Pocket knives · owner-verdict comparison

Benchmade Bugout 535 vs Spyderco Paramilitary 2: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 78% of 74 Benchmade Bugout 535 owners recommend it, vs 79% of 393 for the Spyderco Paramilitary 2.

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 →

Spyderco Paramilitary 2

79%of 393 owners recommend
79% recommend · 13% neutral · 8% don't
Owners praise
  • Superb, secure compression lock
  • Outstanding in-hand ergonomics
  • Slices well, comes very sharp
Owners complain about
  • Carries big and wide in pocket
  • Delicate tip prone to breaking
  • Stiff detent or lock stick out of box
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 Spyderco Paramilitary 2 if
  • ✓EDC users wanting a do-everything work knife
  • ✓Enthusiasts who love the compression lock and fidgeting
  • ✓Buyers who want a customizable steel-and-scale platform
  • ✓Anyone after a lifetime hard-use folder
Skip it if
  • People with small pockets who want discreet carry
  • Anyone hard on knife tips or prone to prying

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 Spyderco Paramilitary 2 owners say

“This is the knife that made me fall in love with knives.”
— @edsaban572 on YouTube
“Great knife with balanced hardness, ease of sharpening, and corrosion(rust) resistance”
— Stormrider001 on Reddit
“the g-10 grips feel blocky because they didn’t even round the edges at all just squared off. What a disappointment for a $200* knife”
— @whatfreedom7 on YouTube

Benchmade Bugout 535 vs Spyderco Paramilitary 2: frequently asked questions

Is the Benchmade Bugout 535 or the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 78% of 74 Benchmade Bugout 535 owners recommend it, vs 79% of 393 for the Spyderco Paramilitary 2.

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 Spyderco Paramilitary 2?

Owners point the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 at eDC users wanting a do-everything work knife, and enthusiasts who love the compression lock and fidgeting.

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 Spyderco Paramilitary 2, it's carries big and wide in pocket.