10 Under $50: Top 5 EDC Knives and Flashlights

In today’s market, there is no shortage of quality knives and lights to choose from. In fact, finding a selection to look at is as easy as a Google search. The problem is finding the items that are right for you — even if budget was not a consideration. We scoured the manufacturers best offerings and compiled a list of our top choices that you can typically pick up for under $50.   

Taking into account some of the most important specs and pairing them with my personal experience with each, here is my budget gear recommendations!

Knives

Spyderco Tenacious

The Spyderco Tenacious is going to straddle the line under $50 category or possibly take a step or two over it. You can order it with different blade finishes, edges, and even handle materials. Spyderco’s famous Round Hole, makes for an easy ambidextrous one-handed opening. Regardless which configuration you decide on, you’ll wind up with a well-rounded (EDC) knife.

Ontario Rat II (D2)

The Rat Model I was a huge hit, which made this second model a much-anticipated release. The Rat II is slightly smaller than its predecessor and features D2 steel. The Ontario Rat II is an absolute workhorse and can be found for under $40. There are plenty of color options to suit your taste as well.

Kershaw Cryo II

Built with first responders in mind, the Kershaw Cryo II is made to be extremely sturdy. Tons of stainless steel means it weights a bit more than others, but it feels great in hand and can be opened by using either the flipper or thumbstuds. It’s aesthetically pleasing in any finish and sure to be a conversation starter.

CRKT Pilar Large

One of CRKT’s best-selling knives, the Pilar, now has a larger brother.  This knife, as CRKT accurately puts it, is where minimal design meets maximum utility. It has a great flipper deployment and can be carried tip-up or tip-down. I don’t think you’d be disappointed grabbing one of these as your next knife.

Kershaw Shuffle II

The Shuffle II is small, yet it boasts the most features. It has a bottler opener, lanyard hole, and flathead screwdriver tip. Although it has a purely manual opening style via thumbstuds, it still remains easy to open. Kershaw added a nice, deep-carry, pocket clip making this knife a top option for concealability.  

You can’t go wrong with any of these knives, especially given their low price tags. I’ve found that after owning all of them at one point or another, the one that saw the most use and pocket time was the Kershaw Shuffle II. 

Lights

Streamlight ProTac 1L-1AA

Accepting either a single AA or a CR123A, the ProTac 1L-1AA is a great EDC option. It has Streamlight’s TEN-TAP programming feature that allows you to choose the sequence the high/low/strobe modes are activated. The strobe is extremely disorienting for defensive purposes or can be used for signaling. This has been one of my favorite lights for years.

ThruNite T1

The T1 is compact yet powerful. Not only does it have the typical high/low/strobe modes, it also has a Turbo and Firefly mode, in case you want to get fancy. Other nice features include a magnetic tailcap and an included rechargeable battery with low voltage indicator.

Fenix E12 V2.0

The Fenix E12 V2.0 is a solid and dependable single AA carry light. It features a convenient two-position clip, easy to manipulate tail switch, and is constructed from durable aluminum. Don’t need or want a ton of extra features to jack up the price? Check out this light and discover an affordable EDC option.

Streamlight Microstream USB

Ultra-compact, durable, and affordable typically don’t go hand in hand, but they do go perfectly with the Streamlight Microstream USB. It doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles, but it has just what you need. It has a rechargeable battery that charges quickly and comes with the USB cord to do so. You can get it in either black or coyote, with a removable pocket clip.

Olight I1R 2 EOS

The I1R 2 EOS isn’t actually a pocket flashlight; it’s a keychain light. It’s extremely small, puts out 150 lumens on high, and comes in either black or tan. If you carry a keychain, this makes for a great addition.

If I had to choose only one of these EDC lights, I’d have to go with the Streamlight Protac 1L-1AA for the dual battery and custom programming features. With that being said, all of these would make a great addition to your EDC.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, any knife or light will be better than nothing at all. So, decide which features are important, establish a price point you can afford or want to spend, and start your search from there. You don’t have to choose just one of each either. You have my go ahead to order a few!

Which EDC knife and light would you recommend for under $50? Share your favorite choices in the comment section.

Ryan is a firearms and tactical gear enthusiast that has maneuvered himself into the firearms industry over the past decade.  While his full-time career is outside of the industry, he has consulted for dozens of firearms and tactical gear related companies.  He enjoys conducting tests and evaluations, shooting product photography and developing marketing strategies for them.  

If he’s not spending time with his family, you’ll likely find him at the range or driving around looking for photo shoot locations. You can check out some of his photos and other content on Instagram (@theguygearreview).