Best Neck Knife for Survival & EDC
Neck knives are great for carrying small survival knives where you can always reach them (and rarely lose them). The neck carry position is one of the oldest methods of carrying a knife, with cultures around the world relying on sheaths hung around their necks for thousands of years. There are many brands and types of neck knives to consider.
This is where we come in. We’ve put the best neck knives to the test, and now the results are in: the overall best, a budget option, and an upgrade option. If you want a small survival knife to carry in a consistent spot, one of our picks will be reliable for years to come.
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Best Neck Knife
ESEE Izula
Strong, Versatile, and Effective
The practical outdoor survival knife to beat happens to make for a reliable, lightweight neck knife as well.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Also available to buy at BladeHQ.
ESEE and Randall are well-known for quality survival gear and for knowing their stuff. The Izula (Peruvian name for the Bullet Ant- hence the ant on the blade) is lightweight but built like a tank. With a thick blade and skeletonized handle for reduced weight, this knife is heaven-sent for a neck knife.
Specifications
- Blade: 2.875″ drop point, 1095 steel, 0.16″ thickness
- Length: 6.25″
- Weight: 2.0 ounces
- Sheath: Polymer
- Manufactured: United States
There are several colors to pick from and a wide variety of accessories (including handles) that you can pick up for the Izula frame. Make it your own and then use it for everything survival-related. If it breaks (unlikely), ESEE has its unbeatable lifetime no-questions warranty.
I liked the fire ant red color that I picked- it’s easy to spot, to keep me from losing it. I also keep aftermarket micarta scales on the handle for ergonomics and use paracord to turn the polymer sheath into a lanyard. This setup works for me, but it’s customizable for any use- get a darker color and a more discreet sheath if you plan to use it for self-defense or everyday carry.
With unlimited versatility and proven durability, it’s easy to see how the ESEE Izula Knife is the best survival neck knife.
Budget Neck Knife
CRKT Folts
Inexpensive, Lightweight, and Reliable
Small enough to be a neck knife, large enough to be useful, and cheap enough not to break the bank.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Also available to buy at Amazon.
The lightest and cheapest of our picks still proves to be a great little knife. It is available in a variety of blade shapes, and the drop-point version just happens to be the one we prefer here. They all have a surprisingly ergonomic handle and weight, and profile that won’t bog you down.
Specifications
- Blade: 2.16″ drop point, 5Cr15MoV steel, 0.105″ thickness
- Length: 5.25″
- Weight: 1.8 ounces
- Sheath: Nylon
- Manufactured: China
The design of the handle cuts a lot of weight off the knife, making it one of the lightest knives I tested. Even with the sheath, it only weighs 2.1 ounces. The main downside to this knife is the steel type. I wouldn’t expect it to have premium steel at this price, but the steel and the knife lose an edge quickly with use. If you also keep a sharpener on you and take care of the knife regularly, it’s not a huge detractor.
If you are just starting out with survival or bushcraft, the CRKT Minimalist Folts Knife is what you need.
Upgrade Neck Knife
TOPS Lil Roughneck
Small, Thick, and Durable
A tough hunk of steel that can hold an edge and withstand any abuse you put it through.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Also available to buy at BladeHQ.
I know, we harp on weight all the time, and this thing is over half a pound in metal alone. But it’s downright bomb-proof and will last forever. TOPS Knives put out some hefty blades, and they didn’t cut any corners with the Lil Roughneck.
Specifications
- Blade: 2.75″ clip point, 5160 steel, 0.38″ thickness
- Length: 6.25″
- Weight: 10.2 ounces
- Sheath: Kydex
- Manufactured: United States
It can take some getting used to hanging around your neck, but it’ll more than make up for it when you’re using it, and it survives whatever you put it up to. That weight is the biggest downside- otherwise, this knife will last several lifetimes. The chromium-added steel is extremely hard, known for its toughness, and is an upgrade over 1095 steel.
If you are looking for a hefty neck knife that will last, grab a TOPS Lil Roughneck Neck Knife.
Comparison Table
| Neck Knife | Recommendation | Price* | Steel | Size | Weight | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESEE Izula | Overall Best | $69 | 1095 | 6.25″ | 2.0 oz | Warranty |
| CRKT Folts | Budget | $35 | 5Cr15MoV | 5.25″ | 1.8 oz | Lightweight |
| TOPS Lil Roughneck | Upgrade | $126 | 5160 | 6.25″ | 10.2 oz | Durability |
| Ka-Bar TDI | $20 | 9CR18 | 3.6″ | 2.4 oz | Compact size | |
| Morakniv Eldris | $21 | 12C27 | 5.7″ | 2.8 oz | Inexpensive | |
| Cold Steel Mini Tac | $25 | 8Cr13MoV | 6.9″ | 2.6 oz | G10 handle | |
| Schrade Wolverine Mini | $25 | AUS-10 | 6.3″ | 4.0 oz | Appearance | |
| Cold Steel Urban Edge | $28 | AUS-8A | 4.0″ | 1.4 oz | Secure grip | |
| Boker Magnum Lil Friend | $34 | 440 | 3.4″ | 1.3 oz | Lightweight | |
| NRS Co-Pilot | $36 | 420 | 6.0″ | 3.5 oz | Versatility | |
| Off-Grid All-Day Fixie | $39 | D2 | 5.25″ | 1.5 oz | Flat profile | |
| SOG Instinct | $45 | 5Cr15MoV | 5.9″ | 2.3 oz | Ergonomic handle | |
| Kizer Deckhand | $49 | D2 | 6.3″ | 3.7 oz | G10 grip | |
| Spyderco Shirley-Owens | $89 | H2 | 5.0″ | 0.8 oz | Ultralight | |
| ESEE Izula II | $95 | 1095 | 6.75″ | 3.3 oz | Long handle | |
| WESN Bornas | $225 | CPM-S35VN | 5.9″ | 2.5 oz | Premium steel |
The Knives We Compared
Our research narrowed the field down to several brands and types of neck knives that we compared: SOG, CRKT, ESEE, TOPS, Cold Steel, Schrade, Boker, Spyderco, and more.
You can see our full list of review criteria below in the What to Look For section, with an explanation for each.
We considered a huge range of knife brands and types. We narrowed it down to survival-oriented knives and then to fixed blades that were reasonable to wear around your neck. This limited them to under 7″ long and less than 12 ounces.
We’re always looking for new and better gear, so if you have a neck knife that you swear by, let us know in the comments. We review most of our tested equipment annually, so we can try to get it in the next roundup and see if it will beat out our top picks.
What to Look For
The best neck knives have a few features to look for:
- Value
- Blade Steel, Shape, & Thickness
- Versatility
- Size & Weight
- Quality
When you get the right blend of these, you can find a knife that you can hang around your neck to rely on for anything. Below, we break down what each of these features means for the neck knives that truly set themselves apart.
Value: Cost vs. Benefit
The amount of money you spend on something like a knife shouldn’t blow out your entire budget. They come in a wide range of price points, so you should be able to find something specific to your needs on budget.
You never want to spend too much money on one thing when it comes to prepping equipment, even when it is something as critical as a knife. It’s better to diversify your gear and budget to make sure you are covered for a wide range of scenarios.
Blade Steel, Shape, & Thickness
There are seemingly an endless number of knife blade materials, shapes, thicknesses, and more. Our other knife reviews go into more detail here, but we’ll keep it brief and list out our favorites.
- Steel: Any steel that holds an edge well and can be managed in the field.
- Shape: Drop point works well for us, though many knife shapes have their merits.
- Thickness: This adds weight, but survival knives typically need to be thick (depending on the steel hardness) to be durable enough for any situation.
The one thing that sets neck knives apart is the thing that names them: an included sheath meant to be worn around your neck. This adds to their versatility.
Versatility
Versatility is a broad category for knives. As far as we describe it, a knife’s versatility not only encompasses all of a knife’s uses but also how the knife itself can be configured and stored.
For a neck knife, this means the sheath it uses, an opening and locking mechanism (if it’s a folder), and how the sheath can attach. It can also include handle materials, scales, and design.
Many neck knives are customizable, with various types of sheaths, scales, and lanyards.
Size & Weight
Most people want neck knives to be as discreet, small, and lightweight as possible.
We fall into that category, but we can still appreciate the sheer durability of our upgrade pick despite its heftier weight. Like anything, weighing the pros and cons of each of the categories works differently for everyone’s different preferences.
Quality
When you are depending on anything with survival involved, you are gonna want quality gear.
Knives of any sort come in a wide range of prices and (usually) accompanying quality. Doing some research and getting a proven brand with a track record at a good price is exponentially better than splurging at a mall.
Invest what you can reasonably afford in a knife if you plan on using it for survival, and the quality will pay benefits down the road.
How to Use a Neck Knife for Survival
Neck knives are just like any other survival knife, but usually smaller.
Carrying a knife around your neck has a long history stretching back to the dawn of tools with man. If you’ve ever misplaced a tool, you know how frustrating it can be. That’s one reason I personally like to keep my neck knife bright-colored. Since it is my backup knife, I really don’t want to misplace it, and knowing it’s tucked right below my neck makes it even easier.
Here is Dave Canterbury’s long take on neck knives:
Who Needs a Neck Knife?
A neck knife is a variant of a survival knife (or self-defense knife), but it can also be used in addition to a dedicated blade as a backup. We don’t specifically recommend neck knives for our kits, but they are a great option in place of or in addition to the survival knife slot.
A solid survival knife is essential for all of these kits:
Neck knives really excel in this loadout:
When it comes down to it, neck knives are just smaller survival knives you wear around your neck. They can be useful for purposes well beyond these kits, and keeping a neck knife on you will help you get familiar with it and get used to it.
How We Review Products: We research thoroughly before selecting the best products to review. We have vast prepping and survival experience and bring in outside experts when needed. Hours on end are spent testing gear in stressful conditions and using specialized testing gear to verify claims. We assign performance criteria and impartially rate each tested item. Learn more about how we test.
Sources & References
All of our experience and the testing we do to determine the best neck knife are useless without listing our research sources and references. We leaned on these for the book knowledge that we paired with our hands-on testing and practical survival experience:
Stolle, N. (2015). Dominating Lane: Slat Knife Cases From Eastern North America. Baessler-Archiv (EBSCO). Volume 62. Pages 91 – 115. (Source)
Mahoney, P., et al. (2017). Investigating the use of concealable and disguised knives. The Police Journal: Theory, Practice, and Principles. Volume 91. Issue 2. Pages 139 – 149. (Source)
Taylor, C. (2001). Native American Weapons. University of Oklahoma Press. (Source)
Conclusion
Knives are always one of the first tools selected if you have a limited amount of gear to choose from for survival. They can come in handy for a wide range of tasks- from survival, foraging, and hunting to everyday use. Neck knives take it one step further by giving you a place to reliably keep a knife, proven by thousands of years of diverse history.
Here are a few other guides and reviews our subscribers have found helpful:
- The Best Folding Survival Knife for EDC
- Hide a Knife – 7 Best Places to Conceal on Your Body
- Everyday Carry List | 25 EDC Essentials
See more of our expert-written guides, resources, and reviews in your search results – add TruePrepper as a preferred source.
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