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Pocket knives have become surprisingly complicated. It is easy to end up carrying a thick folder with a pocket clip, elaborate hardware, and more knife than you need when most cutting involves opening packages, slicing an apple, cutting string, or preparing lunch at a campsite. Price: $21 Where to Buy: Amazon The Opinel No.7 Colorama

Compact EDC knives solve one problem and can create another. A smaller folder disappears into your pocket more easily, but reducing the blade and handle can leave you wishing you had carried something more substantial when a real cutting job shows up. Price: $69.99 Where to Buy: Amazon The OKNIFE AION approaches that tradeoff differently.

Buying a budget pocket knife used to mean accepting obvious compromises. Today, the problem is almost the opposite. Affordable EDC knives can come with button locks, crossbar locks, flippers, bearings, multiple deployment methods, elaborate handle machining, and an expanding selection of blade steels. Price: $44.90 Where to Buy: Amazon That makes the Ontario RAT II

Enthusiast pocket knives have changed considerably over the years. Lightweight handles, manual flippers, button locks, crossbar locks, and increasingly elaborate pivot systems give buyers plenty of ways to get a blade open without relying on an assisted mechanism. Price: $166.50 Where to Buy: Amazon That creates an interesting problem for the Zero Tolerance 0357. This