Head-to-head · Best EDC Pocket Knives

Benchmade Bugout 535 vs Spyderco Para Military 2

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

Verdict is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you click through and buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are sourced from independent publications, not sponsors.

The short answer

Spyderco Para Military 2 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.2). Spyderco Para Military 2 is best for: everyday users who want one folder that handles both light tasks and hard use. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #3 in Best EDC Pocket Knives

Benchmade Bugout 535

4.2

3 sources$200as of Oct 11

The Benchmade Bugout 535 is the ultralight benchmark for everyday carry: a 3.24-inch CPM-S30V drop point on a Grivory handle for a total of 1.85 ounces. KnifeInformer scored it 82 out of 100 and OutdoorGearLab 78 out of 100, both praising how cleanly the thin blade slices and both warning it is not a hard-use tool. The polymer handle flexes, and that is the trade.

Strengths

— 1.85 oz with a full-size 3.24-inch blade
— AXIS lock is ambidextrous and disengages with either hand
— Reversible mini deep-carry clip keeps it buried and discreet, per OutdoorGearLab

Watch-outs

— The Grivory handle flexes under hard pressure, per CleverHiker, and is not built for chiseling or prying
— Feels almost too light at first, which makes some owners distrust it
— Premium price for a knife with a polymer rather than a metal handle

$200 · Buy at benchmade.com Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best EDC Pocket Knives

Spyderco Para Military 2

4.4

3 sources$136.88as of Sep 12

The Spyderco Para Military 2 is the knife enthusiasts keep coming back to, and the current C81GP2 ships with upgraded CPM-S45VN steel in a 3.42-inch full-flat-ground blade. KnifeInformer scored it 89% and GearJunkie rated it 8.0/10 after testing the platform across 250 knife reviews, both singling out the Compression Lock as genuinely good engineering. The G-10 handle and acute grind make it equally at home opening packages or doing borderline-abusive cutting, with one consistent knock: a tip thin enough to snap if pried. It costs and weighs more than the Bugout, and it is the more durable, more confidence-inspiring tool of the two.

Strengths

— Compression Lock is rock-solid and praised as nearly impossible to fail in normal use
— Full-flat-ground CPM-S45VN blade cuts like a high-end kitchen knife and resists corrosion
— Textured G-10 scales over steel liners give a confident, stable four-finger grip

Watch-outs

— Narrow tip can chip or snap under prying or hard-point work

$136.88 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Benchmade Bugout 535

At 1.85 oz the Benchmade Bugout 535 weighs less than half as much as the 3.9 oz Spyderco Para Military 2 and is also lighter than the 2.6 oz CIVIVI Yonder and the 3.0 oz Kershaw Leek 1660. Its Grivory handle flexes under hard pressure, where the Para Military 2 has G-10 scales over steel liners. The Yonder costs far less and uses a crossbar lock in place of the Bugout's AXIS lock.

Spyderco Para Military 2

The Spyderco Para Military 2 is built for harder use than the Benchmade Bugout 535: its G-10 scales sit over steel liners, where the Bugout's Grivory handle flexes under hard pressure. The trade-off is weight. At 3.9 oz it is more than twice the Bugout's 1.85 oz and 1.3 oz heavier than the CIVIVI Yonder, and it costs considerably more than the Yonder.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Benchmade Bugout 535	Spyderco Para Military 2
Blade Steel	CPM-S30V	CPM-S45VN
Blade Length	3.24 in	3.42 in
Overall Length	7.46 in	8.24 in
Weight	1.85 oz	3.9 oz
Lock Type	AXIS lock	Compression Lock
Handle Material	Grivory	G-10
Blade Shape	Drop point	Clip point, full flat grind
Warranty	LifeSharp lifetime service	—
Origin	—	Made in USA

← See the full ranking of best edc pocket knives