Pocket knives · owner-verdict comparison

Benchmade Bugout 535 vs Kershaw Leek: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 78% of 74 Benchmade Bugout 535 owners recommend it, vs 83% of 184 for the Kershaw Leek.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Benchmade Bugout 535

78%of 74 owners recommend

78% recommend · 6% neutral · 16% don't

Owners praise

Favorite EDC that owners love and would rebuy
Ultralight and slim, disappears in the pocket
Excellent slicer with a sharp, well-ground blade

Owners complain about

Pricey and feels cheap/plastic for the cost

Full owner report →

Kershaw Leek

83%of 184 owners recommend

83% recommend · 6% neutral · 11% don't

Owners praise

Thin, light, and disappears in the pocket
Razor sharp and holds a good edge
Outstanding value for the price

Owners complain about

Thin tip chips or snaps off easily
Assisted opening / torsion bar wears out or safety fails
Slippery and easy to lose; weak pocket clip

Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Benchmade Bugout 535 if

✓EDC carriers wanting an ultralight knife that disappears in-pocket
✓Everyday cutting, food prep and hiking use
✓Slicing-focused users who value the thin, sharp grind
✓Those wanting a non-intimidating knife around non-knife people

Skip it if

Buyers expecting premium, solid-feeling scales at this price
Owners unwilling to clean a gritty axis lock periodically

Get the Kershaw Leek if

✓Office and dress-clothes carriers wanting a thin, discreet knife
✓EDC users prioritizing lightweight one-hand assisted opening
✓Budget buyers after a sharp, USA-made everyday cutter
✓Light tasks: mail, packages, food, splinters

Skip it if

Heavy-duty users who pry or torque (fragile tip snaps)
Those needing a secure clip (slips out of pockets for some)

What Benchmade Bugout 535 owners say

“My favorite is the bugout much to my fathers chagrin.”
— @LittleWranglerStar on YouTube

“Seems like bagging on a knife designed to be light weight for not being heavy duty enough is like complaining that your corvette isn't any good for rock crawling.”
— @starshiplazyboy475 on YouTube

“Who knew a plastic handle would sound like plastic, and feel lighter than aluminum? Absolutely astonished.”
— @nickdonaldz on YouTube

What Kershaw Leek owners say

“ill take the leek all day. The safety is an awesome touch, the spring assist is quick and never opens in my pocket by accident whereas the blur did a few times and i quite enjoy the slightly smaller size of it”
— @Beamer-Fonz on YouTube

“The safety slider was actually what sold it for me.”
— @bmljenny on YouTube

“the torsion bar in a assisted knife will wear out after awhile and it won’t have enough force to fully flip open and lock in place, that’s what happened to my Kershaw leek.”
— boglimaniac on Reddit

Benchmade Bugout 535 vs Kershaw Leek: frequently asked questions

Is the Benchmade Bugout 535 or the Kershaw Leek better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 78% of 74 Benchmade Bugout 535 owners recommend it, vs 83% of 184 for the Kershaw Leek.

Who should get the Benchmade Bugout 535?

Owners point the Benchmade Bugout 535 at eDC carriers wanting an ultralight knife that disappears in-pocket, and everyday cutting, food prep and hiking use.

Who should get the Kershaw Leek?

Owners point the Kershaw Leek at office and dress-clothes carriers wanting a thin, discreet knife, and eDC users prioritizing lightweight one-hand assisted opening.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Benchmade Bugout 535 is pricey and feels cheap/plastic for the cost. For the Kershaw Leek, it's thin tip chips or snaps off easily.