Safe, Affordable, Reliable: UCO’s Whidbey Is Made for Everyone’s Everyday Use

I have been carrying knives on me for most of my life, so I’m comfortable carrying them. I have also chosen the knives I carry based on their form, function, and materials. However, I realize that many people do not carry knives every day and may not know what the right knife is for them.

But while there are vast choices when it comes to knives, some simply work for everyone.

UCO, a staple brand known for its variety of camping solutions, has only been in the knife game for a little more than a year. In that time, they’ve proven that they’ve not only done their homework, but that they can create a line of knives that are accessible to everyone.

The brand’s latest offering, the Whidbey Pushfold, is a button-lock flipper knife with a deep-carry pocket clip. Those three aspects are high on the list of wants when it comes to people picking out new knives, whether they know it or not. 

Additionally, by steering away from premium materials and instead toward affordable, yet reliable ones, UCO has been able to keep the price of the Whidbey at $60. The knife is a simple, safe, and capable tool for people of all experience and comfort levels.

In short: Knives like the UCO Whidbey Pushfold simplify the task of picking out a reliable folding knife. From price, to form and function, down to the materials, this knife could easily be the right knife for everyone in your family.

UCO Whidbey Pushfold Review

Design & Features

At 7.6 inches in total length, the UCO Whidbey Pushfold is a full-sized folding flipper knife. It has a 3-inch TiNi-coated flat-ground D2 drop-point blade. For handles, UCO went with glass-reinforced textured nylon. Additionally, for security and safety, the Whidbey employs a Pushfold button-style lock. For carry, the knife was purposely kept slender and has a deep-carry pocket clip.

Choosing Titanium-Nitride D2 for the blade material was a smart choice. D2 is reliable, tough, and easy to maintain. Adding the TiNi coating makes it highly corrosion-resistant. Picking the drop-point shape for the blade and giving it a Scandi grind sends its level of usability and adaptability into the stratosphere.

Similar to the Grivory that Benchmade uses on knife models like its Griptilian and Bugout, the glass-reinforced nylon scales on the Whidbey provide excellent grip and durability. Where materials like G10 and Micarta would have provided more structure, the steel liners fill in that space while keeping the knife’s overall weight below 3 ounces.

Button-style locks are on an upward trend in 2025. They’re easy to use, hardly ever fail, and keep your fingers away from the blade. Called the Pushfold lock here on the Whidbey, this mechanism pairs really well with the flipper opening as a closing counterpart. It’s also easy to activate and won’t disengage unintentionally. 

First Impressions

For a knife not specifically designed for a higher-level knife user, UCO certainly packed the Whidbey with aspects those folks would be looking for. The brand raises the bar for new and unassuming knife users. In fact, if this is someone’s first knife, they’re going to be spoiled.

Though the brand keeps the Whidbey lightweight, the glass-filled nylon scales might deter some knife purists, but I am here for it. As someone with extended knowledge and familiarity with a wide variety of knives, I enjoy the simplicity, safety, and overall reliability of what UCO has done here. Where G10 or Micarta scales would bolster the knife’s rigidity and therefore overall first impression, I think they would only make this knife bulky.

That said, my first reaction to the Whidbey is that the only thing the knife is missing is a lanyard hole. It would make the knife easier to retrieve and add to its overall theme.

In the Field

My first thought when I received the knife, was that it would make the perfect first knife for a youngster. In fact, I may give this one to my niece, who’s just breaking into the world of hiking and camping. I think the Whidbey is a great “first experience” knife. A month after using it outdoors, I haven’t changed my mind. 

That said, as someone who swapped out a boutique $400 knife for the Whidbey, I’ve got no regrets. This knife has been dependable, reliable, and fun to use. 

It’s been raining off and on for the last month. When wet, it stays secure in my hand, and the TiNi coating on the D2 blade has kept corrosion at bay. It’ll need to be resharpened sooner rather than later, but I believe that’s part of the experience of this knife. It gives people who are new to knives a chance to learn how to maintain them.

Additionally, I’ve really enjoyed the fast and smooth opening and closing operations, as well as the blade’s Scandi grind. Scandi grinds allow for more acute slicing and cutting. By deciding to use this grind and blade shape, UCO has made the Whidbey easy to use, adaptable, and strong.

One thing that has developed through use is a rattle. It’s in the button lock, and it hasn’t impacted the function of the knife. It’s just the sizing of the hole for the button and the button itself. I can’t hear it when I am carrying it, and it’s only apparent if I purposefully shake the knife. Not a deal breaker at all, but still worth mentioning.

Overall, the Whidbey has proven to be a reliable knife for everyone who needs one.

Whidbey Mini

The overarching theme that I can’t shake in testing the Whidbey is that, though I think this knife is great for anyone, a youngster could really benefit from it. In form, function, and materials, it’s the kind of knife that will spoil a kid, without breaking the bank.

That said, UCO makes a Mini version of the Whidbey. It has all of the same desirable aspects of the Whidbey, with an overall length an inch shorter. This makes the Mini more manageable for smaller hands.

Food for thought.

In Conclusion

We’ve seen considerable growth in the affordable knife market, but price isn’t the only thing that makes a knife accessible. Features like a push-button lock, reliable materials, and simple but effective ergonomics play a crucial role in making a knife what it is. Making that knife a flipper is chef’s kiss.

With the Whidbey, UCO has created a line of knives that cover all the bases when it comes to what you need in a good knife. That includes being affordable. Whether you decide to use it as an EDC knife or the knife you throw in your camp kit and carry for your next family adventure is your call.

However, I am here to tell you it’ll do the job in both settings. I have stated a few times in this article that I think this knife could be great for our younger knife users. I mean that. As a society, we’re moving away from carrying knives as a norm. But if you want your kids to be safe in the outdoors, a knife is a necessity.

That being said, I would tell you to consider the Whidbey. I would tell anyone who is thinking of getting into carrying a knife — and whatever capacity — to consider the Whidbey. UCO took all the best aspects of all the best knives and found a way to make them accessible for everyone. I’m going to miss carrying this dandy of a blade. But I know my niece will love it!