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Home / Blog / Everyday Carry / Knives

9 Best Swiss Army Knives for EDC (Pocket or Keychain)

Published on May 26, 2021 by TMM Staff · Knives May contain affiliate links (what's this?)

Looking for a Swiss Army Knife? Here’s a hand-picked list of the best Swiss Army Knife models for everyday carry (EDC).

Swiss Army Knife collection
My Swiss Army Knife collection (“credit card” for reference) | Left to right: Classic SD, Spartan, Cadet Alox

This article was written by Matthew Ferrans, a student of economics, minimalist and Swiss Army Knife enthusiast.

Quick Take

Short on time? Here are our top three picks for the best Swiss Army Knives you can buy right now:

Our Pick
Victorinox Swiss Army Classic Pocket Knife
Victorinox Swiss Army Classic Pocket Knife
$29.99

If you're looking for a knife with a slim profile, sleek design and just the right amount of tools, this is your best bet.

Buy Now Buy on Swissarmy
02/15/2023 01:19 am GMT
Budget Pick
Victorinox Swiss Army Rally Pocket Knife
Victorinox Swiss Army Rally Pocket Knife
$16.88

If you want an inexpensive, compact knife for your EDC, you can't go wrong with the Rally.

Buy Now Buy on Swissarmy
02/15/2023 05:35 am GMT
Upgrade Pick
Victorinox Swiss Army Manager Pocket Knife
Victorinox Swiss Army Manager Pocket Knife
$42.88

If you want an EDC knife that doesn't skimp on functionality, the Manager is our recommendation.

Buy Now Buy on Swissarmy
02/15/2023 01:29 pm GMT

Read on for more info and the complete list…

Why Swiss Army Knives?

Let’s start with my relationship with the Swiss Army Knife…

In college, my next door neighbor was having a garage sale and decided to give me an old Swiss Army Knife (Sportsman model) that didn’t sell.

Swiss Army Sportsman
Swiss Army Sportsman | Source: eBay

The knife blade was beat up, and the tweezers were missing. But, even though it was past its prime, I was fascinated by this knife’s economy of space and varied functionality.

I ended up losing it, but that little knife ignited my interest in Swiss Army Knives, and these days I’m fully invested in the product.

Swiss Army Cadet Alox in hand
The Swiss Army Cadet Alox is a great gift for a friend…or yourself 😉

I even buy Swiss Army Knives as gifts for friends, family and colleagues (usually the Classic Alox, Rambler, Manager or Cadet Alox).

I truly believe that a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife is a quintessential EDC knife for pretty much any type of person. These little tools are worth their weight in gold (metaphorically speaking, of course).

Classic SD Swiss Army Knife on keychain
Classic SD Swiss Army Knife on my keychain

They come with great customer service and a trusted brand name. They’ve stood the test of time and have been used by military personnel all around the world.

Since there are so many Swiss Army knives to choose from, I want to give you a list of the best models for regular use and EDC, based on my in-depth experience with the brand.

The 9 Best Swiss Army Knives for EDC

Here they are, in no particular order:

#1: Jetsetter

This small multi-tool features:

  • Bottle opener
  • Magnetic Phillips screwdriver
  • Wire stripper
  • Scissors
  • Toothpick
  • Tweezers
Victorinox Swiss Army Jetsetter Pocket Knife Red
Check current price

Pros: Good for travel (no blade); simple double fold-out design; extremely keychain-friendly; small and portable

Cons: No blade; scissors may violate some airport security protocols

#2: Classic Alox (Small)

This small pocket knife features:

  • Small blade
  • Scissors
  • Nail file
  • Flathead screwdriver
Victorinox Swiss Army Classic Pocket Knife Silver Alox
Check current price

Pros: Slim profile; sleek design; keychain-friendly; minimalist toolset

Cons: Lacks tweezers and toothpick

#3: Classic SD (Small)

This small pocket knife features:

  • Small blade
  • Scissors
  • Nail file
  • Flathead screwdriver
  • Toothpick
  • Tweezers
Victorinox Swiss Army Classic SD Pocket Knife Small Red
Check current price

Pros: Perfect balance of size and functionality; very keychain-friendly; available in variety of colors

Cons: Slightly thicker than other models (like the Jetsetter)

You can see our full review of the Classic SD here.

#4: Rambler (Small)

This small pocket knife features:

  • Small blade
  • Bottle opener
  • Magnetic Phillips screwdriver
  • Flathead screwdriver
  • Nail file
  • Scissors
  • Toothpick
  • Tweezers
Victorinox Swiss Army Rambler Pocket Knife Small Red
Check current price

Pros: The handiest of minimal EDC, features (nothing heavy) two common screwdriver options.

Cons: Moderately thick for a keychain knife; may cause slight pocket bulge

#5: Rally (Small)

This small pocket knife features:

  • Small blade
  • Magnetic Phillips screwdriver
  • Bottle opener
  • Nail file
  • Flathead screwdriver
Victorinox Swiss Army Rally Pocket Knife Small Red
Check current price

Pros: All the functionality/portability of the Jetsetter plus a small blade

Cons: Not air travel friendly

#6: Manager (Small)

This small pocket knife features:

  • Small blade
  • Bottle opener
  • Mini Phillips screwdriver
  • Mini flathead screwdriver
  • Nail file
  • Scissors
  • Tweezers
  • Toothpick
  • Pen
Victorinox Swiss Army Manager Pocket Knife Small Red
Check current price

Pros: All the functionality of the Rambler plus a pen; expansive toolset for its size

Cons: Thicker than many models

#7: Bantam (Medium)

This medium size pocket knife features:

  • Combo tool (flat head screwdriver + can/bottle opener)
  • Blade
  • Tweezers
  • Toothpick
Victorinox Swiss Army Bantam Pocket Knife Medium Red
Check current price

Pros: Slimmest of the medium size non-Alox models

Cons: Not the best flathead screwdriver; bulky for keychain use

#8: Bantam Alox (Medium)

This medium size pocket knife features:

  • Combo tool (flat head screwdriver + can/bottle opener)
  • Blade
Victorinox Bantam Alox Medium Swiss Army Pocket Knife
Check current price

Pros: Slimmest medium-sized Swiss Army knife (i.e., pocket-friendly)

Cons: Limited toolset; not keychain friendly (consider the Kershaw Cinder for something smaller)

#9: Cadet Alox (Medium)

This medium size pocket knife features:

  • Blade
  • Nail file/cleaner combo
  • Can opener
  • Phillips screwdriver
  • Flat head screwdriver
  • Bottle opener
Victorinox Swiss Army Cadet Pocket Knife Silver Alox
Check current price

Pros: Perfect size for your pocket; has all the most essential tools

Cons: Large for a keychain

Which model will you choose?

When it comes to buying a Swiss Army Knife, the sheer number of options can feel overwhelming. But this deep and varied product catalogue ensures that everyone can find the perfect knife for their needs.

The only question is: what’s your favorite Swiss Army Knife model? Let me know in the comments section below!

Knives Buying Guides, knives, swiss army knives

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Victorinox Classic SD Swiss Army Knife Review
Victorinox Classic SD Swiss Army Knife Review + Rambler Comparison
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Top 13 Best Gold Necklaces for Men (2023 Guide)

About TMM Staff

The Modest Man staff writers are experts in men's lifestyle who love teaching guys how to live their best lives.

If an article is published under TMM Staff, that means multiple writers worked on it. For example, sometimes several of us have experience with a certain brand, so we collaborate to publish a more thorough review.

Or, if an article was originally written by one person, but then it was updated by someone else, we'll re-publish it under TMM Staff.

Remember: all of our articles (including those below) are written by real people with decades of combined experience in men's fashion and lifestyle topics.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Ask Me Anything Cancel reply

    Got questions? Want to share your opinion? Comment below!

  1. Cliff says

    June 9, 2021 at 7:21 pm

    I EDC a Cadet Alox on my keychain and a benchmade infidel. I have 4 Swiss Army knives.

    Reply
  2. Mark says

    June 8, 2021 at 7:25 pm

    I have carried a Swiss Army knife for well over 50 years. In a flea market I spotted a Wenger. The thing that is so special to me about this knife is that when you pull the main blade out it locks into place! In order to get it to fold back in you have to press a little lever. No more blade pulling back and cutting yourself! Includes can opener blade, small knife blade,screw driver, tweezers and tooth pick. Love this knife! it’s my edc knife.

    Reply
    • Dave Roberts says

      December 11, 2022 at 3:41 pm

      Sadly locking blades aren’t legal in the UK

      Reply

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