Most folding knives fail the same way: they are capable enough in hand but heavy enough that you leave them behind. The Bugout 535 was designed around fixing that problem. At 55 grams, it is light enough that it disappears into a pocket. The 8cm drop-point blade in S30V steel holds an edge well under normal use and sharpens without frustration.
The handle is Grivory, a glass-reinforced polymer that looks cheaper than it performs. The scales are thin but rigid, and the blue anodised aluminium liners beneath them give the handle its structure. The jimping on the spine is functional rather than aggressive. The AXIS lock mechanism, which Benchmade has been refining since 1998, opens and closes smoothly and holds the blade without play. The thumb stud on both sides works with either hand.
Where most knives in this category compromise to hit a lower price, the Bugout compromises only on aesthetics. The Grivory will not develop the patina of a micarta handle; it will not look better with age. What it does is keep the weight down and the price lower than the premium-material variants.
Benchmade makes the Bugout in Oregon. The blade geometry is a reasonable middle point for a general use knife, and the pocket clip is low-profile enough that it does not print through fabric. Upgraded versions exist with M390 steel and carbon fibre handles for considerably more money. The base model is the right choice for most people.
£155 - knivesandtools.co.uk