Having concealed knives in your boots is a backup that can serve multiple purposes when you are into the wilderness. It makes you prepared for self-defense, cutting twigs, helping you cut firewood, and making a tent. With the best boot knife, you can achieve these with ease. As a result, it is a popular backup weapon which is in use for decades.

There is a lot of ways to wear the knife with pair of boots. However, it is evident that it is kept inside the boot, but that’s not it, and we’ll discuss other methods here. In this how-to wear a boot knife guide, we will explain what boot knife, the best boot knife in the market is, and why you should have one.

Boot knives are sturdy, small, and made with stainless steel. These knives have high hardness, edge retention, and they are corrosion resistant. These knives are made for heavy-duty and act as self-defense items.

Why Should You Wear a Boot Knife?

Boot knives are a great EDC item for people who like to travel on less-traveled roads. It is like a backup knife, which means if you lose the primary blade, you will always have one hidden in the boots.

For instance, police officers in the military may sometimes find themselves in a situation where they need a concealed weapon. In that situation boot knife is the perfect backup to fall on. Although the boot knives are like a shotgun in a leather sheath and are not easy to draw when needed, they are still ideal for a backup weapon. 

The boot knife is ideal for the backup weapon because it is compact, extraordinarily sharp, and retains its edge. As a result, it does not get dull or break in need. Moreover, keeping a blade in the boots is much convenient than carrying it in a bag. This means you won’t lose the knife while traveling or misplace it.

The leather sheath in the boots to keep the knife gives the vibe of Cowboy, which is fashionable and voguish.

Which Boot Is Best for Carrying a Knife

The hunting boots are best for carrying a boot knife. Types of hunting boots are:

• Field boots: These are made of leather, nylon, and mesh. These boots have enough space to keep the knife and provide a balance between breathability and durability. Unfortunately, these boots look similar to Cowboy boots which means you can look voguish by carrying a knife. 
• Rubber boots: It offers an advantage while hunting. These are water-proof and scent freeboots. It means your knife won’t get wet during treks in swampy areas. In addition, you can keep the knife hidden outside the boot.
• Snake boots: These are pretty famous for places with a high risk of snakes. It prevents you from snake bites. Keep the knife in the sheath. You can tip it down on the outside of the boot to keep the blade safe and handy.

How To Choose Best Boot Knife?

Fixed vs. Folding Knife

Most knives come in two designs. One is the double-edged blade with a spear point, and the other is a single-edged blade with the clip point. In addition, these knives come in two forms one is fixed, and another is a folding knife.

The fixed knife has a double-edged blade, and it is better for attack and self-defense. These are even good for cutting firewood and skinning animals after hunting. However, folding knives are convenient to carry. You can clip off the blade when not in use and store it inside of your boot. Both have an equal share of advantages and disadvantages. It all depends on you and your purpose of having a boot knife. We recommend a fixed knife as the blade is sharper than a pocket knife. 

Blade Length

The blade length of these knives is small, but still, they have a considerable difference in the size of the blade. The short knife, which measures up to 2.7 inches, is easy to conceal and has lightweight. At the same time, the medium-length knives range from 2.7 inches to 4 inches. Anything longer than 4 inches is considered too long for a boot knife. A shorter blade is more versatile than the longer one. It is easy to hide and fit in your boot.

Comfort

While buying a boot knife means you have to keep it in your boots. This means you can’t go for big blades that would hinder your trek or make you feel itchy if you carry inside the boot. The shape and design are the crucial requirements that the knife should meet. Make sure the blade is compatible with your boot and brand.

Legality

If you ask, are boot knives legal to carry? Yes! They are. However, checking the legal laws of your state is the most cumbersome part of buying a boot knife. According to this article, each state has its rules, and the laws have some restrictions when it comes to owning a boot knife. For example, some laws prohibit using double-edged knives or blades above a certain length. Therefore, no matter which state you live in, it is good to examine the state laws before investing in boot knives.

Sheath

A well-concealed sheath that fits the knife is crucial to know while buying the knife. A sheath that goes along with the color of your boot and has the right fit for the blade is the one you should choose. Avoid the sheath with poor material, as it can give you cuts while keeping inside the boot. Moreover, a sheath should not be too thick. Otherwise, it will quickly draw attention.

How To Wear a Boot Knife?

Boot knives are small and convenient to carry. However, while buying a boot knife, you will come across a wide range of options that make you lost and bewildered about the purchase. Here are few things you must consider while buying a boot knife.

“It is easy to reach out for your knife if you keep it in a safe and convenient place in your boot.” 

But, before going hunting, you must know what the places to keep a boot knife are. So, you can attack your opponent with ease.

Inside the boot

This is the easiest way to wear a boot knife. Keep the boot simple on any side, either left or right, depending on your hands skill. Keep the knife in a leather sheath and attach it with the lace of the boots.

Make sure you don’t keep it in a place where you feel uncomfortable, as, on long treks and walks, you won’t want your feet to be painful. To counteract this, you can buy a boot clip to attach it inside the boot. Another method is you can strap a tie with the knife around the ankle. Remember, if you are putting the knife inside the boot, then use the knife with a shorter blade length

Outside the boot

If you are uncomfortable with keeping the knife inside the boot, clip it on outside the boot. Use this option if you are not worried about concealing the knife. Next, attach the sheath in which you have kept the blade with the boot. If you don’t have one, buy a boot clip or strap and attach it to the outside of the boot.

In The Boot Pocket

Some hunter boots in the market come with an integrated pocket. This is the most convenient and easy way to keep the boot knife. Put the short and compact pocket knife in the pocket and reach out with ease when needed.

Inside The Lace

This is an incredible hiding place to keep your knife safe and concealed. Put the blade with the sheath in between the boot and side laces. This will keep the knife securely attached to your boot.

Actionable tips to carry a boot knife

1. Always Use a Sheath

If you want to carry a boot knife, the first and foremost thing is to use a sheath. To make this thing more precise, I want to say

Always! Always! Always! Use a sheath!

Not using a sheath, be it keeping the knife inside or outside, invites yourself for a cut. If you are trekking or hiking, then you can quickly become infected. Moreover, a blade without covering in swampy terrains can get damaged. In the wild, you have fewer resources, so it is always better to keep yourself safe from unwanted cuts.

2. To Put Inside or Outside the Leg?

The knife should always be on the side of your dominant hand. Are you a righty? Then put it on the right leg. If you are lefty, then it comes without saying you should keep it in your left boot.

But the question is to put the knife on the inside or outside of the blade? We would recommend you to keep it inside, as this is easy to conceal and always kept from the eye of predators.

3. Lookup for Local Laws

A weapon is a weapon, no matter how small it is. So, there are laws around owning and traveling with a knife. So, you should know the local legal regulations and how they can affect you.

4. Practice Holstering and Drawing the Knife

You should know how to draw the blade and reholster the knife when you own a boot knife. After you attach the sheath to your boot, you need to set forth some time to learn the drawing and holstering of the blade.

Start with the slow pace, be conscious of where your knife is, and how you can pull from the sheath. Then, pace your speed of drawing the knife with practice. So, you don’t fumble when you need to remove the blade for self-defense.

Never reholster the knife quickly. Just like keeping the blade in the sheath, you should do it with attention to make sure the knife is properly concealed.

5. Never Keep Your Knife Unattended

This tip can save your life. If you are around camping and remove your shoes outside the camp, it can be dangerous for you to keep them unattended. In case you are with children, they can be inquisitive and will get curious about the knife. It can be life-threatening, so remove the temptation. Moreover, predators can also snatch away the knife leaving you without any weapon of self-defense.

Best Knives to Carry in Your Boots

1. Smith and Wesson High Carbon Fixed Blade Knife

It is one of the best knives in the market for hunting and camping. In addition, it is an excellent pick for a boot knife. The total length of the knife is 9inch, out of which the blade is 4.7 inches, and it has double-edge sharpness. The handle has a handguard. It makes sure your fingers won’t slip off so you can easily handle the knife.

The knife comes with a leather sheath, so it can easily tuck in your boots, or it can be worn around the belt. The blade is well built. It is sturdy, has high edge retention, and does not chip off easily.

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2. Rothco Raider Boot knife

Rothco products produce one of the best quality knives in the market. They are committed to bringing ergonomic designs and an array of practical tools. The perfect knife boot knife from Rothco Raider is stainless. They won’t chip or break even after rough use. It hardly needs sharpening as the edge holds well, and the knife comes with a quality sheath. It has an aesthetically pleasing design, so you won’t regret buying this one.

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3. ABKT Elite Boot Fixed Knife

If you are looking for a simple design but productive functionality, then you must select this one. The knife is small and compact. The size of the blade is 3.5 inches. It is a double-edged knife which means it has greater versatility and flexibility. 

The handle is made for a firm grip, and the material used for the manufacturing of the handle is PVC. The overall length of the knife is 7.5 inches. This is an emergency knife that is easy to conceal and hide in your boots.

The knife may look simplistic in design, so it doesn’t have the allure to become an expensive premium dagger. However, it is more affordable than most boot knives listed in this article.

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4. Browning Black Label Boot Dagger

It is an aesthetically pleasing and eye-catching knife from the top manufacturers, the Black Brown Label. The knife’s overall length is 9 inches, while the double-edged blade’s length is 3 5/8 inches. 

It’s manufactured from 154CM high carbon stainless steel. The steel has a hollow saber grind, and the hardness on the Rockwell scale is 58HRC. It has an easy-to-grip handle and a sturdy, durable design.

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5. CRKT Shrill Fixed Blade Boot Knife

It is sturdy, compact, and has a longer blade than any other knife in this article. The length of the blade is 4.77 inches, and it is a thin double-edged knife. It comes with a leather sheath which makes it secure and protected. 

The sheath has a sturdy clip and strap so you can fit it in your boot or belt. It is an ideal knife for self-defense as the thin blade makes sharp cuts. It is a point to note the edge has sharp points that make it a fine dagger.

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Conclusion

We have talked a lot in this article about boot knives. It has become famous through mainstream media, and especially it is a must-have when a cowboy image is shown. However, this knife is not limited to the mainstream as it is known for being a convenient knife. As a hunter, military personnel, or police, you should be equipped with a backup weapon so that you can fight the goons.