How heavy is too heavy for EDC! I'm looking at a few 5 oz plus and just don't know

IMO it's the shape of the knife that will affect how it will carry when the weight gets above 5 or 6 oz. My zt0562 disappears in my pocket.
 
I carry a ZT0200 - at just under 8oz, in jeans or cargo pants, the weight isn't an issue. Start getting into lighter weight/dressier material, though, and it can be.
 
It's all about personal preference and what you're wearing. In jeans or cargo pants I'll cheerfully carry whatever without noticing. In thin slacks or scrubs I find 5oz or heavier to be noticeably irritating.
 
like others have said, for me it's more an issue of how it fits in the pocket. some pockets have a cut that works with more knives than others. i don't like to sit down and the knife print through my pants. 562 carries well as does my Gayle Bradley and BM 808. the 761 is a tougher fit despite being lighter
 
I normally carry a Spyderco Techno (3.6 oz.), but I recently aquired a Buck CSAR-T (8.6 oz).

The Techno gets forgotten. But Even in a holster, that Buck can weigh you down.

However, I do intend to carry the Buck this fall as we begin harvest, as a heavy, tough knife can have a place in a hard environment that I sometimes work in. So to me, sometimes it's Spydie EDC for for this application, but Buck EDC for that application.

If that makes any sense, anyway.
 
My edc's have ranged from a classic sak all the way up to a buck tops csar-t (8.6 oz) with everything in between. In my experience, I don't worry about weight unless I'm running or highly active. Other than that I carry what I'm feeling.

I feel like limiting myself based on the weight prevents me from just grabbing what I want to edc. My suggestion is buy something relatively economical (based on your own budget and standards) that's on the heavier side (or heavier than you're used to) and see if you like it. Resell if you don't 😊
 
I'm getting "older" like some of the other guys. I will NOT buy anything over five ounces, because I know I won't carry it. My large Sebbie is 4.8 oz, and my Umnumzaan is 5.0 ounces. Those are fine, but my self-imposed limit locks me out of a bunch of nice knives. There are ZT's I would go after...if they were a bit lighter.
 
I regularly EDC a Boker Plus Dark Hollow (9 oz), CRKT Foresight (6.4 Oz), Gerber 06 FAST (5.7 Oz), Buck 110 (7.5 Oz) or lately my Kershaw CQC-4kXL (6.1 Oz), along with another smaller ~8" knife.
I wear a leather belt, usually have my gun on it and when I don't have my gun, I wind up having a Drill or Impact hanging off my pocket, and Wrangler and Riggs cargo pants for work. Never notice any problems either way. I like heavier knives for EDC, if I go into a restricted area, I always know I have my knife and remember to take it off, and IMHO heavier knives feel better in hand and more put together. I know it isn't true necessarily, but it helps me sleep at night.
 
Carrying a Flaslight, 10 oz. MT, spare batteries. a Leatherman Juice, and other items on my belt I prefer to reduce extra weight as much as possible, so I tend to choose lighter EDC knives.
I EDC the Spyderco Pacific Salt (3 oz.), Spyderhawk (3 oz.) or less than 4oz. folders. My SD dedicated blade is light for its size, as well, usually a CS Hold Out, Talwar, Voyager or Gunsite (7-8 oz.).
Small things add quick to the total weight, and it's important to move freely and comfortably or the item won't be carried, and it won't be of no use whatsoever!
 
6 oz is where I draw the line, under 5 is my preference, and under 4 is my sweet spot for edc.
 
size/shape makes a MUCH bigger difference to me vs weight. as a matter of fact, i can only think of 2 applications where weight matters to me, both of which are infrequent. i can think of many applications every day where an uncomfortable size/shape would ruin it for me.
 
Inside waistband carry seems to take the edge off weighty knives for me. A Praetorian T, which is relatively thin but tall spine to edge, and about 10 oz., is very comfortable in the right side. I just don't carry it since I'm usually in an urban retail setting and I use a blade for frequent light duty work.
 
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What's too heavy for one guy, might be just right for another. Buy what you like, carry it, and determine if it's too heavy for YOU. It's the only way to know for sure.

And here's another consideration: If all you carry is a blade, then you can get away with a heavier knife. But if, like some of us, you carry other items in your EDC system (e.g., MultiTool, flashlight, another knife (or knives), pistol, extra mag, etc.), weight becomes more critical.
 
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