobun Tanto Fixed boot knife is our choice for the single best boot knife made by the reputable Cold Steel brand. If you are looking for the ideal knife for self defense purposes, this is the knife you should go with.
It is light in hand and incredibly nimble to work with. It is exceptionally well balanced, so it would make for a great throwing knife as well. It will hold an edge even after a lot of use and abuse (which hopefully will not happen too often in a self defense context!).
It is easily concealed because of its smaller size. All in all, there is really not much you can find to dislike about the Cold Steel Kobun Tanto Fixed boot knife.
Bottom Line
The Cold Steel Kobun Tanto Fixed boot knife is a top notch boot knife that is explicitly designed to be great at self defense. Keep in mind that if you have large hands, the handle may feel a little too thin for you to work with.
Best by Kershaw:
Kershaw Secret Agent Concealable Boot Knife
Pros
Cons
The Kershaw Secret Agent Concealable Boot Knife is the best boot knife we were able to find by the famous Kershaw brand. And this knife certainly delivers! It has a number of awesome features which set it apart from its competitors.
Its handle is rubberized and thicker in the middle, which will make sure to prevent your hand from slipping up closer to the blade while you are using it. It comes with an included sheath that is well made and incredibly secure – you will not have to worry about your blade wiggling around when it is inside the sheath.
The sheath also comes with a clip on the back, holes for cords, and slots for straps, so it is extremely versatile and could really be placed anywhere. And the type of steel the blade is made with makes it so it is possible to sharpen the blade extremely quickly, which can make a big difference in a survival situation.
Bottom Line
The Kershaw Secret Agent Concealable Boot Knife is a great little boot knife with a number of cool features. Just know that if you use this knife a lot, you will likely have to sharpen it pretty often.
Best with Sheath:
Cold Steel Hide Out Blade Knife
Pros
Cons
We know that a lot of the blades on this list have come with an included sheath, but the Cold Steel Hide Out Blade Knife definitely wins the prize for the best sheath out of all the ones we reviewed.
This sheath is hands down the most secure – users report that they attached the sheath to a rope and swung around in a circle with the sheathed knife swinging from the end of the rope, and the knife did not budge in the sheath at all!
And not to only talk about the sheath – the knife is a beast as well. It arrives so sharp out of the box that some unsuspecting users accidentally cut themselves on it and had to get stitches, so please be careful when unpacking! Its handle provides a good grip, it holds an edge well, and it is easy to sharpen – not much to dislike about this knife.
Bottom Line
The Cold Steel Hide Out Blade Knife is a fantastic knife with an even better sheath that is absolutely guaranteed to hold the knife in place no matter what. But definitely do not buy it for the ball chain – it is weak and will break very easily.
Best Small Boot Knife:
SOG Small Fixed Blade Knives
Pros
Cons
You didn’t actually think we would make it all the way through the list without having a SOG knife on here, did you?
The SOG Small Fixed Blade Knife is our choice for the best small boot knife you can find. This knife is smaller than a twenty dollar bill is long – you just are not going to be able to find a smaller knife that is still effective.
This is pretty much the best you can get in terms of a tiny every day carry blade. It arrives sharp right out of the box, so it is 100% ready to go. It comes with an included nylon sheath that is incredibly safe and secure, so you will not have to worry about your razor sharp little knife coming out at an inopportune time (which is basically any time, right?). We guarantee you will not be disappointed with the SOG Small Fixed Blade Knife.
Bottom Line
The SOG Small Fixed Blade Knife is the very best when it comes to an every day carry blade that is small enough to fit wherever you need it to go and forget you even have it on you! Just know that unlike some of the other knives on this list, this blade will require pretty regular sharpening.
How to Wear a Boot Knife
Contrary to their name, boot knives do not always have to just be worn inside of a boot. Here are the top places you can and should rock your boot knife:
Inside Your Boot
Of course, this is the most popular, and some would say most effective, way to wear your boot knife. For self defense purposes, this is definitely the most helpful spot, since the knife will be fully concealed inside your boot and a great option for you to bust out if someone has disarmed you of other weapons on your hip.
On Your Hip
The problem with having a knife inside your boot is that it is not exactly accessible for a quick draw. Let’s say you are more concerned with having a knife handy in a survival situation as opposed to self defense situation – it may be more helpful for you to have your knife on your belt, where it is closest to your hands, as opposed to way down inside your boot.
Around Your Neck
It may not be the first place you think of when it comes to these knives, but a surprising amount of boot knives come with a chain so users can wear them around their necks. When it comes to the intimidation factor, you can’t really be scarier than the guy who walks around with a knife around his neck, so if that is important to you, you may want to go with this option.
Conclusion
Boot knives are some of the most effective tools out there when it comes to survival or a sneaky self defense weapon you can always call on in a pinch. Make sure you take into account what size and type of boot knife would work best for you.
Everyone has different needs, and it is important to consider what is your top priority in a boot knife, whether it is having a last ditch weapon in a self defense scenario, or having a knife that is hardy enough to stand up to everyday carry and use.
No matter what you are seeking, we promise that you cannot go wrong with any of the products outlined on our list. Invest in a high quality boot knife today – you absolutely will not regret it.