Everyday Carry Trends for 2026

Everyday carry knives (EDC) have become such a staple that today they are almost as common as wallets and keys in people’s pockets. They’re so popular that nearly every gun store in the country has realized the benefits of having a well-stocked knife case in their store. Unfortunately, it isn’t enough to simply have a wide selection of knives in your case. To maximize the margins that knife sales bring, you have to have the right selection of EDC knives. To make that task easier for you, we’ve put together this list of trends in EDC knives that will help you stock your case with the kinds of knives your customers will be looking for in 2026.

Price Point

The unfortunate reality is that biggest trend in EDC knives in 2026 is going to be an increase in prices due to tariffs.

“We’re looking at a 50-percent tariff on imported steel,” says Jamin Horst, cutlery brand manager for GSM Outdoors (Booth #12669). “We’re doing everything we can to absorb the cost increases, but there’s only so much we can do. At the end of the day, it’s like taxes, someone has to pay, so customers are going to have some sticker shock this year.”

With an increase in prices, retailers might be tempted to fill their cases with more inexpensive knives to minimize that sticker shock. But Vance Collver, director of knife culture & innovation at Benchmade (Booth #13640), says that by shying away from carrying a good assortment of high-end knives it could cost you both sales and customer loyalty.

“I see the EDC space as a spectrum that goes from hardcore EDC enthusiasts to those looking for a convenient daily carry to facilitate daily tasks,” he says. “The hardcore enthusiasts are driven by cool designs and materials, but also collectability and trends, and they’re willing to invest in cool, interesting products.”

And Collver says that those cool, interesting knives are no longer necessarily limited to blades made in the USA.

“The growth of Chinese brands that provide affordable products in premium materials with excellent fit, finish, and function is a real trend with legs,” he says. “While ‘Made in the USA’ is still an important differentiator, it’d becoming less of a purchasing driver in this space. If a Chinese-made knife has premium materials and a better fit and finish, and it is visually appealing, it can outweigh a U.S. product of inferior execution.”

When it comes to the prices of your knife selection for 2026, variety will be the key to success. While it’s important to have a good offering of premium knives, it’s also critical to have lower price-point knives that are accessible to your customers who might be new to the EDC space. Fortunately, many of the top manufacturers are providing those lower-cost knives that are still reliable and provide a good value to your customers.     

“Our upcoming 534 Bugout is an example of how Benchmade is addressing the needs in the EDC space,” Collver says. “It’s targeting more of the broader consumer base.”

Innovation

Although tariffs definitely have the downside of increasing the cost of knives, they aren’t all bad news when it comes to the future of the knife industry.

“The current economic dynamics, including import tariffs, are obviously a factor when it comes balancing purchase price and value,” says Michael Janich, special projects coordinator for Spyderco (Booth #10555). “At the same time, changes to the steel industry are both affecting the availability of traditional steels and pushing the envelope of performance with new, state-of-the-art materials.”

This push for new materials and higher performance means that you’re going to see that even price-point knives are going to be of higher quality. Which is good, because with the price of knives rising, consumers are expecting something more from their knives. And the top manufacturers in the industry are responding.

“The market is awash with a glut of knives, with dozens of offerings released each week,” says Kyle Stuart, vice president of marketing for CRKT (Booth #10962). “Consumers are overwhelmed with choice, and to stand out knife brands have to offer genuine innovation, a truly unique design, an exceptional value, or a compelling story behind the knife.”

Although many of your customers might not understand what makes the difference between a high-end knife and one that costs less, innovation in knives is something nearly anyone can spot. So, it’s important to make sure you’re stocking your case with the kind of innovative knives that tend to sell themselves.

“The first Spyderco knives literally defined the form of the modern folder in 1980 by being the first or offer a pocket clip and smooth, one-handed manual opening with our trademark Round Hole,” Janich says. “Since then, we haven’t stopped innovating and have distinguished ourselves by leading the industry with our lightweight, clip-carried folders, our ultra-corrosion-resistant Salt Series, multiple lock mechanisms, and elite, high-performance steels including our own proprietary CPM SPY27 steel.”

Because they’re paying more money for their EDC knives, customers—especially those who aren’t hard-core enthusiasts—are going to rely on choosing reputable brands with names they’ve come to trust to consistently deliver quality and innovation.

“At CRKT, we built our brand on innovation and collaborating with the best knifemakers and designers from around the world, and that’s reflected in our 2026 line-up,” Stuart says. “From the Provoke X—the world’s first morphing tactical tomahawk—to high-value EDC knives designed by Ken Onion, Richard Rogers, and Matthew Lerch, we continue to offer our consumers dependable, accessible knives and tools that instill confidence no matter the pursuit.”

Style

While innovation and quality construction lead the way in most consumers’ knife purchases, don’t overlook the element of style that is being built into many EDC in 2026.

“2026 will be about how an EDC can represent an individual consumer’s style while getting a great value as prices continue to rise,” Stuart says. “Functionality and durability are always at the forefront of an EDC purchase, but consumers are constantly curating their EDC, whether it’s a pair of boots or a backpack, so it has to fit into that system of dress.”

EDC knives have become accessories for many people, and they love to pull their knives out and show them off—not just because it’s cool, but because the knife they carry says something about them.

“There’s more cross-over between lifestyle and fashion into the knife industry,” Stuart says. “You’ll see more bold handle colorways alongside the standard OD greens and coyote tans.”

Bright, vivid colors on both handles and blades has become a huge selling point for today’s EDC buyer, and manufacturers are responding by greatly expanding the color palettes of their knives.

“Black is still king, but people are looking for a little bling in their EDC,” Horst says. “Customers want to add some color to their lives. They’re wanting to match their purse, or clothes, or vehicle.”

Cool Factor

In keeping with the theme of people using their EDC as an extension of their personality, customers across the spectrum aren’t just looking for bling—they’re looking for something undeniably cool.

“The hardcore enthusiasts are driven by cool designs and materials, but also collectability and trends, and they’re willing to invest in cool, interesting products,” Collver says. “People new to the space can have lower expectations than the hard-core enthusiasts, however they still seek reliability, performance, and a ‘cool factor’.”

It’s important to make sure that your knife cases aren’t just stocked with high-quality, good-value knives that contain quality steel at a variety of price points. Those knives should also offer your customers something else—something they might not expect in an EDC.

“While traditional EDC knives were more utilitarian or pride-of-ownership prestige pieces, today’s EDC knives are also valued for their unique mechanisms, their design, the ease and versatility with which they can be carried, and their ‘fidget factor’,” Janich says.

Because EDC knives have become a fidget tool for so many people, don’t overlook that aspect when selling knives to your customers.

“Crossbar locks and button locks are now ubiquitous across the industry, and you’ll see more brands include these locks in their offering,” Stuart says. “These locking mechanisms are intuitive, fidgety, and in the case of CRKT’s Crossbar Lock, ambidextrous.”

Because of tariffs and the rising costs associated with them, 2026 will no doubt be a challenging year for the knife industry and knife retailers, but it also has the potential to sharpen the industry through that adversity.

“The tariffs definitely present a huge challenge for the industry,” Horst says. “But I think they will make us stronger in the long run. We’re going to have to become smarter companies, and deliver better quality knives, or die. That’s the harsh reality.”