You may have seen movies where actors pull knives out of their footwear and fight. Indeed, having the best boot knife provides adequate protection and utility during movement.
Some who carry knives consider them weapons of last resort, while others prefer to keep them handy for any emergency. Knives are narrow, small, and often thin compared to a standard fixed blade.
The name implies that it should be worn inside or around the shoe. Yet, this is misleading. It’s made for privacy. Thus, you may wear it wherever you see it, like on your belt or even around your neck.
If you’ve piqued your interest and wish to learn more about knives, we’ve compiled them here. So keep reading to find the best one for yourself.
Top 5 Best Boot Knives
1. Kershaw Secret Agent Boot Knife
If you think tactically, it is a sleek and discreet dagger from Kershaw. It has an elegant and narrow blade from non-reflective black 8Cr13MoV stainless steel.
Kershaw Secret Agent has only a single edge that ensures somewhat safe use by the wielder. It adapts comfortably to the hand and footwear with a 4.4-inch blade and a 4.3-inch handle.
This model adds a sheath that is hard-molded and dual-carrying. It also brings a clip on your belt or boots, including slots on both the right and left edges for ankle straps. Further, its blade is locked too firmly.
You can run around with the confidence that it won’t slide as it’s rigidly attached.
Features:
- 8Cr13MoV stainless steel blade with high carbon.
- Attractive blade coating.
- Durable handle.
- High-performance steel.
2. SOG Instinct Boot Knife
One of the best small-size shoe daggers on this list is the item from SOG Instinct. Its overall length is less than six inches, short enough to wear as a footwear dagger. But still, it is sufficiently tall for practical use.
This small item adjusts comfortably to the palm of your hand. Also, the textured G10 handle with finger grooves will confirm a better cut. It has gimping on the back and forefinger grooves that let you control the blade.
The Instinct incorporates a fantastic and hard-molded sheath. The rotating spring clip is an excellent feature that lets you adapt your boots and belt.
Features:
- Light and a small knife with a sheath.
- Full tang fixed blade.
- Textured G10 handle.
- Built to be durable.
3. Reapr 11002 Tac Boot Knife
The perfect self-defense boot is the Fixed-blade tactical product from Reapr. So, use it when hunting, camping, as a combat knife, or packing in survival gear.
This 4.75-inch stainless steel item is double-edged. Also, it includes a black-oxide finish to clean and rust resistance well. Moreover, the item has a 4.25-inch TPR handle for non-slip comfort and control.
The model incorporates a durable ballistic nylon web sheath, including an ABS injection molded plastic insert to lock it in place.
The overall consensus is that the fit could be better for the perfect boot-wearing. Still, it has become a fantastic item for everyday carry, belts, or packs.
Features:
- The Ultimate Survival product.
- TPR handle for non-slip comfort and control.
- Sharp out of the package.
- It’s a tactical dagger for any situation.
4. CRKT Shrill Fixed Blade Boot Knife
The CRKT Shrill Fixed Blade can keep you and others secure. It appears to puncture anything in sight with a 4.8″ dual-edged design.
This product contains a versatile dual-edged design with a lightweight 4.8″ blade. You can’t feel its appearance if you put it in your shoe. But it exposes its appearance when it works.
The brand designs the solid resin-infused fiber handle to work under all conditions. Also, this model offers a full-grained leather sheath with a clip to attach to your footwear or belt.
The blade features are beautiful and may be worth the money if helpful.
Features:
- Classic blade shape to prove utility.
- High-quality, durable, and visual.
- Full tang polished resin-infused handle.
- Valuable for the money.
5. Cold Steel FGX Boot Knife
The Cold Steel FGX comes from the latest fiberglass-reinforced plastic. It stabilizes heat and makes it durable.
The handle comes from deeply checkered Kray-Ex, molded outright to the blade tangs. Further, it has a slightly hard-feeling textured surface. So, the model gives you an ultimate and safe grip irrespective of the weather.
This FGX item is not affected by moisture. So, it never rusts, warps, cracks, or splits in any environment. Moreover, it is light enough to tuck, tie, or tape anywhere.
It’s unimpacted by all but the most acute heat and cold. So, it can be an automatic choice for hidden storage inside and outside.
Features:
- Unaffected by moisture.
- Kraton handle.
- Overall length 9.38-inch.
- Better performance considering the price.
Benefits Of The Best Boot Knife
Self-defense
Self-defense is a conspicuous benefit of keeping a dagger around in your boots. In case of any emergency, a dagger might become the last line of safety for you.
A loaded gun (authorized by law) does not guarantee your safety. The same applies to a shoe dagger. But keeping both makes knives much simpler. In terms of being unable to use a gun, you can carry knives.
Survival situation
Due to the small size and light nature, you can carry knives effortlessly without fatigue. It is helpful, especially when you travel in the jungle or mountains.
You can use it to chop wood for a fire, cut a rope, or any other precarious situation.
Hunting
When you wear hunting boots and go hunting, carrying a heavy blade might not be possible due to enough room. In this case, carrying knives can be convenient without adding significant weight to your heavy backpack.
Further, these knives are too versatile. So, a few work well, like the general hunting knives during skinning and field dressing.
Types of the Best Boot Knives
Dagger style fixed-blade
Most shoe knives have used this style. The fact is that it allows maneuverability and makes its highest how to use it.
These types usually feature spear-tipped, double-edged. They have a handle where you can find your entire hand in all directions.
Neck knife
It is the type worn on a rope hanging from a man’s neck. Some knives contain the same hidden advantages as neck knives.
These usually feature very small and appear in a hole under the handle for a chain or lanyard. Unlike knives, they often remain single-edged and are no more than four inches long.
Compact style
A fantastic instance of this type is the SOG Instinct. It contains a short blade and handle that fits comfortably under the palm or cupped around the end.
These types often have a stiff but light handle-coating or no-handle coating to reduce bulk and weight.
What to Look For in the Best Boot Knives
Legality
You think first whether carrying knives in public in your state is legal. Some countries adopt boot knives as self-defense tools. Plus, they allow you to keep them in public.
Others do not allow you such freedom. Even those that do, you fix set limits on blade length.
In some countries, double-edged knives fall into the category of daggers. Carrying them with you is illegal. You should check the local laws for legal size limits. So you don’t fall into problems later.
Weight
A knife’s weight and demeanor are inversely proportional. The heavier the weight, the less control you’ll have over your knife.
The weight relies a lot on its size. Bulky knives may lead to fatigue and may not stay within legal limits. Apart from the size, it depends on the type of components used. In general, the bass tends to be lighter.
Going with smaller and lighter knives is best if you want to use your boot knife as a secondary tactical weapon or don’t use it much.
Overall size
Your knife’s aim needs to be small enough to fit with your shoes and be hideable. The sheath will determine the size of your knives depending on your footwear size.
Oversized knives will stick out of your boot and become impractical to buy. The fact is that they defeat the purpose of concealment. In contrast, a small one will become hard to get out of its sheath.
Blade Size
Another crucial aspect to consider is the length of the blade. We contain three blade length categories:
- Short Blades: Blades in this category are less than 3 inches. If you focus on your privacy, this category is excellent for you. These adapt to your footwear snugly without exposing their sign, confirming minimal visibility.
- Medium Blades: Blades in this category are 3 to 4 inches long. They are large enough to cut through things more precise, while still providing privacy with minimal effort.
- Large Blades: We are talking about blades over a 4-inch length here. Visibly, it is tough to hide them.
Yet, in contrast, a larger blade will give you more control and aid you in getting into the limb.
Blade Material
Manufacturers do not make all blades equally. The bass used in producing determines their edge retention, hardness, and corrosion resistance. It’s where some manufacturers have an opportunity to cut costs.
From our experience, you can go for 420HC, 154CM, 1050, and CrMoV.
Blade Design
Two widely used blade designs are the clip-point and drop-point. We consider using clip-point blades where precision and detail work are essential. In contrast, the drop-point provides more durability and endures all the abuse you cast at it.
The spear-point blade is another popular design available on many knives. It contains a symmetrical pointed blade design and usually has a double edge. Some states consider it a dagger, so don’t forget to check local laws before purchasing it.
Another excellent blade design is the sheep-foot blade. We use this blade design for cutting. It includes a sharp bottom with a smooth finish on the top, making you less prone to pierce yourself.
Handle
Most knives are pressed to the smallest size possible. So, it is crucial to find one that is comfortable enough to grip with a short handle.
Typically, a handle made of titanium or G-10 steel is the perfect choice among knives by users. These prevent rust and other foreign elements that make them very durable. But they are heavier than their counterparts.
Other fantastic options are Rubber and Micarta, providing a solid grip. Yet, rubber handles can get rusted over time and become less durable.
FAQs: Best Boot Knife
Q: Is a boot knife illegal?
Owning a boot knife is not illegal. But your state may control it in other ways.
For instance, some countries forbid hiding knives and/or keeping knives with a blade longer than a specific length. So, review your state laws before carrying it.
Q: How can I wear the boot knives?
It depends on the design. But typically, you can protect the sheath to your footwear or around your ankle using a clip or strap.
While planning to carry it, you are careful that it does not scour your skin and that the blade remains protected.
Q: Should I shop for single- or double-edge boot knives?
It relies on how to use your knives. Both edges function well for EDC. Yet, a double end works better for self-defense as you don’t need to maintain track of the business end. But, a single edge can contribute to stabbing and slashing effectively.
Bottom Line: Best Boot Knife
We’ve adequately covered the best one available in every price category. They all bring their own USP and varying features. Still, they’re the same, considering the quality they offer for their respective prices.
Anyway, ensure which of these best boot knives is correct for you.