The 4 Greatest Knife Rolls of 2024, Examined & Reviewed

A knife roll is usually the purview of cooks (*cough* who wish to showcase their custom-made Gyuto at work *cough* ) or culinary college students toting knives to class. However I take advantage of my knife roll in a way more plebian—and sensible—means: to deliver my sharp knives with me the place boring knives await, whether or not it’s at my in-laws or an Airbnb. Nobody needs to prepare dinner dinner with a boring blade…belief me, I’ve tried. Enter the knife roll: the protected, safe (and fewer harmful than simply tossing them in your suitcase) means of packing up your knives.

I examined 11 of them to search out ones which might be a cinch to fill, wrap, and tote, and gained’t have you ever worrying about knives slipping out or poking by means of the material. 

The Winners, at a Look

For those who’re in search of sturdiness, plenty of knife slots, and a deal with and shoulder strap, this knife roll has all of it. It additionally consists of numerous zippered pockets and different small slots for different kitchen requirements (like a Sharpie—iykyk). 

Just like the ChefSac, this can be a heavy-duty roll replete with pockets, slots, and durable straps to carry all of it collectively. 

Slim, easy, and rugged, this no-frills knife roll retains knives safe. Its deal with and strap made it straightforward to tote. 

This knife roll has 4 storage slots and a compact type, making it nice for tossing right into a backpack or tote bag. 

The Assessments

• Knife Match Check: I match as many knives as I may inside every knife roll, noting if it was straightforward to fit them in and if the knife roll packed up simply as soon as full.
• Carrying Check: I used every knife roll to hold a wide range of knives, noting how snug the deal with or strap(s) have been, and if the knives shifted throughout transport.
• Sturdiness Check (Winners-Solely): I unzipped and unbuckled numerous elements of the knife rolls 20 instances to test for sturdiness.

What We Realized

High quality Craftsmanship and Supplies Have been Essential 

Similar to a high quality merchandise of clothes or backpack, a well-made knife roll will final you longer. Because you’re shoving sharp knives into this stuff (or, nice, perhaps you’re protecting them with knife guards like I needs to be doing), the internal materials higher be sturdy. Some knife rolls, just like the Shun, suffered cuts from my knives—not a great signal by way of longevity. Others, just like the Sunday X Best, had artificial leather-based straps and unfastened stitching. We confirmed this mannequin to Hannah Stamp, a undertaking engineer and textile specialist at Hasbro Inc., who mentioned the uneven stitching speaks to poor thread pressure, whereas the artificial leather-based is flimsier and belies a less expensive product. Whereas I am not saying you want a $500 leather-based roll, just like the Tom Beckbe (although it would in all probability final a lifetime, or longer), it’s good to have a sturdy canvas or powerful polyester one which’ll stand as much as sharp knives and final a very long time. 

Carrying Consolation Was Key 

I actually preferred the concept of the Tilit backpack, which features a entrance pocket for storing your knives (with tons of room for different kitchen necessities, like a stable Y-peeler, cookbook, and even your laptop computer). Nonetheless, the backpack was means too huge, and the straps dug uncomfortably into my neck after I carried it round. As an alternative, I most popular easy-to-use, snug straps and handles, like on the Messermeister and ChefSac, or rolls that have been sufficiently small to toss into an everyday backpack, just like the Hardmill knife roll.

The Variety of Knife Slots Was a Private Alternative 

I examined a wide range of knife rolls, the most important of which may match 18 knives, and the smallest of which match 4. Ultimately, I discovered knife rolls with plenty of knife slots have been tough to jam-pack since bigger blades take up extra space (particularly for those who use a bigger blade, like a Chinese language cleaver). Ultimately, eight knife slots are ideally suited, although for those who’re solely utilizing one or two knives, the petite Hardmill knife roll, which has 4 slots, is a superb alternative. Along with slots, some knife roll manufacturers may also be aware the size of knives you’ll be able to place in them, and the highest of that vary is often round 15 to 18 inches

There Wasn’t A Lot of Variation In Look 

This is perhaps a petty criticism, however the knife rolls I examined all sort of regarded the identical; plenty of brown leather-based and darkish greens, greys, and blues. It might be good to have one thing, I don’t know, somewhat extra quirky. I would love extra enjoyable patterns and colourful choices. 

The Standards: What to Search for in a Knife Roll

I preferred sturdy knife rolls—they need to be powerful sufficient to face up towards sharp blades and put on and tear over time. They need to even be straightforward to open, shut, and fill with knives; if the fabric is simply too stiff, it’s arduous to slip knives into the slots. That mentioned, the slots (and roll general) ought to maintain the knives in place; they should not shift or begin to fall out in transit. Lastly, a great knife roll needs to be straightforward to hold, whether or not with a deal with or shoulder strap.

The Greatest Knife Rolls

What we preferred: Massive, sturdy, and simple to stuff with knives, pens, y-peelers, and many others., this can be a severe knife roll for severe cooks. With 13 knife pockets, six utensil slots, and 4 giant pockets (together with a mesh sleeve for stashing your favourite wood spoon) you would virtually pack up your whole utensil drawer on this factor. It’s additionally tremendous straightforward to tote, and sports activities sturdy leather-based straps for securing it. 

What we didn’t like: There wasn’t a lot to not like about it, aside from it’s huge and perhaps overly capacious for most individuals’s wants. 

Key Specs

• Model: Roll with shoulder strap and carrying deal with
• Supplies: Waxed canvas, leather-based
• Open dimensions: 29 x 31 inches
• Closed dimensions: 19.5 x 9 inches
• Weight (empty): 2 kilos, 11.1 ounces
• What it has: 13 knife pockets, 6 utensil slots, 4 giant pockets
• Care: Wipe with a moist sponge and water, dry

What we preferred: This factor is hard, with stiff canvas and thick leather-based straps that have been surprisingly straightforward to open and cinch tight. It’s additionally full of further pockets for different doodads and even options an particularly giant exterior pocket, which could possibly be good on your telephone and pockets if you wish to maintain every part in a single place. The deal with and strap have been giant and cozy.

What we didn’t like: The knife roll encompasses a cumbersome further zippered pocket on the outside, which caught out fairly a bit. The pointed zipper on it was fairly sharp, and I truly stabbed my palm with it. It’s additionally a pricier choose, at round $150 at time of testing.

Key Specs

• Model: Roll with shoulder strap and carrying deal with
• Supplies: Waxed canvas, leather-based
• Open dimensions: 28.5 x 28.25 inches
• Closed dimensions: 16.25 x 7.25 inches
• Weight (empty): 2 kilos, 9.9 ounces
• What it has: 10 knife pockets, 1 fast entry zip closure rear pocket, one enterprise card pocket, 1 inside zip closure pocket, and three inside utility pockets
• Care: Wipe with a moist sponge and water, dry

What we preferred: Certain, this isn’t a blue waxed canvas knife roll with bridle leather-based straps, nevertheless it’s sturdy, sensible, and simple to tote. I actually preferred the zippered inside half, which ensured knives stayed of their slots, and it was straightforward to suit knife handles into the stretchy pockets, one thing that couldn’t be mentioned of stiffer canvas choices. 

What we didn’t like: I didn’t love the velcro used to safe the roll when it was folded up. Nonetheless, there’s a zippered sleeve that retains knives inside, which gave me extra peace of thoughts. 

Key Specs

• Model: Roll with shoulder strap and carrying deal with
• Supplies: Nylon, padded foam core
• Open dimensions: 17 x 32 inches
• Closed dimensions: 20 x 6 inches
• Weight (empty): 1 pound, 9.3 ounces
• What it has: 8 knife pockets, 4 enterprise card pockets, 1 giant pocket, 3 pencil/pen pockets, and a zippered mesh inside
• Care: Spot clear with a moist towel, dry

What we preferred: For those who’re in search of a knife roll to carry a couple of important knives, this one’s obtained you coated. I preferred how slim it was (it match simply into my tote purse), and my knives tucked readily into the slots and stayed there. It’s additionally manufactured from rugged waxed canvas with cotton canvas backing, a sturdy combo. It additionally is available in a wide range of colours, one thing that wasn’t true for a lot of different knife rolls. 

What we didn’t like: There aren’t any handles, so that is extra of a knife roll that you just’d pack up in a backpack or tote bag. It’s additionally fairly dear for a petite providing (it was $100 after I examined it). 

Key Specs

• Model: Roll, no strap or deal with
• Supplies: Waxed canvas, cotton canvas backing, full-grain bridle leather-based strap
• Open dimensions: 13.5 x 17 inches
• Closed dimensions: 17 x 4.75 inches
• Weight (empty): 10.6 ounces
• What it has: 4 knife pockets, 1 inside zippered pocket
• Care: Spot clear, dry

The Competitors

• Tom Beckbe Chef’s Knife Roll: I’ve to preface this by saying this can be a attractive, sturdy knife roll that anybody can be fortunate to have; as a result of it’s manufactured from leather-based, it would doubtless final a lifetime (in all probability longer). That mentioned, it was $500 after I examined it, which isn’t precisely chump change. And whereas it would soften with time, proper off the bat it’s fairly giant; carrying it, I felt like an architect strolling round with a type of giant tubes they maintain their blueprints in.
• Tilit Chef Backpack: I actually wished to love this backpack, because it’s an incredible thought, particularly for folk who work within the restaurant trade and commute to work. However it was simply means too huge, and the straps have been stiff and uncomfortable and chafed my neck.
• Hudson Durable Goods 8 Pocket Knife Roll: This knife roll had its deserves: it is manufactured from sturdy canvas and had plenty of knife slots, however the skimpy string used to safe it didn’t really feel sturdy sufficient. It was additionally arduous to fold when stuffed with knives and ended up huge and ponderous. Because it doesn’t have a deal with or straps, you’d should discover a solution to match it right into a backpack, which is perhaps tough.
• Wusthof Roll Knife Storage: This was a good providing that regarded eerily just like the Messermeister knife roll—save for one factor: the internal lining. Whereas the Messermeister’s supplies proved to be sturdy towards unintended knife blade scrapes, this knife roll’s material sliced and frayed.
• Boldric Cotton Canvas DD Hook Tie Chef Knife Bag: I preferred the sturdy however pliable materials of this roll and the way glossy it regarded when rolled up. Nonetheless, the strap, which requires threading by means of two steel loops, wasn’t as safe because the extra belt-like ones on different fashions, and knives shifted round a bit throughout carrying.
• Sunday X Best Premium Chef Knife Bag: Whereas this bag was manufactured from sturdy canvas, the stitching was unfastened in some spots and the straps have been manufactured from flimsy feeling fake leather-based. Knives shifted somewhat bit throughout carrying.
• Shun Knife Roll: Just like the Mercer, this knife roll sustained small cuts inside after I slid knives into the slots.

FAQs

What’s a knife roll?

A knife roll is a bag utilized by cooks and cooks (and residential cooks who’re keen about knives!) to tote their cutlery. 

What number of knives can you slot in a knife roll?

It is dependent upon the knife roll! We examined knife rolls that match between 4 and 13 knives, although it is dependent upon the dimensions of your knives—for instance, the blade of a Chinese language cleaver will take up extra space than a standard 8-inch chef’s knife. 

Why We’re the Consultants

• Grace Kelly is Severe Eats’ affiliate commerce editor and has been reviewing gear and elements right here for practically two years.
• She’s labored as a bartender and as a prep prepare dinner, and steadily toted her knives together with her.
• For this assessment, she examined 11 knife rolls by filling them with knives, toting them round, and inspecting their building and sturdiness. She additionally had Hannah Stamp, a undertaking supervisor and textile specialist at Hasbro, look at a couple of of the knife rolls.