Cold Steel Airlite Full Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 มี.ค. 2020
- Cold Steel set out to make a great EDC and they did but is it greater than the other great EDC's they already have?
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It's looks like g-10 version of Working Man - a bit slimmer and better steel. The size, the handle /blade shape are very similar...
Grabbed it for $63 at knifeworks. Was good price in my mind
Easily the best Cold Steel edc knife. AUS 10A steel comes uber sharp out of the box. Jimping is as good as Spyderco. Thin, light and ready to cut! Thanks for the review Kevin!
I just got the Khan, I really really love the all g10 construction. Wish the bugout went that route.. Gonna have to get one of these asap.
Cold Steels full G10 construction with the tri-ad lock is. Just so damn good to me. I could be delusional, but like micarta, not all g10 is created equal, and I have always felt that cold steel does some of the best G10 on a production knife. I initially felt that this knife was overpriced, and didn't understand why they decided to move on this design, but I feel differently now. I've kinda fell in love with it. I'm not looking for a monster like the AD10, although I appreciate what a great knife it is. This just fits more of my criteria at this time, and I'm really glad I can get one in my hands for 60 bucks.
Nice.. it costs 80-90 now
@@carlostovar8585 now its 50 bucks haha. such a good knife even at 80 bucks imo
I love cold steel's Aus 10a. It's not a budget steel by no means. It better than vg10 and as good or even better than most people's 154cm. I'm not a edc spec chaser but having this knife makes me understand why people do chase that market. I love this knife.
😂😂😂
Love it. As long as the lock spring isn't as strong as the one used in the Code 4 which is on the ridiculous side.
Picked up this in a Tanto blade for $63 from Knifeworks. They also have the Pro lite series for around $22
Cold Steel should make a super slim version like this in the Recon 1... with over 200 blades in my collection, the Recon 1 is still my no.1 go-to knife if I need to recommend it for edc and self defense purposes as ergos on it is perfect. Currently carrying a 4max scout as a beater workhorse edc.
If I had one, and being that it's G10, I think I'd CAREFULLY use a dremel and radius out that index finger groove a bit. Make it easier to get to the thumb stud, and give your finger a little more recess. In addition, a spear point (e.g., Recon 1) or clip point blade would be a nice option.
I own almost all the Cold Steel knives you've shown. I agree with your assessment of the Air Lite which I bought recently. My comments:
1. Con - sharp spine. The spine of the knife is very very sharp. This includes the lock release. This is TOTALLY UNLIKE every other Cold Steel I own. It hurts.
2. Value. I agree 100% with you. The value isn't there. The street price should be $50-$60.
3. Looks. It doesn't look as intimidating as my other Cold Steels. This is good for EDC carry as opposed to the traditional "tactical" look of most Cold Steels.
4. Defect. My first Air Lite had a manufacturing defect. When the blade was closed, the blade would move 1/8" of an inch. It was dangerous and I had to send it to be replaced.
And the dimension in the closed position from tang to lock bar is quite a bit smaller so takes up less room in the pocket but then you lose hand and blade width from top to bottom measurement deffinAtely a hard choice and I agree I’d like the broken skull in a drop point I didn’t like it at all untill I learned about the width, weight and blade steel...
Nice one, very slim. Get the point on the thumbstuds. Good review, thanks for sharing !👍😊
Kevin isn’t the thinness the same as the code 4? Is it thinner? Thanks
I think the price is down around the $50-$55 range on Amazon now and probably going to pick one up at that price point. I’ve been looking for a knife I can wear with basketball shorts and stuff like that and this knife seems to be perfect for that while at the same time having the Tri-Ad Lock and Cold Steel dependability.
Now down to $50 on Amazon. I'll get one at that price.
Great review. I've been watching this Air Lite since it was announced. Gotta agree your opinion on the price. BladeHQ sells it for 85 dollars, I'd rather go for Code4.
I also have a Broken Skull. Actually the smooth and elegant and not intimidating shape of Air Lite connects to me much more. It fills a vacancy in Cold Steel product line.
BTW I think Andrew Demko, as a professional knife designer and custom knife maker, will not just modify Steve Austin's design and call it his design. One reason I don't care about Working Man is, it's basically another version of Pro Lite, but advertised as "designed by Stone Cold Steve Austin." Meh.
I agree that they didn't hit the budget mark on this one.
My overall impression is that it looks like someone's light weight version of a Emerson CQC-7 without the wave.
Just the review I was looking for! Been thinking about picking this up. I also believe this was 100% to compete with the Benchmade 535 bugout. Cold Steel is one of my least favorite knife companies but every once in a metallurgy moon they have a model that just pops out to me like this one. Same with the Recon folders. I will say they do excellent with AUS8
Recon 1 now comes in S35vn.
Cold Steel is my #1 favorite brand. While I have some Spyderco knives in VG10, I no longer even look at other brands. Cold Steel has all I ever need.
The main things that I used to criticize Cold Steel for, was their dumb choices of steel, like 4116 and AUS8. Now that they have upgraded to S35VN, AUS10a and Sanmai with VG10 core, I have nothing to complain about. Their knives are perfection and at a great price!
Godspeed!
@@southernknight9983 Well now they are using 4034 steel.. which is a German budget steel. They have nearly doubled the prices of their s35vn models.. and raised prices on most everything. The new owners (GSM Outdoors) are ruining Cold Steel. They will drive Cold Steel into Chinese only Manufactured.
@@doejon9424 Not familiar with 4034 and haven't seen any CS knives with it yet.
Other than their own website, Cold Steel knives are very cheap and affordable for the quality that you get.
Also only recently discovered this new ownerships. So far I haven't seen any problems with it, but don't understand why Lynn Thompsons couldn't have remained owner and just be a back seat CEO or something.
Time will tell about this new ownership, but so far, I haven't seen anything bad. It does worry me though.
Currently most knives that I have been checking out are made in Taiwan or Japan and that's fine with me.
After recent events, if CS goes to China, I will be pissed. I am happy that the knives that I am looking at are being made in Taiwan, who I want to support. China can go F@#$ itself.
Its been awhile since I needed a knife and am glade to see CS has gotten away from AUS8 and 4116.
Cheerios!
@@southernknight9983 Lynn Thompson started another, smaller company called "Never Unarmed". However, I assure you.. Cold Steel is pumping out more Chinese models than ever before now. They have increased their prices, and this 4034 (Gurkha Kukri Plus for example) budget steel is a joke for what they are asking, they have even "lowered" the price after getting so much criticism from the fans. I do like Cold Steels Taiwanese AUS-10A, AUS-8 & s35vn.. but GSM Outdoors is running Cold Steel into the ground. For the past nearly almost two years now. I've watched it happen. GSM Outdoors also recently bought out S.O.G Knives. What will eventually happen, is the same thing that happend with Gerber Knives. Wal-Mart is starting to carry Cold Steel blister packs of Chinese & Taiwanese knives. What's more concerning is the "price to material" ratio. They started charging absolutely Ridiculous prices for most everything, including their "budget steel line".. and when you start getting into their s35vn & 3v lines of knives.. you can by a Chris Reeves Sebenza or a anything really. It's going against everything Lynn Thompson started "quality materials at an affordable price". The Redon 1 for example, used to be about $80.. it doubled. For no reason. Nearly overnight when GSM Outdoors took over. And it's not just inflation from the economy.. it's GSM Outdoors buying a company, and immediately charging more for increased profits. I don't support Cold Steel anymore. I'll keep & use what I have but I'm not giving them anymore money. It's disgusting what they have done to the company. The average price for their Taiwanese s35vn is $180-250, something Lynn brought to everyone for a fraction of that price. I still have a CTS-XHP Recon 1 & an s35vn Recon 1. Both were under $100 or near $100. If you take the time to notice what's happening with Cold Steel.. it'll make you sick. Their San Mai / VG-1 & 3v models have skyrocketed in price too. Same Taiwanese manufacturing, same materials. Increased price by hundreds! It's crazy.
Is the Handle 4" or 4.5" ? Website says 4.5...
I've been waiting for this review!!
just bought for less than $50.00 like it very much at that price. an engineer on TH-cam tested Aus 10a and it was virtually identical to VG10 except for VG10 being a little more corrosion resistant.
$50 for this is excellent amazing knife at that price point
hollow ground clip point now! :)
Kevin, I believe you misstated the steel. You said this is AUS 8A but mine is AUS 10A and I assume yours is as well.
Nevermind, you corrected yourself later on.
I'm surprised you haven't put Code 4 for comparison.
And that’s the couple I have been hesitating so far.
Air Lite or Code 4 ???
Air Lite for general looks, function.
Code 4 for the Cold Steel vibes.
Don’t know yet 🤔
The pocket clip is my only knock on it. Too krappy Kershaw for my taste.
Some people consider that price low, compared to other similar styles of EDC role knives. I will reference the benchmade bug out.
I would take this over a bugout any day but I would take a broken skull or American lawman over this
Why not just modify the grip to allow more space for the thumbstud? Its not as if G10 is hard to cut.
Hey Kevin I have the very same knife. If you want to make it better get yourself a Snaggletooth so you can wave it out of pocket.
The msrp is 99 so we could see this drop around 50 range eventually but it’s brand new so the price will taper down their 50 msrp knives are 22 right now so do the math
i like a tight thumb stud i can wedge my finger in there and flick the blade with little wrist motion . altough i dont have the air lite yet i have a lot of cold steel blade and i know i would love it. thanks for the review
Thr thumb space is made like that because when knife is deployed you have about one mm until your finger will be resting on the belly of the knife. I trimmed mine but you can only go so far. With some mod to front grip it's best and most usable cold steel ever, because of blade shape, toughness and thickness. Aus10 performs better than many of my s30v knives and quality is better overall. Carried it for a month now and it does everything really well if not better than all my other knives. You're paying for a slimmer tougher pro lite with more premium materials. I think 85 bucks is good deal.
Drop point broken skull would be too cool. Probably push sypderco in bankruptcy
And a Tanto Point Broken Skull, too. Love my XHP BS. But the collaboration between Austin and CS is now over. That's the reason we have the Air Lite now. A. Demko said that...The Air Lite Tanto is fantastic but expensive for AUS 10 steel. Paid 85 Euros for it. Normal price here in Germany 115 Euros...
Looks like a cheaper drop point version of the SR1 to me.AUS10 isn't a bad mid range steel..I kind of like the looks of it.
Timbo437 F that Timbo I thought around 50 bucks not 80 hell no!!!!!!!
I like the knife and I really like AUS-10 , but the knife is a little overpriced by Cold Steel standards, only because their knives are such great deals . As time goes on I think the price will drop to around the $50 - $60 price point and be side by side with the Voyager (another great knife). I really like AUS-10 because it has a great combination of toughness , edge retention , and ease of sharpening , I think it would make a great fixed blade steel . I wish they would make the Broken Skull with a satin blade and definitely a drop point
Brian F low $60s at a few knife retailers already
BS will not come back. The collaboration between Austin and CS is over...
Thanks for the video....is the knife AUS 8 or 10? You said both in the video.
AUS10 actually a very good steel depending on the media your cutting.
aus 10 must have misspok
Think it's to compete with Benchmade Bugout
The bugout is lighter, but not by a whole lot. I'm not sure the bugout is even thinner overall, I don't think it is. This is cheaper, multiple times stronger, and longer. This has the bugout beat by miles, imo.
M Sharmall The Bugout is around $119 this is around $85 the Bugout is made in the US so the $30ish difference is understandable.The Bugout is around 35% lighter ....1.9 ounces vs 3.2 ounces for the Air Lite and S30v is a little better steel than AUS10.
Omg F that I didn’t know how much they were I thought around 50 bucks!!!!!!! Wow
JerseyKnife Guy best price I found is $63 at knifeworks
I want to see them test it versus the Bugout! Because they looks VERY simmelar.
Id love it if they made a version in ause 8 and made it available at department stores.
A LONGER BLADED AMERICAN LAWMAN? show using!
Hey Kevin you gonna grab the SR1 lightweight!!!!!!!
Anyone else have issues with loose blades in their Air Lites? I've had 2 separate Air Lites Tantos arrive out of the box with loose rattling blades and the lockbar tension doesn't keep the blade secure in the handle allowing the top to hang free.
Mine came perfect, just enough to close it on your index finger but no play at all.
i have one ,the fit and finsh was not that great,it felt like it was put together quicly,sharp corners,bhte was quite thick it took a while to reprofile the edge....but carrywise and super light and sharp it is an excellent knife worth about53.99 not the 84.00 that i paid for it I really should have sent it back.
My Tanto Air Lite is absolutely flawless.
Not saying this is your case nut beware of the Chinese Cold Steel counterfeits out there.
Grabbed it for $44 on Amazon. Really like the knife but at $80 it would have been a hard pass.
Wow yeah at $44 this is a huge home run
This is $55 now...
Factory jimped CS knife? Sign me up.
Ah wel, looking at reviews for a week now. Stil think I need a Cold Steel, and the Air lite is the CS knife I think I would actually use, but over 100 euros here….
And you guys complain about 80 dollars 😁
But prices here are usually totally over the top, so there wil be one in the mail very soon I guess.
Steve Austin’s apparently a real nice guy.
He also didn’t design the Broken Skull. CS used to make a “traditional” knife that had steel scales with a faux antler overlay.
If Steve Austin had anything to do with designing the Broken Skull, it probably went like this:
CS: Hey Stevie, wanna design a knife?
SA: Sure! I like that one! (Points to Lone Star Hunter)
CS: But. . .that’s already a design. We’ve been making it for a while now. Any other ideas?
SA: I like that one.
CS: Umm. . .What if we mixed that design with another design? Different blade shape? Maybe a finger choil?
SA: Nah, I like that one.
CS: *sigh. . .Anything about it you’d like to change?
SA: *thinks hard
CS: *cough G10 SCALES *cough
SA: Oh I know! You can make it with G10 scales!
CS: That’s a great idea! Good job! 10/10 Best design ever.
SA: Ooh what’s this one called?
CS: That’s the Prolite. It’s gonna be our low-budget optio-
SA: I JUST THOUGHT UP ANOTHER DESIGN!
TedOfNod thats just fine.
Broken skull was too thin in the handle. If this came out before the broken skull, you wouldn't need the broken skull
Wow. I can't believe everyone misses the obvious. It is a cheaper competitor to the #1 selling knife or knives at Blade HQ in 2019. Yes I'm talking about the Benchmade Bugout and Bailout. I refuse to pay Benchmade prices when you can get a highly functional cheaper pocket friendly knife. Contrary to the comment below my Airlite tanto is tight works perfect. Although I will agree with Kevin's comment about the thumb stud access.
Great. Now 3". I see no good CS offer in that size.
If you can deal with blue handles and a tanto blade, the Khan is a wonderful knife.
I love mine and think it is a great knife. Watch the Jimmyslash video where he tests the blade. Unbelievable.
Its AUS-10, not AUS-8.
*It’s, not its.
There's no more Pro Light, Working Man replaced it.
The only thing that stops me from getting one is the lack of finger choil. Seems every cold steel knife has something about it that pushes me away from getting them. Sorry cold steel but most of your knives really suck