The Best Hori Hori Knives for Your Garden Chores
First up is our top pick, with four others to follow that all have slightly different features that you may find more suitable for your needs.
1. Top Pick Up Front: Nisaku NJP801 Weeding and Digging Knife
Our top pick comes straight from the land of its origin: Japan.
Made from top-quality stainless steel infused with vanadium, and forged by master craftsmen, this model boasts an ergonomic handle for ease of use. It’s available from Nisaku via Amazon.
Nisaku NJP801 Weeding and Digging Knife
The concave blade makes short work of the toughest garden jobs. Perfect for weeding, transplanting, hacking away at overgrown shrubs, or dividing perennials, this multipurpose knife gets it all done.
The ergonomic handle may be slightly on the small side for those with bigger hands. I appreciate the protective hilt to prevent my hand from slipping down onto the blade when digging in compacted soil.
The super-sharp blade features a beveled edge for slicing and a serrated edge for cutting through tough roots. Depth measurements in both millimeters and inches make planting bulbs a breeze.
It’s half-tang, but don’t let that deter you. Using full-width design, the half tang allows for the blade to be constructed from thicker steel without making it heavy and cumbersome.
An attractive leather sheath keeps the blade – and your hands – safe from harm when not in use and the belt clip is a handy addition.
See the Nisaku and check prices now on Amazon.
Features
- 7.25-inch concave vanadium-infused stainless steel blade
- 5.5-inch ergonomic plastic handle with protective hilt
- 7.7 ounces
- Depth measuring ruler in inches and millimeters
- Leather sheath with belt hook
- 2-year standard warranty
Pros
- Rust-proof heavy duty blade stays sharp and tackles the toughest garden jobs
- Ergonomic handle gives a good grip and the protective hilt prevents injury
Cons
- Half-tang blade design can upset some purists
- Ergonomic handgrip can feel a bit small in the hand
If you want a handsome multi-functional garden knife straight out of Japan, you won’t go wrong with this model.
If you’ve got large hands, you may find the handle a bit thin and uncomfortable, in which case I’d recommend you try the wooden handled version below.
And if you don’t fancy a wooden handle but want something that fills the hand a bit more, try the Sensei model described below instead.
Head to Amazon to read customer reviews and check prices now.
2. Nisaku NJP802 Hori Hori Weeding and Digging Knife
It really is a toss-up between this knife and our top-rated one. The difference between the two only comes down to the design of the handle. The Nisaku NJP802 is available via Amazon.
Nisaku NJP802 Hori Hori Weeding and Digging Knife
Made from the same Japanese stainless steel and forged in Japan, this blade is concave, with a serrated edge on one side and a sharp beveled edge on the other. The difference comes down to the choice of handgrip.
The wooden handle will please traditionalists and those who want a more “authentic” looking Japanese knife. But it’s not just looks that count.
The wood makes the knife a bit heavier, and because it’s wider than the plastic version, it has a solid feel in the hand.
But because it has square edges and is not contoured, the handle can become uncomfortable with extended use. This is easily alleviated by wearing gloves.
I appreciate the metal hilt between handle and blade, giving a bit of protection against hand slippage, particularly when tackling tough roots or hard soil.
The half-tang construction is definitely a bone of contention for some people. It’s easy to see why it is not possible to craft a full-tang blade with the ergonomic plastic handle of the previous model – but with a full-width wooden version, it’s somewhat baffling.
That said, unless you are prying heavy rocks out of the ground or using it for something other than garden duties, this choice mostly comes down to personal preference.
As an added bonus, this model ships with a leather sheath that can be clipped to your belt.
See more customer reviews and check prices on Amazon.
Features
- 7.25-inch concave stainless steel blade
- 5.5-inch ergonomic plastic handle with protective hilt
- 8.5 ounces
- Depth measuring ruler in inches and millimeters
- Leather sheath
- 2-year standard warranty
Pros
- Robust, rust-proof stainless steel blade tackles the toughest jobs with ease
- Protective metal hilt between blade and handle prevents hand slippage
- Handsomely crafted wooden handle is easy to grip and feels solid in the hand
Cons
- Half-tang design
- Handle can be uncomfortable for extended use
Nisaku has created a tough, multipurpose tool with this model. The minor compromise of the half-tang design makes it a lightweight, well-balanced implement that tackles the toughest garden chores, thanks to the top-quality stainless steel blade.
Get more information and check prices on Amazon now.
3. MLTools Hori Hori Digging Knife
With the MLTools garden knife, you’ll be master of your garden in no time. And if the slender handle of the Nisaku feels a bit dainty to you, then the model from MLTools via Amazon is worth a look.
MLTools Hori Hori Digging Knife
With its sleek black handle contrasting with the glistening metal blade, this feels less “gardening tool” and more “field knife.”
Except, on closer inspection, it combines its good looks with the same concave digging blade – with serrated and beveled edges – of the previous models.
It’s got the same convenient depth measurements for planting your crocus bulbs, and a similarly hard-wearing rust-proof stainless steel blade.
The handle is made from non-slip plastic, and the way it’s designed fits firmly in the hand. The contour where it joins the blade serves as an “almost-hilt,” preventing your hand from slipping onto the blade.
It’s slightly heavier than the previous two models, but not noticeably so.
To make things even better, it ships with a nylon sheath that fits onto your belt.
I wouldn’t walk around town with it on your belt though, as when the rugged, black handle sticks out of the sheath, it looks a bit like a dagger.
Check prices of the MLTools model on Amazon now.
Features
- 7.5-inch concave stainless steel blade
- 5-inch black contoured non-slip plastic handle
- 10 ounces
- Depth measuring ruler in inches
- Robust nylon sheath with belt clip
Pros
- Non-slip handgrip is ergonomic and comfortable in the hand
- Concave rust-proof stainless steel blade and cuts through tough roots and compacted soil with ease
- Ships with a nylon sheath
Cons
- Handle may be too big if you have small hands
- Half-tang design
With its very rugged looks, this garden tool tackles all those tough jobs with ease. I like the handle on this one because it feels solid and is more comfortable to use than the wooden models, so you don’t need to wear gloves if you don’t want to.
See more customer reviews and check current prices on Amazon.
4. Truly Garden Hori Hori
The Truly Garden hori hori, available on Amazon, ships with a genuine leather sheath and a sharpening tool.
Crafted to top-notch standards, this model features a high-grade 420 stainless steel blade that extends into a full tang for superb strength.
And a handsome, sustainable beechwood handle is securely attached with three rust-proof rivets. It’s a little bit heavier than some of the other models, but it makes up for this with its super-sharp edges.
The blade has a concave trowel shape with depth measurements for easy digging and transplanting. And both the straight and serrated edges have been pre-sharpened for clean, efficient cutting.
This Japanese garden knife arrives handsomely packaged in an attractive box, and comes with a robust leather sheath plus diamond sharpening rod – all of which makes this a great gift for any gardener.
Check prices for the Truly Garden Hori Hori at Amazon now.
Features
- 7-inch pre-sharpened, curved stainless steel blade
- 5-inch hardwood handle with 3 rivets
- 18 ounces
- Depth measuring ruler in inches and millimeters
- Metal safety guard at the base of the handle
- Genuine leather sheath
- Diamond sharpening rod
- 5-year warranty
Pros
- Robust, full tang, rust-proof blade cuts easily through roots and compacted soil
- Leather sheath is heavy-duty to prevent accidents when not in use
- Diamond sharpening rod keeps both the straight and serrated edges sharp
Cons
- Wooden handgrip is not ergonomically designed and may tire your hand
- Metal tang and rivets stick out slightly from the handle, which can be uncomfortable without gloves
Truly Garden offers a 30-day money back guarantee and a solid five-year warranty, delivering top quality and value for the price.
A tough workhorse of a knife, this model looks the part. And we appreciate the metal safety guard, which helps to prevent your hand from slipping off the handle and onto the blade.
See more customer reviews and check current price on Amazon now.
5. Budget Pick: Fiskars Big Grip Garden Knife
Now, for something a little bit different. Based on the basic design of the Japanese knife, Fiskars has come up with something slightly creative. It’s available at Home Depot, and via Amazon.
It still has the concave blade with a serrated edge on one side and a beveled edge on the other, but it tapers down with two points at the end instead of a single tip.
The two-pronged tip works extremely well for weeding in soft soil.
I would use this tool mostly for light-duty container or indoor gardening, as the cast aluminum blade is not especially sharp, and it suffers from “no tang.”
The blade is welded onto the large, soft-molded grip, which gives it a weak point if you’re doing heavy duty work.
The blade is seven inches long with a five-and-a-half-inch comfortable handle with an orange end, which makes it easy to locate. It doesn’t come with a sheath and I’ve not managed to find one that fits, so you’ll need to keep this in your gardening bag.
See more information and check prices at Home Depot or via Amazon now.
Features
- 5.5-inch padded handle with a hole for hanging
- 7-inch tapered, concave blade with serrated and straight edge
- 9.6 ounces
- Two-pronged weeding tip at the end
- Limited lifetime warranty
Pros
- Lightweight, easy to use
- Coated blade is rust-resistant
- Ideal for container or indoor gardening
- Comfortable grip won’t tire your hands
- Good value for the price
Cons
- The blade is welded to the handle, so can break off in heavy compacted soil
- Blades not especially sharp
- No sheath available
If you’re looking for something budget-friendly, lightweight, and comfortable for all those transplanting, weeding, and light digging duties, this option from Fiskars fits the bill. Just don’t expect it to be as robust or sharp as the other products we’ve discussed.
Ideal for patio gardening, it hangs on the wall for storage and does a solid job of maintaining your pots and hanging baskets.
Head over to Home Depot to check prices and customer reviews. The Fiskars Big Grip is also available via Amazon.
The Multifaceted Hori Hori
The multi-purpose Japanese hori hori knife features a large, concave blade with one straight, sharp edge and one serrated edge, and it usually has a ruler etched on the blade.
Clare Groom
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