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Home » Gear » The Best Pocket Knives and Travel Tools – EPIC Guide For 2024

The Best Pocket Knives and Travel Tools – EPIC Guide For 2024

It’s only a matter of time until a good pocket knife comes in handy. Whether you’re setting up camp or tearing it down, pocket knives will be right by your side every step of the process. Before you know it, your knife will be an everyday carry, and you’ll lose track of the benefits.

A pocket knife opens your campsite for renovations, whittles the branches for marshmallows, and preps the charcuterie board. Just don’t forget to clean your blade before the meal; rubbing it on my dirty shirt cleans it enough, right?

On some camping trips, my pocket knife helps me enjoy dinner on the beach, and on other trips, it does nothing more than open up a few beers. Whether you think you need it or not, adventurers would argue that heading into the woods without a quality pocket knife is asking for trouble.

It may be tempting to do without. I’m always looking for places to shed weight and deciding which one of my toys I’ll have to leave at home, but pocket knives accompany every trip. They weigh less than most single-use quick oats packets, so there is no reason to leave one off your packing list.

Unfortunately, It’s not easy to create a knife versatile enough for the trail that is also small enough to bring to the mountain top. Many lesser knife options have fit the bill only to snap under pressure.

Don’t trust dinner on shoddy craftsmanship. To make sure your knife is ready when it counts, you need to invest in the best. In this post, we’ll weed out the phonies and take a closer look at top pocket knives and other pocket tools that travellers will love.

Quick Answers

#1 – best overall pocket knife – benchmade bugout, #2 – best ultralight pocket knife – benchmade 533.

• #3 – Best Multi Tool – Leatherman Free P4
• #4 – Best Bargain Pocket Knife – Opinel Number 8  
• #5 – Best Multi Purpose Knife – Swiss Army Camper Knife

#6 – Best Small Knife – Gerber Swagger Drop Point Knife

• #7 – Best Multi Blade Knife – Leatherman Bond Multi-Tool
• #8 – Best Knife With Scissors – Swiss Army Huntsman Knife
• #9 – Best Cheap Pocket Knife – Petzl Sparta  

Benchmade Bugout

• > Fits into even the most lightweight situations
• > Comes with easy waist attachment

Benchmade 533

• > Smallest knife out there that can still get the job done
• > Stainless steel blade

Leatherman Free P4

• > 21 toolset
• > Totally customizable

Opinel Number 8

• > Hand Carved and affordable
• > Simple and effective locking mechanism

Swiss Army Camper Knife

• > 12 piece kit
• > The original camping tool

Gerber Swagger

• > Fastest draw in the west
• > Quality safety lock

Leatherman Bond Multi-Tool

• > 12 tools can all be accessed with one hand
• > Stainless steel used throughout

Swiss Army Huntsman Knife

• > Packs 8 tools into a classic knife handle
• > Quality blade and quality multitools

Petzl Spatha

• > Easily hooks onto a carabiner
• > Same steel used in ice skate blades

About Knives and Other Tools

 how to find a good pocket knife, what are the best pocket knives and travel tools, final thoughts on the best pocket knives.

Most pocket knives and multi-tools are considered weapons and are heavily regulated. Don’t try to take them as a carry-on. Any knife will cause questions at most police interactions and all border crossings, so make sure you understand the local national or even state knife laws before you head to the airport with a knife in your pocket. 

A good knife should be more than suitable for everyday carry, but that doesn’t mean you have to bring it everywhere. Any stadium or venue with a metal detector may not allow you to bring your knife inside. You could either miss the show or lose your tool. 

Most knife laws prevent concealed carry, and if you catch a cop on a bad day, that could mean your pocket. Most of the knives on our list won’t get you into too much trouble. Just use common sense, and don’t try to hide your knife if questioned.

A knife fits perfectly into every palm in America, but it won’t be the same knife in most hands. Knives and multi-tools are just that – multifunctional. There are loads of different values in a good knife, but there is not much space to play with if you want it to fit in your pocket. You’ll find many good pocket knives for accomplishing many different tasks, but you won’t find one knife that can do it all. A knife that makes great camping gear , may not be suitable for carrying in the streets of London for various reasons of legality!

Designers have given shoppers a world of options, all with the classic quality and stainless steel that makes up a good blade. You can find knives with all sorts of handles, blade shapes, extra features, and construction quirks that make them stand out. 

Here are a few factors that go into a good pocket knife. Decide where you fit into these categories to find the knife that best fits your hand. 

When it comes to knives and tools, cheap usually means crap. Budget products from the legendary Swiss Army and Opinel are the closest things to exceptions to this rule (both of these make great gifts for backpackers ). These options provide tremendous value for their price and are the real deal, but neither one can cut through thick objects. 

Crap is OK, if you don’t need a knife to do more than cut some cheese, but crap can get costly when you don’t have all day to saw through a coiled rope. Expect to pay anywhere from 20-140 dollars for your pocket knife and get what you pay for. 

Every knife on our list can be comfortably carried in your pocket. Some of these knives are so small you might forget they’re in there until you hear them bouncing through the washing machine, and others might feel bulky in tight jeans.

Be wary of incredibly small multi-tools. There is such a thing as too much of a good time when it comes to pocket knives. Fitting 30+ separate tools into your pocket is impressive until it’s time to actually use them, and all the tools are too small to function. 

That goes double for the blade. Trying to cut and cook dinner with a Swiss Army knife alone can be mildly infuriating, at the least. We all want to keep things as small as possible for a better fit, but don’t fall for knives that take it too far. 

Opening Style

Is it a flick? A fold? What you need it for will largely influence what style you need. 

Folding knives bring with them a carefully crafted locking mechanism that holds the blade in place and must be manually unfastened. Flick knives rely on gravity to open up with one hand once a safety switch is off. This style will deploy faster but can buckle under high pressure, as the blade has no backbone.

If you expect to push your knife to its strength limits, folding knives that use a pin or other lock to hold the blade will be stronger. Flick knives are best for those who want a more convenient opening and closing style. 

How It Feels

Your opening style and your blade’s weight will have a significant impact on how each blade feels in the palms of your hand. Check to make sure the contours of the handle fit with your hand to provide optimal grip. Remember, these are pocket knives, designed to be miniature. Small knives won’t feel the same as a kitchen cleaver.

Don’t expect your knife to cut through fruits and vegetables the same as your tools at home, but don’t lower your expectations too low. You don’t want your knife to feel like it’s going to break if you meet a hard force.

If it’s too small for you to hold correctly, you may struggle to cut through tough meats or rough edges. Any knife good enough for everyday carry will have to tackle rope, wood, cords, boxes, and foods. If your blade fits into the most petite pocket but struggles to get through a tomato, it’s worthless.  

The most dangerous knife is a dull one. Putting heaps of pressure on a lousy blade to get through tough objects is how accidents happen, so find a knife that feels effortless when cutting.  

Versatility

Are you after a knife or a multi-tool?

If versatility is your primary consideration, multi-tool is the only natural choice, but it’s not an easy decision. There is no multi-tool with a blade as good as a knife. 

 A good rule of thumb is that the more a multi-tool can do, the less effective the knife blade is. Multi-tools are trying to do a lot more with the same space as a pocket knife. To fit everything in there, the edges are usually weaker, shorter, and blunter than the blade of a single knife. 

Don’t expect your multi-tool’s blade to be as good as a folding knife, which means there is no point buying a multi-tool just for the sake of it. I have a Swiss Army knife and only ever use the blade and bottle opener! A good pocket knife can be much more versatile than you think. 

The best pocket knives and tools come in all shapes and sizes, from classic designs that haven’t changed in centuries, to the latest multi-tool technology. We’ve got great blades on display that each perform a different task better than the competition. The only thing these knives all have in common is their effectiveness. 

Any good pocket knife will last for decades, so choose wisely. Check out the best-in-class across several categories to find your perfect partner. 

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Our top pick for best overall pocket knife is Benchmade Bugout

• Material: Polymer + Steel
• Folded Size (In): 4.2
• Weight: 1.85 oz

Slip this sleek, fine-edge knife into your pocket alongside your phone, wallet, and keys, and then forget about it until it comes in handy. Our favourite overall pocket knife doesn’t waste an ounce, providing a powerful and versatile single blade while weighing less than a pack of gum. 

The knife is manually activated in seconds and is large enough to chow down on a block of cheese, small enough to finely skin veggies, and durable enough to get you through a few years on the road. 

This lightweight performance combines with a powerfully rigid blade that can handle most jobs with ease. Its all-around performance has earned the Bugout notoriety among the most passionate collectors and makes the blade frequently recommended for first-time pocket knife owners. 

Equipped with an Axis lock, you won’t waste time fidgeting with this blade to get it deployed and start slicing.

• Fits into even the most lightweight situations
• Comes with easy waist attachment
• Lifetime warranty
• No focus on looks, only practicality
• The blade is slightly smaller than average

Benchmade 533 is our top pick for best ultralight pocket knife

• Material: CF-Elite and Steel
• Folded Size (In): 4
• Weight: 1.5

Benchmade has set a high benchmark for travel tools. The company has offered up not one but two strong contenders for the best pocket knives of all kinds. If you felt like the Bugout was slightly too much knife for you, this miniature model is as lightweight as it gets. The pocketknife shaves off .3 ounces from the larger Bugout while condensing the blade down by an inch.

 It may seem like a slight difference, but ultralight hikers know every single decimal point counts when keeping track of weight over long treks. This ultralight option keeps weight down without sacrificing value, and that’s the tricky part!

There are plenty of mini blades out there that feel useless beyond spreading butter. The Bugout was already a small knife, so it’s easy to worry about the shortcomings of an even smaller shell. 

You can put those fears to rest with this little folding knife. Deploy your blade with the flick of a thumb and cut through twigs, sausages, or whatever else you feel like fiddling with at the campsite.  

• Smallest knife out there that can still get the job done
• Stainless steel blade
• There are not many situations where you need a knife this small
• Blade can struggle through thicker root vegetables

#3 – Best Multi-Tool – Leatherman Free P4

For best multi-tool, checkout Leatherman Free P4

• Material: Stainless Steel
• Folded Size (In): 4.25
• Weight: 8.6

Advertising yourself as the most advanced multi-purpose tool ever made is an incredibly bold statement,  but in this case, it just might be true. A multi tool is great for long term backpacking and also makes for essential roadtrip gear in our view.

I immediately noticed that every one of the tools included in this tiny multi-tool can be activated with one hand, from the bottle opener to the wire cutter. Keeping openings organized and easy is the most challenging part of making a good multi-tool. The P4 got creative to get it done. 

Free P4 got a few upgrades from earlier models to establish itself as the best knife of the multiverse by adding a saw and another serrated knife. The new blade didn’t get rid of anything that made the line an industry leader either. These multi-tools are handmade and designed in the United States and are fully protected for 25 years.    

It’s as close as you can get to having a toolbox with you at all times. Two types of pliers, two knives, four screwdrivers, and all the usual suspects add up to 21 tools. The set makes a great gift, and you can personalize your multi-tool with design engravings or custom lettering. 

• Design and made in the USA
• Totally customizable
• Expensive for a multitool
• Several tools have sacrificed performance to stay so lightweight

#4 – Best Bargain Pocket Knife – Opinel Number 8

Opinel Number 8 is one of the best bargain pocket knife

• Material: Wood + Carbone
• Folded Size (In): 4 3/8
• Weight: 1.6 oz

No one’s going to believe your knife cost you less than 20 bucks if you show up on a camping trip with the Opinel Number 8 in your pocket. The tool is incredibly cheap, and I can’t find any corners Opinel cut in production to offer such an affordable price. 

Each blade handle is handmade from sturdy French Beechwood. The hardy wood is featured on the grips of all sorts of French culinary tools, but none is more iconic than the beechwood grip of the Opinel. The blade has been slicing through Brie cheeses since 1890, and what you see today is the exact same design as the original. 

The blade’s beauty is its simplicity. No. 8 is one of the largest options in the series but still, only 5 components complete the ensemble; hand-carved grip, X90 Steel, a pin, a collar, and a locking ring.

You won’t find a more classic all-rounder, albeit with one glaring flaw. The knife’s lack of stainless steel means the blade isn’t up to the most demanding tasks, but most adventurers will find plenty of use at an incredibly low price. 

• Hand Carved and affordable
• Big blade has loads of versatility
• Simple and effective locking mechanism
• Takes two hands to open
• Not stainless steel

#5 – Best Multi-Purpose Knife – Swiss Army Camper Knife

Meet the best multi-purpose knife: Swiss Army Camper Knife

• Material: Stainless steel
• Folded Size (In): 3.5
• Weight: 3.2 oz

In case you forgot about one of the most famous knife makers on the planet, let me remind you: Swiss Army knives have been synonymous with boy scouts and camping trips since the days when there was no such thing as an un-broke backpacker. 

Why mess around with something as practical as a multi-tool? For a reasonable price, you can go with the most universally used knife on the planet. Their Camper Knife is the brand’s bread and butter. Beneath the classic Red Swiss exterior holds essential camping tools that can do everything from whittling down a walking stick to opening up a bottle of wine.  

An easy keychain attachment lets you clip on this lightweight attachment directly to your keys, so your pocket toolkit will never be too far away. Between the multiple knives and the sawblade and tweezers, you’ll quickly become basecamps designated problem solvers.

• This multitool has proven itself to last for decades
• 12 piece kit
• The original camping tool
• No scissors
• Difficult to clean

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Gerber Outrigger is our top pick for best small knife

• Price: 36.95
• Folded Size (In): 4.3
• Weight: 4.4 Ounches

Once the Gerber babies grow up, this company still has their back with a tactically assisted opening knife. This legendary knife manufacturer has been churning out useful miniature knives since before World War Two. This modern-day iteration has kept Gerber in the game for almost 100 years. 

The Swagger is a folding knife with a spring-loaded activation button that opens up boxes in a hurry. It may come from an older company, but this ain’t your grandpa’s mini knife. Gerber field-tested the brand new opening system in their quest to create the best mechanism for rapid knife deployment, and it’s hard to argue with the end results. 

Without a complete knife, that fast opening would be nothing more than a gimmick, but the Swagger delivers in every category. Your stainless steel blade will be out in a hurry, and the plastic coating grip feels good in your hands. 

• One of the smallest folding knives on the market
• Fastest draw in the west
• Quality safety lock
• Very small blade
• Two-handed opening

#7 – Best Multi-Blade Knife – Leatherman Bond Multi-Tool

Our top pick for best multi-blade knife is Leatherman Bond Multi-Tool

• Price: 59.95
• Folded Size (In): 3.6
• Weight: 4 oz

For adventurers who want the iconic Leatherman craftsmanship without the 21 toolsets of the bigger Multi-Tools, the company’s lighter Leatherman Bond Multi-Tool still brings plenty of value, especially considering it’s almost one hundred dollars cheaper than its high-class brother. 

This knife is slightly more white-collar, providing only 14 tools in one. Most trips shouldn’t require more than 14 tools anyways, and there is plenty to love about what the T4 has under its stainless steel. 

All of this is encased in packaging similar in size to a swiss army knife, with arguably more value, thanks to the additional scissors. Innovators and early adopters will be swearing by this blade’s fancy release system, which one day will look like a no-brainer.

• 14 tools can all be accessed easily
• Stainless steel used throughout
• Folds down pretty compact
• Not the best looking

#8 – Best Knife With Scissors –  Swiss Army Huntsman Knife

For best knife with scissors, checkout Swiss Army Huntsman Knife

• Folded Size (In): 4.5
• Weight: 5.5 oz

Out of a multi-tool, I really only use my scissors, knife, and bottle opener. This single blade knife checks off all three boxes while ensuring the blade stays big enough to be useful in many different situations. You’ll find 9 different hidden tools and one serrated blade that stretches out over 3 inches. Its the closest thing in the knife industry to the best of both worlds. 

All the separate tools included in this knife deploy from the sturdy body of the knife where you can get a good firm grip. There are loads of multi-tools much larger than this one that still don’t come with scissors or this level of quality.  If you are looking for one knife to solve all your problems, this baby is like counselling.

• Packs 9 tools into a classic knife handle
• The included Stainless steel is tough and can be sharpened
• Quality blade and quality multitools
• Heavy for a typical blade

#9 – Best Cheap Pocket Knife – Petzl Spatha

Petzl Spatha is one of the best cheap pocket knife

• Material: 12C27 Steel
• Weight: 1.5 oz

Knives don’t have to come with bells and whistles. You won’t find an included toothpick or a sprawling collection of knickknacks inside this knife, just one blade and a plastic handle perfect for ropes and riggings. Petzl builds its products for climbers, but this particular item works across the spectrum of outdoor activities. 

Petzl had to pay attention to every ounce to make a knife for climbers – a blade that wouldn’t let down anyone hanging on the edge of a cliff. That shows itself in the spec sheet, as the entire knife weighs less than 2 ounces but packs a blade that extends up to almost 3 inches. 

That combination of lightweight and efficiency are all some knife-owners need. If you don’t want a blade to do anything more than cut, you won’t find a lighter knife with this kind of performance. A nice sized hole at the front will allow you to easily fit the Spatha into a carabiner and keep it close until it’s time to cut rope, webbing, fishing line, or sailing equipment.

• Built for use in high-stakes situations
• Easily hooks onto a carabiner
• Same steel used in ice skate blades
• Least versatile knife on our list
• Difficult to open with one hand

Now, you  could spend a fat chunk of $$$ on the WRONG present for someone. Wrong size hiking boots, wrong fit backpack, wrong shape sleeping bag… As any adventurer will tell you, gear is a personal choice.

So give the adventurer in your life the gift of convenience: buy them an REI Co-op gift card!  REI is The Broke Backpacker’s retailer of choice for ALL things outdoors, and an REI gift card is the perfect present you can buy from them. And then you won’t have to keep the receipt. 😉

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These street legal pocket knives all pull well above their incredibly light weight. There is no adventure a pocket knife can’t help out with, so use this guide to find the blade of your dreams and start your budding woodworking career. 

A good pocket knife is a survival tool to toss in your survival bag , and the best pocket knives will help you survive and thrive in life outside. Modern technology has sharpened the stakes and allowed pocket knives to do more with less than ever before. With all the different blade shapes and steel types out there, it can be hard to narrow down the field but stick to the basics and trust in the knives on this list to get the job done. 

Fit one of these knives in your pocket, and start exploring. Let us know about a time your knife saved the day in the comments below. 

Other useful camping items? Check out our rundown of the best campfire starters to go alongside your knife.

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Aiden Freeborn

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Camp Knife Kit Review: Better Blades for Chefs on the Go

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When weight and space aren’t the biggest concerns, camp knife kits provide extra freedom and utility for on-the-go trail lunches.

I always keep a knife handy in my back pocket.  When opening packages, cutting rope, or sharpening my kid’s color pencils, a trusty EDC knife solves the constant demand of daily tasks.

But I cringe at the thought of preparing food with my folding pocket knife. While there’s certainly a balance between weight savings and convenience, I’ve grown to appreciate a good knife set dedicated to meal prep when I’m on the road.

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Below are three knife sets my family and I tested while on various road trips, tailgating events, and car camping. Plus, we found a good knife set helps save cash on road trips. Instead of stopping at a restaurant, we pull into a public park, let the kids run around, and have a picnic lunch.

From the trail to the kitchen, these kits offer an organized, portable solution for on-the-go chefs.

Top Choice: Gerber Freescape Camp Kitchen Kit

My favorite kit is Gerber’s simple two-knife pack complete with a nice, hard case. Both knives have fixed blades. The larger sports a 3.8-inch Santoku-inspired shape with a slight rocker for an easy cutting motion against a cutting board. A notch in the top of the handle for the index finger provides excellent grip and allows the blade to cut all the way down without pinching fingers.

Meanwhile, the smaller paring knife has a 3-inch, slightly rockered blade. Both knives offer full-tang construction, textured rubber grips, and 7Cr17MoV stainless steel, which provides fair edge retention and good corrosion resistance.

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While the knives are certainly central to the kit, it’s the carrying case that literally brings it all together and helps this kit stand out above the rest. Made of tough polypropylene, the base of the case slides into and locks in place with the top. And cutouts for each knife hold them firmly in place, completely protecting the blades and securing them when curious little hands are nearby. Plus, the designated slots — no sheaths or straps — also make Gerber’s the easiest configuration for retrieving and storing the knives.

And the Gerber Freescape Camp Kitchen Kit includes a few convenient extras. The case comes with a built-in ceramic knife sharpener, the top detaches and doubles as a 10 x 11-inch cutting board, and a built-in storage well holds snacks.

This kit is the priciest of the three, but I think it’s worth it. Plus, you can find it on Amazon now for $38.

Weight: 1.9 pounds

Price:  $38-88

Best in a Kitchen: GSI Santoku Knife Set

This three-knife kit is a little larger than Gerber’s and includes a few extra items like a soap bottle, dishcloth, and sheaths. All the knives have fixed blades but not full tangs. Velcro and elastic straps hold the knives in a soft 12 x 8-inch ballistic nylon case. While secure, this sheath-Velcro-elastic system makes it a bit of a chore to get a knife out or to put it away.

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GSI used 5Cr15MoV stainless steel on the knives, relatively soft steel that makes the blades easier to sharpen. That’s good because it doesn’t hold an edge that well. It’s also on the cusp of not qualifying as true stainless steel; it will show some corrosion if not cleaned and dried properly after each use. The knives have rubberized handles and comprise a 4-inch paring knife, a 6-inch Santoku rockered chef’s knife, and a 6-inch serrated bread knife.

The carrying case includes a mesh stash pocket for the soap bottle and dishcloth as well as a sleeve for the 9 x 12-inch foldable cutting board. Be aware that the fold on the cutting board makes use risky anywhere but on a flat, stable surface. As such, I found this kit worked best on a solid surface. Otherwise, I recommend a bigger and thicker cutting board. The ground worked OK in testing, but not on grass or a picnic blanket, where the board can lift from below and bend while cutting.

The soap bottle and dishcloth are nice touches, but if you’re like me, those items are already in a camp supply kit. Nevertheless, as the least expensive kit I reviewed, the GSI Santoku Knife Set is great for anyone not looking to spend a ton on a travel knife set.

Weight: 1.7 pounds

Price:  $35

Best for Hiking Picnics: Opinel Nomad Cooking Kit

It comes as no surprise that the most refined knife kit here is the one from France. Opinel has more than 125 years in the knife business and is known for quality cutting utensils. And this kit is no exception, with materials like beachwood handles, beechwood cutting board, and supple, origami-inspired microfiber cloth case.

The Nomad Cooking Kit includes Opinel’s No.12 (4.75-inch blade) serrated folding knife, No.10 (3.95-inch blade) folding knife with integrated corkscrew, and a No. 6 folding peeler. Each knife has Opinel’s Virobloc safety ring to lock the tools open or closed.

All knives in this kit use high-quality 12C27 Sandvik stainless steel that provides an attractive shine, great edge retention, and very good corrosion resistance. You won’t need to sharpen these very often, but when you do, it’s best to give them to a professional with the right (motorized) equipment.

The knives sport a Yatagan shape, inspired by a traditional Turkish saber characterized by a relatively flat edge and gently arced tip to a point. I find this shape encourages users to cut with the tip end of the knife more than the full blade — more so with the flat edge than the serrated edge blade for bread.

Though small, the 4.7 x 7.9-inch beechwood cutting board proved very sturdy. And the microfiber cloth, complete with simple sewn-in elastic loops to hold the blades, does double duty as a napkin and knife roll. With this system, accessing and securing the knives was easy.

Weight: 1 pound

Price:  $85

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The 12 Very Best Knife Sets

The key is to make sure you don’t end up with a ton of blades and accessories you won’t use..

In this article

• Best overall
• Best less expensive
• Best simple
• Best four-piece
• Best without a serrated knife
• Best high-level
• Best for camping

Buying prepackaged multiples of cookware and kitchen tools can be tricky: The discounted pricing makes them appealing, but you’ll often end up with unused pieces. When it comes to knife sets specifically, my advice is to assess what you really need before you take the plunge, whether you’re starting completely from scratch, redoing the basics of your collection, or simply want to add a handful of new blades to what you already own — then take your pick from there.

To curate this list, I first took into consideration the backbone of most great groupings: a sharp, durable chef’s knife. With the exception of a couple of speciality packs (like steak knives), every set on this list includes one. It’s the knife you’re likely to turn to most often, and a quality one is a good indication that the others will be well made too. Indeed, I have an entire guide dedicated to buying just that blade individually where you’ll see quite a bit of overlap in brands. But it’s not as simple as just assessing the major players. From there, I looked at what else was included in the set, tested several myself, and then talked to nearly a dozen experts (chefs, cookbook authors, and recipe testers among them). What results is a purposefully varied curation: three pieces all the way up to 20-something, collections with only the basics, ones that come with sharpening tools or blocks and ones that don’t. I also made sure that none have truly unnecessary pieces — but if you’re unsure, my takeaway after doing this extensive research is that a more streamlined set is generally the way to go. You can always build from there.

What we’re looking for

Number of pieces.

Knife sets can come with anywhere from three pieces to more than 20. For this story, I (and the experts I spoke to) leaned significantly towards the smaller end of that spectrum. I’m of the opinion that most of the time, it makes sense to buy a smaller core group — a chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a serrated knife — and then assess. Are you always wishing you had a second chef’s knife so you don’t have to clean in between tasks? Does it turn out you’d benefit from a boning knife because you eat fish and chicken multiple days a week? From your core group, you can always add individual implements as you see what your real needs are.

European- or Japanese-style

This classification is a bit of a tricky one because not every knife falls distinctly into one category or the other (and some knives don’t fall into either at all). And yet these terms are still commonly used, the distinctions notable enough that it’s good to have a sense of the main characteristics of each — especially when it comes to the chef’s knife in each of these sets. First of all, European-style is kind of a catch-all term that can also be called German-style, French-style, and Western-style. These are generally heavier with a thicker, more curved blade to facilitate rocking back and forth with the tip down on your cutting board. On the other hand, Japanese-style tend to be lighter with a thinner blade and straighter edge to facilitate extreme precision. To make things even more confusing, some Japanese companies make some European-style knives, and some European and American companies make Japanese-style knives. But here I’ve denoted the style of each to the best of my ability, and then gone into more detail in the descriptions.

Best knife set overall

Number of pieces: Six | Style: European

Wüsthof is a classic company. It’s the one that cook and Top Chef Canada host Eden Grinshpan was told to buy when she was in culinary school, the one that cookbook author Erin Gleeson registered for when she got married a decade ago and still uses, and the one that is preferred by multiple celebrity chefs with varying cooking styles (a quick Google search will tell you that both Ina Garten and Gordon Ramsay swear by them). “They’re just super high-quality and they really stand the test of time,” Grinshpan says. “I still have some of the pieces in my kitchen.”

Given that Wüsthof is so time-tested and such a trusted brand among professionals, I knew they would be a fitting choice for our best overall pick. From there, I perused all its offerings and landed on this particular set for its lineup of pieces, which I think is perfectly well rounded without being superfluous. It comes with a paring knife, a chef’s knife, and a serrated knife — the only three that you really need when it comes down to performing most cooking tasks, like I explained before. But it also includes some helpful accessories: a wooden block to hold your blades safely, a honing steel to sharpen the edges, and a pair of “come-apart” kitchen shears (the “come-apart” makes them easy to clean). “I use the scissors all the time,” Gleeson says, “for cutting everything from pizza and flatbreads to scallions.”

Best less expensive knife set

This more affordable set from Wüsthof has a similar setup. The paring knife is a half-inch smaller (which shouldn’t make any noticeable difference for daily use), the serrated knife is three inches smaller (a utility knife intended to cut things like tomatoes, as opposed to crusty bread), and the block is made from a different variety of wood (beechwood instead of acacia). Most notably, though, the knives are stamped (cut from one large sheet of steel) instead of forged (made from a single bar of steel that is heated and then pounded into shape either by hand or machine). This makes them not quite as durable as they would be otherwise, but also much cheaper — and they can totally do the trick (and do it well), especially if you aren’t particularly hard on your knives.

Best simple knife set

Number of pieces: Three | Style: Japanese

If you don’t think you’ll use all the pieces in the bigger Wüsthof sets above, this one will still have you covered with the three most basic, essential knives — ones that, to my mind, will comfortably take care of pretty much any cutting, chopping, slicing, and dicing you’ll ever need to do. In testing, I found the eight-inch chef’s knife to be comfortable to hold because of the rounded handle shape. It’s also balanced in weight, easy to rock back and forth to dice, as well as slice through hefty vegetables with an assured cut. The edge is supersharp, and though I’ve only been using it for a few months, recipe developer and writer Rebecca Firkser says hers has stayed in great shape for several years. The paring knife has more of a curve than some others in my collection, making it particularly useful for intricate carving and tasks, like hulling strawberries. And notably, the serrated knife — which I think is the standout of the bunch — is significantly shorter than most, at six inches long. It wouldn’t be substantial enough to cut through a round cake layer to even out the surface, but it can handle other tasks like slicing bread and tomato slices with even more control than a superlong blade.

Best four-piece knife set

Number of pieces: Four | Style: European

Made-In makes a relatively uncommon combination of knives — the three essentials I mentioned above, plus a Nakiri knife, which I have found to be a useful addition. It looks a bit like a small cleaver, but is meant for cutting vegetables with an entirely straight edge. The blade is only six inches (two inches shorter than another Nakiri I own that I find too big for nuanced tasks like chopping through cauliflower). This one, on the other hand, gives great control and is still hardy enough to hack away at a squash. I also really like the chef’s knife , which is on the heavier side (eight ounces) without being burdensome. The weight feels good in my hand and helps guide the sharp edge seamlessly through whatever I’m cutting.

Culinary producer Kiano Moju first bought this set when she was stocking her culinary creative studio, a kitchen she needed to outfit from scratch. “They hold really nicely,” she says. “When I was working at Sur La Table years ago, someone taught me how to cut with your thumb on the top of the spine, and it balances nicely if that’s how you use your knives. They’re well balanced, and not too heavy at all. Plus, they’re really cute. They come in red, which is my favorite.”

Best knife set with steak knives included

Number of pieces: 15 | Style: European

J.A. Henckels, the more affordable sister brand to Strategist-favorite Zwilling (it makes a chef’s knife , blender , and nonstick skillet we love), makes an all-encompassing knife set that I think is solid, especially for the price. The most notable feature is six matching serrated steak knives (not usually included in these collections) that I’ve found are excellent at cutting through steak and pork chops without ripping or shredding the meat.

It also includes the essentials: a paring knife, chef’s knife, and bread knife. Plus there’s a santoku knife (similar to a chef’s but slightly smaller and thinner and therefore easier to wield when I perform more complicated tasks with subtler cuts), as well as a shorter serrated knife, perfect for slicing through tomatoes and baked goods. Though I was a bit skeptical of the quality since this is one of two sets on this list where the knives are stamped instead of forged (the other is the Wüsthof Gourmet, above), the handles feel tightly secured to the blades, and overall, they have a nice heft in my hand. They are a bit boxier, and therefore harder to get your palm gripped around in a comfortable position than the more rounded and smooth-edged handles I use regularly — but that seems a small issue for the value you get here.

Best steak knife set

I’ve long been a fan of Opinel’s well-priced, sharp, and elegant knives (you’ll find them in other Strategist stories , and the brand’s set of paring knives is below). The stainless-steel blades of this quartet have a straight (also called fine) edge, which slices through meat more cleanly than serrated ones I’ve used in the past. (Even if a serrated knife is sharp, you have to saw back and forth a bit by nature.) Just as with high-quality chef’s knives , these have a full-tang construction, meaning the blade runs through the handle, and there’s a bolster in the center to connect them, which makes them super sturdy. They’re also lightweight without feeling insubstantial, and the rounded handle is comfortable to hold. I also appreciate that the shape leans modern but the wood still gives them a timeless look.

I also tested Opinel’s Bon Appétit Steak Knives , which are $80 cheaper than the Table Chic set, but just as stylish and available in mixed colors. I didn’t give them top billing because the straighter-edge handle means they don’t feel quite as smooth to grip (though I will say, if I wasn’t using them side by side, I likely wouldn’t have any complaints). They’re also full-tang and feel secure, though without a bolster in the middle, so it’s possible they wouldn’t last quite as long over many years of use. All in all, though, I certainly recommend them as a more affordable alternative.

Best knife set without a serrated knife

Number of pieces: Three | Style: Japanese with some European influence

Every other set on this list includes a serrated knife, but if you’re looking to expand your collection without that particular blade, this Global collection fits the bill. (I once found myself in that exact predicament: I already own a serrated blade that I love and find to be plenty for the relatively infrequent tasks it is made for, but wanted a few other straight-edged blades for the high volume of cooking that goes on in my kitchen.) With this configuration, I got a 7-inch chef’s knife (notably, our best overall chef’s knife ), a 5-inch utility knife, and a 3.5-inch paring knife. They all hold an ultrasharp edge, are lightweight enough to maneuver with ease but heavy enough to feel in control, and have a comfortable grip. In particular, I reach for the utility knife more than expected. Its size is right between the other two with more of an angled blade. This combination makes it useful for tasks that aren’t so delicate but still require some precision, like cutting into a head of broccoli.

Best knife set without a paring knife

This Hedley & Bennett trio comes with a chef’s knife, a long and lean serrated knife, and, as with the Global set, a utility knife — another set I recommend if you’re looking to fill in particular holes or round out a current collection. I find the most striking feature of all three to be the weight. The serrated knife feels so light for the size. While I have another artisan Japanese serrated knife in my collection that’s a bit shorter and heavier, this one has become my go-to for slicing through big loaves of bread. The utility knife, which is a bit longer than the Global with a straighter edge, feels nimble in my hand. It works to trim the fat off meat and even slice off fish skin. The look of the knives is sleek too. They come in green, white, and black, each with brass rivets. Chef Melissa King and Zoya Roya, founder of Fysh Foods , both love the chef’s knife as well, describing it as “well balanced,” with Roya adding that it’s “not too heavy to handle but heavy enough that it still glides through whatever you’re cutting with ease.”

Best less expensive knife set without a paring knife

Number of pieces: Three | Style: Japanese and European

For another set with a chef’s knife, serrated knife, and utility knife, consider Misen. “I really like these knives as value buys,” says Jeff Strauss, owner and chef of Jeff’s Table and Oy Bar in Los Angeles. “One of the things knife nerds talk about is steel hardness, and these are on the harder end of bendy, which is a sweet spot.” As he explains it, they’re hard enough to sharpen easily and they hold an edge very well. But they’re not so hard that they move in a funky way that can take some getting used to. You can feel the difference with a super hard blade, and even sometimes break it if you make the wrong movements. “I know a bunch of pro chefs who use these,” he says. “I have six of them. You don’t have to be too, too precious.”

When Strategist editor Maxine Builder tested a bunch of DTC cookware, including Misen’s knives, she also found that the edges stayed sharp even after a few months of use and that for a price comparable to one of those “big knife-block sets you can get at Target or Amazon,” they’re a “significant upgrade.”

Best paring knife set

Andrew Brady, chef and partner at the Boston-area restaurants Dear Annie and Field and Vine , has several sets of these knives in his work kitchens at all times because they’re so versatile. The collection comes with a classic paring knife, two serrated paring knives (with more pronounced and subtler teeth), and a bonus vegetable peeler. “Smaller knives tend to be made more cheaply,” he says, “but these are sharp.” He calls the dramatically ridged model a “serious workhorse” that’s great for peppers and chilis, garlic, and shallots, or “small foods that still benefit some serious serrated power,” he says. The subtler ridged one, which he uses for more delicate tasks like cutting through tarts and cherry tomatoes, also comes with a hook-like shape at the tip of the knife. That feature is “useful for handheld tasks where you need to get into a piece of food, like cutting the button off a Brussels sprout or the stem off a strawberry,” he says.

Best high-level knife set

Number of pieces: Up to nine | Style: Japanese and European

If you really want to go all-out, this set is a real beauty. The design, as you can plainly see, is eye-catching, from the blade down to the handle. But the pieces also work incredibly well, with ultra-sharp edges and a comfortable grip. For more than a year now, I’ve regularly used several of them and have only sharpened them once. I’m a particular fan of the Nakiri knife (seriously, I’ve never had as much ease cutting hearty vegetables) and the boning knife (specific, yes, but comes in so handy when I’m cooking with meat and fish) — two types I had never owned before.

You can choose anywhere from three to nine pieces from this set, depending on your needs, and while this is a Japanese brand and some pieces are designed as such (like the santoku knife), there are others with European-style influence (like the chef’s knives, which have that more curved shape).

Best knife set for camping

This recommendation from recipe developer and cookbook author Louisa Shafia isn’t strictly a knife set with only knives included, but it comes from the knife company Messermeister, which she has been using since she went to culinary school a couple of decades ago. It’s a compact camping set with two particularly good knives — a foldable six-inch chef’s knife and a foldable six-inch fillet knife (yes, those are full-size, made from the same steel as their regular ones). “It’s everything you would need to go camping and make really nice food,” Shafia says. “You can even handle things if you catch a fish. Plus you need something to cut against that’s not gonna ruin the knives, so it’s nice that it comes with a cutting board.”

Some more knives we’ve written about

Our experts

• Andrew Brady, chef and partner at Dear Annie and Field and Vine • Maxine Builder , Strategist editor • Rebecca Firkser , recipe developer and writer • Erin Gleeson, cookbook author • Eden Grinshpan , cook and Top Chef Canada host • Melissa King , chef • Kiano Moju , culinary producer • Zoya Roya, founder of Fysh Foods • Louisa Shafia , recipe developer • Jeff Strauss, owner and chef of Jeff’s Table and Oy Bar

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8 Best Kitchen Knife Sets of 2024

Whether you’re a novice home chef or a seasoned expert, finding a knife set for your needs is a game changer. The knives in your set should be evenly balanced and comfortable to hold, making them easy to precisely slice, cut, and chop. We've done the legwork to research dozens of top-quality knife sets, tested quite a few, and interviewed several chefs to arrive at this list of our favorites. Find out why the Wüsthof Gourmet 10-Piece Knife Block Set is our best overall knife set and check out some shopping tips from experts in our guide below.

Table of Contents

• Best Kitchen Knife Sets
• Things to Consider When Buying
• How We Chose

Wüsthof Gourmet 10-Piece Knife Block Set  »

Lightweight

Limited lifetime warranty

Comes with honing steel and kitchen shears

More slots in the block than knives

The Wüsthof Gourmet 10-Piece Knife Block Set is our choice for the best overall knife set. Using the Goldilocks approach, it’s not too big that it includes knives that you’ll never have a use for and not too small that you’ll be longing for knives that weren’t included in the set. This set, which comes in an acacia block, is a nice middle ground and features five additional slots so you can purchase additional knives later if desired.

The German cutlery set has high-carbon stainless steel blades that are designed to be razor sharp and resist both corrosion and dullness. The triple-riveted, synthetic polypropylene handles can withstand heat and impact and won’t fade or turn colors.

The knife set comes with kitchen shears and a honing steel, as well as a variety of essential knives, including a 2 3/4-inch trimming knife, a 2 3/4-inch paring knife, a 3-inch spear-point paring knife, a 4 1/2-inch utility knife, a 5-inch serrated utility knife, a 5-inch spreader, and a 6-inch chef’s knife. The Wüsthof Gourmet 10-Piece Knife Block Set has a lifetime warranty, which is a testament to its reputable quality.

Henckels Statement 14-Piece Self-Sharpening Knife Set With Block  »

Built-in sharpening slots

Curved handle for ergonomic support

Dishwasher-safe

Bulky for some

Slightly noisy to self-sharpen

If you’re averse to the idea of having to sharpen your knives with honing steel, the Henckels Statement 14-Piece Self-Sharpening Knife Set With Block eliminates this tedious task. The self-sharpening slots on the wood block make it much easier to keep the knife set sharp.

These knives have other perks, too. They are made of high-quality stainless steel with fine-edge blades and curved, triple-riveted handles to provide an ergonomic experience. The full tang design also makes the knives strong and feel balanced in your hand. This is also one of the few knife sets on this list that is dishwasher-safe. (Although hand-washing is recommended.)

The set includes a 3-inch paring knife, a 5-inch serrated utility knife, a 5-inch fine-edge utility knife, an 8-inch bread knife, a 7-inch Santoku knife, an 8-inch chef's knife, and six 4 1/2-inch steak knives. Plus, you’ll also get kitchen shears, and Henckels provides a limited lifetime warranty.

Cuisinart 15-Piece Elite Knife Set With Block  »

German steel

Stylish design

Steak knives are not sharp enough for some

Too many knives for some

The Cuisinart 15-Piece Elite Knife Set With Block   is proof that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get great knives. The premium set has German steel blades that are ultrasharp and easy to use. The hollow handles are ergonomic and easy to grip and use. These knives also have a stylish, unique design that makes them look more expensive and adds a modern touch to any kitchen countertop. The set comes in a natural wood block or a glossy white wood block (for $10 more). Our writer has tested this set and found it to be even more attractive in person. The knives were also lightweight and easy to use.

It's a great value for the money and includes everything you would need in a kitchen knife set to slice, chop, and perform other meal prep functions requiring a knife. There’s even a sharpening steel to help keep the knives sharp and a pair of kitchen shears.

The knives in this set include an 8-inch chef’s knife, an 8-inch slicing knife, a 7-inch Santoku knife, a 5 1/2-inch serrated utility knife, a 3 1/2-inch paring knife, a 3 1/2-inch bird's beak paring knife, and six 4 1/2-inch steak knives. Additionally, this knife set has a lifetime warranty.

Cangshan V2 Series Six-Piece German Steel Forged Knife Block Set  »

User-friendly bolster design

Vertical storage block

No sharpening steel

No steak knife

Though Cangshan is best known for its pro-level cutlery, we think the Cangshan V2 Series Six-Piece German Steel Forged Knife Block Set is a good selection for beginners. With just six knives, it’s not so many that it’s overwhelming for those just starting out. However, it does give you variety so you can become familiar with the basic types of knives.

These knives are stored in a block of acacia wood. Our writer had the opportunity to test this minimalist block set and found that the knives are easy to insert and remove from the block. Often, pulling your knives from the block can be a guessing game because the blade is concealed. However, because this storage block is vertical, you can insert the blades in order of shortest to tallest, making it easier to remove the right knife on the first try

These knives are a pleasure to use, and the full bolster makes it safe and easy to precisely cut various foods. For reference, a bolster is the junction between the blade and the handle. It helps protect your fingers from the blade and gives you better balance and control. Not all knives have this component, and some have half bolsters, which do not extend all the way from the handle to the bottom of the blade like full bolsters do.

The Cangshan set includes an 8-inch chef's knife, an 8-inch bread knife, a 7-inch Santoku knife, a 5-inch serrated utility knife, and a 3 1/2-inch paring knife. The knife set has a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects.

Shun Classic 10-Piece Knife Block Set  »

Hand-crafted Japanese blades

Super sharp

Unique hammered finish

Shears aren’t as high quality as knives according to some

Shun is one of the top names in knives and makes several different series. However, we chose the Shun Classic 10-Piece Knife Block Set because it’s the original Shun series and has the most blade shapes. Also, our writer tested this set and found the Classic series to have thinner blades, making the set lighter and more comfortable to use. For example, the full composite tang of the chef’s knife is lightweight, balanced, and has a curved blade for rocking back and forth when cutting. (Full tang means the bottom portion of the blade runs from the tip to the base of the handle.)

The hand-sharpened, Japanese, double-bevel blade angles are 16 degrees on each side, and they have 34 layers of stainless Damascus cladding on each side, which create the hammered pattern. This set is super sharp, making it a great choice for professional chefs. The knives also have D-shaped pakkawood handles with an ebony finish designed to resist corrosion, as well as wear and tear.

The set includes a 3 1/2-inch paring knife, a 4 1/2-inch Honesuki (boning) knife, a 5-inch hollow-edge Nakiri knife, a 6-inch utility knife, a 7-inch Santoku knife, an 8-inch chef's knife, and a 9-inch hollow-edge carving knife. Additionally, it comes with a 9-inch combination honing steel and multipurpose kitchen shears. Stored in a 13-slot bamboo knife block, there’s room for adding more knives to the collection, and the set has a limited lifetime warranty.

Shun Premiere Eight Piece Knife Block Set  »

Lightweight and easy-to-maneuver

Hammered Tsuchime finish to reduce drag

Durable proprietary steel blades

Shun is known for making high-quality Japanese-style knives. We’ve chosen the Shun Premier Eight-Piece Knife Block Set as the best Japanese-style knife set. The Premier knife set is made with the brand’s proprietary VG-MAX steel, which includes additional carbon and chromium to boost strength and durability.

The full tang knives are Damascus-clad and have 34 microlayers of stainless steel on each side as well as hammered Tsuchime blades. (You can actually see the hammer marks on the blades.) This aesthetic is reminiscent of ancient Japanese hand-crafted knives, and the method creates tiny air pockets on the knife. These hollow cavities help to ensure the knives don’t drag so food can quickly be released after cutting.

Our writer has tried this knife set and can attest to the fact that these are lightweight and balanced, which makes the knives super easy to hold and maneuver. The result is a smooth and easy cutting performance.

The set includes a 4-inch paring knife, a 5 1/2-inch Nakiri knife, a 6-inch Gokujo boning/filet knife, a 6 1/2-inch utility/slicing knife, a 7-inch Santoku knife, and an 8-inch chef’s knife, along with a 9-inch combination honing steel and an eight-slot beechwood knife block. There is a limited lifetime warranty on this knife set.

Schmidt Bros. Zebra Wood BBQ Six Piece Knife Set  »

Professional-grade German stainless steel blades

Ergonomic handles

Individual sheaths and carrying roll for easy transport

No honing steel

When grilling and preparing food outdoors, you still want to use quality cutlery. Whether you’re hosting a cookout in your backyard or participating in a tailgate party at a sporting event or concert, the right knife set makes a difference. The Schmidt Bros. Zebra Wood BBQ Six Piece Knife Set is ideal for barbecues, grilling, and other types of outdoor cooking. The set includes essential knives for cooking outdoors and is both durable and convenient to carry and use.

The knives have German stainless steel blades that have been dual-sharpened, and the handles are made of zebra wood. These also have individual sheaths (plastic with microfiber) that serve to protect the knives during storage and transport. The ergonomic bolster design makes the knives easy to handle and maneuver. The knives also come in a waxed canvas carrying roll that makes the set safe and easy to carry and store without taking up much space.

The knife set includes the following: an 11-inch brisket/slicing knife, a 10-inch butcher knife, an 8-inch chef’s knife, and a 6-inch boning knife. Additionally, it comes with a 6-inch carving fork. There’s a limited lifetime warranty on this knife set.

Mercer Culinary Züm Six-Piece Forged Block Set, Stainless Steel/Glass  »

High-carbon German stainless steel blades

Elegant design

Easy to choose the right knife with glass knife block

Shortened bolster may not fit all hands

Glass knife block not a good fit for all

Terri Williams, author of this piece, has had the Mercer Culinary Züm Six-Piece Knife Set for more than two years, and it’s one of her favorites (and also gets a lot of compliments). It doesn’t take up much space on the countertop, and it can also be stored either vertically or horizontally. Also, aside from the stainless steel frame, the block is made of glass, and the transparency creates the illusion of more space and tricks the eye into thinking the knife set takes up even less space than it does, according to Williams.

The forged, high-carbon German steel blades are strong and designed to resist corroding and discoloring. Also, the forged full-tang design creates a sturdy, durable handle that Williams says feels ergonomic and balanced in her hands. The Züm series is also distinguished by a shortened bolster, taper-ground edge, and rounded spine that has been contoured for comfort. The knives have an elegant appearance and perform well.

The set includes an 8-inch chef's knife, a 6-inch utility knife, a 6-inch stiff boning knife, an 8-inch wavy-edge bread knife, and a 3 1/2-inch paring knife. The knife set has a limited lifetime warranty as well.

The Bottom Line

A high-quality knife set is evenly balanced and comfortable to hold. It’s sharp and slices, dices, and chops easily and precisely. And the importance of sharp knives can’t be underestimated. “Sharp knives are imperative when cutting food because they can cut into a surface with greater ease, thus decreasing the risk of slipping and causing injuries,” says chef Serge Krikorian of Vibrant Occasions. “Sharp knives also go through delicate food items using less pressure than dull knives with far less bruising of the product,” he adds.

We chose the Wüsthof Gourmet 10-Piece Knife Block Set as the best overall knife set that will fit most users' needs. The high-carbon stainless steel blades are sharp enough to easily cut through food items, and the knives are balanced for comfort. It also includes many of the core pieces you'd want in a knife set.

Things To Consider When Buying Knife Sets

Budget: We found knife sets ranging from less than $100 to more than $2,000. With such a broad price range, you’re sure to find something that meets your needs. Pete Smit, executive chef at Underdog Inn in Singapore, tells us that what’s good for one person isn’t always the best for another individual. "Sometimes it's better to spend that little bit extra to get something you know will last,” he says, noting that a good knife almost lasts forever. On the other hand, you don’t have to spend a fortune on a knife set. As we’ve shown with our selections, it’s possible to get a good knife set without breaking the bank.

Number and Types of Knives: How many knives do you really need in your knife set? It may depend on personal preference. “If you’re looking for an ultimate experience, you should consider investing in a 3 or 4 piece kitchen knife set; including The Gyuto (The Chef’s Knife), The Petty (Paring/Utility Knife), The Nakiri (Veggie/Fruit Knife), and a Serrated Knife,” says Kyle Barham, chef de cuisine at The Carillon in Austin, Texas.

Dan Gonzalez, executive chef at Thief in New York's Lower East Side, has strong feelings about not buying a huge, unnecessary knife set: “Even in professional kitchens, you only need a chef knife, a bread knife , and a petty/ paring knife .” He admits that a set of matching steak knives can look great, so, while you might want to consider that as well, “don’t be fooled by some fancy ‘cheese knife’ or ‘tomato slicer,’ - if you do want to splurge on a big set, that’s fine, but don’t waste your money on silly specialty knives.”  

Blade Material: According to Gonzalez, the two big houses of kitchen knives are German- or Western-style and Japanese-style knives . “Typically, western knives use a softer stainless steel, which sharpens easily and doesn’t chip, but doesn’t keep an edge as long,” he explains, while “Japanese knives are made with a harder steel, which can be much sharper and keep an edge longer, but are prone to chipping and difficult to sharpen once dull.” He says high-carbon steel will rust if not properly cared for.

However, Gonzalez advises consumers to look at the steel type and consider what’s most important to them. “If you really take care of your knives, I would go for Japanese style, but if you’re worried about your knife getting knocked around and chopping bones, you’re safer getting a German Wüsthof.” (Note: The safety component, probability of chipping, and realization that the average consumer might not sharpen knives as often as necessary factored into our decision to select the German Wüsthof as the best overall knife set over one of the Japanese sets on our list.)

So, which does Gonzalez prefer? “I like Japanese knives because they’re more lightweight, thinner, and sharper with a lower profile - it is like you’re cutting any helpless vegetable with an ancient weapon, which is the type of energy I like to bring to my cooking,” he says.

Barham at The Carillon in Austin, Texas, tells us his preference is a stainless-steel-clad carbon knife. “I prefer a lighter Japanese knife over a heavier German steel,” he says, as “the blade will sharpen easier, however the edge won’t last as long compared to a heavier solid stainless steel.”

Krikorian of Vibrant Occasions tells us that he personally owns Henckels, Wüsthof, and Shun knives and uses all of them on a regular basis. “Shun Premier Knives have been my favorite and my workhorse knives, so to speak, for six years,” he says. “They are lighter than their German counterparts...yet they are well balanced.”

Storage Style: There are several types of storage options for knife sets. Wood blocks are perhaps the most popular choice, followed by glass blocks. Storage blocks come in square, oblong, and round shapes and in various colors. You can choose blocks from the company that makes your knife set or purchase universal knife blocks to fit your preference and style. Other types of storage options include wall-mounted magnetic knife strips, which can help save countertop space, and magnetic knife stands in which the knives are uncovered.

If you prefer to keep your knife set out of view, you can use in-drawer knife organizers as long as you have enough storage space in your kitchen drawer. Also, individual sheaths can slip over the knife blades to provide protection and are available in a variety of materials ranging from plastic with a felt lining to leather. Sheaths allow you to store the knives in drawers. When transporting knives, you can use chef knife bags or rolls, which can be made of canvas or leather.

Care and Maintenance: Regardless of which knife set you select, some of the care and maintenance will be universal. For example, most quality knife sets should not be placed in the dishwasher, so you’ll need to hand-wash and then thoroughly dry the knives to avoid rust.

Knives also need to be sharpened to avoid getting dull. A self-sharpening knife set with a built-in sharpener makes it a lot easier to keep your knives sharp. Many of the knife sets on our list include a honing steel. However, honing is used to help straighten the blade to its original position, which is not the same as sharpening the blade. If you don’t want to get a knife set with a self-sharpening feature, you can purchase a separate knife sharpener .

Warranty: Warranties for knife sets can range from a few years to a limited lifetime warranty. Usually, the warranty states that the knife set is free of defects in material and workmanship. Warranties don’t cover normal wear and tear and won’t cover abusing or misusing a knife either. So, for example, if you try to use one of your knives to pry open a jammed door, that’s not the intended use, so the warranty won’t cover it. Also, always read the warranty carefully since it may only apply to a knife set that was purchased from the manufacturer or an authorized seller.

The Best Ways To Find Deals On Knife Sets

When shopping for knife sets like the ones we list above, you'll find deals from sites like Amazon , Wayfair , and Target (don't forget Target RedCard holders get 5% off), but they aren't the only ones. Other good places to locate discounts are at department stores like Macy's , Kohl's , and JCPenney . Not only do these retailers have a large selection on their sites, but commonly offer coupon codes that can nab you an extra discount. Kohl's sometimes offers Kohl's Cash with a purchase, which is store credit you can use on a future purchase. Also, look to sales at specialty kitchen stores such as Williams Sonoma and Sur La Table . They may give you access to discounts on higher-end brands you can't find in other stores.

How We Chose the Best Knife Sets

At U.S. News 360 Reviews, we consulted with numerous professional chefs for recommendations about what to look for in a knife set. We gathered insights from chefs Serge Krikorian of Vibrant Occasions ; Pete Smit of Underdog Inn ; Kyle Barham of The Carillon ; and Dan Gonzales of Thief .

With their input in mind, we then narrowed our selection down with more thorough research considering quality, comfort, price, material, types and number of knives, and testing. Our list includes a variety of knife sets at various prices and for users ranging from beginners to pros.

WHY SHOULD YOU TRUST US?

Our contributors and editors have years of experience researching, testing, and reviewing products. Terri Williams , the author of this piece, has years of experience writing product reviews on home goods and tech products. Terri has bylines at Forbes, Architectural Digest, CNN, NBC News, Real Simple, Tom’s Guide, USA Today, Better Homes & Gardens, Tech Radar, Daily Beast, and Popular Science. She’s also on Popular Science’s Best of What’s New team.

If you buy a quality knife set and care for it properly, you can expect the knife set to last for years. Smit tells us a good knife set can almost last you forever. “I still have my first knife from 21 years ago when I started in the kitchen,” he says.

However, knife longevity is based on several factors, such as sharpening, hand-washing, thoroughly drying, and only using the knives for the intended purpose.

Gonzales warns against putting the knives in the dishwasher. In fact, only one knife set on our list is dishwasher-safe, but the manufacturer recommends hand-washing. “Just hand wash and clean it as you go, since a knife’s edges and handle will get beat up if left in the sink or put through a wash cycle,” he says.

Depending on the steel used, Smit says you may also need to oil the knife to help preserve the blade and stop rusting; the manufacturer’s instructions should be able to guide you in this area. “Never cut directly on a metal or marble board as this will dull your blade, and also, try to avoid cutting on bamboo boards, as this also dulls your blade,” Smit warns, “and always put the knife in a case when not in use to avoid the blade getting knocked around.”

Krikorian recommends honing your knife using a honing steel at the correct angle of your knife just a few times before every use: “Be aware that the knife’s edge can bend after use, and honing will reshape the bend edges to straighten the edge.” In addition, Krikorian says he sends all his professional knives to get sharpened by the manufacturers once every couple of years.

Barham recommends buying a knife set instead of purchasing the knives separately: “A kitchen knife set makes it easier when sharpening tools – after all, all the blades will be made of the same material, edge grind, angle, and style.” On the other hand, if you were to buy your knives individually, you might need a different sharpening tool for each.

He adds that “buying a set is a very convenient way to ensure that you get the main knives that you will need to complete most kitchen tasks.”

About Our Team

Terri Williams

Contributor

Marlo Jappen Porto

U.S. News 360 Reviews takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.

The Best Gear for Travel

By Wirecutter Staff

Traveling well can be one of life’s great pleasures, whether you’re alone or with family and friends.

But what does it mean to travel well? We’d say that along with traveling safely (of course), traveling well involves avoiding hassle, carrying a single bag (if possible), and bringing only the necessities.

“Traveling well is a fine balance between finding inspiration in the unknown while being grounded in something,” said Wirecutter founder Brian Lam. “Sometimes that is a memory of home, a family, a significant other, friends, etc. Sometimes it’s just the familiar, reliable stuff in your bag.”

Over the past 10 years, we’ve spent hundreds of hours researching and testing dozens of products to find the most dependable items that will help you travel well. On top of that, we sought the advice and wisdom of Doug Dyment, author and creator of OneBag—a traveling businessman and public speaker, he has logged millions of miles over the past few decades—as well as travel-gear reviewer Eytan Levy, the Snarky Nomad.

And we relied heavily on the experiences of Wirecutter staff, an especially mobile group of individuals. Our staffers have worked remotely from every continent except Antarctica—the five most frequent flyers among us travel about half a million miles in any given (normal) year.

The research

Flying/riding, just in case, travel tips.

A well-packed bag is one that contains less than you think you need but everything you actually need. If possible, fitting everything into one carry-on and personal item will give you more freedom compared to checking a bag or two. You’ll be glad you did if (and when) things don’t go according to plan. While carry-on-only isn’t feasible (or advisable) for every trip—especially extended business trips or weddings where you need multiple outfits to maintain appearances—if in doubt, it’s better to cut.

Carry-on backpack (non-roller)

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L

A versatile small pack for a week or a weekend.

The Allpa’s clamshell design makes organizing your things simple. The strap design lets you easily wear this durable bag on your back or carry it in your hand while you’re on the move.

Buying Options

Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L

An easily customizable large bag for long trips and expensive gear.

This bag was built with photographers in mind, but most travelers will appreciate its easy accessibility and clever tuck-away straps, and the elegant way the bag expands and contracts depending on how much you’ve packed. The accessory cubes cost extra, though.

We spent six months testing 22 bags, and in the end we chose two as our top picks for travelers determined to never check luggage again: the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L (for most trips) and the larger Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L . Both bags are exemplary carry-on travel backpacks that are designed for comfort, durability, and organization.

The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L features an easy-to-pack clamshell design and highly adjustable straps that make it a great all-around bag for any traveler who’s dedicated to packing light, or for a smaller person who wants less to carry. Handles on all four sides of this bag make it easy to grab no matter where you’ve stowed it, and the Allpa’s straps are contoured to comfortably fit people who have large or small chests. It’s not a specifically gendered design, but our female tester noticed the improvement right away.

The bag is protected by a full lifetime warranty and has the build quality to back that up. Its front panel is made of a waterproof, TPU-coated 1,000-denier polyester (a strong fabric covered in a flexible plastic coating), which means you can lay it on its back in a wet field or in gravel without worrying about moisture soaking through or jagged edges ripping the fabric. The rest of the paneling is made with 1,680-denier ballistic nylon, which feels similar to a strong canvas but with a more prominent weave. After four years of testing, this single backpack (plus a personal item to store under the seat) has replaced nearly every travel bag or piece of luggage that Kit Dillon, Wirecutter’s senior staff writer who covers luggage, uses.

One caveat: The Allpa has a minimal amount of administrative organization—places to keep pens and papers, spaces to hold tickets, and so forth—which is where the personal item comes in handy. As the name suggests, “personal items” are very, well, personal, and no one bag will work for all travelers; we offer a range of recommendations in our full guide to them .

The larger Peak Design Travel Backpack 45L is the Swiss Army knife of backpacks: adjustable, customizable, and (if you spring for the extra cubes and organizers) an almost perfect system for a photographer or gearhead on the move. Most bags’ expanding mechanisms aren’t worth the extra zipper they’re built on, and they look about as attractive as a boiled ham splitting out of its plastic packaging. Not so with the Peak Design: It looks just as good fully packed at 45 liters as it does compressed to a 30-liter daypack. You can access the bag through a back panel, which doubles as a computer and tablet pouch, as well as through a front one, if you unzip the pass-through divider. You can also get into the main compartment via two wing-like trapezoidal flaps that run along each side of the pack. In its natural shape, the Travel Backpack holds 35 liters, but an expansion zipper lets the bag swell to 45 liters.

If you want to use the bag as a daypack, you fold in the top corners and snap them down, reducing the bag’s volume to a slim 30 liters. It still feels larger than a normal daypack, but we think that’s a small compromise for the ability to use one backpack as both your travel bag and your daily explorer. The bag itself consists of 400D nylon and polyester fabrics—it feels tough, but not as tough as the Cotopaxi Allpa. As for flaws, it is expensive, especially if you commit to the entire system of packing cubes and camera cubes . The adjustable design and multiple zippers do add complexity, and complexity adds potential weaknesses, though Peak Design covers all of its bags with a lifetime warranty.

Finding the right bag is a personal choice, and no single bag will appeal to everyone. That’s why we have picks in our full review of carry-on travel bags that can double as traveling offices , bags that are easy to carry while you’re walking long distances , and budget options for travelers who want to give the one-bag strategy a try.

Carry-on bag (rolling)

Travelpro Platinum Elite 21″ Carry-On Spinner

Great features, great value.

This spinner carry-on offers the best balance of size, value, reliability, and durability, with high-end details. It’s backed by a lifetime warranty.

Since 2015, we’ve researched several dozen suitcases and gone hands-on with the 67 most promising candidates in a variety of tests—including having active flight attendants test bags for us in a fake plane fuselage in their training facility. We determined that for most people the  Travelpro Platinum Elite 21″ Expandable Spinner  offers the best balance of features, durability, and price for most flyers who log less than 25,000 miles annually.

It features smooth-rolling, user-replaceable wheels; solid and comfortable, telescoping handles; and a hard-wearing nylon exterior propped up by a solid internal chassis. The Elite only improves on past iterations in the Platinum line by reducing the size of the stowed handle (which used to jut out about an inch) and adding a second zippered, exterior pocket for easy access on the go and a USB pass-through extension that lets you insert your own battery pack for charging your phone. And at 7.8 pounds when empty, this carry-on bag is about half a pound lighter than its predecessor. Compared with other bags in this price range, you also get surprisingly high-end components and a warranty that covers anything, even airline damage, for the life of the bag (as long as you register the suitcase within 120 days of purchase, which is easy to do on any smartphone).

Upgrade pick

Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22″ Carry-On Expandable Spinner

For frequent flyers.

If you fly more than 25,000 miles a year, invest in a bag with unique features, superior details, and plenty of expandable room. This manufacturer guarantees your satisfaction.

If you fly more than 25,000 miles annually and you’re willing to invest in a higher-quality product, we recommend the Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential 22-Inch Carry-On Expandable Spinner. It can fit more clothing than any bag we tested, thanks to a cavernous interior and clever expansion and compression system that can adjust to variable levels beyond open and shut. Over a five-year period before the pandemic, Wirecutter’s founder, Brian Lam, put more than 150,000 miles on his. His only complaint was that longer pants will need an extra fold, or to be rolled. In taller bags, pants will only need to be folded over once.

Checked luggage

If you need to pack more stuff than a carry-on and a personal item can hold, our first piece of advice would be to reconsider whether you need that extra outfit “just in case.” But you’ll have times when you need to travel with several pairs of shoes, formalwear, a winter coat, special equipment (like diving or camping gear), or all of the above. In these cases, there’s no way to avoid checking a bag.

Osprey Farpoint 55 Men’s Travel Pack

The best travel backpack for those with taller torsos.

Comfortable, adjustable, and carry-on capable, the Farpoint has everything we needed for a week, or even months, of travel.

Osprey Fairview 55 Women’s Travel Pack

The best travel backpack for those with shorter torsos.

Comfortable, adjustable, and carry-on capable, the Fairview has everything we needed for a week, or even months, of travel.

If you’re going somewhere where you’ll need to walk a lot (particularly if there’s dirt or cobblestone roads), we recommend a travel backpack. We like the Farpoint 55 and the sized-for-smaller-torsos Fairview 55 because they’re comfortable and have plenty of room to store, and separate, our essentials. The front of the main pack unzips like a suitcase, so you can easily fit and access a week’s worth of clothes and toiletries. The daypack, which attaches to the front of the larger pack, has room for camera gear, daily essentials, and a small laptop (via a built-in sleeve). It’s also easy to stow. The main pack’s straps can tuck behind a zippered flap, so they won’t catch on anything if you check your luggage.

These bags are made of a heavy-duty recycled polyester that stands up even to long trips–one of our testers has traveled with a Farpoint 55 for years, across dozens of countries for months at a time, without damaging it. If something does happen, though, Osprey has a lifetime warranty.

Travelpro Platinum Elite 25″ Expandable Spinner

The best checked bag for most travelers.

The bag provides a luxury feel at a reasonable price, with a capacity, warranty, and reliability that should suit most travelers. The 25-inch model should offer plenty of room for most people without going over airline weight limits.

If you don’t plan on walking around while carrying all your stuff, the  25-inch Travelpro Platinum Elite Expandable Spinner Suiter is our favorite piece of checked luggage for all of the same reasons we loved the carry-on size: It has excellent organizational features, it’s especially durable, and it has a better warranty than anything in its price range.

Luggage tags

Ovener Silicone Luggage Tag

Strong and easy to see.

Rugged silicone and a metal cable mean this tag (which comes two to a pack) may well outlive your luggage. The brightly colored case displays its owner’s name but keeps other personal information out of sight.

A good luggage tag should be durable, simple to use, and discreet. Ultimately, a tag should allow someone to get your luggage back to you quickly and easily, and it should withstand the wear and tear of being thrown onto conveyor belts time and again. After researching the top-rated and best-selling models, reading existing luggage-tag reviews, and comparing fourteen tags , we recommend the Ovener Silicone Luggage Tag for most travelers because it’s the only one we’d trust to survive being smashed by other bags, jammed into walls, and generally abused by baggage handlers. It’s the most durable tag we tested, and it comes in a wide selection of colors to help any bag stand out from the rest.

The Ovener tag’s silicone body seems nearly indestructible and is available in a rotating selection of colors (you get two tags per pack). Whereas other tags also feature metal cables, this tag has a metal grommet to keep the cable from eventually wearing through the silicone case.

Should you lose your bag, the Ovener makes it easy for a Good Samaritan to find your contact information. To fully access the info card, you have to unscrew and remove the metal strap; this lets the card slide out of the case. Most luggage tags we tested secure their info card in this way. It isn’t a difficult or time-consuming process, but it is an extra step compared with using a tag that displays all of your information openly. Still, for anyone who wants to keep their contact information out of view, the extra step is worth it.

Another approach to increasing privacy is to hide information in a QR code, as the Dynotag Smart Deluxe Steel Luggage Tag  does, or to provide a user ID number, as the Okoban UID Luggage Tags do. But these seem like overly complex solutions to a problem that doesn’t really exist.

Compression sacks

Originally designed for reducing the bulk of lofty sleeping bags, compression sacks are stuff sacks modified with additional nylon end caps that can be pulled together by strings or straps to remove air and create a smaller, denser package that’s easier to pack. Most travelers use compression sacks to condense socks, underwear, and other stuff you don’t mind getting wrinkled into a package with half as much overall volume. For example, an 8- to 12-liter sack can compress a fleece jacket and a long-weekend’s worth of socks and underwear into something that fits in one hand. They also make a decent pillow in a pinch.

Osprey StraightJacket (8L)

Easier access, less compression.

It has a full-length zipper on its side that allows access to the bag’s entire contents. However, it doesn’t compress as tightly as traditional designs.

Most compression sacks require you to empty out the stuff at the top to get to the stuff below it, but the side-zipper design on the Osprey StraightJacket allows access to the entire contents of the bag at once. The compression straps attach sideways, and are less likely to get tangled and twisted like on most compression sacks with lengthwise straps. It can also sit up on its own, and the handle design lets you break it out as a last minute carry-on to avoid an overweight-baggage fee. However, it doesn’t compress down as compactly as the traditional designs we tested so it’s not the best option if compression is your top priority.

GobiGear’s SegSac takes a different approach to solving the same access issue: It has four inner dividers that run the length of the sack in order to keep your socks separate from your underwear, winter accessories, towel, what have you. This means you don’t have to take out your T-shirts to get to your socks. Unlike the Osprey, it compresses just as much as a normal compression sack, but it loses points for versatility because the segmentation prevents it from handling large items like a down jacket or sleeping bag.

Packing cubes

Packing cubes could change your life. (Okay, maybe just your traveling life.) Packing cubes are basically bags to hold your clothes that you organize within your luggage. Though seemingly superfluous, they’re brilliant in action. If you imagine your suitcase as a dresser, you can think of these cubes as individual drawers: Put all your underwear and socks in one container, all your shirts in another, and your workout clothes in yet another. Then pull out only the cube you want. They make packing and repacking wonderfully simple.

Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Cube Set

Well built with easy access.

Simple and solidly constructed, these packing cubes keep your bag organized while you’re traveling.

The three-piece Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Cube Set keeps a week’s worth of clothes organized and moves easily from suitcase to hotel dresser. We’ve been recommending the previous version of these cubes for years, and after testing this updated set, we now recommend this version.

The full-size cube is great for shirts, shorts, and insulating layers. The half-cube and quarter-cube are perfect for underwear, socks, and other thin fabrics such as stockings or sleepwear. These cubes are made of 300-denier polyester (a strong fabric) and stay upright when empty, so they’re easy to pack. The Pack-It cubes’ windows are made of the tightest mesh link we tested—better for resisting snags—and the smooth zippers close easily around all corners, even when a cube is overstuffed.

The Eagle Creek cubes have the ability to unzip fully to allow full access to their contents while sitting in a dresser drawer. That means your clean clothes stay protected against some potentially dicey motel dressers. In 2022, Eagle Creek updated the design of these cubes, and now the company no longer uses YKK zippers, which are widely accepted as the best around . That said, we couldn’t tell any difference between Eagle Creek’s zippers and other brands’ YKK zippers, even with a magnifying glass, and their performance was indistinguishable. (For what it’s worth, an Eagle Creek product manager assured us that the proportion of zipper-related warranty claims hasn’t changed since the company made the switch from YKK.)

Most travelers are likely to be well served by the Reveal set. But if you value lightness above all, the more expensive Eagle Creek Pack-It Isolate Cube Set is about 50% lighter than similar-size competitors (just over 1 ounce for a medium cube, whereas the Eagle Creek classic style weighs about 4 ounces). Unlike the Reveal set, this set is water resistant. However, the Isolate design’s thin sides—which don’t allow the cubes to stand up on their own—make those cubes a bit more challenging to pack than the Reveal cubes.

Buying the right gear can help organize your existing travel kit, but it’s a red herring if your goal is better portability. “It’s mostly the clothing that allows you to reduce what you need to carry,” explains veteran traveller Eytan Levy, better known as the Snarky Nomad . That’s because clothing, which is very voluminous, makes up the bulk of what’s in your bag. He recommends traveling with basic-looking clothes because you can always buy or rent something nice in a pinch, whereas lugging around formalwear just in case will always be a pain. It also helps if you can avoid cotton and stick to merino and synthetic fabrics, which dry faster. This allows you to do laundry by hand in the sink as needed to reduce the amount of clothes you need to carry.

Travel underwear

Good travel underwear keeps you feeling fresh and clean, even when your destination is gritty.  To find the best , we researched an array of underwear designed for men and women to find 37 pairs meeting our criteria: moisture-wicking and breathable, quick-drying, odor-resistant, stretchy, stylish, and cut to fit a variety of body types.

We then conducted rigorous pretesting (wearing the underwear for two days at a time, machine-washing them repeatedly, and tracking their drying speed when hung on a clothesline) before taking them out into the real world. Our testers went backpacking 215 miles throughout Portland, Oregon; hiking in the Canadian Rockies, including walking from the lowest point in the Continental US to the highest; and road-tripping to the national parks of the West. Testers who flew to their destinations wore the underwear on the plane, too.

Afterward, we checked for signs of wear, such as seam breakage and pilling on the fabric. As we continued to test the finalists, we repeatedly checked for durability problems. In addition to comfort and fit, we noted whether each pair seemed lightweight and packable.

ExOfficio Men’s Give-N-Go 2.0 Sport Mesh 6″ Boxer Brief

Best for most men.

Durable, quick-drying, and relatively inexpensive, this soft-fabric version of ExOfficio’s time-tested Give-N-Go undies will get the job done for years.

The ExOfficio Give-N-Go 2.0 Sport Mesh 6″ Boxer Brief is the best men’s underwear for travel because it balances fit, comfort, odor-proofing, and value better than anything else we’ve tested. The Sport Mesh fabric excels at breathing and wicking and has better odor-resistance than other fabrics. It feels soft on the inside and smooth on the outside so it slides against your pants instead of creating friction, reducing potential for chafing. It also features a sculpted crotch area that gives wearers some much-appreciated support, without feeling stifling. These boxer briefs dry quickly, pack compactly, and weigh less than almost all the other boxer briefs we tried—basically they’re everything you’d want from a pair of excellent travel underwear.

Patagonia Women's Active Hipster

Best for most women.

These light, stylish, quick-drying hipsters stay in place whether you’re walking, flying, or hanging upside down.

The Patagonia Active Hipster doesn’t appear special upon first glance. Only after trying everything else and living through their failures to stay put did we remember what “special” really means in a pair of underwear: Feeling as if you’re wearing nothing at all. The Patagonias have the best fit, comfort, and style out of all the panties we tested. The nylon material is fast-wicking and better than most synthetics for odor-proofing, making it well suited for athletic activities. The Active Hipster is lightweight and packable, and is the fastest-drying underwear we tested—making them perfect for minimalist travelers who go weeks at a time with just one or two pairs. But these same characteristics make them great for any traveler looking for comfortable, packable panties, regardless of where you’re going or what you’re doing.

Budget pick

Uniqlo Men Airism Boxer Brief

Comfortable, compact, and fast-drying, these are a great value but don’t fit quite as nicely and aren’t as supportive in the crotch.

Uniqlo Women Airism Ultra Seamless HipHugger

Similar fabric to the Men’s Airism, with a no-ride cut for women, these underwear are the least expensive of any we tested and among the best performing.

May be out of stock

If you want to spend as little as possible without sacrificing performance, the Uniqlo Airism line has long been a great choice for men and women who can wear sizes small and medium. In recent years, both lines have expanded their size range somewhat (men to 3XL, and women to XL). If these fit, you can replace an entire underwear drawer on a tight budget, as long as you can deal with the slightly odd cut and less-effective odor-control treatment.

If you’ve never traveled with merino wool socks, you’re missing out. These aren’t the scratchy wool socks your grandpa wore in the army; they are soft and stretchy ones that have natural sweat-wicking and odor-resisting properties that keep your toes comfortable under all conditions—even when wet. This combination of odor, moisture, and temperature regulations makes them ideal for traveling. "Because of its natural anti-bacterial properties, washing merino wool on a daily basis isn’t absolutely necessary,” explains Snarky Nomad , "after letting it air dry overnight while you sleep, it’ll seem brand new.” The only major downside is that merino tends to be a bit pricier than synthetic counterparts. But it’s a worthy trade-off, since you can go for longer with fewer pairs.

Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew Lightweight Hiking Sock (Women’s)

The best quality for women.

The best mix of comfort, durability, and cushioning in a versatile height.

Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew Lightweight Hiking Sock (Men’s)

For the best quality.

The same great versatile sock as the women’s model, but in different color options and more sizes.

Darn Tough’s Light Hiker Micro Crew socks (both the men’s and women’s versions) have been our favorite hiking socks for years. Darn Tough made its name through its quality guarantee : “Our socks are guaranteed to be the most comfortable, durable, and best fitting socks you can buy. In a nutshell, if you wear a hole in them, we will replace them free of charge, for life.” Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers (hardcore backpackers who walk from Mexico to Canada in one continuous trip) praise them for their durability, comfort, and blister resistance. When you hold a pair of Darn Toughs next to a pair of Smartwools (which only have a two-year guarantee ), the difference is clear. The Darn Toughs are more tightly knit, the yarns are finer and feel sturdier, and the stitching is tighter.

Darn Tough Women's Coolmax Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock

The best non-wool women’s hiking sock.

This midlevel cushioned sock for women is the best synthetic option for most climates and terrains.

Darn Tough Men's Coolmax Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock

The best non-wool men’s hiking sock.

This synthetic men’s sock is perfect for day hiking in most weather.

If you are sensitive to wool, prefer a vegan product, or want a cooler option for the summer, we also like the Darn Tough Coolmax Hiker Micro Crew Midweight Hiking Sock, which comes in women's and men’s sizes.

We appreciated how breathable this sock felt. While wearing the Coolmax Micro Crew in hot summer weather, our testers’ feet stayed dry and sweat-free. The shorter micro-crew height makes the Coolmax Micro Crew suitable for both boots and shoes, too. And like all Darn Tough socks, this model comes with a lifetime warranty.

Indosole Flip Flops (women’s)

A quality flip flop in women’s sizes.

These stylish beach sandals come in a wide range of colors. Be careful, though: Indosole sizes tend to run a little small.

Indosole Flip Flops (men’s)

A quality flip flop in men’s sizes.

These beach sandals are the same as the women’s version but cut a bit wider; we still think they run a little smaller than regular shoe sizes.

A good pair of travel flip-flops should be lightweight, comfortable, and waterproof. The men’s and women’s Indosole Flip Flops offer the best combination of quality, comfort, and easy packability. Unlike many flip flops, which slap against the ground with every step, the subtle arch support of this flip flop kept it secure against our feet. Plus they’re made from waterproof, recycled materials. Keep in mind, though, that our testers found these shoes to run a bit small, so we suggest sizing up for the best fit.

Clothesline

While doing laundry at home can be a large weekly event, OneBag author Doug Dyment recommends approaching travel laundry as a part of your daily routine, especially if you’re trying to pack as little as possible: “The laundry should be more like cleaning your teeth—something you do everyday. It only takes about five minutes to do it. Every night, do your socks and underwear and you’ll have clean socks and underwear everyday.”

A secure, hassle-free option

The Flexo-Line attaches easily to a door handle or faucet and grips garments securely between its loops.

Check out OneBag’s laundry packing list if you want specific tips on how to do it and what you’ll need, but it’s a pretty simple setup: All you need is a toiletry bottle of powdered detergent, a towel to help expedite drying, and a travel clothesline to finish the drying process while you sleep at night.

Specifically, you want a braided—not twisted—surgical latex clothesline with looped ends, which means you want a Flexo-Line . The Flexo-Line can stretch up to 7 feet long, which is enough to span most hotel bathtubs, and it has loops that you can attach easily to a door handle, bath spigot, or faucet. The braided construction is superior to twisted designs made from other materials because the latex does a better job of gripping garments securely between the loops, which means you don’t need any additional clothespins.

Dyment has tried them all, but the Flexo-Line is the one he comes back to. As he explained to me in an interview, “There are others that are fine, but there are far more that are not fine.” More specifically, Dyment says to avoid anything that’s not made of latex , because clothes will inevitably slip out of them. He also says to never, ever trust a suction cup: “They don’t work, period.” If the Flexo-Line is unavailable, Dyment says that the Rick Steves collection from Kiva Designs also makes a nice braided line that is a bit more expensive. If you have a latex allergy, Dyment recommends going with a length of cord ( paracord is nice because it’s durable and you can use it for other things as well) and stainless steel safety pins meant for cloth diapers , because they take up far less space than a clothespin and won’t rust. In fact, it’s worthwhile to get these items even if you can use a latex line because they’re great for making luggage repairs and performing other MacGyver-ish tasks in a pinch. To hang up the clothesline, we recommend using a bowline knot on one end and a taut line hitch on the other. These knots work well together because the bowline creates a simple, slip-proof loop to anchor one end while the taut line hitch allows you to adjust for tension and locks tightly in place. If you could commit any two knots to memory forever, these are the ones to learn.

Laundry detergent

Minisoak Travel Packs

A travel size version of the best delicates detergent.

Perfect for traveling because you don’t even need to rinse it out.

When you’re washing your underwear in a hotel sink, you want a fast and easy experience. For this, we recommend the no-rinse detergent Soak . That’s right, we said no rinse . You just add a drop to the sink, fill with water, and leave your garments to soak. Then press out the water and hang. Done.

In our tests of delicates detergents , Soak cleaned almost as well as our top laundry detergent, Tide; plus, it comes in individual packets of powder  that are great for traveling, as well as in  travel-size bottles of the liquid version . In addition to unscented, it's available in a variety of scents, although Lacey and Celebration are not the most descriptive of scent names. They all smell nice, not overpowering. Soak also comes in an assorted travel pack with two single-use packets of each scent, if you want to test-drive one or two before you buy. In that mini size, you get eight packets for $11 currently, but you really need only a squeeze, not the the whole packet, to wash a couple of pairs of socks and underwear.

One downside to Soak is that you won’t find it in a grocery store or big-box store. But it is available online at Soak’s site . And if you really want to walk into a store and put your mitts on a bottle, you can find it at most local yarn stores.

Don’t feel like buying Soak or bringing along a bit of your own detergent? Shampoo also works pretty well for cleaning garments in a pinch, so make use of that free bottle from the hotel. But a caveat: Neither Soak nor shampoo contains enzymes , which are biological molecules in laundry detergent that break down certain stains. If you have especially stinky or stained clothes, you might need to break out the Tide .

When we first published this guide, this section addressed only toiletry kits and bottles, razors, and packable towels. The times, and traveling, became more complicated. One thing we've learned in the past few years is that face masks can be useful whenever you’re sick and don’t want to share your misery. Fortunately, compared with early 2020, medical-style N95s and KN95s (which many experts recommend as the best protection) are widely available. They’re easy to tuck into a bag, which we do now whenever we travel. 

Toiletry kit

We’ve researched dozens of travel toiletry bags and dopp kits over the past several years, and we tested 23 of the top-rated contenders in our most recent round of tests. After packing and unpacking a week’s worth of travel-size toiletries, conducting spill tests, and living out of the top performers on the road, we have a few different picks that stand out thanks to their style, packability, and quality of construction.

Sea to Summit Hanging Toiletry Bag (small)

A space-saving hanging bag.

This lightweight, well-organized bag fits a week’s worth of travel-size toiletries into a compact package. It’s meant to be hung, which makes it good for tight spaces, but it doesn’t have much in the way of internal structure.

The Sea to Summit Hanging Toiletry Bag (small) is compact and durable. It’s small enough to stash in a backpack or laptop bag, but it holds enough travel-size toiletries to keep us supplied for a week. You can open it and hang it from a shower curtain or towel rod to easily see and grab your items. It comes with a shatterproof mirror, two micro-mesh zip pockets and an open pocket for toothbrushes, lip balm, and tweezers, and a large compartment for bulky lotions and hair-care items.

L.L.Bean Personal Organizer Toiletry Bag

For more stuff and longer trips.

With a 6.4-liter capacity and over a dozen compartments, this toiletry bag has a place for everything—and everything will stay put during transit, too. It can also accommodate non-travel-size bottles.

The L.L.Bean Personal Organizer (medium) is a great option for longer trips and people who travel with full-size bottles. Its 6.4 liters of storage spread across a dozen compartments means there’s a dedicated place for pretty much everything you could want to bring on a trip—it even has a removable mesh shower caddy for shampoo and body wash. This level of organization is crucial for larger toiletry bags because, as we discovered after years of traveling with our picks, contents that aren’t securely fastened can shift around in transit, which increases the chance of spilling. The downside of all this organization is that the L.L.Bean weighs 14 ounces when empty, so it’s not ideal for carry-on travel.

If neither of these bags seems right for you, read our full review of the best toiletry bags and dopp kits to learn more about our picks and everything we tested.

Toiletry bottles

Sea to Summit TPU Clear Zip Pouch with Bottles

These six TSA-friendly bottles are sturdy and smartly designed, dispensing liquids more precisely than any of the other bottles we tested.

For traveling with liquids in your carry-on, the Sea to Summit set is your best bet. All six bottles conform to TSA size limitations; three of them can hold 3 ounces of liquid each, and three can hold 1.5 ounces each, for a total of 13.5 ounces. Despite the set’s name, the bottles themselves are made not of thermoplastic polyurethane—“TPU" refers to the zip pouch—but a high-density polyethylene material, much like what you’d see used in most plastic milk jugs. It has an almost-smooth, semi-transparent surface just textured enough that it’s not slippery when wet. The plastic is also flexible enough that you don’t have to squeeze very hard to get your shampoo or liquid soap or whatever going. An insert at the mouth of each bottle helps regulate the flow, and the screw tops prevent liquids from leaking in transit.

Razor (faces)

Gillette Mach3

The best manual razor for most faces.

This classic razor’s three widely spaced blades provide the best balance of speed, smoothness, and safety. Its handle is comfortable and well designed, and replacement blades can be had for a fair price.

We researched more than 100 and tested 11 manual razors for our full razor guide , concluding that the Gillette Mach3 is our top pick for manual razors. Although the three blades require a little extra time for a closer shave, it performs comparably to the latest and greatest offerings for as little as half the price.

The Gillette Mach3 provides the best balance of speed, smoothness, and safety. The Mach3’s simple, round handle is easy to grip and maneuver, and its three blades offer a close shave without over-irritating the skin or getting clogged with hair. And the price of Mach3 blades—$2 per cartridge or less, whether you buy them online or in a store—came close to, or even beat, the pricing of shave-club rivals, and the Mach3 shaved better than those competitors.

Razor (legs/body)

Gillette Venus Smooth

The best body razor.

This classic Venus is one of the easiest razors to grip and maneuver and its three-blade design keeps the blades remarkably free of hair.

Disposable razors (both the completely disposable and replaceable-cartridge variety) are fine to take through airport security , and among them we like the Gillette Venus Original best for traveling. Although it’s now the runner-up pick in our guide to body razors —it was formerly the top pick—we believe that its simple aloe lubricating strips, which don’t become tacky when wet, make the Venus more travel friendly than our new top pick . Plus, as with any Venus, the Original’s body is compatible with any other Venus head and many heads from Gillette’s facial razors, making replacement heads easier to find when you’re on the road.

The Original’s head has three blades separated by considerable slats of space, making it far easier to clean the head between strokes. The Original is intuitive to hold and secure to maneuver, thanks to a contoured handle with corrugated chevrons of rubber. Though our testers have a wide range of hand sizes, no one found the Original difficult to grasp. Despite the significant ribbing, it doesn’t feel too bulky. Gillette claims its razors have lasted for five weeks; we think one razor for a weeklong trip should be fine.

(Know that, confusingly, the Venus appears for sale on some retail sites under the name Venus Close and Clean or Venus Smooth. It’s the same razor. If you’re unsure which Venus model you’re looking at, check for the Original’s three blades and trademark sea-foam blue color.)

Towel (packable)

PackTowl Personal

The best all-around packable towel.

The PackTowl Personal Towel is lightweight, soft, absorbent, quick to dry, and odor-resistant.

With store pickup or REI membership (limited patterns)

(limited patterns)

We put 20 top-rated towels through a battery of tests including regular shower use, a trip to the beach, camping, and a 48-hour stay in a ziplock bag under the hot Hawaiian sun. After all was said and done, the Packtowl Personal Towel is still the best all-around travel towel for most people. In addition to being the softest lightweight towel we tested, it was more absorbent than competitors made of similar materials. It had the best odor-resisting abilities and comes with a convenient mesh carrying pouch. We also have alternate picks for ultralight and all-natural towels below.

The Personal Towel’s suede-like material was the softest of the thinner towels. The Personal Towel also had superior absorption when compared with other similarly constructed towels such as the Sea to Summit DryLite —in our tests, it absorbed 2.8 times its weight in water, while the others absorbed between 2.3 times and 2.7 times.

One of just two we tested that featured an added antimicrobial treatment, the Personal Towel was only a little musty smelling after 24 hours in a sealed ziplock bag, and remained unchanged at 48 hours.

If you’re looking for a budget option, consider the Rainleaf Microfiber Towel , which is a tad smaller than our other picks and is made from a seemingly lighter-feeling fabric. Unlike most budget options, it has an antibacterial coating and still managed to carry a pleasant smell after being testing in different environments.

Regardless of how you get to your final destination, it’s likely you’ll be stuck in a seat that’s less than ideal. Travel gadgets that claim to reduce this misery, such as compression socks, are popular. But when they take up precious luggage space for the duration of your trip—not just the flight or train ride–they need to be worth every cubic inch of space. The less you can make do with, the better off you’ll be.

Neck pillow

Travelrest Nest Ultimate Memory Foam Travel Pillow

More support for most necks.

Its tall memory-foam walls let it offer more support than any other pillow we tested. It’s also shaped to sit flush against a headrest, and it compresses to a manageable size.

The uniquely angled back on the Travelrest Ultimate sets it apart from other travel pillows we tested because it can lay flat against the seat back. Most other pillows have a rounded back, which pushes your head away from the headrest. The Travelrest also has rubber grip dots to prevent slipping while sleeping. This pillow’s spongy memory foam cushions the entire circumference of your neck, preventing your head from leaning far in any direction, and its adjustable Velcro strap ensures it can fit most necks. The pillow’s cozy velour exterior is removable and machine-washable. Although it doesn’t pack flat, the Travelrest weighs less than a pound and compresses to a quarter of its size when rolled into its Velcro-strapped carrying case. Our only complaint is that the Travelrest’s high walls, though supportive, can push over-ear headphones off of the ears of people with shorter necks.

Noise-cancelling headphones

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

The best over-ear noise-cancelling headphones.

The Bose 700 headphones deliver excellent noise cancellation in a comfortable, lightweight design that’s traveler friendly—but they carry a high price.

The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 over-ear set has the most versatile active noise cancellation we’ve ever tested. With 10 levels of noise reduction to choose from, everyone should be able to find a setting that meets their needs. We also enjoyed the lightweight and comfortable design and the easy-to-use controls. What distinguishes the Bose 700’s ANC is the amount of adjustability it gives you: Most noise-cancelling headphones offer controls for only on/off or maybe high/low/off, but with the Bose 700 pair you can set the ANC level from 0 to 10, so you have more flexibility to dial in the ideal setting for your comfort. The 20-hour battery life, while not the best we’ve seen, is more than sufficient to get you to most destinations. We have additional options—including earbuds and surprisingly good budget options for  over-ear headphones and earbuds —in our full guide to noise-cancelling headphones .

Mack’s Slim Fit Soft Foam Earplugs

For blocking out the most noise.

These blocked the most noise in our controlled testing and got the most votes from our subjective sleep panel.

When you’re traveling, it can be difficult to fall asleep to unfamiliar noises. That’s why we spent several hours researching new contenders and tested four top-rated models while sleeping in a house that was next to an airport in order to determine that Mack’s Ultra Soft Foam earplugs are the best earplugs  for sleeping.

The Mack’s 37.1 dB noise reduction rating was the highest among the models we tested. According to Cooper Safety , that’s enough to reduce the volume of a gas lawnmower to that of a normal conversation. What made the Mack’s earplugs so effective is the fact that we could insert them and rest assured that they would stay in the whole night. Meanwhile, the Howard Leight MAX1 might be a favorite from crowdsourced sleep-aid review site Sleep Like the Dead , but the earplugs would inevitably fall out in the middle of the night. Thus, they failed to block out the noise of planes landing and taking off throughout the night, despite the MAX1’s 33 dB noise reduction rating. The Howard Leights also made our ears ache on occasion, whereas the Mack’s has a tapered shape that was consistently comfortable night after night.

The Mack’s Slim Fit Soft Foam Earplugs cost about 20¢-35¢ per pair when purchased in a 50-pair pack. They come in a plastic case is about the size of a large coffee mug, which is small enough to toss in a large bag or suitcase. Many other ear plugs like our runner-up, the 3M’s E-A-Rsoft OCS1135 , can only be ordered in industrial-size lots that, while perhaps appealing to those who travel constantly (or run a hostel), are annoying to store and often lack a reusable container of any sort.

Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask

For air travelers and back-sleepers.

The lightweight and contoured Nidra mask is a light-blocking win for most face shapes, with deep eye cups that allow the wearer to blink freely and arrive feeling refreshed.

When bright lights hamper peaceful shut-eye, we recommend the light-blocking, contoured Nidra Deep Rest sleep mask. Of the 14 masks we tested , the Nidra blocked the most light on the most faces. It’s contoured to rest on your face like a pair of soft goggles, with fabric lenses that sit around your eyes (instead of directly over them). This design provides more space for your eyes to flutter during REM sleep, ensuring that you come through red-eye flights with less redness in your eyes. Makeup wearers will also appreciate that, with the Nidra’s elevated eye cups, there’s a smaller chance of smudging.

Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask

A flat, silk mask.

A silken exterior material, a flat design, and an adjustable strap make this mask a fit for almost any face, but it puts pressure on the eyes.

Mzoo Sleep Mask

A smooth, contoured eye mask.

Soft, structured, and contoured, this mask stays on all night and prevents any light from seeping through

(limited colors)

If the Nidra Deep Rest doesn’t fit your face quite right, we also recommend the Alaska Bear Natural Silk Sleep Mask and the Mzoo Sleep Mask . The Alaska Bear mask lacks contoured eyecups and thus applies some pressure to the eyes overnight like any regular eye mask does. But its flat design easily conforms to fit your face, and its silk exterior feels smooth and soft against skin (the padding is made of cotton). Its relative lack of structure makes it more difficult to knock off when you’re tossing and turning.

The Mzoo mask’s eyecups have a convex gap so your eyes can open and close. That gap is surrounded by a memory foam padding that rests on the perimeter of your eye sockets. The effect is such that you don’t feel like your eyes are being forced closed, but there is a bit of compression near your temples, eyebrows, and cheekbones. Most—though not all—of our testers found this sensation soothing. One liked how the contour of the eyecup kept the mask from brushing against their eyelashes, which makes it a good choice for people who wear eyelash extensions.

Few things are better than landing at an airport, turning on your phone, and having it just work. No hassles, no stress, no worries about brutal roaming fees. You can check in with loved ones, scope out the route to your lodgings, and maybe post an Instagram story or two—because your phone works just like it does at home. This is especially freeing, and it makes travel so much easier. (Of course, phones aren’t the only useful tech to bring: Check out our accessories reviews for guides to the best cables ( USB-C , Lightning , and Micro-USB ), Wi-Fi hotspots , Bluetooth speakers , and more.)

Unlocked mobile phone

One of the most useful gadgets for international travel is an unlocked smartphone that’s compatible with cheap, prepaid phone plans you can sign up for at your destination. Unless your carrier offers plans including high-speed data that you can access internationally (i.e., you’re with T-Mobile or Google Fi), traveling with a phone under contract with a major carrier means paying an arm and a leg for data. Being able to access data-guzzling apps like Google Maps or Google Translate on the fly is worth the hassle to unlock a phone. Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp are free, easy ways to communicate with people you meet on your trip and people from home. Plus there’s checking email, TripAdvisor, banking, social media, and so on.

An “unlocked” phone means you can buy prepaid SIM cards in the country you’re visiting, letting you access their local network for significantly less money than the roaming fees incurred by your home carrier. With a prepaid SIM, your phone effectively becomes a new phone with a new (now local) phone number. Instead of seeing “Verizon,” “AT&T,” or “Sprint” at the top of your phone, you might see “Vodafone,” “Yes Optus,” “M1,” or whatever provider you choose in the country you’re visiting. The first thing to check is if your phone will work where you’re going. If you’re unsure if your phone will work where you’re going, check the Wikipedia page for your phone or contact your provider.

Your phone will also require a removable SIM. (If your phone has an eSIM, as all new iPhones do, check out our blog post about those.) Most countries require a passport or other ID to buy a prepaid SIM without a contract, but switching the SIMs is easy. Most stores will do it for you while you’re there. Depending on the country/provider, this could take as long as 10 minutes but is often faster. The next question is easily the most complicated: Can you unlock your phone? Each carrier has different rules and criteria. Generally, if you have a brand new, expensive phone, they may not let you unlock it (there’s usually a waiting period after the purchase date). But if it’s a little older, or if you’ve paid it off, they probably will. The thing to remember is that a provider can deny an unlock request without giving a reason. You might be lucky, though; certain phones on certain providers are unlocked by default. Here are Verizon and AT&T’s pages on unlocking. Alternately, you can buy a pre-unlocked phone just for travel. Amazon and Best Buy, for example, sell unlocked phones. This is also a good option if you think you might lose your expensive phone and a cheaper one will suffice while you travel.

Plug adapter

Epicka Universal Travel Adapter

Best universal travel adapter.

With four plugs that will work in most countries, plus faster-charging USB ports (and more of them) than its competitors, this adapter is the best all-around choice.

In a sea of almost-identical travel adapters, the Epicka Universal Travel Adapter stands out, combining the best of the features we look for. It contains the three most common international plugs and a US-style plug, which should cover you in the majority of countries around the world. It has the most USB ports—four of the standard USB-A and one USB-C—of any universal adapter we tested, and it charged more of our devices faster. A replaceable fuse and an included spare should take the brunt of any accidental, unfortunate, or shockingly bad connections. The Epicka is fairly compact and well built, and it even comes with an extra USB cable and a nylon case.

However, no universal travel adapter is truly universal, and they’re all a lot bulkier and more expensive than simple plug adapters. If you want the smallest adapter possible, or if you’re going someplace where a universal adapter won’t work (more on that in a minute), a plug adapter could be what you need.

Ceptics International Worldwide Travel Plug Adapter 5 Piece Set

The best plug adapter.

Individually, these tiny plug adapters are smaller, lighter, and cheaper than any universal travel adapter. To juice up multiple devices, though, you’d need a separate multiport charger too.

The tiny plug adapters from Ceptics are barely larger than the prongs they convert. Small, simple, and cheap, they’re perfect for someone who wants to carry only the adapter they’ll need and who already has a multiport USB wall charger they like. Like our universal adapter picks, this set contains the three most common international plugs and the US plug. However, it also includes a somewhat rarer plug used in some European countries that has two thick, cylindrical prongs. This means that the Ceptics set will likely cover you in even more places—as long as you pack the appropriate plug adapter. These charts should help you find the shape you need before you order.

However, getting your gear to work in different countries isn’t quite as simple as it should be, and there’s no single solution that’s guaranteed to work for everyone. Our picks should work for you, but you may have some random piece of equipment, or be traveling to some country, for which our “good for most” picks just won’t work. (Case in point: One Wirecutter editor visited Iceland a few years back. The house she stayed in had outlets unlike anything on those charts, and the plug adapters she had used elsewhere in Reykjavik didn’t fit at all. It turns out the mystery sockets belonged to an obscure Italian system from the 1960s that was popular in Iceland for a time. Luckily, the hosts had power strips in the house that her adapters fit into.) The world is a big place, and when it comes to electricity and wall outlets, there’s a lot of variation. That’s important to keep in mind.

Whether two-prong or three-prong, an adapter just changes the shape of your plug, not anything about the electricity coming through the wires. However, this usually isn’t a problem because almost every power brick that comes with modern electronic gear is capable of accepting both the 110-volt standard used in the US and the 240-volt commonly used abroad. If your device has a power block on the cord, it likely says something like  “100-240 V ~ 50/60 Hz”—that’s the all-clear to use it without a voltage converter so long as the range covers the voltage of the country you’re visiting . This includes the vast majority of modern laptop and USB chargers.

Products without some sort of power block at the end or with a non-detachable cord—in particular, things with heating elements like hair dryers and curling irons—are more likely to need a voltage converter. Putting 220 V through a US 110 V device would be like attaching a firehose to a drinking fountain—you’re likely to blow your face off. But voltage converters are tricky devices, and most of the inexpensive ones have awful (or dishonest) reviews. Since hotels and hostels will often have hair dryers and most newer gear can do the full range of voltages, we strongly recommend that, whenever possible, you only bring items that work with a much simpler (and more reliable) adapter.

Wire/gadget organization system

Now that every device has a battery, every battery has a charger, and every charger has a cable—never mind power-plug adapters if you’re traveling abroad—the sheer quantity of accessories needed just to keep your gadgets running can take up more space than the devices themselves. And unless you organize them, you can bet on having to blindly fish them out of the least convenient spot at the bottom of your bag. Unfortunately, our pick for carrying tech necessities, the Incase Nylon Accessory Organizer, has been out of stock for a few years. It will, however, be coming back in 2024, according to Incase. If you prefer mesh to easily see your contents, or simply can’t wait for the Incase organizer to come back in stock, we also like the Container Store Micro Mesh Pouches .

The Incase cable organizer is a poly-nylon blend, so it’s durable. It is a soft-shell bag, however, so its contents can distort the bag’s shape when it’s full. But the bag’s edges remain rigid—so the seams don’t pucker—its contents don’t fall out, and zipping and unzipping the bag is still easy. We have other picks in our full guide to bag and cable organizers , including a roll-up bag and a stylish duo of cosmetics travel pouches ; we’ll also start testing other options to replace this one.

USB battery packs

A USB battery pack (also called a power bank) can keep your small electronics—from phones and cameras to tablets and more—going while you’re on the road. Although the length of your trip will determine exactly how much extra juice you’ll need to have on hand, whatever your requirements, we have a great USB battery recommendation for you. The Belkin Boost Charge Plus 10K weighs about half a pound, and its rounded edges make it easy to hold or slip into a pocket. Its USB-C Power Delivery (PD) port can charge most handheld devices and recharge itself at top speed (with the right USB-C cable and wall charger), and it can pass power to another device while being recharged from a wall outlet. It only comes in one color, but it has enough capacity to fully charge most smartphones up to three times, as well as built-in USB-C and Lightning cables that are easy to slide in and out of their holsters.

If you’re traveling for leisure, try not to get too wrapped up in technology because you might miss what you’re actually there to do: experience a new place. OneBag’s Doug Dyment said in an interview, “Wearing headphones and staring at a screen is like putting a digital wall around yourself when you’re traveling. It makes you seem unapproachable and uninterested in what’s around you.” That may be a good thing if you do truly want to be left alone, but Dyment went on to say that some of his most memorable traveling experiences were the result of just looking lost and getting help from the locals. “One minute, you’re a lost foreigner in an unfamiliar village, then someone asks if you need directions. Before you know it, you’re eating dinner with his family.”

Travel binoculars

Athlon Optics Midas ED

The overall best binoculars.

Amazingly affordable with great optics, these binoculars have performance comparable with that of many models that cost thousands more.

Our top pick for binoculars is durable and great for near-home hikes. In hot or dusty environments that may call for a clearer optical boost, the Athlon Optics Midas ED 8×42 binoculars deliver top quality. Its focus dial offers a wide range of depths that makes it easier to see whatever it is you desire—birds, grass or darkened areas of the forest. Our recommendation comes with the assistance of a professional ornithologist who spent over 100 hours putting 17 pairs of binoculars to the test in the mountains of Southern California and the rain forests of southern Mexico.

Although the Celestron TrailSeeker ED binoculars don’t offer a clear edge-to-edge view to the same degree of the Athlon Optics Midas EDs , they’re a comparable runner-up model that’ll be lighter on your wallet if having binoculars while traveling is a must. The TrailSeekers are equipped with great light-gathering qualities, close focus, and impressive optical resolution. Or, if you’re concerned about saving space, we liked the Pentax AD 8x25 WP binoculars. While not quite as powerful as our other picks, this compact pair of binoculars is well made and easy to fit into a carry-on while traveling via plane.

Ebook reader

Amazon Kindle (2022)

The best e-reader for most people.

Amazon’s most affordable Kindle is also its most portable, and it’s finally been upgraded with sharper text on its 6-inch screen and support for USB-C charging. Those features bring it in line with much-pricier e-readers.

The entry-level Amazon Kindle finally got an upgrade and is now our favorite e-reader , with the same crisp display and USB-C charging as the pricier Kindle Paperwhite has (and with double the storage space of the previous entry-level model). Amazon’s well-stocked ebooks store remains its biggest selling point, along with the ease of checking out library books via Libby and sending them directly to a Kindle.

Even if you don’t have time for pleasure reading on your trip, it’s worth investing in a Kindle because many major travel guides are available in fully searchable ebook formats now. Furthermore, e-texts will also work on your phone, tablet, and computer, thanks to the Kindle ecosystem.

Packable daypack

Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack

A pack that fits in your palm.

Toss this lightweight, phone-sized packable bag into your luggage or coat pocket, and you’ll never get caught without a spare bag again. If you need something to carry every day, though, we think you’ll prefer one of our more-structured picks.

Packing a stowable daypack, one that stuffs down to fit in your luggage when not in use, is a relatively small investment of space in exchange for a high return of function and flexibility. After researching dozens of packable daypacks across a spectrum of portability, features, and prices, and then packing, unpacking, loading, wearing, and drenching the top-rated finalists during multiple rounds of testing, the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack is the smallest and lightest packable backpack we recommend. Packed up, it is very discreet: nearly the size of a keychain accessory.

The bag itself is a no-frills sack made from a paper-thin siliconized Cordura nylon, which means it’s very light and water-resistant. It has reinforced stitching at stress points, allowing the Ultra-Sil to carry more weight than you would expect. That said, since this pack is made of such thin, light material, carrying large or awkwardly shaped loads is somewhat uncomfortable, especially when compared with our more structured picks.

If comfort or waterproofing is important to you, check out the alternative picks in our review of packable daypacks for travel .

Field Notes 3-Pack Original Kraft Memo Books

For ultimate portability.

Field Notes are cheap but contain high-quality paper that earns praise from pen and stationery geeks across the web.

For writing your adventures as you travel, you can’t beat the portability, practicality, and romanticism of a pocket notebook. There’s nothing better in that category than Field Notes (three-packs available in a variety of styles and types ). These pocket-sized notebooks are widely praised for their excellent paper quality, and the Pen Addict’s Brad Dowdy tells me “Field Notes is pretty much the runaway pocket notebook champ.” Dowdy has praised it for the lack of feathering or bleedthrough with almost any pen, as well as for the light brown ruled lines, which are easier to write over than solid black. Austin Smith of Art Supply Critic told us in an email that his recommendation is “Field Notes has it, no question.” The Well-Appointed Desk has reviewed a slew of different Field Notes variants for those looking for something a bit more interesting.

Field Notes Expedition

A weather-resistant option.

Weather-resistant Expedition Field Notes are great if you’re writing in wet conditions, but don’t get them if you don’t need them. The synthetic paper feels weird and can cause some inks to smear.

If you think you’re going to be writing in foul weather, Field Notes also has the waterproof Expedition version with pages made from a synthetic water-and-tear resistant paper. You should only get these if you really need them, because otherwise, they just feel unnaturally slick and are more prone to smearing ink. At least one user has said that the paper shows less soaking through when wet than the similar Rite in the Rain books . The one caveat is that the synthetic paper will only work with pencils and certain inks ; thankfully, the Uni-ball Jetstream RT , our pick for best pen , definitely makes the grade.

Things can go wrong while you’re traveling, both where you are and where you’re not. Though you can’t prepare for every worst-case scenario, the peace of mind that a little bit of preparation grants will allow you to focus on what’s in front of you, instead of having to worry about what could go wrong. But preparation doesn’t simply mean buying more stuff just in case; it also means making efficient use of what you already have.

Merchant & Mills for Purl Soho Rapid Repair Kit

For the best combination of sewing tools.

The Merchant & Mills Rapid Repair Kit is the only travel kit we found that had objectively high-quality thread and scissors.

There’s nothing quite like a wardrobe malfunction to put a damper on vacation, especially when traveling with limited clothing. A good travel-size sewing kit allows you to mend a popped button or ripped seam on the fly—or even tackle more pressing issues like fixing a tent, sleeping bag, or backpack. After 15 hours of research, interviews with sewing teachers and avid home sewers, and tests of six travel and full-size kits, we found the Merchant & Mills for Purl Soho Rapid Repair Kit had by far the best tools and was the easiest to keep organized. Standard travel sewing kits usually contain mediocre thread and plastic-handled scissors that break easily. They can also be hard to keep organized (a truth we confirmed when testing six top-rated travel and full-sized kits). The Merchant & Mills set was the only one that had high-quality thread, all-metal mini scissors (don’t worry, the TSA shouldn’t stop you ), and a durable tin case (about the size of a deck of cards) to keep everything well organized.

Because the sewing pins are neatly stuck into paper inside a slim envelope and the three needles are housed in a mini glass vial, this kit also limits the risk of losing a sharp object in your bags. We found the Merchant & Mills needles easier to thread than others (no need for a fussy needle threader!) and we also like the vintage-looking safety pins that come clipped together along with two small white buttons. Although this kit only comes with black and white thread, the thread is strong and there’s more of it than you’d get in a flimsier set with shorter strands of multiple colors. We do think it would be nice if the kit included a more durable measuring tape than the paper one included, but overall everything about this kit is leagues ahead of anything else we considered. We didn’t find editorial reviews for any of the kits we tested, but the Merchant & Mills rapid repair kit was recommended by several sewing bloggers and is sold in many reputable indie fabric shops.

Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella

The best umbrella for most people.

This is a solidly built, easy-to-find umbrella that holds up in high winds. It also comes in a variety of colors.

price may vary by color or style

An umbrella you take traveling should be small, light, sturdy, and affordable. After putting in 66 hours of research and evaluating a total of 48 umbrellas across five rounds of testing (including one thunder-snowstorm), we found that the Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella is the best umbrella for most people. Its durable, nine-rib construction held up admirably against gale-force winds, and it’s as sturdy as umbrellas that sell for more than twice as much.

The Repel folds up to an 11½-inch long, 14-ounce package that fits easily into most bags and glove boxes. And it forcefully expands at a touch of a button to reveal an ample 37-inch-diameter canopy that protects your head and torso from precipitation in all but the windiest of conditions. Its lengthy, textured handle is easy to grip for hands of all sizes. We also appreciate that the Repel comes in a wide variety of colors, so it’s easier to pick yours out of a crowded umbrella bucket. Finally, despite its affordable price, it’s backed by a lifetime replacement guarantee, but only if you purchase directly from Repel and register the item under the company’s warranty.

Packing method for clothes

While packing cubes and other organization tools are helpful for maximizing your bag’s usable space, efficient packing is also achievable without the aid of tools and compartments. One Bag’s Doug Dyment tried all manners of folding aids and compression products but was unsatisfied with their claims of compression and wrinkle prevention. Frustrated, he developed his own method of packing clothes compactly called the Bundle Method, which he’s used and perfected over several decades of traveling.

The Bundle Method involves layering your shirts and pants at opposing angles on a flat surface, then wrapping them around a small “core” parcel (e.g. a packing cube full of underwear and socks). We won’t get into details, but Dyment does on his website ; you can watch this easy-to-follow video from NBC . The resulting bundle is compact and has no sharp creases that will require ironing out later on. Additionally, Dyment explains that “the slight tension created in the fabric by the wrapping process, along with the anchoring of the resulting bundle, greatly reduces the chances of wrinkling.” You then put it in your bag and use the tie-down straps to provide just enough pressure to keep it together.

While simple to perform, this packing method isn’t something you can master in one go. It takes a bit of practice, but once you get it, it’s like riding a bike. The downside is that you can’t just leave your clothing packed and expect to be able to access your underwear without fully unpacking your clothes first. But unpacking is a good habit to get into anyway, as it allows your clothes to breathe and avoid wrinkles or mildew. Wirecutter founder and frequent traveler Brian Lam says that unpacking the moment he enters a room has a grounding effect that allows him to feel a bit more at home in a new environment.

If this sounds like too much of a hassle for you, you can do what we did before we found out about bundling: roll up your socks and underwear tightly and place them in packing cubes, then put your wrinkle-prone items (shirts, pants, skirts, dresses, jackets) in a garment folder—we used the Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Garment Folder . This is also travel guru Rob King’s preferred method of packing. Though the garment folder is not quite as space-efficient as the bundle method due to the added bulk of the folder and folding board, the plastic backboard does go a long way towards preventing wrinkles. Just be aware that if you leave your clothes in there for longer than a day, they’ll begin to develop unsightly creases that require an iron to get rid of.

A big thank-you to the Hotel Lucia in downtown Portland, Oregon, for lending us a suite to use for the photos in this guide.

This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.

Meet your guide

Wirecutter Staff

Mentioned above

• There’s more to a great in-flight personal item than being small enough to stuff under a plane seat. Here’s how to choose the right one for your travel needs. The Best Underseat Luggage and Personal-Item Bags  
• The Cotopaxi Allpa 35L is our backpack pick for most travelers. We also have picks for other travelers, including those who want to carry a bit more. The Best Carry-On Travel Backpacks  
• After 10 years of airport dashes and overhead-compartment stashes, the Travelpro Platinum Elite is still the suitcase we want to carry. The Best Carry-On Luggage  
• After researching 30 models, we found that Travelpro Platinum Elite 25″ Expandable Spinner is the best suitcase for most travelers who check bags. The Best Suitcases for Checking  
• We chose five luggage tags that will help you identify your belongings in a sea of similar suitcases. The Best Luggage Tags  
• After researching and traveling with packing cubes for more than five years, the Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Cube Set is what we keep in our luggage. The Best Packing Cubes  

Further reading

How to Sleep Well (or at Least Better) While Traveling

by Christine Ryan

Our sleep and travel editors recommend gear for coping with travel-induced insomnia, vetted through hours of testing and years of personal experience.

The Gadgets We Bring on Every Trip

by Haley Perry

You don't have to be a digital nomad to travel like one. Here are a few gadgets and accessories to make travel as painless as possible.

Road-Trip Essentials

by Eve O'Neill

We spend a lot of time driving each year, and this is our list of essential road-trip gear to include in your packing list.

Tools and Emergency Supplies to Keep in the Car for Winter Driving

by Rik Paul

Here are the essential—and nonessential—items to carry in your car during winter driving to ensure you get to your destination.

• Ingredients

Reviews you can trust.

The best sporks and travel utensil sets.

A great spork or portable travel utensil set makes eating in the great outdoors or on the go easier and more sustainable. Which one is best?

Published Aug. 30, 2022.

What You Need To Know

We tested travel utensil sets and sporks and found some standout options. The ultralight and compact Full Windsor Magware Magnetic Camping Utensils Set includes a magnetic fork, knife, and spoon with a case and is our favorite set. The UCO Switch Spork includes a knife and spoon combo that nests together with a separate fork. It’s our Best Buy. For backpackers looking for the lightest, most streamlined single-piece utensil, we recommend the Light My Fire Spork Titanium .

What You Need to Know

Campers and backpackers often eat with travel utensils, but even if you’re not outdoorsy, they’re convenient to pop in your bag (as you might a travel straw or travel mug ) to minimize your use of single-use plastics. Luckily, there are a wide variety of travel utensils on the market if you’re looking for a durable and environmentally friendly option. 

There are two broad categories: three-piece sets and sporks. The sets include the typical fork, knife, and spoon in a case or held together by carabiner or lanyard. Minimalist campers and backpackers who prioritize packing light and are eating only simple dishes like instant oatmeal might opt for a single-piece, multipurpose spork (a portmanteau of spoon and fork). Some sporks also have a serrated edge to include knife functionality. 

We tested a range of both travel utensil sets and sporks and found some superb products, depending on your needs. Here’s what we learned set the best apart from the rest. 

What to Look For

• Lightweight, Compact Design: Whether you’re backpacking or just want to carry the absolute minimum, we recommend opting for a lightweight set or spork. When carried on a walk in a backpack or tote bag, our winners added negligible weight and didn’t take up too much space.
• Wide Handles with Rounded Edges: The best utensils had handles that were wide enough for a good grip with smooth edges that didn’t dig into our hands. 
• Well-Balanced Spoons with Good-Sized Bowls: Some spoons were top-heavy and easily tipped forward when held. A well-balanced spoon allowed us to sip brothy chicken noodle soup without losing a drop. Spoons with bowls that were sufficiently deep and broad made it easy and efficient to eat soup and ice cream.
• Sharp Serrated Knife: We wanted a serrated knife that could cut through foods as easily as our steak knives at home. No one wants to be sawing at a steak for ages, and the best knives were able to cut off a bite of steak in just a few seconds. If you’re already bringing a multitool or pocket knife, you don’t need to rely on your spork or utensil set to cut foods, so a simple spork without serrations might be sufficient.
• Thin Fork Tines: ...

Everything We Tested

Reviews you can trust

The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. We stand behind our winners so much that we even put our seal of approval on them.

Sarah Sandler

Sarah is an assistant editor for ATK Reviews who is deeply passionate about anchovies and sourdough bread.

Related Reviews and Recipes

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• Basic Kitchen Equipment

The Best Knife Set is the One You Make Yourself

Unsurprisingly, we’re anti-knife sets.

Summer Rylander is a freelance food and travel journalist based in Germany. Her work has appeared in Food & Wine, The Kitchn, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Salon, HuffPost, and more .

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Serious Eats / Irvin Lin

The Best Knives

Must-have knives, nice-to-have knives.

• Why We're the Experts

In theory, sets of things are great. An assortment of items for one price seems like an easy way to save money while providing yourself with options. But when it comes to kitchen tools, sets—of utensils, pots and pans, whatever else—are often more of a clever sales tactic than a valuable investment.

Think about utensil sets: Do you really need two different ladles or the same spatula in three sizes? Probably not, because you’ll quickly find your favorite of each. The others will languish in a drawer, taking up space and getting in the way as you’re rooting around for the measuring spoons (one of the rare sets you should buy). 

Knives are no exception to this questionable set rule. As tempting as knife blocks may be to ensure you’re covering all the bases for your slicing, dicing, and chopping needs, the reality is that you’re probably only going to reach for one or two of those knives on a regular basis. Instead, you’re better off choosing a few select knives that are sure to be put to use rather than serve as dust collectors. 

A Chef’s Knife

Wüsthof 8-inch classic chef's knife, mercer culinary 8-inch millennia chef's knife, misono 8.2-inch molybdenum gyutou.

The chef’s knife is the universal workhorse of the chopping board . So versatile is this knife that it’s worth investing in a quality one—and then learning how to properly maintain it —though you don’t need to break the bank. 

We’ve tested lots of chef’s knives and while German-made Wüsthof unsurprisingly continues to top our lists, you can score an effective, well-made chef’s knife for under $30. If you can, go hold some knives in person first to see which feels best in your hand. After all, you’ll be using it a lot.

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

A Paring Knife

Victorinox 3.25-inch swiss classic paring knife, mac chef series 4-inch paring knife, tojiro dp 3.5-inch paring knife.

Yep, paring knives range almost as widely in price as chef’s knives, but our tests have once again revealed that you don’t have to spend top dollar to equip your kitchen with a quality model. In truth, you probably won’t use a paring knife all that often, but it’s worth having one in your arsenal for tedious tasks like peeling shallots. Or, you know, slicing a cucumber as you throw together a side salad while your partner takes their sweet time carving a roast chicken with the chef’s knife. 

A Bread Knife

Tojiro f-737 bread slicer, dexter-russell basics 10-inch bread knife with black polypropylene handle, tojiro bread slicer 270mm f-687.

A serrated bread knife can be used on more than just a crusty loaf. Think tomatoes, wintry squashes, or basically anything you’d like the blade to confidently sink its teeth into before completing that downward stroke. 

Because of their serrated blades, though, we don’t typically recommend spending a lot of money on a bread knife. They’re tricky to sharpen at home (all those individual sharp points), so most cooks are better off buying on a budget. After testing bread knives, though, we were willing to make an exception for the Tojiro F-687 bread slicer. Its wavy serrations provide the perfect combination of finesse and sturdiness, and we think it's worth the price tag—especially if you plan on using it for more than just bread.

A Carving Knife

Wüsthof classic 9" carving knife, tuo slicing knife, mercer culinary renaissance granton edge slicing knife, 11-inch.

While a carving or slicing knife isn’t totally essential—you’ll have a chef’s knife, after all—if you’re regularly preparing the likes of prime rib or roast lamb , it might be nice to have just the right tool for the job. Thanks to their ultra-slim blades, carving knives slice right through meats and allow for deft maneuvering around bones and cartilage. 

Slicing knives are very similar to carving knives, minus the tapered tip. They’re useful for navigating delicate dishes like terrines or gravlax .

A Boning Knife

Victorinox 6-inch fibrox pro flexible boning knife, tojiro 6-inch honesuki boning knife.

A boning knife —or a Japanese poultry knife —will prove exceedingly useful next time you’re deboning chicken thighs or breaking down a bird . Boning knives are defined by their short, triangular blades that are both sharp and strong, allowing you to really get in there and separate bone from meat.

Serious Eats / Ashlee Redger

Victorinox 7" Blade Restaurant Cleaver With Walnut Handle

Webstaurant Store

Global 6.5-Inch Meat Cleaver

Lamson meat cleaver, messermeister four seasons pro series 6-inch heavy meat cleaver.

You won't typically find one in a ready-made knife block, but a good cleaver can hack through thin bones (like a chicken's) and tough vegetables like nobody’s business. The wide blade is also useful for smashing garlic, pummeling ginger, or scooping up whatever you’ve just chopped and deposited it swiftly into a hot pan. 

Mac Knife 6.5-Inch Santoku

Tojiro 6.7-inch santoku, mercer culinary genesis forged santoku knife, 7-inch (m20707).

Santoku knives are meant to be all-purpose—much like a chef’s knife. In fact, you might even prefer this Japanese classic over the Western-style blade, since santoku blades tend to be made of harder steel and feature a chiseled edge. In an ideal world, you can have both!

A Petty Knife

Tojiro dp petty/utility knife, mac knife professional utility knife, 6-inch, victorinox 6-inch fibrox pro chef's knife.

Also referred to as a utility knife , petty knives are kind of like the Goldilocks of multipurpose blades. They’re smaller than a chef's knife, bigger than a paring knife, and just right for most tasks. Use a petty knife to prep vegetables, slice up a snacktime salami, or harvest fresh herbs from your overgrown windowsill garden. 

Steak Knives

Material table knives.

Yes, we’re recommending a knife set in an article where we’re telling you not to buy a set of knives, but steak knives are different! Steak knives fall under the “flatware” category more than anything, because they’ll be right there with you at the dinner table and do a way better job of cutting through meats than, say, butter knives. We like this mid-priced set from Material that blew away the competition in our tests and even comes with its own storage block.

Serious Eats / Grace Kelly

What is the best kitchen knife set?

The one you make yourself! It’s totally fine to buy a set of knives if that feels like the path of least resistance, but you’ll get the most value—both in time and money—from selecting just two or three individual knives that you’re sure to use on a regular basis. 

What are the top five best knives?

“Best” is always a subjective term, but since we rigorously test just about everything we recommend here, you can shop with confidence from any of our reviews; many of which have been linked above. 

For an all-rounder chef’s knife, we like Wüsthof’s 8-inch . For a paring knife, you’ll be just fine with this affordable Victorinox . And Tojiro makes a great serrated bread knife ! And, honestly? Three knives are all you really need.

How much should a good quality knife cost?

There’s no hard and fast rule for what a good knife should cost. Consider instead what the knife’s purpose is and go from there—it’s better to allocate funds toward a quality chef’s knife and save cash on the bread knife that will need to be replaced far sooner.

Why We're the Experts

• Summer Rylander is a freelance writer who's written for Serious Eats for the past couple of years.
• We review knives year-round to bring you the very best recommendations.

More Serious Eats Recipes

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

• What to Buy

We Tested Over 20 Knife Sets—Here are the 9 Winners

These versatile collections are a cut above the rest

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

A great set of knives is essential for any kitchen, whether you're regularly mincing up ingredients for a shepherd's pie or simply carving a grocery store rotisserie chicken. Sharp, easy-to-hold knives make chopping and slicing easier and safer—and can also allow for greater control when dealing with more intricate cuts .

Building your own collection of knives based on individual preferences and needs is great, but sometimes investing in a complete set is the easier (and more economical) option. With all the variables—stainless steel to ceramic blades, plastic to hardwood handles, Granton or flat edges—choosing the right knife set can be a daunting task.

To help find the best knife sets for your kitchen, we tested more than 20 of them, observing key factors like design, size, value, and performance. Here's what you should keep in mind while shopping for your next set of knives.

• What to Look for When Buying a Knife Set

Number and Types of Knives

Knife sets will vary in how many knives and what type of knives are included. Know that more isn’t necessarily better if you won’t use all of the knives. If you already have a set of steak knives, you probably don’t need another half-dozen. However, if you don’t have any decent knives at all, it might be your best option to buy a complete set so you get everything you need at the best price.

Style of Storage

Some knife sets will come with storage included, which can be either a vertical or horizontal knife block or a roll-up sheath with individual slots. Consider where you are going to keep the knives and how much space you have. Knife blocks are a convenient way to store your knives on your counter, but if you’re short on counter space, it’s a good idea to make sure that the knives and block will fit into a convenient cabinet for easy retrieval. If you’re really short on space, you might prefer the sheath storage so you can place the knives in a drawer .

Sharpening Options

No matter which knives you choose, they will need maintenance and eventually need to be sharpened. Some knife sets include steels, so you can hone the knives to maintain them regularly, and some knife sets have self-sharpening knife slots. Base your decision on whether you need these options or not.

How We Tested

Other options we tested, why trust the spruce eats, best overall, chicago cutlery fusion knife set.

• Design 4.5 /5
• Performance 5 /5

Sleek design

Great selection of knives  

Super-sharp edges

Includes sharpening steel

Great value

Block is bulky

It’s hard to find fault with the Chicago Cutlery Fusion set, which includes every knife you’ll need along with a sharpening steel, and extensive testing cemented this comprehensive collection as our top pick. We tested an 18-piece set, which is no longer available and included a peeler; However, this similar 17-piece set has everything you might need for chopping, slicing, and dicing.

The blades are made from high-carbon stainless steel and have rubber and metal handles that are designed for style and, as our tests revealed, feature a very comfortable grip. The knife edges are not only super-sharp but they're designed to be easy to re-sharpen when necessary (so you never need to worry about a dull blade).

This set includes a 7.75-inch chef knife, 7.75-inch serrated bread knife, 7- and 5-inch santoku knives, 5-inch utility knife, 3.25-inch paring knife, eight 4.5-inch steak knives, sharpening steel, chop assist, and knife block to hold all of the components. We tried out each knife to slice and chop everything from baby back ribs to baguettes to veggies. The verdict? Impressive performance and superb versatility.

During our tests, the steak knives cut smoothly and without tearing. It's likely that they will need to be resharpened at some point if used often, and they should be hand-washed to retain their edge. While we were impressed with the quality of the knives themselves, we felt the block itself left something to be desired—still not a deal-breaker for this all-around winner. Given its extensive array of super-sharp knives, the set is definitely worth the cost. Even after six months of use, these blades were still easy to handle and sharp as ever.

Blade Material:  High-carbon stainless steel |  Number of Knives:  14 |  Sharpening:  Sharpening steel | Storage: Acacia wood block

The Spruce Eats / Will Dickey

Best Budget

Cuisinart advantage printed color knife set.

 Amazon

• Design 4 /5
• Performance 4 /5

Fun, colorful design

Includes knife guards

Easy to clean

Doesn’t include a sharpener

Nonstick blades are easy to clean and help keep food from sticking. This colorful, budget-conscious set from Cuisinart includes six knives and six matching sheaths, so you can tuck the knives into a drawer without worrying about damaging the blades or accidentally cutting yourself. After chopping, slicing, and dicing, we found this set offered plenty of utility and sharp cutting ability without breaking the bank. Each piece is lightweight, comfortable, and safe to grip, thanks to the thoughtfully designed contouring on the handle. You just have to memorize which color knife is which since it's hard to tell while the sheaths are on.

Since these ceramic knives are more affordable than similar sets, they’re also great for taking along to picnics or potlucks, for a college kid’s apartment, or for the vacation cabin or RV. The set includes a 3.5-inch paring knife, a 6.5-inch utility knife, a 7-inch santoku, an 8-inch serrated bread knife, an 8-inch slicing knife, and an 8-inch chef’s knife. The manufacturer suggests hand washing, but several users said they’ve been washing them in the dishwasher with no apparent harm. Still, we'd recommend hand washing for the best care for your knives.

Blade Material:  Ceramic |  Number of Knives:  6 |  Sharpening:  None | Storage: Individual plastic sheaths

Best for Barbeque

Schmidt brothers 6-piece bbq knife set.

Crate & Barrel

• Value 4.5 /5

Beautiful knives

Includes individual sheaths and waxed canvas knife roll

Mix of Granton and flat edges

Uses wood from FSC-Certified Sustainable sources

Rough spots on the handles

This attractive knife set from Schmidt Brothers is a dream for any grill master or BBQ lover. It includes an 11-inch slicing knife, a 10-inch butcher knife, an 8-inch chef's knife, a 6-inch boning knife, and a 6-inch carving fork. Each knife comes with its own thick plastic sheath (which we think is very well-designed with microfiber lining and a safety edge on top), as well as a waxed canvas knife roll to take everything on the go. They also feature zebra wood handles sourced from FSC-Certified Sustainable forests.

After extensive testing with everything from bone-in BBQ chicken to grilled steak and vegetables, we were impressed with the performance of these blades. The knives themselves are beautiful, well-balanced, and the sharp edges and flexibility are ideal for barbeque. We particularly loved the 8-inch chef's knife, with its ergonomic bolster and Granton edge. The sturdy canvas roll was also thoughtfully designed with designated areas for each piece and elastic to hold them in place.

While we did notice that the wood handles felt slightly rough in hand, this was improved by rubbing them with some food-grade mineral oil. Because of the wood handles, they are hand-wash only and will require regular maintenance with mineral oil to keep them in the best shape.

Blade Material:  High carbon 100% German stainless steel |  Number of Knives: 6 |  Sharpening:  None | Storage: Protective knife guards and waxed canvas knife roll

The Spruce Eats / Katherine Gallagher

Best Splurge

Wusthof classic ikon 7 piece block set.

• Design 5 /5
• Performance 4.5 /5

Knives are fully forged and full tang

Block is sleek and compact

Comfortable grip

Lifetime warranty

Requires thorough drying to avoid rust

The well-known Wüsthof kitchen brand certainly lives up to its reputation with this stunning 7-piece knife block set. It comes with a 3.5-inch paring knife, a 5-inch serrated utility knife, a 5-inch hollow edge santoku knife, an 8-inch bread knife, an 8-inch chef's knife, kitchen shears, and a 6-slot Acacia wood knife block. We love how the slim block design (9.5 x 3.5 inches) helps maximize counter space while maintaining a stylish, sleek design–perfect for apartment living.

While testing these knives long-term, we found ourselves reaching for the chef's knife at practically every opportunity. At the same time, the santoku knife also got a lot of use thanks to its ideal length and weight. These knives are sharp, sturdy, and easy to handle—plus, the Acacia wood is a really nice touch and feels elegant and modern. As with most knife sets, hand wash and immediately dry them off for best results, as some reviewers mentioned the scissors could rust with prolonged exposure to water. This is a universal knife set with blades built for hard-working use that will surely live up to its investment with the proper care.

Blade Material:  High-carbon stainless steel |  Number of Knives: 6 + scissors  |  Sharpening: None | Storage: Acacia wood block

Best Lightweight

Cuisinart stainless steel 15-piece cutlery block set.

• Size 4.5 /5

Great variety within the set

Sharpening steel included

Lightweight

Crowded knife block orientation

While most knives have handles made from wood, rubber, or plastic, these knives are all metal for a sleek, modern appearance and easy care. They’re made from high-carbon stainless steel and have a taper-ground blade for a maintained edge and easy sharpening.

The set includes a 3.5-inch paring knife, a 3.5-inch bird’s beak paring knife, a 5.5-inch serrated utility knife, a 7-inch santoku knife, an 8-inch slicing knife, an 8-inch chef’s knife, six steak knives, a pair of shears, and an 8-inch sharpening steel.

We particularly loved the paring knife , which quickly became a favorite for small jobs like slicing nectarines, plums, and berries. However, we found the high-carbon stainless steel material on all the blades to be ideal for cutting. The included black knife block holds all the components and adds to the modern look of the set, though it does feel a bit crowded. While they may look hefty, the knives are surprisingly lightweight due to the hollow handles. These should be hand washed and dried.

Blade Material:  High-carbon stainless steel |  Number of Knives:  12 + scissors |  Sharpening:  Sharpening steel | Storage: Black hardwood block 

The Spruce Eats / Sharon Lehman 

The Spruce Eats / Sharon Lehman

Best Self-Sharpening

Henckels classic 15 piece self sharpening block set.

• Design 3 /5

Labeled slots

Ash wood base is accented with stainless steel

Knives produce clean cuts

Knives are fully forged with triple rivet handles

Paring knife is on the smaller side

This set includes a 4-inch paring knife, a 5-inch serrated utility knife, a 5.5-inch prep knife, a 7-inch santoku knife, an 8-inch chef's knife, and eight 4.5-inch steak knives. The block uses a combination of dark-stained ash wood and brushed stainless steel, but what really sets it apart is the self-sharpening feature. There are dedicated sharpening slots that sharpen each time a knife is removed and returned to the block. It also has a labeled slot guide to keep every knife organized in its proper place.

In our tests, the chef's knife in this collection sliced perfectly through paper to test sharpness and cut tomatoes cleanly. The paring knife was able to hull strawberries without any effort as well, though we noted the handle might be too small and thin for those with larger hands.

The set gains extra points for the quality of the knives themselves—they're fully forged, and feature triple-rivet handles to provide additional balance and comfort. The size of each knife is just right, and the chef's knife, in particular, felt very sturdy. The block is attractive, compact, lightweight, and topped with a stainless-steel cap that contrasts the wood nicely for a modern, industrial look.

Blade Material:  German stainless steel |  Number of Knives: 14 + scissors  |  Sharpening:  Built-in | Storage: Ash wood and stainless steel block

The Spruce Eats / Dera Burreson

Best Japanese

Ginsu chikara 8-piece bamboo block knife set.

• Size 3.5 /5

Lightweight handles

Super sharp

Versatile for multiple kitchen tasks

Thin handles may be uncomfortable for larger hands

Block is bulky and difficult to store

This set of Japanese-style knives includes an 8-inch chef's knife, a 7-inch santoku knife, a 3.5-inch paring knife, a 5-inch serrated utility knife, a 5-inch non-serrated utility knife, a pair of kitchen shears, and a honing rod. The tiered knife block, although it takes up a good amount of space on the counter, makes it easy to see exactly where each knife is stored. It's also lightweight and made using bamboo, a sustainable and renewable material.

We were big fans of the santoku knife in this set. The handle felt extremely balanced, and the heel design features a thick, heavy bolster. All of the knives, however, were super sharp right out of the box. The chef's knife was able to slice completely through a sheet of paper without catching and cut through a tomato with little to no effort. The paring knife also performed well–easily hulling strawberries thanks to the sharp point of the blade. The handles are on the thinner side, so those with larger hands might find them slightly uncomfortable.

Blade Material:  Stainless steel |  Number of Knives: 5 + scissors  |  Sharpening:  Honing steel | Storage: Bamboo block

Best Classic

Farberware edgekeeper block set.

Nice weight for balanced cutting

Wood block has built-in sharpener

Knives are fully forged, full tang, with triple rivet handles

Bread knife was a little dull

This set saves you money in two ways. First, it’s less expensive than similar sets to purchase, and second, you won’t need to buy a knife sharpener to maintain the knives. The knife block has Edgekeeper sharpeners in each slot, so your knives will get a sharpening swipe every time you insert and remove them. The blades are fully forged from high-carbon stainless steel, and the triple-riveted handles are comfortable to hold—impressive features considering the price

This set includes an 8-inch chef’s knife, a 7-inch santoku knife , an 8-inch bread knife, an 8-inch slicing knife, a 6-inch boning knife, a 6-inch cleaver, a 5.5-inch serrated utility knife, a 3.5-inch paring knife, a carving fork, eight steak knives, and a pair of kitchen shears. The included knife block keeps all of them secure and accessible on your counter. These knives should be hand washed and dried immediately.

We love the classic design of these knives and their aesthetically pleasing wooden block. The chef's knife sliced cleanly through both the tomato and the onion, though the bread knife was a bit lacking in terms of sharpness. The paring knife also impressed us with its lightweight, well-balanced feel and sharp tip for coring.

Blade Material:  High carbon stainless steel |  Number of Knives: 18 + scissors  |  Sharpening:  Built-in | Storage: Cherry stained wood block 

Best Design

Mercer culinary genesis 6-piece forged knife set.

• Design 3.5 /5

Commercial-grade, high-quality materials

Resists rust

Magnetic stand

Glass may smudge easily

No room to expand knife collection in the block

This set of five knives (3.5-inch paring knife, 5-inch utility knife, 6-inch boning knife, 8-inch bread knife, and 8-inch chef's knife) comes with a beautiful knife block made of wood and tempered glass. The handles are Santoprene, which can stand up to rough kitchen use, extreme temperatures, and kitchen oils while still offering a sure, comfortable grip, even with wet or greasy hands. The blades are made from high-carbon German steel that resists stains and rust, and the taper-ground edge stays sharp and is easy to re-sharpen when necessary.

These knives worked like a dream, producing thin tomato slices and finely diced onions with practically zero resistance. In fact, they were some of the smoothest and most balanced cutting knives of all the sets we tested. We loved how easy it was to work for long periods of time, thanks to the comfortably curved rubber handles and bolster. The set has every knife that your average home cook would need without too many extraneous and unnecessary knives, and the modern glass knife block is a nice alternative to your standard wooden block. Our only qualm was that the glass knife block could be hard to keep clean among kitchen splatters and grease.

After testing them long-term for six months, we maintained that these knives were a great value for the price. The grippy handle still looked new after repeated washing, and the blades remained quite sharp.

Blade Material:  High-carbon German steel |  Number of Knives: 5 |  Sharpening:  None | Storage: Magnetic wood and tempered glass stand

The Chicago Cutlery Fusion 18-Piece Block Set is our top choice because it has a great selection of sharp knives and includes a sharpening steel. If you want all the essentials at a more affordable price, we recommend the Cuisinart Advantage Color Collection 12-Piece Set .

We tested 21 knife sets in our dedicated testing lab and in our own kitchens, using each knife from each set. After the testing period, we assigned ratings for each attribute based on our observations and added insights based on our own expertise and kitchen knowledge.

We Observed

• Price was not necessarily indicative of quality: Many less-expensive sets outperformed pricier ones during our tests. Unless you're looking for a "statement piece" or simply want to bring your collection up to the next level, you don't need to spend a ton of money to get a great quality knife block set.
• Low-performing sets lacked variety: A majority of the knife block sets that we left off the roundup were missing serrated bread knives, for example, which are arguably one of the more important knives to have in your kitchen. Since knife blocks make great starter sets for a wide range of users, they should include at least a chef’s knife, a slicing knife, and a utility or paring knife.
• Bulky blocks are not ideal: Our best-performing sets had the same design features in common: blocks that were compact, attractive, and lightweight. Along with the knives themselves, ask yourself if you would be willing to continuously display the block on your counter before buying.
• Design: We offered initial design observations right out of the box and highlighted ergonomically friendly shapes. Although they can make the knives more comfortable to use, some testers did not like the modern design or minimal grip offered by the handles.
• Size: We took the time to hold each knife in hand to assess their comfort, whether they felt balanced, sturdy, or flimsy, how heavy they felt, and whether the edge, face, or handles of the knives impacted the functionality.
• Performance: After slicing through a sheet of paper to assess sharpness straight out of the box, each set was put through a series of tests–including thinly slicing ripe tomatoes, dicing onions, cutting bread, and hulling strawberries.
• Value: This is important to consider since a knife block set can be a hefty investment. Although we found that more expensive doesn't always mean better quality, it's important to consider each piece included in the set so you don't end up paying for something you won't use.

About Our Testers

Our Lab team consists of testers with decades of experience in both professional and home kitchens. In addition to their testing, these sets were sent out to our food and commerce experts who cook and meal prep consistently.

• Donna Currie , a freelance food writer and cookbook author, has tested well over 100 products for The Spruce Eats. She tested the Sabatier 21-Piece EdgeKeeper Pro Forged Cutlery Set in her own kitchen.
• Sharon Lehman , a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and freelance writer specializing in food, health, and wellness topics, tested Cuisinart's Stainless Steel Cutlery Block Set.
• Sage McHugh , who tested the Chicago Cutlery Fusion Block Set, previously worked as a content editor for the Kitchen section at ConsumerSearch.com and has been writing about kitchen appliances since 2008.
• Katherine Gallagher , an associate commerce editor at The Spruce Eats, tested the Schmidt Brothers BBQ Knife Set at home. She still reaches for the 8-inch chef's knife from this set whenever the grill comes out.
• Zwilling Professional "S" 7-Piece Knife Block Set : Although the paring knife in this set was comfortable to hold with a good weight, the chef's knife was dull and took a large amount of effort to cut through tomatoes and onions. Considering the high price of this set and the low performance of the chef's knife (which is typically the star of the show), we couldn't justify adding it to our list.

What makes a good knife set?

With so many options to consider, it might be hard to distinguish a good knife set from a poor set. What makes a good knife set is almost entirely up to you. The three major factors you should consider are what you need to prepare and cook regularly, what’s the highest quality of those tools you can afford, and how much effort you want to make to maintain the set. Everything else is really preference and bonus. If you make steaks and roasts regularly, consider getting a set with steak knives. If you’re interested in some butchery work, find a set with a boning knife and cleaver. If you stick to mostly fruits, veggies, bread, and pre-butchered meats, a simpler set will serve you just fine. 

Once you’ve established what you need, look for a set that offers those tools made with the best materials you can afford. High-carbon stainless steel is the standard for most knives and can be found at reasonable prices. Explore handle finishes for both comfort and aesthetics. 

Finally, a good knife set is one you can maintain easily . While we recommend you wash all of your knives by hand to preserve the sharpness and integrity of the blade, you might want to look for a dishwasher-safe set if that realistically suits you better. If you’re not interested in sharpening your knives, get a set that comes super-sharp right out of the box. Ultimately, the most expensive set doesn’t mean it’s the best set for you if you’re never going to use all of it. 

Are self-sharpening knife sets good quality? Or should you opt for a separate knife sharpener?

If this is your first set of knives, chances are this is also your first experience with sharpening knives. In that case, having a knife set with an option for simple knife sharpening is a wonderful advantage. Built-in sharpeners are easy to use with quick results. Sets that include a steel to help hone your blade are also great, with a very small learning curve. 

On the other hand, if you’re more experienced with sharpening knives and this set is a step up for your collection, consider investing in a separate knife sharpener for more refined knife edges.

Are knife sets worth it? Or should you build a collection by buying each knife separately?

There are seven main types of kitchen knives: chef's (or French), santoku, serrated, paring, boning, utility, and cleaver. Not all knife sets include every single one of those—although some do and more—so make sure to evaluate your personal needs before making a purchase.

For most people, a reliable high-quality knife set is worth it. As we mentioned above, it’s all about what you plan on using it for. Even a smaller set with three knives will give you a much wider range when preparing food. If you’re enthusiastic about cooking but aren’t in a position to buy a dozen styles and sizes of high-end knives, a quality larger set will have you cooking up a broader range of culinary delights. Once you’ve become acquainted with the sizes and styles of knives that you use most often, you can start taking a look at individual knives that suit your tastes and customize your collection further.

Donna Currie is a cookbook author, food writer, and product tester. She loves kitchen gadgets and has personally tested all types of kitchen knives and knife sets for The Spruce Eats, including the Sabatier 21-Piece EdgeKeeper Pro Forged Cutlery Set featured in this roundup. Her kitchen is currently filled with a mix of brands—ranging from expensive to affordable—but believes the knives that every kitchen should have are a chef's knife (or santoku), a paring knife, and a serrated knife.

The 12 Best Knife Sets Recommended by Professional Chefs

If there’s one must-have in your kitchen, apart from basic cooking skills , it’s cooking knives —and those looking to fix up a kitchen for the first time or upgrade their collection might want to purchase a knife set. To find the best knife set for you, look for a set that comes with quality knives you will actually use for a variety of kitchen tasks.

• 01 what to look for in a knife set
• 02 is a knife set for you?
• 03 factors of a quality knife
• 04 best knife sets
• Alain Allegretti , culinary director and partner at Fig & Olive Restaurant Group
• Ashton Keefe , chef and food stylist
• Carla Contreras , chef, food stylist, photographer, and health coach
• Devan Cameron , chef and owner of Braised & Deglazed
• Elijah Safford , head chef and owner of ACEQ
• Jake Cohen , chef and author of Jew-ish: Reinvented Recipes from a Modern Mensch
• Katie Button , chef and restauranteur
• Khoran Horn , Philadelphia-based chef and restaurateur
• Meg Walker , executive chef and CEO of Made by Meg Catering
• Michelle Hernandez , pastry chef and owner of Le Dix-Sept Patisserie
• Sara Hauman , chef and former Bravo Top Chef contestant
• Stephen Chavez , chef-Instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education in Los Angeles
• Zoë François , pastry chef and host of Zoë Bakes

With that said, there’s no shortage of knife sets on the market—and the choice among the myriad options can make shopping for your ideal set overwhelming. To help you narrow down your choices, we consulted professional chefs to find out what makes a quality knife set and which ones they recommend or use themselves. Ahead are the 12 best knife sets that are sure to become your most prized kitchen essentials.

The best knife sets, at a glance

• Best overall: Wüsthof, Classic 7-Piece Knife Block Set, $280
• Best with steak knives: Wüsthof, Classic 12-Piece Knife Block Set, $550
• Best with a slicing knife: Zwilling J.A. Henckels, Professional “S” 7-Piece Knife Block Set, $370
• Best Western-Eastern-hybrid: Wolf Gourmet, 7-Piece Cutlery Knife Set, $600
• Best Japanese-style: Shun, Premiere Blonde 5-Piece Knife Block Set, $450
• Best low-maintenance Japanese-style: Global, Takashi 7-Piece Knife Block Set, $350
• Best budget: Mercer Culinary, Genesis 7-Piece Forged Knife Roll Set, $163
• Best portable: Victorinox, 7-Piece Fibrox Handle Cutlery Set With Black Canvas Knife Roll, $219
• Best minimal: Misen, Essentials Knife Set, $170
• Best splurge: Coltellerie Berti, 5-Piece Insieme Kitchen Knife Set, $2,096
• Best editor-approved: Kline, The Knife Set, $240
• Best for small kitchen jobs: Opinel, Essential Small Kitchen Knives, $95

What to consider when shopping for a knife set

There are a few things to consider as you shop for a knife set—and the best knife sets can come with a variety of knives in a couple of styles (like Western- or Eastern-style options) and include anywhere from three or more knives. Regardless of how many and what type of knives you want in a set, you may also want to consider a knife set with a sharpener and your preferred choice of storage.

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Type and number of knives

First, consider choosing a knife set that includes pieces that can tackle a wide variety of tasks. According to the majority of the professional chefs we interviewed, there are three essential knives that every set should have—these include a chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a serrated bread knife. “Those three knives handle 95 percent of my kitchen jobs,” says Jake Cohen , author of the cookbook Jew-Ish: Reinvented Recipes from a Modern Mensch and former food editor of Tasting Table and Time Out New York . “That being said, every kitchen is different, and the way you cook is going to help dictate what other knives you might want to add [to your collection].”

To help you figure out what other knives you might want in a set , think about what you cook and the complexity of your at-home cooking projects. For instance, you might want to look for a knife set that includes a utility or petty knife. “It’s a great workhorse when you don’t want to unveil your chef’s knife,” according to Khoran Horn , Philadelphia-based chef and owner of Guard House Cafe , Stripp’d Juice , and BLVCK . If carving, trimming, and deboning meats and fish is a frequent task for you, a boning knife may come in useful too, adds Katie Button , chef and co-founder and CEO of Katie Button Restaurants. In addition to these pieces, chef and food stylist Carla Contreras recommends looking for sets with secondary but important items, like kitchen shears or scissors.

If there’s one knife that you’ll always want in a set, it’s an eight- or nine-inch chef’s knife, says Ashton Keefe , chef, culinary stylist, and author of Lemon & Salt: A Modern Girl’s Guide to Culinary Revelry . “It doesn’t matter how good the set is if you don’t love the chef’s knife,” she says, adding that it should fit in your hand and not overwhelm it in length or weight.

Just as the types of knives in a set can vary, so can the number of knives. If you want a dedicated knife for every cooking task, you might prefer the versatility of a larger set. That said, a smaller set can serve you perfectly well should you choose an option that comes with knives that can tackle a wide variety of kitchen jobs. Most of the chefs we talked to also cautioned against sets with lots of pieces. “When it comes to knife sets, I would avoid the trap that more is better,” says Stephen Chavez , a chef-instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education in Los Angeles. “The average household does not need a sixteen-piece set of knives or steak knife additions.”

Western vs. Eastern-style knives

As you shop for a knife set, you’ll also come across options with knives that are classified into two main categories: Western and Eastern-style knives, with some varieties featuring aspects of both types. According to Keefe, the main difference between the two often comes down to the blade. Western-style knives typically have a thicker blade with more of a curve on the cutting edge, whereas Eastern or Japanese-style knives feature a thinner blade without much of a curve to it. It’s also important to mention that Western-style knives can retain their edge longer than Japanese-style knives, says Contreras, and thus require less effort to maintain. However, “many believe that a Japanese knife is sharper because of the type of blade,” says Keefe. Ultimately, though, the choice is a matter of preference.

Sharpening accessories

Regardless of which knife set you choose, the knives that come with your set will require sharpening once a month or, if used less often, every few months. “A sharp knife is the best knife,” says Keefe, and considering this, you might want to purchase a set with a sharpener, like honing steel or a knife-sharpening stone , to maintain their edge. Otherwise, you can purchase these sharpening accessories separately . As an alternative, Contreras says that you can have a professional sharpen your blades—just keep in mind that while convenient, this option will come at a recurring cost.

Ideally, a knife set will also come with either a knife block or a knife roll for storage. The choice between the two options will come down to the space you have available and how you organize your kitchen . A knife block allows for easy access to your blades, but if you are limited on kitchen space, you might prefer a knife set that comes with a knife roll.

Should you purchase a knife set?

If you’re setting up a kitchen for the first time or want to upgrade your collection, buying a set of kitchen knives can be a convenient and affordable alternative to purchasing knives piecemeal. However, while purchasing a quality knife set can offer all you need at a wallet-friendly price, you might want to build your own knife set if you want to customize your collection to your exact cooking needs. According to Michelle Hernandez , a pastry chef and the owner of Le Dix-Sept Patisserie in San Francisco, most home cooks only use one or two knives, and she adds that it’s also much easier to care for and maintain a few knives than it is to care for many.

Which kitchen knives should you purchase, and in what order?

If you opt to build your own knife set, start with the essentials—a chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a serrated bread knife—and from there, you can always add individual implements to your collection. If you’re looking to purchase a chef’s knife, Hernandez recommends the Wüsthof Classic 8-inch Chef’s Knife ($170); the Material Almost 4-inch Knife ($55) or the Victorinox 4-Inch Utility Knife ($9); and the Wüsthof Classic 9-Inch Double Serrated Bread Knife ($150).

Folks willing to shell out more money can also consider purchasing domestic craft knives. “Choosing a domestic craft knife allows you to get to know your knife maker, talk to them about what you want, and how you’re going to use [your knives],” says Button. She recommends South Carolina-based Middleton Made Knives , which is known for making well-made knives that are comfortable to use, or Chelsea Miller Knives , which is owned by one of the few female knife-makers in the country.

Factors of a quality knife

Whether you’re purchasing knives per piece or as a set, all the chefs we interviewed recommend prioritizing quality over quantity. “Quality does make a difference in longevity, durability, and reliability,” says Chavez, and if you want quality knives, you’ll want to consider ones made from high-carbon stainless steel or ceramic materials with a full-tang construction and sturdy ergonomic handle.

According to Contreras, you’ll want to choose knives made from materials like high-carbon stainless or ceramic—each of which has pros and cons. Many knives constructed from high-carbon stainless steel are easy to care for and resistant to rust, says Contreras, though they can be quite costly. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, ceramic knives can perform tasks just as well as their counterparts. “They are incredibly sharp,” she says, with the caveat, “but very delicate.”

Full-tang construction

You’ll also want to choose knives with a fully forged and full-tang construction, in which the blade extends all the way to handle, says Chavez and Meg Walker , executive chef and CEO of Made by Meg Catering. Knives made only with a partial-tang construction (which don’t run all the way to the handle) are of lower quality than their counterpart and more prone to breakage, she explains.

Last but not the least important is a knife’s handle. “For longevity, avoid unfinished wood handles, especially with rivets,” says Chavez. “Over time, the wood will separate from the rivets and be hard to keep sanitary.” You’ll also want a handle that is comfortable to hold to make it convenient to use day-to-day, says Alain Allegretti , chef and former owner of Allegretti, La Promenade des Anglais, and Azure by Allegretti, with Chavez adding that it should fit perfectly in your hand. While comfort is subjective, the options on the list have been vetted by chefs who can attest to their comfortability.

With this in mind, here are the 12 best knife sets—all recommended by professionals.

Best knife sets

Includes: 8-inch chef’s knife, 3 ½-inch paring knife, 6-inch utility knife, 8-inch serrated bread knife, kitchen shears, honing rod, and 13-slot knife block

This knife set comes with the recommendation of Button and Devan Cameron, chef and owner of the food blog Braised and Deglazed . It’s beloved by TV chefs like Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, and Ina Garten, too—and there’s no question why.

“Wüsthof makes quality knives that will last for decades,” says Cameron. “This was my first set of professional knives and what got me through culinary school.” Button attests to the quality of the included knives. “They are affordable, have a heavier and durable blade, and last forever,” she says. As further testament to their durability, the blades have a full-tang construction and are forged from one continuous piece of high-carbon stainless steel. Each knife in the set is likely to get lots of use in the kitchen too, with Button referring to them as “great workhorse knives.” The knives are on the heavier side, however. “Some people may find these knives to be a little heavy, especially the chef’s knives,” says Cameron, but he says that the “smooth” and “comfortable” handle can help make maneuvering the blades easier and more pleasant.

The set is one of the most extensive options on the list, and it includes a chef’s knife, a paring knife, a utility knife, a serrated bread knife, plus kitchen shears and a honing steel. Also included is a 13-slot wooden knife block to hold all the pieces with room to spare for more additions.

Style: Western

Knife material: High-carbon stainless steel

Full-tang construction? Yes

• Extensive array of knives included in set
• Knives have comfortable and smooth handles, according to experts
• Chef’s knife might be heavy for some, according to one expert

Includes: 8-inch chef’s knife, 6-inch chef’s knife, 3 ½ -inch paring knife, 6-inch utility knife, 8-inch serrated bread knife, four 4 ½-inch steak knives, kitchen shears, 9-inch honing rod, and 13-slot knife block

This knife set comes highly recommended by Allegretti, who says, “This has the essentials for anyone to use in their home kitchen,” like two different-sized chef’s knives, a paring knife, a utility knife, and a serrated bread knife.

What sets it apart is that it’s the only set featured on the list that comes with steak knives, which can save you the money of having to purchase a steak knives set separately. Allegretti also attests that all the knives included in the set are “sharp” and “durable,” thanks to their high-carbon stainless material and full-tang construction. Considering the array of quality knives that come with the set, it’s worth the cost. It also includes a pair of kitchen shears, a honing steel, and a 13-slot knife block to hold all of its components. If anything, the knife block leaves little room for additional pieces, though you may not need any more knives in your collection if you own this set—it is comprehensive as is.

• The most extensive knife set on the list
• Comes with four steak knives
• Knife block has limited room

Includes: 8-inch chef’s knife, 4-inch paring knife, 5-inch serrated utility knife, 6-inch slicing knife, kitchen shears, honing rod, and 16-slot knife block

This knife set has the approval of Contreras and Zoë François , pastry chef and host of Zoë Bakes on Magnolia Network. “Henckels were my very first set of knives and they still hold up 30-plus years later,” says François, and Contreras agrees: “This set will last a lifetime.”

The knives are forged from a single piece of high-carbon stainless steel blades for long-lasting durability, and the overall set comes with four knives, including a chef’s knife, a paring knife, a utility knife, and a slicing knife, plus kitchen shears and a honing steel. While the set doesn’t come with a serrated bread knife (which experts typically recommend), the included knife block has plenty of space for more pieces, so you can add your own. Folks may also appreciate the inclusion of the slicing knife (aka carving knife). While the experts we spoke to don’t consider it to be essential, it is useful, particularly for those who frequently serve roasts and large grilled meats at home. What’s more according to Contreras? This set is as attractive as pictured in the above photo—a bonus for those who want an option with a clean and visually appealing design. “This is basic and beautiful,” she says. “I love how simple it is.”

• Knives are made to last, according to experts
• Includes a slicing knife
• No serrated bread knife included

Includes: 8-inch chef’s knife, 3-inch paring knife, 10-inch serrated bread knife, 6 ½-inch Santoku knife, kitchen shears, honing rod, and 10-slot knife block

Wolf is known to make professional-level kitchen appliances, and the brand’s knives are no exception. According to ACEQ chef and owner Elijah Safford, this set was designed with industry professionals in mind to appeal to trained chefs and enthusiastic home cooks alike.

“While comfortable and easy to use, the knives are designed to last since it was made in line with Japanese precision and German durability,” says Safford. “At home, I use each instrument for prepping big meals or making a quick meal after a long night.” Indeed, the set comes with all the knives you need for at-home cooking—namely, a chef’s knife, paring knife, serrated bread knife, and Santoku knife, a knife that is versatile for many jobs, but especially for cutting vegetables. What’s more, the knives included in the set are as durable as they are functional. They feature a full-tang construction and triple-riveted handles, while the high-carbon stainless steel blades can hold their edge well and stand up to regular sharpening.

Kitchen shears, a honing steel, and a 10-slot knife block round out the set. As a welcome bonus, the knife block doubles as a cookbook or device stand, making it ideal for those who often follow along to recipes while cooking.

Style: Western-Eastern hybrid

• Knives are comfortable and easy to use, according to experts
• Knife block doubles as a cookbook stand
• Knife block is bulky

Includes: 8-inch chef’s knife, 4-inch paring knife, 6 ½-inch utility knife, honing rod, and 6-slot knife block

If you prefer Japanese-style knives, you might want to consider this knife set from Shun. The set showcases Japanese craftsmanship at its finest, and it also comes with the approval of Horn, who says, it is ideal “both for the professional and the home chef.”

The included knives are handcrafted in Japanese and offer the perfect blend of form and function. Each hand-hammered knife is constructed with high-carbon stainless steel , resulting in a “great blade that will retain its edge with good care,” says Horn, and comes replete with a Pakkawood handle that is resistant to moisture. You’ll only receive a chef’s knife, paring knife, and utility knife with the set, but they might be all you need considering their versatility—and there is, of course, the option to purchase additional knives should you want to expand your collection. The set also comes with a six-slot bamboo knife block with a streamlined design that won’t take up too much space on your counter and a honing steel to keep your blades sharp.

Style: Eastern

• Knives are handmade in Japan
• Includes essential knives recommended by experts
• Only includes three knives

Includes: 8-inch chef’s knife, 4 ¼-inch utility knife, 8 ½-inch serrated bread knife, 5 ½-inch vegetable knife, 3-inch peeler knife, honing rod, and 9-slot knife block

This Japanese-style knife set has the essential implements—a chef’s knife, utility knife, and serrated bread knife—along with a vegetable knife, peeler knife, honing rod, and a nine-slot knife block to store them all. According to Contreras, the knives included in the set are also easy to maintain.

“This is an Eastern-style knife set that can be sharpened like Western knives, which makes them a lot easier to care for,” she says. It doesn’t skimp on quality either. The included knives are handcrafted in Japan, using the same decades-long process, resulting in sharp blades that will make meal prep a breeze, regardless of what you’re chopping, slicing, or dicing. The knives are forged from a single continuous piece of stainless steel, and the dimpled handles offer a secure grip. Functionality aside, “the design is simple and beautiful,” says Contreras, making it worthy of display on a kitchen counter.

Style: Japanese

Knife material: Stainless steel

• Knife block includes extra room to expand your collection
• Knife handles are made of stainless steel, which might uncomfortable for some people

Includes: 8-inch chef’s knife, 3 ½-inch paring knife, 5-inch utility knife, 8-inch serrated bread knife, 6-inch boning knife, honing rod, 7-pocket knife roll

If you’re on the market for a budget-friendly option, this knife set ranks among the best for the money. This seven-piece set is especially great for beginner cooks (“This is a culinary school kit,” says Contreras) and it can grow with you as your skills develop.

Not only is it affordable, this set also covers the essentials. It comes with a chef’s knife, paring knife, utility knife, serrated bread knife, boning knife, plus a honing steel to keep your blades sharp. “These are incredible knives and some of my favorites,” says Contreras, adding that they will “last for ages.” Each knife is crafted from high-carbon stainless steel and comes replete with a non-slip handle to offer you a comfortable and secure grip. There’s no block included in this set, which might be a small tradeoff for some folks, but it comes included with a knife roll that will make you think you’re a contestant on Top Chef. The roll features seven elastic pockets to securely hold the pieces in place, and it’s equipped with an adjustable strap for easy transportation.

Full-tang construction? Not specified

• Ideal for beginners and professionals, according to experts
• Knife roll allows for compact storage
• No kitchen shears included

Includes: 10-inch chef’s knife, 4-inch paring knife, 8-inch serrated bread knife, 6-inch boning knife, 8-inch carving knife, honing rod, and 8-pocket knife roll

This knife set is ideal for amateur and pro chefs—and it comes with the recommendation of Cameron. “Victorinox makes great but affordable knives,” he says. “I highly recommend [them] for their very reasonable price and comfortable grips.”

The set comes with five knives, including a chef’s knife, paring knife, serrated bread knife, boning knife, and carving knife, all made from stainless steel. It also includes a knife roll for storage, which features eight pockets carrying handles, and a removable, adjustable shoulder strap . One downside according to Cameron? “These knives won’t keep their edge as long as Wüsthof or Henckels knives,” he says, which might be a tradeoff for some folk, but he adds, “they’re still easily sharpened.” Fortunately, the set comes with a honing rod that is perfect for the task.

Full-tang construction? No

• Knives are comfortable to use, according to expert
• Comes with a knife roll with carrying handles and removable, adjustable straps
• According to one expert, knives require frequent sharpening

Includes: 8-inch chef’s knife, 6-inch utility knife, and 8-inch serrated bread knife

The Misen Essentials Knife Set is an ideal choice for those who are after something simple and straightforward. As the name implies, it contains just the “essentials”—namely, a chef’s knife, utility knife, and a serrated bread knife.

The set comes with the recommendation of Top Chef season 18 contestant Sara Hauman , who calls it “the best knife set for home use,” adding that three knives are “all you need to tackle any kitchen task.” She also notes that the set is reasonably priced, and what’s more, the knives are made from quality materials. “[The knives] are made from steel that will stay sharp and can take a beating from everyday use,” she says. The knives also feature a full-tang construction as a further testament to their durability. The only tradeoff? This set doesn’t come with either a knife block or roll for storage.

Knife material: AICHI steel

Full-tang construction: Yes

• Contains essential knives most chefs recommend for at-home use
• Knives are and will stay sharp, according to expert
• Does not come with knife block or roll

Includes: 9-inch chef’s knife, 4-inch paring knife, 6-inch utility knife, 9-inch serrated bread knife, 5-inch tomato knife, and five knife blocks

Handmade in Italy since 1895, Coltellerie Berti elevates knife-making into a fine art form. Each knife is made by a professional knife-maker from start to finish, using only the best materials. This quality is reflected in the price, but Keefe says it is a “pretty—and pretty good—knife set” that is well worth the cost.

All five knives that come with the set feature a full-tang construction made from stainless steel and come replete with lucite carbon handles. With a set, you’ll receive a chef’s knife, paring knife, serrated bread knife, and tomato knife, which is sure to come in handy for quick cutting jobs. It also comes with five separate knife blocks (one for each of the included knives) that snap together with magnets, allowing you the option to store them together or separately, as you like. If you can’t look past the price, Keefe says you can always opt to purchase the knives individually.

• Handmade by professional knife-marker in Italy
• Comes with five separate knife blocks that can be stored together or separately

Includes: 8-inch chef’s knife, 4-inch paring knife, 8-inch serrated bread knife, 7-inch santoku knife, kitchen shears, honing rod, and 6-slot knife block

The Kline Knife Set comes with the approval of Well+Good’s associate commerce editor Francesca Krempa . In her review about the Kline knives , she says “it has everything you need to whip up your favorite home-cooked meals without breaking the bank.”

And, indeed, it does. The set includes a chef’s knife, paring knife, serrated bread knife, and santoku knife, all full tang and made from chromium steel. “They were scarily sharp, nothing was too heavy or too awkward to use, and they looked so nice,” wrote Krempa. It also includes an acacia knife block for easy-to-access storage, which she notes, was among her favorite features of the set. “As someone who is a sucker for aesthetics, it just looks so neat on my kitchen counters and makes it easy to reach what I need mid-cooking sesh,” she proclaimed. “It all lives right there, organized neatly (and safely!) in the chic wood block.”

Knife material: Chromium steel

• Knives are sharp yet comfortable to use, according to reviewer
• Knife block isn’t bulky

Includes: 4-inch paring knife, 4-inch serrated knife, 3-inch vegetable knife, and 2-inch stationary peeler

If you’re looking for a knife set for small kitchen jobs, Well+Good’s SEO writer Danielle Calma recommends this option from Opinel. It comes with a paring knife, serrated knife, vegetable knife, and a stationary peeler, all made from stainless steel blades and visually pleasing wood handles.

“This is the perfect knife set for delicate work, whether it’s chopping fruits or veggies or herbs, saving me the effort of having to use a chef’s knife, and, let’s be honest, cleaning it afterward,” says Calma. Although the stationary peel might seem an extraneous addition to the set, she says it has come in handy more than a few times, including on one occasion involving skinning a pound of potatoes—a mighty feat for its size. She also notes that the blades are not only sharp, but have also maintained their razor edge over the last two years, even if she hasn’t had them resharpened since she received them.

• Knives maintain their edge for a long time, according to reviewer
• Comes with stationary peeler
• Does not come with storage

Frequently asked questions

What are the three most commonly used knives in a chef’s kitchen.

The type of knives a chef will use in a kitchen will vary according to their preferences. However, according to the professional chefs we talked to, the most common knives everyone might want to have are a chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a serrated bread knife, as they can work for a wide variety of kitchen tasks.

How can you choose your ideal knife?

When choosing your ideal knife, you’ll want to think about what you would typically use it for, whether you want a knife that is versatile or for a specific task, and whether you prefer a Western- or Eastern-style option. You’ll also want to consider a knife’s quality. According to the chefs we spoke to, a quality knife will typically be made from high-carbon stainless steel or ceramic and will feature a fully forged and full-tang construction.

Is there a knife that never needs sharpening?

All knives must be sharpened to ensure they are effective—and safe—to use. With that said, you can make the task easier for you by either having a professional sharpen your knives for you or purchasing a knife set that comes with a self-sharpening block.

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6 Best Kitchen Knife Sets of 2024, According to Experts

These knife sets come with high-quality knives you'll actually use.

Related To:

Our Top Knife Set Picks

• Best Overall: Wusthof Classic Nine Piece Block Set
• Best Self-Sharpening Set: Henckels Classic 15-Piece Self-Sharpening Block Set

Best Asian Knife Set: Shun Classic 5-Piece Starter Block Set

Best value set: ginsu gourmet chikara series 8-piece set, best basic set: misen essentials knife set, best design statement: material the knives + stand.

Nothing is more essential for a cook than a good knife set. Whether you’re prepping for dinner, grabbing a snack or carving a roast, you’ll need a sharp tool to get the job done quickly and neatly. When you go to shop, you’ll be confronted with knife sets with a variety of styles and knives and a wide range of prices. To help you cut through all the choices and find the knife set that’s best for you, we explain the differences and what to look for, and make knife set recommendations for all kinds of cooks with all kinds of budgets.

How We Picked

To select our best knife sets, we relied on our years of experience testing knives and using them both in the test kitchen and in our own homes for a wide array of tasks from dicing veggies, to hacking up chickens, to carving roasts. We scoured review sites to see what recommendations were made by other sources and also pored over user comments to find out what home cooks have to say.

In addition to considering how comfortable the knives felt in the hand and how well they cut, we considered what pieces were included in the set. Our picks contain a selection of knives that we think you will use often in everyday cooking.

Best Overall: Wusthof Classic 9-Piece Knife Block Set

• Perfectly balanced
• Sharp and hefty
• Good assortment

We think these classic knives are just about perfect and worth the splurge. Forged and full tang, they feel good in your hand, are easy to control and are neither too heavy nor too light. On the chef’s knife, called a "cook’s knife" by Wusthof, there’s a rounded blade that glides when you’re lifting it to cut a carrot or onion and that can be rocked back and forth when you’re mincing a mound of parsley into confetti. Right out of the box, it’s sharp enough to slice ripe tomatoes without squishing. Yet, it also has the heft to cut a whole chicken into quarters. The knife handles are synthetic, so they’ll never warp or splinter and will always feel smooth in your grip. In the block, you’ll find a great assortment including all the must haves plus a scissors, and a honing steel. If you run your knives along the steel at the correct and consistent angle, you can use it to "tune up" the blades, but eventually you will need to resharpen them.

• Blade material High carbon stainless steel
• Handle material Polypropylene
• Block material Acacia
• Block dimensions 10.5" x 4.5" x 8.5"
• Number of pieces 9
• What's included 8" cooks, 6" utility, 8" bread, 8" carving, and 3" and 3.5" paring knives, kitchen shears, honing steel, block

Best Self-Sharpening Set: Henckels Classic Precision Self-Sharpening 15-Piece Set

• Self sharpening
• Labeled slots
• Large assortment
• Somewhat lightweight

As we’ve already pointed out, the best knife is a sharp knife. In the block that comes with this set each of the fine-edged knife slots has a mechanism that hones the blade every time you pull the knife out of and return it to its slot. You don’t have to worry about pulling out a steel or holding the blade at the correct angle to maintain sharpness and because you’ll be honing them regularly, you may be able to go longer before you need to put a whole new edge on your knives. These forged well-balanced knives aren’t as heavy as the Wusthof's, which will make them more comfortable for some cooks. The only time the light weight is a bit of a disadvantage is when it comes to hacking through an acorn squash or a chicken leg. Each of the knives has its own designated slot. The slots are labeled to make sure you place each piece in the correct one. You get a wide array of tools in this set including a santoku, a serrated tomato slicer, and eight steak knives. However, note that there is no carving knife so if you make a lot of roasts, you can either use the all-purpose chef’s knife or invest in an additional tool.

• Blade material Stainless steel
• Handle material Polyoxymethylene
• Block material Ash
• Block dimensions 15" x 4.63" x 13"
• Number of pieces 15
• What's included 8" chef’s, 7" santoku, 5.5" prep, 4" paring, 5" serrated utility, and eight 4.5" steak knives, kitchen shears, block

• Smooth blade
• Bread knife not included

This Shun set give you the very best in Asian knives. Crafted by hand in Japan, they’re forged of Damascus steel which is created by welding together different alloys and folding them into layers. The process leaves a beautiful swirled pattern on the blades and also gives them durability and keeps them sharp. You’ll notice the blades are highly polished and super smooth and carrots and potatoes fall away from the blades rather than stick to them. Their construction also makes these knives expensive, which is why you get a highly-curated set. With their thin, lightweight gliding blades you can easily use them for carving or filleting a fish, but you probably won’t want to tackle a crusty loaf of sourdough or debone a leg of lamb with one of these beauties. As the bamboo block is small, it won’t take up unnecessary space on your countertop. If and when you have these knives resharpened, make sure you use a sharpener designed for Asian knives or bring them to a pro who’s familiar with them.

• Handle material Pakkawood (wood and resin composite)
• Block material Bamboo
• Block dimensions 11" x 3" x 6"
• Number of pieces 5
• What's included 8" chef’s, 6" utility, and 3.5" paring knives, honing steel, block

• Reasonably priced
• Santoku included

Forget about those old TV ads that hawked Ginsu knives by cutting through cans and succeeded in making them a laughing stock. This brand actually makes high-quality tools from Japanese steel that sell for an unbelievable price. Not only are they sharp out of the box, they maintain their edge and they feel exceptionally well balanced in the hand. The rounded handles look a lot like the ones found on far more expensive Asian cutlery but the chef’s knife has the classic European shape that’s good for chopping and rocking and even has the heft to whack through chicken bones. For slicing vegetables or cutting meat into very thin slices for a stir fry, a santoku is included.

• Handle material Resin
• Block dimensions 15.5” x 12” x 14”
• Number of pieces 8
• What's included 8" chef's, 3.5" paring, 7" santoku, 5" straight and serrated utility knives, sharpening steel, shears, block

• Contains the 3 basics
• Sloped bolster
• Block not included

This 3-piece set is aptly named Essentials Knife Set because it contains the three knives we think you absolutely must have. With the 8-inch chef’s knife, you can not only chop, mince and slice, you can also carve a roast and debone a chicken, even whacking through bones with the heavy heel. The paring knife comes in handy for peeling an apple, taking the core out of a tomato or slicing a single clove of garlic. Every home needs a serrated knife for cutting a crusty baguette. While the knives in this set rival the ones from the well-known European brands for quality, they’re much more reasonably priced because they’re sold directly from the manufacturer. While the edge on the chef’s knife is as thin as on an Asian-style knife for precision cutting, it has the shape of a western blade for heft. You’ll find it easily sails through a tomato, creating paper thin slices but also rocks back and forth for mincing garlic or herbs. On all of the pieces, the bolster is sloped, so you can comfortably use the pinch grip that the pros use to give them good control. Misen specifies that these knives should be hand washed. You can choose between red, blue, black and gray for the handle color. If you like, you can purchase a 5-piece set which includes a 7.5-inch Santoku and a 5-inch utility knife. A block, magnetic strip and in-drawer storage are sold separately.

• Handle material Composite
• Number of pieces 3
• What's included 8” chef's knife, 9.5” serrated knife, 3” paring knife

• Contains the essentials
• Scalloped knife is short

Everything about this set, including the packaging, is beautifully designed. As soon as you open the box, you get the same wow feeling you experience when you unpack a new iPhone. And once you arrange the knives on the magnetic block and place them on your countertop, your kitchen gets an immediate style upgrade. However, this set is more than eye candy. The rounded matte knife handles give a good grip and the blades are well-balanced and super sharp. On the chef’s knife, there’s a sloped bolster that invites you to use the pinch grip the pros prefer. As the parer, which Material calls “the almost 4” knife”, has a rounded blade, which can serve as a mini chef’s knife for mincing garlic or just a handful of parsley leaves. Our only quibble is that the scalloped knife is only 6 inches long so while it easily slices tomatoes or a baguette, it might not make the cut when it comes to a round loaf of sourdough bread. The stand which comes in your choice of white ash or walnut, is thin and compact; because it’s magnetic, you can place the knives anywhere on the surface. As this set is only sold from the manufacturer’s website, it’s more reasonably priced than high-end assortments from well-established brands. The knife handles are available in black, white, sage, or mocha.

• Block material Walnut or beech
• Block dimensions 9.5” x 4” x 9.5”
• Number of pieces 4
• What's included 8" chef's, 6" serrated, 4" paring knives, magnetic block

What to Consider Before Buying a Knife Set

Weight and feel.

A good knife should feel like an extension of your hand. It should be comfortable to grip and easy to control. Neither the handle nor the blade should feel exceptionally heavier than the other. Before you make a purchase, or make the first cut in your own kitchen, it’s a good idea to simulate slicing and see how a knife feels to you.

Virtually all high-quality knives today are made from high-carbon stainless steel. Although carbon blades are easy to sharpen and maintain their edge longer, they also discolor and can even rust so they need special attention. The addition of stainless steel makes blades easy to keep looking good with minimal upkeep.

Knife blades are either forged or stamped from steel. Forged blades are formed from a single piece of molten metal while stamped blades are punched out of a large sheet of steel. In general, forged blades are sturdier and hold an edge longer. They have comfortable handles with a bolster, or a band of metal, to ease the transition to the blade and provide protection to your hand. In addition, they have a full tang, which means the blade runs all the way through the handle to give you good control. However, forged knives are also pricier, heavier and less flexible. Some people prefer lighter weight stamped blades which are easier to maneuver, especially around bones or a small item like a mushroom cap.

Most knives in American kitchens are based on Western-style. They tend to be thick and heavy as they’re intended to cut through root vegetables and large cuts of meat. On a German knife, there’s a bolster and a curved blade to make it easy to glide and rock when you’re cutting and mincing. French knives have a straighter edge, which is better for slicing.

In the past decade or so, Asian knives have also become popular. Designed to prep delicate foods like fish and tender vegetables with an up and down motion, they’re lighter and thinner and have blades with less of an angle. While this makes them comfortable to use and helps them to make precise cuts, it also means they have to be handled more carefully and shouldn’t be used for tasks like cutting up butternut squash or through bones.

The most popular Asian shape in American kitchens is the santoku, which has a long wide blade. It’s designed primarily for slicing and can do pretty much whatever a chef’s knife can. However, because it has a straight blade, it’s harder to use for rocking back and forth or scoring vegetables.

What knives should be included in a knife set?

Look for a knife set that contains what we consider the three essentials : a chef’s knife , utility knife and serrated bread knife . A chef’s knife is the workhorse you’ll use for chopping onions and celery, slicing tomatoes or eggplant, and mincing garlic and parsley. The curvier its blade, the better it will be at rocking back and forth for tasks like mincing herbs. Although paring knives were once considered must-haves, today we recommend a slightly longer one called a utility knife, which in addition to paring an apple, can be used for slicing small blocks of cheese or segmenting an orange. All good sets will include a long, serrated bread knife. A long thin slicing or carving knife is another good tool to have in your kitchen and we like sets that include one.

How much should a knife set cost?

Many knife sets will come will many other pieces that increase the price. Don’t pay more for additional tools unless you know you’ll use them. For example, if you already have a set of steak knives you love , you don’t need more in a knife set. Keep in mind, the block itself is considered one of the pieces. It is a useful tool for storing your knives where they’re easy to access, their blades don’t get nicked or damaged, and you can’t accidentally cut yourself. A block will take up space on your countertop, though, so aim to choose one that fits your needs and space.

Do I still have to sharpen my knives in a knife block?

When it comes to a knife, there’s one thing that’s more important than anything else, and that’s how sharp it is. The most well balanced, comfortable to hold, expensive knife in the world is pretty much useless if it doesn’t have a sharp blade. In addition to just doing the job for which it was intended faster and more precisely, a sharp knife is safer. With a well-honed blade, you are less likely to cut yourself than with a dull one. A dull blade can slip off of a tomato instead of slicing down. To test your knife for sharpness, try to cut a single sheet of paper vertically. A sharp blade will cut right through the paper leaving a clean edge on either side.

Inevitably, you will have to resharpen the blades of your knives. You can bring or send them to a sharpening service once a year or you can buy a countertop or electric model and do it yourself. Check out some of our favorite knife sharpeners here as well as one sharpener a Food Network staffer swears by .

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Travel + Leisure / Brian Kopinski

Whether you need a pocket knife to whittle sticks on a camping trip, a hex wrench to adjust your seat on a bike trip, or a screwdriver for a quick fix at home, nothing beats having a good multi-tool on hand. We tested 30 multi-tools to search for the best ones to travel with — testing for performance, ease of use, features, value, and durability. We even performed a drop test to make sure there was no damage after the multi-tools fell onto a concrete floor from hip height.

“The type of multi-tool you choose will vary greatly depending on what you need to use it for,” says Kevin Boyle, senior design editor at Wood Magazine , noting there are specialty multi-tools for everything from gardening to camping. But, while multi-tools are indeed multi-talented, they are meant to complement your toolbox, not replace it. “Multi-tools aren’t made to be comparable to regular full-size tools,” Boyle says. “They are best for simple, everyday tasks.”

Out of the 30 multi-tools we tested, our favorites featured a variety of tools in pocket-size formats to take on the go. We found tools that would be best for camping, cycling trips, keychain attachments, and more. No matter where you are traveling, these multi-tools will help you be prepared for anything.

Best Overall

Leatherman wave+.

• Performance 4.8 /5
• Ease of Use 4.3 /5
• Features 5 /5
• Durability 5 /5

It offers an excellent range of tools that are intuitive and effective.

Although it is small in size, it’s too bulky to actually tuck in a pocket.

Leatherman has long been known as a leader in multi-tool manufacturing, and the 18-tool Wave Plus continues this trend. Even with 18 tools, nothing seemed unnecessary or out of place. We found the handles to offer a good grip, and while we wouldn’t exactly call it a comfortable grip, it’s easy to use in one hand. We found the tools and blades are easy to open and use, including the locking mechanisms. We did notice that to access some of the tools you have to open others, which can seem a bit unwieldy at first, but it’s easy to get used to. The tools are mostly intuitive, though we needed help from Google to ensure we were using the bottle opener properly. The pliers were particularly effective, though for some of the other tools, we’d prefer to reach for a full-size, stand-alone tool instead.

While it is indeed pocket-size, we found it too heavy and bulky to keep in a pocket, so it’s better to hang from a belt. It survived our drop test with flying colors, so you can feel confident about carrying it during travel. We thought the quality and performance were well worth the price; in fact, we might consider paying more for such a sturdy and useful multi-tool.

The Details: 1.2 x 0.7 x 4 inches (closed length) | 8.5 ounces | 18 tools

Travel + Leisure / Henry Wortock

Best for Camping

Gerber gear truss.

• Performance 4.9 /5
• Ease of Use 4.8 /5
• Durability 3.5 /5

It’s a compact tool with sharp blades that stow safely.

It doesn’t have a corkscrew.

Packing for a camping trip requires careful strategy, so your multi-tool needs to be as light and compact as possible. Even with an impressive 17 tools to its credit, the pocket-size Gerber Gear Truss more than fits the bill. This multi-tool is built for travel: one of us that participated in testing even keeps one in our car for easy access while on the road. But packability isn’t its only superpower. The tools are the main star, and they are as intuitive as they are effective. The pliers are sturdy and the blades are quite sharp on the saw, knife, wirecutter blade, and scissors, which all stow easily. The “titanium-like” finish made the tools survive our drop test without a scratch, and while the knives did come out a little bit on impact, there was no danger or damage.

Even if you’re just an occasional camper, this is a worthy tool to have on hand. The 17 tools are curated well — including a bottle opener for drinks, though we would love the addition of a corkscrew — and are a great value for the price.

The Details: 1.75 x 0.5 x 4.35 inches (closed length) | 8.4 ounces | 17 tools

Best for Cycling

Topeak mini 18+ multi-tool.

• Performance 4.5 /5
• Ease of Use 5 /5

It’s got everything you need for quick fixes on a bike trip.

Non-cyclists should look to other multi-tools for more features and functions.

A compact yet well-stocked tool bag is a must-have for every cyclist, which is why the right multi-tool comes in clutch for those long rides. With this 20-function multi-tool from Topeak, you need not worry about fixing a flat tire or adjusting your seat and can just focus on the open road. We found that each tool opened and closed easily, though none lock in place. While it doesn’t have blades, scissors, or pliers, it has enough hex wrenches to save a cyclist’s day. There’s also tire level and a chain repair tool so you can keep on riding. It’s compact enough to fit in a front pant pocket, but it’s made to stow in a bag beneath your bike seat. It’s also quite durable, with no discernable damage during our shock test.

This is indeed a tool made for cyclists: in fact, if you’re not a road warrior, you won’t get much use out of this except for the screwdrivers and bottle opener. It’s a good option for beginning riders still getting the hang of certain tools, though we noticed the manual is small enough to pack along with the tool.

The Details: 3.2 x 1.7 x 0.8 inches (closed length) | 6.4 ounces | 20 tools

Best Splurge

Leatherman free p4 multi-tool.

• Performance 5 /5
• Ease of Use 4.9 /5

It has a great variety of tools that are sturdy enough for home improvement projects.

It’s one of the pricier multi-tools on our list.

Another Leatherman multi-tool makes our list — and for good reason. The tools are easy to lock and unlock, though we observed that it’s better to use both hands to open and close it completely. The tools are sturdy and sharp: there are two blades sharp enough for sawing, a pocketknife perfect for whittling, and two sharp scissors. We found that the pliers grip well and can easily snip through plastic and wire. We also liked that there are both flat and Phillips screwdrivers.

The Leatherman name speaks for itself and so does this particular multi-tool, which we think is durable enough even to use for home improvement projects. If you’re handy at home or need to be while on the go, this is a great tool that’s worth the price. All told, we were impressed with the variety and effectiveness of the tools. Yes, this is the priciest selection on our best multi-tools list, but we definitely think it’s worth the splurge, especially if you travel often.

The Details: 5.38 x 7 x 1.25 inches (closed length) | 12 ounces | 21 tools

Wetols 21-in-1 Multi-Tool

• Performance 4 /5
• Ease of Use 4.4 /5
• Features 3.8 /5

You’ll be hard pressed not to find a tool you need.

The plier cutters aren’t as sharp as we’d like.

Don’t let the budget-friendly price fool you: we found this 21-feature multi-tool to be sturdy and useful yet compact for travel. We prefer to keep it in a pouch — which can hold additional screw bits — on the belt strap, but it can fit in a front pocket as well. Take your time exploring all the features of this multi-tool, which felt heavy yet comfortable in our hand during testing. Among the numerous fold-out tools are a blade for cutting wood, flathead and Phillips screw bits, and a bottle opener. We found most of the tools effective, though the rope threads got stuck in the plier cutters when we attempted a cut. It survived our shock test without any damage, so it’s as durable as some of the pricier ones on our list. It’s hard to believe this nifty little gadget is so affordable, and it’s totally worth buying one to have on hand for fixing things in a pinch.

The Details: 4.88 x 2.44 x 1.65 inches (closed length) | 11.8 ounces | 21 tools

Best Keychain

Gerber gear dime multi-tool.

Gerber Gear

• Performance 3.5 /5
• Features 4.7 /5
• Value 3.8 /5

It’s compact and the tools stow very easily.

The blades could be sharper and there’s no Phillips screwdriver.

We were impressed with the overall effectiveness and durability of this mini multi-tool from Gerber Gear. It might be one of the smallest tools on our list, but it’s mighty, having survived our shock test without a scratch. While this tool is compact and lightweight enough to keep on a keychain, the tradeoff is that some of the tools are so small that they don’t offer enough leverage to be truly effective. There’s no Phillips screwdriver, so keep that in mind if you plan to use your multi-tool mostly for driving screws. There’s no locking mechanism, but everything stows away easily without any sharp edges (in fact, we found the blades and the wire cutter to be a bit dull). At just $29, it’s a budget-friendly tool to keep handy, though those who reach for a multi-tool more often might prefer to use this as a backup option rather than the primary tool.

The Details: 2.75 x 4 x 0.6 inches (closed length) | 2.2 ounces | 12 tools

Other Multi-tools We Liked

There were some other multi-tools we found useful during testing, although we found some minor issues that prevented them from being on our main list.

Rak Hammer Multi-tool : If you’re in the market for a multi-tool with a hammer, this is a budget-friendly option. However, the very feature we love makes it too large to store easily, making this a poor option for air travel — but it could work for a road trip.

Leatherman Skeletool Lightweight Multi-tool : This multi-tool is super light at just five ounces. It scored well during testing, but it didn’t have as many useful tools and features as some of the others on our list.

RoverTac Camping Essentials 14-in-1 Survival Tool : While we appreciated the hatchet for use during camping and other outdoor activities, this feature made it far less portable than the other travel-friendly multi-tools on our list.

Our team of experts tried out 30 multi-tools. First, we evaluated the design and ease of access, noting the arrangement of each tool, how safe it was to open/close any blades or knives, and how easy it was to engage/disengage the locking mechanism. For pocket-size tools, we paid attention to how easy or challenging it was to tuck them away in an actual pocket. When testing larger ones, we clipped them to keychains, backpacks, and tool belts as alternative storage options.

We then put each device through its paces, trying out each tool for its dedicated task: for example, we used the screwdrivers on the multi-tools to tighten a screw into a piece of wood and the pliers to snip a piece of wire. Next came the shock test, in which each multi-tool was dropped from hip height to simulate it falling out of a pocket. We then noted whether each multi-tool’s construction or function was damaged in any way.

We made our final selections for this best multi-tools list based on performance, ease of use, features, durability, and overall value.

Tips for Buying

Be mindful of size and weight.

Comfort of use is important when choosing a multi-tool, so you don’t want yours to be too large or heavy. If it hurts your hand to use it, it’s not the one for you, says Boyle of Wood Magazine . He also recommends looking for features like spring-loaded pliers that make it simple for you to operate with just one hand.

Think about the features you’ll need

Your multi-tool will only be as useful as you find the individual tools to be, so keep in mind what features and functions you’ll want yours to have. Boyle recommends choosing a multi-tool at least with a knife, pliers or wire cutters, and a screwdriver (both Phillips and flathead). “Some multi-tools have way too many tools that are not necessary or useful for everyday use,” Boyle says.

Above all, make sure the blade locking mechanism is easy to use and that the rest of the features are intuitive. Boyle says it’s a good thing if you can figure out how to use each tool without consulting the manual.

Pay attention to materials

Boyle recommends stainless steel-constructed multi-tools to prevent rusting, though plastic is another good option. Proper storage is key to ensure that your multi-tool is protected from the elements and impact.

It depends on the multi-tool’s design. The TSA prefers that you don’t keep any sharp objects in your carry-on bags, which will preclude you from boarding a plane with a multi-tool that has a knife or blade of any length. However, if your multi-tool has scissors instead of a blade, you can keep it in your carry-on as long as the scissors are four inches or shorter in length. In general, you can pack multi-tools in checked bags, which might be your best bet to avoid any delays in the security line, or worse, having your multi-tool confiscated.

While no state (at the time of writing) will bar you from owning a multi-tool, the carry laws will vary, particularly if your multi-tool has a blade. Typically, you can carry a multi-tool if it has a blade that’s four inches or shorter in length. You’ll need to check with your own state’s laws regarding open vs. concealed carry of multi-tools, as some features are perceived as weapons and can indeed be used as such. Above all, common sense prevails if you plan to carry your multi-tool.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

For this story, Barbara Bellesi Zito reviewed insights from our Travel + Leisure testers with an eye toward the most user-friendly and travel-friendly options in multi-tools. For professional insight on the most effective features, she consulted Kevin Boyle, senior design editor at Wood Magazine .

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TSA-Approved Utensils That Are Actually Cute

By Megan Spurrell

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

All products featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Every time I order an iced coffee, I make sure to speak up at the end: “No straw, thanks. I brought my own.” But then lunch rolls around, and my sushi comes with one-use chopsticks, or I pick up a salad with a “compostable” fork, which, well, is no longer compostable once I've thrown it in the garbage bin. I’m always stuck with the nagging feeling that I could still be doing better . Especially when plastic utensils account for an enormous amount of waste, and nearly 40 billion of them are used every year in the U.S. alone. That’s over 100 million a day—and doesn’t even count the ones we use when we’re traveling abroad.

Luckily, a handful of brands have begun offering chic, reusable utensils sets—and they’re leagues beyond the old-school Boy Scout sets you might be envisioning. (Though these durable kits go camping, too.) Keep reading for some of the best utensil kits to travel with, no matter how far you’re going from home. Bonus: they all meet TSA regulations for carry-on items, even the sets with metal knives, meaning you don’t have to sacrifice your good intentions for the sake of a flight.

Anthropologie Adonia Travel Flatware Set

That’s right—even Anthropologie is getting in on utensil sets. This kit is made of wood, meaning the pieces are light and won’t clang in your bag, but should always be hand-washed. The real highlight, though, is the colorful cotton bag, which makes the set easy to find at the bottom of an over-packed carry-on and looks pretty good, too. There’s no knife in this set, but it does come with chopsticks—fine for most people, depending on what you usually eat on-the-go.

Buy now: Anthropologie Adonia Travel Flatware Set, $18 at nordstrom.com

BergHOFF Travel Flatware

For the minimalists, this compact cutlery kit from cookware brand BergHOFF is a practical, fuss-free option. Because the utensils are metal they feel more like real cutlery, and can do their job of piercing and cutting better than bamboo sets. Plus, it’s all okay to fly with , and dishwasher safe—including the slim-cut, silicone case.

Buy now: BergHOFF Travel Flatware, $24 at anthropologie.com

YBOBK HOME Portable Flatware Set

If you’re of the camp that needs “real” metal utensils, but are happy to ditch a knife in favor of chopsticks, these adorable sets off Amazon hit that sweet spot. (Travelers heading anywhere with great street-side noodles , take note.) You can choose between four pastel shades for your cutlery and carrying case, and they all fit neatly together meaning they take up minimal space when you're trying to pack light.

Steph Koyfman

Shannon McMahon

Charlie Hobbs

Buy now: YBOBK HOME Portable Flatware Set, $10 at amazon.com

2 Pack Natural Bamboo Travel Cutlery Kit

This camping-inspired set does it all: you get a spoon, fork, knife, chopsticks, reusable straw, and straw cleaner. Oh, and you get two sets for the price of one, meaning you can keep one at home, and another permanently in your carry-on so you never forget to pack it. The bamboo utensils are a little daintier than the kind you’d use at home, but that just means they’re easy to roll up and carry around.

Buy now: 2 Pack Natural Bamboo Travel Cutlery Kit, $14 at amazon.com

Devico Portable Utensils

For those really serious about never picking up a plastic utensil again, this does-it-all kit from Amazon has every utensil you could need. You even get two reusable straws. Each metal utensil would be at home in your cutlery drawer, and the felt carrying case helps cut down on the weight when you’re running around with it.

Buy now: Devico Portable Utensils, $13 at amazon.com

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The 6 Best Camping Utensils and Cutlery You’ll Find

Written By Spencer Yeomans

• Updated May 26, 2022

If you’re in a rush and want to find out what the best camping utensils is, we recommend the Sea to Summit titanium spoon, fork, and knife set .

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Food is the way that you replenish your energy supply – a critically important process, especially when you’re camping or backpacking. Snacks like granola bars and trail mix can easily be eaten using nothing but your hands, but what about the more traditional meals that you eat during the day? Surely you didn’t plan on using your fingers to scoop it into your mouth. The best camping utensils are the solution to this problem. From sporks to full cutlery sets, we’ve reviewed some of our favorite options for you to choose from below.

Camping Utensils At A Glance

If you’re in a hurry, check out this quick list of our favorite camping utensils – otherwise, keep on scrolling to get to the full reviews!

Editor’s Choice: GSI Outdoors Glacier 3-Piece Stainless Cutlery Set

Best Full Camp Set : Sea to Summit Delta Camp Set

Best Overall ↟ : Sea to Summit Titanium Spoon, Fork, and Knife Set

Best Spork : Snow Peak Titanium Spork

Best Bang for Your Buck: Snow Peak Titanium Silverware

Best Titanium Cutlery Set: TOAKS Titanium Cutlery Set

Choosing Camp Cutlery

When you’re throwing together your camping checklist , you’ll likely be putting a lot of thought into what you want to eat. Risotto, pasta, soup…maybe even a good steak, if you have the tools needed to cook it. Aside from water (and shelter, depending on who you ask), there’s truly nothing more important than food, when it comes to camping. But while you’re meal planning for the weekend, you know what’s really easy to overlook? That’s right, the utensils. As far as camping gear goes, they’re small and I guarantee you’ll forget to bring them if you aren’t careful. You may have remembered all the food, but that doesn’t necessarily mean much if you don’t have a way to eat it! There are a lot of options to choose from when it comes to camping silverware, though, so how do you know where to start? Well, here are a few different points to keep in mind when you’re looking for the best camping utensil:

How are you camping? As in, are you car camping, backpacking, festival camping, or something else? Car campers can get away with a lot more weight than a backpacker can, so this is something pretty important to keep in mind. You might not think a few ounces make a big difference, but trust me…they do. If you’re ready to set up shop at a campground with your cabin tent , and plan to make gourmet meals for your family, you can probably bring what you use back home. Obviously, you won’t want to bring your fine cutlery, but most other things will suffice. I would still suggest getting a dedicated cutlery set for camping, though, because it’s nice to have something specifically set aside for that task. You may also want to add a couple other items to your camping box, like a cooking pot, a can opener, and a bottle opener. Backpackers, on the other hand, will fall in love with their new best friend, the spork . If it’s small, lightweight, and multifunctional, it’s probably for backpacking. And sporks just so happen to fit the bill perfectly. Certain folding camping utensils can work nicely as well.

What are you eating? There are plenty of freeze-dried food options that you can find at outfitters like REI. They often come in deep bags, and all you have to do is add hot water and wait a few minutes before enjoying. When it comes to convenience and weight, you really can’t do better, but the deep bag can make it difficult to consume. Long spoons are ideal for meal packets like these, so you can easily get every last morsel without getting grease and spices all over your hands in the process. Other meals, like ramen and soups, can be eaten with nothing more than a spoon. However, if you plan on getting a little fancier, you may need a fork and knife as well. Cutlery sets are perfect for more complex meals, and are nice to have if you plan on using them while you’re cooking.

How many people are you feeding? Cooking for a large group? You’ll want to make sure they’re all well prepared with their own cutlery sets. But even beyond that, how do you intend to dish it out to everyone? Getting a ladle and/or serving spoon will save you a lot of headache when you’re trying to load up plates for 6 people!

Camping Utensils Material

Not all camping utensils are created equal. There are a variety of different materials to choose from, each with their own pros and cons. Here are a few key points to remember:

The options listed above are just the base materials – sometimes you’ll find utensils that mix and match various components. It’s common to find a combination of steel, aluminum, and titanium, and sometimes you’ll encounter something that has a plastic handle with a metal head. Bamboo and wood are less common in the camping world, though you’ll often find them at various glampsites. After all, style is everything!

Types of Camping Utensils

Now that you know what many of the best camping utensils are, it’s time to talk about what types you have to choose from. We’ve already briefly mentioned the… … spork , which most of us already know is a hybrid between a spoon and a fork. Some sporks even have a serrated edge that can be helpful for cutting, though they certainly aren’t as good as a real knife. Most of these utensils are cheap, lightweight, and small, making them the ideal travel companion for backpackers. You can also find folding camp utensils , which are convenient to have when you’re trying to save space. It’s easy to find forks, spoons, and knives that are like this, so you can get as many of a certain item as you want without getting a whole set. Some of the hinges have questionable quality, but many are actually very well designed. Usually made out of metal, you can find plenty that are durable and inexpensive, making them an overall crowd favorite. And finally, there are cutlery sets . This is the “all in one” package, where you’ll get a set that includes a fork, spoon, and knife. Some also come with chopsticks, and most are stored in their own little carry bag. For convenience and cost effectiveness, this is definitely the way to go, if you think you’ll use all three of these utensils.

Camping Utensil Comparison Table

Top camping utensils – reviewed, gsi outdoors glacier 3-piece stainless cutlery se t.

Weight:  2.7 Ounces

Includes:  Knife, Fork, Spoon

Best Use:  Camping

Material: Stainless Steel

I don’t know about you, but I’m used to camping utensils that are cheap and flimsy. My first two sets were plastic, and they broke within a year of using them, even though they didn’t see too much action. Ever since then, I’ve believed that metal is the way to go, despite the added weight. As such, I’m a big fan of the GSI Outdoors cutlery set . Since they are made from stainless steel, durability is hardly a concern, even if you aren’t very gentle with them. However, they are a bit top heavy, since the head of the utensil is made from solid steel, while the handles are just a steel frame. It does make them lighter overall, and since the head is heavier, it does provide better cutting power. You’ll just need to take some time to get used to them. But the real bonus with this camping utensil set is that the knife actually cuts! The serrated edge tears through anything you slide it against, which is a pretty rare occurrence when it comes to camping utensils. For car campers, trust me when I say it’s worth spending a few extra bucks to get quality cutlery like this, instead of the cheap, plastic utensils that you’ll find most places.

Reasons For

Knife cuts very well

Feels good to eat with

Fairly lightweight

Work just as good as the utensils you have back home

Reasons Against

The string to tie them together is a bit annoying to work with

Sea to Summit Delta Cutlery Se t

Weight:  1.5 Ounces

Includes:  Fork, Knife, Spoon

Best Use:  Backpacking

Material:  Polypropylene

Sea to Summit’s Delta cutlery set just might convince backpackers to cheat on their sporks. Small and lightweight, these utensils might not be the prettiest or most durable, but they sure are portable. In fact, one of my only complaints is that they might be a little too small – or at least, the handles are. If you have big hands, you might struggle with these a little bit. The clip that holds them together is pretty convenient, and they’re perfect to keep inside your car or office space when you aren’t camping. So next time a restaurant doesn’t include utensils with your takeout meal, you’ll be prepared! You’ll also be pleasantly surprised by what the knife is capable of cutting through. Most utensils that are this cheap wouldn’t be able to slice through mashed potatoes, but oddly enough, you could use this knife to tear into a steak. The quality of their products is one reason why I’m a big fan of most things that Sea to Summit makes. You are getting a bit more out of this deal than just the utensils, but the bowls and mug are still a worthy addition to your kit. If you don’t have any items in your camp kitchen yet, or you’re looking to do a full update, this is a great place to start.

Lightweight

Very portable

Easy to clean

Convenient clip to hold the utensils together

Wish they came in more colors

Handles are a bit small

Sea to Summit Titanium Spoon, Fork, and Knife Se t ↟

Weight:  1.4 Ounces

Material: Titanium

It might be more expensive, but titanium is my favorite material when it comes to kitchen items. Very lightweight and durable, Sea to Summit’s titanium cutlery set is just as good as what you have back home, at a very small fraction of the weight. In fact, they may even be better than what you have at home. The set comes with its own carabiner, allowing you to clip them all together when they aren’t in use. And considering these are the lightest utensils we’ve reviewed so far, I’d feel pretty comfortable bringing them with me on a backpacking trip as well. Sporks are good for traveling, but they just don’t have the cutting power that you’ll find in a real knife. And let me tell you, this titanium knife is a steak cutter, even though it looks like a butter knife. You’ll pay a little more up front for this set, but it’s the sort of product that will last you for many years to come. Great for camping, backpacking, at home use, or as a gift, this set is definitely one of my favorites.

Very lightweight

Knife has great cutting power

Comes with a carabiner

Multifunctional

Snow Peak Titanium Spor k

Weight:  0.6 Ounces

Includes:  Spork

Material:  Titanium

A backpacker’s dream come true, Snow Peak’s titanium spork only weighs about half an ounce. And since it is titanium, you know that it’s going to last you for a very long time. Though a bit shorter than I like, this camping utensil still gets the job done better than many of its competitors. Your fingers will get a little dirty as you scrape the bottom of those dehydrated meal packs, but most of us are used to that by now. For the amount of comfort and durability you get out of this spork, licking your fingers at the end of a meal feels like a small price to pay. The beauty of titanium is that it doesn’t rust either, so you can really put it through the wringer without worrying too much about aftercare. There’s also no metallic smell or taste with this material, so you can just enjoy the taste of the food, without tasting the utensils as well.

Won’t rust

No metallic smell or taste

Comfortable to eat with

Handle is a bit short

Snow Peak Titanium Silverw are

Includes:  Fork, Spoon

This cute silverware set by Snow Peak will have you feeling like you’re eating back home with your usual utensils. Made from titanium, the fork and spoon are shaped like most standard utensils, not the odd skeletonized versions that you might find elsewhere. This allows them to stay more discreet, especially if you want to use them for work events, home use, or while you’re at a restaurant. With an ergonomic design, they feel good in both your hands and your mouth. And as we know, titanium doesn’t have a metallic taste or smell, so you’ll be able to fully enjoy the flavor of your food. Of course, the biggest flaw in this product is the fact that it doesn’t come with a knife. However, many camping meals don’t require one anyway, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting by with just the fork and spoon. When they’re not in use, just put them in the included canvas carry case (which does come in a variety of colors).

No metallic taste or smell

Look like real utensils

Comes with canvas carry case

TOAKS Titanium Cutlery Se t

Weight:  1.7 Ounces

Your all-in-one set for backpacking (or car camping), the TOAKS titanium cutlery set does it all. The bowl of the spoon is deep and wide, so you’ll be able to put more food in your mouth with every bite. The prongs of the fork are pointy and sharp, allowing you to pick up certain items with relative ease. Just be careful – those pointy bits are going in your mouth, and it’s pretty easy to stab yourself in the process. The knife does have a serrated edge, but you’re better off bringing something sharper to cut through a steak – or something equivalently tough. Otherwise, it’s a handy set that’s good to have in your camping kitchen bin. With the included carabiner securing them together, you won’t have to worry about them slipping away from each other into odd corners of your storage unit. When you factor in the durability and all the beneficial qualities of titanium, you’ll think the price on this cutlery set is a steal. You may want to get one for your backpack, and another to keep in your car for those meals on the go.

Deep spoon bowl

Pointy fork prongs

Inexpensive

Knife is decent, but not super sharp

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Final Thoughts

They might be small, but a camping utensil can make or break your outdoor trip. Without a proper way to eat your meals, you could be left hungry and frustrated that all the food you brought along will go to waste. Your hands are always an option, but that can be unsanitary if you don’t have a way to properly clean them prior to eating. The best camping utensils are durable and lightweight, so you can take them anywhere without being afraid that they’ll break. They should also feel good when you hold them and put them in your mouth, and ideally, they should be safe to use over a stove or campfire as well. With all that in mind, we like Sea to Summit’s titanium spoon, fork, and knife set the best. The titanium is very lightweight and durable, and it doesn’t leave a metallic taste in your mouth when you eat with it. It’s also safe to cook with, so you can get a lot of uses out of this one cutlery set.

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Spencer Yeomans

By the age of 20, Spencer had already tackled some of the most famed mountain ranges in Europe, Asia, and North America. His mission is to help others accomplish their own outdoor-related goals, even within the time constraints of a 9-5 job and a busy life schedule.

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The 7 Best Knife Block Sets, According to Our Tests

These top-rated brands had a real edge over the competition.

Knife block sets seem to be one of those love-it-or-hate-it kitchen tools. Some cooks swear by keeping just two or three great knives on hand, while others want a wide variety to tackle everything from whole chickens to cucumbers .

No matter your preference for inventory, the best knife sets will feature sharp, well-balanced knives that can help even the most amateur cooks chop, dice, and slice with ease. We gripped the handles of many different models to determine which knife block sets were actually worth the money, and after testing some of the top-rated brands available, we found an option for every space and budget.

Our Favorites

Our top pick: chicago cutlery fusion 17-piece knife block set, best budget: farberware forged 21-piece kitchen knife block set, best splurge: wüsthof classic ikon 7-piece slim knife set, best lightweight: global takashi 7-piece knife block set, best for beginners: amazon basics 18-piece premium knife block set, best japanese-style: ginsu gourmet chikara series 8-piece knife set, best for small spaces: mercer culinary genesis 6-piece forged knife set.

Why It's Great: Comprehensive set; includes steak knives; lifetime warranty

Grain Of Salt: A little bulky

The Chicago Cutlery Fusion takes our top spot thanks to its comprehensive inclusions and impressive quality. We found that these knives performed incredibly well after testing them ourselves, especially given their price point.

Clocking in at 17 pieces (including the knife block), the Chicago Cutlery Fusion set contains just about everything you'll need for everyday kitchen tasks. We particularly appreciated the sharp, smooth-slicing chef's knife with its 7.75-inch blade, as well as a deftly maneuvering 3.25-inch paring knife, both of which provided perfectly fluid cuts.

This something-for-everyone knife block set also includes eight steak knives and a sharpening steel, making it a great gift for newlyweds, new homeowners, or even college students who are just starting out cooking. When it came time to slice a tomato—one of the most telling tasks that any home cook will put their chef's knife up against—the test revealed fluid, smooth, and effortless performance.

The Details: 17-piece set; stainless steel knives with wooden block; 14.7 x 9.7 x 8.5 inches

Why It's Great: Sharpener integrated into block; includes unique tools; classic design

Grain Of Salt: Best for beginners

This Farberware knife block set is great for getting started in the kitchen. At 21 pieces, it comes with more tools than most knife sets—including unique pieces like a 6-inch boning knife, a 6-inch cleaver, and a carving fork—and everything stores compactly in a block with a built-in sharpener.

The 8-inch chef's knife completed each of our tests with relative ease. Even though the blade is thicker than most, which made slicing dense ingredients more difficult, it still sliced through a tomato beautifully. Another qualm is that the Farberware knives could have been sharper right out of the box, but the blade material seemed soft and easy to sharpen if necessary.

Not only does it have every knife you could possibly need, but it's also very reasonably priced for the quantity of knives. While construction quality is not exactly top-notch—we noticed some imperfections along the spines and edges of the knives, as well as handles that don't necessarily sit flush with the bolster—the Farberware's 21-piece knife block set performed well enough to make it onto our list.

The Details: 21-piece set; alloy steel with wood block; 9.84 x 5.91 x 13.58 inches

Why It's Great: Respected brand; slender profile is great for small spaces; everything you need, nothing you don't

Grain Of Salt: It's an investment

It's hard to go wrong with buying any Wüsthof knife. The well-respected German company has been producing top-quality knives since 1814, and this set is a great buy if you're looking for a long-term investment.

We love the sleek and slim design of this block—it's something you'd be happy to have on the counter. The 8-inch chef's knife was comfortable to hold, well-balanced, and easy to grip during our tests, which made chopping, slicing, and dicing more efficient.

This no-frills knife block set from Wüsthof includes a 3.5-inch paring knife, a 5-inch serrated knife, a 5-inch santoku knife, an 8-inch bread knife, and a pair of kitchen shears in addition to the chef's knife. It's everything you need for serious work in the kitchen, and you can count on Wüsthof knives to stay sharp and perform well for years to come.

While it's definitely pricey, this knife set is worth it if you're the type of person who prefers to buy things just once.

The Details: 7-piece set; stainless steel knives with acacia block; 20 x 14 x 8 inches

Why It's Great: Super sharp; ideal for smaller hands; modern design

Grain Of Salt: Handle can be slippery

These Global Takashi knives are incredibly sharp out of the box with a modern, visually appealing design. They also passed our tests with few complaints. The 8-inch chef's knife was sharp enough to slice through an entire sheet of paper with ease, but it impressed us even more during the tomato test.

The smallest paring knife, with a 4.25-inch blade, proved a bit too small to be comfortable for most tasks, but the 5.5-inch paring knife stepped in nicely. We did notice that the thin profile of these knives made the handles more difficult to hold than others, so they may be a better fit for smaller-sized hands.

Overall, we recommend this knife block set to intermediate and advanced cooks—beginners may actually find these knives too sharp. The included knives are great for home cooking tasks and professional use alike. The 10-slot bamboo block even offers room to add a few other knives and a pair of kitchen shears.

The Details: 7-piece set; stainless steel knives with bamboo block; 9 x 6 x 3 inches

Why It's Great: Wide variety; includes steak knives; good value

Grain Of Salt: Entry-level quality

The Amazon Basics 18-Piece Premium Knife Block Set includes seven kitchen knives, eight steak knives, a pair of kitchen shears, a blade sharpener, and a pine block—everything you need to get started in the kitchen.

Don't be fooled by the low price—this knife set is no slouch when it comes to performing everyday tasks. During our tests, the chef's knife cut through tomatoes easily, making thin and consistent slices. The edge was even long enough to require only one motion while slicing.

Likewise, the chef's knife made quick work of dicing an onion thanks to the sharp tip and clean edge. Though we acknowledge that this isn't a professional-level knife block set, we did note that some of the ergonomic features could be improved to make the knives more comfortable to use and hold. However, for anyone just beginning their culinary journey and for whom precision performance may not be the top priority, his comprehensive set certainly delivers.

The Details: 18-piece set; stainless steel with pine block; 9 x 6.29 x 14 inches

Why It's Great: Super sharp; great price-to-performance ratio; includes honing rod

Grain Of Salt: No bread knife; block is bulky

Though we lamented the exclusion of a proper bread knife during our tests—there's only a 5-inch serrated utility knife—we were otherwise pleased with the value of this Ginsu Gourmet Chikara knife block set.

We found all the included blades incredibly sharp, but the 8-inch chef's knife and 3.5-inch paring knives particularly aced our slicing tests. The knives did feel a little too lightweight—almost to the point of feeling unbalanced, save for the 7-inch Santoku knife—but for the modest price, the set is fairly priced in terms of quality of construction and performance.

Aside from the aforementioned knives, the Ginsu Gourmet set includes a pair of kitchen shears, a 5-inch utility knife, a honing rod, and a bamboo block, making it a great set for all kinds of kitchen tasks.

The Details: 8-piece set; stainless steel with bamboo block; 15.5 x 12 x 19.75 inches

Why It's Great: Looks good on the counter; essentials only; easy-grip handles

Grain Of Salt: Block is hard to clean

The Mercer Culinary Genesis knife block set is an ideal choice for those who need to conserve as much counter space as possible without sacrificing performance. This clever block has a slim profile that can sit flat against a wall or cabinet, and the wood and glass design lends a modern touch. While the glass block may be tricky to keep clean as splatter will be readily visible, this isn't a dealbreaker.

The 8-inch chef's knife sliced smoothly through our paper, tomato, and onion-dicing tests, and crusty bread was no match for the serrated Genesis knife. We noted that the most difficult part of the strawberry-hulling test was turning the strawberry since the paring knife cut smoothly with no resistance.

The Mercer Culinary Genesis set offers great value with high performance, making it a perfect pick for small spaces, gifting, or anyone just starting out in the kitchen.

The Details: 6-piece set; alloy steel with wood and glass block; 13 x 5 x 15 inches

Our Takeaway

The  Chicago Cutlery Fusion 17-Piece Knife Block Set  is our top pick, thanks to its array of sharp, well-performing knives at a fair price. For a high-end option, it's tough to beat the  Wüsthof Classic Ikon 7-piece Slim Knife Set  for top quality and longevity.

How to Pick the Right Knife Set

Sure, you'll want a knife block set that looks nice on your countertop, but of equal—perhaps greater—importance is how the knives feel in your hand. A well-designed knife is balanced and comfortable to grip, but these nuances are different for everyone. A handle one person considers too narrow might feel fantastic in someone else's hand, so trust your gut and choose a knife set that works for you.

Ceramic or steel? Forged or stamped? While all of the knife block sets we've included here have steel blades, ceramic knives are another option. Ceramic knives tend to stay sharp, and there's no risk of rusting over time, but they're also more prone to breaking or chipping. While stamped steel blades can be of excellent quality and sharpness, forged knives are created from a single bar of steel and tend to be stronger and longer lasting.

Some cooks prefer Japanese-style knives, whereas others reach for a German-style blade. The main difference is that Japanese-style knives use harder steel, so they're sharp and ultra-precise—perfect for fish, fruits, and most vegetables—but they tend to be more brittle. The softer steel used for German-style knives may require more frequent honing, but they're durable and can tackle meats and sturdy vegetables without worry.

A higher quantity of knives isn't always better when it comes to the value of a knife block set. Choose one that includes knives and other tools you'll actually use. You can always enhance your collection with another knife here and there, and then store them in a magnetic knife holder since they won't come with a block. But if you're buying a set, it makes sense to choose one that accommodates your cooking style.

About Our Tests

To determine the best knife sets, our testers challenged the blades to:

• Paper slicing : How smoothly did each chef's knife slide through a sheet of paper?
• Tomato slicing:  Did the chef's knife make a clean cut, or did it squish the delicate flesh?
• Dicing onion:  How precise is the tip of the chef's knife? Did it make clean slices?
• Crusty bread:  How well did each serrated knife cut through bread?
• Hulling strawberries:  Did the paring knife make a clean cut? How easy was it to maneuver through a small piece of fruit?

Testers also considered the aesthetic design of the block sets and the feel of the knives in their hands. They assessed each set on its value, the included knives, and overall quality.

The Leftovers: Other Knife Sets We Tested

Though we appreciated the compact design of the Henckels Classic 15-Piece Self-Sharpening Block Set and praised the performance of the chef's knife, we ultimately left it off the list due to a too-thin paring knife that felt awkward to use and contrasted with the quality of the chef's knife. We also noted the absence of a bread knife and a separate sharpening tool, as the self-sharpening feature lacks control.

Similarly, while the chef's knife and paring knife from the Made In Knife Set performed well, we deducted points since the 4-piece set doesn't include a block (sheaths are included instead) and the serrated knife had a heavy, unbalanced handle.

Common Questions

How do you sharpen knives.

At-home knife sharpening can be achieved with a whetstone, a honing rod, a tabletop sharpener, and—ideally—a combination of both. Honing rods serve to realign the blade, whereas sharpening refines the edge.

How do you keep knife block sets clean?

The best way to keep your knife block set clean is to make sure that knives and other tools are clean and dry before returning them to the block. Wash your knives by hand with warm, soapy water, then dry thoroughly with a soft cloth. The knife block itself can be wiped down as needed with a damp cloth.

How long do knife sets last?

Knife sets can, in theory, last indefinitely. Properly cared-for knives—those that are kept clean and regularly honed and sharpened—can last for decades. That's why it's worth investing in the best quality, most comfortable-for-you knives your budget will allow.

Why Take Our Word for It?

Allrecipes is a community-driven brand committed to providing helpful resources and trusted information to home cooks. Contributor Summer Rylander covered the best knife block sets based on tests performed by Allrecipes editors and product review experts. In addition to her work researching kitchen products for The Cookware Review and reviewing tools for The Kitchn, Summer maintains a modest collection of high-quality German and Japanese knives.

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The 9 Best Knife Sets to Buy Now

Here's what to consider—and what to purchase—when you need a quality set of kitchen knives.

Bridget is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com.

If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Courtesy of Williams Sonoma, Messermeister, Amazon

Ask five friends to name their favorite kitchen knife set, and you'll likely get five different answers—knives are one of the most personal kitchen tools. Preference aside, quality knife sets have a few things in common: They need to feel good in your hand, but also be durable, functional, and stylish. 

A set that meets these qualifications is typically an investment, but one that pays off quick: You'll use knives every day, which is why you should put your money towards the tools that make routine tasks, like slicing, chopping, and mincing, easier and quicker. And since there's so much variety out there, there's definitely a collection that meets your needs. Knife sets for home cooks come in different sizes—and even sets with the same number of pieces may contain different knives. Think about the knives you turn to most frequently now and make sure it—and any others you enjoy working with—are included in the set you choose.

"For me, the most important factor is whether the knife is comfortable in my hand—because that just makes chopping and slicing easier. So I want the knives to not be too heavy and to be evenly weighted," says Amy Palanjian, creator of Yummy Toddler Food and author of Dinnertime SOS and Busy Little Hands: Food Play! .

Not exactly sure which knives work for you? One way to find out is to go to a store in person to hold them; this way, you can prioritize sets with handles that are comfortable and ergonomic. Another is to shop off our expert-curated list, complete with knife sets we've vetted for comfort and quality: To get you started, here are our nine favorite knife sets we think you should have in your kitchen.

Wüsthof Gourmet Starter Knife Block, Set of 6

Courtesy of Williams Sonoma

An entry-level line from a reliable knife brand like Wüsthof will meet the needs of most home cooks. "They are reliable and well priced for the quality," Palanjian says. She really loves the kitchen scissors from this set and uses them to cut food for her kids frequently.

Price at time of publish:  $195

HexClad Cookware 6 Piece Essential Knives Set

Courtesy of Amazon

This set from Gordon Ramsey's recommended cookware brand costs a pretty penny, but the Damascus steel knives are made to last (and they come with a lifetime warranty).

Price at time of publish:  $350

Victorinox 8-Piece Knife Block Set

Victorinox is a brand known for its affordable and durable knives—and this basic knife set offers excellent value. It features carbon stainless-steel blades and comfortable handles and comes with a lifetime guarantee. The set is also available with seven knives or as a larger collection with 10 to 15 pieces.

Price at time of publish:  $186

HENCKELS Solution Razor-Sharp 3-Piece Kitchen Knife Set

If you're setting up your first kitchen, this inexpensive three-piece knife set is a great starter kit. The knives can go in the dishwasher or be washed by hand, and reviewers report the blades really keep their edge.

Price at time of publish:  $35

Yatoshi 5-Knife Block Set

Courtesy of Walmart

We love the look and feel of this Japanese-style knife set. They are chic with beautiful Pakkawood handle that are ergonomic. Note that they do require some care: It's recommended to hand wash and dry them immediately after washing. And watch out for the blades—they're seriously sharp.

Price at time of publish:  $273

Shun Classic 5-Piece Starter Block Set

Courtesy of Crate & Barrel

This beautiful craftsman knife set is lightweight and durable. The knives are made from VG-Max steel and have elegant Pakkawood handles. They are a pricier option, but the knives are razor-sharp and the handles are comfortable, providing precise cutting performance and aesthetic appeal.

Price at time of publish:  $400

Made In The Knife Set

Courtesy of Made In

We're big fans of Made In's cookware, so we had to include their knives on our list of best knife sets. Crafted in France, each blade is made from a single rod of stainless steel and the handles are made from reclaimed olive wood.

They do require some care: The knives are hand-wash only and should be dried immediately after washing—plus you should occasionally oil the handles. But we think this beautiful set, which comes with a choice of handle colors, is worth the effort. It's also compact enough to fit in smaller kitchens and comes with the company's lifetime warranty. 

Price at time of publish:  $549

Messermeister's Build Your Own Block Set

Courtesy of Messermeister

If you're not sure you need a knife set—or if you know you wouldn't use all the standard knives that come in a typical block—Messermeister's Build Your Own collection is a lovely option. The brand makes quality, affordable knives and with the build-your-own option, you can mix and match the knives that make the most sense for you.

Price at time of publish:  Starting at $80

Shun Cutlery Kanso 3 Piece Starter Knife Set

This three-piece Japanese knife set is made of carbon steel, ensuring the edges will hold for a long time. It includes the knives most home chefs reach for again and again: an 8-inch chef's Knife, a 3.5-inch paring knife, and a 6-inch utility knife.

Price at time of publish:  $270

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The Best High-End Knife Sets for Expert Home Cooks

If price is no object, these blades are recommended by professional chefs, butchers, and our editors.

Laura Denby is a food writer and chef with six years of professional culinary experience. Find her work in Real Simple, Food Network, Better Homes & Gardens and more.

In This Article

• Our Top Picks

Our Favorite High-End Knife Set

Factors to consider, our expertise.

Food & Wine / Williams Sonoma

Ask any chef what their favorite kitchen tool is, and there’s a good chance they’ll say a kitchen knife . “As a chef, I learned years ago that the most dangerous tool in a kitchen is an inferior quality, dull chef’s knife,” said Dustin Valette, chef/owner of The Matheson and Valette in Healdsburg, California. Sharp knives are safer than dull ones because you don’t have to apply as much pressure when slicing and dicing, giving you better control. Having at least one high-quality knife is an easy way to streamline your food prep and make you a better cook.

The best high-end knives should be sharp, lightweight, and durable, and since they shouldn’t be put in the dishwasher, they should also be easy to clean by hand. Nathan Burk, a longtime butcher and senior director of meat strategy at ButcherBox , says that knives range in quality and price due to materials or the method used to make them. “What’s important is that they are a good fit for your hand, you are confident with them, and they hold an edge well,” he says. 

Having at least one high-quality chef’s knife is a must, but a set that allows you to tackle every cutting task is worth the investment, providing proper blades for peeling produce, slicing bread, carving meats, and more. If you're ready to invest, we've compiled these recommendations from our culinary staff, knife experts, and the results of in-house testing.

Best Overall

Shun classic knife block.

These hand-forged, razor-sharp knives not only look good but also cut through just about anything smoothly.

If you're switching from a different knife style, the handle shape will take some getting used to.

These Japanese knives are hand-forged, layering thin layers of steel to create a distinctive swirly pattern on the blade as well as an incredibly sharp edge. Shun's Classic collection was a top performer in our overall testing of knife block sets , so it's an obvious pick as the best high-end one, too.

We love that this set has two all-purpose blades — a long chef's knife and a shorter santoku — so you can switch between them depending on how large of an item you're chopping. You also get two slicers, one serrated for bread and another straight with hollow-ground sides to keep from sticking to meat; plus a paring knife for detail work; a curved gokujo good for boning meat or filleting fish; a pair of shears; and a honing steel.

Shun's not-quite-round handles are completely smooth for easy cleaning, and their Pakkawood material is even bacteria-resistant. The D-shape can be comfortable to hold for both right and left-handed users, but if you're switching from a set with more angular handles it'll take a few cutting sessions to get used to it.

Blade Material: High-carbon stainless steel | Handle Material: Pakkawood | Block Dimensions: 11 x 5 x 9 inches | Includes: Paring knife, santoku, boning knife, chef's knife, slicing knife, bread knife, chef's knife, honing steel, shears, 11-slot block

Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore

Best Splurge

Coltellerie berti 5-piece insieme kitchen knife set.

This knife set comes with five handmade, full-tang essentials in three different colors. 

It’s the most expensive set on this list of expensive sets.

In business since 1895 and based just outside Florence, Italy, Coltellerie Berti is all about old-fashioned hand-forging. Its knives are each made by a single person, whose initials you can find stamped into the blade. This set comes with a chef's, bread, utility, and paring knife, all of them razor-sharp and made to last a lifetime. A nice feature with Berti knives is that each includes a magnetized wooden holder, so you can snap together whichever ones you like to create a custom knife block. If you add to your collection in the future, your block can expand automatically.

The five knives you get in the Insieme set cover almost every kitchen duty; there's a large chef's knife and bread knife, shorter paring and utility knives, and a small serrated tomato knife perfect for delicate produce or other soft items. Each one is a work of art, and they're priced accordingly.

Blade Material: Stainless steel | Handle Material: Lucite | Includes: Chef’s knife, bread knife, utility knife, tomato knife, paring knife, 5 magnetic blocks

Best with Magnetic Block

Cangshan thomas keller signature collection 7-piece magnetic knife set.

Hand-forged and hand-sharpened, these full-tang knives are bolster-free to promote a pinch grip.

The magnetic knife bar isn't as fancy as the blocks that come with many high-end sets.

Designed in collaboration with legendary chef Thomas Keller , these hand-forged knives are strong and durable. Made from fine-grained alloy steel, each blade is specifically designed to have a strong edge that’s resistant to corrosion. The knives are full-tang, which means the metal of the blade extends through the handle to promote better weight balance. “A full-tang construction promotes a stronger knife and extends the longevity of the blade exponentially,” says Valette. 

After using them in our test kitchen, we were particularly impressed by their sharpness and the quality and durability of each knife in this set. We like that you get not only a serrated bread knife but also a straight carving knife . Expensive knives like these are meant to be shown off, and you need those long ones for crowd-impressing dishes like a Thanksgiving turkey or a whole holiday ham .

The wall-mounted magnetic bar for the Cangshan set is a very space-efficient way to hold all the included knives, though it doesn't feel as fancy as a big block would. You'll also need an 18-inch section of wall to install it on.

Blade Material: Alloy Steel | Handle Material: Alloy steel | Bar Dimensions: 17.87 x 2 x 0.8 inches | Includes: Paring knife, utility knife, chef's knife, chef's knife, bread knife, carving knife, walnut magnetic knife bar

Food & Wine / Will Dickey

Best Japanese

Miyabi artisan knife block, set of 7.

Williams Sonoma

The handles work for small and large hands, and the blades allow you to make paper-thin slices.

The shears aren't the same quality as the knives. 

These Miyabi blades are sharpened to a narrower-than-normal angle, which makes them ultra-sharp. If you want so-thin-they're-transparent slices of tomato and cured salmon , they're a great choice. They look great, too: The dimpled pattern in the steel comes from a hand-hammering technique called tsuchime that makes each knife unique and also helps keep food from sticking to the blade.

We love the smooth Pakkawood handles on these Japanese knives, with a rich rosewood color and a shape that fits securely in your hand. All four knives in the seven-piece set are of great quality, but the honing steel and shears left us rather disappointed. The plastic handles don't match the rest of the set, and both just feel cheap by comparison.

Blade Material: Stainless steel | Handle Materials: Pakkawood, plastic | Block Dimensions: 9.75 x 5.5 x 16.75 inches | Includes: Paring knife, santoku, chef's knife, bread knife, honing steel, shears, 10-slot block

Best German

Wusthof classic ikon 7 piece block set.

This set of 7 full-tang, high-carbon-steel knives come housed in a slim wood block that helps save counter space.

It doesn’t come with a honing steel. 

These heavy-duty knives are made from high-carbon stainless steel, so they’re stain-resistant, with a sharp edge that won’t warp. The full-tang knives feature a reduced bolster, so you can easily pinch-grip while protecting your fingers. The contoured handles are easy to hold and promote a comfortable grip, while the triple rivets make the knife extra durable. 

This fully equipped set also includes kitchen shears. They add versatility, and the fact that they come apart for easy cleaning makes them extra-functional. However, it doesn't include a honing steel , an oft-overlooked tool that helps keep knives sharper for longer.

Blade Material: High-carbon stainless steel | Handle Material: Plastic | Block Dimensions: 20 x 14 x 8 inches | Includes: Paring knife, serrated utility knife, santoku, bread knife, chef's knife, shears, 6-slot acacia knife block

Best All-Steel

Global takashi 7-piece knife block set.

Sur La Table

Hollow handles filled with sand give these knives perfect balance practically automatically.

The all-steel handles can be slippery when wet, and there are no shears included.

What makes Global's knives unique is that their handles and blades are formed from the same piece of metal, making a seam-free, easy-clean knife that professional chefs love. The Takashi line's hollow handles are filled with sand, which subtly and automatically shifts the weight balance to fit the way you hold the knife. That means you can work quickly, efficiently, and over long periods without putting strain or pressure on your wrists.

Although the textured dots in the handle provide some amount of grip, the metal can be slippery when wet. If you're used to a more sticky material, you'll want to be extra careful when first switching over.

Blade Material: Stainless steel | Handle Material: Stainless steel | Includes: Peeler, utility knife, vegetable knife, chef’s knife, bread knife, ceramic sharpening rod, 9-slot block

Misen Essentials Knife Set

This set may only include three knives, but they're all top-quality.

You don't get a block, magnet, or any kind of storage.

A large chef's knife, a serrated bread knife, and a small paring knife are the bare minimum for a complete kitchen setup, and this trio includes a high-quality version of each one. If you don't have a lot of space but want exceptional knives, it could be the choice for you.

The bolsters on Misen blades have a slight curve to them, a subtle but important feature that naturally forces your fingers into a proper grip. They're super-sharp, durable, and reliable to last a lifetime. You can even get handles in blue, red, or black to match your decor.

There's no block in this set; you'll need to supply your own method of storage. To save room, a compact and versatile magnetic knife holder is probably the best choice.

Blade Material: Carbon steel | Handle Material: Plastic | Includes: Paring knife, serrated knife, chef's knife

Best with Steak Knives

Zwilling pro 16-piece knife block set.

This extensive collection includes a full set of kitchen knives along with a half-dozen steak knives for the table.

The big set needs a big block to hold everything.

Get everything you need for both prep and serving with this set from Zwilling. It's a complete collection — two paring knives, large and small straight and serrated knives, a santoku, shears, and a honing rod — before you even consider the half-dozen steak knives they throw in on top.

Zwilling's Pro line is a few steps up in quality from its standard and Gourmet knives, made from high-carbon stainless steel that can keep a razor-sharp edge. Its curved bolster is made to support a chef-style pinch grip. The steak knives in this set are 4.5 inches long, with a narrow and flexible straight blade that's essentially a fish fillet knife , too.

Many flatware sets have only butter knives, and the Zwilling Pro 16-piece set will complete those while also giving your prep a complete makeover. But the 16 pieces take up a lot of space: The included block is simply large.

Blade Material: Stainless steel | Handle Material: Plastic | Includes: Paring knives (2), serrated utility knife, prep knife, santoku, chef’s knife, bread knife, steak knives (6), shears, honing steel, 16-slot block

Best with Wooden Handles

Miyabi birchwood knife block.

These gorgeous birch-handled knives make amazingly clean cuts.

It's an awfully small set for such a high price.

Everything about this Japanese-made set is high-end, from its well-built bamboo block to its ultra-hard, ultra-sharp blades, constructed of more than 100 layers of steel. And then there are those beautiful handles! Made from birch, they're smooth and comfortable to hold, and the color and pattern mark these knives as something unique and special.

The Mayabi knives performed beautifully in testing and nearly made our list of best knife block sets — except for their high price. These are some very costly knives, especially considering that the set includes only four blades (plus a steel, a pair of shears, and the block itself). The 12-slot block will be only half-full. But if you already have a few knives you love, that could be a good thing.

Blade Material: Steel | Handle Material: Birch wood | Block Dimensions: 16.75 x 5.5 x 9.75 inches | Includes: Paring knife, santoku, chef’s knife, bread knife, shears, honing steel, 12-slot block

Food & Wine/Russell Kilgore

Best Block Set

Shun premier professional knife block set.

Crate and Barrel

These top-quality Japanese blades feel incredible to hold.

The set doesn't include shears.

Compared to Shun's Classic set above, the Premier collection gets you one fewer knife, at a somewhat higher price. Shun's blades are all magnificently sharp and well-made, though these have a different look than the Classic, with a dimpled tsuchime texture on the blade and a darker walnut handle. Like all Shun knives, though, these fit securely and comfortably in the hand, and they're lightweight for agility.

For a dedicated sourdough bread baker or barbecue enthusiast, this set's pair of long slicers — one serrated, one straight — is ideal. On top of those, you get a larger chef's knife and smaller santoku for rapid chopping of ingredients of all sizes, plus narrow-bladed utility and paring knives for detailed work.

This is a complete set of knives , but it's missing a pair of shears. That's especially noticeable because the block has a space for them. But you can always buy Shun's shears to complete the set.

Blade Material: Stainless steel | Handle Material: Pakkawood | Block Dimensions: 13.5 x 5.25 x 8.5 inches | Includes: Paring knife, santoku, utility knife, chef’s knife, bread knife, shears, slicing knife, honing steel, 11-slot block

The knives in the Shun Classic Knife Block Set are handcrafted in Japan, with durable carbon steel blades and sturdy, lightweight Pakkawood handles that are suitable for both left- and right-handed cooks. They’re sharp and versatile, and the set includes all the essential pieces in a bamboo block for beautiful countertop storage. If you're looking to splurge, we recommend the Coltellerie Berti Insieme 5-Piece Kitchen Knife Set , which is as much a work of art as a set of knives.

Construction

“The first thing to look for is whether or not the knife has a full tang,” says Burk. "When the knife is made from one solid piece of metal, it usually feels more balanced in your hand." Lower-quality knives have a joint where the blade meets the handle, which is more vulnerable to wear and tear. To see if a knife has a full tang, trace the top of the blade into the handle; you want to see a layer of metal running to the end.

Blade Material

High-end kitchen tools (including knives) are typically made with superior materials. The steel used in pricier knives typically has a high proportion of carbon, which makes for a hard material that can hold an edge better but is more brittle and expensive to manufacture. Stainless steel is resistant to corrosion thanks to the addition of chromium, but that also makes for a softer material and duller blade. Different knives use different "recipes" for steel that balance those characteristics in different ways, but more expensive models often use higher-carbon steel for more sharpness.

Even the sharpest, most durable blade isn't very useful if you can't hold it comfortably, so you need to consider a knife's handle design. Wood, plastic, and rubber are all common materials, with different methods of connecting the handle to the blade. For longest life, you want a smooth joint with no gaps or spaces where food and water can get in and cause rust.

Handle shape determines how comfortable the knife is to hold, and thus how easily you'll be able to wield it. Perfectly round handles are generally a bad choice as they can rotate and twist easily, while many high-end knives have an oval- or D-shaped handle that doesn't have pointy corners but also sits firmly.

Knives Included

Knife sets come in different sizes, and the best choice for you will depend on what kind of cutting you do most often. At the minimum, every set should include the three basic knives : an all-purpose chef’s knife, a paring knife for intricate cutting, and a serrated knife for slicing bread and other large items. Together, this trio can tackle a wide range of jobs, whether you’re preparing proteins, dicing vegetables, or chopping garlic.

In addition to the basics, look for other knife styles that line up with what you like to make. For example, a fillet knife is a fantastic choice if you prepare a lot of fish, and a boning knife is good for amateur butchers. Additionally, kitchen shears can make several tasks much easier — from cutting herbs to breaking down a whole chicken. There are knife sets that even include steak knives for a whole table of diners, which is a nice addition as long as you don't already own some.

Frequently Asked Questions

Knife sets come in different qualities and sizes, which directly impact price. “The material and method of forging will define if a knife is high-end,” says Burk. Hand-forged knives are typically more high-end than stamped steel. Therefore, hand-forged, full-tang knives made from carbon or stainless steel will be more expensive. Additionally, the more knives that come in a set, the more expensive it will be.

“Light in weight, strong steel, and great ergonomics are all qualities I look for in a high-quality knife,” says Valette. Lighter knives allow you to work more quickly and efficiently and eliminate unnecessary pressure and weight from your hands and wrists, which can cause pain and injury over time.

The best way to clean high-end kitchen knives — or any kitchen knives — is to wash them by hand with soap and warm water. Knives should never go through the dishwasher, whose heat and harsh treatment can dull them. It's also a good idea to dry your knives with a soft cloth immediately after washing. If water droplets sit and dry on the surface of the blade, they can cause pitting and rusting over time.

Many high-end knives have handles made of Pakkawood, which isn't a type of tree but a composite material combining wood and plastic resin. It creates a smooth surface that's durable and easy to clean like plastic while maintaining the look of real wood grain.

• Laura Denby is a food writer and former chef with a degree in culinary arts from the Institute of Culinary Education. After years of working as a chef in professional kitchens throughout the New York area, Laura now tests and reviews culinary equipment for sites like FoodNetwork.com, Forbes.com, People.com, and more. Laura has tested hundreds of pieces of cooking equipment, and she utilizes her professional culinary background to properly evaluate each product.

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